I can see by your post that you've got this cocktail party rule covered, but I want to say it anyway. WOMEN DO NOT GET UP TO GO TO THE FOOD TABLE. Oh, yes, they'll get a little plate and have a few things when they arrive, but they just don't go back much for seconds. It took me a couple of parties with tons and tons of leftover hors d'oeuvres before this dawned on me just what the heck was going on. (and hors d'oeuvres are much too expensive to have lots of left overs). Sooooo, beside your buffet table, you'll need to have little tables (end tables, coffee table ) set up with some food dishes and maybe even enlist someone now and then to pass around the shrimp dip or mini chicken legs. Then women will take one and pop it in their mouths, but they'll never excuse themselves from the conversation just to go get more snacks. Men - well, they're just not a problem in this area. On your main table, you might want to label (little signs) the food. People seem to like to read the names of what they're getting, even if they can plainly see what it is. The cards on which you write the names will add to the decor if they're Christmas-y in color. You can always add to the fun by giving each dish a holiday name (Donder's Dilly Dip, Three King Spinach Rolls, Dickens Delicious Deviled Eggs, Santa's Salami Cheese Rolls, etc.).

I agree, the chocolate cake looks moist and yummy, and I like it plain or with frosting. Whatever, just share. My girls and I made "gingerbread hovels" every year for Christmas. Lots of candy, a little gingerbread, pounds of frosting. They usually stood up just long enough for me to take a picture, then they fell over and we ate them. What a great idea for a party. Annie

Thanks Jeri! Our floors are quartersawn white oak, 4" boards. We love them and though they do have scratches from our 2 active dogs, they still look great! Now if they were only the same color as their fur, that would make them perfect! Kat :)

Fori is not pleased - Oh no! I bet that was a site! :) I've made cupcakes in the past and had fun doing it. I was going to order a cake this year, but it seems they've discontinued all the cool looking Cars ones. That said, I've never been one for store bought cakes and the specialty cake I ordered from a fancy bakery last year was really good, but I wasn't at all happy with the way it was decorated. Very different from what we discussed (colors and design) and I just left it go. I was going to do a spin off this cake since DS really likes this scene from the movie. The dirt is graham cracker and I think I'm going to mash some brown sprinkles in there too. I'm also going to do the grass a little different. Maybe just some patches. I think this is a little too uniform looking. Perhaps some green sprinkles somewhere. I'll also make a white cake for those not interested in chocolate. There's actually pretty many people coming. Everyone will have a seat somewhere, but not all in the kitchen. It is what it is! Hehee, green teeth. No, I did a trial run and our teeth didn't turn! Allison - I wanted to mention earlier how I was trying to figure out what else to use besides construction cones for the flags. I found a photo online where someone stuck two flags in, what appeared to be, floral foam and covered it in red wrapping paper. I thought the result looked a little sloppy though and wasn't sold on it. Random - I also realized I've never used a tablecloth on the island in the past so I'm going to nix that. I'll post some photos of the decorations.