An abridged version of this essay ran in Fort Wayne Magazine (May 2023) When my husband and I moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana, more than ten years ago, we knew only the people he had met in the job-interview process. We set out to make friends with a simple strategy: the dinner party. Since we did not know anyone, we… Read More »Ten Lessons from a Decade of Dinner Parties
There are people who delight at the thought of grazing over small bites, no fork required, and others who want to fill a plate, sit, and enjoy it. I am the latter, but sometimes the little bites have a place… As was the case for the fundraiser for one of our local government superstars that we hosted on a chilly… Read More »An Early Spring Small-Bites Menu for a Crowd
You’re hosting a political fundraiser in your home. The candidate’s office is super organized, and you know how to throw a party, so what can go wrong? Perhaps it’s less about what can go wrong than it is about what your role is as host for this unique kind of event. While the ultimate goal of a fundraiser is to… Read More »How to Host an At-Home Political Fundraiser
It’s all about the plan. There’s a myth out there that you are either born with some type of Martha Stewart crafty-cooking-hostess gene, or you’re out of luck! At nearly every dinner or event we host, people often confide in me that, “They could never do this,” ‘this’ meaning cook for a crowd or host a big event. Well, I have… Read More »How to Get Better at Hosting
An autumn celebration. Inventing holidays is one of my favorite party tricks. There is always an excuse to get together, and “fall-afel” the first week of autumn is as good as any! The beauty of inventing a holiday is that you own it. There is no script to follow, and people don’t know what to expect—which means carte blanche to… Read More »Fall-afel Fest 2022
Piñatas are three-in-one fun: wild excitement for the kids, entertainment for the adults who are watching, and a package for party favors. The only negative is all that candy! Here are some non-candy filler ideas. Non-candy treats for a piñata Retro toys such as trolls Pens, pencils, and pencil sharpeners Balls, such as super bounce balls Tattoos Small toys such… Read More »Non-Candy Treats for a Piñata
Want to get better at baking? Start with scones. Scones are my recommendation to anyone who wants to get into baking. Here are 5 reasons why, and 5 recipes to try. Convinced? Good. Now, one thing you need to know is that not all scones are created equal. No worries, though, because I have sifted through (pun intended!) many a… Read More »Scones
It’s that time of year when the smell of No. 2 Pencils is in the air, and down the hall you hear the squeak of new sneakers. Back-to-school season is a great milestone to commemorate both for parents and kids. It’s also one of those transitions that can be really rough! Did you know that anxiety and excitement are elements… Read More »A Back-to-School Party
Five salads that can sit, but still stand out. One of my favorite parts of party-planning is actually after the party. It’s fun to hear the chatter after an event. The things people found funny or the things people appreciated most. I also love the requests for recipes. It’s a feedback loop after all! You know which recipes I am… Read More »Spectacular Salads for Any Party
I don’t know who needs to hear this, but no event is perfect. And perfection is NOT the goal. When it comes to dinner parties or any at-home event, there are certainly ways to plan for success, and as a good project manager would do, to mitigate risk. Because there’s always something! You made everything in advance, you gave yourself… Read More »How to Fool-Proof Your Party Plan