Tag Archives: piano

Create Easy Outdoor Dining

Outdoor dining is a lot of fun. It is especially great for entertaining and can really set a mood. While you can go formal when dining outside, it is a lot more fun when things are casual and easy. Here are some tips that you can use to create an easy outdoor table. Create a fun and easy centerpiece with natural and found objects for a personal tough with a lot of impact. Some ideas for this type of centerpiece include shells, pretty pebbles, driftwood, pine cones, seed pods, etc. Place the objects under a glass dome or in a … Continue reading →

Celebrating New Year’s Eve

How have your New Year’s Eve celebrations changed over the years? When we marry or have children or other major events occur in our lives, we tend to change the way we do things. I remember times where I got dressed to the nines to go out and paint the town. Sometimes, I think it would be fun to do so again, but I’ve also grown to enjoy the night at home with the kids drinking sparkling grape juice, dancing to their latest music, playing games, and watching various celebrations on TV from around the world. Going out to dinner … Continue reading →

Wishes for a Wonderful Thanksgiving

Sometimes, I like to get up early on Thanksgiving morning while everyone else is still sound asleep. I quietly make coffee, maybe a specialty flavor, and take a cup outside with me if the weather is mild. I sit and breathe deeply, inhaling fresh air and the aroma of fresh, hot, coffee. I listen to the birds chirp and watch them flutter about the feeder just a few feet from my deck. I try to clear my mind and keep from becoming distracted by all the things I’ll need to do before long. I think about all the things I’m … Continue reading →

Countdown to Thanksgiving: Only One more Day!

Tomorrow is Turkey Day! If you have baking or last minute cleaning left to do, now is a good time to get it done, and then… Get Ready Set out platters, and serving bowls and mark each one with a small piece of masking tape or a Post It note, indicating what will be served from each dish. If you are serving dinner buffet style, arrange your buffet (using the empty but marked serving pieces). Add flowers or candles. Make sure you have enough serving spoons. If not, these can be purchased separately (or borrowed). Don’t worry about matching your … Continue reading →

Countdown to Thanksgiving: Four Days to Go

It won’t be long now! While the countdown certainly isn’t exhaustive (although it may be exhausting), I hope these tips are helpful. Feeding your Family before Thanksgiving Today is a good day to do a little cooking so you’ll have plenty of everyday food for your family without having to spend a lot of time preparing regular meals while trying to get ready for Thanksgiving. Put on a pot of spaghetti sauce, and all you’ll have to do is boil noodles come Monday or Tuesday. You can always make a nice soup and stock up on sandwich making materials to … Continue reading →

Tackling Multiple Holiday Get-togethers

There was a time when holidays became an exercise in stress rather than a time to enjoy. Don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy getting together with family and friends, but the running between different homes while also hosting part of the holiday in my own home left me exhausted. It was just too much. It was also way too much food, feeling obligated to eat at every stop, and ending up stuffed and miserable. There is a better way. While our engagements are now fewer in number, we still have to do a bit of juggling. It helps when … Continue reading →

Tips for more Functional Thanksgiving Entertaining

These tips will actually work for Thanksgiving or anytime. Whether you’re hosting a holiday meal or giving a dinner party they will help make things more functional when serving guests. While many people choose to serve a “family style,” Thanksgiving dinner, where platters and bowls of delicious food are passed around the table, some may find that the dining table soon becomes to full of good food to be very functional. Instead, you might consider setting up a buffet. A good way to do this and still keep the food the focus is to set a serving table or sideboard … Continue reading →

What Will You Splurge on for Thanksgiving?

While I’m usually looking for ways to cut costs, there are some things I splurge on when it comes to holiday entertaining. It seems that hardly a year goes by that I avoid being tempted by decorations and attractive serving pieces. I’ve actually purchased divided dishes, pretty trays, and other items, even though I had no idea what I’d serve in them. Then, I had to get creative so I could use them. I have a thing for fabric too and I usually end up purchasing some to make a new tablecloth (unless I find a great pre-made cloth). I … Continue reading →

Pretty Party Vases

Want a festive display for your next party? Why not try these easy to make pretty party vases using materials left over from summer? You’ll have some unique and attractive decorations that can be adapted and reused for almost any party. If you have been putting off discarding some of your outdoor or porch party decorations, then congratulations. That just means that they are available to repurpose into new decorations for the fall and winter holidays. One nice idea is to take apart paper lanterns from a set of summer party lights. We will turn them into pretty vases that … Continue reading →

Entertaining: Hosting Halloween

These days, you just can’t be too careful. That’s why many parents are now taking children to Halloween parties or hosting Halloween parties themselves, instead of going out trick-or-treating. It makes sense, but it’s sad that we have allowed our society to become so dangerous that children can’t even trick-or-treat. The good news is there is no reason children can’t still have fun. When hosting a Halloween party, encourage everyone to come in costume. It adds to the party atmosphere immediately. You might even want to dress up this year. How long has it been since you were in costume … Continue reading →