• How to host a party

    ByKristin hospitality
    Hospitality makes others feel at home when it happens in the midst of real life. - Kristin Hill Taylor, Bringing Home More Than Groceries #morethangroceries

    Ah, sweet summertime, aka, my favorite time to host get-togethers! Yes, it’s a little humid in Kentucky, but I love gathering on my covered porch next to the pool with friends anyway. We started out the summer hosting a family reunion at our vacation rentals at Kentucky Lake. Then we dove into hosting some middle school boys, some high school girls, and some of my friends. I’ve always wanted our house to be where people of all ages gather, so mission accomplished. 

    I think about hosting the best get-together as helping others make memories. There are many elements that come into play when hosting a party, regardless of whether it is a casual gathering or something more formal – and, if you’re like me, casual parties are the way to go!

    And now the summer is rolling around, more people will be hosting soirees and getting their nearest and dearest together for some good old-fashioned fun. Here’s how to make your new party go with a bang and ensure everyone has the best time. 

    Relax

    You can drive yourself crazy, running around in circles trying to please everyone. Even the date you choose won’t work for everyone, and that’s okay! Plus I’ve learned nobody really cares if your house is completely spotless. Yes, I tidy up, but I don’t aim for perfection with the floors, windows, and countertops anymore. Like anything in life, there are bound to be interruptions and unexpected moments, regardless of how well everything is planned. 

    Food & drinks

    A good party needs food and drinks. Of course, you can provide everything or plan a potluck where others contribute to the menu. I do both kinds of parties regularly and appreciate both ways. I do keep our extra fridge in the laundry room stocked with drinks, and regulars at my house know they can help themselves to a Coca-Cola, Dr Pepper Zero, Capri Sun, or bottled water. 

    Whether you’re hosting a BBQ or taco bar, try this taco dip recipe that everyone will love as a side dish. I’ve become known for “cowboy caviar,” French toast bake, chicken spaghetti, and jalapeno ranch dip – all of which come from recipes I’ve gathered from other places! 

    Seating 

    Because I usually have informal parties, kids have been known to eat their dinner on the trampoline or beside the pool. I did recently buy some additional chairs from Lowe’s to accommodate more people on our porch. Inside, we have a big dining room table, another table for six in the kitchen, and four bar stools to go at our kitchen counter. Options! Of course, there are some lounge chairs by the pool as well as two tables and lots of chairs on our porch. 

    Pest repellant

    One of the most frustrating things about hosting outdoor parties is that they attract all manner of pests. You don’t want pests, from ants to flies, mosquitoes, and more, on your guest list. We brought out some bug spray the other night because a couple of our guests were getting bitten by mosquitoes. Nobody wants that. I need to break out the citronella candles next time too. Of course, we depend on our cats to deter other pests! 

    Conclusion

    Parties are supposed to be fun for the host and all the guests, and focusing on bringing joy to your gathering can serve you better than concentrating on the small details and overthinking what is going on. Ensure everyone has something to eat, drink, and somewhere to be comfortable – and everything will work out.

    *****

    I write more about hospitality in my book, “Bringing Home More Than Groceries: Stories About Gathering & Nourishing People.” (Learn more about that here.)

  • The Power of Soup It Forward

    ByKristin community, hospitality

    Circumstances have been like twisty roads around here lately. Twisty roads have blind curves and surprises and aren’t always efficient. Yep, that’s how I feel like my life has been lately. 

    In a phone call earlier this week that connected me to my life-long friend Katie, I listed sickness and schedules and some of the surprises. I told her it all felt like a lot. She told me life felt that way because it was a lot. I wasn’t whining or complaining, just naming the truth of this season. It’ll pass. Twisty roads will become straight, winter will become spring, and the calendar will offer more white space – eventually.

    I also told Katie a story because it’s one of those sweet surprises that deserves to be documented. I told her I wanted to write it down, so that’s what I’m doing. 

    Toward the end of February, I confided in some friends about my actual life. My friend Lauren responded by saying she wanted to make dinner for my family. I texted her back: “I will accept any food! Thank you!” I was truly so appreciative she offered. 

    And then I forgot. 

    I remembered a week later, as soon as she walked toward in the church parking last Thursday morning holding a Crock Pot of soup. I was surprised and appreciative all over again. 

    See, Lauren knew my life felt like a lot. She knew there had been sickness, my mother-in-law with some minor health problems living with us while she awaits clearance to drive again, and mental exhaustion from parenting three kids in three different seasons with three different personalities. She knows the twists and turns in life can be a lot to handle.

    Lauren couldn’t really straighten out my circumstances, but she could feed me and give me one less thing to think about. And what perfect timing it was! I made an impromptu trip to the walk-in medical clinic that evening because my youngest girl who had recently finished a round of amoxicillin still had achy ears. 

    While driving home that evening I heard on the radio Thursday, March 3 was National Soup It Forward Day! Y’all, I couldn’t make that up, and I couldn’t text Lauren quick enough. Neither of us had any idea, but God knew that day I needed to be fed by a friend. I am so thankful Lauren unknowingly participated in National Soup It Forward Day, offering a welcomed pitstop on the twisty road of life. The creamy Mexican chicken soup was delicious and it filled my stomach, nourished my soul, and served my family. 

    *****

    This is a new story from my actual life, but it’s the kind of story that’s in my book, “Bringing Home More Than Groceries: Stories of Gathering & Nourishing People.” Learn more here or buy it on Amazon. 

  • Hospitality celebrates

    ByKristin books, hospitality
    The beauty of real-life hospitality: Everyone leaves whenever you are full in every way. - Kristin Hill Taylor, Bringing Home More Than Groceries #morethangroceries

    In honor of my birthday and birthday season around my house, I wanted to share an excerpt from my book “Bringing Home More Than Groceries: Stories About Gathering & Nourishing People.” It’s actually an excerpt from one chapter, so if you’d like to read the whole chapter on how hospitality celebrates, you can! DOWNLOAD IT HERE. 

    Last year, we missed celebrating birthdays like we usually do, so this year we’ve been celebrating all the birthdays and love doing so! Three of the five of us have birthdays within two weeks from the end of April to the beginning of May. Pretend you’re joining us on our porch for one of the recent birthday parties, and let’s celebrate together.

    *****

    I grocery shopped on my 37th birthday. It was a Tuesday in the middle of a busy season for our family. Cate was finishing third grade and Ben had made it to the end of kindergarten. We’d all survived and maybe even thrived as we added a new person to our family about a month after Ben started kindergarten. We had a new groove as a family of five. 

    The week ahead held birthday party preparations for my girl turning nine, end-of-the-school extras like class parties and Teacher Appreciation Week, and some of my own celebrating, of course. I had a really long list: ingredients to make chicken enchiladas for the teachers for Teacher Appreciation Week and then double for my own family, gifts cards for presents, diapers in a bigger size because Rachel was growing before my eyes, baby formula, toppings for the pancake bar Cate wanted for her Pippi Longstocking-themed birthday party, and, well, food for meals and snacks.

    Food might be my love language. I used to think it was gift giving. And then quality time started to matter more. I still really love and feel loved knowing someone thought of me, took the time to get me something, and made plans with me.

    But food.

    Greg brought me a cinnamon roll from a local bakery that morning for my 37th birthday. My best friend planned dinner with some of my other friends later in the week so we could celebrate together. Even when it’s not my birthday, I like to lunch with my friends. I plan gatherings with adoptive moms around a table at a local restaurant that also has a ball pit. Among favorite blessings as a new mom were when friends showed up with meals, so that’s what I do for other new moms. 

    I’m telling you, food may be my love language. And birthdays.

    Of course, there’s something sacred about sharing meals and our real lives around a table. So sacred that after God made covenants with people, they ate. Jesus calls Himself the bread of life (John 6:35) and multiplies fishes (Matthew 14:13-21) so people know what it’s like to feel full beyond their stomachs. We eat at weddings and birthday parties. We bring food after funerals and births.

    Most importantly, we celebrate Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross with Holy Communion. Our church does this weekly, but I know frequency varies from church to church. Christ followers know this simple, traditional meal is life changing. We remember Jesus gathering with His disciples for one last supper. We remember Jesus knowing His time on earth was ending and displaying faithfulness to His Father’s plan. We remember His acts of dying and rising again and how that changes our futures forever. Communion is truth fulfilled.

    ***** 

    I have other hospitality-related goodies such as another excerpt, a printable on how to open your home and life in every season, and a playlist for you on the “Bringing Home More Than Groceries” page. Of course, you can buy the whole book at Amazon too!