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Archive for the ‘Entertaining at Home’ Category

Relationships Make the Memories

Posted in Entertaining at Home, Entertaining Ideas, tagged , , on July 29, 2009| 8 Comments »

linda-mccormickI just returned from the Entertaining at Home National Sales Conference in Milwaukee. It was a trip with several firsts for me – first major league baseball game, first taste of deep fried cheese curds (did not expect to become completely addicted to them!), first GermanFest, first spy-themed costume party, and my first sales-achievement award.

All those firsts were fun and exciting but not what I’ll remember most when I look back on the trip. What gave me the best memories were not the things, but the people.

I know I’ve said it before, but it truly is all about the relationships. Here were hundreds of independent consultants who have nothing to gain in their personal sales from helping each other out, but they were sharing all their best tips and ideas with others. They open their arms and make newcomers feel welcome while reaching out in warmth to old friends.

The warmth and generosity went well beyond the consultants right up to the corporate staff and encompassed the company founders, who are most definitely “the real deal.” (Thanks again, Bill and Robin, for sharing the taxi!).

When you entertain – even if it is just your immediate family, keep the relationships at the forefront. There are dozens of things you can do to enhance the entertaining experience but at the heart of it all is the relationships.

That warmth of heart and kindness of spirit are what people will remember. Focus on that and you will undoubtedly be the host others love to be around!

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Prep Tools are Important

Posted in Entertaining at Home, Quick and Easy, tagged , , on July 21, 2009| 2 Comments »

For many people, standing in the kitchen doing the prep work necessary for cooking is not terribly appealing.  In fact, many people avoid this step as much as possible, thinking of prep work as some form of torment or drudgery.

It doesn’t have to be that way.

You can have fun with prep work and also get through it a quicker when you have some good basic tools in your kitchen. Take a look at the tools you use. Are they outdated, in need of sharpening, not good quality, from early-marriage poverty? It may be time for an upgrade!

I’m not an advocate for oodles of tools, but you will see a huge difference in the amount of time and effort it takes to do prep work when you invest in a few quality pieces. Have at least one great piece of cutlery and cookware. Get a good-quality peeler or paring knife. Have a set of mixing bowls that you like to use, that fit your hand well and hold up to a variety of challenges. Get two good cutting boards, one for meat and the other for everything else.

Invest in tools that you can use for a lifetime and you’ll be so glad you did!

For information about the tools I recommend the most, please sign up for my newsletter or post a comment here.

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Inspired Entertaining

Posted in Entertaining at Home, Entertaining Ideas, tagged , , on July 14, 2009| Leave a Comment »

Although most of us don’t think about it, entertaining at home can really be broken down into three main areas: inspiration, preparation, and presentation. Although very different, each category has equal importance in your entertaining success.
Today we’ll focus on inspiration. It boils down to “what’s for dinner?” What are you going to serve the people you are entertaining?
The type of event or celebration will help narrow your selections. Choosing a theme also narrows the field and helps create some guidelines. Themes are a fantastic way to entertain, but we’ll talk more about those another day.
Inspiration can come from many different areas. Maybe you have been to a party and saw or tasted something there you want to try. Maybe you are under the gun to host a family event – like a family reunion. If you like food magazines or collect cookbooks, you’ll find a lot of ideas and inspiration there. The Food Network and websites such as allrecipes.com can also provide some great inspiration.
Take a look around you. What is fresh and in season? Let it inspire you! This time of year it is so fun to entertain with all the fresh goodness that abounds from gardens.
Inspiration doesn’t have to be difficult. Have fun with it and see how much your guests enjoy the fruits of your labors!
What is your favorite way to find inspiration in the kitchen? Please feel free to share your ideas!

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Set an Entertaining Timeline

Posted in Desserts, Entertaining at Home, Quick and Easy, tagged , , on June 23, 2009| 2 Comments »

You’ve taken the plunge, set a date for a party, invited guests and are getting ready for the event. Take a few minutes to create a timeline. It will save you a lot of time and frustration and help you from looking frazzled in front of your guests.
Start by writing down your menu. In detail. What foods can be purchased and made ahead of time? What needs to be purchased and made the day before? The day of the party? What decorations will be needed? Will you be making any decorations or will you be shopping for them? When will you do this? Where will the centerpieces come from? What cleaning tasks need to be accomplished?
Get it all down on paper and then divide the menu, cleaning and decorating tasks into specific steps for at least the seven days leading up to your party. When you break it into set tasks, entertaining can be very simple.
You absolutely do not need to do everything yourself. Children are great helpers. They can certainly roll silverware in napkins, create welcome signs, tie ribbons, make place cards. They can serve as door greeters, coat takers and a very enthusiastic welcome committee to guests.
Find the barbecue king and ask him to man the grill. Aunt Bev would be thrilled to bring her favorite salad – so let her. Look for ways to involve others while lightening your load. If friends volunteer to help, let them! And should anyone volunteer to stay and help clean up, accept their generous offer and send them home with a doggie bag as thanks for their efforts.
I’d love to hear any ideas you have for getting family members involved in the party prep process. Share your comments here!

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