This past weekend, I hosted my very first Christmas party—and if you know literally anything about me, you know this was my Super Bowl. I love Christmas. I love the build-up, the shopping, the decorating, the twinkly lights, the nostalgia, the “remember when” stories, the sparkle, the sentiment, the everything. It’s the one time of year when joy is easy to find and love sits right at the surface, ready to burst out of you like glitter from a shaken ornament.
And if you’re one of my people? You’re part of my inner circle of chaos, comfort, and shared snack plates. I love hard. I love loudly. And I love making the people I adore feel adored.
That’s why my beloved Supper Club crew means so much to me. Earlier this year, we made a pact: gather with intention. Make themes. Show up. Eat good food. Laugh. Be real. It’s been one of the best things I’ve done for my heart.
So naturally, the Christmas-obsessed goblin inside me stood up and said, “We are throwing a party. Immediately.”
The Party Blueprint
Because I refuse to do anything halfway, I decided to build the whole night around holiday traditions—mostly mine, because go big or go home, right?
Tradition 1: Pajamas only.
On Christmas Day, my family wears PJs from dawn ‘til whenever the last person conks out, and I highly, HIGHLY recommend adopting this lifestyle. You can eat more comfortably, your “dessert stomach” has room to breathe, and you will never again feel the shame of unbuttoning dress pants after your third plate.
Tradition 2: Bring a nostalgic Christmas dish.
Childhood memories, but edible.
Tradition 3: Secret Santa.
Because… obviously.
And just like that, we had a full-blown party plan that sparked more excitement than a Black Friday sale on AirPods.
The Decor Situation (Send Help)
I over-decorated. I am not sorry.
Is three Christmas trees too much?
Well, if by “too much” you mean “perfect,” then yes.
Those ribbon garlands practically became my personality for a few days, and the house looked like the North Pole threw up in the most festive way possible. If it’s not tacky and over the top, I simply do not want it.
The Feast
We did a Christmas Traditions Buffet and let me just say: elite choice. My family ditched turkey years ago and went full prime rib roast—and shoutout to my local butcher Tristan for helping me nail the perfect one. The table was packed: broccoli, green beans, pierogies, apple crisp… everything comforting, cozy, and wildly capable of giving you the happiest kind of food coma.
For the table setting, I went candle-heavy with flowers and Christmas greens, but ditched the tablecloth for brown craft paper and markers so everyone could doodle. Ten out of ten: would recommend adults scribbling while eating.
We laughed a lot. Ate too much. Ate more anyway. Ate our weight in peanut butter marshmallow squares. Then kept eating.
Secret Santa Chaos
Now THIS is where the night peaked. Surround yourself with spontaneous, creative, slightly chaotic people and your Secret Santa gifts will be unmatched. But nothing—and I mean nothing—tops the gift Laura received from Dave.
Let me paint the scene:
Dave is a ridiculously talented artist and tattoo artist. Laura is down for anything, anytime, anywhere. She’s covered in gorgeous ink and loves cheese with a passion that could move mountains. It is her brand.
So Dave? Oh, he went there. He designed a tattoo for her: the Grim Reaper… holding cheese. It was unhinged. It was brilliant. It was so Laura.
And because these are my people, and because this group is the perfect combination of adventurous and responsible, we had already talked, planned, prepped, sanitized—all the things. And yes. My home became a tattoo parlor.
I can confidently say nothing cooler will ever happen in my house again.
The Heart of It All
We swapped gifts, we made memories, we ate until our seams begged for mercy, and we had one of the most joy-filled nights imaginable.
So here’s my reminder for you:
Throw the party. Eat the food. Be intentional.
Create traditions or make new ones.
Because YOU are the magic.
And the holidays? They’re meant to be magical.
