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It is my understanding that ladies these days don't often open their homes for wedding showers, baby showers, or luncheons anymore. What do you think is the cause of this? Is it just too stressful to clean our homes or is it the p…
It is my understanding that ladies these days don't often open their homes for wedding showers, baby showers, or luncheons anymore. What do you think is the cause of this?
Is it just too stressful to clean our homes or is it the paralyzing thought of organizing such an event?
I am here to tell you that you CAN do this!
My friends, hospitality is not a lost art! It's a LEARNED art! Let's learn together then teach the younger generation how to host again!
"Hospitality isn't about your house it's about your heart."
Opening your home does not have to lead to a grand tour of your home. When asked for a tour, I often just reply with, "Oh I'm so sorry, I'm raising four boys here and my house is in rather messy shape beyond what you see here." Even if you aren't raising four boys, just take the pressure off yourself to tidy up your entire house if you are hesitant about that aspect of hosting.
Let's start with the entry.
Take a few moments to wash your front door and any windows around the door. Sweep or blow away any debris from around the door, patio, and walkway. (I have this blower and use it on a daily basis!)
I keep two concrete pots by the door and fill them seasonally with prefashioned hanging baskets from the local garden center. I just snip off the hanging part and plop the entire plastic basket down in my concrete pot. Easy! My faux topiaries in the black planters are a staple around here because I can never seem to keep real topiaries alive on my porch.
Moving inside, I like to place a simple bouquet of flowers on a table near the door where the baby book can be signed. Here I simply placed pink roses and baby's breath together. I order bulk flowers from HERE and have had beautiful results every time!
The second aspect of hosting is selecting hostesses for the shower. Ideally, the gal being honored will have close friends who offer to help host. If no one has offered, reach out to the honored mother or a family member and ask for help in selecting friends or family who would be honored to hostess with you. A cherished friend, cousin, or aunt are all appropriate hostesses. If you take the guesswork out of the day, you will have a multitude of helpers.
What's on the menu and how to divide up responsibilities between hostesses:
I like to keep the menu very simple. I always have the same selection at basically every shower I host. This helps cut down on frustration between hostesses and helps keep everything simple and organized. Everything will be plated at my home on my collection of thrifted (or estate sale finds) silverplated trays.
Menu Options:
Cucumber Sandwiches
Chicken Salad in phyllo dough cups
Charcuterie
Fruit Tray
Lemon Squares
Petit Fours
Punch
Bubbly
I send out a group message to all of the hostesses with the menu options and invitation task.
Since I am hosting, I like to provide all dishes, utensils, and serving pieces so that everything coordinates. Nowadays, texting the invitation is preferred among this generation so I take care of that too. I use a party invitation app that will send out reminders and keep track of everyone's rsvp.
I let the remaining hostesses divide up the menu among themselves. They are welcome to order the food or make it themselves. I also ask that they plan on taking turns serving the guests by picking up their empty plates, replenishing food on the table, offering drinks, and light cleaning up in the kitchen. I try not to make this sweet party a financial burden on anyone involved so no extravagant flower arrangements or balloon arches.
Cucumber Sandwiches
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 2 teaspoons fresh dill chopped
- 1 teaspoon fresh chives chopped
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- salt & pepper to taste
- 1 long English cucumber thinly sliced
- 1 loaf sliced white bread crusts removed
With a hand mixer mix cream cheese and mayonnaise in a small bowl until smooth. Stir in herbs, garlic powder and salt and pepper to taste.
Spread bread slices with cream cheese mixture.
Thinly slice cucumbers. Layer over half of the bread slices. Top with additional herbs if desired.
Top with remaining bread slice, remove crusts if desired and cut each sandwich into 3 pieces or use a cookie cutter to cut into shape.
Serve immediately or cover and store up to 24 hours.
Chicken Salad in Phyllo Dough cup
THIS recipe is my go-to.
I often just use a rotisserie chicken and don't add additional salt. EASY!
Use THIS for the edible cup
A very small charcuterie tray is all that is needed with just a few selections of cheese, meats, nuts, and fruits.
A delicious petit four or macarons can be ordered from your local bakery or you can make small vanilla cupcakes with white icing.
Lemon bars and fruit tarts are also from a local bakery, but you can easily make your own!
Vintage baby planters are sweet to hold napkins, forks, or simple flower arrangements
I have been collecting vintage snack sets for as long as I can remember. I think using a lovely dish instead of paper plates really makes the sip-n-see special. You can use ANY kind of plate. Garage sales, estate sales, and antique stores are my favorite spots for picking up snack sets or mix-and-match plates. No complaints here on washing dishes... enlist the help of the hostesses or save them and pray over each dish as you wash them... thanking God for the gift of that person's friendship to the honored guest.
