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Hosting 101

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Entertaining

How to Decorate Small Spaces

For many of us in our mid 20’s, small space living is a fact of life. Apartments never seem to have enough storage or maybe certain rooms in your house are just a bit smaller than you prefer.

Learning how to decorate these small spaces and still keep them entertaining ready can be a challenge – one that I face regularly! My fiancé and I recently moved into the most beautiful little apartment in Dallas with gorgeous floor to ceiling views of downtown. Although we absolutely love it, I must stress the LITTLE part of it. Condensing two people’s furniture and lives into one 700 SF apartment has proven to be tricky, so we have been extremely focused on how to maximize every inch.

I know we are not alone in this, so I have compiled our 12 key tricks to decorating and maximizing your space while keeping it entertaining ready.

12 Tips and Tricks:

  1. Increase Kitchen Storage – It’s not uncommon, for apartments or older homes to have minimal pantry space or none at all. Get creative, and turn your hall closet into a pantry. Add some simple storage racks from Home Depot or the Container Store to serve as additional shelves for your pantry items.

The Everyday Hostess design and home decor - kitchen pantry

2. Lighting – Keep it light! To make your space appear larger, use pale colors such as whites, beige, blues and greys. Neutral colors help create a nice flow to the house that isn’t overwhelming to the eye. You can then add a few pops of color here or there to add some personality. We went for a beige and white color palette and added hints of aqua in the living room to give it a serene and calming environment. We also added little pops of color in our decor, specifically in our design books. We used the same white and beige palette in the master bedroom, but instead of aqua we used navy and gold as our accent colors to give the room a little extra pop!

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Entertaining

Types of Thank You Notes

If you read our post on The Etiquette of Thank You Notes, you know I am a huge advocate of handwritten thank you notes! If not, head over and check out some of our tips on when to write a thank you note (hint – pretty much always)!

So now that we are all writing thank you notes ;), what kind should you send?

I always like to have two sets of stationery on hand – One that is more traditional and classy for professional use (sending a thank you note to a potential employer for an interview or to my boss for tickets to a football game) and one that shows my personality for casual use (sending a thank you note to a friend for gift or to my  fiancé’s parents for having me over for dinner).

I’ve compiled a few of my favorite stationery sets in case you are in the market!

 The Everyday Hostess - Informal Stationery

  1. Boatmen and Geller | 2. Palm Beach Papery  | 3. Palm Beach Papery | 4. Boatman and Geller

The Everyday Hostess Formal StationeryCrane & Co. | 2. Crane & Co. | 3. Neiman Marcus

However, if this is your first set of stationery and you are looking for a one-card-fits all approach, pick a set that is classy but still shows your individual taste, such as the following:

The Everyday Hostess Stationery

  1. Palm Beach Papery | 2. Minted | 3. Crane & Co. |

PS – Don’t forget to keep a set of “Forever” stamps in your wallet so you are always ready to send a note in a pinch!

 

 

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Entertaining

How to Host a Summer Soirée

The Everyday Hostess and IBB at Home Summer Soiree

As originally seen in IBB at Home.

Summer is officially here, so it’s time to dust off the patio furniture, bring out the lawn games, and prepare for your summer soirée! Whether you’re looking to host a formal seasonal dinner or casual pool party, these tips and tricks will help to ensure your summer gathering goes off without a hitch!

Choose a Theme – The theme will dictate every step of the party prep process, so it’s important to determine it early on. Do you want a laid back family pool party, formal summer dinner party, or even a backyard luau? The possibilities are endless! For my summer bash, I opted for a more casual picnic gathering with some close family and friends!

The Everyday Hostess and IBB at Home Summer SoireeThe Everyday Hostess and IBB at Home Summer SoireeThe Everyday Hostess and IBB at Home Summer Soiree

Guest List and Invitations – A well-done invitation gives your guests a glimpse of just how classy your summer soirée will be. It’s the first chance to sweep them off their feet, so make sure your invitations help portray the theme and experience you want to create. If your event is more casual and you want to send electronic invitations, I always love Paperless Post or Evite. To create a more formal atmosphere, send some good ol’ fashioned snail mail! Swoozies is one of my favorite custom invitation shops. I also love Etsy for predesigned printable invitations! Check out my friend Tara with PrintSmitten who designed this beautiful and festive invite for our summer soirée! 

