According to the Bureau of Meteorology, the weather outside is going to be frightful, frightfully hot, that is. With temps in the 40’s, most of Australia faces a sweltering Christmas and sweaty New Year. We thought it’d be a great idea to share some of our top tips for keeping cool when jolly old Saint Nick notches up the thermostat this Christmas. Follow this advice to have a cool yule and enjoy the holiday in the Aussie heat.

Stay hydrated

It’s easy to forget to drink enough water, especially during the holiday season when the cocktails, beer and champagne are flowing so freely. We all know we should drink more water, but who likes the taste of plain, boring H2O? Our suggestion is simple; add some flavour to your fluids with fruit or berries. We love the Aqua Zinger Water Bottle because it infuses plain tap water with whatever fruit or veg you like, creating tasty flavoured water for a fraction of the price of expensive bottled water.

To keep the little ones from overheating, be sure to offer plenty of cool drinks or even icy poles made from fruit juice or some of the flavoured water from your Aqua Zinger bottle. Freeze a bit of fruit inside the icy pops for a tasty treat that they’ll love, and it will keep them cool for ages.

Take it easy

During the hottest part of the day, it’s a good idea to keep outdoor activities to a minimum. If you have a holiday barbecue or pool party planned, consider a later start for the event. Late afternoon or evening parties will still give you plenty of daylight but won’t have the oppressive heat to weigh your guests down.

Chill out in the pool with a few ice cold drinks and take advantage of the fact that Australian Christmases are full of sunshine. After all, snow is overrated and who needs snowmen when you can build sandcastles, right? While away the heatwave on a Chill Out Party Seat, complete with its own compartment for ice and drinks, and you’ll never have to leave the pool to get cool refreshments.

Stay home

If the temps get too high, travel can become a nightmare. Disruptions to train travel could make holiday trips impossible, so plan on celebrating the Christmas season at home with friends and family instead of travelling. Why not invite the neighbours round for a few drinks and some nibbles? You can turn any impromptu gathering into a proper party if you keep a few things on hand over the holidays. Plenty of ice for drinks, easy to prepare snacks and a few tasty beverages are all you need to get a party started, so plan ahead and keep your supplies well-stocked for those last minute holiday get-togethers.

Chill out

When it’s too hot to be indoors, eating outside is a great option, especially if you are hosting a pool party over the Christmas holidays. However, it’s extremely important to keep your food chilled to prevent spoilage and possible food poisoning. Keep cold foods on ice until they are ready to be eaten, and make sure that you keep the food out of direct sunlight. An inflatable buffet table filled with ice will keep foods at just the right temperature so you can enjoy your food without worry.

Cool fun

If you can’t get to the beach and don’t have a pool, keep your cool by getting creative. Water pistols and balloons filled with ice cold water are a great way to keep the kids cool, but they’re a lot of fun for adults, too. Or, turn on your sprinklers and run wild. If your neighbours don’t mind your antics, invite them to join you. It could get interesting!

Be kind

Just remember, the Christmas season is all about peace, love and joy, so share a little love with your four-legged friends and remember to keep them cool, too. And, it goes without saying, check on your elderly friends and relatives to make sure they are keeping cool during the heatwave. A little thoughtfulness can go a long way, and it will help keep Christmas merry, even when the temperatures are being a Scrooge!

Have an unforgettable Christmas, and stay cool!

If you’re still looking for last minute gifts for everyone you know, look no further.
We’ve got something great for everyone, from that hard‐to‐please relative to the coworker
you barely know. Here are a few of our top gifts for everyone you know!

Your crazy mate who’s addicted to Sci‐fi

We all have one of those friends who watches just a little too much ‘Star Trek’. They
attend conventions in costume and don’t understand why you don’t share their
obsession. These guys will go mad for our Captain Ketchup dispenser. It’s shaped like a
ray gun and makes everything taste better.

Your mum or girlfriend

Every woman deserves to be pampered, and there’s no better way to do that than to
soak in a bath filled with relaxing scented gel. With Gelicity jelly bath, they can get a
real spa experience right at home. This gift will definitely impress, and shows that you
care enough give a really unique gift!

Your work friends

Buying gifts for people you work with can be tricky. Make it easier with this fun paper
cup lamp. It’s quirky and definitely a conversation starter, and it’s great for those work
mates you really don’t know all that much about.

The barbecue King

Know someone who really loves to rock the barbecue? This awesome little gadget will
help them make the perfect kebab in seconds. The Kebabecue makes any barbecue
chef look like a professional, and it’s a great way to guarantee you’ll be invited over for
a tasty kebab!

The wine aficionado

For wine drinkers, maintaining the ideal temperature of the wine is a big deal.
Guarantee the perfect temperature of every bottle with the Wine Corksicle. Chill it and
place it inside your bottle of wine for a perfectly chilled bottle every time.

