Punchbowl Blog

This post was written by Stephanie Fader, Sr. Marketing Manager

Holiday party planning season is in full swing! Families and friends plan all types of festive holiday parties from cookie exchanges and gift swaps to tree decorating parties and traditional Christmas dinners.

Whether you’re hosting an annual holiday celebration or want to create new holiday traditions, we’ve got 5 great tips to help you plan a splendid holiday party!

1. Choose a date that works for key guests. The holiday season is a very busy time of year. To help narrow down the ideal holiday party date, send a Date Decider to some or all of your guests.
2. Find an appropriate venue. Depending on the size and type of your party, you may decide to host your holiday gathering outside your home. Old-fashioned inns offer a rustic charm, while a bar or restaurant can provide a lively atmosphere. Find a local venue for your holiday party.
3. Send beautiful invites. Regardless of whether your event is big or small, an accurate head count is a must. Send online invitations to keep track of your guest list. Your guests can also RSVP for their guests!
4. Choose a festive theme. If you want to host a holiday party but aren’t sure where to start, choose a theme. A party theme can give your party a focus and will make your job of planning a little easier. It can also be fun for the guests. Some ideas include Ugly Sweater parties, Tree Trimming parties, or a Secret Santa. See more holiday party themes.
5. Set up a hot cocoa bar. Whether you host your party at home or in an outside venue, incorporate a hot cocoa bar to give the party an extra special holiday touch. Don’t forget the peppermint sticks!

Of course there are a number of other ways that you can create a memorable holiday party for guests. Decorations, menu selection, and entertainment all contribute to festive holiday fun. Browse more winter holiday party ideas and find the right touches for your celebration!

This post was written by Stephanie Fader, Sr. Marketing Manager

Thanksgiving is coming up next week and if you’re like many, you’ve probably already started planning your menu. It’s interesting to see how the traditional Thanksgiving dinner has evolved over the years. While many of the popular dishes found around the Thanksgiving table are foods that the Pilgrims are believed to have eaten, there are a number of traditional dishes that were introduced much later and some that are missing from the table entirely.

Seafood, for example, was one of the dishes that was served at “The First Thanksgiving” in 1621. Specifically, fish, lobster, and clams. Makes sense since this “First Thanksgiving” took place in New England where seafood is abundant. Today, however, we rarely find seafood around a traditional Thanksgiving dinner table. Instead, we serve turkey, squash, berries, and fruit - all of which were present that “The First Thanksgiving.”

As for traditional side dishes and desserts, those can vary greatly by region. Popular staples, however, include green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and cornbread. For traditional Thanksgiving desserts, it’s all about pie! Pumpkin pie, apple pie, and pecan pie reign as the top Thanksgiving desserts.

Need inspiration for your Thanksgiving dinner? Check out a few delicious facts about the culinary delights that Americans will be feasting on this Thanksgiving:

• 248 million turkeys are raised in the U.S., weighing 7.11 billion pounds
• 750 million pounds of cranberries will be made into sauces and jellies
• 2.4 billion pounds of sweet potatoes are used to create this quintessential side
• 1.1 billion pounds of pumpkins will be used to make everyone’s favorite dessert
• 266.1 million pounds of cherries will be used for this tart and fruity pie
• 2.01 billion bushels of wheat are needed as wheat is the essential ingredient of bread, rolls, and pie crust
• 656,340 tons of green beans will be ready to go in your casserole dishes

Still need recipes for your Thanksgiving dinner? Check out our full list of Thanksgiving ideas!

This post was written by Stephanie Fader, Sr. Marketing Manager

Earlier this fall, we introduced our new Digital Greeting Cards service - a suitable alternative to traditional paper greeting cards complete with folded designs, matching envelopes, realistic postmarks, and the complete mail-opening experience. We’ve received wonderful feedback about Digital Greeting Cards so far and we’re just getting started.

Free holiday eCards, for example, are a wonderful way to send warm thoughts to family and friends during the busy winter season. Families can write a personal message, modify text colors and fonts, and upload their own photo to create a truly personalized digital greeting. Winter holiday categories include Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year, and Season’s Greetings.

As for more immediate card-sending occasions, there are also digital greeting card categories for Veteran’s Day eCards (Friday, Nov. 11) and Thanksgiving eCards (Thursday, Nov. 24). Simply choose a design, edit your message, and send your well-wishes to as many people as you like - free!

Need to send cards for another occasion? Check out our selection of digital greeting cards for birthdays, announcements, occasions, everyday, and care and concern. Browse all of our free eCard categories now and let us know what you think on our Facebook page!

This post was written by Stephanie Fader, Sr. Marketing Manager

Gobble, gobble, gobble! Grab your fine-feathered friends and get ready for a fun and delicious holiday. Believe it or not, Thanksgiving is only a few weeks away! If you plan to host Thanksgiving this year, here are a few tips for planning your Thanksgiving feast!

• Plan your guest list: Things to consider include space and accommodations, cooking time and preparations, the number of adults and kids, as well as overnight guests. Get more tips for planning your Thanksgiving guest list.

• Send Thanksgiving invitations: Once the guest list has been determined, send out beautiful Thanksgiving invitations. Punchbowl offers a variety of free invitations in popular Thanksgiving motifs.

• Create a delicious menu: It may seem obvious, but a delicious menu is key to a successful Thanksgiving. The main dish and sides are often filled by family favorites. However, you can still wow your guests with creative and easy Thanksgiving appetizers this year.

• Set the scene: Create a warm and inviting Thanksgiving for family and friends with small, but charming touches such as beautiful Thanksgiving table decorations and creative place cards.

• Thanks guests: On this holiday of giving thanks, don’t forget to thank guests for attending your Thanksgiving dinner. After the event, send free Thank You eCards to your guests.

Is your tummy rumbling yet? Whether you like to use recipes that have been passed through the family for generations or want to try something new, a delicious meal is a wonderful way to bring people together. For even more Thanksgiving ideas and recipes to help you plan, check out all of our Thanksgiving dinner ideas!