Enjoy Hosting Friends & Family With These Tips!

How To Organize And Host A Brunch For Friends

By Helena Alkhas
Filed Under: Entertain, Fall & Thanksgiving, Living

A few months ago, I hosted a brunch for all the Brazilian professional organizers who came to Chicago to attend the National Association of Productivity & Organizing Professionals Conference! It was an absolute treat to have them over, as hosting always is!

It was a wonderful experience to have so many colleagues from Brazil and was my pleasure to host them and get to know them better.

Today, I’m going to list the steps I took to prepare for a gathering of about 20 people. I’ll give you my shopping list, the recipes I used, and a few tips for hosting a brunch of your own!

If you’re worried that hosting an earlier meal will require you getting up insanely early and being exhausted by the time everyone’s arrived, don’t be. By keeping these tips in mind, you can host a laid-back brunch and have enough time to enjoy your guests and the food, too.

Figure out what you can prepare the night before.

My motto always is, “Life can be simpler,” and this absolutely applies to the prep work required for your brunch.

Set out the plates, platters, bowls, and silverware so it’s all ready to go in the morning. If you have kids and they’ll use the space where you’ll serve and have your guests, simply set things aside on a room close by. No more frantic, last-minute loads in the dishwasher while the food gets cold!

What to serve when hosting a brunch — Serving a mix of warm dishes and cold salads makes your life simpler.

The same goes to dishes like salads and desserts that can be prepped and be ready to serve the day of your brunch.

In my case, I served chicken and tuna salads, for example, and I had them ready to serve and then stored them overnight in the fridge.

If you’re using flowers or greenery to decorate the space or table you’ll serve the food, have the vase and arrangement ready to use the day before as well.

Prepare your flower arrangements the night before.

The goal is to have as much prepared ahead of time as possible, so on the hours before your guests arrive, all you have to do is to get things in place and make yourself pretty.

Be creative with your presentation!

Want a simple way to wow your guests and make your serving table beautiful? Mix up the serving containers.

You can buy fun disposable options that match your theme or use what you already have at home which is what I always do.

Pull out the tartlet tins for the fruit, or skewers for the donuts holes! Even the simplest fare can seem extra fancy if it’s served in a nice dish, so swap out those orange juice cartons and syrup bottles for pitchers and small ice cream bowls.

How to organize to host a brunch. — How to host a brunch!
Tips on how to organize, what to serve and a shopping list for a fabulous brunch with friends.

Since I always use the same serving platters and cake stands, another way to make my table colorful and look “fresh” is by using beautiful and colorful napkins.

I have 4 sets – one for each season – and I use them together with the dishes and a basket with the silverware to make it very easy for guests to serve themselves.

Setting a table for a brunch. — Have your dishes, silverware, and napkins ready to roll!

You can swap the silverware caddy for fun Ball jars or even tin buckets. Have fun with it!

Don’t be afraid to delegate.

Is one of your guests known for her to-die-for cinnamon rolls? Ask if she could bring some! Keeping an eye on the oven? Ask a guest to take over on coffee duty while you pull the last dish from the oven and add it to the table.

On the day of our brunch, I accepted help from a friend to walk Tuff and from another to get the dishes rinsed. It was perfect, helpful and my friends were so happy to help.

How to host a brunch — Accept help from your friends.

Choose dishes for a crowd.

Instead of choosing a dish you have to make in small batches, like eggs or pancakes, opt for something you can cook–or better, reheat–in the oven in the morning. If bacon is a must-have, pop it in the oven, too. There are tons of easy brunch dishes you could choose from, or you could keep it fresh with an easy self-serve parfait bar!

What to serve on a brunch — Select dishes that are easy to prep and serve.

If kids are invited, be sure to serve kid-friendly food or even cereal if you know they would do better with a food they’re used to.

An easy option is to prepare sandwiches and wrap them in parchment paper or a brown bag.

You can make the wrapping even prettier by using baker’s twine. I love the look!

Finally, consider your vegetarian guests by offering them options so they can have a full meal with the green salad you’ll serve.

