Entertain like you’re fancy
I’m going to be really honest here: I love the idea of entertaining, but actually having people at my house can stress me out. Why? Because I always want everything to be just right and put on the perfect show for my guests. Let’s be real, it’s more of a shit show these days with two kids in the house. Toys spewed everywhere, random cups of crackers on the couch, school papers scattered on the kitchen counters – are you getting the visual? So how can you have a nice get-together at your place when you have little humans running around like tornadoes?
Pinterest baby, Pinterest. And wine, most definitely wine.
Now I’m no chef, but I can recreate simple stuff: not too many steps, no exotic ingredients, and a cute presentation. I got rave reviews from my guests at a brunch I hosted recently, Check it out!
Bevvys
This looks super fancy right? It’s not! The pitchers are PLASTIC from Party City. I had the square glass vases (from Michael’s) stuffed in a closet. I bought orange, mango and strawberry-something juices and pre-chopped mango, strawberries and raspberries. Easy peasy!
Nibbles
You guys, these were a serious HIT! I did NOT make miniature waffles on a fancy waffle maker from Williams-Sonoma. (Ain’t nobody got time for that!) Instead, I strolled into the frozen section at the grocery store, picked up mini Egg-o waffles, toasted and broke them into individual pieces (#winning). Throw a box of frozen chicken nuggets in the oven and hold these cuties together with a cute bamboo toothpick. Boom. Chicken and waffles. Note the drink dispenser in there…borrowed from my sister-in-law and filled with water and sliced up citrus for anyone who wasn’t in the mood for mimosas. I also had some pre-cut veggies in plastic mini-parfait cups (Party City, again), and filled the bottom with ranch. Super cute, but I didn’t take a picture – whomp whomp. It’s all about presentation!
Sweets
Dessert is always necessary and chocolate is always a winner. So I made a cake from scratch…well, sort of. Want a scratch-tasting cake without all the work? Get this book now and thank me later: The Cake Mix Doctor Returns. Really, any of the Cake Mix Doctor books are going to be your go-to when you want something that looks and tastes fancy but starts with a box of cake mix! Brilliant! Also, I think a vase of fresh flowers really creates a nice touch to your spread. I grabbed these hydrangeas at the grocery store the day before and got to enjoy them for awhile afterwards too!
So if you’re planning a get-together and want to wow your guests without too much effort, hit up Pinterest, find some looks you like and run with it. Remember to be creative and use what you have, but also snag some inexpensive items you can toss or save for another time. Most importantly, have fun and enjoy! And don’t worry, no one can see the Legos you pushed under the couch.