The Everyday Hostess and IBB at Home Summer Soiree

Decor – Decorations turn a simple gathering into its own little world for your guests and set the ambiance and formality for the entire evening. Select a simple and bright color palette and incorporate it into all aspects of the decor. I am a firm believer that it’s all in the details, so be sure to add a few extra special touches to completely transform the party. For my backyard summer picnic, I went with a yellow, coral and aqua color palette, which helped create a light and airy atmosphere. The yellow picnic blanket with the decorative pillows, paper straws, gorgeous floral arrangements, and table settings all helped create a casual yet sophisticated summer soirée.

The Everyday Hostess and IBB at Home Summer SoireeView More: http://lindsaydavenportphotography.pass.us/kate-styled-picnic-4-17-2016-printThe Everyday Hostess and IBB at Home Summer SoireeThe Everyday Hostess and IBB at Home Summer SoireeThe Everyday Hostess and IBB at Home Summer SoireeThe Everyday Hostess and IBB at Home Summer Soiree

Menu – No gathering is complete without the perfect menu! Summer is all about highlighting fresh foods, so try and incorporate some seasonal ingredients. I always like to provide easy, servable and bite-sized dishes such as watermelon, my favorite Bacon Cheeseburger with Onion Ring Sliders, and chips and guacamole.

The Everyday Hostess and IBB at Home Summer SoireeView More: http://lindsaydavenportphotography.pass.us/kate-styled-picnic-4-17-2016-printThe Everyday Hostess and IBB at Home Summer SoireeServe up some ice cold refreshing beverages. In addition to beer and wine, it’s nice to serve a signature cocktail such as a fruit sangria or margarita. Also be sure to provide a non-alcoholic drink such as a fresh lemonade. This Strawberry Moscato Lemonade is the perfect addition to your next gathering and the alcohol can easily be removed for all the kiddos!

The Everyday Hostess and IBB at Home Summer SoireeThe Everyday Hostess and IBB at Home Summer SoireeThe Everyday Hostess and IBB at Home Summer SoireeThe Everyday Hostess and IBB at Home Summer Soiree

Entertainment – It’s always fun to have an interactive element to a party to encourage mingling, especially if your guests don’t know each other that well. For a casual backyard party, I love the idea of lawn games like croquet or bocce ball. For those inspired by graphic design, cute scorecards could be added here! You could also set up a fire pit so people can make s’mores! Make sure to have a fun playlist going in the background to help set the mood for your party as well!

The Everyday Hostess and IBB at Home Summer SoireeThe Everyday Hostess and IBB at Home Summer Soiree

Finally, relax and enjoy your party! Don’t worry about cleaning while your guests are still there. That can wait until they leave! Have a cocktail or two and enjoy! You’ve worked hard!

Share your summer party ideas by tagging @the_everyday_hostess on Instagram.

 Styled by: The Everyday Hostess | Invitations: PrintSmitten |

Florals: The T Shop | Photography: Lindsay Davenport Photography

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Hosting 101

Camp Out Date Night

The sun is out and the weather is warming up, so we can finally ditch those movie theater date nights for some fun and creative outdoor dates!

My boyfriend and I have found ourselves repeating many of the same types of dates lately, so I have made it my mission to come up with some unique ideas that everyone can do in their own city and on any budget. So grab your honey and jump in with us as we explore our city and even our own backyard and create easy yet flirty and romantic date nights this summer!

gold dust vintage teepee

Growing up in Colorado, camping was a regular summer activity for us. Now here in Texas, the campgrounds and scenery are a bit more limited, but I still love the idea of a summer camp out date night! So! We created our own little camp out here in our backyard! You can do this with any type of tent or teepee, or if you don’t have these, you can also make your own fort (who doesn’t love a good fort?!) out of the blankets and pillows you have laying around your house!