Here’s what I prepared for a group of twenty:

Chicken curry salad
Tuna salad
Cakes and pie
Bagels
Quiches, savory
White bread, sliced
Cold cuts and cheese board
Pastries and home-baked cookies
Mixed greens salad with balsamic vinaigrette dressing
A bowl of mixed berries served with mascarpone cheese (recipe below)
- 2 large containers (Costco size) of strawberries
- 1 large container of blueberries
- 1 large container of blackberries
- 1 large container of raspberries
Mascarpone cheese cream. Here is the recipe:
- One large mascarpone cheese container
- Half of that container with heavy whipping cream and
- Half of that container with confectioner sugar.
- Mix everything gently together with a blender or a spatula. You wanted to be creamy and easy to scoop but not fluid.
- Serve it on a container next to the fruit bowl or to make it extra beautiful serve it on a clear container creating layers of mascarpone cheese and berries.
Beverages: coffee, tea, prosecco, lemonade and orange juice

Here’s the shopping list I used to get everything needed for those meals:

two large containers of chicken curry salad
two large containers of tuna salad
three small cakes of different flavors like vanilla, chocolate and fruit tart
12 bagels – plain, everything bagel, asiago cheese etc.
12 mini quiches of different flavors
one small loaf of white bread sliced
several kinds of cheese – brie, gorgonzola, and cheddar, for example
meat cuts like ham, salami, and prosciutto
olives – green, black, stuffed
salted almonds or mixed nuts
grapes
pastries like bear claws, chocolate croissant, mini scones, and home baked cookies
two large containers of mixed greens salad
two jars of vinaigrette dressing
2 large containers (think Costco size) of strawberries
1 large container of blueberries
1 large container of blackberries
1 large container of raspberries
1 large container of Mascarpone cheese
1 bottle of prosecco
1 bottle of lemonade
1 bottle of orange juice

I hope these tips help to simplify hosting a brunch! Having friends over for food and drinks is one of my favorite things, and I love keeping the morning simple and stress-free. Happy Brunching!

Tips To Perfectly Style Your Cart

By Helena Alkhas
Filed Under: Decorate, Entertain

As the weather starts to warm up and we all begin to venture out of hibernation, it’s time to start thinking about entertaining guests again. And what better way to prepare for guests than by stocking and styling a bar cart in your home?

Bar carts are so wonderful because they can be personalized to fit any decor style. They’re more than just a functional place to store your cocktail accouterments, they can really contribute to the overall design of a room and become a signature piece in your home.

If you’re putting together a bar cart for warm weather get-together read on for some tips on styling your piece perfectly!

The Essentials:

There are certain tools every bar cart should be stocked with, no matter what your drink preference is. Things like a cutting board, ice bucket and shaker are almost always must-have items. These items are also a great way to start to infuse some of your style into the design, for example, this gorgeous rustic cutting board would add plenty of character to your cart.

Next, of course, are the glasses to hold your drinks! Depending on what you’re serving you may want to put out wine glasses, beer mugs, champagne flutes, shorter tumblers, or even copper Moscow Mule mugs. Displaying a variety of different size and shape glassware will help create visual interest in your cart.

Finally, we can’t forget the actual cart itself! There really is a bar cart to match any style out there, whether you want something glam and gold, wooden or even acrylic. Personally, I would gravitate toward something simple like this piece from Wayfair so I’m able to add touches of my personal style.

The Beverages:

This one is totally up to your preference, but I’ll tell you what we would stock our bar cart with. We drink scotch, red wine and prosecco so those are all must haves. I also always try to make sure to have a good red wine on hand for hosting guests.

It’s not necessary to have every liquor under the sun available, you really only need to stock what you actually like to drink. However, if you want to please everyone in a larger party, a good list of basics to start with are vodka, gin, rum, tequila and whiskey. From there you can build off and add common mixers like juices, club soda, and bitters and garnishes like lemons and limes. Bonus tip: Display your mixers in glass carafes for a really luxurious touch. Building your liquor collection can be fun and the different colored bottles make for a great focal point when arranged on your cart.

The Fun Stuff:

Now that you’ve assembled your barware and beverage components, it’s time to add your personal touch. The online interior design service Havenly has a fun blog post on just this topic that should give you some great inspiration for styling your own bar cart.

A floral arrangement is a good way to add some height to your cart and hanging a piece of art above the cart will give your guests something to chat about while they fix their drink. You can also express your personality with fun drink accessories like cute cocktail napkins, swizzle sticks, and a tea towel draped over the cart handle.

Finally, try adding one interesting piece (I’d go for something like this patterned vase) that’s purely decor related to really tie in your bar cart-style with the rest of your room. With these last few touches of your personal style your bar cart should be perfectly stocked and ready to serve your guests!

