December 15, 2023 • 50 mins
Craving a stress-free holiday season full of festive cheer? It's day three of our 12 Days of Podmas and we're spilling the eggnog on everything you need to know about holiday hosting. I share personal experiences about New Year's parties, the importance of planning, and even the joy of having a party outfit all sorted to reduce decision fatigue. We also underline the significance of preparing food and drinks ahead and ensuring you're not famished, exhausted, or shivering at your own bash.
Have you ever noticed how activities can transform your holiday gatherings from mundane to magic? From classic games like catchphrase or heads up, to the boisterous fun of drinking games, activities can be the secret ingredient to making your event more engaging and inclusive. I reminisce about my personal experiences with these games and how they've infused laughter and liveliness into our holiday shindigs.
Lastly, we're revealing a delectable restaurant recipe for a warm artichoke dip that's sure to make your guests' taste buds sing carols. We cover all aspects to create a cozy, welcoming space, from setting the perfect tone with dim lighting and curated music playlists, to managing the temperature for comfort. I even reveal my personal preferences for hosting, go-to party libations, and why I think outsourcing food can be your secret weapon. Tune in to this episode chock-full of helpful advice and heartwarming anecdotes, ideal for anyone looking to host a memorable holiday feast.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
Hey cuties, welcome back to day three of 12 Days of
Podmas.
Always wanting to save Vlogmas.
What I'm learning from 12 Daysof Podmas is I fricking love
wearing a uniform Like it givesme kind of all the feelings that
I need in my life.
There was actually a time Ijust have to tell you this
(00:31):
quickly before we jump into theepisode but there was a time in
new motherhood where we had justmoved into this house.
It was probably that winter, soRo was like eight months,
almost almost a year old, and Iwas just in the depth of I can't
do anything anymore.
I think I was like overwhelmed.
(00:53):
Eventually, after our move,everything was kind of settling
in.
The life was so different thanbecause, obviously, covid was
going on and I was likeextremely isolated.
I was enter, I was in like thenewness of motherhood and just
like almost realizing like whatis my life going to be,
especially after we moved?
(01:13):
Because it was like I shouldhave been coming to thinking
like, oh, I'm going to go backto work at some point or
whatever, my life will get backinto some rhythm of what it was
before, but like because wemoved, I was never going to go
back to that job, and so I hadlike this openness in front of
me.
That was like terrifying.
And then I was also trying tolike embrace the current moment.
(01:33):
Laundry was like the is it vainor vain of my existence?
Because I don't know what Bainmeans, so it must be vain.
But anyways, laundry was justlike the absolute worst thing.
I just felt like it was likerunning my life.
I didn't it's not even likethere was only three of us, but
somehow I was just like alwaysdoing this laundry and like it
(01:54):
was cold and we weren't gettingout of the house as much.
It was just so overwhelming.
And I remember I would wear thesame thing.
Like I think I did this for twoweeks and then I had to give up
because I was like disgustingand smell gross, but I would
wear the exact same thing, noteven like as a new uniform, like
I had multiple of this sameoutfit.
No, I would wear the exact sameoutfit obviously different
(02:15):
underwear every single day,because then I would only have
to wash one pair of sweatpantsand one T-shirt at the end of
the week.
That's, that was what I came to, that's what I, that's what I
tried to do to, to stop havingto do as much laundry.
But you know what the joke wason me, because everyone else
still had so much clothes thatthey were wearing and I just
smelled gross and was takingcare of a baby breastfeeding
(02:37):
like your milk in all the places.
I was just so stinky but likeall I saw was myself, but like I
just felt gross.
You know, when you just wearthe same thing, like a few days,
okay, but like every single dayfor seven days, like too much.
Anyways, I just had that memorybecause I've been wearing the
same outfit for all of theseepisodes and you know what, I
actually kind of love it forthis situation and I'm only
(02:59):
sitting in it for an hour whileI record.
It's not that gross and like,obviously I can wash it at the
end of the week, so the stressis not too high, but I just that
was like that just reminded meof that.
Anyways, welcome back to daythree.
I'm so happy I haven't losttrack yet.
Uh-oh, my face ID isn't working.
There we go.
(03:19):
I am so excited for today'sepisode.
It's a really festive, jollygood time because it is my
holiday, hosting 101, which alsojust works in general for
hosting but obviously becausethis is Podmas.
Hello, we are counting down toChristmas.
It is a holiday hosting guidewhich I think is going to carry
you into, obviously, if you'rehosting anything up to Christmas
(03:40):
, but also New Year's.
Last year we hosted New Year'sand I absolutely loved it.
Fun fact me and Trevor alwayshost New Year's.
It's kind of our thing.
Ever since we like got into ouradult life, we would always
host New Year's.
Um, we would either host likegoing out, like there was a time
where we used to go out inToronto, which is my least
(04:00):
favorite thing to do for NewYear's.
I will never do it again.
You cannot make me do it.
I absolutely hate going out forNew Year's.
It's so horrible, at least inToronto.
It is just so, so horrible.
The only time we ever did itright.
Finally, after years of waitingin line, you always have to
wait in line everywhere.
Even if you get tickets, you'llhave to wait in line and unless
you get tickets and you goearly, like really early, like
(04:21):
too early, then you'll have agood time, but then you have to
be in the mindset to like bethere earlier.
Um, anyways, we used to alwayshost like we do like a pre at um
my mom's, and then we wouldhead into wherever we were going
to go and it would be likewaiting in line and like you're
with the people you love, butlike something about me is, if
I'm hungry and I'm cold and I'mtired, I'm not in a good place
(04:44):
in life.
If I'm all three of thosethings, you do not want to be my
friend at that moment in time.
You really do not want to be,you do not.
Okay, and I have that awarenesswithin me.
I do, I do, and I apologize forany of the victims who have
been in my way when I am hungry,tired and cold, because it's
not a good place to be.
And I, I learned and we stoppeddoing that.
(05:06):
So, anyways, then eventually wemoved.
Actually, the first year wefigured it out Like when you're
young, it's fun.
You're like I want to go out, Iwant to be at the club, I want
to be at the bar, I want to bein the cool scene, I want to
wear the cool outfit, likethat's what you want to do.
But then when the reality hitsthat it's not fun, like uh, then
you eventually get, after somany years, it's like I can't do
that anymore.
So then we would switch to.
This was the year that it allchanged was we were in Oakville,
(05:30):
where Trevor grew up, and sohis parents.
We were at his parents' house.
But what, how did this end up?
I think it was his parents'house and we had no plans.
I think we eventually were likeyou know what?
This is the year we have noplans.
We're not, we're hanging out,we're going to do our own thing.
And then last minute we were, wewere like texting his friends
and they were all like oh, likemaybe we should go to a bar.
(05:51):
So we decided to go to a bar.
So we went to a bar earlier inthe day Well, not in the day,
but like, we were like maybe weshould go to a bar.
And then we were like oh, it'sTrevor's parents and we're like
hey, maybe, like if we go tothis bar, but like we just get a
few drinks, we can come backhere if that's okay.
And they're like oh, yeah,totally.
So we were going to haveeveryone back at Trevor's
parents' house.
And so, um, we went to this bar,some random bar in Oakville,
(06:14):
like literally, I think it waslike a O'Malley of some sort.
I don't remember the names ofthem all, but it was like an
O'Malley of some sort and therewas no.
This was very last minute Like.
We were literally playing thistill last minute.
We probably went at like Idon't know, like eight or nine
like, and so there was literallyno weight to go in.
There was a group of us like weneeded a longer table.
(06:35):
There was probably like I don'tknow, like probably not more
than 10, but like 10-ish I think, and so we were able to go in,
sit, have some drinks and thenwe all had it back to Trevor's
parents' house and we just hadso much fun.
We literally just chilled andlike drank and played games and
I feel like so many inside jokescame out of that night and
(06:56):
Trevor's sister was with us.
It was so fun and maybe bothhis sisters were definitely one
Lauren was with us and we justhad such a good time and we got
snacks like chips and whatever,and just like chilled and spend
time with the people that youliked to spend time with, like
it was so fun.
And then I think that likeunlocked hosting era for us.
That's when we started doingthe New Year's holiday host and
(07:20):
we actually would continue it atTrevor's parents' house for
years on until we got married.
I think we would do it thereand we would invite everybody
like from all the differentplaces of our life, people from
work, people from our friendgroups, people from schools that
we went to like whatever.
We would all come together andit was so fun.
And then we got married and westarted hosting it at our condo
(07:43):
equally so fun.
And then we had Ro and well, Ithink the year I was pregnant I
don't think we did anything, soI had a Rosa Winter baby.
So I was very, very pregnantaround New Year's and I feel
like I just went to bed.
I don't think I did anythingreally so that was like our year
off.
(08:04):
And then we were excited to hitit back up the next year, but
then it was COVID and so then wehad moved, we were in our new
house.
I remember me and Trevor sat bythe fire.
I don't even think I stayed uptill 12.
Me and Trevor sat by the firerowing the sleep and we just
reminisced on, like our pastyears, new Year's of New Year's,
past, and then last year wasour first year where we got to
(08:26):
host it again at our house andit was so fun.
Literally, I had the best time.
It was so fun and because now welive out of the city, we had
everyone stay over as asleepover, like some people were
wanted to go home or likeweren't drinking so they drove
home or whatever.
Even people who weren'tdrinking could stay over, like
anyone could stay, but likeanyone who was available to stay
(08:47):
over, and, of course, we hadextra space just in case.
We had a huge sleepover.
It was so fun and then we allhad our recap the next morning.
It was so like school, likecollege, like dorm rooms.
It was so fun and I was lookingforward to doing that this year
, but someone else snagged itfrom us.
Someone else is hosting it, sowe'll see.
We'll see what we're gonna do,because I think they're hosting
(09:09):
in Toronto and you know, I justprefaced this by saying my least
favorite thing in the wholewide role is going out in
Toronto, out in New Year's.
So we'll see.
I got to talk to my sisters.
I think Becca's going somewhere.
We'll see what Lauren's doing,but yeah, anyways, that is a
little bit of my New Year'shosting history, but also I've
hosted many things.
(09:30):
I love hosting.
I think people from myunderstanding do not like
hosting, but like, if you arelike me and you like hosting,
that's fabulous, and if you'resomeone who doesn't like hosting
, then hopefully people willhost you.
But either way, in apredicament, if you are the only
person who is available forhosting.
I am here to share with you myholiday hosting 101 guide and
(09:52):
just in general, because,honestly, I feel like I've
perfected it.
I think there's like a wiggleroom, but like I've perfected
the situation.
Specifically, we're gonna talkabout holiday here, but I also
might throw in a few other tips,because what else are you gonna
get a hosting guide for me?
Okay, so let's hop in.
I think there are importantthings Food, atmosphere,
(10:14):
activity.
These are my three importantthings to hosting.
Okay, did you hear that?
Food atmosphere activity?
Now, in a holiday hostingenvironment, usually I feel like
it's a larger group of peoplecoming together.
So if you are having anintimate get together, like it's
gonna be you and a couple, ormaybe you and a couple, couple,
six people, then there might bea different rule, mainly to the
(10:39):
food part, because I'm sayingfood for if you're having like a
bigger group, let's say 10 plus.
This is my food guide for 10plus.
Even honestly, now that I'msaying six people, that kind of
sounds like a lot, but no, thisis for my 10 plus.
Okay so, but honestly, youcould do this with less than,
especially if you don't likecooking.
Really, the only thing comesdown to the cooking that's gonna
(10:59):
change different.
So, for activity, I think thisis so important.
Now, I personally love anactivity, like one of my
favorite memories of growing upin Christmas is that it was one
time a year like that peoplewould come together and play a
board game.
I always got a new cranium forChristmas.
Growing up, like, pretty much,I was obsessed with cranium.
I had like all of them.
(11:20):
I loved it because, I feel likeone, you got to do acting and
singing, you got to do create,you got to do what was it?
Math and science, I don'tremember them all, but anyways,
I feel like there was somethingfor everyone.
Some of them pushed you out ofyour comfort zone.
You were not very good at them,and other ones you were so good
at, but then your otherteammate would be good, like.
I feel like it balanced out andit was really fair playing
(11:42):
ground because, like, everyonehas a different strong suit and
there was something for everyone.
