Making a Memorable Memorial Day

For most of us Memorial Day marks the official start of summer. While the original purpose behind Memorial Day is to commemorate and honor those who lost their life in battle, more and more people are now taking advantage of the three-day weekend to recreate with friends and family. Hosting a Memorial Day party can incorporate both the traditions of the holiday and allow for plenty of relaxing as well.

Memorial Day Decorations
 
If you decide to host a party, don’t be afraid to go blatantly patriotic on your Memorial Day celebration. Put up American flags outside your home, and even go a little crazy and use a few of them as decorations indoors. On your tables, spread blue tablecloths with red runners. You can use the holiday’s red poppy as your centerpiece flower, or you can simply use American flags in vases. Your unused 4th of July tableware and utensils will really come in handy on Memorial Day, so don’t forget to bring them out.

And in a true Memorial Day tradition, if you have a flag in your yard or lawn, fly it at half-mast from morning until noon in honor of all the fallen soldiers.

Memorial Day Food

Memorial Day often brings with it the first really warm weather of the year, so take full advantage of the weather and barbeque outdoors (plus, clean-up is MUCH easier!).

There are lots of great foods that go along with good old-fashioned grilling; watermelon, potato salad, deviled eggs, home-made ice creams are a just a few of my favorites.    Keep in mind, guests will inevitably ask, "what can I bring?" Even if you tell them "nothing" they'll bring something anyway. Best to use this to your advantage -- ask them to bring something you'll use at the party. Guests feel useful and you can then check something off of your list and stay within your budget better. BYOB is, of course, a classic way to cut your party budget -- drinks ain't cheap. Plus, folks get to drink exactly what they want and you don't have to worry about providing an array of choices to suit everyone.

Memorial Day Activities

It's safe to say that many Memorial Day activities usually involve something to do with water; a pool, lake or the beach.  If you're hosting a party and don't have a pool, it's easy to buy a $7 kiddie pool and scatter beach chairs around.  Guests can then sit and sip their cool drink while dipping their toes in some cool water.  Plus, anything containing water is bound to entertain kids for hours.

If you want to take some time before your party begins to honor our fallen soldiers, visit a local cemetery or attend a church services in their memory. You can even volunteer to put American flags on the graves of the fallen soldiers to honor their memory.  These soldiers died nobly for the country, so it’s only right to put aside a little of our time to remember and visit them, even if we are not related to them.

Whatever your Memorial Day plans are, please take a minute to remember the people who have died to defend the freedoms we enjoy.  Have a great Memorial Day!   Another small tip:  make sure you save any left over decorations -- you'll be a step ahead for the 4th of July celebrations!

Contributed by Heather Dietrich, Sterling Pear

Elegant and Easy Easter Centerpieces

In a few days, you’ll be sitting down to a fabulous Easter brunch, or perhaps you’ll be hosting a family dinner after the egg hunt outside.  How does your table look?  If you're feeling at a loss and want to try something different from the standard Easter bouquet, we have several easy and beautiful ideas that you can try this year! 

One quick and unique table centerpiece idea is to find several small baskets or, if you’re lucky, a few “nests.  Gather up your decorated eggs and fill each basket or nest with dyed Easter eggs.  A good decorating tip:  if you fill each nest with the same color, it will really pack an elegant punch!  

Next, scatter votives or candlesticks throughout (in coordinating colors if you have them), and you have a simple and elegant Easter table!  Want to take it one step further?  Tie the napkins with raffia in coordinating colors.

Another modern but stylish idea is to take a pair of clear glass hurricanes and fill with a few inches of water in the bottom.  Next, add pure white hard-boiled eggs.  

You can then accessorize with your favorite white blooms using the eggs below to secure the stems.  Even in the most sophisticated home this modern arrangement will look amazing!

Our last idea is just plain simple and really easy.   Use your dessert as your centerpiece!  If you are having cake, why not frost it in pure white and decorate it with edible flowers (be sure they are edible, and not from a nursery where they might have been sprayed with something less than safe).  Place the cake on a snazzy, footed cake plate, toss a few petals on the table surrounding the cake plate, and your table will look luscious!

Enjoy trying something new this Easter!

Contributed by Heather Martinez

Hosting Tips for a Casual Winter Get-Togethers

One of the best ways to beat the winter blahs is to fill you home with friends and family.  Whether you have are having just a few friends over on a cold winter’s night or having a full blown out Superbowl party, these get-togethers offer a warm, welcoming place for you and your friends to kickback, relax and have some fun.  

Below are a few simple steps you can follow to get your house ready and welcome for your guests. 

Set the mood:  You can easily change the setting in your home with a few easy things.  First, decide which areas of your home will be used for the get-together and start by decorating with fresh accents as centerpieces.  Strings of Christmas lights or candles, even cozy fires in the fireplace are also easy ways to set a warm and inviting mood. 

Food & Drinks:  Everyone knows that the great food and drinks make the party!  For your food, the trick to easy entertaining is sticking with finger food appetizers which are easy, but can be “dressed-up” by placing them on your good serve-ware.   You can go all-out with the beverages, or just keep is easy: chilled beer and wine, soda and water!  

Entertaining Guests:  Mood – check. Food & drinks – check!  Not every type of party requires entertainment, but it’s a good idea to have a back-up plan should the mood get a little dull.  The best part about entertaining your guests is that it’s an inexpensive option: Have a few games handy that are large-group friendly; Karaoke – even better!  Even upping the music to a dance mix can spice up any party.

Now you can sit back, relax and enjoy your guests!

Contributed by Beth Eppley and Heather Dietrich