It's still hotter than heck out there in most parts of the country, but we've been noticing the faintest of familiar scents on the increasingly frequent breezes: fall is on the way, and with it, the urge to hunker down, gather with friends and celebrate all the wonderful things that this life has to offer.
If you're anything like me, you don't host gatherings at your place nearly as much as you would like to. The laundry list of excuses is a mile long: maybe your place isn't "done" yet, or it's never as clean as you would like, or you don't have the "right" servingware. Enough. This is gonna be the year you finally create an excuse-free zone so you can have your friends over to thank them for their awesomeness. Here's our excuse-busting, gather-inspiring to-tackle list:
Finally come up with a cleaning schedule. Ensure your home is at least modestly presentable for impromptu gatherings. Check out Apartment Therapy's advice on how to clean your house in 20 minutes a day for 30 days and helpful tips on making a cleaning schedule.
Start a list of servingware always wanted + genuinely needed. Keep your eyes peeled at yard sales, vintage store and sales. Also come to terms with the fact that you don't really need all that much to entertain friends. In fact, you really only need a basic list of essentials.
Start keeping on hand certain items to throw together for guests. It would be lovely to have a small set of items ready to throw together into easy snacks and drinks so you don't have to think too hard about planning for a get together. Print out the recipes for these last minute appetizers for unexpected guests and keep the supplies for a few of them on hand.
Genuinely tackle a few remaining DIY projects you've been meaning to get to. Find your own with these 10 best sites for DIY projects. Get organized, while you're at it, with these no fail ways to finally get yourself organized. And make sure you don't get too discouraged because sometimes, everyone is bound to have a project that doesn't go quite the way they imagined.
Make a list of fun-sounding recipes that you would love to make for people. So that a dinner party sounds more like an adventure than any sort of work that needs logistical planning. Shift perspective so that there's no fear of messing up — but a sense of humor if the recipe goes sour (and of course, a back-up plan if it's plain inedible!). Find lots of ideas with these 5 great tips for dinner party newbies (plus lots more).
Come to terms with the fact that your home won't ever be "done," but that your friends won't mind one flip. They just wanna see you. And your home won't ever look as imperfect in their eyes as it does in yours. So don't wait for perfection before inviting guests over.
(Images: Adrienne Breaux)
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sounds like my weekend!!! finally spackled and painting the bathroom, thus finishing it. put yard sale stuff aside to sell for OTHERS! cleaned the vacuum cleaner lol. now..who wants to come over!?
I just did a TON of laundry, unpacked 2 more boxes (only a few left to go!), and planned my layout for the apartment, including what furniture I still need and what I can move around or need to do a DIY project on. Wishing I had a bigger budget so I could move ahead more quickly, but I'm trying to really come to terms with what is feasible.
I truly suffered from the it's not done yet/clean enough to invite people over. Even when my spaces couldn't hold another item they seemed like they were unfinished. The real problem was that I didn't feel finished in my self. I finally discovered that (most) people who knew me loved me warts and all.
I don't entertain bc I have only 710sqft, a gamer for a boyfriend who takes up half of that and no where to sit. =/
Man, I have been on a massive home organization stint the last couple of months- I have basically moved into a mancave (emphasis on the cave part) and it needs a lot of love.
I LOVE Halloween- unreasonably much- and I want to have a party this year so I decided to get my act together and actually clear out the gross carport, put up shelves around the house, paint, and thin out junk, etc. It's been slow going since I have 6 projects going at once at any time but I'm starting to see an orange colored light at the end of this previously-seeming endless tunnel! I can't wait to have people over!
Your real friends will not care if your home isn't done, has laundry on the floor, or you have nothing "proper" to eat for snacks.
We recently purchased a sad, neglected little '55 ranch with peeling linoleum floors, ugly cabinets, berber carpeting that has been professionally cleaned twice but still has the previous owner's pet pee stains, etc. It looks no where near the way we'd like it to (getting married 2mos ago definitely put things on a hold, too).
We've waited so long to have our own home that we don't care what it looks like at the moment, home is all about the way you welcome people in. Now we finally have indoor and outdoor space to have friends and family over, we're totally going for it.
OHMEURSAULT- I feel you on the Halloween love; we're having a bash this year, too. My Pinterest board is filling up with random, creepy decor!
I would love to do some entertaining like this. Sadly I also feel like I should wait until we buy that nice new home with fewer drug dealing neighbors and no outside space to sit that isn't covered in the neighbor's dog crap. Maybe someday.
We're always harder on ourselves than we should be. Friends don't judge, and those who judge aren't friends. Relax and open the wine.
