31 Days: Day Thirty One

Day Thirty One. That feels almost surreal to type. When I mentally signed up for this link-up, I had high hopes to post for thirty one days. Despite a few hiccups and a few late posts, I did it. Through this past month I truly hope that you learned a little bit about the difference between entertaining and hospitality, hosting without the need for everything perfect, and seeing hospitality as an extension of Christianity. Thank you to those who shared in this journey with me, for those who popped in from time to time, and to the Nester at the Nesting Place, for challenging us in this way.

As a result of these past thirty one days, I am going to take a breather, but am definitely challenged and excited to keep this little blog up.

31 Days: Day 30

For 30 days now, we have touched on all sorts of topics related to genuine hospitality. All of the topics touched on hospitality with out of town guests or dinner company. Today is just a little reminder to be hospitable to your own family. All of the ideas we touched on can be done on any given night; not just special occasions. Today, I challenge you to turn on some smooth jazz during dinner, light candles or even put place cards on the dinner table.

31 days: Day Twenty Nine

An Assortment of Things. 

Today is just a little assortment of things related to hospitality! 

1. A great guide: 

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2. Nifty idea when serving ice cream: 

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3. Just in case etiquette gets confusing. 

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4. Making that butter a little more fancy. 

31 Days: Day Twenty Eight

With the holidays around the corner there will be plenty of opportunities for hostess gifts.

Here are a few that I really love...

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31 Days: Day Twenty Seven

Today, I asked the most wonderful hostess and the lady who exudes hospitality like no other, a few questions. That lady is my mother! Without further adieu, here are her words of wisdom.

1. What do you think is the difference between the idea of entertaining and hospitality?

Entertaining is a function, hospitality on the other hand chases the HEART.  Just about anyone can put some food out and even make it look pretty and taste delicious.  Hospitatility on the other hand is the full experience.  The food, the atmosphere, the décor, the aroma, and so on but  MOST importantly The Heart to serve others and make them feel as though they have been in your home 10,000 times.  They need to know it’s okay to put their feet on the couch, spill a glass of wine,  or get chocolate on your favorite white chair because in the end their presence and your relationship is more important than anything you “own” or “have”. 

2. What do you think it means to be hospitable? 

I suppose being hospitable is summed up in Phillipians 2:3 (paraphrased)  ~ Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others greater than yourself.”

It’s not a performance, it’s a way to love others.

3. A fun memory from a specific party you hosted or helped plan? 

Wow, there is a loaded question!  My memory jets to May 21, 2011, your wedding.  Every single thing about it was fun and memorable!  I was very lucky to have the  most pleasant bride on the planet.  We made a ton of memories, no it wasn’t without strife but relationally it was all found tucked safely under the umbrella of grace!  Celebrating with everyone from Nathan’s childhood to present along with our amazing supportive friends and family was a huge blessing hopefully to all who came.  And frankly, it was just plain FUN!

4. What is one piece of advice for being hospitable and making guest feel welcome? 

My one piece of advice is RELAX!  Folks don’t care if that one cobweb didn’t get caught or the windows aren’t washed!  They will be relaxed and enjoy if the host is relaxed and welcoming.  The second piece of advice is, INVITE! 

I love you mom, and have learned so much from you! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and wisdom!

31 Days: Day Twenty Six

A little ambiance goes a long way.

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A few of my favorite ideas...

1. Turn the overhead lights off and turn the lamps on. Soft lighting is always better.
2. Pull out the matches and light those candles. Flickering light paired with lovely scents...a perfect combo.
3. Background music. Sky.fm is a great radio station that you can stream through the internet or via their app. (Quick tip: If you are playing music via your iPhone, place upright in a small bowl/dish and you will get louder music instantly.)

31 Days: Day Twenty Five

Planning for unexpected dinner guests.

First things first (well, this applies to me), throw out all expectations and just go with the flow. If you don't have anything in the fridge or the time to run to the grocery story, don't worry. Simply pick up a pizza or grab your favorite takeout meal and throw in your own serving dishes for a little extra something.

If that is not your thing, a quick browse on Pinterest is sure to get those creative juices flowing.

