The Spirit of Holiday Entertaining

Published on November 26, 2017April 27, 2019 by Gerri2 Comments

With the holiday season upon us, many are planning special celebrations with family and friends. Opening your home to share with others is one of the great joys of the season. However, with so much to do this time of year, sometimes big celebrations can create stress.

When planning your holiday party, it’s important to minimize the stress so that you can truly enjoy your guest. You don’t want to run yourself ragged and feel frantic rather than fantastic! When hosting a holiday celebrations, your spirit will set the mood for a successful celebration.

With these thoughts in mind, today I am sharing ideas that I like to keep in mind when I open my home to share with my family and friends. My hope is that these thoughts will allow you to approach your holiday entertaining with joy and avoid some of the stress that can be overwhelming this time of year.

Let Go of Perfection – Setting yourself up for perfection will do nothing but create anxiety and stress. Instead of worrying about creating the “perfect party”, concentrate on the comfort of your guest. When you put the focus on doing for others, you think less about yourself. Nothing is more welcoming than a hostess who really cares about the comfort of her guest.
Set Your Priorities – Remember often less is more. Plan for what you know you can handle with grace and ease. Stick with what you know and are comfortable with. No need to have a multi-course meal. Plan a few amazing appetizers instead. Serving buffet style is simpler than a sit down affair. Keep it casual and fun!
Make a list and check it twice! – Planning is a key ingredient to successful entertaining. Begin planning your party preparations as soon as possible. Try making a manageable daily schedule assigning yourself a small task for each day. Begin with decorations and nonperishable items that are easy to stock and purchase in advance. Order items on-line whenever possible to save time. Shop for grocery items a few days in advance and plan to prepare a few items the night before. Even better, prepare a few dished you can freeze in advance.
Delegate Whenever Possible – Don’t feel like you have to do every little thing on your own. Enlist a good friend or your spouse to help. Consider ordering desserts from a bakery or appetizers from your grocer. Do not feel like you have to prepare all food items from scratch!
Plan a Beverage Station – Consider serving a premixed beverage for your guest like a Sangria or Champagne Punch. Have these drinks in containers in the frig and ready to go. Set out glasses and and ice bucket in a convenient location and have guest serve themselves.
Be Ready! – Prepare the table and all the decorations the night before. You can even do fresh flower arrangements a day or two in advance. Nothing says “Welcome to my home” like having simple fresh flowers and candles burning filling your home with delightful aromas.
Make a time schedule – The day of the party, make a time schedule for whatever tasks need to be completed. Make sure in your schedule you allow yourself some time to relax and refresh!
Relax and Enjoy! – Greet your guest with a smile and a hug! Remember to put the focus on their comfort and enjoy!

True hospitality consists of giving the best of

yourself to your guest.

– Eleanor Roosevelt

Wishing you all great joy this holiday season! – xxoo Gerri

Impromptu Game Day Fun

Published on October 12, 2017April 27, 2019 by Gerri2 Comments

Between baseball playoffs and football season, October offers the perfect time to bring family and friends together for some easy entertaining. Even if you are not a huge sports fan, it’s fun to get together with friends and share in the excitement to support your home team.

Of course the main event will be “the game”, so you will want to keep the menu simple and easy. Choose food and snacks that can be prepared without too much effort. To keep it super easy, you can rely on some no cook items such as chicken wings with chips and salsa. These favorite snacks can be purchased ready made from the store and you are simply “plating” the items. It can’t get much simpler than that!

If you would like to add a little more pizzazz to the menu, stick with some favorite recipes that are tried and true. I usually rely on baked beans that can be prepared early and kept warm in the slow cooker. I also have an easy coleslaw recipe that I have refined over time and can practically prepare in my sleep.

Always try to do as much preparation as you can before your guest arrive. Once your friends begin to arrive, you want to be free to visit, relax and even watch the game.

No fancy china is needed for this casual gathering. I use some colorful melamine plates, bright colored napkins, and plastic cutlery all stored in a tray caddy for easy serving.

Remember. the idea is to bring together friends and family for an enjoyable fun-filled, easy and relaxed day. Save the all day cooking for another time.

“Simplicity is the ultimate form of sophistication.”

– Leonardo de Vinci

Find Gratitude – Find Joy

Published on August 20, 2017April 27, 2019 by Gerri2 Comments

Gratitude – the quality of being thankful, showing appreciation and returning kindness.

Today, I was reminded of gratitude. I have to admit, I have been slouching around, complaining about the August heat and allowing myself to wallow in my discontent. Not a good place to be.

But today, I was reminded that I can choose joy!

It was just a simple article on my morning news feed. The article focused on a woman who had tragically and unexpectedly lost her husband. But the heart of the article was remembering gratitude in an overwhelming situation. It made me feel so silly and selfish for allowing myself to wallow, when truly I am so fortunate.

Then later this morning, I found out that a very dear friend of mine was in a terrible car accident. Her car was T-boned and the jaws of life were brought out to remove her from her vehicle. I have to say she is fine, just very shaken up and a bit sore. But what a frightening event to go through. Thank goodness for seat belts and airbags!

