LET'S HAVE A PARTY

Mike is a huge fan of hosting. Growing up in a big family, he’s always had a “the more, the merrier” mindset. As an introvert, this was definitely something I had to adapt to! It’s slowed down a bit now that we have two kids (and most of our friends do, too), but for a while, it felt like we were hosting all the time. It was fun, but also a lot. Again, I’m an introvert!

I’m also a self-aware control freak, so having people over… even for a casual dinner… could send me into a bit of a spiral if the house wasn’t in perfect order or everything wasn’t set up just right. Social media didn’t help either. Seeing elaborate dinners and cocktail parties online only added to the pressure.

Over time, though, I’ve relaxed a lot. And, in a surprising twist, I actually find myself inviting friends and neighbors over on a whim these days. I barely recognize myself! 🤣 It still doesn’t come naturally, but I genuinely think I’m getting better at hosting. Over the past year, I’ve started stocking our house with items that make spontaneous hosting easier, like nice guest towels, versatile serving platters, and a few go-to tablecloths.

One thing I always like to have on hand is fun party supplies. We usually stick to our regular dishes when hosting indoors, and I love using melamine for outdoor get-togethers. But every now and then, especially when there are a lot of kids, it’s nice to have disposable options that make cleanup a breeze. Whether you’re stocking a “hosting pantry” (or, in my case, a cabinet!), I recently discovered an online store with the cutest options! They have a ton of themes– so many good ones for birthday parties– but I like to keep things generic so they work no matter who’s coming over or what the occasion is!