Be sure to check back tomorrow as I talk about ambiance...there will be a few other ways to make any guests feel welcome.

31 Days: Day Twenty Four

Graciously accepting compliments. That might seem like an odd topic, but one that I often have a hard time  doing and one I know many women struggle with. We tend to downplay things when people compliment us, it's a horrible thing and takes away from the compliment giver. How many times do we even appreciate the compliment but feel the need to downplay?

Here is a great article about accepting compliments from the Modern Mrs. Darcy: How to Graciously Accept a Compliment. 

31 Days: Day Twenty Three

I wanted to talk a little about what it was like growing up and how I truly saw hospitality in action; shown by both my parents, and my friends’ parents.

Growing up I saw my parents welcome so many people into our home; whether because someone was in a transitional stage of life, or a teacher at our school needed a change of scenery from their apartment life. I never saw this as anything but wonderful. To this day my parents are always opening up their home…simply because they are blessed with the gift of hospitality and sharing Christ's love in that way.

My parents were not the only ones I grew up around who showed hospitality. My friends’ parents also were so willing to have us girls over for spend the night parties. They provided us with plenty of chex mix and plenty of video tapes for our home videos/music videos. I often joke about how I can’t fathom middle school being the hardest years of people’s life because for me, they were the best years- a little bit of school and a lot of fun.

The examples of hospitality I have seen growing up, have given me the same desire for people to know that we always have an open door. Never do I want to let the perfectionist side of me take away from impromptu guests. 

31 Days: Day Twenty Two

Though this doesn't directly relate to hospitality, I wanted to take a few minutes to talk about conversations. As I talked about at the very beginning of this series, hospitality is an extension of Christianity. That being said, so much a part of our life surrounds around conversations. I often do a poor job of this myself, being often consumed in the kingdom of self, but it is so important to truly take an interest in others. For those who would call themselves extroverts, this may be fairly easy, but for introverts it isn't as hard as you may think. Just step out of your own shell and put the other above yourself.

Simply putting others above yourself...

"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves." (Philippians 2:3 ESV)

31 Days: Day Twenty One

A few ways to personalize things for your guests...

1. A unique and beautiful way to personalize place settings.

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2. For Christmas: Put pictures of the past on presents.

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3. Great idea for parties or small groups.

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4. Personalized inscribed wooden menu frames for each guest.

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31 Days: Day Twenty

I am a couple days behind, but alas I still wanted to let you know that these next few posts will be about making everything personal. Everyone loves something that shows a little extra time was taken to make them feel special. Whether it is something handwritten or something that showcases one's initials, it is sure to bring a smile. The next post will be clever ways to personalize things for your guests!

31 Days: Day Nineteen

One last post about overnight guests...

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This is an excerpt from a series that Susan Godfrey did on Christian hospitality.

