Entertaining Tricks No9 & No10

 

It's been a little while since we've highlighted an entertaining trick, and we need to fix that!  We've covered the most important (and super obvious!) in the past but a few other things have jumped out to me lately. 

Entertaining Tricks No7 & No8

Next up in the list of entertaining tricks is an idea credited to my aunt.  I remember her mentioning this idea when we were at her house around Christmas one year, and it's stuck with me. 

No7 - Multiple Parties in a Row - It's kind of counter intuitive, but her suggestion is basically to host lots of parties and get togethers right in a row - multiple parties in one weekend.  It may sound stressful at first, but if you really think about it, it makes sense.  You (kinda) clean your house once, you buy flowers/make sure your plants are fresh once, and you pretty much do a big grocery and run to the liquor store once, you get the idea.  The weekend before last, JD and I sorta put this theory to the test. 

We've wanted to have so many people over recently and it seems like every weekend we're tied up.  We had one free weekend in October and we took advantage.  We kicked off our "weekend of entertaining" Thursday night with me hosting book club.  (So much fun!)  Then, on Saturday we hosted a few people for brunch, and on Sunday we hosted a little cookout for the Panthers' game.  A girls night, brunch, and couples (plus small kids) cookout.  All simple enough on their own, but honestly, I think it was actually much easier because we hosted them right in a row.  I really did only go to the grocery store and liquor store once, I really did only tidy my house once, and best of all, it forced me to keep the menu really simple for each.  I think the key to hosting multiple groups in one weekend is to switch things up - cocktails one night, easy brunch, pizza night, etc.  I don't think I'd attempt to throw 3 full dinner parties in a row. 

No8 - Only "Cook" One Thing, assemble the rest - This may sound impossible (or lazy!) but I think this is my new goal.  My idol Ina suggests to always serve one store bought course- it's too much work to make homemade appetizers, main course, and dessert, but I'm flopping this rule and pretty much saying I only cook one course, and I'll assemble the rest.  When you entertain multiple night in a row, it forces you to think simple.  When I first started thinking about what I wanted to do for bookclub, I had a yummy appetizer pinned, chicken pot pies and a brownie pudding dessert that I was eyeing.  When I remembered that I was hosting two other events that weekend, I changed my mind - store bought cheese and crackers for apps, simple salad plus chicken pot pie for the meal, and store bought candy plus graham crackers for smores dessert.  I only cooked the chicken pot pie, and I did that the night before.  Much more manageable. 

What do you guys think?  Do you already throw lots of little get togethers in one weekend, and I'm lame for just figuring it out, or does this sound stressful?

~Mary Keller

Images | Progressive Dinner Party Tablescape | Barcart | Bruschetta Bar

Entertaining Tricks No5 & No6

These entertaining "tricks" we're sharing may be obvious and they could probably go without being said, but they've stuck with me since I first heard them and I pretty much live by them when expecting guests.

Entertaining Tricks No 2, No 3 & No 4

 

The next three entertaining tricks are seriously easy peasy and just as obvious as No 1, but I'm really bad about forgetting them in the hustle of getting ready to entertain company.  They seriously take 2 minutes and make the biggest difference.

No 2 - Music On!!!  In one of Ina Garten's cookbooks (I know you're sick of hearing about my idol Ina) she mentions that there's nothing worse than showing up at a party and ringing the door bell, the door opens, and there is no music.  You kinda feel early, like you've shown up before the party.  Turn that music on at least 30 minutes before your party begins, it will make sure the house feels festive and it will put you in an entertaining mood before guests even arrive.

No 3 - Candles lit!!!  You don't have to have tons of candles lit, or even the candles on your table lit if you don't plan to sit down to dinner for another hour or so, but just having one or two candles in your house lit will make things instantly feel more festive.  A candle in your den where you may be having drinks, and a candle lit in the powder room is always nice, but I always forget this one!

No 4 - Cocktail in hand, and get one in your guest's hand pronto!  It's much more fun to show up to a party and see that your host is enjoying herself and as a hostess, get your guest a drink asap too!  Even if the rest of the night you'll encourage guests to help themselves self serve at the bar, it's always nice when someone arrives to quickly say "what can I fix you to drink?" "can I pour you a glass of wine?" "would you like to try a Gin and Jack Rudy?"  They'll be happy to have a drink in hand to let the party begin!

Honestly, even though making food ahead of time (my all time No 1) will make entertaining easier, Music On, Candles Lit, and having a Drink in Hand will make your party more fun.  These are arguably more important to me because they make things feel festive and relaxed.  They really go without saying but it's easy for me to forget about them, and another thing, no need to save these for a "party."  I think the same apply if just a girl or two who live next door stops by for a glass of wine on a weeknight.  If you light a candle and turn on the music, small get togethers instantly feel more special too. 

~Mary Keller

rooftop dinner party image via ...etc | record player via urban outfitters | tortoise ice bucket via furbish | candles via furbish

Entertaining Trick No 1 | Make Ahead

We're starting a new little series on entertaining tricks and tips and hopefully we'll have some ideas to share that make entertaining seem more doable.  The first one is so extremely obvious that it's not exactly post worthy, but I feel like it wouldn't be a proper series without including the most important trick in the book - Make Food Ahead of Time, seriously, make just about everything ahead of time and you'll thank yourself while entertaining.  My mom's done this for years and now it's now second nature....