Do you have a bar cart in your home? Planning on putting one together for the upcoming warm weather? I’d love to hear your styling ideas in the comments below!

A Case For A Simple Christmas

By Helena Alkhas
Filed Under: Christmas & New Year, Entertain, Organizing For The Holidays & Gift Guides

Keeping Christmas Simple & Enjoying It

Have you thought about celebrating a simple Christmas? What I mean is to have a holiday season without the stress, without going all out on decorations, events, and gifts.

Consider celebrating a much simpler Christmas this year. By scaling back, doing less and focusing on the on the experiences you want to enjoy this holiday, you just might find more joy this season. As an added bonus, when you keep things simple, you have a lot more time to enjoy everything this special time of the year has to offer.

What Are Your Best Christmas Memories?

Think back on Christmases past. Chances are that the ones that stand out the most were years when you didn’t have the fanciest decorations, lots of events leading up to Christmas eve and mountains of presents. Instead, if your family is anything like mine, the ones we remember are the years when we had fun and enjoyed each other.

Growing up South of the Equator, we celebrate Christmas on very warm summer days; I remember decorating large branches we picked out on walks during the day with homemade ornaments and with cotton for a “make-believe” snow with my creative aunt; enjoying the family gathering with aunts, uncles, and cousins (lots of them!) while we all anxiously waited for one of my uncles to come in dressed up as Santa. I remember a lot of family, love and so much joy but would never be able to tell you what I got for Christmas.

It’s those simple Christmases that stand out in my mind. They are some of my most treasured memories and the same holds true for the rest of my family.

How We Are Doing A Simple Christmas

Having a simple Christmas is exactly what we are doing this year. No “all out” decor, not even the large tree and ornaments, just the mantel with our stockings and a beautiful garland with lights. Our comfy red pillows and blankets are up, too. I can’t even begin to tell you how good it feels to be free to do just that.

After 2 years of intense changes and moves, I made a conscious decision to keep things simple and I’d like to invite you to join along.

If you think your family may not like your choice to simplify the holidays, you might be in for a sweet surprised.

Truth is, many times we are the ones imposing the pace around family traditions and while our children and spouses may follow along, that may not be what they’d do if given a choice. When I said over dinner that I would like to keep things simple for Christmas this year, everyone was excited about it. There was a sense of relief in the air and the boys immediately asked if we could travel for the holidays. They wanted to “do” something with us, not to “have” one more item under the tree.

It’s Just Too Much

I personally believe that because we have Thanksgiving and Christmas so close apart, it contributes to this feeling of overwhelm we all attribute to this time of the year. To prevent overwhelm from kicking in, we need to create the space we need, even if that means creating new traditions.

[clickToTweet tweet=”Prevent overwhelm from kicking in during the holidays, even if that means creating new traditions.” quote=”Say no to overwhelm this holiday season, even if that means creating new traditions.”]

So, this year we’re not buying more decorations. Instead, we’re sorting through what we have, picking the things we love and donating what doesn’t speak to us anymore. The house is less cluttered and the decorations that are up stand out. As an added bonus it’s way easier to clean the house, not to mention how it will be much quicker to store everything back when January comes around.

We are spending the month of December looking at lights, watching movies and Netflix series with lots of popcorn, meeting and hosting friends, and we decided to spend Christmas out of town where we will spend time together, enjoy the season and rest.

The gifts were simplified, too and each of us picked one good gift.

If having only one present under the tree doesn’t sound right to you, maybe you can establish the “four gift rule” where each family member receives a total of four presents. One gift will be something each of us really wants. The second one will be something we need, the third something to wear, and the fourth something to read.

I hope you give a simple Christmas a try this year and find out for yourself if you enjoy a calmer and less stressful holiday season. Tell me what you’d do differently if you were to simplify your holiday season on the comments below!

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Jolly Holiday season!

Serving Guests With Special Dietary Needs

By Helena Alkhas
Filed Under: Entertain, Meal Planning, Organizing For The Holidays & Gift Guides

A Yummy Dinner Party For Guests of All Tastes

Spending time with family and friends and sharing meals with them is for many life’s greatest pleasures. Whether you’re hosting for the first time or you’re a seasoned host, it’s possible that you might get caught off guard with guests who have food allergies, sensitivities or special dietary needs.

