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During this holiday season, while there's a lot going on which the most energetic people may occasionally anticipate a calm respite of the new year, it is all too simple to forget details. I expect I cannot be the only person who has once been surprised back to reality at my desk because of a text by a friend wondering, "What time do you want us later?" Don't worry; whether you're forgetful, or just prone to last-minute plans, I've got some solutions.

The Secret to Great Get-Togethers

First and foremost, and I can't stress this enough, if you've planned for a year or just a short while, the greatest events are the most straightforward. All everyone expects are a good chat, a drink to sip, plus enough food so they don't feel like gnawing something during the bus home. Unless you are a fictional millionaire, no one anticipates professional bartending, fancy food or musical performances.

The best gatherings tend to be the simplest. That said, a theme helps to disguise the reality you have only put the party together on the way back from the office.

Picking a Concept to Direct Your Party Planning

Still, an overarching idea can be useful to hide the fact you have only put the party on while returning home from work. And with a theme, I mean something like a seasonal celebration. Getting a bit focused (Nordic holidays, say, with spiced drink, aromatic cocktail, fish snacks plus rye crackers, Scandinavian music playlist; or Mexican Christmas, including holiday punch, chilled brews and margaritas, and lots of snacks, salsa & guacamole, and upbeat tunes in the background) will focus your options during the upcoming shopping trip.

Smart Buying to Support The Gathering

At the shops, pick a couple of drinks (an alcoholic option for drinkers, a non-alcoholic one in case others avoid alcohol) plus a couple of appetizers suited to the theme, then purchase a generous amount as possible, rather than fretting about offering guests too much choice. No thing appears more abundant and celebratory than a bounty – I'd always rather to arrive with a container filled with chilled bottles with reasonably priced bubbly over one glass with swanky bubbly. (Chuck in a few bags of ice, as well; you'll find seldom plenty of ice.)

Drinks & Large-Batch Drinks Simplified

Should you impress and offer a special beverage, then mix in advance a big quantity in a jug so you aren't stuck busying yourself with it when it's time to having fun. Once underway, ask a close friend or volunteer to keep an eye on it then replenish when needed till it runs out. Follow suit with the soft drink; guests love to take on a task during gatherings so they can experience the festive spirit.

Regarding punch, whichever formula you choose (they abound via search), skip anything excessively sweet – young ones there ought to have kid-friendly options – and if you own one, place flavor enhancers close by (don't add any to the bowl as they're inappropriate for those who avoid alcohol altogether). Make an effort with how it looks so that the alcohol-free drink doesn't feel unimportant; it doesn't take a minute to slice a few rounds of lemon or orange into the bowl.

Food That Shine With Minimal Preparation

For me, I'd skip the store-bought platters with "party foods" that appear in supermarkets during the holidays; they seem overly complicated, and frequently involve using the oven (should you do this, be aware that everyone quietly prefers toasted bread or cocktail sausages anyway). I'm convinced you can't beat several large bowls of tasty snacks (plain salted is universally liked), plus, assuming no dietary restrictions, some of those large and economical packets of nuts available with global foods at the market, with perhaps some ready-to-eat olives for color (try not to find pits in your pot plants next Easter).

If, like my mum, you feel chips substantial fare, a single large piece of good cheese on a board with crackers plus beautifully placed grapes always looks painterly. A serving dish with some preserved or ready-to-eat prosciutto or seafood arranged there (only one type, unless you have a large budget), alternatively a handsome pre-made pastry, like those that appear in specialty sections seasonally, proves more substantial, and you really won't fail by serving artisanal slices of Italian bread, since they require no spreading butter.

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