012. Deck The Halls with Disco Balls

And music playlists to pair!

Hi friends! We are back in the NYC swing of things. I finally adjusted from the time change in France and fully getting into the holiday spirit. As we jump into the season, I wanted to share some festive party ideas for your holiday soirees! The theme here is retro / sparkle / velvet disco, which is actually the exact mood board that I sent my florist for my upcoming 10 Year Cheese Party in NYC next Friday Dec 15th!

Here’s what we’re working with:

Disco Balls: I know disco balls give more New Year’s energy than holiday, but I love how they look amongst colorful florals, bows and taper candles. You can also purchase a disco ball set and use the mini ones on your tablescape with the food display!

Bows: 2023 was the year of the bow. I’ve seen them everywhere lately - tied onto the stems of wine glasses, decorated on Christmas trees, we really went all out this year. Bows are such an easy way to add a cute pop of whimsy. Here’s some festive ribbon to use!

Taper Candles: Nothing says cozy dinner party like a selection of taper candles. You can arrange them down the center of your table with different heights and colors, making for a beautiful ambiance. I love these ones.

Florals: Flowers are always important and oh so versatile! I love to think about the color scheme of the food I’m serving and plan my florals and linens around the general palette.

Tinsel: Similar to disco balls, I love the look of tinsel at a holiday party. Drape it over a garland or on the table itself to add a bit of sparkle. Here’s a link!

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OPINION: The Big Light

The key to setting a mood is to never turn on the big light. What is the big light you may ask? It’s the super bright, usually fluorescent, overhead light that exists in the center of every room in your home. Lean towards lamps and candles instead, it creates a much more soothing ambiance. Here is a funny Tiktok to further explain my point.

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Holiday Party Playlists

You know how we roll here at That Cheese Plate. I have two different playlists to kick off your parties!

That Loaded Latke Playlist

Classic Hanukkah tunes and some of my favorite songs by Jewish artists. I just posted a recipe for latkes on Instagram here!

That Charcuterwreath Playlist

A compilation of my favorite Christmas songs!

You can find the shopping lists and step-by-step food styling instructions for both of these cheese plates in my latest cookbook, That Cheese Plate Wants To Party.

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Bonus Content: Annecy, France Travel Guide

Last week I visited the charming lakeside town of Annecy, France. Nestled in the base of the French Alps next to a glacier lake, Annecy is a beautiful city that feels like a storybook. If you happen to be in the area, I definitely recommend checking it out! Here are some favorite spots that we visited, as well as recommendations from a friend who grew up in the area.