View More: http://cottonwoodroadphotography.pass.us/theeverydayhostess

We set up this beautiful teepee thanks to my dear friends Gold Dust Vintage (if you are in DFW – you HAVE to check them out!) for our weekly date night. Fox and the Fleur created the most incredible floral arrangements to give my teepee a more whimsical and romantic feel. She draped the entire 12 foot teepee in a gorgeous garland filled with peonies, tulips, roses, and poppies! Could this be any prettier?! I am still swooning just looking at it! She even created a beautiful matching bouquet for the centerpiece of our table!

fox and the fleur flowersfox and the fleur flowersfox and the fleur flowers View More: http://cottonwoodroadphotography.pass.us/theeverydayhostessView More: http://cottonwoodroadphotography.pass.us/theeverydayhostessView More: http://cottonwoodroadphotography.pass.us/theeverydayhostess

I brought out my favorite sheepskin rug and piled the inside of the teepee with some of our comfiest and fluffiest pillows, to create a romantic atmosphere for stargazing.

View More: http://cottonwoodroadphotography.pass.us/theeverydayhostessView More: http://cottonwoodroadphotography.pass.us/theeverydayhostessView More: http://cottonwoodroadphotography.pass.us/theeverydayhostess

And of course, no date night is complete without a tasty meal or snacks! I put together a delicious Mediterranean spread with some of our favorite hummus and bites which paired perfectly with our refreshing moscow mules. (I also brought out some chilled white wine to enjoy while stargazing). We enjoyed our meal on our little floor height coffee table provided by Gold Dust Vintage, which was perfectly set for the occasion.

View More: http://cottonwoodroadphotography.pass.us/theeverydayhostessgold dust vintage and everyday hostess shootMediterranean platterMedterreanan platterView More: http://cottonwoodroadphotography.pass.us/theeverydayhostessView More: http://cottonwoodroadphotography.pass.us/theeverydayhostess

This outdoor camp out was the perfect way to end a long week and kick off the start of summer! Plus it’s always nice to do something a little different than the typical evening out. The food was delicious, the setting was impeccable and the company was even better! And, of course, the stars that night were absolutely incredible!

View More: http://cottonwoodroadphotography.pass.us/theeverydayhostessView More: http://cottonwoodroadphotography.pass.us/theeverydayhostessView More: http://cottonwoodroadphotography.pass.us/theeverydayhostess

So grab your leading man and surprise him with your own camp out date night! I promise it will be a night to remember!

Stay tuned throughout the summer for more inspiring and interactive date nights!

 

Styled by: The Everyday Hostess |

Photography: Cottonwood Road Photography |

Teepee and Table Rentals: Gold Dust Vintage|

Floral Arrangements: Fox and the Fleur |

 

Outfit Details: 

Dress: Shoshanna (similar) |

Male Shirt: Brooks Brothers |

Watch: Fossil |

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Etiquette

When to Write a Thank You Note

kate spade thank you note

Never underestimate the power of a handwritten thank you note. It’s a lost art, which according to Emily Post, “reflects your appearance, taste and character.” In a world filled with text messages, emails, and social media posts, a little handwritten note can go a long way. It is tasteful and demonstrates a genuine gratitude.

As you can all tell, I am pretty passionate about thank you notes! So! How do you know when to write a thank you note? My best advice – when in doubt write one, but here are a few factors to consider!

When You Receive a Gift – No matter the size of the gift, always write a simple thank you note within 3 days of receiving the gift. My mom always told me to write the note before I used the gift, so to this day, I still write a thank you note either before I use the gift or within 3 days…whichever is first. The main exception is wedding gifts. Etiquette suggests you have 3 months to send thank you notes upon receiving the gift.

Get Well Gifts – Thank you notes should be written by the patient or a friend or relative as soon as the patient recovers. You can also call or email closer friends to thank them rather than sending a formal note.

Condolence Notes or Gifts– A thank you note should be written by a close friend or relative of the recipient for each gift whether it is in the form of flowers, notes, or donations. THANK YOU CARDSKind Act – Always write a thank you note after a kind act. If someone invites you over for dinner or to stay with them, it’s proper to send your host a little thank you note telling them how much you appreciate their hospitality.

Interviews – Emails are the most popular way to thank potential employers for an interview; however, I highly recommend sending a formal handwritten note thanking them for the opportunity and their time. This will help you stand out from the rest of the candidates. However, if the employer is making the decision within the next few days, an email thank you is appropriate for the sake of timing.