As a host, you need to be sensitive to your guests’ needs when it comes to food. Whether it’s their personal choice or due to medical reasons, you’ll want to make sure all your guests are happy, healthy and satisfied.

Guests with special dietary needs require you to prepare food that fits their eating habits or dietary conditions. Have a quick look at some of the more common special diets – what they mean and which foods must be avoided so you can move on confidently when planning your guests’ visit.

Vegetarians and Vegans

My sister and her family are all vegetarians and considering that one of my sons is allergic to red meat, we became quite curious about finding yummy and easy vegetarian recipes.

Vegetarians don’t eat meat or meat derived products. Most vegetarians have experience cooking for themselves so try to ask if they would like to bring food to share, or if you feel like making something special for them, ask them if they have a special request or a recipe they love. If this is uncomfortable for you, make sure you have plenty of vegetables, salads or pasta dishes.

Serving Guests With Special Dietary Needs — 1-Hour Vegan Shepherd’s Pie by minimalistbaker.com

A vegan, on the other hand, does not eat any form of meat or meat products, as well as eggs, milk products or in most cases, honey. So to be on the safe side, stock up on vegetable, fruits, and salad dishes and make meatless pasta or rice dishes! For dessert, pay attention to not use dairy products, finding substitutes for butter and cream, for example.

Serving Guests With Special Dietary Needs - Vegan Recipes — Fennel roasted with tomato sauce by dine-dash.com

Diabetics

Diabetics have to watch their sugar intake so limit the sugar content as much as possible or use sugar substitutes. Devise a healthy menu based on meals that contain plenty of vegetables, are low in saturated fat and sodium. Use small quantities of olive oil and add flavor with other ingredients, such as herbs and spices.

Serving Guests With Special Dietary Needs - Healthy Recipes — SHEET PAN BAKED PARMESAN PORK CHOPS POTATOES & ASPARAGUS by thewholesomedish.com

Lactose Intolerant

Lactose intolerance means the body cannot easily digest lactose, a type of natural sugar found in milk and dairy products. With the lactose intolerant guest, you have to steer clear of dairy products. Nowadays there are a lot of alternatives that can make your meal planning a whole lot easier. Instead of using butter, for example, use soy or almond milk and margarine.

Consult others who have served guests with special dietary needs. By considering the dietary special needs of your guests, you can still make entertaining them at home fun!

Stress-Free Meal Planning for House Guests

By Helena Alkhas
Filed Under: Entertain, Meal Planning, Organizing For The Holidays & Gift Guides

Do you love having visitors, but always worry about what to feed them? If you’re having several people over, meal planning is a must. You may not please everyone because of different tastes, but with a clear plan in mind, a grocery list, and some cooking skills, you can enjoy yourself and be a much happier host!

If your guests are staying for the weekend, for example, your best bet is to prepare fast, flavorful, easy meals and snacks and prepare as much ahead of time as possible. This not only helps you save time, but it is also be something you can replicate for future house parties!

Make a List and Check it Twice

The first thing you need to do is to prepare a detailed list of each meal you plan to cook and all necessary ingredients. Always include enough snack foods and treats to keep your guests satisfied between meals.

Check your pantry and make a checklist of menus and ingredients, how many you’ll have to feed, who will be in charge, and who will clean up.

If your guests are staying with you for a couple of days, you can include dining out options, call for delivery, or ask your guests to plan and prepare a meal or two!

One very thoughtful thing you can do is to ask your house guests if there is anything, in particular, they are craving or want you to make. Surely you will want them to anticipate meals, happy at the thought of their favorite dishes served to them! For example, my sister loves my husband’s vegetarian dishes and when visiting from Brazil, she will ask him if he could make them again.

What to Cook

You’ll want quick and easy meals so that you have time to do other things, but these meals don’t just happen, they do take some planning. When you have guests around, the last thing you want to do is to worry about what to eat next!

Grilled-meals, slow cooker dishes, and a DIY bar are three great choices for house guests. I personally LOVE grilling. I prepare a big pot of Brazilian style black beans that goes perfectly with white rice, a meat, and grilled vegetables.

Look for some awesome grilling recipes, slow cooker recipes and for your DIY bar – just choose your guests’ favorite – a salad bar, sandwich bar or taco bar!

Shop Early, Chop Early

With a checklist of ingredients, hit the grocery store days early. Maybe you can purchase food gradually over two to three shopping trips, to help spread the cost. Doing this will also give you ample time to go back for forgotten ingredients. Once you finish your grocery shopping, get your prepping, chopping and sealing of ingredients done.

