'Tis the season to party

Classic holiday music is playing, stores are 40 percent off and students are on break after four horrific straight weeks of school. Christmas day may be over, but that doesn't mean that the merriment has to end! To celebrate the holidays and the beginning of the new year, SCO is here with guidelines on how to throw an awesome party.

1. Host it at home
Don't waste your money by renting out a venue, when you can just throw the party in your own home. Transform the kitchen into a gingerbread making station, the living room into a present exchange and have a favorite holiday movie playing in the family room. Not only will you avoid being charged for space, but you'll also create a more intimate atmosphere.

2. Bring out the ugly sweaters
Winter is all about wishing second quarter was over and dressing to stay warm. Instead of the typical holiday ensemble, try having an "all ugly sweater" dress code. After all, we all own them and probably won't get another chance to flaunt the snowflake design any other day of the year.

Afraid your sweater is a little too unflattering? If you're a girl, try to wear a belt around it and pair some cute leggings with boots. If you're a guy, wear your sweater with boot cut jeans and your favorite kicks so you'll be comfortable.

3. Festive foods
There are so many seasonal treats made just for the holidays, so take advantage of them at your party. When deciding which beverages to serve, try peppermint lattes or hot cocoa. For some tasty finger sweets, make gingerbread cookies, candy cane fudge, cherry cake or cream cheese mints. These delicacies won't be around for long, so enjoy them while you can!

4. Carefully select your music
The music you play should correlate to the type of party you're having. If you're having a dance party, try skipping the Christmas tunes that are playing at every shopping center and play some of the year's hottest hits, like "Love on Top" by Beyonce and "U Da One" by Rihanna. These high-energy jams will have your guests dancing the night away and will automatically put people in a "feel good" mood. Having a simple get together? Try playing something like Michael Buble or Justin Bieber. Everyone needs some variety, and it's almost guaranteed that your guests are tired of typical holidays jams.

Holiday parties are a great way to reunite with people who you haven't seen in a while and are also a great excuse to let loose. By following these guidelines, you can avoid the all too familiar party planning stress and get straight to the fun part of making memories with loved ones.