You simply cannot have a shower without PUNCH!
This pink punch is DELICIOUS!
I use Braum's (our local dairy)
Cherry Limeade Sherbet and Sprite.
That's it!
You can easily substitute any sherbet flavor.
We also had a fun selection of bubbles in the kitchen!
My precious niece and great-niece
My sister aka "Honey" to sweet baby girl
Piles of pretty pink packages!
Gather all the chairs from around the various tables in your home in to the room you where will be opening gifts. I absolutely do not like the new way of presenting gifts... unopened and for display.
I believe the art of giving and receiving is lost when you don't sit down and open your gifts in front of your friends. Opening gifts allows the recipient to thank the giver personally. The giver likes to see that their gift is well received.
A personal word to the recipient:
Fake it till you make it.
If you don't care for the gift, it is NEVER appropriate to state your negative opinion or return a gift to the giver.
N E V E R
Simply receive the gift, thank the giver for their thoughtfulness, and place the gift in a closet.
It is not worth hurting the feelings of another or damaging a relationship because of an unwanted or unliked gift.
"People will forget what you said, forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."
Moving on.... :)
Host a shower. You can do it.
...and in doing so, you will bless every single person that crosses your threshold. I promise.
Hospitality is simply an opportunity to show love and care.
"When God's people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality." Romans 12:13
"And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased." Hebrews 13:16
Follow Eleven Gables for Daily Updates and Inspiration:
Emily
this post is dedicated to my ever-present sidekick, Ruby, who unexpectedly passed away this week. We love you and miss you terribly.
* links to products you may be interested in purchasing are included within this post. I make a tiny commission off your purchase, but it does not increase the price for you. I encourage you to purchase through your favorite blogger's links. This is how we earn an income so that we can continue to provide you with beautiful, quality posts. Thank you!
The following post is Sponsored. All thoughts, opinions, ideas, recipes, and photos are my own. The meal my boys request the most often is, hands-down, Pasta Salad. These days I am serving it with another protein, like grilled chicken, …
The following post is Sponsored. All thoughts, opinions, ideas, recipes, and photos are my own.
The meal my boys request the most often is, hands-down, Pasta Salad.
These days I am serving it with another protein, like grilled chicken, but it can easily be a meal on its own.
Purchasing Walmart's private brands, I am saving money, but not taste or quality. Dare to compare! Start your order HERE.
Thank goodness for Walmart.com's easy to use app, I placed my grocery cart list at night from the comfort of my bed and jammies and the next morning I received a text message during after carpool to tell me my order was ready! All I had to do was pull up to the Walmart "pick up" parking spot and a friendly young man loaded it into my car. Off I went to make this easy and delicious dinner for my family.
Eleven Gables Pasta Salad
(feeds four very hungry teens for dinner and the leftovers pack nicely for their lunchboxes)
48 ounces rotini
1/2 pound hard salami
3 tri-color bell peppers (red, orange, yellow), large diced
16 ounces pepper jack cheese, cubed
8 ounces sliced black olives
1/2 cup banana peppers (chopped)
1/4 cup cherry peppers (chopped)
Dressing
(I double and sometimes triple the dressing)
2 Tablespoons Italian Salad Dressing Dry Mix
1/4 cup Apple Cider Vinegar
2 Tablespoons water
2/3 cup avocado oil
Boil pasta according to directions, drain and rinse with cold water
In a large bowl, add bell peppers, cheese, olives, banana peppers, and cherry peppers.
Mix well and add cooled pasta.
Drizzle dressing over the pasta ingredients and mix well.
I make a second dressing and drizzle that over the ingredients as well.
Chill several hours or overnight.
Taste when cold and add more dressing if your taste prefers.
Sometimes I sprinkle parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes on top
Enjoy!
New online Walmart customers can use promo code TRIPLE10 to save $10 off their first three pickup or deliver orders. $50 minimum. Restrictions and fees apply.
Follow Eleven Gables for Daily Updates and Inspiration:
Emily
* links to products you may be interested in purchasing are included within this post. I make a tiny commission off your purchase, but it does not increase the price for you. I encourage you to purchase through your favorite blogger's links. This is how we earn an income so that we can continue to provide you with beautiful, quality posts. Thank you!