Some how, knowing how frightening this experience was for her put everything into perspective. I remembered the importance of the simple everyday things that usually bring me so much joy, my loving family, the joys of nature, and a faith that sustains me through all the adversities of life.

It’s easy to get stuck in a rut. However, if you remember gratitude each day, it helps to keep you from falling into that rut. Gratitude can also pull you up when you are in such a rut.

Finding ways to cultivate gratitude in our lives can increase our happiness and joy. Simply stopping to think about things we are grateful for increases an attitude of gratitude. Taking the time to acknowledge simple pleasures and express thankfulness for your blessings can increase your joy and zest for life.

To cultivate an attitude of gratitude, here are some things I try to remember to help me through my day.

Morning reflection – this quiet time really helps to get my day off to the right start
Showing kindness – offering assistance, a kind word or smile, a helping hand to someone in need can mean so much to others.
Say thank you to show your appreciation – those simple words can mean so much, but so often we forget to say them.
Share what you have with others – tip that waitress that was so kind an extra dollar – drop off some groceries at a local shelter – When we share what we have, it not only helps others, it makes us feel better about life in general.
Keep a gratitude journal – make a list of things you are thankful for – or better yet, write 3 things everyday that you are thankful for – start off small – but as you continue, you will be amazed at how your gratitude will grow.
Be a good listener – sometimes someone just needs their thoughts to be heard – You have know idea what a difference you might make to someone by simply really listening to their story.

So there you have it. If you have actually read the words in this article, that shows that you truly care and want to make a difference. Go out into the world and make that difference. In our world where there is so much hate, be a product of love. I believe in you!

Gratitude unlocks the fullness in life.

Blessings to you and yours always – xxoo Gerri

Finding Everyday Joy

Published on August 6, 2017April 27, 2019 by Gerri3 Comments

Finding joy in the simple things is my quest. I seek simplicity, peace and serenity. I strive to make my days and my surroundings as quiet and peaceful as I possibly can. I have made a purposeful decision to avoid stress and chaos in my life and I structure my days for calm and quiet.

I realize this may not be completely possible. I know that life can be stressful and there are certain times when stress and chaos are hard to avoid. However, I am making a purposeful choice to turn away from stress and chaos and fill my days with calm and quiet.

This has been a long term goal of mine, however, as with many goals, often we fall short of what we have planned. Life gets busy, overwhelming, with stressful jobs, raising families, and seemingly endless to do lists of things we believe must be accomplished each day. It’s easy to get caught up in the everyday stresses of life. Sometimes so caught up that we become weary, physically exhausted and emotionally drained.

Finding everyday joy involves finding simple pleasures in ordinary moments. Finding joy each day involves taking a moment to enjoy small, simple pleasures.

I know that I cannot completely avoid stress and busyness in my life. I know would be unrealistic. But there are things that I can do to bring a stressful day back to calm.

Here are some tips that I follow when I feel my peace and calm is turning into hectic and crazy.

Start each day with quiet. I know this can be difficult, but I try to carve a few minutes of quiet into the beginning of my day for meditation, reflection, prayer. It truly gets my day started on the right foot.

Flowers, candles, music. I love for my home to be filled with fresh flowers, the smell of scented candles, and spa music or jazz playing softly in the background. These things can instantly take the hectic out of my day and bring me back to calm and joy.

Spending time in nature. A part of everyday for me includes a walk outdoors and some time in the garden soaking up some Vitamin D and enjoying the nature that’s around me. The simple quiet of a gentle breeze and chirping birds can relieve stress from my day.

Being Creative. Writing, drawing, painting, photography, arranging flowers…..anything that allows me to simply escape and forge my own way brings me relaxation, calm and rejuvenates my spirit.

Keeping things simple. I try not to let to much clutter into my life. This includes physical and mental clutter. Stuff that takes up space in my home and stuff that takes up space in my brain. If I don’t need it it in my life, I let it go.

Find the simple moments in your day and you will find joy. xxoo Gerri

Celebrate Life!

Published on July 25, 2017April 27, 2019 by Gerri3 Comments

In our family we do celebrations. We celebrate all occasions, the big and the small.

We celebrate weddings and graduations. We welcome a new life with great joy and yes, celebration. We all come together, crowding into the hospital room, to share the new parents joy and to welcome the precious new life our family has been blessed with.

We celebrate birthdays, no matter how young or how old.

We gather in our home. Sometimes it’s just family. Sometimes we include close friends. We share a meal together, setting the table with great care, including flowers, candles, whatever it takes to make the event feel special. The menu is planned with great care to include the personal favorites of whoever is attending. Of course, there is a special desert and presents.

The goal of the celebration is for those involved to know how much they are loved and treasured as a part of our family. Life wouldn’t be the same if we couldn’t come together and honor them on their special day.

Not only do we celebrate birthdays. We celebrate preschool programs, dance recitals, sporting events.

