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In the holiday season, when there's so much going on that the most vivacious individuals may sometimes long for the quiet break of the new year, it's very easy to forget things. I expect I'm not the sole person who has once been startled awake while at my desk because of a text by someone asking, "What time are we expected us tonight?" Fear not; whether you are forgetful, or just prone to impromptu invitations, I have your back.

The Key to Great Gatherings

Above all, and I cannot stress it enough, whether you've planned long in advance versus only 15 minutes, the most enjoyable parties are the most straightforward. What anyone expects is pleasant conversation, something to drink, and sufficient to eat that guests do not end up gnawing their arm on the bus home. Unless you're throwing a lavish ball, nobody expects professional bartending, Michelin-starred catering and a live band.

The most successful gatherings are the most basic. That said, a concept helps to mask the reality you have only put the party on on the way after a long day.

Selecting a Theme to Focus The Shopping

Still, a theme can be useful for disguising the fact you've only put this thing on on the way home from work. And by theme, think of something like Christmas. Getting slightly more detailed (Scandinavian Christmas, say, featuring mulled wine, spiced punch, cured seafood plus crispbreads, Scandinavian music selection; alternatively fiesta-style party, with ponche navideño, chilled brews and tequila drinks, and heaps of snacks, salsa & avocado dip, with Luis Miguel on the stereo) will focus your choices during the necessary grocery run.

Smart Shopping to Support The Event

In the store, pick a couple of drinks (one alcoholic for those who do, one not in case some prefer not to) plus some nibbles that fit the style, and buy as many as you can afford, rather than fretting about offering guests endless options. No thing appears more abundant and as festive as abundance – I would always rather to enter by a container full of chilled bottles of reasonably priced sparkling wine over a small serving of swanky bubbly. (Include some bags for chilling, too; there is seldom plenty of ice.)

Cocktails & Punch Simplified

If you feel the need to impress and serve a cocktail, then pre-mix a sizable amount in a jug so you aren't stuck busying yourself with drinks while you ought to be socializing. Once the party begins, request a partner or volunteer to monitor the drinks and top up when needed till it's finished. Apply the same for the soft drink; guests enjoy to have a role at a party so they may share in a share of positive vibes.

For large-batch drinks, whichever recipe you go for (there are many online), skip any recipe too sweet – children present should have their own drinks – and if you own one, put flavor enhancers close by (avoid adding them into the punch as they're inappropriate for people abstaining from alcohol entirely). Take care with presentation so the soft punch isn't perceived unimportant; just spend a minute to add some slices of citrus to the punch.

Food That Shine With Minimal Effort

For me, I would avoid the readymade platters with "party foods" available at grocery stores during the holidays; they seem fussy, and frequently involve turning the oven on (if you choose to opt for these, remember that everyone quietly likes toasted bread or mini sausages regardless). It's my firm opinion it's hard to top two large bowls of good-quality chips (salted is universally liked), plus, assuming no allergies, some of those great-value containers of mixed nuts available in the South Asian section of supermarkets, along with a few ready-to-eat olives for colour (try not to discover pits in odd places in the future).

In case, similar to some, you don't consider snacks real food, one big slab of tasty cheese on a platter with crackers and some artfully draped fruit always looks painterly. A platter with some salted or prepared meats or fish displayed on it (a single variety, except if you're wealthy), or a handsome ready-made tart, like those available in specialty sections during festivities, proves more substantial, and you truly can't go wrong by serving rustic pieces of focaccia, because they don't need buttering.

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