I get a little stressed out planning for company at the best of times but add the pressure of hosting the perfect holiday gathering and the stress level goes through the roof. We just want the holidays to be special right? But with all the shopping, cooking, baking, decorating and wrapping, it can get out of hand quickly! Colin Cowie, lifestyle expert and celebrity party planner, has some tips to share and uses his favourite P&G products like Febreze, Swiffer, Mr. Clean, Dawn and Cascade to help you to prepare your home for the hectic holiday social season.
Tips for Planning The Perfect Holiday Gathering from Colin Cowie
1. Start with a holiday colour theme that you love and tie it into everything from invitations to decorations.
2. Good lighting is a must. Use dimmers and Febreze candles to add ambiance. The new Cranberries and Frost scent is perfect for the holidays and also makes great stocking stuffers or thank you gifts.
3. Let guests help themselves. Set up cutlery and napkins before guests arrive and consider having food stations set up instead of a formal sit down dinner.
4. Always be ready for guests. Store a Swiffer WetJet with a Swiffer WetJet Extra Power Pad in the hall closet, you can quickly clean up before guests pull into the driveway and your floors will shine.
5. Hide the mess. Preload the dishwasher with Cascade All-in-1 ActionPacs and load dishes as you use them. For the dishes you need to hand wash use a fast acting dish soap like Dawn Original. Dawn will give you an overnight soak in 5 minutes so you aren’t stuck in the kitchen cleaning up all night.
Enter Below to Win a P&G Holiday Prize Pack like the one pictured above so you will have all the supplies on hand to prep for your next gathering! The new Cranberries and Frost scent is going to blow you away!!
Canada only
My husband and I
thanks
I will no be hosting a gathering at my house, nothing formal at least. However I will be attending other gatherings and trying to help out the lovely hosts and hostesses there!
Unfortunately not as I have to work Christmas day.
boo!
Yup, the worst is that I miss the kids opening their gifts this year. They still believe in Santa and it wouldn’t be fair for them to have to wait until 3PM for me to be off. Oh well, at least it is time and a half, haha!
I will not be hosting anything but i am going to others that are
yes , I will be having a couple of gatherings this holiday season .
no going to mother-inlaws
i need some P&G help for the holidays and beyond!!
I will just for family 🙂
family auntie s and uncle gmas and gpas
I’ll be hosting on Christmas Eve, then spending Christmas day at my parents house! I love the holidays!
Just a small one this year–it’s not my turn for the big family one 🙂
Yes, I am hosting Christmas dinner for my extended family.
no gatherings at my home – our families are all back in Britain
Yes, will be having about 15 people over. Wish me luck!
not at our house, we’ll be attending a few, but with our first baby due Christmas Eve, I’m sure we’ll have lots of visitors stopping by!
oh so exciting!!
no i wont be this year
Nope, I’m off the hook. It’s my sisters turn to host this year.
We hosted a family Christmas a few weeks ago. No other gatherings planned except for our immediate family on Christmas day.
No but I will be helping host one with my friend!
no we going to my uncle
Spend Christmas at my Uncle’s home.
not this year
I need some help cleaning up!
here am I
I like Cranberries and Frost scent
great for cleaning
not this year, we’ll be going over to my uncles
No, i’ll be the one visiting!
Not this year
Possibly with my siblings and parents.
We are having Christmas Dinner at my house, and Boxing Day game night at my house.
my aunts
Not this year.
great assortment of P & G products…many of them I use
I won’t be hosting this year I am going to my sister-in-law’s.
Just for my family No big dinner at my house this year
Yes,having friends over one night and also having Christmas dinner and all helping out together and having fun!
Yes, family dinner and fun night!
Nope, I’m going to my aunts.
No, we don’t celebrate the holidays. We had the whole family over a few weeks ago though.
You Betcha – the whole gang is going to be here.
No my sister-in-law loves to do that.
