Holiday Planning in Omaha, Nebraska

The holiday season is here – well, almost, but it’s time to start planning for its arrival! As most of us are aware, generally by trial and error in the past, a few key things that should be planned for well in advance are holiday parties and any custom gifts that need to be special ordered or are in high demand and may not be available for very long. To get the 2015 holiday season kicked off right we’ve highlighted some ways that you can get started on your holiday planning and prepare to dazzle your friends, family, clients, co-workers and anyone else that has landed on your list this year!

At the very beginning of holiday party planning, the first decision that you’ll likely be making is the venue. This is particularly advantageous because once you have your venue booked you’ll have a set date and a much better idea of your needs for all other aspects of the party, including food and beverages, entertainment, and itinerary. There are plenty of fantastic places to host your holiday party that get rave reviews year after year, but with that popularity they also book incredibly quickly!

As one ideal example to consider, Platteview Golf Club has a beautiful banquet room open to the public with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the scenic 18-hole golf course.  With tables and chairs, the banquet room can fit up to 180 guests comfortably while still having a dance floor so everyone can really let loose and have fun! Guests are able to walk right outside to a large patio as well, which adds a great outdoor/indoor ambiance for all to enjoy. This space is perfect for upcoming holiday events, and on-site catering is also available along with formal set-up and clean-up services.

Once you’ve booked the venue, you can assess your needs and begin getting everything else nailed down accordingly. Dining/catering is a key essential of holiday parties that comes next on the planning list.

“When it comes to holiday parties, we have just about any delicacy you’d associate with a holiday meal,” emphasizes Sean Fuller, owner of Just Good Meat. “In customizing a meal for an upcoming party, meat is obviously our specialty and as such, our customers have a wealth of options such as pulled pork, smoked or marinated chicken breasts in many different flavors, sliced pork loin, phillies, or meat and cheese trays with a wide variety of gourmet sausages and cheese to choose from all the way up to fine dining fare such as farm-fresh turkeys, geese, capons, duck breasts, quail, old-fashioned dry cure ham, prime rib, and of course, any cut of steak you can think of.

There are many more items available that I haven’t named, and since we have so much variety when it comes to main dishes, sides, and hors d’oeuvres, it’s advantageous to line up a consultation via phone or in person so that we can go over everything together and set up a meal that best fits the particular event. All of our offerings are available to pick up in-store or for catering on location, so you are free to choose what works best for your specific needs and fits within your budget. We run a holiday special on prime rib throughout the season, which is a nice alternative for those who are looking for a somewhat non-traditional holiday dinner. As there are plenty of parties to attend and holiday meals to enjoy, it also can be a refreshing change of pace. However, if you’re sticking to the classic turkey dinner, we offer the finest all natural, locally sourced turkeys and we can also smoke them for enhanced flavor.

Along with holiday parties, it’s also a good idea to plan ahead for your holiday gifts. Our steak gift boxes are always very popular among our corporate clients. These can be customized with an assortment of different cuts, and can even be purchased in bulk for a special discounted price. They make a great gift for either your employees or your clients, whether you choose to hand them out at the office, deliver them around town, or give them to guests at your holiday party. Furthermore, meat can be purchased in bulk which is perfect for companies who want to send all of their employees home for the holidays with turkeys or hams.

Whether you’re looking for an amazing gift or the perfect holiday meal, we offer plenty of special holiday fare that’s perfect for the season and sure to be enjoyed by all. Furthermore, considering that the holiday season is also football season, if you’re planning an upcoming tailgate or watch party we have plenty of good stuff for that too!”

If the venue doesn’t supply all of your holiday party needs, instead of purchasing them outright you could also consider renting the necessary items. Honeyman Rent-All offers an extensive selection of rental items ideal for holiday parties or entertaining including tables, bars, chairs, linens, china, chafers, lighting, slush and soft serve machines, and much more. They also offer delivery and on-site set up of all necessary equipment, and will take everything down after the event. Bill Reynolds, Party Store Manager at Honeyman Rent-All, explains, “Our items that are the most popular around the holidays are linens, chafers, and anything that revolves around food. We can provide items as simple as a tablecloth or two for a small gathering all the way up to an elaborate arrangement of tables with settings and skirted serving tables complete with chafers and centerpieces. We strive to make renting equipment hassle-free as we provide items the day before the event and let our clients return them the day after while only charging rent for one day.”

Along with catering, sweet treats and the holidays definitely go hand in hand! Whether you’re planning for a holiday gathering, party, corporate gifts, gifts for loved ones, or just something nice for yourself to enjoy, your local bakery will have plenty of fantastic ideas to offer.

