5 Things To Help Start The Year Off Right

​Coming out of the holiday season and into a new year, the last thing you may have on your mind is more parties. Incorporating these five simple things into your New Year’s resolutions will make your 2025 celebrations much easier.

My Napkin Drawer in our kitchen

1) Organize your table linens and napkins
Inspect all your table linens and napkins. Look for any stains or holes. Spot-clean the stains and launder them according to the instructions. Repair any holes and consider “retiring” a linen if the hole is in a spot that a centerpiece or other table décor can’t camouflage. Here are some tips to remove wax drippings from a tablecloth.
 
Go through your napkins and inspect them for stains. If a napkin has stains that just won’t wash out, consider using it to line a breadbasket. If it’s not bread basket worthy, repurpose it as a reusable sandwich wrap, a base for craft projects, or a cleaning rag.
 
Take an inventory of your linens and napkins, noting the color and style. Identify items that need to be replaced and also items that you need. Keep a list on a Google Doc or the Notes app on your phone. This list will be helpful when you’re out and about in the new year and come across a great sale.
 
2) Inventory your candle supply and clean your holders 
As you go through your candles, separate the candles that have seen the ‘light’ of better days (wink). Instead of tossing them, keep them stashed away for casual take-out nights that you want to elevate with a little candlelight. Note what candles need to be replaced and add it to your Google doc or phone notes.
 
Clean your candlesticks and holders, removing any wax drippings. Here’s one way to remove the wax. Soak the candlestick in hot water. I place a bowl in the sink and place the candlestick inside it. Make sure not to let any wax go down the drain. Once the wax softens, scrape it off with your fingernail. Add a little vinegar to the water if the wax is extra grimy. Instead of the hot water method, you can also use the freezer method. Definitely use this method for your silver candlesticks. Place the candlestick in the freezer for a few hours, remove it from the freezer, and pull off the wax.
 
3) Organize your recipes
Make a list of your favorite recipes and categorize them based on whether they work best for a sit-down dinner party, barbecue, cocktail, or potluck party. Review any notes you’ve added and make sure they are legible. This will help you plan your menu for your next celebration.
 
4) Who, What, When
Compile a list of what types of parties you would like to host this year: Formal dinner parties, cocktail parties, barbecues, potlucks, as well as holiday-themed parties like Galentine’s Day and Friendsgiving. Think about who you would like to invite, the menu, and recipes (refer to your organizational skills in item #3 for ideas). If you want to get even more organized, pencil in some dates on your calendar!
 
5) Make it easy to be thankful
You know I'm the Thank You Note Queen and couldn't pass up a chance to talk about Thank You Notes! Buy a set of notecards or order personalized stationery. Keep them in an easily accessible place with a roll of stamps and a pen so you'll be ready to write a thank you note when the time comes. This is also a good time to update your address list by comparing it to the return addresses on any cards you received over the holidays.
 
By taking the first few weeks of the year to get organized, you will head into the new year ready to party at a moment’s notice.