5 Secrets To Hosting a Successful Holiday Open House

Your social calendar is filling up but you promised yourself you would make the time to host a Holiday Open House this year. What is a hostess to do?? Not to fear. My 5 Secrets to hosting a successful holiday open house is here to get you through with ease. Simply set the date, send out the invites and follow my 5 tips for hosting a Holiday Open House. #HolidayGoals coming true!

Secret #1 to Hosting a Successful Holiday Open House :: Plan Ahead

I know… I just told you that you can do this with only weeks left in the holiday entertaining season, and now I am talking about planning! Don’t worry. You’ve got this but you still need to put in a little planning time. Believe me, an hour planning makes for an entire night full of a low stress holiday open house.

Set aside 1 – 1 1/2 hours tomorrow to create a quick guest list, a basic time-line and easy menu. With it on paper you now have a guide for planning your holiday open house.

Secret #2 to Hosting a Successful Holiday Open House :: Show Them the Green Stuff

NO, I am not talking anything illegal or even about money. I am talking about live greens, evergreens, boxwoods and other cuttings from either your own garden or purchased at the local market.

I have been hosting, planning and decorating holiday gatherings for over 20 years so take it from me, live greens go a long way. It must be something to do with bringing nature inside, the scent of pine filling your home, their intense texture or the variety of colors that is an immediate WOW factor. Use live greens at your entranceway, on your tablescape and mixed with cut flowers placed in a vase – they will transform your space into a winter wonderland guaranteed.

Secret #3 to Hosting a Successful Holiday Open House :: Bring Out the Bling

Decorating during the holiday season is all about metallics, glitter and using “the good stuff” so don’t be afraid to mix metallic serveware and your favorite flatware for your open house, or for the entire holiday season.

My new obsession… this hammered copper flatware by Argent Orfèvres for Hampton Forge. Seriously. I am completely in love with this pattern and it is now my must-have for my holiday season. It actually makes me smile when I open my flatware drawer – no joke!

Copper pairs perfectly with all metals especially the latest trends in kitchen hardware – gold, black metal, rose gold and copper. Have you seen all the copper small appliances hitting markets these days? Get a jump on the trend with your own set of Argent Orfèvres Paris Hammered Copper flatware.

Secret #4 to Hosting a Successful Holiday Open House :: Serve Punch!

One of my best friends is all about bringing retro back and what is more Retro Rad around the holidays than a big bowl of punch!

This year I am serving up a wintery spice Wassail at my holiday open house. Make up a big batch and let guest serve themselves. It looks incredibly festive on your bar and taste just as good!

Secret #5 to Hosting a Successful Holiday Open House :: Set It + Forget It

Secret #5 could be my number one secret for hosting a successful holiday open house – set it and forget it. Ok, maybe don’t completely forget about it but you get my gist.

By selecting menu items that can stand being at room temperature during the span of your party, you allow your self time to mix and mingle in between refreshing and replenishing your apps. Serve a cheese + charcuterie platter, mini quiches and a lovely seafood bite – it is the holidays after all, splurge a bit on one or two items then fill in with less pricey and more filling options.

I hope these tips help you feel more comfortable + confident hosting your own holiday open house this season.

If you have ANY questions or concerns, do not hesitate to reach out to me via email, Instagram, Twitter or your favorite social media platform with questions – I am more than happy to answer them all!

Happy Entertaining!!

A little more about my favorite new flatwareArgent Orfèvres Paris Hammered Copper .

Created in premium 18/10 stainless steel with an artist’s eye and jeweler’s attention to detail, Argent Orfèvres Paris Hammered Copper surprises with precious metal finishes, sophisticated textures and inspired forms that elevate the experience of fine dining. The lux Argent Orfèvres brand’s expressive design is perfect for this holiday season! We hope everyone who invites Argent into their home and on to their tabletop this season will feel as decadent and magnificent as the flatware itself!

Disclosure Statement: This post is sponsored by Hampton Forge in conjunction with a social media campaign. Although I was compensated, I truly am a HUGE fan of their beautiful flatware – all opinions are my own.

November 22, 2015November 23, 2016

Creating an Easy Holiday Centerpiece with Flowers + Candles

To me flowers make the table! I like to use unexpected vessels for my arrangements but occasionally they aren’t water tight. Here is my quick fix for that and a how-to for creating an easy holiday centerpiece with flowers and candles using a few of my favorite greens – Seeded Eucalyptus and Boxwood clippings as well as a mixture of colorful flowers – Blue Eryngium Thistle Super Nova, Purple Liatris and Orange Safflower Seed. Please feel free to use whatever flowers you find at the market or garden.

Although I mention specific flowers and greens in this article, and in the video, the real take away is that you can create a base for your arrangements using any vessel that inspires you with just a few items you may even have around your home. Use this as an inspiration and let your creativity run wild!

Creating a Holiday Centerpiece with Flowers + Candles

SUPPLIES

oasis, wet floral foam
Ziploc style baggies – 1 gallon size or larger
2 taper candles
Stick Um
Fiskar garden clippers
Assorted Greens + Florals used in this arrangement:
- Seeded Eucalyptus
- Ornamental Cabbage or Flowering Kale heads
- Blue Eryngium Thistle Super Nova
- Purple Liatris
- Orange Safflower Seed
- Boxwood clippings

METHOD

Cut your oasis foam block in half and soak in water overnight to completely saturate with water.
Push your candle holders into the oasis foam deep enough to hold them straight and secure. If you are not using small candle holders the taper candles may be push directly into the oasis to ensure the stay upright.
Place each block into a water tight bag and roll down the edges so they are just above the top of the block but are below the top of your decorative vessel. Place block and bag into vessel, add the candles and center in the vessel.
Begin to cut and place Eucalyptus branches along the outside edge, be sure the cut ends are deep into the oasis for hydration and so the are secure. Insert large Ornamental Cabbage heads into oasis to create the main body of your arrangement. Cut and insert Blue Eryngium Thistle Super Nova and Orange Safflower Seeds then fill in with Boxwood Clippings.

