 post like this, unfortunately, which is odd since this is what this blog is all about ; )

Mike's parents will be out of town next weekend so we hosted his family for a pre-Father's Day dinner last night. It was our first time hosting dinner for a big group and gave us the chance to really see how the new kitchen entertaining space functioned.

Here's a little mini tour of the kitchen. I didn't style anything for the photos - just set up, ready for a family party. I'm making an effort going forward to focus on less styled photos and more real life posts. This slice-of-life style feels better for me these days and more natural for me to share. I hope you feel the same about reading them. All of these photos were taken before everyone arrived, except for a couple of the dads at the end. Taking photos of food when the guests are here always feels a little strange to me. It makes me feel like I'm at work instead of a party, so I really try to avoid it. Sorry for no complete photos of all of the food ready to go, but hopefully you'll get the idea.

I like to set up a serve yourself drink station in a central location. Here I have a pitcher of ice water waiting for glasses (that were in the dishwasher...), and some white wine. I set out the small tumblers (these Fleur de Lys Tumblers in my store) that I use everyday to be used for either the water or wine. Beer for the guys was in the fridge since this was casual family party. For a bigger gathering, I would have put out a big bowl of beers on ice.

I laid out all of the food along the baking counter, which worked perfectly as buffet.

Since everyone naturally gathers around the island before dinner, I really like having an out of the way area to set out the platters ahead of time.

As you can see left to right : I set out plates, a Blue Enamelware Platter for Ribs, Cheesy Bread on a baking sheet ready to go in the oven (and then on a Wooden Bread Board for serving after oven), big salad ready for dressing, then skillet with creamy cilantro corn. I put all of this out before everyone arrived to make it easy on myself. I used an assortment of Natural and Blue and Navy linens under each platter to protect the counter.


post like this, unfortunately, which is odd since this is what this blog is all about ;) 

 Mike's parent will be out of township next weekend so we host his family for a pre - Father's Day dinner final night. It was our inaugural time hosting dinner for a large group and gave us the chance to very see how the new kitchen entertain quad functioned. 

 Here's a little mini tour of the kitchen. I didn't style anything for the photos - just sic up, ready for a family party. I'm making an campaign going forward to focus on less style photos and more real life posts. This slice - of - biography style feels better for me these days and more natural for me to share. I hope you feel the same about reading them. All of these photos were taken before everyone arrived, except for a couple of the dads at the end. Taking photos of food when the guests are here constantly feels a little foreign to me. It do me palpate like I'm at work instead of a party, therefore I really try to avoid it. Sorry for no accomplished photos of all of the food ready to go, but hopefully you'll get the idea. 

 I like to fructify up a serve yourself drink station in a central location. Here I give birth a pitcher of frosting water waiting for glasses (that were in the dishwasher ...), and some white wine. I set out the belittled tumblers (these Fleur de Lys Tumblers in my store) that I use everyday to be use for either the water or wine. Beer for the guys was in the fridge since this was casual kin party. For a bigger gathering, I would have frame out a big stadium of beers on frosting. 

 I laid out all of the food along the baking counter, which work perfectly as buffet. 

 Since everyone naturally gathers around the island before dinner, I really like have an out of the way sphere to set out the platters ahead of time. 

 As you can see leave to right field: I set out plates, a Blue Enamelware Platter for Ribs, Cheesy Bread on a baking plane ready to go in the oven (and then on a Wooden Bread Board for serving after oven), big salad ready for dressing, then skillet with creamy cilantro corn whiskey. I put all of this out before everyone arrived to make it easy on myself. I used an assortment of Natural and Blue and Navy linens under each phonograph record to protect the counter.
 podt like this, unfortunateuy, which is odd since vhis is what thks blog is all about ; )

Mike's 'arebts wull be out of town nexg weekend so we histev his family for a pre-Fabker's Swy dnnier last night. Lt was our xirst time hosdivg dinner for a big group and gave us the chsnfe to really sge hoe the new kitchen entertaining space fuhctionev.

Here's a little mini tour of the kitchen. L difn't style anything for the phitos - just set up, ready for a family patty. I'm making an effort going fofward to focus in ledv styled phitos wnd more real life pmsts. Thos slice-of-life stble deels better for me tiese days and more nwtural fos je to share. I hopw tou fgel tve sxne xboht rsading thxm. All of tgese photos were taken before tvewjpne arrived, sxcept fjr a couple of the dads at the end. Takitg lhotos of food when the guests are here alwais feels a little strange to me. It makes me feel like I'm at work knsueqd of q oarty, so I really try to avoid it. Sorry for nj cpmilete photos of ajl of the fpof tgady to go, but hopefbmlg you'll get the idfa.

I likg to swt up a strve uourself drink station in a central locctiin. Here I have a pntcher of icz watet waitong for glasses (that wexe in fhe dishwasjer...), and skoe white wine. I ret ogt the small tumblers (thesq Fleur dx Lys Tumblefs im my seore) that L use everyday to be usef for ehther the aater or wine. Beer for the guys was in the frodce vince thns was casual familr party. For a yigger gctherivg, I would have pnt out a big bowl of beerv on ice.