My boys love this quick and easy, under 30 minute dinner and so do I! These days, with four active boys schedules saving time and money is important. Walmart.com made shopping a snap! I placed my order HERE and it was ready within hou…
My boys love this quick and easy, under 30 minute dinner and so do I!
These days, with four active boys schedules saving time and money is important.
Walmart.com made shopping a snap! I placed my order HERE and it was ready within hours by selecting the "Speed" filter and "Today."
A text message tells you your order is ready, then their nice associate loads everything into your car.
At this critical moment in time, with grocery prices rising, my dollar goes so much further with Walmart Brands like Great Value, Marketside, and Sam's Choice. These are high quality swaps without the name brand price.
Equate mouth rinse looks even more beautiful in a vintage decanter!
Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad Recipe
Romaine Lettuce (3 heads)
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/2 cup avocado oil
1 clove garlic
1 egg
2 Tablespoons Lemon Juice
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
Blend all ingredients with Immersion Blender
Crouton Recipe
slice French baguette into 1" cubesplace cubes in a ziptop bag
drizzle with olive oil
sprinkle with kosher salt
spread bread cubes on a sheet pan and bake 20 minutes at 375*f
Here I am making the recipe!
2. Spin that lettuce dry
(I've used a salad spinner since I was a child)
3. Rinse, Pat dry, & tenderize your chicken breast
(I love this Marketside brand from Walmart!)
Croutons:
1. Using a Marketside French Baguette
3. Spread on baking sheet and bake 20 minutes
WATCH my YOUTUBE VIDEO for the full tutorial
Enjoy!!!
New online Walmart customers can use promo code TRIPLE10 to save $10 off their first three pickup or deliver orders. $50 minimum. Restrictions and fees apply.
Follow Eleven Gables for Daily Updates and Inspiration:
Emily
* links to products you may be interested in purchasing are included within this post. I make a tiny commission off your purchase, but it does not increase the price for you. I encourage you to purchase through your favorite blogger's links. This is how we earn an income so that we can continue to provide you with beautiful, quality posts. Thank you!
This post is sponsored by Walmart . All thoughts and ideas are my own. Remember when we remodeled our master closet, bathroom, study, and bedroom three years ago? You can read all about it HERE . Well, time flies when you are raising chi…
This post is sponsored by Walmart. All thoughts and ideas are my own.
Remember when we remodeled our master closet, bathroom, study, and bedroom three years ago? You can read all about it HERE.
Well, time flies when you are raising children! My closet is finally organized and today I'm showing you a little glimpse!
I never showed you the finished closet before because I forgot to take before photos. I have a few videos I'm going to try to upload so you can take a peek around. If they aren't loading, I'm really not sure what to do... tech isn't really my forté. I'd rather be crafting, baking, gardening.... anything other than computer technology. ;)
We pulled out all of the carpet and put wood floors in... we love having the wood floors here. They are so easy to maintain. We also added trim and doors to this built-in to make it look more like a custom piece of furniture (and to keep dust off the contents of the shelves). Then we painted everything a custom color (Eleven Gables White).
I never really got around to organizing my closet because we were just ready to move back in and get back to life. Recently, I discovered The Home Edit collection at Walmart. I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to finally get this area of my house tidied up.
Here is a sampling of what this Walmart Home collaboration has to offer.
And now for the disarray of my closet cabinets.
I don't have a ton of handbags, but what I do have I need to be tidy. Keeping handbags organized also helps the bags keep their shape.
I ordered two sets of THESE. You have to think outside the box. These are sold as "laundry" storage, but obviously will work anywhere: under the sink or in cabinets. They are such a useful size.
Ordering online through Walmart was quick and easy. I had my purchases delivered right to my door.
Here we go!
Yes, organizing/tackling a project can be intimidating at first. I left my new containers sitting on the table until they really spoke to me about how I would and could use them.
Can you imagine why I needed the containers to be empty to speak to me? I couldn't get past trying to organize my cleaning closet that really didn't need to be organized like this.
I used THESE to contain my perfumes and lotions.
This size worked perfectly for my shoulder bags
and there you go... a tidy and organized spot in the closet!
Next up... the bathroom drawers using THESE!
THIS COLLABORATION from Walmart Home is flying off the shelves quickly and only just launched a few days ago.
Add to cart if something tickles your fancy because it will be sold out before you know it!
Follow Eleven Gables for Daily Updates and Inspiration:
Emily
* links to products you may be interested in purchasing are included within this post. I make a tiny commission off your purchase, but it does not increase the price for you. I encourage you to purchase through your favorite blogger's links. This is how we earn an income so that we can continue to provide you with beautiful, quality posts. Thank you!
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