The chocolate lover

Who doesn’t love chocolate? This chocolate fountain will satisfy any sweet tooth, and
it’s perfect for anyone who just can’t resist tasty chocolate! Dip fruit, biscuits or
anything you like in the melted chocolate for a decadent treat any time. It’s also great
for parties, so if you know someone who loves chocolate and parties, it’s the perfect
gift!

The health nut

If you know someone who is into healthy living, this Aqua Zinger water bottle is a great
choice. It infuses plain water with fruit for a healthy, delicious alternative to sodas or
expensive bottled waters. They’ll appreciate the money that they’ll save by not buying
flavoured water, and you’ll enjoy knowing that you gave them an amazing gift.

The kids

Keep the little people in your life entertained with the Flying Nemo toy. They’ll love
flying the giant fish around the room using the remote control. It will keep them busy
for hours and give the adults a little break from the Christmas chaos.

The hard‐to‐please teenager

Teens are notoriously difficult to please, but this Storm Light is sure to impress. The
plasma lamp flickers and glows wherever you touch it, setting off a storm inside the
lamp that is simply mesmerizing. This is the perfect gift for teens who want to add
some drama to their bedroom décor, and may even elicit a smile, if you’re lucky.

Your gal pals

If you’re looking for a sweet gift for a female friend, this adorable Margarita candle is
sure to put a smile on her face. It looks like a tasty, colourful cocktail, but it is actually a
candle. It’s great for lighting up on a special occasion or just adding a touch of fun to
their home décor.

Check out our entire selection of gifts for the perfect gift for everyone you know!

According to an article in the Canberra Times Newspaper, food tops the list of items that Australians spend money on during the Christmas holidays. We agree that delicious, gorgeous food is a necessity for your holiday parties, but it doesn’t have to cost you a fortune.

Here are some great ideas to help you save money and still impress your guests this holiday season.

Skip the Main Course

Unless you are having a dinner party, snack foods are perfectly acceptable for any party. Stick to foods that are easy to eat while mingling, and be sure that you serve food on plates with a fairly high rim if they are ‘mobile’ foods like grapes or cheese balls. You don’t want your guests to spend the evening chasing their food around the room instead of eating it!

Break from tradition

Finger sandwiches, petit fours and other hors d’oeuvres are standard fare for most holiday parties already, so don’t be afraid to get a little adventurous with your party food.  Add some bits of seasonal fruit to your jelly shots, offer up a candy buffet, or add some old school fun with a candy floss and popcorn machine to give guests a Christmas carnival experience.

Bring a plate, or bring a bottle

One way to ensure that the food is never boring and there is plenty of booze is to have every guest bring their favourite party food and a bottle of booze. Give them a theme if you like, then see what turns up. If you want, you can re-plate the food on fun serving platters to give your party table a more polished look.

Make it mini

Small food is the next big thing in party foods, and you can easily make mini cupcakes, mini waffles and a variety of cake pops at home for your party. These fun bite-sized morsels are easily customized to any holiday themes. Check out our selection of handy gadgets that will make ‘small’ work of your big party foods!

Get everything you need for your holiday parties, from decorations to food ideas, right here at Party Supplies Now, and have yourself a very Merry Christmas!

This Christmas, make sure your parties are the ones they’ll be talking about all year long. A great holiday party calls for some tasty cocktails, so why not try these festive drinks out at your next Christmas party? They’re sure to put you in a festive mood and keep your guests jolly, too!

Christmas Themed Cake Batter Shots

These cake batter inspired shots get their flavour from vanilla vodka, and they’re so
decadent you’ll swear you just scoffed an entire slice of cake. Better than licking the
spoon while baking the real thing, your guests will love them!

The Grinch
Know someone who just can’t seem to find their holiday spirit? Give them one of these
tasty cocktails and show them the true meaning of holiday spirits.
Combine 2 oz. of Midori with 1/2oz. Of lemon juice and 1teaspoon of simple syrup. Put
into a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake. Serve in a chilled martini glass.

Santa Shots
These are such a fun and easy drink for your Christmas parties, and they look
gorgeous, too. Simply fill a shot glass 1/3 full with grenadine syrup, then add 1/3 of
green crème de menthe and top off the last third with peppermint Schnapps. This
layered and lovely drink is always a party pleaser!

Poinsettia
Classy, light and oh‐so tasty, the Poinsettia is a Champagne cocktail that will make any
party feel extra special. Simply combine 1/2 ounce of Cointreau and 3 ounces of
cranberry juice in a chilled Champagne flute. Top off with Champagne and stir and
enjoy. If you want to skip the alcohol, just replace the Champagne with ginger ale.

Chocolate Raspberry Martini
Chocolate and booze…the perfect combination for an amazing Christmas cocktail! This
one is super simple and pretty strong, so warn your guests beforehand. Simply
combine 1 1/2 oz. chilled raspberry flavoured vodka and one ounce of chilled white
crème de cacao in a chilled martini glass. Garnish with fresh raspberries and enjoy!

Get everything you need to host an amazing Christmas cocktail party right here at
Party Supplies Now! Happy Holidays!