On Friday evenings I like to host little events, dinners, or get together’s for my friends and family. That means on Thursday I have the task of planning, shopping and getting everything organized. To some this task would seem more like a chore, but for a girl who grew up reading my mom’s Martha Stewart and Southern Living Magazines and dreamed of hosting grand parties, this brings me so much happiness.
I like thinking about each of the people who will be invited and what will be most appealing to them, not only food wise but the games or whatever other events we plan into the night. I love looking through cookbooks and Pinterest to get inspiration for the menu.
And a big part of my love for hosting parties and get-togethers stems from my love to decorate for those events. I love finding cool items like bowls or plates or napkins or trying (and failing), to write place cards in calligraphy. Looking for menu items or decor items that specifically interest my guests brings me happiness because I can see that they appreciate the thought that went into it. For instance, my sister is an artist, so this artist-themed cheese platter worked great as a conversation piece, as a way to table the different cheeses, (cheddar is purple, bleu is blue), and it was a sweet gift that I could send her home with.
Seeing other people happy is so infectious that it’s difficult not to be happy yourself. And I love knowing that I had a little hand in making them happy!!!
Head to Elm & Iron’s Instagram page to see which item from this post is up for grabs today!
XOXO – Em
| Anthropologie sweater | Citizens of Humanity jeans | boots | hat | all other items in this post can be found at Elm & Iron.
Photos by Emma Parker Photography