So, yeah, I loved it, like Iloved cranium, and so it was the
one time a year where I feltlike everyone would come
together and we would play mynew cranium and it was so, so
fun.
I love, love, love it.
That being said, that's onething I want to start doing Now
that Rose getting a little bitolder is like implementing the
(12:05):
family board game, like gettinga board game every year Cause
it's so fun, anyways.
So activity it doesn't have tobe a board game, but the purpose
is I love to bring peopletogether with an activity.
I think a lot of the timeduring holiday hosting it's
either people family comingtogether that haven't maybe seen
each other for a whole year, orit's you bringing together a
(12:26):
whole group of people who aren'tnecessarily all BFFs you know
what I mean.
Like you bring together peoplefrom work, youth, and then they
meet your family, home, friends,and then sometimes your
family's there, or maybe yourold school friends, like.
Or maybe it's you as a couplecoming together, bringing your
significant other person'sfriends and your friends
together, and you don'tnecessarily all get along.
(12:50):
There's new people in the mixto other people and I love.
I think that's why I lovehosting.
I love bringing people together.
I think it's so fun andsometimes it can feel really
overwhelming as the host whenyou know that there's all these
different people and you feellike you need to be part of all
the conversations to bringpeople together.
Like that can feel overwhelming.
But I promise you step back,relax, like everyone's an adult.
(13:15):
They can all come together andthey can find someone to talk to
.
And if you obviously as a host,see someone who is feeling left
out, invite them to come helpyou with something, invite them
or connect them with somebody.
Of course, but like I feel likeI used to always feel like, oh
my gosh, I'm not giving enoughpeople, enough attention.
But like everyone comestogether, they give each other
attention.
But the number one way toremove that pressure is with an
(13:36):
activity.
I really think it's importantand if you can bring it together
like a little bit earlier inthe night, obviously everyone's
kind of coming and within thefirst hour or two.
Now I don't even know.
I used to be such a punctualperson.
Like five minutes early waslike on time for me.
But I feel like when it comesto hosting, especially at
someone's house, it's alwayspolite to show up either right
(13:58):
on time or like within the firsthalf hour.
That's kind of my expectationis that people will be there
within the first half hour.
But honestly, since I've becomea host, I have learned that
people show up like two, three,four.
I don't.
My biggest thing is like I likeif people can tell me they're
gonna be late, like, oh, I'mworking, I'm gonna be late, like
(14:18):
whatever, then I have noexpectation.
But sometimes I'm like, oh,should I wait for them?
Should I not wait for them?
So yeah, for me within thefirst 30 minutes is like the
best time to show up and I getit like for myself as well.
I like to be closer.
But if it's someone I know andI know the people that are gonna
be there, then I don't mindbeing on time.
But if it's gonna be asituation where it'll be a bunch
(14:41):
of people that maybe I don'tknow, then I like to show up a
little bit later, like withinthat first 30 minutes, not later
than that, because then I feelless intimidated to have to like
talk to one person that I don'tknow.
Or it's just like a socialthing, a social anxiety thing,
but anyways, so within the firsthour or two.
Well, I guess some partiespeople only host technically for
(15:01):
three hours Like this is whatI'm considering like If you're
gonna have a long party, likeinto the night, like a New
Year's party we're gonna do adinner into the night than the
first hour or two.
But okay, let's say the firsthour is for mingling With.
At that, after that first hourmark, I would bring out an
activity and my favoriteactivities are catchphrase or If
(15:24):
you're drinking, you could doone of the passing drinking
around games.
Those are always so fun.
There's so many apps you candownload for your phone and
basically you just inputeveryone's name and they get
people like teamed up withpeople.
It's so funny.
You sit in a big circle and youjust pass around the phone and
it tells you exactly what youneed to do.
So let's say me, grace, and you, jessica, are playing together
(15:46):
or playing in the circle.
So it'll be like Grace tellsJessica Whatever, or Jessica is
responsible for grace to this,or grace, you give Jessica two
drinks, like whatever, but it'llchoose all different names and
it kind of gets people who don'tknow each other connect it.
So like if you, if it's adrinking party, like that's so
fun.
I love catchphrase.
(16:06):
I think it's so fun.
You can make everyone in theirteams right.
You do one, two, one, two.
Get them sitting in a circle.
One, two, one, two, one, two.
Every other person is onwhoever's team.
Heads up.
Oh my gosh, wait, did I saycatchphrase?
And I did heads up because Imeant catchphrase, like the
Circle game.
So catchphrase is a game whereit's the best.
You used to get it with cards,now they.
(16:28):
It's like a digital thing Ihave the digital one now and
basically you input team one andteam two and you break everyone
up into two teams and you passthis thing around the circle.
You're all sitting, every other.
You pass this thing around thecircle and you can choose a
category or you can do mixedcategory and it gives you a word
and you have to describe it toyour teammates without saying
(16:48):
the actual word, and then theyall have to try and guess and
it's so fun, like literally.
That's probably my favoritegame like in the world and I
always bring it out for parties.
I think it's a great party game.
Heads up is a classic one.
You can download it right onyour phone and it's so funny.
Oh my gosh.
Last year, new Year's, we wereplaying heads up and I just
remember like it was like I laidinto the night we were playing
(17:10):
heads up.
So you know we were all alittle toasty and I was
literally dying.
Everyone was doing oh no, thiswasn't even had New Year's.
I get my heads up blurredtogether.
This is what my friend'sbirthday party were playing New
Year's and everyone was actingAt a dolphin, I think to me, and
it was hysterical.
I was sitting on the one sideof the table and everyone's
being a dolphin and I wasliterally dying like Watching
(17:31):
everyone act as a dolphin.
For some reason.
It was just so funny.
It's like all at the same time.
They all were like I don't evenknow, but it was.
It was so funny.
But long story short is thatheads up really is like a great
crowd, please.
They're like.
I personally Use heads up in somany different ways Like I think
it's great for parties.
When we went to Disney, likeyears ago, we downloaded it for
(17:53):
in line, it was amazing, forwhen you're waiting in line and
it gets everyone involved, likeyou can play, but then everyone
else will start Participating aswell.
If you've got like an activegroup around you people you
don't even know.
Then you make friends.
That's so fun.
So, yeah, theme parks, like Ijust love that game, but yeah,
so that's a great game.
So, catchphrase, heads up.
You can get those drinkinggames.
You can also just play like aclassic card drinking game,
(18:15):
which is like Kings Cup orwhatever, but yeah, just doing
some sort of activity.
Or you could even get even moreclassic, doing charades,
anything.
I just think it's so Fun to havean activity and like the people
who want to participateparticipate.
Then you already know, like whoyour vibe is, and the people
who don't can just go hang outand enjoy Abev and eat some food
(18:38):
or whatever.
Like it's not a mandatoryeveryone get to the letter room.
Now we're playing a game.
But I think it's great to havean option, especially for
newbies, so that they can feelmore welcome and Connect it with
other people.
It's so fun.
So activity is so fun.
And then also, if you're havinglike Unlike themed party, you
(19:00):
could also like with yourgirlfriends or something.
It doesn't have to be all girls, obviously guys can participate
as well, but I'm thinking likeyou could also bring people
together and like have like agingerbread decorating
competition or stuff like that,but like I do love like a group
activity and it's super lowmaintenance.
You don't have to buy anythingfor it.
So those are fun games.
Okay, food, food I think is oneof the most stressful things
(19:20):
when it comes to hosting a party.
Like I feel like Even formyself, like I can get caught up
on this.
But now I think like I havelike a good, good background of
like things that I love to bringor make when I'm hosting.
So like, yeah, I just feel likefood is one of those things
that can become so overwhelmingin my mind.
(19:41):
I'm always thinking like, okay,how am I gonna have everything
prepped and prepared?
But then I also want to have myspace clean, like especially
Depending on where you live.
But like in my life, the onlyplaces I've ever lived have had
like the heart.
The heart of the house is kindof the kitchen.
Like in Our condo is very openconcept.
Living room, like the kitchenis there, everyone's in the
living room.
You can see the kitchen.
Same thing here.
Like our living room is alittle bit more secluded, but
(20:04):
it's still like our kitchen islike a heat, like half of our
main floor, so it's like a hugepart of the entertaining zone,
and so how can I keep that notso Messy and like food
everywhere?
Like food for eating, of course, but like if you're cooking,
like you know it creates messdishes, pots, pants.
Like it's like I want For methat's stressful.
(20:24):
Like I don't want all of thatout and about.
Well, people are trying to likemingle and mix.
Sir, this is my food rulenibbles, drinks and order in.
It is Literally the best thingever, because nibbles you can
prep ahead of time, like makeyour fruit platter, make your
vegetable platter, make yourfocaccia, make your.
This is like my new obsessionright now is focaccia and meats
(20:47):
with a burrata in the middle.
Oh, my gosh, make that.
We need to add that to ourrecipe of the day because it's
so good.
I'm gonna put that down.
I'm gonna write that down forone, for one One day.
Recipe of the day focaccia Idon't think I had that out yet.
Meets, it's just so good, Ipromise you.
(21:11):
Like that is a showstopper.
Oh, and the fresh focaccia is soeasy to make.
Like yes, it's time-consuming,but like it's so delicious and
it's like an elevated Cheese andcrackers, so, anyways, but like
all those things are easy tomake ahead of time, your
Chikouterie board, or even yourcheese and crackers.
All of that stuff you can makeahead of time any dips if you're
(21:34):
gonna make a hot dip, which,wink wink, might be part of our
recipe of today, but like all ofthat stuff you can pretty much
make ahead of time or it's easyto assemble.
You can prep the stuff andassemble it.
You can pop it in the oven toheat up before Like if it's a
hot tip, pop it in the oven toheat up before your Guests
arrive, or just as your guestsarrive, so that you're pulling
(21:54):
it out around that mark wheremost people have come.
But most of that stuff, likethe mess of it, is taking a care
ahead of time.
So nibbles are my favorite andAlso, on the on the note of
nibbles, chips, candies, likesweets, chocolates, things like
that I do think are veryimportant and I think it's
important to.
I personally don't do a dessertAfter dinner, like I don't put
(22:18):
out a dessert spread afterdinner.
I mix in the sweets with theSavories.
I just like to put it all outat the start, or like Timed at
the start.
It doesn't.
You might not want to put itall out right away If you know
people are coming later, like Iprobably usually start with just
some bowls of chips and likepeanut M&M's around In different
(22:38):
areas of the house where peoplewould probably be sitting or
mixing or mingling, and thenusually around that half hour
mark or 20 minutes and I'llstart putting out like the the
actual big nibbles, and thenthat will include some dessert
things.
I'm just gonna grab my water.
That will include some dessertthings, and then I always save
(23:03):
for the end of the night, after,like when it's starting to wind
down or we're chilling orpeople might be having coffee or
espresso, martinis or whatever.
I always like to save a fewthings in the fridge for that
moment or in the cupboard.
But like I'll always have a fewthings for after, after dinner
nipples, okay, so you have yourfirst nibbles out.
Another good rule of thumb isdon't over buy chips.
(23:25):
I feel like everyone over buyschips.
You really don't need one bagof chips per person, like one
giant bag of chips.
You only need a few.
I feel like for my life Ialways went to Costco and you
don't need to go to Costco,maybe if you're hosting for like
a hundred thousand millionpeople, for sure, like if you're
having a huge blowout but likeI'm talking about like 20 people
are under, like you don't needCostco sized everything because
(23:48):
that's too much, like that's forlots and lots of people.
I know there's Costco loversout there, but this is something
I've learned for my years ofhosting is I always end up with
so much leftover, especiallyparty food, where it's like I'm
really not gonna eat it or it'sgonna go bad.
It's gonna go bad before I getto even eat it, so or I don't
have room to store it Like yeahanyways.
So I just get like maybe twodifferent types of chips, like
(24:14):
maybe a popcorn I have a friendwho's allergic to potatoes,
which has opened my eyes to notbuying just potato chips, so
maybe a popcorn or a Dorito andthen like a plain classic chip
with a dip.
Like I keep it pretty simpleand if someone wants to bring
chips, they bring chips,whatever.
Okay, now drinks.
I did this for new years and itkind of like changed the game
(24:36):
for me in the sense that Ididn't feel overwhelmed when I
went to the LCBO, which is ourliquor store, to like buy things
is.