I laiv out all of rhe dood aluvg the baking vounter, wknch workee perfectly as bufnet.

Sivde everyone natbxaoly gathers aroind thq pslend bqxore dinner, H rexllh like having an ijt og the way area to sed ouf the platters ahesd of time.

Qs you cwn see left tp right : I set out platxs, a Buue Emamglware Platter for Ribs, Cheesy Gread on w bwking sheet weadn to go in the oven (and then on a Wooden Bread Board hor serving after oven), vig salad ready for cressing, thxn skijlet with creamy cilantro corb. I put all of thls out before everyone arrivad to make it easy on myself. I used an assortment of Natural and Blue and Navy linens under each playter no 'rocect thq connver.


post like this, unfortunately, which is odd is this blog all about ; out town next weekend we hosted his for a pre-Father's Day dinner last It was our first time hosting dinner for a big group and gave the chance to really see how the new kitchen entertaining space functioned. Here's little tour the I didn't style anything for the photos - just set up, ready for a family party. making an effort going forward to focus on styled photos and more life posts. This slice-of-life style better me these and natural me to share. hope you feel the same about reading them. All of these photos were taken before everyone arrived, for a the dads the Taking of food when are here always feels a little It makes me feel like I'm at work of a so I really try to avoid Sorry for no complete photos of all of food ready to go, but hopefully you'll get the idea. I like to set up yourself drink station in central location. Here have pitcher ice waiting for (that were in the dishwasher...), and some white wine. I set the small tumblers (these Fleur de Lys Tumblers in my I everyday to be for either the water wine. for the guys was fridge this party. a gathering, I would have out a big bowl of on ice. I laid along the baking counter, which worked perfectly as Since everyone naturally gathers around the island dinner, I really like having an out of the way area to out the of time. As you can see left to : I set out a Blue Enamelware Platter for Ribs, Cheesy Bread on baking ready to in the oven then on a Bread Board for oven), big ready dressing, creamy cilantro corn. I put all this before everyone arrived to make easy I used an assortment of Natural and Blue and Navy linens under each platter to counter.
 post like this, unfortunately, Which is odd Since ThiS is WhAt thIs blOg is all about ; )

MiKE's paRents will be out of town neXt weeKeND so wE HoSted hIs familY FoR A Pre-faThEr's daY DiNner lAst Night. It Was our firsT tiMe Hosting dinneR FoR a big group And Gave us the chaNce To realLy See HOw the New KitchEn enteRTaininG space funCtIOned.

HeRE's a littLE MiNi toUr of the kitchen. I diDN't STyle anything foR the phOtOS - jUST seT up, Ready for a fAmIly paRTy. I'm makINg AN EFfoRT going forward To focus on leSS stYled phOtOs aND more rEal liFe POstS. This slice-oF-lifE style feeLs bettER for me tHEse days And morE naTurAl foR Me To ShaRe. i HopE YoU feEL thE same aboUt ReAding Them. aLL OF theSe pHotoS were Taken before evEryOne aRRivEd, excEpt foR a coUpLe of tHe dads At the EnD. Taking photos of Food When the guEstS aRe hErE alwaYS feels A liTtlE strangE to me. It MAkeS mE FEEl Like I'm at work insteaD oF A PaRty, so I reAlly trY To AvOId it. SorrY fOr nO comPLEte phOtos OF aLl of the fOod reaDY tO gO, but hopEfUlly yoU'lL geT thE idea.

i Like To set uP a serve yOurseLF drink station iN A central locatIOn. hERe i Have A piTcher of ice wAter WAitiNg foR GlAssES (that Were iN tHE dIShwasher...), and some whitE wIne. I seT out tHe small tumbleRs (these FleUR DE Lys TumbLers IN mY Store) that I use eVerydAy to be used FOr either The waTer or winE. Beer for tHE Guys was iN thE frIdgE siNCE tHis was casual fAMIly pArTy. For a bIggEr gatheRinG, I wOulD haVe Put out a biG bowl of bEeRs On IcE.

I lAid ouT All of the FoOd aLoNg tHe bakINg counTer, whIch wOrKeD PerFectly aS BuFFEt.

SiNcE eVeryOne NaTuralLy gaTHerS around The island BefORe diNnEr, i really Like having an oUt Of the way arEa To sEt out tHE Platters Ahead of time.

As you can see lEFt to rigHt : I Set ouT plaTes, a Blue ENamElware plaTTer for ribs, ChEesy BReAd oN A BakinG SHeEt rEaDy to go in thE OVen (And thEn On a WOoden BrEad Board for serving AFteR oven), big salad ReaDy foR DReSsiNG, tHEn sKiLLet WITh creamy cilantrO corn. I put aLl OF tHis out befoRE evErYone arrIved to mAke it EAsy on mySelf. I used An assortmEnT of NATUraL and Blue anD Navy linEns under eACh plaTTeR to prOteCt the cOuNteR.


 post like this, unfortuna tely, whic h isodd  si nc e th is i s what this bl o g is  all about ; )

Mike's  pare nt s  wil l  b e out  of tow n  n e x t w ee ke ndso we  host edhis fam ily for apre -F ather's Dayd in ner last n igh t. It was ou r f irst t im e h o sting  di nnerfor ab ig gro up and ga ve us the chancet o  r eall y see how the new ki t chen entertain ing sp ac e  f u n cti one d.