We’ll have some friends in a few times over the holidays. Family events are hosted by my sister-in-law.
if weather permits will be hosting a gathering
It’ll just be my family this year.
Not for Xmas, but my birthday is 2 days before and we’ll have friends over for that.
no, we’ve been invited to a friend’s home and are looking forward to spending the day with them.
We will be having family over for some evening snacks and just being able to see them.
silverneon2000 at yahoo dot com
we are having family over
No, but we will be going to several parties.
yes! Everyone is coming to our place for Christmas Dinner!
I’m hoping to have an open house but I am running out of time
yes we are hosting a small gathering
Im hoping to have my parents and my siblings over one evening during the holiday season.
My sister and her two daughters will be coming to visit – I can’t wait!
I actually already hosted a party last weekend.
No, I’ll be visiting others.
We will be hosting my sister and family as well as our own adult daughter & her family, and our son and my 83 yo dad (and maybe his lady friend.) Our little living space is gong to be overflowign!
I have Christmas at my house every year and I love it!
Yes, but it will only be a small gathering of 8 people.
I’m lucky this year, the host is another family member…ehhe
hosting for very small family thing
Not at my house, unless you count via skype!
Christmas Day is at our house
yes, we are having some family over.
I will! Possibly two. My side of the family might be coming on the 24th (although we might go to my Grandma’s) and my husband’s side is gathering here the 26th.
I will be having my family over for Christmas eve! 😀 This is when we open most of our gifts 🙂
No, not this year. We will be traveling to my grandparent’s for Christmas this year 🙂
I will be having a small gathering with work friends
No hosting duties for us this year. We are going to my sister in law’s place.
I won’t be hosting this year
Just the one small family gathering.
Yes, we host Christmas every year
yes
I’m hosting a party tonight !
im off the hook this year!
We’re having family over for boxing day!
yes, we always have a turkey dinner and invite friends to share with us. It is a beautiful time of the year to connect and share with friends and family 😀
Always on Christmas day family comes over for dinner and merry making..
No, my home is too small to hold all of the family
I host our family Christmas Eve gathering!
Not this year
I am not hosting, we will be going to my parents home
yes, but just for my immediate family.
This year we are doing most of our gatherings at my parents house , but I go and help with the preperations etc
We are having the family over Christmas Eve
I might have a small gathering of friends!
I am hosting Christmas dinner this year for the family.
Yes, I am hosting a small gathering.
My parents are coming on Christmas Eve,my kids are sooo excited!
Christmas eve dinner at my house.
None for us, we’re going to our parents where they take care of everything.
Just my neighbours and my family.
Unfortunately I have to work this year so I won’t be going home or doing anything…It will just be me this year.
we’re hosting on christmas eve!
I don’t partake in Christmas festivities but I may have a brunch
I’ll likely be hosting a few pre-Christmas gatherings with friends, in addition to Christmas dinner with my entire extended family (all 23 of them). Whew!
not this year. we just moved and its our babies 1st x-mas so we will just have a small family christmas
Xmas dinner at our house with my side of the family — about 20 people will be coming:)
No I won’t.
Yes, we had our party last night, loads of fun.
Yes we are ! I’m getting so excited for it 🙂
No, just the family.
The new scents from Febreze are so nice and festive. Love them
The family is coming for lobster on Christmas eve.
Not this year.
not our year to host!
This christmas will be a small and sad one.. My boyfriend lost is mom.. So did I.
so sorry to hear that!
I will have my family, my mom, my sister-in-law, brother-in-law, niece, mother in law and father in law.
Nope not this year, we’re headed to moms!
no, the family gathering will be at my son’s house, he loves to cook and I love to eat!
No gathering at my house, just hubby, me and the kids.
nope, my house is too small, but we all go to the town where my mom and baby sis are as its more in the middle for myself and my other sis to get to
that way we can all get together with a small amount of travel
No, not this year.
Not this year for us either. We’ll be flying across the country to visit family for the holidays!
no,Im not planning on it.