I did a drink, a drink at thenight.
So I had our drink like what doyou call it?
Like you know what Weddings,when they have, like a drink,
what is that called A signaturedrink?
That's it A signature cocktail.
So I did a signature cocktailand we did whiskey, cranberry,
(25:00):
whiskey sours they were sofricking good and so that was
something easy that I had allthe ingredients for and could
make if someone wanted a mixeddrink.
And of course we have lots ofstuff, like we have our alcohol
cabinet which has like bits andbobs or whatever, but I didn't
feel like I had to be fullystocked up on a full bottle of
this.
Full bottle without a fullbottle of this, it was like that
(25:20):
is gonna be our cocktail.
And then we have wine and somebeers and then, if anybody wants
anything else, oh, and I alwayshave stuff for espresso
martinis, okay, that's just likeI always do, because you never
know when you want an energypickup, right, it's just
something I do, okay, but likethat was our signature cocktail.
And then I felt way lessstressed out and I made a fun
(25:41):
shot.
I did Jell-O shots, which Ithought was so fun, and I think
fun shots are fun.
Like, personally, for myself, Ido not take hard alcohol shots
anymore, like hard liquor shots.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no,no.
I actually did recently Ifyou've been listening to the
podcast and are not new, on the12 days of Christmas.
You heard back in November whenI went to my besties 30th
birthday and it was the last ofour friends of the 38 year, like
(26:04):
we're born in 93.
And he's like my bestie, like I, and he is a tequila man, like,
loves tequila, and I used tolove tequila, like too.
And then I had really badtequila one time at my other
friend's 30th birthday years agohe's older than us and it was
so horrible it actually likescarred me.
I have not had.
Like I can have a mixed drinkwith tequila I love margaritas,
(26:25):
I love it like that but like Icannot just have a shot of
tequila no, no, no, no, no, no,no, no, no, no, no.
And I haven't successfully foryears, like years six, seven,
lots of years, okay.
And so I went to his birthday,being like I'm not going to
drink shots, tequila.
I even went to his fiance'sbirthday, naveena, my dad see,
(26:46):
you know, naveena, there's anepisode of us called
multicultural couples.
But anyways, I went to herbirthday and I went, which was
like the same place with thesame people, and him, which he's
always like everyone tequilaand I successfully said no,
because you know what, that'snot Naveena's thing.
But then this one I don't knowwhat came into me, probably the
(27:08):
bottle of Prosecco I had as apre.
We had just come back fromItaly and in Italy, me and
Trevor, any night that we weregoing to go out for like our
pretty much like our last nightat each city we would like have
I don't know why we did this asour last night of each city,
because then we'd have to wakeup the next day and, like, trek
to a new place hungover but wewould have a share, a bottle of
(27:29):
Prosecco, while getting readyfor dinner and having a slow
afternoon or whatever.
Yeah, and so I brought that forus to do that.
But Trevor was so exhaustedbecause he had come home from a
business trip and so he justwanted to sleep until we had to
leave.
He was like I can't drink, likeI'm so tired.
I was like that's fair,whatever, and then we can drive,
we don't have to Uber, savemoney, woohoo.
(27:51):
But I was like I only brought aProsecco and so I was at, we
were at Trevor's parents, for wewere going to stay there for
the night because it was closerto where they were and we
weren't sure if we were Uberingor not or whatever.
And also I had to pick upTrevor from the airport, like he
literally just got home andthey live closer to the airport,
anyway.
So I was like well, I'm stillgoing to have my Prosecco
(28:12):
because it's good vibes, and I'mlike totally in a sparkling
wine mood, like I love Prosecco,like I literally think that's
going to be like my 30s drinkMaybe not, but like I do truly
feel that within me, likeProsecco is my vibe right now.
And so I popped the bottle,thinking like I'd have a couple
of glasses and like Trevor's daddid come home from work and
start helping me out, but Iprobably had a lot of it.
(28:33):
Anyways, I was feeling good, Iwas feeling fine.
But I walked into the party andI think right away it was like
okay, shots of tequila, and likethey were tiny shots, you're
like little itty bitty glasses,but still I would not do that,
like I would even just mix itwith juice.
Like I'm lame, I will do that.
Like if I'm at a party andthey're giving out shooters,
like I will grab a chase andlike properly mix it and like
(28:53):
not take it because it was justa ruin it for me, but for some
reason this one did not ruin ituntil the next day, of course,
but anyways, I took it.
I was like okay, fine.
First I was like no, no, no.
And they were like come on, Iwas like okay, fine, for Akbar's
birthday.
And I took it, and I took thelime and I was like I can't
(29:13):
believe I just did that.
And then like literally I don'teven want to tell you how many
times I did that after thatslash, I don't remember but I
was like, wow, only for you,akbar.
The next morning, that'sliterally when I messaged in the
group chat, everyone's likehow's everyone feeling?
I'm like, literally only foryou.
I would do that and only foryour 30th they are getting
married later this year but notfor their wedding, only for
(29:35):
specifically for him, for his30th.
Anyways, it was a good time.
But back to the story, or backto the drinks.
So, yes, I would choose asignature drink.
I think that is so good and itjust like makes it really easy
for you.
You don't even have to do thatif you don't want to.
That's more catering.
(29:55):
If you know that the peopleyou're inviting are going to
want a cocktail instead of beeror wine, and if you know that
they're not going to drink wineor beer, don't get any of those
things either.
Mostly, like most of the time,we barely buy beer because most
of our friends are cocktailpeople or wine, and people will
always bring wine, like, alwaysbring wine.
So like don't even go that hardon the wine, but anyways, so
(30:18):
that was a big thing.
For me is just like be the onecocktail is such a good thing,
like a signature drink.
I think that's a pro move.
And then obviously you don'thave to be drinking alcohol.
You can also.
We did.
We did our Jell-O shots, whichwere so fun.
I thought that was such a funand simple shot to make and you
(30:40):
can prep it at a time and, likeyou would literally just pass
them out, so that is the bestthing ever.
Another fun shot that I'll makeis a sour no, what is it called
?
A Swedish berry which is sour,puss and crumb to banana.
I think everyone loves it.
It's delicious.
You can also make a cocktailusing Sprite with it If someone
really just loves.
Like a fruity, fun drink.
But we also made because weknew that there are people.
(31:04):
We have friends who don't drinkand we also have friends who
are going to be DDs or whatever.
So we also did just like Jell-Oshots.
Like just Jell-O but in a shotglass with nothing else in it,
and then it's like they stillget to partake and have fun.
We also always have some soberbeers, depending on what the
brand's called.
Like I have one called sobercarpenter that I like, and Farm
(31:25):
Boys actually such a great place.
They have a whole sober bottleshop like area where you can get
all the different non-alcoholicstuff.
So, yeah, we always get somefun things like that and you can
actually make such fun If youif you're, it's a total not
drinking party you can make suchfun non-alcoholic drinks down
like mocktails that actuallytaste good.
Like you can make like awhiskey sour that doesn't have a
(31:47):
whiskey sour, like whatever.
Like they sell so many funbitters and stuff and find a
sober bottle shop near you.
Like we have a really goodspecialty, one that's included
in Bushel Impact, which is nowrun out of Delatère, if you're
local to me, and they sell somany different bitters and also
just like Jins and like that arenon-alcoholic and Prosecots and
(32:09):
stuff like that, like there'sreally good stuff now.
So yeah, just have fun with it,make fun different things.
And obviously if you just likedrinking pop, then just buy pop.
Or if you like drinking justwater, then just drink water.
But like, yeah.
So nibbles, easy, make themahead and have two rounds of
nibbles.
You have your starter nibblesand then you have your end of
(32:29):
the night nibbles.
Okay, so end of the nightnibbles are more like cheese and
I always like to do a cheeseplate and I like to do a.
Our friends actually do this.
They bring it everywhere.
A spinach dip, they buy thespinach dip and the big round
pumpernickel and then you justlike cut it up and you dip it,
like that is what they alwaysbring, and so I always put it
out as an end of the nightnibble.
(32:50):
I think it's a great end of thenight nibble, it's a great
beginning of the night nibbletoo.
But it's also easy to throwtogether if you're inebriated at
the end of the night and so,yeah, so I like to do like a dip
and a bread vegetable situationand then a cheesy one and then
some sort of sweet as well,which is great.
You could do the Hello Dolly'sthat's a great one to put out,
(33:12):
or even a sweets tray with, likeall the different sweets that
we're going to do for recipe ofthe day for our 12 days of
Podmas, and then order in,literally, do this, it's the
best thing you could possibly do.
Like, don't stress yourselfwith cooking if you're hosting,
especially if it's.
If it's not, if it's six peopleor less, like that's easy
enough.
You can make a simple meal, orany meal will be a simple-ish
(33:34):
meal to cook for six people,because that's just like a
family meal, right.
So, like more than that, like,unless you're having like a
proper literal, no, even I wouldnot.
Just don't do it, I would notdo it.
Order in Last year for NewYear's, we did Greek food.
It was amazing.
Everyone loved it, especiallyin the wintertime.
Like if you live in a placewhere you have a climate where
(33:54):
you can do barbecues or for yourholidays, sure, barbecues are
easy, throw on the hot dogs,throw on the burgers, whatever,
like that's easy.
And food you can prep ahead oftime.
The mess stays outside of thehouse, sure, but I'm talking
cold winter climate here, likewhere I'm from.
And so, yeah, we did Greek food.
I feel like Greek food is great.
Most people love it.
(34:14):
There's options Like if youdon't eat gluten, then you can
just stick to the meat and sauceand veg.
If you don't eat dairy like, Ifeel like there's options for
other people who don't eatthings, and then if you don't
like pickle or pickles notpickles olives you can pick the
olives out.
Like, I think Greek food'sgreat.
I think there's something foreveryone.
I personally love it.
(34:35):
Another great one is Chinesetakeout.
Like, literally, chinesetakeout is so classic, it's so
delicious.
People love it for a reason youcan always order everything.
You can choose your menu aheadof time.
Like for the Greek food, weordered it ahead of time.
I think if you're doing NewYear's specifically, you
probably have to order it aheadof time, but if it's like on a
random weekend or weeknight,like, I think you have more
(34:56):
flexibility.
In that Chinese food you caneven ask ahead of time if people
have any requests or just makesure you order, like you know,
turbo shrimp come on, that's thebest part.
But like a noodle, a rice dish,two proteins, like whatever, a
vegetable like, and also Indianfood, like, I feel like Indian
food is so good.
There's something for everyone,as long as you get something
(35:18):
that's not spicy.
But maybe I don't know, youknow you're a crowd better than
I do, but yeah, and I just thinkthat that's a great one, an
easy one for like a massquantity, but there's so much.
Oh, one Christmas I think it wasthe Christmas after my dad
passed away someone had pressed,someone from my mom's work, I
think, had sent us Christmasdinner which was so sweet, but
it was so memorable because wehad the most delicious Jamaican
(35:39):
food which we literally wouldn'thave never had for Christmas,
ever, because that's just nothow I was raised.
I love Jamaican food, fyi, andit was so fun and it's like one
of those things that I willforever remember and it's like
that's also a great one to getin and I feel like Jamaican food
is a good one for everyonebecause everyone, at least, even
if they're sensitive to spice,you could just get chill.
(36:00):
The big thing of festival likewho doesn't love festival?
And I mean personally I lovethe oxtail, delicious, but like
you can just get fried chickentoo, like delicious.
So oh, and jerk pork.
I personally love jerk porkbecause it doesn't have bones,
but one time in Jamaica, we hadthe most amazing jerk chicken at
this random side stand on theside of the road and I still
dream about it like literally,and I have no, someone took us
(36:24):
there so I don't even know whatit's called or where exactly it
was, but I want it.
So bad, so good.
Anyways, delicious, delicious,delicious.
So many delicious options.
So order it Honestly.
Just save yourself the stressand order it.
Promise you it's worth it.
So yeah, for food, nibbles,drinks.
Order in more nibbles at theend.
Sandwich it all together Foodto make people happy.
(36:46):
Okay, let me grab a drink.
I feel like I've been talkingforever.
I'm very passionate abouthosting Delicious.
I've actually got into this.
I realize this really is aboutholiday hosting.
I feel like I do have notes on,like, summer hosting, because
we did talk about barbecuing andbeing outside.
