Entertaining At Home

Ah, summer. There’s so much to love about it. I think all the beautiful flowers in bloom everywhere you turn have something to do with it. And all the parties and BBQs don’t hurt either. Are you hosting a get-together this summer? If so, here’s some great centerpiece inspiration for your table. Whether your entertainment is a larger event, intimate dinner party, or casual get together, they could all use some flowers to dress up the table.

Is there anything more fun than hunting through your house for hidden goodies, treasure map in hand? If you are 5 years old, the answer is probably no, there isn’t. Want to set up a treasure hunt in your house? Here’s how. What you need: Paper: printer, and at least one large sheet Printer + ink Pencil + eraser Sharpie Decorative craft items: aluminium foil, glue, cotton wool, faux fur, crayons, pencils, glitter – whatever you can dream up! TREASURE! Instructions: 1.

Lets face it: The days and hours leading up to a gathering like Thanksgiving or Christmas are usually a little hectic. So if you don’t have time to shop for the perfect gift for your holiday host this year, don’t fret. Here are 20 small gifts that can be picked up at your local supermarket—on the way to the party—for around $20 or less. Plus a few tips to make your gift a little more thoughtful. 1.

We normally leave the menus to The Kitchn, but when you’re planning a bridal shower, you’re going to have to feed people. And if it’s not your forté, we’ve got you covered with tips for a simple, mostly make-ahead, and budget-friendly brunch menu that anyone pull off, no caterers needed. Crudité is a party staple for a reason: it’s pretty, it’s easy, and you can buy a lot of it already cut up (or cut it yourself in advance).

Have you heard of Eurogames before? It’s a subgenre of board games classified by two major features: their attention to design and theme, and focus on serious strategy. Competetive folks, take note: Put away the Scrabble set and try on one of these board games for size. Besides the great artwork and complex mechanics, another defining feature of Eurogames is that nobody is ever knocked out of the game (looking at you, Monopoly).

The first time I heard about a white elephant gift exchange (sometimes called Yankee Swap), I thought it sounded crazy. “Wait, you open a gift and then someone can take it from you?” I’ve always felt that the “winner” wasn’t the person who went home with the most sought after gift, but the person who brought the gift that everyone was vying for. And what’s the perfect white elephant gift?

Holiday entertaining is in full swing, and I’ve learned the hard way that I can’t do everything by myself. Gone are the days when I slaved over the styling, the shopping, the cooking and cleaning on my own: Lessons were learned during the Great Blender Explosion of 2011 and the Cannoli Stuffing Incident of 2008.

When some bride out there in the wedding world puts together a small army of crazy talented vendors to create a picnic wedding or a BBQ wedding, there are bound to be some stellar ideas that come out of it. And you can absolutely steal–er, borrow–some of those ideas to really impress at your next get-together. Above from photographer Michaela Rae: What’s cooler than a cooler for serving drinks? A DIY beer bar made from wood and painted cinderblocks.

For the boho bride and her maids, here’s a laid-back brunch that’s overflowing with (plant) life, love and plenty of cozy textiles. Scroll through the incredible photos captured by Christina Forêt and read about how Megan Walsh, owner of Atomic Furnishing & Design in Asheville, NC, and the rest of the vendors designed the space. I was inspired by all of the free spirited bohemian brides that are not afraid of colorful patterns, textures and plants.

Like the wedding cake itself, a cake topper is something you definitely don’t need to throw a wedding. But here’s the thing: If you do it right (that is, cheaply and without a lot of hassle) a peppy little topper is the perfect way to accessorize your wedding cake – or a birthday cake or a cake for mom for mother’s day.

Whether you’re hosting a party, staying in for the night waiting for trick-or-treaters, or have just returned home from your own candy grab, you’ll probably have some downtime on Halloween night—the perfect opportunity to sit down in a small group and play a game. A spooky game.

Once upon a time, not so very long ago, we didn’t expect much from paper plates and napkins, except that they (hopefully) held slices of pizza and cake. The days of sheer utility, however, are long gone. Disposable paper goods and plastic utensils that we not-so-secretly covet in a more permanent form can be found at multiple retailers.