Family and friends are coming over.
cheers.
I am hosting a turkey dinner on Boxing Day
My family will all be coming for dinner on Christmas day…12 so far, maybe more will be coming!
I’ll be hosting small gatherings at my house this Christmas but Christmas dinner is at my sister-in-laws.
rafflecopter name: Lisa K
Sadly no I won’t be hosting. I live the farthest away so I always venture in for the Holidays.
I will be hosting a gathering at my house this holiday as I do every year.
The holidays won’t be held at my home this year
just us and the kids this year
I have a party at my home very new years!
tammykd at live dot com
yes!!!
hubby working for christmas so we will have family and friends over between christmas and new years
Yes the whole family is coming over!
Not at my place, but I’ll be helping to host at my Dad’s.
It’s just myself, my wife and the kids for Christmas- and that’s how we like it. We visit afterwards – just makes it special fo rus that day.
will be going to family mrmbers this holiday
No, not this year.
We’ll be hosting my daughters godparents and another really good friend. Should be a fun holiday!
yes, every year
I host christmas!
December 18-Yes; I have all the family that can make it to our home on Christmas EVe. We have been meeting thus for years.
December 18-Yes; I have all the family that can make it to our home on Christmas EVe. We have been meeting thus for years.–It gives all of the cuusins a chance to get together and ‘catch up’ on one another’s lives.
yepp! My inlaws will be staying with us for the holidays.
Just a small one – there will only be three of us altogether. But it still requires some cleaning and preparation!
Yes, always have my immediate family for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Around 15 of us!
Yes, we’ll be having a few family members over.
We hosted Christmas last year so this year it’s off to our brother in law’s. Now if i only the drop in’s would schedule…
christmas this yr at home
Not this year, we’re having a family gathering at my in-law’s place.
Please Enter Me In Your Giveaway.
It Would Be Great To Win The P&G Holiday Prize Pack .
In Response To Your Question Of Will you be hosting a gathering at your house this holiday?
Yes My Family Is Coming Over For Christmas Dinner.
Thank You For Having This Giveaway!!!!!!!
Nope!
Yes, I will be hosting a couple of gatherings during the holidays – oh what fun!
I will going to my family’s house.
The whole family will be coming on over, hopefully will be smelling the new cranberry scent!
hopefully my family will come!
Yes, our usual Christmas eve get-together
Nope
i hosted a Chanukah party at my house this year
Yes, I will be having a Christmas party
i will be visiting the ‘in-laws’ for christmas dinner
not hosting this year…traveling 20 miles
love the selection of P & G products help your
home smell welcoming
NO, I WILL NOT BE HOSTING IT THIS YEAR
Absolutely! I love having Christmas at our house. My parents sleep over Christmas eve and then everyone else comes over for breakfast then it’s champagne and orange juice and present opening. I’m like a kid all over again!
I wont be hosting Christmas dinner this year. First year off in a long time.
Oh, yes, big dinner here for family and friends Christmas Day…wanna come?!? 😀
yes on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
Yep. For the family on Christmas Eve.
Thanks for the chance.
mogrill12@gmail.com
Yes, I will be hosting the family dinner on Christmas Eve.
i will be going to the in-laws – and dreading every minute of it 🙂
We celebrate and I host on Christmas eve.
no we are off to my sister inlaws this year
yes having the in laws over, first time doing christmas dinner!
i always host a few events, my home seem to be the gathering place, I love that.
No I will not be hosting any holiday celebrations this year or next but I am invited each year to the festivities at other family get together’s at the larger houses of other relatives. Thank you for this great giveaway,, momvsboys. Have a happy holiday season.
get together at my in laws house
Pick me! Eat time.
There is nothing liked the addition of scented burning candles to add ambiance at the Christmas season!
No, we will be going to a family members home for the holidays.
