Host a Holiday Open House
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and The Coca-Cola Company. All opinions are mine alone. #CocaColaHolidayMagic #CollectiveBias
If you haven’t noticed, Christmas is my favorite holiday! A table full of food, clinking glasses, and laughter —these are all the sights and sounds of holiday parties that I look forward to hosting. This year, I’m bringing a little holiday magic with The Coca-Cola® Company and the return of their iconic Polar Bear label to create a holiday open house to help ring in the season.
The holidays are such a busy time, so how about inviting guests over for an open house where they can stop by in-between holiday shopping or other events? Take the pressure off of committing to a full blown affair, after all, who wants to choose which party to attend?
It’s all about the little details and the world’s easiest, no-fuss menu; the key is ready-made appetizers that can be easily replenished throughout the evening. Read on for my simple tips to creating a fabulous holiday open house!
The Drink Bar
First thing on your shopping list, the drinks!
- Turn your bar cart into a easy drink station where guests can pour themselves a frosty drink.
- Set out festive copper mugs with paper straws. Did you know that drinks stay colder in copper mugs? And you thought they were just pretty.
- Use a large beverage bucket to keep cans and bottles of Coca-Cola® chilled and ready to serve.
- My vintage Coca-Cola® crate was a recent find, complete with glass soda bottles. It fits in perfect for all-season decor.
The Menu
Our menu is all about the comfort food! We did a twist on the classic tomato soup/grilled cheese combo with a tasty tomato bisque with a toppings bar and other store-bought appetizers.
- Invite guests to make their bowl of yummy bisque even more special. There are endless possibilities for add-ins….
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- cheese – from shredded to sliced
- fresh herbs like basil and cilantro
- fresh veggies from chopped onions, tomatoes and peppers to corn and black beans
- condiments like salsa and sour cream
- cured meats
- chopped bacon
- crunchy items like tortilla chips, crackers and croutons
- Instead of sandwiches, a ham and cheese croissant bar is served up in bite sized portions. Also in manageable portions, mac and cheese bites! This makes it easy for guests who want to nibble and talk before having to head back out into the holiday madness.
- I love a well-thought out cheeseboard; with a variety of meats, cheeses and antipasti, it is easy to replenish throughout the evening.
- Did you catch who was keeping an eye on our food? I found polar bear toy figurines and tied a thick piece of red yarn like the classic red scarf.
- Serve savory and sweet popcorn options in clear vessels like apothecary jars. A festive piece of ribbon is all you need to finish the look.
Holiday Open House Decor
Soft, fuzzy decor with classic red and white with buffalo plaid accents reflect both the season and our partnership.
- From the faux fur rug as our table runner to furry trees and our furry friend on the bar, it was all about repeating the polar bear motif.
- My collection of vintage thermoses are always a holiday win.
- Bring the outdoors into your space with evergreen clippings from the yard. Don’t be afraid of mixing fresh and faux greens, I used both.
- Create a simple but elegant floral arrangement with fresh cranberries and white roses with evergreen filler.
- I love to fill clear vessels with ornaments, bells and other Christmas items to create an instant centerpiece.
- Festive pillows and blankets invite guests to cozy up…and perhaps, tempt them to stay a little longer.
Begin your holiday shopping by heading to your local Walmart or hovering over this photo in order to click through and purchase the Coca-Cola®items. You will be one step closer to bringing a little holiday magic to family and friends.
We hope you’re inspired to host your own Holiday Open House! Do you have a great tip to making your holidays less stressful, leave a comment and please share!