If you’re not currently in the habit of writing thank you notes, that’s okay! Not many of us are! But start small! If your friend’s parents take you out to dinner or invite you into their home, send a short little note! Nothing lengthy, just a simple display of appreciation. As you start doing this, it will come much easier and will soon become a habit! You will be amazed at the impact it has on the recipient 🙂

 

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Entertaining

Mother’s Day Tablescapes

It’s no secret that May is one of the busiest months of the year. Between graduations, end of year projects, finals, trips, weddings, recitals, and Mother’s Day, May tends to be jam packed with activity!

Mother’s Day is sneaking up on us a bit earlier this year, so let’s get a jump start on preparing for it now before we get busy with all of the other commitments that are surely on our calendars!

Every mother wants to feel extra loved on this special day, so consider hosting a fun brunch or outdoor lunch for the special mamas in your life! To help inspire your Mother’s Day gathering, I have compiled a few of my favorite tablescapes!

Enjoy!

View More: http://katezimmermanpictures.pass.us/camille-styles-garden-partyCamille Styles

Eatwell 101 Mother's Day TablescapeEat Well 101

Lillian Hope Designs Mother's Day Tablescape Lillian Hope Designs

The TomKat Studio Mothers DayThe TomKat Studio

Sugar and Charm Mother's Day TablescapeSugar and Charm

The Decorista TablescapeThe Decorista

Tory Burch Mother's Day Tablescape Tory Burch

I would love to see all the beautiful tables you set this Mother’s Day! Tag #theeverydayhostess on Instagram for a chance to be featured on our feed!

Happy Mother’s Day!

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Easter

Easter Tablescapes

Is it just me, or has Easter completely snuck up on us this year?! I feel like I was just celebrating New Year’s Eve, and now I’m rushing around trying to get everything I need to host an Easter brunch! If you’re like me, you may be looking for some last minute inspiration for your family gatherings this weekend, so I have compiled some of my favorite tablescapes. I hope you these inspire you as well! Happy Easter!

Easter Tablescape pizzazPizzazerie

Emily Henderson Easter TableEmily Henderson

Easter tablescape minamalistMinimalisti

Easter_table_decor room for renetRooms for Rent

Easter tablescape FrontgateInspired Living

Easter tablescape dear lilyDear Lillie

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Entertaining

How to Properly Set a Table

Setting the table is usually the last item on the to-do list when hosting a dinner party. If you’re like me, you’re probably more focused on making sure that the meal comes out perfectly and on time rather than on the table. However, when you go to set it last minute, it becomes a hurried and stressful event trying to figure out the correct placement of each fork or spoon.

Avoid the stress and the guess work of which side the bread plate goes on and check out our handy guide for setting a proper table!

How to Set a Table - The Everyday Hostess

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Entertaining

Preparing for House Guests

Merry Christmas week, everyone! If you’re like me, you’re probably focused on finishing up the last minute Christmas shopping, finalizing your menu, taking a few final trips to the grocery store, and cleaning up your home as quickly as possible! However, one of the most easily overlooked aspects of hosting during the holidays is preparing your home for your overnight guests.

Follow these few simple steps, and your house will be the perfect oasis for your friends and family this Christmas!

A Welcome note and fresh flowers – This is the best way to welcome someone into your home! Place a fun seasonal flower arrangement and a welcome note on a desk in the guest bedroom or on the bedside table. They are sure to see them right when they walk in and immediately feel at home. Include any necessary passwords or codes that they may need while staying at your house (wifi, alarms, etc.).

TEH Guest Bedroom

The Everyday Hostess - FlowersStyle Me Pretty Living

Bedroom – Create a retreat in the guest bedroom by minimizing personal items and simplifying the decor. Simple art or pictures, an alarm clock, bedside lamps, fresh flowers, a soothing color scheme, all help create a calm getaway for your guests.

The Everyday Hostess - Guest Bedroom Neutrals

A double/queen bed and comfortable bedding are both key to creating a welcoming atmosphere for your guests. Provide a couple extra cozy blankets at the foot of the bed as well. Make sure there is plenty of space in the dresser and closet, so that your guests may hang or put away any clothes that they want to unpack. Don’t forget to provide a few hangers as well!