Making Overnight Guests Comfortable

1. "Include your guests in everything you normally would do as a family.  This includes family devotions, prayers and story time.  You want them to feel like they are part of the family.  Some guests may decline and so be prepared to offer an alternative.
2. If you are lucky enough to have a spare or guest room, make sure that it is hospitable and comfortable for your guests.  Include a comfortable bed, night stand, a comfortable chair, chest of drawers and a mirror.  Also make sure there’s a trash can and  laundry basket in the room for your guest to use.
3. If you do not have a guest room, offer your guest one of your bedrooms and move one of the family members to the couch or pallet.  This makes sure your guest will have privacy and be able to make themselves more comfortable.
4. Make sure the bed is made up with clean, sweet smelling bedding.  Also make sure that you provide extra blankets and pillows for your guest.  This will allow them to make themselves comfortable.
5. Don’t put bedding on the bed that you would worry about something staining it or makes the guest too nervous to get comfortable.  What I mean is don’t put the solid white, hand quilted quilt that your great-grandmother Harriet made on the bed.  Not only will you be upset that it was ruined, but just seeing it may make your guest unable to fully get comfortable.  Equip the bed with pretty and worry free bedding.
6. Provide your guest with closet and drawer space, as well as make sure there are extra hangers for them to use.  If you have room, provide them with a ironing board and iron as well.
7. Be sure and offer them the use of your washer and dryer and show them how to work it if necessary.
8. Make sure to include an alarm clock in the room.  This allows your guest to see the time, as well as awake when they want.  A clock radio is nice, as this allows your guest to play soft music to help drown out any noises they are not use to.
9. Make sure the room is stocked with things such as writing pads, pens/pencils,  a variety of books and magazines, and a Bible.  This way guests can make notes, write reminders, or just read themselves to sleep.
10. A bed light or lamp for reading allows your guest to have a low power, soft lighting for reading or moving around in the night.  Also make sure there’s a night light in the hallway and bathroom to help them find their way around at night.
11. Provide a basket filled with snacks in the guest room.  Fill it full of small, snack sized treats so if they get hungry in the evening after you’ve go to bed or if you are away they can find something simple to eat without having to raid your cabinets to find something.  Some good ideas are crackers, cookies, fruit, gum, candy bars, etc.  Also provide the guests with a clean drinking glass in their bedrooms so they can get water from the bathroom at night.
12. A basket full of personal care items is also a nice touch.  Include things like sample sizes of tissue, pain reliever, new toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, conditioner, hairspray, first aid items (bandaids), sewing kit, nail files, deodorant and things of that nature.   I know I’m always forgetting something, so this is so helpful as it keeps them from having to run out and purchase items they forgot.                   

These are only a few ways that you can make your overnight guests feel at home.  Hospitality can be fun and it’s important as Christians to offer it to those around us."

31 Days: Day Eighteen

Overnight Guests Part Two: The next morning...

Here are a few great breakfast recipes that are sure to make your house smell simply delightful...

1. A healthy twist on the classic breakfast dish- Monkey Bread (from one of my favorite bloggers Peas and Thank You)

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2. Nothing beats a nutrition-filled smoothie- Carrot Mango Smoothie

 3. Morning Glory Muffins

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4. For something a little more "hearty" you could try this Buttermilk Blueberry Breakfast Cake

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31 Days: Day Seventeen

Starting today, I wanted to have a little two part series on Overnight Guests... making their stay truly delightful.

The first step in hosting overnight guests is to create a great atmosphere for a guest bedroom. Here I discussed ways to enhance your guest bedroom. If you don't have a set guest bedroom, apartment therapy has a great article titled, "Real Life Advice: Hosting Guests without a Guestroom."

One of the habits I picked up from my mom was to collect small bathroom products when you stay at hotels and keep them in a basket for when guests come over. This has been great and a fun little project when staying away.

A few fun ideas to truly "pamper" your guest...

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31 Days: Day Sixteen

As I mentioned yesterday, I am doing a little two part series on tables. Yesterday was all about place settings and tablescapes. Today, is all about simplifying the way you set a table. I have found a few diagrams I found very helpful; hopefully you will find them helpful too!

Figure 1: Just you average table setting.

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Figure 2: Setting up a buffet table.

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31 Days: Day Fifteen

Today is the beginning of a two part series of Tables (Trust me, there is enough on tables to be split up into two parts). Without further adieu, let's take a look at some glorious tablescapes and place settings!  

I absolutely love the vibrant nature of these colors, especially against the black and white table cloth. 

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Now, this is something that is different from my natural tendency toward vibrant colors, but I think this is executed wonderfully. 

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This next image is of a place setting that would be perfect fit for a rehearsal dinner. 

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Note the great use of layering and variety of style and color. Just lovely!

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31 Days: Day Fourteen

It is always important to make your guest room feel warm and welcoming. These are just a few ways to go the "extra mile."

A few essentials...

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I am often the one to get chilly at night and there is nothing worse than not seeing any spare throws to put on the bed. I love how these blankets are wrapped with a little ribbon.

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No one wants to go sneaking through there host's pantry and fridge when they get a sudden burst of hunger. Solution: cute little midnight snack box (would also make a cute out of town guest gift for a wedding).

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31 Days: Day Thirteen

Just a few of my favorite party themes...These pictures are sure to inspire! 

In honor of football season, these treats would be great for any game day affair...tailgating or house party.

