[This is my Trail] Deck the Halls!

[Rachelle]

On November 30, I threw a huge and, I think, rather successful Christmas party. Yes, November is a bit early, but the Christmas season gets busy and I wanted to actually decorate the tree at the party, so better earlier than later. I ended up inviting more than 50 people (oops) and I think around 30 or so showed up. We rearranged a lot of the furniture and made enough room for all the pengyou (friends).

It was really fun to just mingle and hang out and do some funky dancing to my electronica and ska/punk Christmas carols. "All I Want for Christmas is You" (by Mariah Carey) was also a hit for lip synching. We decorated the tree and had a gift exchange, and then watched Home Alone at the end--classic! We also decorated sugar cookies and red velvet cupcakes. Festive! The rest of the menu included spinach dip with broccoli, carrots, and bread, apples and honey, cheesy zucchini bites (I call them Xiaogua Surprise), and pigs in a blanket. I am also really proud of the fact that I made eggnog and apple cider punch from scratch. I'm especially proud of the eggnog--it was really good (although according to some the addition of an, ahem, adult beverage would have improved it). No punch spiking at my party!

Here are some shots of the revelry:














Before the tree was fully decorated

















Scarf sharing





















Snowflake Antlers

















Thao and I




















The food


















Yummy Rudolph
















Showing off the cow wrist rest.



















Adult split pants (it's a looong story), but if you've been to China, you might understand. And this is the single best facial reaction in the history of Christmas.
















Showing off their gifts...














Decorating the tree with Erin (fellow DC-phile and maybe future roommate) and Megan
















I'm putting the star on. I don't know what Dave is doing...



















The Jew is stealing the ornaments right off the tree!!!! ;)


















Danyun people (my coworkers) at the party...

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Posted By Rachelle to This is my Trail at 12/17/2008 12:03:00 AM