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Stocking a family friendly bar
Hours of menu planning frequently go into delivering the perfect Thanksgiving dinner: the gracious host never overlooks the vegetarian guest, or the favored guest who simply adores roasted beets....
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Clean Cocktails for Festive Entertaining
There is nothing worse than planning a fabulous party and then finding that the party took a turn for the worse when you, or a guest spills red wine. We’ve all been there and when you are planning a...
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A new twist on the traditional guest book
The holidays are upon us: guests are ringing door bells, hostesses are clicking their heels and before we know it, the merriment will turn into hibernation and the memories of those festive nights...
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How to plan a progressive dinner
Winter brings colder, shorter days and also that hung over feeling caused by over stretching our holiday glee. The idea of hosting a dinner party or even a small cocktail party leaves even the most...
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The Hostess Journal
Between my household management book and vast collection of guest books, it should not surprise you that I also keep a hostess journal. As a child, I watched my grandmother use a variety of books to...
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How to give a toast
I’m such an extrovert that I forget that some people buckle up at the thought of public speaking. While others struggle with what to say, I struggle with how to limit what I want to say… I could...
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How to end a party in style
Everyone loves hosting a great party, and for the most part, many of us are happy to keep the party going as long possible, but what about those times when all you want to do is reach for your bed and...
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Grown up Jell-o Shots
Not all Jello Shots are created equal, some, like the ones from our youth are tainted with the foolishness of college parties, and others, like a glamourous version of the Jello Jiggler can add a touch...
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Advice for the reluctant host
Entertaining at home should be second nature; however modern demands on our time coupled with the massive promotion of picture perfect menus send many of us reaching for a wine glass at the mere...
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How to calculate your party beverage needs
I am a strong believer that the biggest dinner party disaster of them all is when the booze runs dry and your guests start going thirsty. For most people, attending a dinner party is more about...
View ArticleTable Tactics for Family Feasts
Compared to many families made popular on reality TV, my family is dull, dry and lacks the gusto to make for captivated viewing… but I adore them nonetheless and find comfort in the fact that the...
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Overcoming Dinner Party Disasters
After days of planning, hours of cooking and moments spent rearranging the floral display while you anxiously await your guests to arrive, the last thing on your mind is the wine reduction sauce...
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5 Post Christmas Party Ideas
Looking for reasons to keep the party going? Or simply just trying to catch up with friends that you missed over the holiday season? Here are 5 reasons to open your door and play hostess in January....
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Dinner Party Serving Styles
My first dinner party was a feast of pasta, garlic bread and wine in a tiny London flat that hardly had space for a kitchen table, let alone 4 adults trying to enjoy a dignified evening. My husband...
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4th of July family friendly party foods
I love it when my work and family life intersect, and my latest 4th of July series for Celebrations.com does just that. Rather than put my thinking hat on, I asked the children to recipe develop, take...
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10 Ways to jazz up lemonade
There is nothing better on a hot day than a glass of freshly made lemonade. But why stop with just lemons? I love the simplicity of homemade lemonade and how simple it is to jazz it up using basic...
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