We plan ways to make our time together fun, special, memorable. On hot days we have watermelon, blow bubbles, fill up a kids pool to splash in.

On cold days we light a fire, make hot chocolate, bring out the pillows and blankets so we can all snuggle together.

Our celebrations do not have to be elaborate and expensive. They can be small, simple, filled with things that are easily attainable. We use our ingenuity as a resource to create an atmosphere of festivity, saving our pennies when needed.

Sometimes we celebrate for no reason at all, just to enjoy our time together.

The importance of our celebrations is to spend time together in a way that is filled with love and laughter, sharing and caring.

It’s important that we spend as much time celebrating life as possible. Celebrations enrich our lives, give us purpose, and strengthen relationships. Celebrations take an ordinary day and fill it with joy and love.

Choose Joy This Christmas!

Published on December 14, 2016April 27, 2019 by Gerri3 Comments

Busy, busy, busy! That is my life this time of year and I’m sure your life is super busy too! It is so easy to get stressed out this time of year when there are so many things to do. Shopping, decorating, wrapping presents ….. the list seems endless at times. This is supposed to be the most joyous time of year. Unfortunately, many of us get bogged down by our “to do” list and forget about the joy.

If you are feeling this way, take a moment or two to breathe. Go and grab a hot mug of tea or your favorite drink, and take a load off for a bit. I promise, the most important things will all get done. As for all the other things….let them go.

Here are a few things I do to keep the stress down and fill my life with joy!

Don’t Forget Gratitude Instead of fretting over that endless to do list, be thankful for the things you do have. Remember those less fortunate who would love to be shopping, wrapping gifts, and decorating a home. Above all, be thankful that you have a home.

Make a list, check it twice! List ten things you need to accomplish. The first item should be the most important thing on your long to do list. That specific need that must be accomplished today. The least important item will be last. As your making you list, think about what really needs to be done, and what could be put off for a day or two. Then get busy and tackle those first items on the list. If you can’t finish everything, it’s okay. Get a good nights sleep and start again tomorrow. This way your most important priorities will get taken care of. If something doesn’t get finished, well … maybe it wasn’t that important after all.

Take care of yourself. Speaking of a good nights sleep, don’t forget to get plenty of rest and to make healthy dining choices! You need to get enough rest and plenty of healthy nutritious food to feel your best. Try packing carrots and hummus for a quick nutritious snack. If you are dining on the run, try a salad with your meal rather that french fries. Your body will be ever so grateful!

Drink plenty of water. If you enjoy an occasional adult beverage, this is not the time to overdo! You cannot afford a headache in the morning! Pace yourself and remember to drink water in between each drink. Coffee can also be an evil culprit. I love my morning coffee, but I can no longer can drink caffeine after noon or I will have trouble sleeping at night. Try water with a little lemon. It will be so refreshing!

Choose Joy! Your friends and family would prefer to have the gift of your presence rather than one more present! Be there for them with your mind and your spirit. Reach out to others and share your heart. You will find that when you truly put others first, your joy will return.

Joy is not in things,

it is … in us.♥

I hope you all will slow down a bit and find some joy

this holiday season! xxoo Gerri

Summer Patio Escape!

Published on June 29, 2016June 30, 2021 by GerriLeave a comment

Summer’s warmer temperatures and longer days offer the perfect invitation to escape life’s frantic pace in the sanctuary of a backyard oasis. This is a place to relax in complete privacy away from the hustle and bustle of vacation crowds and enjoy the company of treasured family and friends. It is peaceful and serene, an ideal spot to escape a too busy world with a cool drink in hand.

Our backyard entertainment includes watching the birds and squirrels play as the tall pines gently sway in the warm, summer breeze. There are hummingbirds that chase each other from feeder to hibiscus and then off and away. Of course, there is always Bear (our dog) and Heisenberg (our cat) chasing each other around the yard adding a comical element.

Our backyard sanctuary is a favorite place for summer entertaining. Focusing on simplicity, this is the perfect spot for relaxed summer entertaining with family and friends. Here are my tips for creating a simple, summer barbeque.

Be ready for those uninvited guests – bugs! Where I live, it’s a good idea to fog to minimize mosquito attacks. It’s also effective to have some bug wipes on hand to offer guests as needed. Citronella candles are another way of keeping those pesky insects away. Try displaying them in colorful lanterns for a festive feeling.

Make it easy on yourself by making preparations ahead of time. Summer buffets are excellent, but for a small group, I usually have the table set and ready to go.
Keep the food simple and light. I prefer salads I can prepare ahead of time. This leaves me plenty of time to visit with my guests when they arrive. Vegetable or fruit trays are another easy option for carefree entertaining.
Fire up the grill. My husband is a mean grill master and serves up great summer barbeque menu. Whether you choose chicken, steaks, or your basic hamburger, it’s bound to taste great when you cook it on the grill!
Relax and enjoy! Keep it simple! It’s all about spending a special time with family and friends!