Guest Bedroom - The Everyday Hostess

Bathroom –– Stock the guest bathroom with the essentials! Make them feel like they are in a hotel suite. Consider what it is like for you staying in someone else’s home. What may you have forgotten? Include a little basket with small shampoos/conditioners, new toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouthwash, soaps, and tissues! This will make them feel right at home. Especially if they accidentally forgot something and may not want to ask for it!

Guest Bathroom - The Everyday Hostess

The Everyday Hostess - Guest Bathroom Accessories

My two favorite items for the guest bathroom is this delightful Lafco candle and these personalized monogrammed soaps! (These are also perfect hostess guests, if you are staying with someone else!)

Most importantly, don’t forget fresh bath towels and washcloths. Include two bath towels and two wash cloths for each guest. I know I am not the only one out there who uses a separate towel to dry my hair, so make sure there are a couple extras, just in case!

The Everyday Hostess - Guest Bathroom

Food and Drink — Stocking your refrigerator and pantry with your guests favorites snacks and drinks will help them feel right at home. If you know they like a certain type of drink or coffee, pick up a little extra for them at the store! Not only did you set up a calm retreat for them, but you went above and beyond to make sure they felt as at home as possible!

The Everyday Hostess Guest SnacksBrooklyn Limestone

What are some of your other favorite ways to prepare your home for guests! I would love to hear your tips and tricks!

Photos from Pottery Barn unless otherwise noted.

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Christmas

Hot Chocolate Mason Jars

With Christmas right around the corner, I have been rushing around finishing all of my last minute Christmas shopping and decorating. I’ve been checking thing after thing off my list, but I have one last gift to make! Gifts for my colleagues and neighbors! I like to hand make these types of gifts because it gives them a little bit more of a personal touch and shows that I put more thought and love into each one.

This year, I decided to make these adorable mason jar hot chocolate mixes! We’ve done all the heavy lifting for you with these cute printables, so all you need is some craft paper, a printer, and the hot chocolate ingredients and you have yourself the perfect little gift! Plus, they are super affordable and only take 10 minutes to assemble, which is always a bonus!

In order to assemble these, all you need is one pint sized mason jar, 6 tablespoons of powdered creamer, 6 tablespoons of powdered milk, 6 tablespoons of powdered sugar, 3 tablespoons of cocoa powder, 2 tablespoons of milk chocolate chips, 2 tablespoons of chopped candy canes, and ½ cup of mini marshmallows.

Hot Chocolate Mason Jar - Cocoa Powder

Hot Chocolate Mason Jar - Powdered Milk

Hot Chocolate Mason Jar - Powdered Sugar

Hot Chocolate Mason Jar - Chocolate Chips

Layer the powdered ingredients in the bottom of pint sized mason jar and then add the chocolate chips and candy canes. Finally top with the marshmallows, add the lid, and tie on the printable recipe and instructions with a festive ribbon! And there you go! The perfect, affordable, and thoughtful gift for all your friends, neighbors and colleagues!

Enjoy and Merry Christmas!

Hot Chocolate Mason Jars
Serves 2
The perfect homemade holiday gift for your friends and neighbors!
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Prep Time
10 min
Prep Time
10 min
Ingredients
  1. 1 pint sized mason jar
  2. 12 inches ribbon, string, or twine
  3. 6 tbs powdered creamer
  4. 6 tbs powdered milk
  5. 6 tbs powdered sugar
  6. 3 tbs cocoa powder
  7. 2 tbs milk chocolate chips
  8. 2 tbs candy canes, chopped
  9. ½ cup mini marshmallows
Instructions
  1. Layer the powdered ingredients in the bottom of a pint sized mason jar. Add the chocolate chips and candy canes and then top with the mini marshmallows to fill the jar.
  2. Seal the jar with the lid and attach the printable recipe tag (linked above) with a ribbon.
  3. When ready to enjoy, remove the marshmallows from the jar and set aside. Boil 2 cups of water and add the remaining ingredients to the pot. Mix until fully combined.
  4. Pour the hot chocolate into two mugs and top with marshmallows! Enjoy!
Adapted from Love Grows Wild
Adapted from Love Grows Wild
The Everyday Hostess https://www.theeverydayhostess.com/
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