Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Life

Tag: entertaining

  • 3 Easy Dinner Party Serving Styles

    There’s nothing quite as welcoming and comforting as a pleasant meal to encourage a sense of relaxation and closeness among guests at a dinner party. When you open your home to friends and family, you do more than feed hungry people; you celebrate the personal interactions that make life special. Just a little bit of early planning makes it simpler to get the food from the kitchen to the table smoothly, and three easy serving styles you can consider are buffet style, family style and French style.

    3 Easy Dinner Party Serving Styles - bhgrelife.com

    Buffet Style

    Buffet style is perfect for serving a large group of guests in a relatively informal setting. With buffet-style meals, everything is set out on a large area, such as a counter or kitchen island. Guests can then walk through, select the foods that appeal to them and take their seats.

    It’s a relaxed, friendly method of serving that leaves the host or hostess free to mingle with guests. The only disadvantage is that it is nearly impossible to maintain any kind of portion control, so more food gets wasted and the last guests through the line might not get to try everything they want to eat.

  • 15 Ideas for a Memorable Housewarming Party

    You’re finally ready to invite friends and neighbors into your new house, but before you send out invitations, take a few minutes to plan out how to make your party special. The best housewarming parties encourage old friends to visit your new digs and help foster new friendships with your neighbors!

    handwritten1. Include a Handwritten Note

    Printed invitations are a worthy and budget-friendly time saver, but don’t be afraid to add a quick note to entice new neighbors to attend. A simple “Hope to see you there!” will increase your chances of a higher turn-out and shows that you are truly excited to host your guests.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    neighborhood2. Include Directions

    In the age of GPS navigation systems, it might be easy to forgo step-by-step directions. By including a simple map, hand-drawn or pulled from the internet, it’ll show your guests that you’ve taken the extra step to help them feel welcome. Plus, it will probably decrease the chances of anyone getting lost on the way to your new place!

     

     

     

     

     

     

    loungechairs3. Welcome Friends of Friends

    Etiquette may frown on people bringing uninvited guests, but meeting friends of friends is a great way to expand your social circle. Therefore, encourage coworkers and new neighbors to bring friends if they’d like.

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Five Keys to Entertaining on a Budget

    Having your own home gives you ample opportunities to entertain. While hosting a party in your home might seem stressful, having people over can actually be a simple and affordable way to spend time with family and friends. To learn more about how to entertain within reason, read on for five fundamental tips for throwing a budget-friendly get-together.

    gardenparty

    1. Host a Potluck

    If you’re planning to have a meal with friends, consider hosting a potluck where guests bring a dish or drink instead of you having to prepare food for everyone. By making just one or two dishes yourself and having guests bring other items along with their preferred beverages, you can save on the cost of food and cooking supplies. A potluck will not only help save you money, but you’ll also be serving guests a well-rounded, diverse meal that everyone contributed to. Choose a dinner theme and coordinate it in advance with your guests. For entertainment, choose games or activities that keep with the theme.

     

     

     

     

  • Ask a Pro Q&A: Dinner Table Dress-Up

    Welcome to another installment of Ask a Pro! Today we are talking to Dream Team member and Lifestyle expert Carolina Buia about finding the right placemats to dress up your dinner table!

    Q: I have been trying to find placemats for my table and cannot.  Are they still in fashion?  Where can I find them?

    -Kay C.

    placemats
    A: Where have you been looking?

    Placemats are still very much in fashion, especially with all the holiday entertaining. They can dress up a table or keep messes manageable. The latter ones are practical–as they are plastic and messes can be wiped up quickly. They are great for kids, and IKEA and Etsy have a wide selection. For adding pizazz to your dining, my favorite placemats include the modern Chilewich line. Their gilded ovals are one of my go-to table jewels. Also, check out the whimsical selections from ZGallerie, like these silvered corals. These stunning mats are an inexpensive and easy way to elevate your table setting. Yes, these beauties will always have a place at my dinner table.

    -Carolina B.

  • Five Party Themes for Fall

    Fall is a great time to throw a party. The weather is a comfortable cool. There are still a few months before it’s all snow and cold! If you’re planning a party, here are few suggestions for the best fall-themed party ever!

    Rustic

    rusticRustic is a great fall party theme for those who prefer a restrained and minimalist approach to party decoration. Small twigs and fallen branches are not hard to come by this season. Collect them in a tall vase and arrange some dried leaves to create the focal point of your party table. Be sure to gather enough leaves in varying shades of red and yellow to add excitement to your arrangement.


  • How To Enjoy Your Own Party

    You’ve double-checked the invites, tried out the recipes, rearranged the decoration, and recounted the gift bags. Yet it seems you might have overlooked something. With all the planning, cooking, and hosting, it’s easy to forget to have fun and enjoy the festivities you have worked so hard to bring about. These practical tips will save you time and headache so you can focus on having a good time your own party.

    1. Get the date into the books early. This is the busiest time of the year for EVERYTHING—so lock it in. Send out a quick email reminder, followed by an evite.

    Save_the_Date

  • Fall Feast … Almost Famous

    Fall party

    Fall FeastThink of this as a Halloween after-party for adults, while the goblins stay home with the sitter. Invite your friends to come as their favorite celebrity. Assign everyone a number at the door and make a game of who can guess every famous-face in the room.


  • Thanksgiving Party Tips

    Thanksgiving is one of the best times of the year. The weather is not too cold, the leaves are still turning colors, and the frantic end-of-the-year rush has not fully kicked in. If you’re hosting your family’s Thanksgiving gathering this season, check out these little touches that will make your home extra cozy and welcoming for your guests.

    Create a Tasteful Centerpiece

    Tasteful_CenterpieceThere is no need to go overboard with your Thanksgiving centerpiece. Some flowers and candles with fall colors will give you a look your guests will love!

  • Quick and Easy Menu Ideas for Your Next Party

    If you are throwing an impromptu get together, then you will need to put together a delicious menu that will be quick and easy. Here is a sample menu that all of your guests will enjoy!

    Drinks

    Pink_LemonadeMint pink lemonade- chop some mint leaves and let them infuse for at least four hours. Get a beautiful pink color by adding some strawberry or pomegranate juice.

     

     

    Cucumber_WaterFresh cucumber or melon water- chop either cucumber or melon and let infuse in the water.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Mason_JarsDécor tip- drinks can be served in old fashioned beverage dispensers or mason jars for a cool and classy look.

  • Housewarming Party How-To’s

    Hosting your first housewarming party? It can seem a little intimidating at first, but with a few party planning tricks and tips you will be on your way to throwing a stress-free housewarming party!

    Entertaining Space

    Outdoor_partyA casual, outdoor party is a great way to inaugurate your new home, and an even better excuse to meet new neighbors and catch up with old friends. The key is to make it as stress free as possible, because you’ve already been through a closing, moving, and an unpacking marathon. A little socialization and some good food are certainly in order.