Just because the gifts are opened and the wrapping paper is strewn about the living room doesn’t mean the fun of Christmas is over. Add some fun party games to Christmas day and extend the fun of Christmas.

A Game for Large Gatherings
Have a lot of people over for Christmas Day? Then try playing the hat game. When people arrive, give them a Santa hat. These are inexpensive and can be purchased for $1 at the dollar store, or even less in bulk, if you plan ahead. As everyone goes about their business of getting food, chatting with others and the like, the room will look very festive with everyone wearing their Santa hats.

But, of course, that’s not the point.

The point is to get rid of your hat and not be the last one wearing a Santa hat. But you can’t take your hat off until you’re finished with getting your food at the buffet table and have sat down to eat. Inevitably there will be one person so wrapped up in a conversation or the buffet table, they forget to take off their hat and will be left the game’s “loser.”

A Memory Game
One fun memory game that kids particularly like is to make everyone pay careful attention to all the gifts that are opened on Christmas day. After the gifts are removed from the room (or you remove yourselves from the gift room) have everyone try and remember every single gift that each person received.

For a greater challenge, include stockings and any food gifts.

Tell people they only have to remember the items that were opened that day, not any gifts they received and opened prior to Christmas day. This can be a fun game that’s particularly popular with kids because they love to relive the gift magic. In addition, if they were so immersed with their own gifts they didn’t notice anyone else’s this is a good chance for them to educate themselves about what everyone got that day.

What’s In the Sock?
If you need a game to keep everyone busy before dinner, try the guess me game, “What’s In the Sock?”. Buy some large heavy socks — not low-rise, but the type that are worn outdoors in the winter that are thick and come at least to the calf. You can often find these at a dollar store or other discount store, like Big Lots, for a fairly low price.

Put several items in the socks. Make sure identical items are in each sock. These items should be related to Christmas in some way. You might include a small ornament, scotch tape, a pinecone, a Hershey’s kiss, and the like. Have each person feel the socks (having two socks just makes the game go faster, but you can play with just one sock), and write down their guesses about what’s in the socks. Be sure to tell everyone how many items are in each sock.

The winner gets, you guessed it, one of the socks!

Christmas Idol
Do you have some hams in your group? Then this game is for them!

Set up a small table for the “judges” and have teams of 2 people (or individuals, if they want) sing a Christmas carol. Tell them to have a lot of fun with the song, and even add a Santa hat or other dress-up items if they wish. The winners can take home a CD of Christmas music. This game is particularly fun if just the children want to perform and be judged by the adults, or if, conversely, the adults perform and are judged by the children.

I got these tips from the ‘Groove Mamma‘, Nadine Hughes.

“Making the most of your holiday entertaining,” says Hughes, “means keeping it simple by not trying to do too much.” Here are her Top 5 Tips for Stylish, Stress-free Fun this holiday season):

1. Make a List and Check it Twice!
There’s so much to do during the holidays on top of your everyday responsibilities- so it’s a great idea to keep track of what you have to do, from shopping to decorating to cooking. Whether it’s a day-timer, a free online resource like Google Calendar or a piece of paper taped to your fridge – making lists, schedules and timelines will help keep your head clear for other more important tasks like stocking the bar!

2. Do Ahead.
When making your list, make sure that you plan your holiday menus around recipes that can be prepared in advance and add them to your calendar. Hors d’oeuvres or cookie doughs that freeze well and can be popped into the oven at a moments notice or sauces and side dishes that keep for a few days in the refrigerator are time and sanity savers.

3. Keep It Simple.
Keeping your holiday parties simple will put the focus back on spending time with your loved ones and not spending it alone in the kitchen. Don’t feel that you have to host a cast of thousands and make a 7 course meal to keep everyone happy. Instead, have friends over for a specialty drink and a cheese tray or welcome them in from the winter’s cold with a buffet of piping hot soup tureens and an assortment of artisan breads.

4. Choose One Signature Cocktail.
Don’t blow your holiday budget on trying to stock a full bar. Instead, have some fun and wow your guests with a sexy, seasonal cocktail. Don’t forget to prepare your bar ahead of time with the ingredients for the cocktail, lots of ice, glasses and non-alcoholic drinks for the drivers in the room.

5. Chill.
The ice, but more importantly, you! The key to being a great host is making your guests feel comfortable and you can’t do that if you’re not relaxed. So take some time before the party (put it on your list if you need to!) and do whatever it is that relaxes you. Maybe it’s dancing to your favorite song, relaxing in a scented bubble bath or curled up with a book and a glass of wine, just remember to take a deep breath and enjoy!

O.K. It’s Thanksgiving and I’m going to be lazy. Here’s a unintendedly fun video on how to cook a turkey … brought to you by Butterball.

Last year I cooked my turkey in my slow cooker … my goodness was it good. However, the turkey was too big so I had to sort of tear it apart and cook it over two days.