It's different for me forholiday hosting.
I don't live in a warm climate.
(37:07):
Okay, atmosphere, this is aneasy one.
You start by what time of dayare you hosting your event.
That really starts off what theatmosphere is going to be.
But usually holiday hosting, Ifeel like, is like you want it
to be cozy, vibes, right, like Ifeel like most of the time
that's what it is for mepersonally.
So even if it's going to belike a brunch, I still want cozy
(37:29):
brunch vibes, cozy Christmasbrunch vibes, and if it's going
to be an evening thing,definitely cozy vibes.
For sure, do not put youroverhead lights on.
Dim the lights.
Lamps, lamps are a BFS.
I feel like we know thisalready.
I live in an old house.
We don't have overhead lighting.
The only places we have, likepot lights, the only places we
(37:52):
have pot lights, is our kitchen,because it's like newer added
onto the house or newerrenovated.
We didn't renovate it, butwhoever lived here did.
But like literally our livingroom.
We had two lamps in there and Ifinally put in two more lamps
on the other side of the roomand now it feels very, very cozy
and less like dim and dark, butlike turn off the overhead
(38:14):
lights, turn off the pot lights,put on the lamps.
If you have a dimmer switch,dim it up.
You really want to set the mood.
Okay.
So that's the mood.
I'm always very hesitant tolight candles, especially for
parties.
Sorry, I'm always very hesitantto light candles for parties
because I will forget to blowthem out if it's a party
(38:36):
situation most of the time,especially if people are like
sleeping over, like.
So that's for you.
And also I'm nervous like whatif someone puts their bag down
somewhere?
Or what if someone like doesn'tknow what's there and they
knock into it?
Like I'm always just like alittle hesitant about candles,
so it's up to you.
But definitely dim the lightsIf you got the Christmas tree up
.
Christmas tree brings in thelight like there's so much good
(38:57):
stuff about that.
But yeah, just lower, lower,lower.
And then when people get there,if they need a little louder,
you can turn it up a bit.
But like low mood music, notnecessarily mood music, but set
the mood with some music.
I love Spotify, like I'm aSpotify Convert.
I love Spotify so much and solike Spotify will give you now
(39:20):
they have so many amazing things.
Like I love DJ X oh my gosh, somuch so that row will get in
the car and be like ma, put on X.
I Love when X chooses thismusic.
I'm like, yes, queen, okay, aslong as I don't have to listen
to Kids music.
I don't mind kids musicsometime, but sometimes I just
want to be in this car and vibeout.
(39:41):
You know what I mean.
And row just wants To listen.
Actually, right now she's verymuch into veggie tales, knows
every word of silly songs withLarry's like loves it.
Sorry, I have everything stuckon my head from that, but
anyways, set the mood.
So you can either curate yourown playlist or you can start
off if you use Spotify.
I love to start off with acouple songs that are like kind
(40:03):
of the vibe and then put it onlike Shuffle, ai or whatever it
is.
It's not called shuffle, I,maybe it's recommend it and
it'll just like Go from.
It'll take those songs that youchose and it'll like go from
there and create things.
Also, I just realized Spotify.
Within the past like month or so, I personally realized this.
I don't know when they starteddoing it is they have like a
made for you, and I know theyalways do like your discover
(40:23):
weekly and whatever but now theyhave playlists that are
specifically curate it for youlike that are like called I
Don't even know happy playlistor energy or Indie, like.
They have things that I wouldhave thought are like general,
but it's made specifically,specifically for you and
(40:44):
literally everything is always abanger.
I'm like, oh my gosh, I lovethis song.
I love this song.
I love this song.
I love this song.
Like they get it pretty muchmost of the time for me, so
that's a really great thing todo.
And then you don't have tostress like it shovels through.
If all of a sudden you hearSomething weird, you just go
when you like, change it.
The funniest story I totallydon't think I told you guys this
, oh my gosh it.
So last year for our New Year'sparty I keep using our New
(41:05):
Year's party because that's thelast holiday thing I host it um,
last year I had my Spotify onand then also, if other people
have Spotify, they can add, theycan somehow link up together.
I'm not sure how it works, butyou can.
They can somehow link in andlike send.
So we use Google and ourhousing, we have Google homes on
(41:26):
our main floor and so you cancast your music to the main
floor.
And then, um, people were ableto add to the queue somehow
through Spotify.
I don't know Trevor did it, butlike, I'm pretty sure it's not
that hard to figure it out.
But people could like go ontheir phone and be like, oh, add
this to queue.
And so there were all thesethings queued up like all night
long.
So everyone was able to addtheir own music in.
(41:46):
Everyone was getting their ownvibe.
It was so fun.
So then the next day, um of NewYear's Day, I was taking a bath
and I was like, oh, I justreally need like a restorative
bath right now.
And so my favorite way to takea winter's bath is crack the
window a Bit, make a reallyreally hot bubbly bath with
salts in it.
I like I've had the speakeralready.
I was gonna play like thisreally calming, like restorative
(42:09):
music, and so I like put on myplaylist, but I think it was
like a Spotify generatedplaylist, so I didn't know what
to expect again.
Like I didn't know whatspecific songs were going to be
on it.
But like I looked over itquickly and I was like, yeah, I
think this is the vibe, so Iplay it.
The first song comes on.
It's like all zen, superrestorative.
I'm taking this lovely bath,it's so nice.
(42:30):
And then all of a sudden, it'slike kind of a Kind of a more
upbeat song and I'm like, okay,whatever.
And I'm like going through andI'm like, okay, maybe this isn't
the playlist I want.
Like I'm probably sitting inthis bath for at least 10
minutes being like I feel likethis isn't the playlist that I
want.
But I'm already in the bath andI have to get out.
Whatever, like it'll eventuallyturn into something lovely.
And Trevor comes in.
(42:50):
He's like why are you literallylistening to like literal
bangers dubstep in the bath,like taking a restorative bath
right now, and I was like Ihonestly don't know, like this
isn't the place.
I thought could you change it.
And he picks it up and he'slike grace, it's all the queued
up music from last night.
So, like, because I had clickedplay this playlist, it played
the first song but then itstarted going in order of the
(43:11):
queue.
Oh my gosh, I probably spent 15minutes in this bat listening
to like all of the party musicqueued up from the night before.
Like, oh my golly.
Just thinking like okay, it'sgonna, it's gonna catch the vibe
soon, but anyways.
So you've got to set theatmosphere so low light, fun
(43:32):
music or whatever your vibe is.
So jazz music, what atChristmas?
Music, whatever to whateveryour vibe is, set it with the
music and don't make the musictoo too loud, like I always
start with the music like alittle too quiet and then, as I
Hear the people, as the roomsfill and the people continue to
file in, then I will like adjustthe music accordingly and then
(43:52):
off.
Sometimes it ends up in a danceparty, right, like I feel like
all good parties have a danceelement at some point, and
sometimes that even means justgoing, like Downstairs or to
wherever another space in thehouse that isn't part of the
party necessarily.
Like You'll end up in thebasement and everyone will just
be, like those are where thedancing people are and it's fun,
it's a good time, so, anyways.
(44:12):
And then also just like makingsure that for me personally, I
open a window like I'll open afew windows.
It always gets hotter thanpossible.
Like we have a wood burningfireplace, which I love, but
it's really not practical forUsing when you are hosting a
party, because it gets reallyhot unless you're prepared to
open a window, which for mesometimes it's worth it.
(44:34):
Like it is so cozy, especiallyAt the beginning and when you're
winding down at the end to havethe fire going.
But it is way too hot if youhave people there.
So we'll like crack windows, beprepared, be on standby, feel
the temperature at all times,yeah, and also people can go
outside if they want to want tocatch a break too.
But like be aware of the the,the warmth or the coolness of
(44:57):
the space.
Honestly, I feel like you can'tever have it too cold unless
you're outside in the elements.
But yeah, I'm trying to think ofother things.
Like, honestly, I don't everspend time or energy really on
decor.
Like I'm not that cutie.
I think there's a time andplace for that, but personally,
like it's not part of the stress.
(45:18):
Like I rather spend my money ongetting order taken food than
Buying decorations, and I alsofeel so wasteful when I buy
decorations that are like onetime or will I really ever use
them.
Like we do have a few things.
We have like a birthday sign weput up every year for Trevor's
birthday and we have a birthdaysign we put up every year for
any birthday we host.
And I think we do have a newyear's sign and we do have some
(45:42):
blowers that, like our leftover,we always get a few.
Like I do buy a few.
If it's a new year's party, Iwill buy a few like beads or
hats, like the little headbandsor blowers, just because it's
fun and interactive and likepart of the ringing in the new
year.
But like I really don't buyanything else than that, like I
won't buy specific napkins orplates or any decorations.
Um, it's just not my vibe andit can totally be your vibe, but
(46:05):
it's not mine.
That's one thing I like.
Check off my list like nostress.
I rather set the table cute,with like my standard cuteness
and just like you know, just belike chill.
That's how I am, that's how Iam personally.
That makes me less stressed.
Um, oh, sorry, I forgot that.
I opened this tag up, okay, andI'm trying to think of other
ways that I set the atmosphere.
(46:25):
But really I just like to keepit easy and clean like I just
clean the.
Usually I'll clean.
Okay, I used to always cleanlike rush clean the day of, and
that was so stressful because itwas like I felt like, oh, if I
clean before, it's just gonnaget dirty Might as well.
Just do it the day of.
I don't do that anymore.
I clean a little bit every dayand it's so much easier.
(46:46):
And then the day of, you'rereally just picking up and like
wiping it off, it's much easier.
And then the day of, you'rereally just picking up and like
wiping down the counters andlike doing a quick vacuum, like
it's no stress, like not a fullon, like Uh, actual clean where
I'm putting everything away.
So I kind of do a little bitevery day Leading up to the
event, like for maybe a few days, and then the actual day of
(47:09):
it's like not stressful and ifI'm having people stay over,
then I just change the sheetsand I already have them washed
and everything like.
Then I can spend more time onlike getting ready, if that's
what I want to spend time on,and then it's like not worried
if people show up early, becauseevery so often one person will
show up early.
So I always like to be prepared, like I like to be ready A half
(47:29):
an hour before the event isgonna start, like me, fully
dressed ready, because there'snothing worse than coming in and
you're still getting dressed,um, okay, so I think that's it.
We hit up food, we hit upatmosphere, we hit up activity
oh, activity is the best partand food and atmosphere and also
just like bringing peopletogether.
I love it.
I love bringing people together.
(47:51):
It's one of my greatest joyslike being with the people you
love the most and bringing themtogether with other people.
I think it's so fun.
So let's get into our recipe ofthe day.
Okay, I need to take a sip.
Um Drum roll, please.
I'm drum rolling with my hands.
(48:14):
Recipe of the day this is, uh,classic for my mother-in-law.
I never had it until I starteddating trevor and I think it was
one of the first things I hadum at one of his holiday things
Is artichoke dip.
Like I had had artichoke dipbefore.
Like that you get at the storeand you dip your crackers in and
whatever that's cold.
Like I had had that before andI love it.
But oh my gosh, this is 10,000times better and it's a hot
(48:36):
artichoke dip and it's so goodand it's so easy to make and
it's so good.
Okay, cuties, it's so, so goodit is.
If you are going to hostsomething or go to somebody's
house, bring the artichoke dickor dick the artichoke dip, bring
it.
Or, honestly, just make it foryou and yourself to watch a
(49:00):
movie one night.
It's so good and I love to haveit with the.
She always serves it withtriskets, but my favorite, like
triskets are such a toughcracker.
Right, like they.
But something about them.
Like they last.
They're good, we like them.
They come around again, but Athin triskit, the triangle ones.
The thin ones Perfection, lovethem.
Like.
If I'm gonna have a plaintriskit like a traditional
(49:22):
Thickness of triskit, it's gotto be one of the flavored ones.
Like I can't go back to the, goback to the, the regular, just
like sea salt ones, unless it'sa thin one.
They're so freaking good andit's my favorite.
So go check out Instagram.
Tick tock at five years timepodcast.
I'm going to share therestaurant restaurant recipe for
this artichoke dip.
It's a warm artichoke.
It it's a warm artichoke dip.
(49:44):
It is Unbelievably delicious.
