Hostess Hacks
- Fresh Flowers-Try fresh flowers picked from the garden or even a store bought bouquet. Arrange them in tiny vases in the kitchen or on a windowsill. Flowers give your home added detail and a pop of color.
- Candles-Light candles for ambiance and scent. Stick to one scented candle, but light plenty of tea lights or candlesticks to give a warm glow. Candles lit in the bathroom are a nice touch. A few favorites: Aloha Orchid by Aspen Bay and Moso Bamboo by Vo- luspa.
- Cheese Tray-Want to impress without the mess? Bring your own cheese slate to Cuban Liquor and let them wow your guests! They create the most decadent cheese trays, including gourmet meats, fruit, crackers, olives and more. So Impressive!
- Festive cocktail napkins-Cute napkins are always fun! These can be entertaining paper napkins or cloth napkins for a more intimate crowd.
- Lighting-Lighting can change the whole atmosphere of your home. Turn on more lamps and dim overhead lights.
- Easy Dip-Keep a few ingredients on hand for last minute gatherings. Hummus lightly sprinkled with paprika, served with pita chips and raw or grilled veggies are always a hit. Cream cheese, black beans (rinsed and drained), can of rotel with lime and cilantro (drained) and topped with a pack of shredded Mexican cheese. Spread in a 13×9 casserole dish and bake for 20 minutes on 350. Serve with tortilla chips. Oh, so excellent!!
- Chip Bowls-Use chip bowls, no matter how casual an event may be. Bags of chips never look good. Just use chip bowls!
- Drink Station-For adult parties, design a specific drink station. This makes it easy for guests to self-serve ac- cordingly. Display pitch- ers of water or sweet tea and mixers for cocktails. Provide lemons, limes and other garnishes in small bowls. Bring out your fancy drinkware for special occasions. Clear plastic cups still look great if you are looking for easy clean up.
- Wine Spritzer-Have unexpected guests arriving soon with little wine? No worries! Add club soda and frozen fruit for a refreshing treat that will stretch your wine much further.
- Music-Music or lack thereof can make or break a gathering. Invest in a Bluetooth speaker if you do not already have access to music in your home. They are afford- able and always come in handy for entertaining.
- Enjoy Yourself-Don’t stress if every- thing is not perfect. Do what you can to make your guests feel at home. In the meantime, play a little Frank Sinatra, pour a good glass of red, and enjoy yourself.
Colorful autumn flowers in the glass over white. Shallow focus.