Holidays With Your Neighbors: Party Inspiration + More!

I teamed up with State Farm® to share festive ways to get to know your neighbors this holiday season!

Now that the holidays are here, our minds are spinning with all of the joy and excitement that come with this festive time of year! This will be the first Christmas in our new neighborhood and while we’re stilling getting to know all the neighbors, the holidays will be the perfect time to reach out and invite them over for a fun holiday dinner party! Texts and social media have started to replace face-to-face socializing with neighbors, especially among millennials.

The State Farm “State of Neighbors” survey found that 75 percent of neighbors say it is important to welcome a new neighbor, but only 41 percent say they were welcomed when they moved in, and only 46 percent actually welcomed someone new into the neighborhood. Millennials are far more likely than their older counterparts to include “socializing” as a good neighbor trait, yet they are least likely to have engaged in face-to- face conversations in the last month.

I found those statistics so interesting! Have you welcomed in new neighbors or been welcomed by neighbors when you moved in to your neighborhood? While I know it’s easier to “socialize” behind our phones or computer screens, nothing truly compares to sharing a meal face to face with our neighbors! Cooking and eating is one of the most shared experiences among all cultures and generations, so I’m sharing a holiday tablescape and a delicious recipe perfect for gifting in hopes you’ll be inspired to get face-to-face with your neighbors! Whether you throw a dinner party or just drop off treats (free printables below!), go outside and get to know those who live near you! The more connected neighbors feel with one another, the greater sense of safety, trust and community there is within a neighborhood.

For my holiday tablescape, I started with a festive color scheme: red and silver! A bright red tablecloth instantly gives the dinner table a warm, welcoming feeling. Simple white dinnerware (a staple for every hostess) was topped with fresh greenery and a silver favor box full of homemade chocolate fudge (I got you covered; recipe below). Down the center of the table, we lined silver trees, holiday décor, and trees with twinkling lights for extra sparkle. One can never have too much sparkle! You can recreate this look with your own items in this color scheme or one of your own (gold and green are beautiful together for a different twist). The most important thing to remember that you’re setting the stage for making lifelong memories together! All you really need is delicious food, right?

Speaking of delicious things, this fudge recipe is one my family has enjoyed for decades. It’s the first treat that my brother and I would look for around the holidays. It’s also the perfect treat for packaging up to take to your neighbors. Add on this free printable gift tag, and you’re all set!

Fabulous Chocolate Fudge

4 ½ cups sugar
3 teaspoons cornstarch
1 large can evaporated milk
3 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips (18-ounces)
1 cup (2 sticks) butter
3 tablespoons vanilla extract

Combine sugar, cornstarch and milk in a large heavy sauce pan (4 or 5 quart) and bring to a rolling boil. Let boil for 6 minutes, stirring frequently during the entire cooking process. Remove from stove and add chocolate chips and butter. Stir until the chocolate and butter are melted and smooth. Add the vanilla extract and stir to combine. Quickly spread mixture in a greased 9” by 13” pan and let cool. After it has cooled, cut into small squares. Yields: 100 squares

Simply download the FREE PRINTABLE GIFT TAG on a cardstock paper. Cut out the tag and attach to a treat box with a bow! Your neighbors will love you, trust me!

State Farm sponsored this post so I can share my holiday inspiration with you. All thoughts are my own.