I feel like it's a crowdpleaser.
Everyone will love it.
It is so easy to make and thenyou can definitely pull it
together, um, super quickly.
So that is a holiday favorite.
Thank you so much for comingback for day three of pod miss.
Talking all about holidayhosting 101, I hope you've
learned something, um, and maybea little bit too much about me
(50:07):
and tequila, but I love you allso much.
You mean the world to me and Ican't wait to come back tomorrow
for day four.
How fun is this uploading on afriday?
How strange.
Love, love, love you.
Wishing you all a beautifulrest of your day and see you
back saturday morning.
Mwah, mwah, mwah, love you,cute.
Hey cuties, welcome back to day three of 12 Days of
Podmas.
Always wanting to save Vlogmas.
What I'm learning from 12 Daysof Podmas is I fricking love
wearing a uniform Like it givesme kind of all the feelings that
I need in my life.
There was actually a time Ijust have to tell you this
(00:31):
quickly before we jump into theepisode but there was a time in
new motherhood where we had justmoved into this house.
It was probably that winter, soRo was like eight months,
almost almost a year old, and Iwas just in the depth of I can't
do anything anymore.
I think I was like overwhelmed.
(00:53):
Eventually, after our move,everything was kind of settling
in.
The life was so different thanbecause, obviously, covid was
going on and I was likeextremely isolated.
I was enter, I was in like thenewness of motherhood and just
like almost realizing like whatis my life going to be,
especially after we moved?
(01:13):
Because it was like I shouldhave been coming to thinking
like, oh, I'm going to go backto work at some point or
whatever, my life will get backinto some rhythm of what it was
before, but like because wemoved, I was never going to go
back to that job, and so I hadlike this openness in front of
me.
That was like terrifying.
And then I was also trying tolike embrace the current moment.
(01:33):
Laundry was like the is it vainor vain of my existence?
Because I don't know what Bainmeans, so it must be vain.
But anyways, laundry was justlike the absolute worst thing.
I just felt like it was likerunning my life.
I didn't it's not even likethere was only three of us, but
somehow I was just like alwaysdoing this laundry and like it
(01:54):
was cold and we weren't gettingout of the house as much.
It was just so overwhelming.
And I remember I would wear thesame thing.
Like I think I did this for twoweeks and then I had to give up
because I was like disgustingand smell gross, but I would
wear the exact same thing, noteven like as a new uniform, like
I had multiple of this sameoutfit.
No, I would wear the exact sameoutfit obviously different
(02:15):
underwear every single day,because then I would only have
to wash one pair of sweatpantsand one T-shirt at the end of
the week.
That's, that was what I came to, that's what I, that's what I
tried to do to, to stop havingto do as much laundry.
But you know what the joke wason me, because everyone else
still had so much clothes thatthey were wearing and I just
smelled gross and was takingcare of a baby breastfeeding
(02:37):
like your milk in all the places.
I was just so stinky but likeall I saw was myself, but like I
just felt gross.
You know, when you just wearthe same thing, like a few days,
okay, but like every single dayfor seven days, like too much.
Anyways, I just had that memorybecause I've been wearing the
same outfit for all of theseepisodes and you know what, I
actually kind of love it forthis situation and I'm only
(02:59):
sitting in it for an hour whileI record.
It's not that gross and like,obviously I can wash it at the
end of the week, so the stressis not too high, but I just that
was like that just reminded meof that.
Anyways, welcome back to daythree.
I'm so happy I haven't losttrack yet.
Uh-oh, my face ID isn't working.
There we go.
(03:19):
I am so excited for today'sepisode.
It's a really festive, jollygood time because it is my
holiday, hosting 101, which alsojust works in general for
hosting but obviously becausethis is Podmas.
Hello, we are counting down toChristmas.
It is a holiday hosting guidewhich I think is going to carry
you into, obviously, if you'rehosting anything up to Christmas
(03:40):
, but also New Year's.
Last year we hosted New Year'sand I absolutely loved it.
Fun fact me and Trevor alwayshost New Year's.
It's kind of our thing.
Ever since we like got into ouradult life, we would always
host New Year's.
Um, we would either host likegoing out, like there was a time
where we used to go out inToronto, which is my least
(04:00):
favorite thing to do for NewYear's.
I will never do it again.
You cannot make me do it.
I absolutely hate going out forNew Year's.
It's so horrible, at least inToronto.
It is just so, so horrible.
The only time we ever did itright.
Finally, after years of waitingin line, you always have to
wait in line everywhere.
Even if you get tickets, you'llhave to wait in line and unless
you get tickets and you goearly, like really early, like
(04:21):
too early, then you'll have agood time, but then you have to
be in the mindset to like bethere earlier.
Um, anyways, we used to alwayshost like we do like a pre at um
my mom's, and then we wouldhead into wherever we were going
to go and it would be likewaiting in line and like you're
with the people you love, butlike something about me is, if
I'm hungry and I'm cold and I'mtired, I'm not in a good place
(04:44):
in life.
If I'm all three of thosethings, you do not want to be my
friend at that moment in time.
You really do not want to be,you do not.
Okay, and I have that awarenesswithin me.
I do, I do, and I apologize forany of the victims who have
been in my way when I am hungry,tired and cold, because it's
not a good place to be.
And I, I learned and we stoppeddoing that.
(05:06):
So, anyways, then eventually wemoved.
Actually, the first year wefigured it out Like when you're
young, it's fun.
You're like I want to go out, Iwant to be at the club, I want
to be at the bar, I want to bein the cool scene, I want to
wear the cool outfit, likethat's what you want to do.
But then when the reality hitsthat it's not fun, like uh, then
you eventually get, after somany years, it's like I can't do
that anymore.
So then we would switch to.
This was the year that it allchanged was we were in Oakville,
(05:30):
where Trevor grew up, and sohis parents.
We were at his parents' house.
But what, how did this end up?
I think it was his parents'house and we had no plans.
I think we eventually were likeyou know what?
This is the year we have noplans.
We're not, we're hanging out,we're going to do our own thing.
And then last minute we were, wewere like texting his friends
and they were all like oh, likemaybe we should go to a bar.
(05:51):
So we decided to go to a bar.
So we went to a bar earlier inthe day Well, not in the day,
but like, we were like maybe weshould go to a bar.
And then we were like oh, it'sTrevor's parents and we're like
hey, maybe, like if we go tothis bar, but like we just get a
few drinks, we can come backhere if that's okay.
And they're like oh, yeah,totally.
So we were going to haveeveryone back at Trevor's
parents' house.
And so, um, we went to this bar,some random bar in Oakville,
(06:14):
like literally, I think it waslike a O'Malley of some sort.
I don't remember the names ofthem all, but it was like an
O'Malley of some sort and therewas no.
This was very last minute Like.
We were literally playing thistill last minute.
We probably went at like Idon't know, like eight or nine
like, and so there was literallyno weight to go in.
There was a group of us like weneeded a longer table.
(06:35):
There was probably like I don'tknow, like probably not more
than 10, but like 10-ish I think, and so we were able to go in,
sit, have some drinks and thenwe all had it back to Trevor's
parents' house and we just hadso much fun.
We literally just chilled andlike drank and played games and
I feel like so many inside jokescame out of that night and
(06:56):
Trevor's sister was with us.
It was so fun and maybe bothhis sisters were definitely one
Lauren was with us and we justhad such a good time and we got
snacks like chips and whatever,and just like chilled and spend
time with the people that youliked to spend time with, like
it was so fun.
And then I think that likeunlocked hosting era for us.
That's when we started doingthe New Year's holiday host and
(07:20):
we actually would continue it atTrevor's parents' house for
years on until we got married.
I think we would do it thereand we would invite everybody
like from all the differentplaces of our life, people from
work, people from our friendgroups, people from schools that
we went to like whatever.
We would all come together andit was so fun.
And then we got married and westarted hosting it at our condo
(07:43):
equally so fun.
And then we had Ro and well, Ithink the year I was pregnant I
don't think we did anything, soI had a Rosa Winter baby.
So I was very, very pregnantaround New Year's and I feel
like I just went to bed.
I don't think I did anythingreally so that was like our year
off.
(08:04):
And then we were excited to hitit back up the next year, but
then it was COVID and so then wehad moved, we were in our new
house.
I remember me and Trevor sat bythe fire.
I don't even think I stayed uptill 12.
Me and Trevor sat by the firerowing the sleep and we just
reminisced on, like our pastyears, new Year's of New Year's,
past, and then last year wasour first year where we got to
(08:26):
host it again at our house andit was so fun.
Literally, I had the best time.
It was so fun and because now welive out of the city, we had
everyone stay over as asleepover, like some people were
wanted to go home or likeweren't drinking so they drove
home or whatever.
Even people who weren'tdrinking could stay over, like
anyone could stay, but likeanyone who was available to stay
(08:47):
over, and, of course, we hadextra space just in case.
We had a huge sleepover.
It was so fun and then we allhad our recap the next morning.
It was so like school, likecollege, like dorm rooms.
It was so fun and I was lookingforward to doing that this year
, but someone else snagged itfrom us.
Someone else is hosting it, sowe'll see.
We'll see what we're gonna do,because I think they're hosting
(09:09):
in Toronto and you know, I justprefaced this by saying my least
favorite thing in the wholewide role is going out in
Toronto, out in New Year's.
So we'll see.
I got to talk to my sisters.
I think Becca's going somewhere.
We'll see what Lauren's doing,but yeah, anyways, that is a
little bit of my New Year'shosting history, but also I've
hosted many things.
(09:30):
I love hosting.
I think people from myunderstanding do not like
hosting, but like, if you arelike me and you like hosting,
that's fabulous, and if you'resomeone who doesn't like hosting
, then hopefully people willhost you.
But either way, in apredicament, if you are the only
person who is available forhosting.
I am here to share with you myholiday hosting 101 guide and
(09:52):
just in general, because,honestly, I feel like I've
perfected it.
I think there's like a wiggleroom, but like I've perfected
the situation.
Specifically, we're gonna talkabout holiday here, but I also
might throw in a few other tips,because what else are you gonna
get a hosting guide for me?
Okay, so let's hop in.
I think there are importantthings Food, atmosphere,
(10:14):
activity.
These are my three importantthings to hosting.
Okay, did you hear that?
Food atmosphere activity?
Now, in a holiday hostingenvironment, usually I feel like
it's a larger group of peoplecoming together.
So if you are having anintimate get together, like it's
gonna be you and a couple, ormaybe you and a couple, couple,
six people, then there might bea different rule, mainly to the
(10:39):
food part, because I'm sayingfood for if you're having like a
bigger group, let's say 10 plus.
This is my food guide for 10plus.
Even honestly, now that I'msaying six people, that kind of
sounds like a lot, but no, thisis for my 10 plus.
Okay so, but honestly, youcould do this with less than,
especially if you don't likecooking.
Really, the only thing comesdown to the cooking that's gonna
(10:59):
change different.
So, for activity, I think thisis so important.
Now, I personally love anactivity, like one of my
favorite memories of growing upin Christmas is that it was one
time a year like that peoplewould come together and play a
board game.
I always got a new cranium forChristmas.
Growing up, like, pretty much,I was obsessed with cranium.
I had like all of them.
(11:20):
I loved it because, I feel likeone, you got to do acting and
singing, you got to do create,you got to do what was it?
Math and science, I don'tremember them all, but anyways,
I feel like there was somethingfor everyone.
Some of them pushed you out ofyour comfort zone.
You were not very good at them,and other ones you were so good
at, but then your otherteammate would be good, like.
I feel like it balanced out andit was really fair playing
(11:42):
ground because, like, everyonehas a different strong suit and
there was something for everyone.
So, yeah, I loved it, like Iloved cranium, and so it was the
one time a year where I feltlike everyone would come
together and we would play mynew cranium and it was so, so
fun.
I love, love, love it.
That being said, that's onething I want to start doing Now
that Rose getting a little bitolder is like implementing the
(12:05):
family board game, like gettinga board game every year Cause
it's so fun, anyways.
So activity it doesn't have tobe a board game, but the purpose
is I love to bring peopletogether with an activity.
I think a lot of the timeduring holiday hosting it's
either people family comingtogether that haven't maybe seen
each other for a whole year, orit's you bringing together a
(12:26):
whole group of people who aren'tnecessarily all BFFs you know
what I mean.
