The most important thing that you can do to make sure that your special event or occasion is a success is to relax. Accept the fact that not everything is going to be perfect and enjoy not only the event itself but the process leading up to it. Planning and coordinating the event should be half the fun and not be a high stress situation for you. The joy of watching your plans neatly fall into place should far outweigh the small details that may get overlooked. Try to remember that it is just one of many dinner parties and occasions that you will probably host and with good company and good food, you and your guests will have a good time even if everything isn’t perfect.

One way that you can do this is by keeping the planning as simple and organized as possible. If you have a plan in place, even if it doesn’t go like clockwork, you can still be flexible and continue to have a wonderful event. Do as much as possible ahead of time. Set up the décor and the table with everything you plan on using for the party including dinnerware, linens and any decorative items you are using so you are not rushed before the guests arrive. The more details you can have taken care of before the day of the event, the more relaxed you will be and the more time you will have to actually enjoy your guests and the event.

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Posted by Myriam under Hostessing | No Comments »

When you are entertaining, whether it is a Superbowl party or a formal dinner party for fifty, the one thing that everyone will notice is the table.  The table is so much more than a place to sit and eat.  The table is a conversation piece.  It is a common ground for your guests to meet and mingle and it gives them the perfect opportunity to start conversations.  Something unique at every dinner party table will lead the way to your guests having a great time.  It doesn’t matter if it is your latest find at an antique store or just an idea you come up with to decorate something special.  Whatever it is, it will give you and your guests an ice breaker to begin conversations.  If you are stuck looking for unique ideas, check out some of these ideas for some help.

It is important to look at functionality first, of course.  The table must work for the situation and not be clumsy and over cluttered.  A classic white tablecloth always works but if you choose to use a tablecloth with a pattern, make sure to offset it with some solid colors so that it isn’t too busy to look at.  You want the guests to see the table as a whole but also notice each separate nuance you give it.  Every single thing should coordinate and work together as a whole.  Your dinnerware should flow well with the style and colors of your tablecloth, napkins and placemats and serving pieces and accessories should be the same pattern, if possible.

Try to stick with the basic table setting placement.  There are reasons that table settings have been set up the same way for hundreds of years and it is because it works.  It is functional and easy for people to move through the meal easily.  It is a good idea to do a practice run of setting up the table a day or two in advance.  By doing this practice run, you can play with different things to see how they work without being rushed and you can make double sure that you have everything you need.

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Posted by Myriam under Table Setting | No Comments »

The worst part of the holidays could very well be when they are over. The presents are all opened, the parties are over and the guests have all gone home. Of course, the prospect of a whole new, fresh year is enough to have you running to get the calendar for the year and start planning your next gathering, but first you have to deal with the leftovers from the holidays. You have to store the holiday decorations for another year.

The wonderful news is that you can find great storage containers for all of your holiday storage needs. A quick search on the internet turns up various sizes and shapes of neat, plastic containers with special dividers to store your Christmas ornaments in. Larger tubs are perfect for lights and garland, and there are specific containers for wreaths and gift wrap, also. If you have special holiday china, glassware and flatware and no room to store it in the china hutch, there are specials sets of cushioned, zipper containers that you can place them in for safer storage. They even have dividers for cups and glassware.

All of these choices makes storage and cleanup much easier and protects your valuable treasures much better that the old cardboard boxes of the past. Then all you have to do is get it all stored, clean up the needles from the Christmas tree and head off to the nearest spa to release all that stress and toxins that built up over the holidays! Don’t forget to stop on the way home and pick up a new calendar so you can start planning next year’s entertaining.

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Posted by Myriam under Holiday Entertaining | No Comments »