When we lived in Colorado we entertained all the time. It’s not something that necessarily comes naturally to me, but the more I did it the more I grew to really love doing it and the easier it got.
One of the best types of entertaining (if you ask me) is to serve hot coffee, tea or hot chocolate and a small smattering of cookies and/or snacks. I like doing this because most everyone likes coffee/tea/hot chocolate and it lends itself to being able to really hunker down and get to know one another. Food – and y’all know I love food – can make things a little more difficult at times since personal preferences and needs can be all over the board (think gluten-free, paleo, low-fat, vegetarian, vegan, etc), but drinks are very easy to personalize quickly.
Plus, let’s face it, drinking coffee gives everyone a buzz and you can hang out for hours chatting. What better way to get to know someone, right?
Since we’ve moved we haven’t really had anyone over yet, but that’s going to quickly change. And you know what? I’m still going to stick with the things that I learned back in Colorado:
1. Do your best to know your guests. One of my girlfriends doesn’t like coffee or tea, so if I had ever assumed that she did it would have meant a big glass of water for her while everyone else drank the good stuff. Also, make sure you have a good machine to prepare your coffee and/or tea. I love the Breville YouBrew for coffee since it’s so easy to customize the amount of coffee needed!
2. Be prepared. I feel like a boy scout saying that our something, but it’s always good to have a back-up ready for coffee. Maybe it means having iced coffee available in case anyone wants that, but more specifically it’s good to have a pitcher of water and pre-measured ground coffee ready to go in case you need to brew a fresh batch. The YouBrew by Breville is perfect for
3. Have the typical accoutrements. Cream, sugar, sweeteners, honey, sugar, napkins and spoons for stirring are a good start. It’s better to be over-prepared! Snacks are also a good thing – I usually go with one small sweet thing (cookies) and one small savory thing (cheese & crackers) to meet everyone’s palate.
4. Be OK with cleaning. If there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s that stuff happens – people spill (ahem, me), make messes (me again) and things break (goodness…me!). Be OK with cleaning up after those things graciously and get back to the party!
5. Have fun! It’s so SO easy to get caught up in hostess mode, but your friends and family are there to see you and spend time with you. So what if there are dishes that need to be done? So what if your outfit isn’t Vogue-ready? Spend time with the people you love drinking some fabulous coffee and making memories!
Breville has released new, time saving products such as the YouBrew, just in time for the holidays! Create your perfect cup or pot of coffee instantly and easily with the Breville YouBrew. Check out their website for more information on this product and other great gift ideas.
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This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Breville. The opinions and text are all mine. Official Sweepstakes Rules
These are some good tips. I love to entertain, but often made things too complicated. I like this laid back, but thoughtful approach to entertaining. Now I’m thinking about when/what I can do next in that department:-).