There are many ways living in Germany has changed my life, but the greatest change came from a most unexpected source: a cheese box. How has a five-Euro plastic container made such a huge impact on my dinner habits and well-being? And what makes a cheese box so superior to a dedicated cheese drawer in your refrigerator? A cheese box is ingenious because you can fill it with cheese from the market and put it straight on your dinner table — that’s why.

Few things brighten up a room like a gorgeous bouquet of flowers. So what to do when you have a beautiful bunch of flowers but can’t seem to arrange them nicely in the vase? Fret not my flower-loving friends, there’s hope to be had. We put our thinking caps on and discovered an unbelievably easy and inexpensive way to score a perfect flower arrangement, no pesky spool of floral wire necessary. Zip ties!

If you’re looking to add some joie de vivre and competitive spirit to your Friendsgiving in a way that says, “I like movies,” look no further than this Wes Anderson card game. This whimsical set features the quirky characters each of the writer and director’s cult classics. The game is designed by Belly Kids, which describes itself as a group that has “fun releasing books, prints, tapes and all sorts of odd accessories.

Get ready to party: Just in time for summer soirees, fine art photographer Gray Malin is bringing his beachy imagery to a new collaboration with digital card platform Paperless Post. The 15-piece collection, which launches today, is full of sunny inspiration and vacation vibes. “As someone who truly loves entertaining and special occasions, I am thrilled to partner with Paperless Post on a special collection of digital invitations,” Malin tells Apartment Therapy.

Life is stressful enough as it is—so make this the weekend you stop putting unnecessary pressure on yourself when it comes to hosting. Does your house need to be impeccably clean with a three-course dinner planned and a carefully crafted evite in order to have a good time? No. Is it easy to get swept up in appearances and pretend it does? Absolutely.

Here’s some fun trivia for you: January 4 is National Trivia Day. And what better way is there to celebrate than to partake in a fun little pop quiz of your own? From classics like Trivial Pursuit to newer games like Wits & Wagers, here are 10 of our favorite trivia board games—for National Trivia Day, game night, or just a random night at home. This iconic board game is beloved by trivia purists and game-night lovers alike.

From sending invitations, to catering, to prepping and cleaning the house, a party host has a lot to think about. One thing they shouldn’t have to stress over? Whether their guests are going to have a good time. With ample food and drink, a party is always a good time. But when partygoers aren’t well-acquainted or Uncle Joe has a tendency to ruffle feathers by talking politics, it’s smart to have a few tricks in your back pocket.

Wine isn’t something my husband and I save for weekends or special occasions. We actually enjoy it most nights of the week—casually, though! Just a glass with dinner to toast to the day. (It’s a habit I developed from my days in Italy and really do enjoy the ritual.) This means that once we open a bottle we’d really like for it to be able to last us a couple of days, as a single bottle of wine holds about four to five glasses.

Make yourself at home... sort of!

The Instant Pot is one of the biggest food trends of the past few years, and it is only getting bigger. People are obsessed with it because it does the work of seven other appliances and takes up less space in the kitchen. It can pressure cook, slow cook, cook rice, steam food, make yogurt, warm food, and sauté food. And now it looks like the Instant Pot is actually an eight-in-one machine, because you can even use it to make wine. Yes, wine! It sounds unbelievable, but it’s true.

When you live in small space, inviting people over can be tricky—simply for the lack of real estate. There’s limited place to prep crudités and even less space for everyone to sit. But if you want to throw a party in a less than lush apartment, a quaint country bungalow, or a trendy container home, there are some space-saving tricks that can make hosting less of a challenge and actually, well, fun.

Two years ago I was in a state of constant travel, on a trip that took me from my home in Seattle throughout the United States and Europe. Along the way, I learned a variety of lessons. I learned how to pack really, really well. I learned how to let go of attachments to most of my possessions, especially when I couldn’t fit them in my bag. And I learned a handful of useful (and not-so-useful) expressions in German, Greek, and French.

Depending on where you live and your proximity to a popular summer travel destination (the Grand Canyon? Disney World? New York City?) you may find yourself deep in houseguest season. I don’t live in a particularly touristy city, but I host houseguests frequently, and I think it’s part of the fun of having a house with room to share. In fact, in just a few weeks my husband’s brother and sister-in-law will be piling in with their three kids for a sleepover.