If you’re looking for an easy way to impress anyone on your gift list, Alotta Brownies is again offering its popular assortment of Gourmet Gift Boxes this holiday season. These heavy two-piece boxes come complete with a festive ribbon and gift tag, as well as an assortment of fresh baked signature goodies from Alotta Brownies! “In addition to our Gourmet Gift Boxes, we can also customize gifts for anyone on your list,” says Michelle Kaiser, owner of Alotta Brownies Bakery. “No matter how big or small the request, we have such a wide variety of product and service offerings that it just comes down to what you like, what your needs are, and the date that you need your order completed. The same is true for any desserts you’ll need for holiday parties and entertaining. The key is to get your order in as soon as possible, so you get exactly what you want and have the opportunity to incorporate personal touches and a little creativity too if you like. We take pride in putting special touches on all of our products, and we’d be honored to assist you in treating those closest to you this holiday season!”

Gift giving is indeed an essential part of spreading the holiday cheer around, with a wide range of special ways you could treat any one of the important people in your life. So it’s only natural that next on the list for holiday party planning, as well as planning for the holidays in general, is gift giving!

This year, consider giving someone the gift of learning a new hobby or conversely, learn a new hobby and make something for a loved one! Consider woodworking as a key example of literally giving the gift of creativity, and the benefits will last a lifetime. Or, if you have a woodworker in your life, you can always find a new tool to add to their collection at Midwest Woodworkers.

“Before I owned the store I always had ‘Anything from Midwest Woodworkers’ on my Christmas list,” says Gerry Phelan, owner of Midwest Woodworkers. “Woodworking is my passion so I knew I couldn’t go wrong with that.  I bet your woodworker would feel the same way.  We’re your one-stop woodworking shop with thousands of items in stock.  If you are not sure what to give we can help – we’re all woodworkers and we can offer gift suggestions and answer your questions.  Just let us know what your favorite woodworker’s interests are and we’ll go to work for you.

If you have a special holiday project in mind that you will personally be working on, you’ll need to give yourself enough time to do it right.  Some people enjoy last minute gift shopping, but last minute woodworking can be very frustrating.  As the deadline looms mistakes creep in that can ruin your plans.   And once your gift is complete you still need more time to give it a great finish.

We typically start stocking up in the fall on hardwoods, tools, books and plans to support woodworkers with their holiday gift projects.  The one thing we aren’t able offer is more time.

In recent years we’ve also had a lot of customers buying classes to give as gifts. How often are you able to give a lifetime skill?  Providing someone with the opportunity to learn a new skill is a priceless gift.   If someone on your gift list is creative and enjoys working with their hands, a woodworking class is an awesome choice.

We offer ‘hands-on’ classes that even folks who’ve never tried it before can excel in.  In most classes, participants complete a project like a pen, a turned bowl, a carved figurine or even a nightstand right in class.  And it’s not just for guys; we are seeing more and more women getting into woodworking.
Remember that your time and attention is the best gift of all.  If you are able to make something special with your own hands, that gift has a much stronger personal connection.  If you are thinking of giving a certificate for a class, consider taking a class with them.  You can both enjoy learning and doing, while sharing some quality time together.”

When it comes to shopping for gifts around town, we are truly lucky to live in a city that is rich with specialty retailers and boutiques so you’re sure to find those unique gifts that will be a welcome surprise to those who are the lucky (and deserving!) recipients.

“We have great gift suggestions for 2015!” says Susie Keuck, owner of Nouvelle Eve. “Some of the best sellers so far include The Home T, available in Nebraska, Iowa, and the Castle (as in, your home is your castle). These tees and hoodies are unisex and available in sizes xsmall – xlarge. Another great gift is a custom piece of jewelry by Kenda Kist. Kenda is one of a kind when it comes to creating beautiful unique pieces. Contact us soon for holiday special orders including hand stamped pieces with coordinates, special dates or names. We’d love to help you surprise your loved one with a custom gift.

Nouvelle Eve is definitely here to help with your holiday gift giving. If you are looking for that individual, unique clothing or accessory item we’ve got you covered! If you are looking for group or corporate gifts it’s time to start planning. We can help you with specialty candles, lotions, bath salts or soaps. We also love cozy chic blankets or custom jewelry. Contact us at (402) 345-4811 to get the ball rolling. We’d be happy to take care of the gift wrapping and local delivery too.

When you are ready to start your holiday shopping, keep Nouvelle Eve in mind. Bring us your list, we will help you check it twice and get it all wrapped up effortlessly so you can truly enjoy the holiday season without the stress. Cheers and happy holidays!”

Gifts that also promote health and wellness are also at the top of the list for most, so we’ve included a few great ideas to get you started here too!

Many of us are likely to have at least one fitness or sports enthusiast on our gift list. Regardless, gifts that promote a healthy lifestyle can be fun too! Play It Again Sports is full of great finds for kids and adults alike. The store offers both new and gently used items at a fraction of the retail price, and prepare ahead of time for the holiday rush with a significant increase in inventory. This means you have an even better chance of scoring a great deal! As these items get picked over very quickly, the sooner you stop in the better. Gift cards are also available, and are a great gift in lieu of spring sports that are right around the corner after the holidays.

The best part is that Play It Again Sports welcomes trades all year long, even during the holiday season. That concept can help you save money by allowing you to apply those trade dollars to your gift purchases!