This flower and candle arrangement is perfect for Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving or it can easily be updated for any entertaining opportunity that occurs at your home during the winter and Christmas entertaining season. Simply adjust the color pallet coordinate with your seasonal decor or tablescape as needed.

My Boxwood + Besties tablescape with my Roasted Butternut Squash + Cauliflower Soup recipe, perfect for entertaining friend during the holiday season has also been featured on The Inspired Home website.

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And, if you are looking for even more easy holiday entertaining, check out An Appealing Plan the book.

I believe we are bringing back entertaining at home, lingering over a table after a lovingly prepared meal with friends. I am thrilled to be able to invite you on this journey with me through a year of celebrating every day. Filled with recipes, tablescapes, floral inspiration and seasonal entertaining ideas An Appealing Plan :: A Year of Everyday Celebrations. To learn more about An Appealing Plan :: A Year of Everyday Celebrations here.

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July 16, 2015May 16, 2016

Grilled Mexican Corn Recipe with Blue Cheese

In the farm world of yester-year there is a saying “knee-high by Fourth of July”. It means all is well with your corn crop and the growth is on schedule. Well these days you can get fresh corn as early as Memorial Day – or year round in some parts – but the I still believe the sweetest corn is late season corn grown in New Jersey {sorry… it’s the Jersey girl in me that I just can’t shake!}. Late season Jersey corn hardly needs butter, just a touch of salt and pepper and it is perfect!

Early season corn, however, frequently needs a little more dressing up to bring out the flavor and an easy grilled Mexican corn recipe does the trick for me. Also known as Mexican street corn, or Elotes, is a basic traditional recipe using mayonnaise, sour cream, queso fresco or cotija, chili powder, fresh lime and of course a charcoal grill.

You know I always like to add a special touch to the look of the table and for this Mexican corn recipe I stripped back the husks, removed the silk and tied them back with bakers twine. The effect is super chic and it also creates a natural handle for serving and eating the corn. If you or your guests prefer they can easily snap off the top once the corn is grilled.

This subtle twist on the original grilled Mexican corn recipe offers the tangy bite of blue cheese and thyme – and the benefit of using ingredients easily found in most stores around the country. The thyme came straight from the herb garden at my mother’s house so it included extra love – but you can use traditional thyme as well, or really any herb growing in your garden this season.

This recipe is great for summer entertaining because you par-cook the ears before placing them on the grill which will save cooking time when your guests are arriving as well as space on the grill for the other items on your menu. Be sure your grill is hot before placing the ears on, you are mainly using it for grill marks and the smokey charcoal flavor, a low heat may cook the corn more than you wish – you may also adjust the boiling portion if your prefer to cook them completely on the grill.

Grilled Mexican Corn with Blue Cheese

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And, if you are looking for even more ways to celebrate everyday check out An Appealing Plan the book.

Call it a trend or a return to the past, but I believe we are bringing back entertaining at home, lingering over a table after a lovingly prepared meal with friends. It has been a way of life and passion of mine my entire adult life, and I am thrilled to be able to invite you on this journey with me through a year of celebrating every day. Filled with recipes, tablescapes, floral inspiration and seasonal entertaining ideas An Appealing Plan :: A Year of Everyday Celebrations, is a dream come true for me a true honor to be able to share it with you. To learn more about An Appealing Plan :: A Year of Everyday Celebrations here. And of course, share how you are celebrating everyday.

March 24, 2015January 26, 2016

Setting An Easy Spring Tablescape

Ah Spring… we smell you in the air, we feel you on our skin, we have waited through the chilly nights and short winter days for you to arrive and finally spring is here. It is time to put away our winter coats, open up all the windows, sweep off the front porch and welcome spring into our homes. Yes, please come on in. First step, setting an easy spring table.

Whether it is a kitchen table or a dining room table, creating a Spring inspired tablescape is as easy as heading to the garden to find colorful bulbs and clipping the early flowering branches. If you have a small garden or can’t bear the thought of cutting back the long awaited color, your local farmers market or grocery will no doubt be filled with the bright colors and flowers of the season. For this spring inspired tablescape a white ceramic bunny is nestled between vibrant purple hyacinths mixed with bright fuchsia and green cuttings.

Pink chargers at each place setting create the perfect backdrop to stack plates for each course. Soft boiled eggs placed in whimsical duck feet holders begin our brunch, followed by a spring mix salad with dried currants to be placed on turquoise scalloped edged Italian stoneware plates. The main course of Green Asparagus Soup with Seared Scallops will be served in a low white china bowl.

Setting a pretty table does not equally a stuffy formal affair. Keep with the informal feel of this brunch table by placing additional hyacinths in juice glasses and group together around our happy white ceramic figurine. Sand colored linen napkins and everyday flatware complete the table.

Once the table is set, continue to welcome spring by placing flowers around the house on any flat surface you find.

Seasonal decorating gives you the opportunity to move items around your home, rotate décor and personalize each space as the seasons change. Be sure to enjoy every minute of this fresh new season by playing around with different colors and textures on your table and throughout the house.