Having people over should be fun, not stressful! I love having folks over for dinner. I try to come up with an appetizer (and this can seriously be as easy as sliced bell pepper and hummus), a nice main course and a yummy dessert. Pick a main course you can throw together pretty easily without having to refer to directions much. I have been loving this easy summer pasta: cook some pasta (I use about 8 oz farfalle); meanwhile, saute some minced garlic in olive oil, then add cherry tomatoes sliced in half and cook down for ~5 min. Season with salt. Add the drained pasta, top with 4 oz crumbled goat cheese and two handfuls of chiffonaded basil. Give it a stir. Seriously easy - you've got dinner in 10 min. For dessert, you can always serve ice cream bars or some delectable thing from the farmers' market. Keep the wine flowing and everyone will have an awesome time.
I do make sure to vacuum the first floor and tidy/clean the bathroom/kitchen before guests come, but isn't that basic host etiquette? No need to obsess. I don't know anyone with a perfect home, so why should mine be perfect?
Just polished the kitchen sink with Barkeeper's Friend... AMAZING! Now I'm finally ready to have my mother-in-law over...
It's just the last one that matters: If my friends can't cope with our chaos they might as well stay away. Our friends are usually thankful that we don't fuss too much and invite them over at all (they are too stressed, too), and if we can't even be bothered to cook, we buy a pizza.
@Longorious: DTMFA!
I am at this moment waiting for my teeny kitchen to be demolished by my cabinetmaker. I have boxes and boxes of my kitchen stuff in my living room. I have always said my tiny 600 sq foot duplex is way to small to have people but when my mom was helping me pack up and saw how much I have she was telling me I have to finally host something. I kept telling her no but this post is making me think when my kitchen is done I should host my book club when it's my pick. I'm not willing to have a holiday yet even just for my sister and parents but it's a start:)
"Come to terms with the fact that your home won't ever be "done."
A much-needed reminder - thank you.
We had one of our wedding events last year in our new and first house. Pretty much *nothing* was as "done" as I would have liked. But I was shocked at how many guests ooohed and aaaahed over our house anyway/ It's true - people who love you just want to see you and will love your home now matter how imperfect it is.
Also, it's amazing how much work you can get done toward your house goals with a gathering date looming...
Also, if they don't see your house in its current state, they won't be as impressed once you make changes!
I can whip up an impromptu dinner for 20, but my 1-bedroom apartment is limited in comfortable space. Buffet meals become unwieldly, and expanding my dining table & adding a bridge table takes up much of the width of my living room. No one complains, but I do. If I place the tables lengthwise, we never get to sit in the "living room," and that, too, is awkward.
As an experienced hostess who lived in a much bigger place with my family, I know a party must include a mix of personalities to make it work. When the group is too small, it often does not work, and, of course, I can't accommodate 20 or more though I used to, but there's no walking space.
Does anyone have suggestions on accommodating a sit-down group 8+ in a classic one-bedroom Greenwich Village apartment? To reciprocate, I'll offer my organized preparation which allows me to take a leisurely shower and nap before meeting my guests.
I don't worry so much about cleaning up! I generally like to keep my place in some idea of order for myself. I don't like it when things are too messy, and it only takes about 5 min. a day to keep it this way.
I don't always have food though, as I'm on a tight budget and as one person I get what I need. Extra food money? Doesn't happen often. But I'm creative. Theres always cheese and crackers around anyway because I love the two and are flexable in other dishes even if they aren't new and exciting.
I started hosting dinners once a month usually on a weeknight. Nothing fancy just an evening meal like you would make anyway just made in a bigger batch. There usually no appetizers or dessert - it's just dinner. I find this has been the way to rid myself of the "I can't/don't have room" worries and it's a nice way to see your friends. Also I only have seating for 6 people so I invite 4 friends and rotate so it's not the same 4 on the same dates. All this on 480 sq ft so see Longorious it can be done :)
My home is far from done but I take a lot of pictures so I can see the progress and then I feel like superwoman because I might have far to go but look at how it used to look!
@C.RICHELLEDESIGNS If money/limited food is an issue, turn it into a potluck dinner party! You provide a main dish or protein element, let the guests each bring a salad, side dish, drinks, or dessert. We've had a lot of fun having potluck game nights, and everyone seems to enjoy trying what the others have brought.
Off topic - Where did that mug come from? I love it.
This post really inspired me. In two weeks, I'm hosting my "housewarming" party (despite the fact that I moved in 3 months ago. There is so much about the place that I want to hide from people (DIYs to do, furniture to be bought, decor to design, etc.) but I decided that whatever it will be, will be. I don't want to feel embarassed about my home, and inviting people over is the first step to overcome that fear. Sure, I'll be cleaning, buy a few much needed things before the big day, but I realized that life will just pass you by if you wait for the "perfect" time.
Here's a thought: if you fill your home up with guests, they won't be able to see the dirt. Pretty much the only thing I really clean before anyone comes over is the bathroom: that's the only place my guests will be alone with their thoughts long enough to notice the mess.