Holiday Gatherings Made Easy

I’ve partnered with Blue Diamond^® as part of an Influencer Activation and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.

It’s beginning to look a lot like the busiest time of the year everywhere you go!  To battle that busy schedule it is important to stock up on some essential items that make any holiday gathering extra special.  

I love this time of the year, mostly because of the food, traditions and many gatherings with family and friends.  But over the years I have felt a tremendous amount of pressure to throw those perfect holiday parties and gatherings and that means I usually do not enjoy the time with my guests like I should.  Often I find myself wondering where the time went as the last guest leaves the gathering.  Bummer.  This year, I am doing it differently!  

Holiday Gatherings Made Easy

Appetizers and Small Bites

One way I have decided to upgrade any holiday gathering is by planning a menu around appetizers and small bites.  Often people just want to have finger food and drinks to enjoy rather than a big sit down meal.  At first I felt bad about this choice as a host but then I realized how easy it makes the holiday gathering prep!  Most appetizers and small bite dishes can be prepared a few days in advance which means there is plenty of time to enjoy a gathering, even if you are the host.  

Blue Diamond Nut-Thins – A Must Have Item

Cheese and crackers.  Crackers and dip.  A beautiful platter of veggies and crackers.  All of these are great options when feeding a crowd and they are all options that will allow you to enjoy your guests without having to be in the kitchen preparing a meal.  For these options I always pick up the Blue Diamond Nut-Thins.  Blue Diamond Nut-Thins are wheat and gluten-free because they’re made with rice and California-grown almonds. They have no artificial ingredients, are low in calories, and perfect for any occasion and guest regardless of their dietary needs. You can find Blue Diamond Nut-Thins at Walmart in the cracker aisle in so many amazing flavors that pair well with all kinds of dips and platters.  

For my most recent Wine Wednesday night I decided to skip the popcorn and chips and make a platter of some of my favorite Blue Diamond Nut-Thins.  While this was so simple you better believe that the whole platter of goodness was gone before my girlfriends left for the evening.  A few months ago I would have felt like I needed to create a giant spread of home cooked items to feed my guests but this holiday season I am giving myself the gift of upgrading my holiday with easy options to feed a crowd using Blue Diamond Nut-Thins.  

The Real Reason For The Season!

This year, Blue Diamond will be donating a portion of their sales to Toys for Tots! Even though I already buy a lot of their products knowing this means I will be buying even more Almonds and Nut-Thins during the holiday season! Very excited and proud to know that a portion of my purchases will go to such a great charity.

Next time I host a gathering I want to add a yummy dip to my Blue Diamond Nut-Thins platter.  They are the perfect dipping cracker as they are sturdy and can be topped with all kinds of delicious spreads, fruits, veggies or garnishes.  

What is your favorite cracker dip to make during the holiday season?