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For all those wanting to create a unique and oh so girly bridal shower. Take inspiration from this Gelato Bridal Shower. 

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And now one for the little girls in your life...A cake decorating party. I may be partial to this idea as I had one of these when I was little (my mom is the ultimate hostess and party planner). 

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Though these are some of my absolute favorite colors I cannot help but think anyone would be inspired by those pictures. 

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And one for the little boys in your life...A Mud Run birthday party (inspired by the warrior dash).

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31 Days: Day Twelve

Well, we've covered...
The lost art of a handwritten note and a proper way to write a note, thanks to Southern Living.

Now, for some eye candy with these lovely paper products. Grab something similar to these and you are sure to get the itch to start writing some letters!

If you are a paper lover like myself check out this website: Oh So Beautiful Paper

I am a big sucker for letterpress and Smudge Ink does a fabulous job. 

Lastly, I would like to give a little plug for my own business: 521 Designs.

31 Days: Day Eleven

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Now that we have talked about the importance of a handwritten note, I wanted to share with you this great guide written up by none other than...Southern Living.

The Lost Art of the Thank You Note: 

Do’s

• Handwrite the note. Don’t just apply these tips to your e-mail thank-yous. Although it would be easier to send an e-mail or type a letter, a handwritten thank-you note is the most sincere and appreciated form of gratitude. The extra effort goes a long way.
• Buy stationery. Embossed cards with complementary envelopes look much better than folded notebook paper stuffed in a plain envelope. You don't have to splurge on embossed or monogrammed stationery from a specialty store. You can find decent sets at office supply stores and online.
• Personalize it. Not just in the personalized stationery, but in what you actually say. If you’re going to see the person in the future, refer to the event and say you’re looking forward to it. If the person gave you a silver picture frame, don’t simply thank them for it, but add, “I plan on using the frame for a wedding picture in my living room.”
• Even if it’s late, send a note. Don’t feel embarrassed. It’s better to send a late thank-you than none at all.
• Take your time. An illegible note won’t do much good and neither will one with scratch marks all over it. Use a nice, fine point pen, so the ink won’t bleed or smudge. Traditionally, thank-you notes are written in cursive. Sometimes this can look like a mess if your cursive is not up-to-par, so use your best judgment and do what you think looks best.
• Send thanks for trivial things. Why not? Whether it’s for a casual get-together or for a neighbor who collected your mail and watered your plants while you were gone, a hand-written note is the best way to show your appreciation. It may also ensure that you’ll get the invite or extra help in the future.

Don’ts

• Don’t exaggerate. Of course you can rave about a gift, but don’t lie about how much you like something. It may be obvious if you say, “The monogrammed soap is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen!” Most likely you’ve seen better, so simply say, “The monogrammed soap was very thoughtful and will be perfect for the powder room.”
• Don’t be stiff. Show your personality. It’s okay to use humor, sarcasm, or idioms to express yourself, as long as you’re not insulting the gift. If you’re questioning whether you should write a certain joke or phrase, ask yourself if you would say it in-person. Try to maintain the same tone with the person on paper as you would in-person.
• Don’t refer to specific amounts of money. These might seem like the hardest notes to write, but all you have to say is “I greatly appreciate your generosity. I hope to use the money to…” Just make sure the giver would support your money plans. Your great-aunt may not support a weekend getaway to Vegas, but she would understand a “much-needed vacation.”
• Don’t ramble. You may want to go on and on about how your new job is going, a family friend you ran into, or that new movie you saw, but don’t. Be concise. It is a thank-you note after all, so stick to the thanks. If you feel like writing more, write them a separate note to fill them in on your life and see how they’re doing.
• Don’t assume an in-person thanks is enough. If a person went to the trouble of hosting a party or purchasing a gift for you, you surely can take the time to write a note. Make sure to thank the host of a party in-person, but since your thanks may get lost in the excitement, a note is a great addition.

31 Days: Day Ten

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When I think of hospitality I understand that as a Christian it really should be a way that we live our lives. Hospitality isn't just something that is about being friendly when you have guests over, but something that is seen when you are outside your home. Often, others welcome us into their homes, or take us to lunch, or even just do a little something to make our day better. When that happens, nothing says "thank you" better than a simple handwritten note.

