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Dress up your Holiday Dinners with Stainless Steel Chafers

simplysocial — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 00:48:47 +0000

Chafers are a wonderful way to keep food hot and fresh, as well as create an appealing presentation. Whether guests come and go or linger at dinner for hours, your Holiday feast will remain hot and fresh from the first serving to the last.

The WEBstaurant Store has a number of attractive and affordable options to choose from! CLICK HERE to see a quick video demonstration.

The Golden Rule of Entertaining

simplysocial — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 21:42:25 +0000

The Golden Rule for any entertaining situation is to make your guests feel welcome. After all, you invited them – so the last thing you want to do is make them feel uneasy or uncomfortable. Don’t let your guests arrive and see you stressed out, running around frantically or complaining about things not going as planned. Take control of your event by performing a few simple steps in advance:

1. Tidy Up
If you’re hosting an event in your home, what’s the first thing your guests will see? Chances are it’s your front entry, porch, sidewalk or driveway. Be sure to sweep up any leaves or debris, pick up old newspapers and straighten up the area. Clear the path to your door to give a good first impression.

2. Set the Table
This is the one thing that my grandmother insisted upon before guests arrived. Handling plates and silverware after your guests have arrived says to them, ”Well, this is a bit of an inconvenience because my day was so busy that I didn’t have time to do this before you got here, so I’m doing it now.” Setting the table in advance lets your guests know that you planned for their arrival and welcome their attendance.

3. Smile
A warm smile and friendly greeting go a long way. Your guests are there to see you, so put the stresses of the day aside for a while and enjoy your time with them. If you’re at ease, your guests will be, too.

4. Be Gracious
Offer your guests a place to sit, something to drink and one or two light appetizers before your meal is served. This will give everyone time to unwind, mingle with other guests and take the edge off any hunger pains.

Hosting an event doesn’t have to be difficult. With a little planning, you can provide your guests (and yourself) with a relaxing, enjoyable experience.

Plant Your Ideas and Watch Them Grow

simplysocial — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 03:40:15 +0000

When I was a kid, one of my favorite things in the world was a blank piece of paper. That empty space held so many possibilities. With just a pencil or crayon, I could turn it into anything I wanted. It could become a picture for my parents to hang on the refrigerator, a letter to my Grandmother or a story to share with my classmates at school. That piece of paper asked for nothing but my imagination.

I still carry that belief with me today. For that reason, I keep a notepad on my nightstand. If an idea for a party, gift or project comes to me at 3am, I can quickly jot it down.

And you never know when you might be inspired. For example, the idea for a charity gala invitation came to me when I saw my old passport. I opened a drawer, saw the passport and was like, “Ah hah!” Since the event had an international theme and a major airline was the premier sponsor, it was a perfect match. I jotted down my thoughts, sketched out a design and approached the airline’s marketing representative with the concept. The end result was a beautiful passport invitation accompanied by an airline ticket (the event information) tucked neatly inside the airline’s official ticket jacket.

So when planning your next event, start with a blank piece of paper. Plant your ideas in the empty space and watch them grow into a very memorable occasion.

If you have an inspiration for a party, gift or project that you’d like to share, I’d love to hear it!