12 Days of Christmas Ideas 2015 – Day 3

I recently spoke to a lovely group of ladies in which I used the example of creating a Hot Chocolate station. I love Hot Chocolate stations, they look great, the drinks taste amazing and they help to create a warm and cozy atmosphere. Sadly, for those of us living in the southern hemisphere Hot Chocolate stations at Christmas time are not such a practical idea. So this got me thinking – what could a summer alternative be?

Since I have a number of family members who love smoothies and fresh juices I thought how about creating a make your own Juice station.

Armed with a few books from the local library (prior to this idea I knew very little about juicing) I went shopping for a variety of fresh fruits and veggies. The key here, so I learned, is to buy what is in season. If you grow your own even better. Also try and avoid using over-ripe produce. I decided to keep it very simple, but if you want to, you can get quite fancy. The little bit of fancy that I added were some bottles of sparkling water. I figured some people like to water down their juice a little and others like bubbles in their juice – so sparkling water seemed like a fun and healthy way to provide this option.

Gathering the equipment was the next thing to do. Glasses, knife, chopping board and a rubbish bin were some of the basics. And of course there was the juicer itself. I was fortunate enough to have been given a juicer a few years back. There are a few different types of juicers on the market. They all have their pros and cons, but at the end of the day they all make juice. So whatever you choose is fine. I’ve also seen these on Trade Me and in the second hand stores – so don’t feel you have to spend big bucks.

Finally it was set up time. Really you could set this up anywhere and in a variety of ways, but I opted to go with a bit of a rustic look that had a fresh and citrus twist. I used some wooden gift boxes to create the shelves. I lined these with vibrant wrapping paper that I brought from Warehouse Stationery. And I then added a chalkboard sign which I made out of an old picture frame that I found in a second hand shop.

And there you have it – one ‘Make You Own Juice Station’. There are so many reasons why I love this idea. Yes it’s healthy, looks good and tastes great, but it is also a help-yourself-solution to serving beverages that is fun and interactive. A little bit of pre-planning and setting up beforehand means you can enjoy the time you have with your guests even more.

© 2015 As You Wish Events Ltd.  Want to use this article in your E-newsletter, blog, or website? You can as long as you include this complete statement: Auckland, New Zealand – Event Planner & Designer Nadine Crozier publishes the ‘As You Wish Events’ blog filled with secrets, tips and how-tos for planning your fabulous event. Get your exclusive inspiration, tips and tricks at http://www.asyouwish.co.nz.  As You Wish Events is an event planning and design company based in Auckland, serving the Auckland region and certain areas of Northland.