In this age of emails, texts and everything in between, it's easy to forget about the lost art of a handwritten note. Let's be honest, who can honestly say that their heart doesn't skip a beat when sorting through the mundane of junk mail, only to find a note on pretty stationary with your name written on the envelope? Maybe you are not that extreme, but there is nothing better than being given a handwritten note!

On this day, I challenge you to put down the keyboard and the cell phone, pull out your pen and write a lovely handwritten note. A little bit goes a long way!

Coming up I'll give some great tips on how to write a great thank you note AND some great places to find cute stationery! 

31 Days: Day Nine

I love how a little extra touch to your home can make the biggest difference. Here are a few ways to spruce up the home. These ideas are simple and lovely at the same time!

This look is just so festive! An easy way to achieve this same look is to take scraps of fabric and tie to a piece of twine.

This a great and very easy decoration with it now being Autumn! Just wrap a couple leaves around a small votive...perfect for table decorations!

This is a great way to decorate with Christmas coming up. Simply glue ornaments to a mirror then remove top to add water and flowers!

 I love how just a touch of gold glitter adds the perfect little touch to the simple milk glasses. Also, I love the simple addition of a small flower arrangement.

31 Days: Day Eight

Today, I wanted to focus on my favorite category of food, that would be appetizers! I have previously blogged about these two appetizers but the still top the charts for me!

Guacamole Bruschetta:

Ingredients:
1/2 Loaf French Bread (we chose to use a whole wheat sour dough bread and that was just perfect)
1 Clove of Garlic
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
2 Tomatoes, chopped
2 Avocados, chopped
1/3 Cup Onion, finely chopped
1/4 Cup Cilantro, chopped
2 Tablespoons Freshly Squeezed Lime Juice
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1/4 Teaspoon Pepper

Directions:
- Slice the bread into 1/2" rounds and place on baking sheet
- Toast the sliced bread in the oven for 3 minutes, then flip each piece over and toast an additional 3 minutes
- Remove the toasted bread from the oven and immediately rub with the clove of garlic (it works best to first cut a small tip off the garlic clove so that the oils will seep out)
- Brush the tops of the garlic-rubbed toasts with olive oil and set aside
- In a large bowl, combine the chopped tomatoes, avocados, onion, cilantro, lime juice, salt and pepper. Mix together gently making sure the avocado is well coated in the lime juice.
- Spoon a portion of the mixture onto each of the garlic toasts and serve.

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Feta Dip:

Ingredients:
Olive Oil
Feta Cheese (about one block)
Tomatoes (roughly 3 Roma)
1 Bunch of Green Onions (we used a little less)
1 Baguette (we opted for Pita Chips and Crackers)
Greek Seasoning (or just use oregano, salt and pepper)
1 Platter

Directions:
- Wet the platter generously with the olive oil
- Dice green onions and tomatoes. Put them on the platter.
- Crumble feta cheese and add that to the platter.
- Sprinkle seasoning on top
- Mix everything together, gently.
- Slice the bread (if that is what you are using)

Serve.

31 Days: Day Seven

One of my favorite things about hosting a party or attending a party is the delightful drinks. No where else is sherbet and ginger ale acceptable or where garnishing a drink is the norm. Without further adieu, here is a list of my favorite drinks to serve when having guests over...

A drink I have made, and absolutely love:

   

Cranberry Pomegranate Winter Sangria

• (750 ml) bottle of red zinfandel
• 4 cups of cranberry juice
• 2 cups of POM Wonderful pomegranate juice
• 1 cup of orange juice
• 3/4 cup of simple syrup
• 1 apple, unpeeled, cored, quartered & sliced thin
• 1 orange, halved and sliced thin
• 1 lemon, halved and sliced thin
• 1/2 cup of fresh cranberries
• 1/4 cup of pomegranate seeds
• San Pellegrino sparkling water or Ginger Ale depending on preference

Strawberry Champagne Slushies

Team Spritzers: Georgia Peach