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We all want to let loose with our colleagues during the Christmas party. But how loose is too loose? In order to avoid embarrassment and regrets, here is the lists of do’s and don’ts for your next office Christmas party. Remember, you have to see these people on a daily basis after the party is over.

• DO wear something appropriate. If you are not sure what the dress code is, ask the person hosting the party. You don’t want to be overdressed, but you don’t want to come in too casual either.
• DON’T drink too much. That Christmas punch may be mighty tasty, but if you feel yourself getting a bit tipsy, don’t go for another glass. The last thing you want to do is look sloppy in front of your co-workers and superiors.
• DON’T partake in the gossip. Even if this is social hour, you should still consider yourself in a professional environment. Don’t spread any type or rumors and don’t join in the conversation that your colleagues are having.
• DO talk about life outside of work. Instead of gossiping, talk about your family or things you enjoy out of the office.
• DON’T leave the party after an hour. Stay for a considerable amount of time. Leaving early makes you seem antisocial and not appreciative of the effort that has been put into the party. Relax and have fun!
• DO spend time mingling. This is a great opportunity to get to know your co-workers in a different environment other than work. You never know, you may form lasting friendships by mingling with others at your office Christmas party!
• DO enjoy your food. Even if you are watching what you eat, make sure you accommodate this date so you can enjoy your food. While no one will pressure you to try that delicious bacon wrapped shrimp, you can’t help but feel you are missing out if you decide not to try one.
• DON’T flirt inappropriately. Alcohol and socializing usually makes people bolder. Even if you are interested in someone, don’t overstep your boundaries. Especially if your job has a strict no dating policy among co-workers. Smile, chit-chat, but don’t do anything else you would regret the next morning.
• DON’T stay next to one person the entire night. Even if they are your office BFF, it seems clingy and anti-social. Break it up once in a while and talk with other people you know.
• DON’T play with your phone all night. Put the phone away for the night and enjoy the company of those around you. After all, that’s why you came in the first place!
• DO bring a gift as a token of appreciation. If the party was planned by someone at the office or is taking place in your superior’s home, bring a gift to show your gratitude. Chances are it took some time to get this Christmas party planned and you don’t want their effort to go unnoticed. The gift doesn’t have to be expensive, just thoughtful.

When it comes to holiday office party, always use your judgment. Do what you think is best and you should get by juuuuust fine!

It’s your turn to host this year’s Christmas event. Now you don’t want to be remembered as the person who threw a dud of a party. In fact, you cringe in fear just thinking of people leaving the party because it was just too boring to bear anymore. If you find yourself freaking out about planning a Christmas party, take a moment and relax. It’s not as complex as you think it is. Here are some great tips for you on how to throw a rockin’ Christmas bash.

• Plan, plan, plan. Do not “wing” your party. When you don’t outline what you need or want for your bash, chaos is likely to ensue. For example, the food may run out before the night is over or even worse, the booze is all gone before the night has even started. I don’t know about you, but that definitely doesn’t sound fun. So plan out your event and take time to consider all aspects of your Christmas party.

• Think about what you enjoy most at Christmas events. Is it the games? The food? The socializing? Pick what you enjoy about some parties you’ve been to and incorporate that into your event.

• Stick with a theme. Parties can quickly become too expensive if people continue to add to the theme of their party. Think of a theme and stick with it. I don’t care how great those reindeer headbands are; if it doesn’t go with the theme, don’t buy it.

• Don’t send out invites too late. During the holidays, friends and family are quick to make plans. If you don’t want them to miss out on your awesome party, send invites out early and people can make sure their day is free. Plus being early is much more considerate than sending out a mass text message the day before the party (you might send it the wrong people).

• Keep decorations simple. You don’t need to go over the top to have a stunning party. While you want a touch of the holiday spirit, you also want the party to reflect a bit of your personality. Your friends and family will recognise that. Also, over decorating can lead to disaster as well. It’s best to have fewer decorations and more room for guests to dance and mingle.

• Keep the menu tasty but easy to make. Hors d’oeuvres and canapes are easy to make and also take less than let's say, a traditional dinner. If you are planning to do an entire dinner spread, make sure to prep the night before. Then all you have to do is cook or bake your dishes instead of spending all day cutting and cleaning.

• Include a small goodie bag to thank guests for coming. Want to be known as the best host for a Christmas party? Give each guest a small goodie bag when they leave. It doesn’t have to be expensive. Be creative and try to think of something unique but also useful. Your guests will think this is a thoughtful touch to cap off the night.

