by Becky Pruitt
6. December 2010 04:17
It’s a quarter to 7:00 and your guests will ring your doorbell at any second. You know there are always those who come in early and catch you off guard…..right before you are ready….before the candles are lit, music playing and you feel a little, well….unprepared. What to do?? Try this trick…..when planning your party, pretend it begins 20 minutes before the actual time….light your candles, play your music and pour yourself something a little sparkly beforehand….and breathe.
This weekend, The Man and I threw our annual Holiday Party. This year, despite our best intentions, the day got away from us and I was running around like a little chicky squawking and clucking….in a preparation frenzy. Something had overflowed in the oven, the smoke alarms were beep beep beeping, outside doors flung open in the midst of a snowstorm, candle lighters inoperable, silverware forgotten, my driveway a sheet of ice….stress stress stress. My daughter and The Man were working so hard to get everything perfect, but they seemed to be walking through clay and I was in warp speed. My stress level reached DefCon5 and something must be done before my head started spinning around my body…..the clock read 6:45…..I took a deep breath and called everyone upstairs, poured each person a glass of Gruet Sparkling wine and gave a toast to their work and to our party. Looking back, this set the tone for the evening. We had a moment to enjoy each other’s company before the deluge of guests walked through the door and nothing creates a moment like a Sparkler.
Many people say they don’t care for Champagne, but I say that they just haven’t found the right one! There are a multitude of Sparkling options to choose from. There is the traditional Champagne, made in France….with all it’s nutty and sometimes creamy qualities. There are the Cava’s from Spain, crisp…clear yumminess. The Proseccos from Italy offer a balanced sweetness and the sparkling wines from the US have a plethora of flavors and styles. These are just the tip of the iceberg!
Nowadays, Champagne isn’t just about milestone celebrations…..a Sparkler goes with anything (just like a diamond). Friends routinely offer a sparkling wine before dinner as an aperitif. Holiday meals are made more special with the presence of Yellow Label (Veuve Cliquot) and of course, who can deny that Champagne with a 2 hour lunch is the ultimate in decadence!
This year, when my holiday guests walked through my door, I offered them a champagne cocktail comprised of a splash of Pama Pomegranite liqueur and Gruet Sparkling wine. I took their coats, poured their drink and sent them downstairs to the party…..my champagne cocktail gave my party ambiance and a little touch that said to them, “you are special.”
This holiday season, open a bottle of bubbly every chance you get….not just for New Years. Your friends and family will love it!
V&T Guest Blogger, Check out Becky’s Blog, The Divorced Diva’s Guide to Survival at www.divorced-diva.blogspot.com.