Like you bring together peoplefrom work, youth, and then they
meet your family, home, friends,and then sometimes your
family's there, or maybe yourold school friends, like.
Or maybe it's you as a couplecoming together, bringing your
significant other person'sfriends and your friends
together, and you don'tnecessarily all get along.
(12:50):
There's new people in the mixto other people and I love.
I think that's why I lovehosting.
I love bringing people together.
I think it's so fun andsometimes it can feel really
overwhelming as the host whenyou know that there's all these
different people and you feellike you need to be part of all
the conversations to bringpeople together.
Like that can feel overwhelming.
But I promise you step back,relax, like everyone's an adult.
(13:15):
They can all come together andthey can find someone to talk to
.
And if you obviously as a host,see someone who is feeling left
out, invite them to come helpyou with something, invite them
or connect them with somebody.
Of course, but like I feel likeI used to always feel like, oh
my gosh, I'm not giving enoughpeople, enough attention.
But like everyone comestogether, they give each other
attention.
But the number one way toremove that pressure is with an
(13:36):
activity.
I really think it's importantand if you can bring it together
like a little bit earlier inthe night, obviously everyone's
kind of coming and within thefirst hour or two.
Now I don't even know.
I used to be such a punctualperson.
Like five minutes early waslike on time for me.
But I feel like when it comesto hosting, especially at
someone's house, it's alwayspolite to show up either right
(13:58):
on time or like within the firsthalf hour.
That's kind of my expectationis that people will be there
within the first half hour.
But honestly, since I've becomea host, I have learned that
people show up like two, three,four.
I don't.
My biggest thing is like I likeif people can tell me they're
gonna be late, like, oh, I'mworking, I'm gonna be late, like
(14:18):
whatever, then I have noexpectation.
But sometimes I'm like, oh,should I wait for them?
Should I not wait for them?
So yeah, for me within thefirst 30 minutes is like the
best time to show up and I getit like for myself as well.
I like to be closer.
But if it's someone I know andI know the people that are gonna
be there, then I don't mindbeing on time.
But if it's gonna be asituation where it'll be a bunch
(14:41):
of people that maybe I don'tknow, then I like to show up a
little bit later, like withinthat first 30 minutes, not later
than that, because then I feelless intimidated to have to like
talk to one person that I don'tknow.
Or it's just like a socialthing, a social anxiety thing,
but anyways, so within the firsthour or two.
Well, I guess some partiespeople only host technically for
(15:01):
three hours Like this is whatI'm considering like If you're
gonna have a long party, likeinto the night, like a New
Year's party we're gonna do adinner into the night than the
first hour or two.
But okay, let's say the firsthour is for mingling With.
At that, after that first hourmark, I would bring out an
activity and my favoriteactivities are catchphrase or If
(15:24):
you're drinking, you could doone of the passing drinking
around games.
Those are always so fun.
There's so many apps you candownload for your phone and
basically you just inputeveryone's name and they get
people like teamed up withpeople.
It's so funny.
You sit in a big circle and youjust pass around the phone and
it tells you exactly what youneed to do.
So let's say me, grace, and you, jessica, are playing together
(15:46):
or playing in the circle.
So it'll be like Grace tellsJessica Whatever, or Jessica is
responsible for grace to this,or grace, you give Jessica two
drinks, like whatever, but it'llchoose all different names and
it kind of gets people who don'tknow each other connect it.
So like if you, if it's adrinking party, like that's so
fun.
I love catchphrase.
(16:06):
I think it's so fun.
You can make everyone in theirteams right.
You do one, two, one, two.
Get them sitting in a circle.
One, two, one, two, one, two.
Every other person is onwhoever's team.
Heads up.
Oh my gosh, wait, did I saycatchphrase?
And I did heads up because Imeant catchphrase, like the
Circle game.
So catchphrase is a game whereit's the best.
You used to get it with cards,now they.
(16:28):
It's like a digital thing Ihave the digital one now and
basically you input team one andteam two and you break everyone
up into two teams and you passthis thing around the circle.
You're all sitting, every other.
You pass this thing around thecircle and you can choose a
category or you can do mixedcategory and it gives you a word
and you have to describe it toyour teammates without saying
(16:48):
the actual word, and then theyall have to try and guess and
it's so fun, like literally.
That's probably my favoritegame like in the world and I
always bring it out for parties.
I think it's a great party game.
Heads up is a classic one.
You can download it right onyour phone and it's so funny.
Oh my gosh.
Last year, new Year's, we wereplaying heads up and I just
remember like it was like I laidinto the night we were playing
(17:10):
heads up.
So you know we were all alittle toasty and I was
literally dying.
Everyone was doing oh no, thiswasn't even had New Year's.
I get my heads up blurredtogether.
This is what my friend'sbirthday party were playing New
Year's and everyone was actingAt a dolphin, I think to me, and
it was hysterical.
I was sitting on the one sideof the table and everyone's
being a dolphin and I wasliterally dying like Watching
(17:31):
everyone act as a dolphin.
For some reason.
It was just so funny.
It's like all at the same time.
They all were like I don't evenknow, but it was.
It was so funny.
But long story short is thatheads up really is like a great
crowd, please.
They're like.
I personally Use heads up in somany different ways Like I think
it's great for parties.
When we went to Disney, likeyears ago, we downloaded it for
(17:53):
in line, it was amazing, forwhen you're waiting in line and
it gets everyone involved, likeyou can play, but then everyone
else will start Participating aswell.
If you've got like an activegroup around you people you
don't even know.
Then you make friends.
That's so fun.
So, yeah, theme parks, like Ijust love that game, but yeah,
so that's a great game.
So, catchphrase, heads up.
You can get those drinkinggames.
You can also just play like aclassic card drinking game,
(18:15):
which is like Kings Cup orwhatever, but yeah, just doing
some sort of activity.
Or you could even get even moreclassic, doing charades,
anything.
I just think it's so Fun to havean activity and like the people
who want to participateparticipate.
Then you already know, like whoyour vibe is, and the people
who don't can just go hang outand enjoy Abev and eat some food
(18:38):
or whatever.
Like it's not a mandatoryeveryone get to the letter room.
Now we're playing a game.
But I think it's great to havean option, especially for
newbies, so that they can feelmore welcome and Connect it with
other people.
It's so fun.
So activity is so fun.
And then also, if you're havinglike Unlike themed party, you
(19:00):
could also like with yourgirlfriends or something.
It doesn't have to be all girls, obviously guys can participate
as well, but I'm thinking likeyou could also bring people
together and like have like agingerbread decorating
competition or stuff like that,but like I do love like a group
activity and it's super lowmaintenance.
You don't have to buy anythingfor it.
So those are fun games.
Okay, food, food I think is oneof the most stressful things
(19:20):
when it comes to hosting a party.
Like I feel like Even formyself, like I can get caught up
on this.
But now I think like I havelike a good, good background of
like things that I love to bringor make when I'm hosting.
So like, yeah, I just feel likefood is one of those things
that can become so overwhelmingin my mind.
(19:41):
I'm always thinking like, okay,how am I gonna have everything
prepped and prepared?
But then I also want to have myspace clean, like especially
Depending on where you live.
But like in my life, the onlyplaces I've ever lived have had
like the heart.
The heart of the house is kindof the kitchen.
Like in Our condo is very openconcept.
Living room, like the kitchenis there, everyone's in the
living room.
You can see the kitchen.
Same thing here.
Like our living room is alittle bit more secluded, but
(20:04):
it's still like our kitchen islike a heat, like half of our
main floor, so it's like a hugepart of the entertaining zone,
and so how can I keep that notso Messy and like food
everywhere?
Like food for eating, of course, but like if you're cooking,
like you know it creates messdishes, pots, pants.
Like it's like I want For methat's stressful.
(20:24):
Like I don't want all of thatout and about.
Well, people are trying to likemingle and mix.
Sir, this is my food rulenibbles, drinks and order in.
It is Literally the best thingever, because nibbles you can
prep ahead of time, like makeyour fruit platter, make your
vegetable platter, make yourfocaccia, make your.
This is like my new obsessionright now is focaccia and meats
(20:47):
with a burrata in the middle.
Oh, my gosh, make that.
We need to add that to ourrecipe of the day because it's
so good.
I'm gonna put that down.
I'm gonna write that down forone, for one One day.
Recipe of the day focaccia Idon't think I had that out yet.
Meets, it's just so good, Ipromise you.
(21:11):
Like that is a showstopper.
Oh, and the fresh focaccia is soeasy to make.
Like yes, it's time-consuming,but like it's so delicious and
it's like an elevated Cheese andcrackers, so, anyways, but like
all those things are easy tomake ahead of time, your
Chikouterie board, or even yourcheese and crackers.
All of that stuff you can makeahead of time any dips if you're
(21:34):
gonna make a hot dip, which,wink wink, might be part of our
recipe of today, but like all ofthat stuff you can pretty much
make ahead of time or it's easyto assemble.
You can prep the stuff andassemble it.
You can pop it in the oven toheat up before Like if it's a
hot tip, pop it in the oven toheat up before your Guests
arrive, or just as your guestsarrive, so that you're pulling
(21:54):
it out around that mark wheremost people have come.
But most of that stuff, likethe mess of it, is taking a care
ahead of time.
So nibbles are my favorite andAlso, on the on the note of
nibbles, chips, candies, likesweets, chocolates, things like
that I do think are veryimportant and I think it's
important to.
I personally don't do a dessertAfter dinner, like I don't put
(22:18):
out a dessert spread afterdinner.
I mix in the sweets with theSavories.
I just like to put it all outat the start, or like Timed at
the start.
It doesn't.
You might not want to put itall out right away If you know
people are coming later, like Iprobably usually start with just
some bowls of chips and likepeanut M&M's around In different
(22:38):
areas of the house where peoplewould probably be sitting or
mixing or mingling, and thenusually around that half hour
mark or 20 minutes and I'llstart putting out like the the
actual big nibbles, and thenthat will include some dessert
things.
I'm just gonna grab my water.
That will include some dessertthings, and then I always save
(23:03):
for the end of the night, after,like when it's starting to wind
down or we're chilling orpeople might be having coffee or
espresso, martinis or whatever.
I always like to save a fewthings in the fridge for that
moment or in the cupboard.
But like I'll always have a fewthings for after, after dinner
nipples, okay, so you have yourfirst nibbles out.
Another good rule of thumb isdon't over buy chips.
(23:25):
I feel like everyone over buyschips.
You really don't need one bagof chips per person, like one
giant bag of chips.
You only need a few.
I feel like for my life Ialways went to Costco and you
don't need to go to Costco,maybe if you're hosting for like
a hundred thousand millionpeople, for sure, like if you're
having a huge blowout but likeI'm talking about like 20 people
are under, like you don't needCostco sized everything because
(23:48):
that's too much, like that's forlots and lots of people.
I know there's Costco loversout there, but this is something
I've learned for my years ofhosting is I always end up with
so much leftover, especiallyparty food, where it's like I'm
really not gonna eat it or it'sgonna go bad.
It's gonna go bad before I getto even eat it, so or I don't
have room to store it Like yeahanyways.
So I just get like maybe twodifferent types of chips, like
(24:14):
maybe a popcorn I have a friendwho's allergic to potatoes,
which has opened my eyes to notbuying just potato chips, so
maybe a popcorn or a Dorito andthen like a plain classic chip
with a dip.
Like I keep it pretty simpleand if someone wants to bring
chips, they bring chips,whatever.
Okay, now drinks.
I did this for new years and itkind of like changed the game
(24:36):
for me in the sense that Ididn't feel overwhelmed when I
went to the LCBO, which is ourliquor store, to like buy things
is.
I did a drink, a drink at thenight.
So I had our drink like what doyou call it?
Like you know what Weddings,when they have, like a drink,
what is that called A signaturedrink?
That's it A signature cocktail.
So I did a signature cocktailand we did whiskey, cranberry,
(25:00):
whiskey sours they were sofricking good and so that was
something easy that I had allthe ingredients for and could
make if someone wanted a mixeddrink.
And of course we have lots ofstuff, like we have our alcohol
cabinet which has like bits andbobs or whatever, but I didn't
feel like I had to be fullystocked up on a full bottle of
this.