I hosted my annual Christmas baking exchange a few weeks ago, and my in-laws are coming after Christmas.
not this year
I am not hosting for Christmas but after that Yes.
Not this year, but I will be helping out at my cousins house! 🙂
Yes Christmas eve here at my house.
I’ll be hosting Christmas dinner
No we will be going to someone’s house
My daughter and my brother-in-law will be coming for Christmas dinner. Other than that, I’m not doing any holiday entertaining this year.
No hosting for us this year!
I am hosting not one, but two gathering this holiday season! My first time hosting Christmas dinner for our family, very excited 🙂 and another on boxing day for the part of the family that isnt able to make it christmas day.
No not this year. We are buying a new house in a few months. Tradition for us it to have Christmas at the family farm. But next year we will have a few gatherings for our friends and inlaws.
We’re hosting my husband’s nephew and his dog, Lily, if she counts!
No hosting this year.
No, we’ll be going to my in-laws! Thanks for hosting!
Yes…I have been trying to clean
I will not be hosting a gathering at my house. attending one at relatives place.
I will not be hosting any gatherings this year at my house.
My brother and his family. Will be busy will 6 kids all together!
Not this year. This year we will be going to a friend’s house for Christmas dinner.
Yes on Christmas day.
Yes we are celebrating christmas dinner at my place.
just my sister and her family on christmas da
NO, IT WILL JUST BE OUR IMMEDIATE FAMILY 🙂
shebebes@yahoo.com
No, no holiday gatherings at my place this year.
Will be hosting a small gathering of friends for New Years.
I am hosting Christmas
My sisters and I will be getting together.
I always hold gatherings at home. <3
Yes, I already have and will again.
yes , I will be
we had dh’s side of the family at our house prior to Christmas
Yes, we hosted my mother in law and her friend this holiday season.
not hosting
My family will
We didn’t host any holiday events this year
Its always a big extended family gathering!
Yes – on Christmas Day my MIL & my Mom came over for dinner. On the 30th we are having the girls Godparents over.
will be hosting friends over would like to enter the giveaway
No not this year
not this year
Yes, I am still cleaning up the mess LOL
Not hosting anything this year
annabella @ centurytel dot net
We didn`t host Christmas this year, but we are having a New Year`s Party!!
I had a few friends over Christmas morning for breakfast…fruit salad, freshly made tea and scones…plus fresh squeezed orange juice and bubbly in pretty flute glasses. It was everything that I had expected it to be 🙂
Not hosting this year, but will be going over to our families house.
I will be hosting New Year’s Eve at my house.
had a big gathering
No!
jessicaahays at hotmail dot com
Yep, we’ll be hosting New Years!
yes, for my family over christmas.
I will not be hosting a party at my home this year
We’ll be hosting our annual New Year’s Eve bash.
I won’t be hosting a gathering at my house this year.
Nope, just my hubby and me.
No party at my house this year.
No gatherings here — my son managed to get tonsillitis for the 3rd time in 2 months…on Christmas Day! We cancelled dinner 🙁
no didn’t host anything
No we went to my inlaws
No, not this year!
No, it was just me and my hubby this year. We just moved from TX to CO at the beginning of the month. Hopefully the family will come up next year.
Yes I did!!!
ptavernie at yahoo dot com
We’ll just be having a few friends over..nothing big.
Yes I hosted Christmas eve dinner at my house.
It has already happened and now we are in full relaxation mode. Long weekend!
We didn’t have any parties over Christmas but we’ve invited a lot of friends over for New Year’s!
Spending christmas eve with my children and husband.
Yes, a family dinner.
This year i’m content with just both of my kids and my common law spouse and keeping things calm and mellow.
msdickinson28 at hotmail dot com
We had a family get together a couple of weeks before Christmas this year. Thanks for this contest!
Thanks for the giveaway… a New Year’s Eve gathering !
I will be for new years!
Yup.
We had a Christmas Sugar Cookie party at our house.
longbarb1@aol.com