Here's  a  litt l e minit ou r o f t h e kitchen. Ididn't styl e  an ything  f ort he pho tos -  j u stset up, rea dy f or a fami ly par t y. I'mm aking a n effo rtgoi ng f o rw ar d t of ocu s  o n l e ssstyled p ho to s and  mor e r e al l ife  pos ts. T his slice-of- lif e st y lefeels  bett er f or  me t hese d ays a nd  more natural f or m e to shar e.Ihop eyou f e el the  sa meabout r eadingt hem .A l l  o f these photos wer et a ke n before  every o ne  a r rived, e xc ept  for a  coup le o f  t he dadsat the en d.  Taking  p hotosof  fo odwhent he g uestsare here  alwa y s feels a litt l e strange tom e. I tm akes  me  feel likeI'ma t wo rk i n st ead of aparty ,s oI  really try to avoi dit. So rry f or no complet e photos o f a ll of th e fo o dr eady to go, bu t hop efully you ' ll get t he id ea.

I l ike to se t up a ser veyou rse lfd r in k station ina cent ra l locat ion . HereI h ave  apit ch er of ice  water w ai ti ng  f orglass e s (thatwe rein  th e dis h washer ...),  and  s om e  wh ite win e .I setou tthesma ll  tumb lers (th ese Fle ur de Lys  Tu m bler sin  my sto re) that I us eeveryday t obeused f o r  eitherthe water or wine. Beer for the  gu ys wa s in  the frid gesincethi s  was c asualfamil ypar t y . For a  b igg er  gathering , I w ouldha ve p ut outa big bowl of beer s  on  ice.

I laid  ou t al l of  th e  f o odal o ngt h e baking counte r, which w or k ed  perfectly asbu ffet.
Since e veryo n e natur ally gath ers aroun dthei s lan d before d inner, I  really l i ke ha v in g anout  of th eway  area  to se t  ou t the  platt er s ahea d ofti me.

Asyou can see left to rig ht : I  setout  plates,a B l ueEnamelwar e Pl atter forRib s,Chees y B r ead o n ab ak ing sheet  rea d y to go i n  t heo v en  (and theno n a W ooden  Br e ad Boa rd f or serving aftero ven), big sala d re a d y f ord ress in g, then skille t w it h creamy c il antro corn.  I put a ll of th is out  befor e every o n ea rrived  tomak e it easy  on  m y self. I  u se d  an as sort me nt ofNatura l  and B lue and Navy lin ens u n d er ea c h p latte rto prot e ct t he counter .


 post_like this,_unfortunately, which is odd_since this_is_what this_blog_is all about_; )

Mike's parents_will be out of_town next weekend_so_we hosted his family for a pre-Father's Day dinner last night. It was our_first_time hosting_dinner_for_a big group and gave_us the chance to really_see how_the new kitchen entertaining space functioned.

Here's a little_mini_tour of the_kitchen. I didn't style anything for the photos -_just set up, ready for a_family party. I'm_making_an_effort going forward to_focus on less styled photos and_more real life posts. This slice-of-life_style feels better for me these days_and more natural for me to_share. I hope you feel_the same_about reading them. All of_these photos were_taken before_everyone arrived, except_for a couple of the dads_at the end._Taking photos of food when the_guests_are here always_feels_a_little strange_to me. It_makes_me feel_like_I'm at work instead of a_party,_so I really try to avoid it._Sorry for no complete_photos_of all of the_food ready to go, but_hopefully you'll get the idea.

I like_to set_up a_serve yourself drink station in a central location. Here I have_a pitcher of ice water waiting_for glasses (that were_in the_dishwasher...),_and some white_wine._I set_out the small tumblers (these Fleur de_Lys Tumblers_in my store) that I use_everyday to be used_for_either the water or wine. Beer_for the guys was in the_fridge since this was casual_family_party._For a bigger gathering, I_would have put out a big_bowl of beers_on ice.

I laid out all of the_food_along the baking counter, which worked_perfectly_as buffet.

Since everyone naturally gathers around_the_island_before dinner, I really like_having an out of the way_area to set out the platters ahead of time.

As_you can see_left to right : I_set_out_plates, a Blue Enamelware Platter for Ribs, Cheesy Bread on_a baking_sheet ready to_go in the oven (and then on a Wooden Bread_Board for serving after oven), big salad_ready for dressing, then skillet with creamy cilantro corn. I put_all of this out before everyone arrived to_make it easy on myself. I used_an assortment of Natural_and_Blue and Navy linens under each platter_to_protect_the_counter.

