The smell of barbeques waft through the air and EVERYONE has the day off work. Dress code is anything ‘green and gold’ or an Aussie flag over togs. It’s a day of celebration, food, drinks and friends. So you’ve decided it’s your turn to host this year’s party. If you aren’t well prepared, a celebration can easily turn into a nightmare – especially if Sydney decides to turn on one of its freakish summer thunderstorms.

Here’s a quick checklist to help you host a smashing event!

Think about the space

It’s easy to get carried away with inviting your friends to a few fun drinks, but before you go inviting your 647 friends on Facebook and all the Twittersphere, think about how much space you have. Will you host your party outside? Do you have a backyard, courtyard or balcony? The last thing you want is for your guests to feel crowded. If there are too many bodies and not enough chairs, everyone will feel uncomfortable.

If you’re happy to have guests inside, be mindful of valuables (people get clumsy after a few drinks) and your floors (red wine is impossible to get out of most carpets!)

To BYO or not… that is the question

Hosting an intimate gathering can soon blow out of proportion. Once you buy drinks and snacks and maybe a few desserts and a fruit platter the dollars add up. So, before you send out the invites, decide what you will provide. If you expect your guests to bring their own drinks and a plate to share, be clear. Otherwise, people will assume you will provide all. It’s a good idea to assign a ‘plate’ to certain guests so you don’t end up with five pavlovas (although that’s not necessarily a bad thing!). Most people will bring a bottle of plonk anyway but if you do decide you’d like to provide all drinks and foods, DON’T scrimp. As with everything you do in and around your home, do it with style and class. No one likes a cheap host.

The weather

It’s the middle of a Sydney summer so there are two main things to be mindful of:

1) Hot, hot, hot – ensure there is adequate shade if you’re hosting outside and air conditioning if inside.

2) Thunderstorms – an outdoor shelter when it starts to rain or allowing your guests (possibly with muddy feet) to come inside.

AND the mozzies…

Cans of insect repellent, coils, and zappers are a necessity!

And finally, have fun!

Aussie Aussie Aussie…

Walking in a winter wonderland isn’t exactly what comes to mind when celebrating an Australian Christmas! We’re more about slapping on the sun screen, jumping in the pool or ocean for a swim and firing up the BBQ. We’ve got a few more interesting Australian Christmas facts and figures for you to share around the BBQ these holidays. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

An Australian Christmas

IT’s that time of year again. Everyone has been counting down the weeks till Christmas and you probably haven’t had much time in between office parties and brunches and long, long liquid lunches to think about getting your decorations up in your home. It seems as if the shopping centres had their tinsel and trees up since Easter and some eager-beaver neighbours’ homes look as if a few frenzied elves used a few bottles of cheer to ‘decorate’.

But, before you pull out the old tree from the garage and blow off the layer of dust and try and salvage the old baubles, think about what mood you’d like to create. As with decorating and stying your home during the year, there are certain elements to consider. Keep in mind LESS is usually more and the key is to do everything tastefully.

Do’s

• It’s tempting to use the same old decorations you have for years. I suggest taking a walk around the shops and flicking through some magazines to get inspiration. Each year, there are certain trends that emerge; and while these are recycled it’s nice to create a different theme every year. Spend a few dollars buying some nice pieces. This will also help you differentiate the years when looking at old photographs! One tip is to chose a colour scheme – such as gold and red, or purple and silver – and stick to these few colours whether on your tree, dinner settings/centre pieces and outdoor displays.

• The Christmas tree should be the focal point, but be mindful of size. Take into consideration the size of your room, where in the house you’ll be setting it up don’t forget proximity to power points!

• Tinsel comes in so many colours, widths, lengths and quality. Draping some over a curtain rail is a quick and effective place to hang your Christmas cards. Just remember, the cheap and nasty stuff sheds faster than a Persian cat.

• Nothing says festive more than lights – but please don’t go overboard! It can overtake the whole ambiance.

• Wreaths made from natural products are a lovely way to bring in a bit of the outdoors. Look around your backyard and get creative. Herbs and vines can easily be twisted together for a fragrant, elegant and cheap decoration.

There is nothing worse when you’re trying to open a can and you can’t find the can opener. Below is a list of the ultimate kitchen utensils to keep you sane: