Hosting – Getting Over Perfection
Things Don’t Have to Perfect for Everyone to Have a great time. Check out these tips and insights for creating a great gathering without the stress.
Hosting Getting Over Perfection – The rush of stress and adrenaline I feel when guests are about to come through that front door. It happens almost every time. I start hollering orders. Rushing from one room to another. Wiping counters down again for the 1500th time. Making sure there are plates and silverware spread out. Wiping down the bathroom mirror. Somehow it has spit on it EVERY SINGLE TIME. Who spits as the mirror in this house anyway? I really need to install a hidden camera to figure this one out!
When was the last time you had some guests over? Did you feel any of those things I did? Whew. It can be so hectic and stressful. Trying to have everything just perfect. Aiming to please and pull off a picture perfect Kodak moment.
But here’s where I am. I am so OVER perfect. I’m kicking the Perfection Factor to the curb once and for all. Nothing will ever be perfect. As much as I plan, stress, bake and tidy… it won’t be perfect. There most likely will be towels haphazardly thrown on the bathroom floor (at least in our house). And trust me, it’s embarrassed me a time or two. Very likely there will dust bunnies in the foyer or a depleted supply of napkins.
Here’s what I can count on too. There will be enough food, plenty of laughs and a pocket full of memories before the evening is over. And that’s what I will remember and so will they.
I personally don’t go to a friend’s houses and look for dirt. Or wonder how in the world they could have possibly forgot to wipe down the counter. Or notice if there’s no dessert. O.K. Maybe that one wouldn’t slide since I eat dessert a lot. I mean, I’m like the dessert queen.
But surely I can’t be alone in this. I’m sure you don’t get looking for what’s missing either. We love our friends and our neighbors. We’re not looking for what’s wrong.
It’s this stress and grief I put on myself. And why would I do that in exchange for peace and enjoyment? I have no idea. See, I told you. I am SO over being perfect.
Remember that saying that goes something like this? “What they don’t know can’t hurt them.” Well it’s totally safe to apply it when it comes to hosting. If you planned to make 2 desserts but only got around to making 1, who’s going to know?
If you planned on hanging some cool lanterns, potting flowers for the table and replacing the hand towel in the bathroom but ran out of time. Who’s going to know? Am I right? Give yourself grace. Breathe. And tell yourself everything will be okay. Got it? Not yet? Repeat.
I host monthly girl’s nights at my place along with other gatherings and I’ve come to peace with things not always being just right.
I’ve grown to enjoy this time deeply with my friends and I see how they enjoy it to. It doesn’t have to involve 2 months of planning and $500 to re-create an amazing party idea I found on Pinterest. It doesn’t need to have a first course, main course, salad, side dishes and an entire buffet of desserts. It just needs love, friendship and just a bit of planning.
TIPS for KISS: Keep. It. Simple. Silly. ( I love my version 🙂 )
As matter of fact, I need to confess sometimes I have this whole thing ready to go in less than 45 minutes.
- Don’t go overboard. Only having 6-8 guests? You’ll just need one main course, one dessert and how about 1 side salad or one crusty loaf of bread.
- Plan ahead. Do you work full-time? Having dinner guests on a Thursday at 6 pm isn’t going to allow much time. Why not make a casserole or pasta dish the weekend before and freeze it? Grab a dessert at the local bakery or just pick up some ice cream and toppings.
- Save time with the slow cooker. There are a ton of great recipes to make in the crock pot to serve a crowd. What about pulled pork or some simple chili?
- Host an after dinner party. Still feeling stressed. Just invite your guests for desserts or an appetizer party. I adore appetizer parties. Gimme me all the dips!
- Serve family or buffet style. Easy enough for everyone to get up and serve themselves. They won’t mind and you’ll save yourself the stress. You don’t even have to set a table. Win-win.
Til we meet and eat again,
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