Full bottle without a fullbottle of this, it was like that
(25:20):
is gonna be our cocktail.
And then we have wine and somebeers and then, if anybody wants
anything else, oh, and I alwayshave stuff for espresso
martinis, okay, that's just likeI always do, because you never
know when you want an energypickup, right, it's just
something I do, okay, but likethat was our signature cocktail.
And then I felt way lessstressed out and I made a fun
(25:41):
shot.
I did Jell-O shots, which Ithought was so fun, and I think
fun shots are fun.
Like, personally, for myself, Ido not take hard alcohol shots
anymore, like hard liquor shots.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no,no.
I actually did recently Ifyou've been listening to the
podcast and are not new, on the12 days of Christmas.
You heard back in November whenI went to my besties 30th
birthday and it was the last ofour friends of the 38 year, like
(26:04):
we're born in 93.
And he's like my bestie, like I, and he is a tequila man, like,
loves tequila, and I used tolove tequila, like too.
And then I had really badtequila one time at my other
friend's 30th birthday years agohe's older than us and it was
so horrible it actually likescarred me.
I have not had.
Like I can have a mixed drinkwith tequila I love margaritas,
(26:25):
I love it like that but like Icannot just have a shot of
tequila no, no, no, no, no, no,no, no, no, no, no.
And I haven't successfully foryears, like years six, seven,
lots of years, okay.
And so I went to his birthday,being like I'm not going to
drink shots, tequila.
I even went to his fiance'sbirthday, naveena, my dad see,
(26:46):
you know, naveena, there's anepisode of us called
multicultural couples.
But anyways, I went to herbirthday and I went, which was
like the same place with thesame people, and him, which he's
always like everyone tequilaand I successfully said no,
because you know what, that'snot Naveena's thing.
But then this one I don't knowwhat came into me, probably the
(27:08):
bottle of Prosecco I had as apre.
We had just come back fromItaly and in Italy, me and
Trevor, any night that we weregoing to go out for like our
pretty much like our last nightat each city we would like have
I don't know why we did this asour last night of each city,
because then we'd have to wakeup the next day and, like, trek
to a new place hungover but wewould have a share, a bottle of
(27:29):
Prosecco, while getting readyfor dinner and having a slow
afternoon or whatever.
Yeah, and so I brought that forus to do that.
But Trevor was so exhaustedbecause he had come home from a
business trip and so he justwanted to sleep until we had to
leave.
He was like I can't drink, likeI'm so tired.
I was like that's fair,whatever, and then we can drive,
we don't have to Uber, savemoney, woohoo.
(27:51):
But I was like I only brought aProsecco and so I was at, we
were at Trevor's parents, for wewere going to stay there for
the night because it was closerto where they were and we
weren't sure if we were Uberingor not or whatever.
And also I had to pick upTrevor from the airport, like he
literally just got home andthey live closer to the airport,
anyway.
So I was like well, I'm stillgoing to have my Prosecco
(28:12):
because it's good vibes, and I'mlike totally in a sparkling
wine mood, like I love Prosecco,like I literally think that's
going to be like my 30s drinkMaybe not, but like I do truly
feel that within me, likeProsecco is my vibe right now.
And so I popped the bottle,thinking like I'd have a couple
of glasses and like Trevor's daddid come home from work and
start helping me out, but Iprobably had a lot of it.
(28:33):
Anyways, I was feeling good, Iwas feeling fine.
But I walked into the party andI think right away it was like
okay, shots of tequila, and likethey were tiny shots, you're
like little itty bitty glasses,but still I would not do that,
like I would even just mix itwith juice.
Like I'm lame, I will do that.
Like if I'm at a party andthey're giving out shooters,
like I will grab a chase andlike properly mix it and like
(28:53):
not take it because it was justa ruin it for me, but for some
reason this one did not ruin ituntil the next day, of course,
but anyways, I took it.
I was like okay, fine.
First I was like no, no, no.
And they were like come on, Iwas like okay, fine, for Akbar's
birthday.
And I took it, and I took thelime and I was like I can't
(29:13):
believe I just did that.
And then like literally I don'teven want to tell you how many
times I did that after thatslash, I don't remember but I
was like, wow, only for you,akbar.
The next morning, that'sliterally when I messaged in the
group chat, everyone's likehow's everyone feeling?
I'm like, literally only foryou.
I would do that and only foryour 30th they are getting
married later this year but notfor their wedding, only for
(29:35):
specifically for him, for his30th.
Anyways, it was a good time.
But back to the story, or backto the drinks.
So, yes, I would choose asignature drink.
I think that is so good and itjust like makes it really easy
for you.
You don't even have to do thatif you don't want to.
That's more catering.
(29:55):
If you know that the peopleyou're inviting are going to
want a cocktail instead of beeror wine, and if you know that
they're not going to drink wineor beer, don't get any of those
things either.
Mostly, like most of the time,we barely buy beer because most
of our friends are cocktailpeople or wine, and people will
always bring wine, like, alwaysbring wine.
So like don't even go that hardon the wine, but anyways, so
(30:18):
that was a big thing.
For me is just like be the onecocktail is such a good thing,
like a signature drink.
I think that's a pro move.
And then obviously you don'thave to be drinking alcohol.
You can also.
We did.
We did our Jell-O shots, whichwere so fun.
I thought that was such a funand simple shot to make and you
(30:40):
can prep it at a time and, likeyou would literally just pass
them out, so that is the bestthing ever.
Another fun shot that I'll makeis a sour no, what is it called
?
A Swedish berry which is sour,puss and crumb to banana.
I think everyone loves it.
It's delicious.
You can also make a cocktailusing Sprite with it If someone
really just loves.
Like a fruity, fun drink.
But we also made because weknew that there are people.
(31:04):
We have friends who don't drinkand we also have friends who
are going to be DDs or whatever.
So we also did just like Jell-Oshots.
Like just Jell-O but in a shotglass with nothing else in it,
and then it's like they stillget to partake and have fun.
We also always have some soberbeers, depending on what the
brand's called.
Like I have one called sobercarpenter that I like, and Farm
(31:25):
Boys actually such a great place.
They have a whole sober bottleshop like area where you can get
all the different non-alcoholicstuff.
So, yeah, we always get somefun things like that and you can
actually make such fun If youif you're, it's a total not
drinking party you can make suchfun non-alcoholic drinks down
like mocktails that actuallytaste good.
Like you can make like awhiskey sour that doesn't have a
(31:47):
whiskey sour, like whatever.
Like they sell so many funbitters and stuff and find a
sober bottle shop near you.
Like we have a really goodspecialty, one that's included
in Bushel Impact, which is nowrun out of Delatère, if you're
local to me, and they sell somany different bitters and also
just like Jins and like that arenon-alcoholic and Prosecots and
(32:09):
stuff like that, like there'sreally good stuff now.
So yeah, just have fun with it,make fun different things.
And obviously if you just likedrinking pop, then just buy pop.
Or if you like drinking justwater, then just drink water.
But like, yeah.
So nibbles, easy, make themahead and have two rounds of
nibbles.
You have your starter nibblesand then you have your end of
(32:29):
the night nibbles.
Okay, so end of the nightnibbles are more like cheese and
I always like to do a cheeseplate and I like to do a.
Our friends actually do this.
They bring it everywhere.
A spinach dip, they buy thespinach dip and the big round
pumpernickel and then you justlike cut it up and you dip it,
like that is what they alwaysbring, and so I always put it
out as an end of the nightnibble.
(32:50):
I think it's a great end of thenight nibble, it's a great
beginning of the night nibbletoo.
But it's also easy to throwtogether if you're inebriated at
the end of the night and so,yeah, so I like to do like a dip
and a bread vegetable situationand then a cheesy one and then
some sort of sweet as well,which is great.
You could do the Hello Dolly'sthat's a great one to put out,
(33:12):
or even a sweets tray with, likeall the different sweets that
we're going to do for recipe ofthe day for our 12 days of
Podmas, and then order in,literally, do this, it's the
best thing you could possibly do.
Like, don't stress yourselfwith cooking if you're hosting,
especially if it's.
If it's not, if it's six peopleor less, like that's easy
enough.
You can make a simple meal, orany meal will be a simple-ish
(33:34):
meal to cook for six people,because that's just like a
family meal, right.
So, like more than that, like,unless you're having like a
proper literal, no, even I wouldnot.
Just don't do it, I would notdo it.
Order in Last year for NewYear's, we did Greek food.
It was amazing.
Everyone loved it, especiallyin the wintertime.
Like if you live in a placewhere you have a climate where
(33:54):
you can do barbecues or for yourholidays, sure, barbecues are
easy, throw on the hot dogs,throw on the burgers, whatever,
like that's easy.
And food you can prep ahead oftime.
The mess stays outside of thehouse, sure, but I'm talking
cold winter climate here, likewhere I'm from.
And so, yeah, we did Greek food.
I feel like Greek food is great.
Most people love it.
(34:14):
There's options Like if youdon't eat gluten, then you can
just stick to the meat and sauceand veg.
If you don't eat dairy like, Ifeel like there's options for
other people who don't eatthings, and then if you don't
like pickle or pickles notpickles olives you can pick the
olives out.
Like, I think Greek food'sgreat.
I think there's something foreveryone.
I personally love it.
(34:35):
Another great one is Chinesetakeout.
Like, literally, chinesetakeout is so classic, it's so
delicious.
People love it for a reason youcan always order everything.
You can choose your menu aheadof time.
Like for the Greek food, weordered it ahead of time.
I think if you're doing NewYear's specifically, you
probably have to order it aheadof time, but if it's like on a
random weekend or weeknight,like, I think you have more
(34:56):
flexibility.
In that Chinese food you caneven ask ahead of time if people
have any requests or just makesure you order, like you know,
turbo shrimp come on, that's thebest part.
But like a noodle, a rice dish,two proteins, like whatever, a
vegetable like, and also Indianfood, like, I feel like Indian
food is so good.
There's something for everyone,as long as you get something
(35:18):
that's not spicy.
But maybe I don't know, youknow you're a crowd better than
I do, but yeah, and I just thinkthat that's a great one, an
easy one for like a massquantity, but there's so much.
Oh, one Christmas I think it wasthe Christmas after my dad
passed away someone had pressed,someone from my mom's work, I
think, had sent us Christmasdinner which was so sweet, but
it was so memorable because wehad the most delicious Jamaican
(35:39):
food which we literally wouldn'thave never had for Christmas,
ever, because that's just nothow I was raised.
I love Jamaican food, fyi, andit was so fun and it's like one
of those things that I willforever remember and it's like
that's also a great one to getin and I feel like Jamaican food
is a good one for everyonebecause everyone, at least, even
if they're sensitive to spice,you could just get chill.
(36:00):
The big thing of festival likewho doesn't love festival?
And I mean personally I lovethe oxtail, delicious, but like
you can just get fried chickentoo, like delicious.
So oh, and jerk pork.
I personally love jerk porkbecause it doesn't have bones,
but one time in Jamaica, we hadthe most amazing jerk chicken at
this random side stand on theside of the road and I still
dream about it like literally,and I have no, someone took us
(36:24):
there so I don't even know whatit's called or where exactly it
was, but I want it.
So bad, so good.
Anyways, delicious, delicious,delicious.
So many delicious options.
So order it Honestly.
Just save yourself the stressand order it.
Promise you it's worth it.
So yeah, for food, nibbles,drinks.
Order in more nibbles at theend.
Sandwich it all together Foodto make people happy.
(36:46):
Okay, let me grab a drink.
I feel like I've been talkingforever.
I'm very passionate abouthosting Delicious.
I've actually got into this.
I realize this really is aboutholiday hosting.
I feel like I do have notes on,like, summer hosting, because
we did talk about barbecuing andbeing outside.
It's different for me forholiday hosting.
I don't live in a warm climate.
(37:07):
Okay, atmosphere, this is aneasy one.
You start by what time of dayare you hosting your event.
That really starts off what theatmosphere is going to be.
But usually holiday hosting, Ifeel like, is like you want it
to be cozy, vibes, right, like Ifeel like most of the time
that's what it is for mepersonally.
So even if it's going to belike a brunch, I still want cozy
(37:29):
brunch vibes, cozy Christmasbrunch vibes, and if it's going
to be an evening thing,definitely cozy vibes.
For sure, do not put youroverhead lights on.
