With the holiday season in full swing, comes plenty of parties. Although hospitality may come easy to some, for others it can be a challenge. Regardless of the event, a party in your home can be a fantastic way to get everyone together, whether it’s a cooked meal at the table or party food to pick at. If you have a gathering planned, maybe with family and friends, you’ll most likely want to be prepared. Your home needs to be ready to host as well as an effort being put in in the kitchen. 

Let’s have a look at some of the ways you can host the perfect party: 

Make A Plan 

Whether you’re a natural planner or normally just wing it, it’s a good idea to create a plan and write it down. This way you can almost guarantee that you won’t forget anything. The key to hosting a successful party is down to the planning. Create a guest list, any food requirements even down to whether your guest has any specific needs such as gluten-free, Plan a cleaning day, buy any decorations, think about decluttering, make any necessary repairs and plan your food prep. Then you can work through your list and tick off your tasks as you go along, writing down your plan also means it’s easier to delegate to others who are helping. 

Food & Drinks

You need to determine how you’ll serve food and drinks. Are you planning on catering yourself or maybe considering using a social event catering service? Food and drink interfere with the flow of your party therefore this makes it extremely important. Buffets are one of the most popular options, as people can serve themselves but there is just something nice about catching up over a sit-down meal. Of course, it’s going to depend on how many people you are catering for when you come to your ultimate decision. 

Clean Through Your Home And Declutter

When planning the perfect party, cleaning and decluttering your home will probably be one of the first things you think about doing. You may not have to clean every room, as parties tend to be restricted to certain areas of your home, so think about where people are going to use. Most common places such as the kitchen, bathroom, living room, family room, basement and dining areas tend to be used during a gathering. Hide any personal documentation, and clear any clutter. Sometimes it might be easier to get a cleaning company to deep clean after you’ve decluttered. 

The Party Area

It’s not uncommon to need to rearrange parts of your home to make it an area that is easy for people to gather and not feel crowded. You need to have a flow about the area you’re hosting so you can move between your guests and make them feel comfortable. Put coats in a cupboard and have a dedicated area for any drinks or food that they may bring. 

Your aim should be to make your home as welcoming as possible for your guests. Following these tips will help you to achieve this. Do you have any other tips that you can share in the comments area below? 


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Morocco! A beautiful, mysterious and exquisite country based in North Africa that is laced with culture, architecture and above all the most colourful and delightful fabrics and decorations. So what is going to tempt you to take a trip abroad to Morocco in 2020? It has all the feels of Middle Eastern culture without long flights, visa issues or fears of danger. Morocco may still have its dangerous parts, but the British government has deemed it safe especially in the tourist hotspots, so there’s no better time to visit. 

Morocco borders both the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea and has influences from both it’s Arabian citizens and it’s European neighbours, however Marrakesh, its capital is renowned for its beautiful, medieval streets, colourful markets and restaurants which boast only the finest in Moroccan cuisine. Morocco is also incredibly famous for its fashion and fabrics, which make it a wonderful place to buy for your home or gifts. It has plenty of hotels and resorts, and the weather is often mild although it can become incredibly hot during the winter months and it’s probably best to avoid it during these times. Make it your next place to visit! 

What To Do There

There are lots of planned day trips you can take part in if you’re based in Marrakesh. Why not opt for Morocco desert tours which can be incredibly exciting! You can trek through the sandy dunes, taking in its nature and enjoying the culture, seeing village life first hand and feeling part of something very special. For those who prefer a little less adventure, there are always things to do in the city; there are lots of temples to walk around, and the markets are delightful! You can find pottery, traditional textiles, lots of street food and enjoying the culture of the city will give you such a buzz! The Jardin Majorelle is a small oasis in the big city, a beautiful garden full of luscious plants and flowers. The Bahia Palace is a majestic building in the centre which is open to visitors and will allow you to capture the history of the city. Koutoubia is a 12th century mosque where you can experienced the religion of the country and see how the influences of Islam have affected the city, it’s truly a wonderous city that is full of surprises. There is so much to see, you probably need at least a week in the city. 

There are also a plethora of museums where you can soak up all the information as well as art installations around the city and often there may be events on. During the summer, although it is hot and may feel a little suffocating, you will see the city during the time of Ede and get to be part of the festivals and the buzz of the city during this important time of year. Flights are available often from many major airports across the UK and on the whole, Morocco is an affordable city with so much to do! 

Where To Stay

You will find hotels that range from inexpensive to pure luxury. In the hills of Morocco you will find Richard Branson’s hotel, a major five star resort which is a very luxurious stay; but if you want something a little more affordable you might want to look to stay in Marrakesh centre. If you are dubious of staying in a hotel that is independent, then you can always opt for the big chain hotels, which include Radissons, Four Seasons, Hilton and Marriott. You may want to stay in your own place, perhaps an Air bnb, so the best neighbourhoods to look to stay are:

1. Medina - good for first timers, everything is easily accessible and nearby for tourists.
   
2. Kennaria - it is good value, with lots of shops and restaurants nearby that are affordable and there may be good value apartments in this area.
   
3. Gueliz - trendy and hip, plenty of bars, lots of places to relax, wind down, have a drink and plenty of stylish bars, if you’re with friends, this may be a great place to stay! 
   
4. Hivernage - cool and fun, it’s again a great place to visit with friends, it has a nice feel, good community and generally a very cool spot to be in the city.
   
5. Chrifia - relaxed and a little out of the way of the crowds, it’s a little more peaceful and quiet. 
   

So if you’re looking to start your 2020 travel bucket list soon, make sure you add Morocco to your list! 

On our last trip to London this November I managed to check out the latest pastel extravaganza at the Peggy Porschen Parlour. I hadn't been back since Halloween a couple of years ago, so a visit was way overdue. 

Iv said before, id literally go just to the parlour just to see the latest decor, but thankfully the cakes and cupcakes are just so amazing that its definitely not a wasted journey.

This year the theme is very much Sugar and Ice and all things nice. Think powder pink and minty greens with lashings of snowflakes. Not to mention arctic polar bears and pink penguins!

Not only is Peggy Porschen doing its things for Pastel lovers everywhere, its also aiming to increase awareness of the at-risk status of the Arctic, home to the iconic polar bear as well as four million people, the Sugar & Ice Christmas Collection will support WWF-UK's work in the region to turn the tide on climate change, by donating 5% of each Arctic cupcake sold. And this definitely helped me feel less guilty about my cupcake consumption!   

I tried the spiced Gingerbread cupcake, topped with lemon cream cheese frosting and I may have also had the peppermint with ice blue frosting topped with an a shimmering snowflake! Both amazing but my favourite was definitely the gingerbread!

Have you checked out the Christmas dec's at Peggy's yet?

​Belle 
Xx
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