“How was your day?” Every couple sharing an evening meal together has asked this question. It’s a fine question; you care about each other, after all, and are genuinely interested in what happened that day! But sometimes, especially for couples who’ve been together a long time, dinner conversations can settle into the same grooves night after night — work talk, complaining about the subway, what’s new with the kids.

Just like New Year’s Day is a benchmark for the mind, the start of summer is a benchmark for the soul. At some point in the calendar (Mother Nature waits not for the Summer Solstice), rain and blooms give way to hot, humid mornings. It’s around this time of year that you find yourself reaching more for shorts over jeans, and longing to introduce some simple pleasures in your day. A cool drink wet with condensation. A delicious waft of BBQ on the grill.

This might be the homebody in me talking, but I happen to think date night at home is better than date night out in nearly every way. The drinks are cheaper. The clothes are comfier. And, if you have the right game, it can be a really fun night for you and your love to get competitive and cuddly all at once. Based on recommendations from Amazon, Board Game Geek, Reddit’s /r/boardgames and my own experience, here are some of the best two-player games for couples to play on their own.

Feeling nostalgic for those Wonder Years neighborhood vibes, or the cozy camaraderie of Friends-esque living situations? Or maybe you just don’t know what to do about all those other people who also happen to live on your street.

When my in-laws came over for Thanksgiving, we had a wonderful time together. Nothing like a visit from grandparents and three fun uncles to keep the kids happy and entertained while I prepared our feast. I was surprised, then, when our ’round-the-table conversation was devoid of the effervescent conversation I’m used to with my own (Italian) side of the family. I became acutely aware of the silence and then the inordinately loud sound of forks tinkling on plates.

Being invited to participate in any family’s tradition—religious or not—is an honor, and one that should be treated with a ton of gratitude and respect. But what should you be doing? With spring holidays just around the corner, here are some things to keep in mind if you’re going to your first Easter Mass or Passover Seder.

I’ve always been in love with the idea of hosting dinner parties. My mother used to host game nights at our house when I was a kid, and she’d also throw parties for milestones throughout the year. As a 20-something adult, I’ve loved venturing into the playful, well-appointed world of hosting. But working with a tight budget, mismatched flatware (I know we have another fork somewhere around here), and small spaces means the way you go about it looks a little differently.

Every year the impending arrival of the Super Bowl incites a parallel culinary sport: churning out lighter takes on wings, healthier spins on classic dips, and “fresh” appetizer ideas beginning (but not ending) with kale chips. But you know what? Just like Thanksgiving, there’s no call to go off-script with the Super Bowl. Just like you want marshmallow-topped sweet potatoes, I want seven-layer dip and hot wings.

In a world of overflowing inboxes, communication is often instant, nearly constant, and usually “urgent.” And brief, if we’re lucky, because the daily struggle to get to inbox zero is all too real. Sure, you can get your flirt on via text or email, or send off a quick thank you or congratulations, but what happens when you want to communicate in a more personal, romantic, lengthy or memorable way?

Last week I asked a number of stylish, smart people who happen to live in teeny tiny homes to share their advice for hosting holiday dinners and gatherings. Their tip and lessons were enormously helpful! In this post, I asked them to tackle the subject of overnight guests — something I struggle to deal with in my small-ish one-bedroom apartment.

One of the keys to being a good host? Anticipating your guests’ needs. When friends or family come to stay with you, you make sure they have clean sheets and towels and know where the bathroom and the garbage is — so you’ve got the basic important things covered. But there might be a few things that you’re forgetting to tell them (and for some of them, they might be too embarrassed to ask) that they should definitely know.

For many small space dwellers, the thought of entertaining over the holidays—inviting friends and family into a teeny amount of square feet—is plain daunting. Don’t let the challenge of hosting in a small home get in the way of your dinner party dreams this holiday season, though. Not only is entertaining in a small space possible, it can be downright pleasant! And these real small-space dwellers share their tips, advice, and lessons learned.

As holiday party season quickly approaches, you may find yourself revisiting all of your party habits. Do you show up early, same bottle of wine in tow? Arrive late empty-handed but full of good cheer? Keep a series of excuses in a draft folder on your phone and just sit the whole thing out all together?

“Entertaining” is a big, scary word… especially if you feel like your home is in a constant state of “in progress,” and your skills in the kitchen can best be described as meh. But “having a few people over for a quiet night in”? That’s doable. A simple get-together doesn’t have to be boring, though.