Holy Christmas Party time

Seriously.  As many of you dozens of faithful readers (and Im sure, fans dare I say) know, I am a hopeless lover of the season.  I always ALWAYS plan way too much stuff for our family to do, trying to squeeze the joy out of every possible thing that even hints to be Christmas...but even I cant believe - its almost here.  Where has this year gone?

Anyhoo, I somehow find myself at that blessed time of the year.  The Christmas Party.  I do love me a good partee.  I love to hostess, to make everything look impossibly pretty and fill everyone up on goodies (edible and liquid), but for some unknown reason this time round you know what I was finding totally difficult?  Cocktails.  I know what you are thinking but its true - I was stumped.  Well good news - after weeks of looking for the perfect 2 cocktails to make, I've settled on a prickly pear tini - which I need to think up a clever name for *calling for suggestions please) - its basically absolut pear vodka, cranberry, apple and lime juice, grenadine, simple syrup ...all shaken to within an inch of its life and served in a frosty glass.  The second is my own invention ALSO NEEDS A SEASON NAME PLEASE - cassis and orange liquer with champagne.  Course we will have wine and a little bar but these will hopefully be the well received stars.

Mr Big is currently in St Louis (actually to be acurate he is making his way home as we speak) so he is yet to give the nod of approval for the tails, but Im sure he will agree that they are the winners.  I didnt want to make anything too creamy this year.

Food is all sorted - only 2 hot things YAY -- so no stress about keeping things to temperature.  I know - you are as relieved as I am right!  Good.  That makes two of us.  Mr Big is of course insisting on one of his favorites to be in the line up ..... meatballs.  Dont worry yourself that we have white carpet and that the meatballs will be in a swedish brown gravy HA - HA - HA, our friends will hardly drink at all and will keep a sphere shapped object perfectly balanced on their party plates while supping there beverages and chatting with friends....right?  Arggghhhh - meatballs, delicious as you are, you really have no business being at a standing cocktail party - you are here at the bidding of my beloved, so do stay on the plates...umkay?

Off to pick up Mr Big for a beautiful reunion.