How to Be A Happy Hostess

If you know me, you know I love entertaining! Whether it is sleepover with friends (yes, I still love sleepover at 24 years old), family in town, or just a good old get-together, I love welcoming anyone and everyone into my house. I absolutely got it from my mom, who is the hostess extraordinaire, always having amazing parties with even better food and drinks. To me, there are just a few things that can guarantee your home will feel welcoming and your guests will be content.

For me, the most important AND most delicious chunk of the food pyramid is appetizers! I could seriously just eat appetizers until I was 600 pounds and be completely content. They are so versatile, can be sweet, salty, or savory, and most of the time are super easy. When I have anyone over to my house, I like to make 2-3 appetizers, depending on how many people are coming over. Even if it just one person, I will normally make a charcuterie board with yummy meats and cheeses. Having these small bites on hand gets you off the hook for cooking a meal for hungry mouths. That is the beauty of appetizers.. easy AND filling!

Another pro tip for happy hosting is having a variety of drinks on hand. On any given day, we have red and white wine, a couple kinds of beer, a fully stocked liquor cabinet and numerous non-alcoholic beverages on hand. Having just these staples will please everyone that you could possibly be entertaining. Another great tip is to mix up pitchers of infused water for guests to sip on if they choose not to drink alcohol (or if they need to mix in a water..).

People often over think having people over, myself included, but you do not need to plan any wacky games or make a lavish dinner to be a wonderful entertainer. You are in your own home, and having people in your space should not change that homey feeling. So light some candles, put on some chill music (my favorites are Jack Johnson, The Avett Brothers, and John Mayer), and pour yourself a glass of bubbly. You got this!