When you do this in advance, you’ll have more time on your hands to spend with your beloved guests!

Organization Tips to Prepare Your Home For Your Puppy

By Helena Alkhas
Filed Under: Entertain, Pets

Getting Your Home Organized For a New Dog

Organization tips to prepare your home and family for a new dog. — My youngest son coming home with our puppy.

If you’ve never had a dog before you may not know just how much preparation is involved in bringing your new furry family member home. Truth is, most pets come with a great deal of maintenance. This is especially true for dogs. They need toys, food, brushes, nail clippers, a bed and a host of other supplies to keep them happy and healthy.

When we got Tuff, our Yorkie, I was surprised by all the steps that were needed to have him safely and comfortably in his new home.

Dogs also require a lot of attention and exercise. Keeping up with your pampered pooch’s needs can become quite demanding, especially if you work from home.

Fortunately, taking just a few steps to organize things in advance can ensure a more pleasurable experience for both you and your pet. Follow these organization tips to prepare your home for a dog. Then sit back and enjoy bonding with your new buddy.

Follow these organization tips to prepare your home for a dog. Then sit back and enjoy bonding with your new buddy.

Give Your Pup Some Space

One of the first things you’ll want to do is set aside some space that is just for your pet’s belongings.

Here at home, Tuff has a wire basket that holds all his toys, and a dedicated kitchen cabinet for his food, treats, and medications.

Photo by John Bynum Custom Homes, Inc. – Look for staircase pictures

Taking this step will help you to remember where you put things like Fido’s monthly flea treatment. It will also lessen the likelihood of your doggie’s things overtaking the rest of your home.

Plus, your dog will probably just enjoy having a place to go when a nap is in order.

Set Up a Spot for Dining

While most of your dog’s items can be kept in one room or space, you’ll probably want to set up a separate area in your kitchen or mudroom for feeding supplies. This keeps the food mess to a minimum and allows you to easily wipe up spills.

Photo by Jenkins Custom Homes – More laundry room ideas

There are some things you can buy in order to assist in containing any messes related to food, treats or water. Dishes that come with a base to contain them are always helpful. These can lessen the chances of bowls being upset or spills happen.

For some reason, some dogs, like Tuff, won’t eat out of a bowl. The solution for us was to give him a small cutting board and place his food on it. This has worked great for us as it’s easy to wash and store when not in use.

Photo by – Look for kitchen design inspiration

Mats are incredibly helpful for placing beneath bowls to catch splashes or crumbs.

Store food in airtight bins to keep them fresh and neat.

Contain Toy Chaos

Those toys! Playing with your dog can be so much fun. It’s great to see the excitement on their faces when tug and chase. Before you know it, however, you could find you have more toys than you know what to do with.

Photo by VanBrouck & Associates, Inc. – Search entryway pictures

There are a lot of considerations when it comes to toy containment. Taking your lifestyle and your pet’s preferences into account can help you decide on a system that works for everyone.

If you do work from home, you may not wish to jump up and down every time your dear doggie wants to play with a new toy. Therefore, it can help to find storage bins with open tops that allow your pup to retrieve his or her own choice of play thing.

A clear storage box with the lid removed or a sturdy basket might do the trick. Just be sure it’s not too deep for your pet to reach the bottom comfortably. You don’t want your pooch to get stuck or hurt.

Create a Sleeping Station

Dogs like snug spaces. The closeness helps them to feel safe. That’s why a built-in is a great way to offer your pet a comfy bed while keeping your other surfaces clean.

Photo by Portico Design Group – Search kitchen pictures

When Fido has a place to go that’s all his, he’ll be less inclined to jump up on your hard-to-clean couch. If you don’t have the room or resources to build a nook, picking up a cozy dog bed will do.

Photo by Barnes of Ashburton Ltd – More kitchen ideas

This may even be a preferable solution for those who work at home or need to get stuff done. Pups love to be near their people.

Moving the bed to whichever room you’re in at the time can help to ensure your dog is comfortable and that you’re able to focus on the task at hand, rather than trying to manage an agitated pet.

Organizing tips to bring a new dog home. — Tuff sleeps on my desk as I work.

Getting your home organized for a dog involves just a few easy steps. Taking these proactive measures will help to make sure everyone is happy and that chaos remains at a minimum.