Christmas summertime party? I know what you must be thinking, she crazy! I enjoy doing a holiday party during the warm summer months. It changes the pace of picnics and cookouts to a holiday festive mood. The event doesn't have to be expensive or elaborate, just make it fun.

Consider a formal dinner evening or an informal get together with a possible warm weather meal. I wanted to share with you a couple ideas for an evening that takes a break from the heat of the season.

Let's start out by thinking along the formal dinner party. Of course I don't take out all my Christmas decorations. I like to keep it simple and use the table as the focal point of the evening. I already have decorated miniature lights around the house, so no need to add any holiday lights. There are a few things I think about when doing this summertime holiday party.

1. Invitations that will sure surprise your possible guests
2. Table decorating
3. Gag gifts or budget gifts to exchange
4. Meal planning
5. Music to set the mood

Your invitations for this type of party may be hard to find in a store. Get creative and make your own. Much more personal and fun. During the warm months of the year many people are on vacation or holidays. Plan accordingly to this. Give ample time when planing this event.

Your table can be the focal point. Here is a photo of a close up of the plate, placemat, and napkin. Your good holiday dishes are great for an event like this. If you notice in the picture I kept it quite simple. Formal placemat with plate, soup or salad bowl, and a decorative napkin. Adding a silk poinsettia to the ring around the napkin, adds to the theme of the Christmas summertime party. If you don't have specific holiday dishes, you can use whatever you have available. Bring the theme of the evening in through other accessories.














Here is a couple of different ideas for colors for the table decor. You can make everything match perfectly, or mix and match them up. The two pictures show you just a variation using the same textured placemats and napkins, just in different colors. Don't be afraid to play around with your table setting ahead of time. I usually try several different looks until I get the one that feels balanced and enjoyable.

This picture let's you see what a place setting would look like. Once again, I used simple accessory to try and give the focal point a formal look. Besides the plate, placemat, and napkin, I added a delegate wine glass. In the photo you may be thinking, "are those little candies around the glass?" You can put little candies to border the glass.

I went a little bit different with this, as I had old red and green marbles and decided the marbles would add a special touch. The marbles are there when your guest arrive, but should be removed before eating. Hum, can you see it now, marbles rolling all over your table and floor?

The coffee or tea cup and saucer on the other side of the plate balances out the table setting. Another option you can do is to buy or take from you summertime garden fresh cut flowers. Carnations and Baby Breaths work really well during the warm month. I added three silk larger Poinsettias around the vase of the fresh flowers. A little added formality and nice aroma.

The other option is to have an informal party. This can be done with informal plates of the season. You can also use colored paper products and have a cookout with the flare of the holidays in other accessories. Keep it simple and just have some fun.

The music and food also play a big role in a Christmas summertime party. Holiday music sets the tone and of course great food is definitely a bonus. If doing a formal party, go ahead and have hor dourves. A nice shrimp and cocktail sauce platter, stuffed sausage mushrooms, an eloquent cheese and cracker plate, or even some crab cakes. For the informal party have some summertime munchies out before hand. Fresh veggies from the garden, pretzels, peanuts, summer sausage and cheese.

The main course for the formal party could be a standing rib roast, duck, Cornish hens, or do a complete vegetable entree and side dishes. Fresh fruit cups look colorful around the focal point table. Ah, the informal party can be a good old fashion BBQ. Those tasty babyback ribs, grilled chicken, kabobs full of veggies, shrimp, or a specific meat.

Desserts are popular after a great meal. A formal party could consist of a black velvet cake, or how about a couple of fresh baked pies. Take the fruit that is in your area, and create a memorable dessert for everyone. An idea for an informal dessert is to have different flavors of ice cream and have a variety of toppings, including holiday colored sprinkles. Yes, as adults we can do this too!.

Planning a Christmas Summertime party may be a little out of the norm, but go ahead and get your creative juices flowing and invite friends and family over for an evening that will set the mood for the holidays that seem so far away.

I will be writing in the next couple of months more details on a full Christmas party as well as other holiday and seasonal parties.