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Tree trimming party review
I invited 26 of my female grad school classmates for a desserts-only tree trimming party. I said regrets only and 3 people replied no. 18 showed. (A hostess' lament: when will people learn to RSVP?)
What worked
Hot apple cider on the stove - made the house smell wonderful and tasted divine. Natural apple juice is a great substitute if you can't find cider like I couldn't.
Punch. Lots of you dismissed it, but everyone had at least one glass of punch and the wine was barely touched. (I told you it was popular!)
Having savory apps out. I made Knorr's spinach dip (it's so much better with two boxes of frozen spinach instead of the one called for) - the carrots to dip with disappeared before the bread and crackers to dip with. I put out cheese & crackers and Gardetto's snack mix, as well. People inhaled the Gardetto's, so I guess it's more popular than I thought. I chose it just because I love it and if I'm gonna have leftovers... 
Homemade sweets. Everyone was impressed that I made 4 kinds of cookies, brownies, and chocolate covered pretzels. Not a big deal for an average person, but a huge deal for a grad student in the middle of finals. I know I always appreciate when a hostess makes things herself instead of buying everything.
The most popular dessert was the mint brownies. Make box brownies according to the directions and take them out when they're almost completely done. Layer mints evenly over the top and put back in the oven for 5 more mins. Spread with a spatula.
What didn't
Quantity. I've been entertaining for years and I always have a hard time getting quantity right - not erring on too little, erring on too much! There are probably 3 dozen cookies in my kitchen right now and that's after the party, after I made most people take a plate home and after I gave some to the neighbors! I didn't double any batches, I was just aiming for variety. People really didn't eat as much as I expected them to.
Wine. People just weren't interested - they had hot cider or punch instead. I had out 2 whites and 2 reds. The reds weren't touched and the 2 whites weren't finished.
Soda & water were completely ignored - not a single one consumed - so I guess I'll keep them with all the bottles of wine in the closet until NYE.
Re: Tree trimming party review
I was curious to see how this party turned out after reading your earlier posts about it. Thank you for writing such a thorough review. Sounds like it came off wonderfully!
I'm also curious to know how the actual tree-trimming went. Did people bring ornaments? Did they hang the ones you put out? I've been to a few of these and people seem to spend a lot of time hanging out and not so much on the trimming. I've never been to one that was all women, though, and wonder if that makes a difference.
Not so much with the actual tree trimming lol. Two girls were really into it and pretty much did the tree with me, maybe 6-7 girls hung an ornament or two, but most people just kept right on drinking and talking. We did my two boxes of ornaments - it took maybe 15 mins.
I've read in a couple places where some hostesses write on the invitation to bring an ornament, but that just seems like the tackiest gift grab I can imagine - right up there with throwing your own shower. My mom suggested that next year I have people bring a toy for charity and I think that's a great idea.
My Pinterest
The Googlesites Paint Bio
Thinking of doing cosmetic updates to a dated home? These were our costs.
Wow great review! Glad it went so well.
Love this:
My mom suggested that next year I have people bring a toy for charity and I think that's a great idea.
Gretchen Evie, born 7/8/2012 at 35w5d
It's linked in the post toward the top
My Pinterest
The Googlesites Paint Bio
Thinking of doing cosmetic updates to a dated home? These were our costs.
Well, shoot. I'm pregnant and my husband read in a book that your brain compresses 20% when your pregnant. This is the point where he'd say that was part of the lost 20%.
Anyway, that punch sounds really good. No wonder everyone went after it.
Yep! Same thing happened at mine!
And thank you for letting me know about the existence of Garden & Guns. I laughed for about ten minutes before realizing: damn, that's a good magazine.