Throw the Ultimate At-Home-Chic Holiday Cocktail Party for Your Girlfriends

Dear Alice,

This will be my first December being single in years. I LOVE the holidays, and always love throwing parties, but I don't want to be the only single girl in a sea of couples. I'd love to throw a holiday party to cheer myself up—is it rude to invite my friends without their significant others?
Signed,
Grinchy

Dear Grinchy,

Ain't no party like a solo party 'cause a solo party don't stop!

Kidding. Actually, I do think it's rude or at least ungracious. Imagine the reverse: "Sorry Grinchy, this is a couples party so I can't invite you." The holidays are a time of inclusion and getting together with people we wish we saw more often (true, sometimes the holidays are a time of making awkward chit chat with your co-worker's husband strategically placed next to the chip bowl) and excluding your friends' significant others isn't exactly in the spirit of the holiday.

If you have your heart set on throwing a holiday soirée, invite your friendsand their mates and maybe suggest they bring along a friend or two. Who knows, maybe these add-ons will be singles themselves. Separately, get your girlfriends together for a more intimate gathering: an afternoon of ice skating and hot chocolate, a holiday-themed slumber party to watch Love Actually (for the 22nd time) or a cookie-making dance party extravaganza (let's make that a thing, please).

The best gift you can give yourself this holiday is to embrace a positive mindset about being single. Don't close your eyes to the relationships around you. You'll harm your friendships and your self-esteem. Open your eyes to all the beautiful connections around you and work on expanding and strengthening them. Have a happy holiday—after all, it's the hap-happiest season of all.

Love,
Alice