Entertaining Archive

NOBLE UNIVERSITY | Entertaining
February 2009

We are fortunate in Lexington to be footsteps from one of the most beautiful Great Lakes. We take it for granted, but those that visit are in awe of the sight. If you have a home, cottage, or parcel of property that you camp on, one thing for certain is you will have company and a lot of it.

Before the season warms and all of the activities go into full swing, utilize the “slower” time of the year to prepare and plan. Here are a few tips and hints that will make your entertaining plans much easier for 2009.

1) Review your 2009 calendar, highlighting special Lexington events such as Music in the Park Concerts, Fireworks at the Harbor, the Bach Festival and the Tree Lighting. Follow-up by marking birthdays, weddings, graduations and other events that are noteworthy so that you know what days or weekends are available or not available for company.

2) Contact friends and family early to schedule get together dates. While it may seem too far in advance to do so, time slips by and schedules get filled. Planning early will eliminate a lot of stress that comes with last minute arrangements.

3) Research recipes and try them out prior to the summer rush. Make note of the ones that are easy to prepare, can be made ahead of time and look impressive. When your summer entertaining begins, food options will be one thing you won’t have to fret over. When entertaining friends and family, don’t be afraid to involve them in the preparation of meals. If everyone takes on a task such as preparing a salad, grilling the burgers, making cupcakes or squeezing lemons for lemonade, your time for visiting will rather than working will increase.

4) Give the guest room(s) a face lift. The walls might need a new coat of paint or new curtains are in order. Even if everything is perfect, flip the mattress, rewash the linens and keep some linen spray on hand to freshen up the bedding just before the company arrives. Place some newer magazines next to the bed and have the vase ready to accept some flowers plucked from the garden.

5) When the weather breaks, clean the grill, give the patio furniture a wash down or a fresh coat of paint and stock up on paper plates and napkins. Much of your entertaining will take place outdoors where spills don’t matter and nature provides the best backdrop.

6) Think of rainy day activities. Weather forecasts change daily and in Lexington they change by the hour. Board games, movies and crafts are just some essentials to have when children come to visit. Even adults enjoy a good game of monopoly if the weather isn’t right for the beach.

7) Guests visiting for one day are never an issue, but planned visits over several days can often cause nerves to go haywire. Remember, you like alone time occasionally and so do your guests. Allow them to go off on there own from time to time.

8) Give yourself ample time between company to restock groceries, clean the house and wash the sheets. Back to back company can be exhausting and make you wish everyone would just go home. Being rested and relaxed before your company arrives makes you a more pleasant host.

9) Be gracious, but don’t over do it. A lot of people would like to be entertained by Martha Stewart for the weekend, but most would fear having to return the favor. Make your guests feel at home but not intimidated.

10) Buy a journal and use it to record all of your get togethers. Jot down your guests favorite foods, what activities you did and what they suggested they would like to do the next time they come for a stay. Not only does this journal keeping make future planning easier, it also is a great way to remember the great times that were had by all.