You’ve only been dating your girlfriend for a few months now. You are right on the cusp of the “getting to know each other” and the committed relationship phase. You do want to get her something special as a gift, but you have no idea what. Fear not! Here are some Christmas gift ideas that may have not crossed your mind. 

• A Christmas card. This is a safe option for a girlfriend you’ve just started going out with because let’s face it, you don’t know each other well enough to get any sort of personal gift. Now I don’t mean just any Christmas card where you just sign your name. Make this a personalized Christmas card and let her know how you feel. At least three to five sentences. You want it to be personal. 
• A personalized item. There are plenty of businesses now that offer affordable, personalized gifts. Does she love to write? Get her a monogrammed journal. Is she a music fanatic? How about a personalized protective case? Or maybe she told you she always wanted her own name plate necklace. There are many affordable options out there. Try to think out of the box and get her something you know she will use and enjoy.
• Something that signifies a memorable moment. Get her a gift that is part of a special moment you’ve shared. Was your first date at the local pastry shop? Why not make her a basket of some of their best treats? Did you spend the day at a park or museum? Why not get a trinket from the souvenir shop? It’s a sweet gesture to recreate a moment you experienced with each other. Did I also mention it will definitely make her swoon?
• An item that she’s mentioned in passing. Has she mentioned that her favorite scarf got destroyed by her dog? Or perhaps she was running low on her favorite perfume. What’s often frustrating for many men is figuring out what their girlfriend will like. Unless you are extremely detailed oriented, you are not going to know that she prefers perfumes with citrus notes. So when she tells you that she likes a particular scent, it’s the perfect opportunity to purchase it as a gift. It’s not the most creative but it displays that you listen to her and pay extra attention to her needs, which just makes her fall in love with you even more.
• A gift card or gift certificate. I know, how unromantic, but when all else fails, sometimes this is your safest bet. You can rest easy that she will use the gift card to get herself something she really wants or needs. If you do want to make it a little more personal, you can always get her something small, like a box of her favourite sweets.

Good luck on your quest!

Many women can overthink themselves into a frenzy when trying to figure out what to get their new boyfriend for Christmas. What if I told you that getting a Christmas gift for your new boyfriend isn’t as hard as you think it is? When it comes to getting the right Christmas present for your new man, you just need to be thoughtful, not too overzealous, and semi-personal. You don’t want to be over the top and buy an expensive gift when you two aren’t in a fully committed relationship yet. If you are still stumped as to what to get him for Christmas, here are five gift ideas that will surely put a smile on his face.

1. Delicious treats. Is your new boyfriend a self-proclaimed foodie? Why not make him your favorite cookie recipe? You can decoratively wrap and package it to add even more of a personal touch. You can go a step further and buy a bottle of vino to pair with your treat. Just don’t go overboard on the budget. If you can’t cook to save your life, perhaps plan out a tasting at your local brewery. It will be a fun date you both can look forward to.
2. Get him something useful. When I mean something useful, I mean something that he needs. Perhaps you’ve heard him complaining about how cold his hands are even with his gloves on. Why not get him an affordable pair of wool or leather gloves? Or may you’ve noticed that his phone case or wallet is in shambles. These small items are affordable and can even be personalized if you want to add that extra touch. He’ll be grateful you’ve been paying attention to his needs.
3. Appeal to his techie side. Why not get him a Google or iTunes gift card? Or perhaps he loves taking photos with his phone. Appeal to his inner photographer by purchasing attachable camera lenses for his phone. You want your gift to be creative and unique, not expensive. If you think he has everything he needs in this aspect, you can always get him a gift card to his favorite store so he can pick out something he may need later on.
4. Feed his inner cinema-phile. If you and your new boyfriend love binge watching movies together, why not gift him a subscription to Hulu Plus or Netflix? It not only benefits him, but it also allows you to enjoy the array of movies. Movie-thon anyone?
5. Appeal to his gamer side. Does your boyfriend love video games? Why not purchase a year of an elite membership for whatever console he has? Or if you want to get a little more creative, you could even make a gift set filled with gamer themed goodies such as t-shirts, figures, mugs, the list goes on. Get creative and see where it goes!

Remember to be creative and personal. Try not to think too conventionally and just have fun. You may even surprise yourself at what a great Christmas present you will find for him.