When it comes to finding the perfect gift for the athlete or fitness-focused person on your gift list, Richard Messina, owner of Play It Again Sports, advises, “Do your homework!  Do you want to get a piece of exercise equipment for someone you love for Christmas?  It’s important to know several things ahead of time.  What do they want?  For example, if your wife tells you she wants a treadmill that narrows down the search in our store quite a bit.  However, if she just wants a machine that will get her in shape, that gets a bit more tricky.  Here are a few questions you should know the answers to prior to shopping for fitness equipment:

1. What is the person’s fitness goal?  Are they training for a marathon or trying to just shed a few pounds?

2. What is the person’s weight and overall health?  Most of our treadmills, ellipticals, and stationary bikes do have a suggested weight capacity.  If there are any health concerns, you should mention that to our sales representative.  He or she can give you some healthier alternatives in fitness gear that may be safer for that particular person.

3. What kind of space does the person have in their home for the piece of equipment?

4. What is your price range?

5. Will you need the piece of equipment delivered and/or set up by our Play it Again staff?

Once the weather starts getting cold here in Nebraska, many people like to exercise in the warmth of their own homes.  Fitness equipment sales escalate in our store starting in November.  While we always will have new fitness machines in stock, those looking for great deals on our used inventory will need to act quickly as we have a high turnover during this period. If you find that perfect used stationary bike that you want to give your husband for Christmas, consider paying for it ahead of time or putting it on layaway.  Chances are, if you wait until closer to Christmas, it will be gone.

If you are buying sporting equipment, you should also come with as much information as possible.  Are you looking for a very specific baseball bat?  Knowing the brand, model, weight and length are essential.  We may not have that bat in stock, but may be able to order it for you if you come to the store well in advance of Christmas. If you want to outfit a young hockey player with new pads, it would be helpful to know what size they just outgrew.  It is very hard to accurately purchase hockey pads without a person to try them on unless you know what they have worn in the past.  If you are unable to get that information or your youngster is just getting started out in a sport, a gift card would probably be your best bet.  Furthermore, it’s never too early to be thinking of warm weather and spring.  Play It Again Sports has a huge variety of disc golf, golf, skateboards and inline skates to choose from.

He continues, “Fitness equipment is always a big seller during the holiday season, especially with heavy punching bags, weightlifting benches, and weights.   Ice skates, hockey gear, and snow sports are also popular during this time of year.  Last year we sold out of skateboards during the Christmas season so this year we have a very large selection of long boards, skateboards, and penny boards.  Golf clubs are also popular, especially for those snowbirds who take off after Christmas for warmer climates.  We have lots of new and used golf irons, putters, drivers, bags, wedges, hybrids, complete sets and accessories for the beginning golfer to the more experienced player.

Above all, keep in mind that any piece of sporting equipment that is very specific will most likely have to be ordered ahead of time.  We carry a good selection of new and used equipment, but if you want a specific new baseball bat or glove, hockey stick, or golf clubs we can get them in but it will take time. As we buy gently-used gear all day, every day you can also bring in your used sporting goods and fitness equipment for cash or about 20% more for the in-store credit option. It’s definitely a great way to get rid of some clutter in your garage or basement and create your own discount on your gift purchase.”

Good health is a combination of mind, body and spirit—so it’s safe to say that a little relaxation and pampering is sometimes just what the doctor ordered! Spa services are a lovely treat, and a popular holiday gift that you can almost guarantee will delight whoever is on the receiving end. While gift certificates are popular because the recipient gets to choose the services that they prefer, you may also consider hosting a spa event as a gift to your employees or friends as a way to relax, unwind and enjoy each other’s company during the holiday season. Just as retail stores are busy for the holidays, so are businesses in the beauty and wellness industries, so scheduling your appointment or event as soon as possible will secure your date and give everyone the chance to make it work with their jam-packed holiday schedules.

As Nebraska winters can be treacherous, it’s always nice to have a safe, reliable vehicle. Consider this another great example for a potentially much-needed gift idea! Rick Quistad of Jones Automotive says, “It may not be the most exciting gift, but the gift of services that winterize a vehicle around the holidays might be more appreciated than you think! Also, remote starters continue to be a great holiday gift year after year. With newer smartphone apps, you can safely start your vehicle remotely from longer distances away. As one prime example, if you’re on a flight returning home after a business trip and it’s snowing here, you can even start your car and get it warmed up from the plane! It also works out great for those who work a longer distance from where they park. And the only legal way you can leave your car running is by utilizing a remote car starter, which protects your vehicle from theft. All things considered, a remote starter is a solid gift idea for so many practical reasons that you just can’t go wrong.”

So now that you are thinking ahead towards the holidays, remember while you are in the midst of your planning and shopping that you also factor in time to enjoy all of the special moments in between. We wish you success in your holiday planning endeavors, and when in doubt, make sure to utilize the local experts who specialize taking the stress and hassle out of the process and delivering exactly what you hoped for – and oftentimes more!