I love the time between Christmas and New Years…the work is done…the fridge is usually still full…and there’s no where to rush off too. I keep my tree up until the new year and I try to squeeze as much out of the holidays as I can.  Two years ago I hosted a “Holiday Coffee (Baileys Optional)” during the last week of the year. I invited a few friends over and we used it as a great time to catch up, decompress and share. It was so much fun…I’ve been doing it ever since!

This is such a fun, easy and inexpensive way to gather together. I make a batch of muffins (you could buy muffins)…put some clementines and apples in a bowl… and put out some cheese and crackers.  I put on a pot of coffee, make tea and have orange juice. That’s it. It couldn’t be easier!

I organize my Holiday Coffee as a drop-in. Coffee is on at 9:00am and we usually go till noon. Typically I host this on a Saturday so people are free to come and go if they have other commitments. I joke and say “Bailey’s optional”…but after the holidays…I see quite a few people adding it to their coffee 😉

One of my “quiet resolutions” each year is to have people over more often. I think sometimes we get bogged down with the list of things we “think” needs to happen before we can invite people in. Was the house as cleaned as I would have liked when I hosted my Holiday Coffee? No…the floors definitely could have been washed….but if I heard someone say they would love to see me…but their house wasn’t ready…I would just laugh! I don’t need a sparkly clean and tidy house to see my friends. A place to sit…and a coffee would be nice….but it’s the time spent together… that is the important thing.

When you have a busy family…a night without commitments…feels heavenly! But connecting with people….over food…or coffee…or drink…is so good for us too. What a lift to ones spirits and I truly believe that social connection holds the key to our happiness. I love “simple celebrations”….you might remember my TGIF Chip n’ Dip Club? 🙂 I really am going to try to put more effort into making hosting people in our home this upcoming year. (I will add that I host the kids friends here…A LOT…which we love…but those kids are all going to move out ( right??? )…and take their friends with them. 😉  We need our own friends and social group. Small efforts go a long way.

Having people over doesn’t have to be hard…or expensive. Making time in your schedule…and your home…for others…is so worth it and is a simple way to bring joy and happiness into your life. Who doesn’t want more of that? 🙂

Do you have people over regularly? Do you have any resolutions related to your social calendar this year? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this…leave a comment and let me know!