Dim the lights.
Lamps, lamps are a BFS.
I feel like we know thisalready.
I live in an old house.
We don't have overhead lighting.
The only places we have, likepot lights, the only places we
(37:52):
have pot lights, is our kitchen,because it's like newer added
onto the house or newerrenovated.
We didn't renovate it, butwhoever lived here did.
But like literally our livingroom.
We had two lamps in there and Ifinally put in two more lamps
on the other side of the roomand now it feels very, very cozy
and less like dim and dark, butlike turn off the overhead
(38:14):
lights, turn off the pot lights,put on the lamps.
If you have a dimmer switch,dim it up.
You really want to set the mood.
Okay.
So that's the mood.
I'm always very hesitant tolight candles, especially for
parties.
Sorry, I'm always very hesitantto light candles for parties
because I will forget to blowthem out if it's a party
(38:36):
situation most of the time,especially if people are like
sleeping over, like.
So that's for you.
And also I'm nervous like whatif someone puts their bag down
somewhere?
Or what if someone like doesn'tknow what's there and they
knock into it?
Like I'm always just like alittle hesitant about candles,
so it's up to you.
But definitely dim the lightsIf you got the Christmas tree up
.
Christmas tree brings in thelight like there's so much good
(38:57):
stuff about that.
But yeah, just lower, lower,lower.
And then when people get there,if they need a little louder,
you can turn it up a bit.
But like low mood music, notnecessarily mood music, but set
the mood with some music.
I love Spotify, like I'm aSpotify Convert.
I love Spotify so much and solike Spotify will give you now
(39:20):
they have so many amazing things.
Like I love DJ X oh my gosh, somuch so that row will get in
the car and be like ma, put on X.
I Love when X chooses thismusic.
I'm like, yes, queen, okay, aslong as I don't have to listen
to Kids music.
I don't mind kids musicsometime, but sometimes I just
want to be in this car and vibeout.
(39:41):
You know what I mean.
And row just wants To listen.
Actually, right now she's verymuch into veggie tales, knows
every word of silly songs withLarry's like loves it.
Sorry, I have everything stuckon my head from that, but
anyways, set the mood.
So you can either curate yourown playlist or you can start
off if you use Spotify.
I love to start off with acouple songs that are like kind
(40:03):
of the vibe and then put it onlike Shuffle, ai or whatever it
is.
It's not called shuffle, I,maybe it's recommend it and
it'll just like Go from.
It'll take those songs that youchose and it'll like go from
there and create things.
Also, I just realized Spotify.
Within the past like month or so, I personally realized this.
I don't know when they starteddoing it is they have like a
made for you, and I know theyalways do like your discover
(40:23):
weekly and whatever but now theyhave playlists that are
specifically curate it for youlike that are like called I
Don't even know happy playlistor energy or Indie, like.
They have things that I wouldhave thought are like general,
but it's made specifically,specifically for you and
(40:44):
literally everything is always abanger.
I'm like, oh my gosh, I lovethis song.
I love this song.
I love this song.
I love this song.
Like they get it pretty muchmost of the time for me, so
that's a really great thing todo.
And then you don't have tostress like it shovels through.
If all of a sudden you hearSomething weird, you just go
when you like, change it.
The funniest story I totallydon't think I told you guys this
, oh my gosh it.
So last year for our New Year'sparty I keep using our New
(41:05):
Year's party because that's thelast holiday thing I host it um,
last year I had my Spotify onand then also, if other people
have Spotify, they can add, theycan somehow link up together.
I'm not sure how it works, butyou can.
They can somehow link in andlike send.
So we use Google and ourhousing, we have Google homes on
(41:26):
our main floor and so you cancast your music to the main
floor.
And then, um, people were ableto add to the queue somehow
through Spotify.
I don't know Trevor did it, butlike, I'm pretty sure it's not
that hard to figure it out.
But people could like go ontheir phone and be like, oh, add
this to queue.
And so there were all thesethings queued up like all night
long.
So everyone was able to addtheir own music in.
(41:46):
Everyone was getting their ownvibe.
It was so fun.
So then the next day, um of NewYear's Day, I was taking a bath
and I was like, oh, I justreally need like a restorative
bath right now.
And so my favorite way to takea winter's bath is crack the
window a Bit, make a reallyreally hot bubbly bath with
salts in it.
I like I've had the speakeralready.
I was gonna play like thisreally calming, like restorative
(42:09):
music, and so I like put on myplaylist, but I think it was
like a Spotify generatedplaylist, so I didn't know what
to expect again.
Like I didn't know whatspecific songs were going to be
on it.
But like I looked over itquickly and I was like, yeah, I
think this is the vibe, so Iplay it.
The first song comes on.
It's like all zen, superrestorative.
I'm taking this lovely bath,it's so nice.
(42:30):
And then all of a sudden, it'slike kind of a Kind of a more
upbeat song and I'm like, okay,whatever.
And I'm like going through andI'm like, okay, maybe this isn't
the playlist I want.
Like I'm probably sitting inthis bath for at least 10
minutes being like I feel likethis isn't the playlist that I
want.
But I'm already in the bath andI have to get out.
Whatever, like it'll eventuallyturn into something lovely.
And Trevor comes in.
(42:50):
He's like why are you literallylistening to like literal
bangers dubstep in the bath,like taking a restorative bath
right now, and I was like Ihonestly don't know, like this
isn't the place.
I thought could you change it.
And he picks it up and he'slike grace, it's all the queued
up music from last night.
So, like, because I had clickedplay this playlist, it played
the first song but then itstarted going in order of the
(43:11):
queue.
Oh my gosh, I probably spent 15minutes in this bat listening
to like all of the party musicqueued up from the night before.
Like, oh my golly.
Just thinking like okay, it'sgonna, it's gonna catch the vibe
soon, but anyways.
So you've got to set theatmosphere so low light, fun
(43:32):
music or whatever your vibe is.
So jazz music, what atChristmas?
Music, whatever to whateveryour vibe is, set it with the
music and don't make the musictoo too loud, like I always
start with the music like alittle too quiet and then, as I
Hear the people, as the roomsfill and the people continue to
file in, then I will like adjustthe music accordingly and then
(43:52):
off.
Sometimes it ends up in a danceparty, right, like I feel like
all good parties have a danceelement at some point, and
sometimes that even means justgoing, like Downstairs or to
wherever another space in thehouse that isn't part of the
party necessarily.
Like You'll end up in thebasement and everyone will just
be, like those are where thedancing people are and it's fun,
it's a good time, so, anyways.
(44:12):
And then also just like makingsure that for me personally, I
open a window like I'll open afew windows.
It always gets hotter thanpossible.
Like we have a wood burningfireplace, which I love, but
it's really not practical forUsing when you are hosting a
party, because it gets reallyhot unless you're prepared to
open a window, which for mesometimes it's worth it.
(44:34):
Like it is so cozy, especiallyAt the beginning and when you're
winding down at the end to havethe fire going.
But it is way too hot if youhave people there.
So we'll like crack windows, beprepared, be on standby, feel
the temperature at all times,yeah, and also people can go
outside if they want to want tocatch a break too.
But like be aware of the the,the warmth or the coolness of
(44:57):
the space.
Honestly, I feel like you can'tever have it too cold unless
you're outside in the elements.
But yeah, I'm trying to think ofother things.
Like, honestly, I don't everspend time or energy really on
decor.
Like I'm not that cutie.
I think there's a time andplace for that, but personally,
like it's not part of the stress.
(45:18):
Like I rather spend my money ongetting order taken food than
Buying decorations, and I alsofeel so wasteful when I buy
decorations that are like onetime or will I really ever use
them.
Like we do have a few things.
We have like a birthday sign weput up every year for Trevor's
birthday and we have a birthdaysign we put up every year for
any birthday we host.
And I think we do have a newyear's sign and we do have some
(45:42):
blowers that, like our leftover,we always get a few.
Like I do buy a few.
If it's a new year's party, Iwill buy a few like beads or
hats, like the little headbandsor blowers, just because it's
fun and interactive and likepart of the ringing in the new
year.
But like I really don't buyanything else than that, like I
won't buy specific napkins orplates or any decorations.
Um, it's just not my vibe andit can totally be your vibe, but
(46:05):
it's not mine.
That's one thing I like.
Check off my list like nostress.
I rather set the table cute,with like my standard cuteness
and just like you know, just belike chill.
That's how I am, that's how Iam personally.
That makes me less stressed.
Um, oh, sorry, I forgot that.
I opened this tag up, okay, andI'm trying to think of other
ways that I set the atmosphere.
(46:25):
But really I just like to keepit easy and clean like I just
clean the.
Usually I'll clean.
Okay, I used to always cleanlike rush clean the day of, and
that was so stressful because itwas like I felt like, oh, if I
clean before, it's just gonnaget dirty Might as well.
Just do it the day of.
I don't do that anymore.
I clean a little bit every dayand it's so much easier.
(46:46):
And then the day of, you'rereally just picking up and like
wiping it off, it's much easier.
And then the day of, you'rereally just picking up and like
wiping down the counters andlike doing a quick vacuum, like
it's no stress, like not a fullon, like Uh, actual clean where
I'm putting everything away.
So I kind of do a little bitevery day Leading up to the
event, like for maybe a few days, and then the actual day of
(47:09):
it's like not stressful and ifI'm having people stay over,
then I just change the sheetsand I already have them washed
and everything like.
Then I can spend more time onlike getting ready, if that's
what I want to spend time on,and then it's like not worried
if people show up early, becauseevery so often one person will
show up early.
So I always like to be prepared, like I like to be ready A half
(47:29):
an hour before the event isgonna start, like me, fully
dressed ready, because there'snothing worse than coming in and
you're still getting dressed,um, okay, so I think that's it.
We hit up food, we hit upatmosphere, we hit up activity
oh, activity is the best partand food and atmosphere and also
just like bringing peopletogether.
I love it.
I love bringing people together.
(47:51):
It's one of my greatest joyslike being with the people you
love the most and bringing themtogether with other people.
I think it's so fun.
So let's get into our recipe ofthe day.
Okay, I need to take a sip.
Um Drum roll, please.
I'm drum rolling with my hands.
(48:14):
Recipe of the day this is, uh,classic for my mother-in-law.
I never had it until I starteddating trevor and I think it was
one of the first things I hadum at one of his holiday things
Is artichoke dip.
Like I had had artichoke dipbefore.
Like that you get at the storeand you dip your crackers in and
whatever that's cold.
Like I had had that before andI love it.
But oh my gosh, this is 10,000times better and it's a hot
(48:36):
artichoke dip and it's so goodand it's so easy to make and
it's so good.
Okay, cuties, it's so, so goodit is.
If you are going to hostsomething or go to somebody's
house, bring the artichoke dickor dick the artichoke dip, bring
it.
Or, honestly, just make it foryou and yourself to watch a
(49:00):
movie one night.
It's so good and I love to haveit with the.
She always serves it withtriskets, but my favorite, like
triskets are such a toughcracker.
Right, like they.
But something about them.
Like they last.
They're good, we like them.
They come around again, but Athin triskit, the triangle ones.
The thin ones Perfection, lovethem.
Like.
If I'm gonna have a plaintriskit like a traditional
(49:22):
Thickness of triskit, it's gotto be one of the flavored ones.
Like I can't go back to the, goback to the, the regular, just
like sea salt ones, unless it'sa thin one.
They're so freaking good andit's my favorite.
So go check out Instagram.
Tick tock at five years timepodcast.
I'm going to share therestaurant restaurant recipe for
this artichoke dip.
It's a warm artichoke.
It it's a warm artichoke dip.
(49:44):
It is Unbelievably delicious.
I feel like it's a crowdpleaser.
Everyone will love it.
It is so easy to make and thenyou can definitely pull it
together, um, super quickly.
So that is a holiday favorite.
Thank you so much for comingback for day three of pod miss.
Talking all about holidayhosting 101, I hope you've
learned something, um, and maybea little bit too much about me
(50:07):
and tequila, but I love you allso much.
You mean the world to me and Ican't wait to come back tomorrow
for day four.
How fun is this uploading on afriday?
How strange.
Love, love, love you.
Wishing you all a beautifulrest of your day and see you
back saturday morning.
Mwah, mwah, mwah, love you,cute.
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