I don't know why I LOVE this catalog so much...perhaps because everything is unique and thoughtful! But yesterday when I got home from several meetings and my baby bump was growling with hunger and I saw the latest Red Envelope catalog sitting on the counter I just had to stop everything and page through every last gift-able morsel! Sorry baby! Here are a few of my favorite things: Add Comment I scheduled a brunch with 2 other couples who are always on the move weeks ago....I never realized it was Superbowl Sunday until one of the guests called and said, by the way you are invited to our house after your brunch for Superbowl! So I wanted to keep the brunch girly....I mean the Superbowl is mostly guy-oriented, so I figured the day could handle some balance. Menu: Mango Mimosa, OJ Mimosa, Coffee, Fresh Fruit Salad, Cinnamon Coffee Cake, Roasted Potatoes with Lemon, Goat Cheese and Proscuitto Egg Strata. I set the table with a subtle country-chic feel with exposed wood, a burlap runner, navy with white dot napkins, and clusters of roses in jars. The fruit and coffee cake was in the center of the table for everyone to grab and we passed the egg strata and potatoes. I must say it was a yummy menu and my guests enjoyed and then bounced off to start the football festivities!   I had a great photo shoot with new-to the scene photographer Vanessa Schrotenboer this afternoon. She was a second shooter on a wedding we planned last year and took some great shots of the decor and flowers, so I wasn't surprised when she called and said she was going full-time and offered to do a shoot for me. Now I'm normally able to hide behind beautiful brides in white dresses or handsome men in tuxedos at weddings....needless to say I tend to be a little camera shy. Vanessa did an amazing job in using the natural light and made me feel really relaxed and natural. Thank you Vanessa for a fabulous afternoon!   I'm hosting a dinner party for 8 tomorrow night. It's been a busy couple of weeks, but I want to make sure that each of my guests feel special. I checked with them all via email to ensure the date was available on their calendars, then hand-wrote invitations and popped them in the mail. I'm going for a contemporary look for the table, and with 8 people things can get a little crowded, so I'm using stemless glassware and simple place settings. Each guest is new to one another, so I've created place cards and written the guest name on both sides, so there are no chances of forgotten names during dinner! The menu will be fresh and simple with a little Mediterranean flair: Roasted Red Pepper Crostini, some fresh-made Hummus for Hors D'oeuvres; Field Green salad with a special soy-vinaigrette, Baked Salmon, Dilled Red Potatoes, Roasted Asparagus, and a flour-less Chocolate Cake for dessert (provided kindly by one of my guests by my special request.) I have the table set already and am about to go and do all the shopping....the key is to stick to a plan but allow for flexibility!   It's officially holiday season....the calendar is starting to book with brunches, dinners and of course the fabulous cocktail party. So I headed out yesterday and stocked up on the basics for hostess gifts. Here's what my shopping list looked like:
When choosing basic gifts I look for things without holiday packaging so it could possibly be grabbed and gifted year-round. I also look for items I know my friends or acquaintances would actually use. I can't tell you how many times someone has come to my house with a horrible hostess gift I then have to donate or re-gift (tactfully of course!) Also, be sure you can easily wrap for the best presentation. I prefer using basic brown or white paper bags and then stuffing with colorful tissue and tying with a nice ribbon. It makes it easy on the hostess to open immediately if she wants to or saving for later. Sorry for the radio silence in Blog-land....The Graceful Host has moved into a large studio space to accommodate all our fabulous events! In the midst of moving I started thinking about a long-lost party that needs to return: the Housewarming Party! Housewarming parties don't have to happen immediately upon moving to a new home. In fact it's good to use the party as a goal to finish unpacking, pick new paint colors, and decorate the main areas of your home. However, even if you don't finish it all your guests will still have a good time. I think a good housewarming party starts by deciding what kind of party you want to represent' the new digs. Is it a bachelorette pad? Then how about a Mad Men style cocktail party! Are you a newlyweds in your first home? The what about a grown-up brunch open-house! Did you just upgrade to a bigger pad to accommodate the growing family? Then how about a pool/bbq/lawn games afternoon! Choose foods that can sit at room temperature if you are holding an open house format. Consider making a new signature cocktail for the new home, something simple and refreshing that you can and will serve after the party. Decor can be simple with fresh flowers and perhaps personalized napkins (house number or monogram). Try to stay near the front door, so as guests arrive or depart you are there to greet and thank. Enjoy yourself, it the start to many more joyous times in your new home! Well, maybe not a village, but at least some creativity and preparation. Events where kids are in attendance require a little bit of thoughtful consideration for the little people. For years my husband and I have invited our friends with kids over for everything from brunch to dinner....the key to successfully entertaining the whole family: books, a few toys and games, kid-friendly food and some patience. I apply the same scenario to events we work on....if 10% or more of the guest list are kids of elementary school age or younger then we design a special area for them. It can be as simple as asking the caterer to make a chicken finger/french fry/fruit/milk & cookies buffet for them (which in turn is usually much cheaper per little head). We also travel to each event with a special 'kid-kit' filled with picture books, some games, colors, paper, stickers and bubbles. Amazingly the kit has turned even the sourest of faces into a grin. If you are expecting more than 10% of the guest list in the form of little ones consider hiring professional event babysitters and/or kid entertainers....magicians, balloon artists, clowns, face-painters....anything you do to keep them happy will in turn keep their parents happy. That means happy guests all around! Not until recently did I begin to understand the term 'dog days of summer.' You see, in the Midwest we experienced something called 'cabin fever' which happened sometime in January/February when the cold, snowy weather had kept you cooped up in the house. Summertime in the midwest was so short and mild compared to this incredible Southern summer we are experiencing now. So here are a few suggestions to beat the heat and keep your guests comfortable.
I am frequently asked for ideas for gifts for several different occasions....birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, but my favorite gift giving occasion are babies. I take a different approach to baby gifts...I figure the parents have all the things they need via family and friends and numerous showers. So I get a gift for the new mommy and daddy, something they can enjoy together. If they are wine drinkers and I know mommy has had to abstain for 9 months then I get her a few bottles of her favorite wine. I will sometimes grab a six-pack of a unique microbrew for daddy too! Are they not that big on beverages, but would appreciate a dinner out? Then get a gift certificate to their favorite restaurant, and offer to babysit when they are ready for a night out....keep in mind it might be a few months until the take you up on the offer, let them adjust to parenthood in their own time. The last gift idea is primarily for mommy, send her to the salon for a fresh hair-cut and possibly a mani-pedi. If she's apprehensive about leaving baby, go with her and watch baby while she's getting made-up. Then take her to lunch if she's up for it! Try and go outside the box when it comes to baby gifts, the wrapping may not be ask cutesy, but the gift will definitely be remembered for years to come! A big part of the Graceful Host planning process is focused on the guest experience. When you say you want your guests to have a good time, we work diligently to make sure that happens. Here are a few simple ways to ensure your guests truly feel special during your event:
|  Heather GearA few of my favorite things: tulips, ironed sheets, pretty wrapping paper, the feeling when an airplane is taking off, a good nap, a memorable conversation, Belgian waffles on Sunday morning, hand-written cards, orchids, rock star parking spots, sharp pencils. ArchivesFebruary 2012 CategoriesAll 
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