Well, someone in the family (who isn't energized by planning parties like I am) didn't seem quite up for a Party Planning Party last night. He was pretty tired from days of house renovations and hauling boxes all over the place, and I just didn't have the heart to ask him to pull out the calendar and discuss the Fall Hospitality Schedule. However, of course I had my own calendar out, looking at dates and coming up with general fun to have in the coming weeks and months!
I did have a temporary feeling of discouragement: my house, in all it's box-filled, half painted, un-curtained, partially carpeted, baseboard-lacking glory, isn't really what I want to be welcoming my friends into. Progress is slow in getting settled, and I want things to be just right before I have people over. But that's a reason lots of people give for why they don't practice hospitality regularly, isn't it? We can always have reasons to miss out on chances to be hospitable: my house is too small, my house is too dirty, I am not a good cook, my kids are too loud, my furniture is out-dated. I always tell people that no one cares what your house looks like-- your friends will just be glad to be invited into your home. So now is my chance to practice what I preach, I guess!
So I came up with my preliminary plan: Dinner with Pregnant Friends, Gingerbread Cookie Decorating Party (for my daughter and her friends), Annual Christmas Brunch (with work friends), Ornament Exchange (which may take a twist this year after several years of sameness!), Christmas Open House (?). The Open House was always our big party of the year, and although my hubby and I both saved the date on our calendars, we'll see if we're up for that big event this year. I can't fully commit without his approval (although he did get called to work before the Open House one year so I hosted on my own-- with a toddler and a preschooler)!
My Dinner with Pregnant Friends will be my priority since one of them is having a baby the first week of December. We need to squeeze in a final dinner before she is consumed with caring for a newborn. We're all neighbors now, so hopefully we won't have as much trouble scheduling a date now that we live closer to each other. These friends don't really like to cook, and I keep that in mind when hosting them. I invite them to come and just bring themselves-- no food. That way they can relax and fully enjoy our time together without stressing about what to bring before-hand.
So, now that I have dates and events scheduled, I will start thinking about menus, guest lists, invitations, and decorations. I'll be sure and share my photos and ideas with you. What's on your hospitality calendar for Fall and Winter? Now is the time to plan. Have fun!
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