Celebrate the season with a Christmas cocktail

'Tis the season for holiday cheer! I love hosting Christmas cocktail parties and ornament exchanges for my friends, family and co-workers, but these parties can get expensive. The bar budget alone can cost more than the food you serve, especially when you attempt to stock a full bar. My solution? I offer soft drinks, white and red wine and one signature cocktail.

The signature cocktail is festive, goes with the theme of your party, allows you time to interact with your guests (instead of mixing drinks) and saves you money. Instead of buying all kinds of alcohol and the mixers to match, you can focus on a few ingredients. Voila! An easy, stream-lined party.

Here are a few of my favorite holiday cocktail recipes that are festive, fun and won't break an already over-extended holiday budget: