12/14/2024
When the Office Christmas Party lasts a whopping 17 hours but you still can’t squeeze in all the activities you had planned, you KNOW it’s a good time! For 14 years, my friend and colleague Kristin Sanders Detwiler and I have celebrated the holidays together because we both own our own event planning businesses and have no employees. The tradition began by having a lunch date, which lasted longer with each passing year. In 2020, we wanted to be responsible and not linger in a restaurant that had reduced seating due to the pandemic, so we had a socially-distanced gathering at my house. Now our party has evolved into more than just lunch – an eggnog toast, several meals, multiple dessert courses, a midnight snack, a holiday stroll to look at Christmas decorations, a Secret Santa gift exchange, a lengthy list of personal and industry topics to discuss that we maintain throughout the year, and more! We had a terrific day together and we loved finding out that we’re both still on Santa’s Nice List!
12/04/2023
This was Office Christmas Party #13 – and there was nothing unlucky about it! I mean, we even found out we’re on Santa’s NICE list! My friend and colleague Kristin Sanders Detwiler and I celebrate the holidays together because we both own our own businesses and have no employees. The tradition began by having a nice lunch at a restaurant; our time together grew longer in duration every Christmas. In 2020, we had a socially-distanced gathering at my house to be socially responsible and not linger in a restaurant that had reduced seating due to the pandemic; now we don’t even discuss an alternative venue! It’s evolved into more than just lunch – three meals, a dessert tray, eggnog, continuous Christmas music, a Christmas candle, Christmas flowers, and a Secret Santa gift exchange. This year, we added a stroll to look at holiday decorations in the neighborhood, but we ran out of time for other activities – we may have to develop a schedule for next year! The highlight, though, was the jolly old man in a red suit showing us his list (we love lists of all kinds)! And for those keeping up, this party lasted 15.5 hours – our longest one yet!
12/05/2022
We really need to get with the Guinness Book of World Records people, because I think we’re on to something - the 12th Annual Office Christmas Party was a whopping 15 hours this year! My friend and colleague Kristin Detwiler and I celebrate the holidays together because we both own our businesses and have no employees. We started this tradition having a nice lunch at a restaurant; our time together grew longer in duration every Christmas. In 2020, we had a socially-distanced gathering at my house to be socially responsible and not linger in a restaurant that had reduced seating due to the pandemic. We enjoyed it so much that we’ve continued in the new setting. With three delicious meals, a dessert tray, mimosas, eggnog, continuous Christmas music, three centerpieces, and the ever-popular Secret Santa gift exchange, there was absolutely no chance for any outcome other than having a terrific time!
