I’m so happy Easter is right around the corner! And I’ll be hosting this year–will you?

Entertaining is magical, and for me it’s the first initial spark of inspiration that is the most exciting.

Easter. Spring. New Life. Friends. Family. A real reason to celebrate.

Making that decision to host starts it off for me … and then I start getting excited about the table. This year I’m focusing on “yellow.”

Recently a reader wrote me about a “space” dilemma. What do you do when you host a dinner and space becomes an issue?

We host the family Easter Dinner every year, and even though the family has grown over the years, we have managed to fit around the table. Cozy, but we fit. This year there are a couple of other people that we want to have join us. I can’t leave them out just because it spoils my table setting, but don’t know what I’ll do. There aren’t enough kids to do a kid table (one 14, one 9.) If I serve food buffet style, I still have to find a place for everyone to sit. Do you have a magic “space maker”? -RE reader

Space concerns:

-My table isn’t big enough

-Even if I could add on more tables, there still isn’t room for the size of the group

-I don’t like the “crammed” feeling around the table, but “2″ more didn’t warrant adding another table

-The type of food I was serving wouldn’t work for people sitting around with their plates in their laps

-More people were coming and I really wanted to use my wedding dishes (12)

-Not enough chairs

This year I found 2 of the same Ralph Lauren tablecloths at TJ Maxx. I’ll be adding a table on to my existing table, making room for 15!

Easter is also a perfect time to serve a buffet-style meal, if space is your issue.

This way you can mix and match the guests, adults and children, and it’s also okay to have several eating areas.

The first thing to do is look around your apartment or house and visualize where you can put people. Think outside of the box (outside of using only the dinner table).

Using the most of your space:

-Declutter the space you choose to work with and remove any unnecessary items, including furniture if need be.

-For buffet-style, serve easy food that doesn’t require a knife to cut with.

-When your guests arrive, let them know what the plan is for the meal (IE. adults sit in the living or dining area, kids are at the “kid” table).

-Feel free to rearrange furniture.

-Borrow or rent a longer table if needed.

-Create over-flow in the garage by setting up tables or transforming a ping-pong table.

-Borrow chairs from neighbors or friends.

-Host the children in the garage or family room and the adults at the dining table.

-Add on as many tables as you can fit so everyone can sit together at the table.

-Use the stairs for the kids to sit on (or even adults).

Remember it’s worth the extra effort to plan ahead and think things through, maybe in your mind adding on a few extra “last-minute” guests. Don’t be rigid with your number because we all know that number can change.

Going with the flow for buffet-style meals is my motto for really enjoying my guests.

Creating space is important, because we all know that the “table” or “togetherness” of the group, the conversation, the love, the celebrations, connecting and encouraging — is the secret to a successful event.

What are some space dilemmas that you’ve dealt with and how did you overcome those obstacles?

For many people, the heavy responsibilities of home and family and earning a living absorb all their time and strength. Yet such a home–where love is–may be a light shining in a dark place, a silent witness to the reality and the love of God.
- Olive Wyon

My home is not perfect, it’s rarely spotless, and it’s very well lived in.

I believe so many of us fear having others over because of the state of our home.

Today I want to share and highlight some great posts that talk about decluttering. I mean, who doesn’t have this problem? I know I have many irons in the fire with my blog, work, 3 teens, helping my husband with his non-profit.

It’s really hard for me to stay up on the paperwork alone! And to be honest, sometimes it affects my ability to relax …

Melissa shares about starting 5 new daily habits, and also gives us a chance to WIN $500 from The Inspired Room (you have until midnight tonight to enter).

“When my home gets cluttered and out of control, I feel personally out of sorts and out of control. The state of my home really affects my emotional well being and my productivity.” -Melissa

10 Ways to Declutter your House, from Making This Home.

“The less you need, the freer you become.” – Katie

Simple Steps to Declutter your Home from Passionate Homemaking.

“If it can stay in boxes for several months, is it really needed?” – Lindsay

Organizing with Purpose from The Complete Guide to Imperfect Homemaking.

“An uncluttered space creates an environment where we can learn and explore.” -Kelly

This is an interesting perspective. I like it!

Don’t Declutter from My Simpler Life.

“I have been seeing a lot of people sacrifice time to take care of themselves for decluttering time.” – Beth

Beth asks a good question … thought provoking, for sure!

Do you feel you need to complete everything before relaxing? Do you feel clutter makes it impossible to relax in your own home?

“Don’t agonize. Organize.” – Florynce Kennedy

When things around me are organized, then I feel organized and motivated.

On the other hand, when I’m disorganized and surrounded by clutter, well you know the rest of the story. I agonize!

When it comes to the kitchen, the fridge, the pantry … it gets out of control really fast in my household. How about yours?

I think it’s because we’re a really busy family, I work part-time, our kids have kitchen duty every day so things don’t always get put back in “their place.”

I invited my talented friend, Sam, over with her label maker. She willingly came to help me out, pulled everything out of the pantry, looked at dates and did a lot of tossing, and put everything back in … it’s “place.”

She had a plan before she even arrived!

Unfortunately, without a plan, pantry shelves can quickly become a disorganized mess, making it difficult to find items you need, and really frustrating the kids.

How to organize a pantry with a label maker

1. Pull everything out of the pantry.
2. Check dates as you pull items out and either toss, or set aside on the bar or table.
3. Organize by groups of foods, ie., rice, pasta, beans, soups, sauces, etc.
4. Wipe out the pantry with hot soapy water.
5. As you put the items back in, decide what should be put into baskets or containers.
6. BRING THE FOOD ITEMS TO THE FRONT that you use the most.
7. Label each section to make it easier on other family members.
8. Group small things in baskets, paper items in baskets, and put lightweight items or things you rarely use on the top the shelves.
9. Put snacks and cereals at eye-level for kids.

I’d like to talk about why it’s important to bring to the “front” of the shelves the items you use the most.

We are a bean family and my children have learned creative ways to use a can of beans.

I like to bring the healthier items to the front so they are accessible and will be used.

Remember, be organized–you have to have a “plan.” And to stay organized you have to “stick to the plan.” Also, here’s a post from last year on expiration dates. Now that brings up a whole other subject, but do you fudge on expiration dates?

It’s a brilliant idea to bring an “expert” over to help with large projects that may seem overwhelming. Or even a friend with a second opinion.

And I just may be calling my friend Sam over again for a New Year’s “sprucing up.”

Do you have an organizational plan for your cupboards, or do you live in happy chaos?

Thanksgiving celebrates what everyone brings to the table: good food, love, laughter, and thankful hearts.

If you haven’t planned your menu, now’s the time. One tip I learned from a friend many years ago was, once you have your menu planned, copy and staple the recipes together (I like to add the year on top) and file away for the next year. It makes menu planning much easier, especially if they are your favorite recipes. Of course you can also create a file on your computer and do the same thing.

TIP: If you love to read cookbooks, create a “Holiday Menu” journal where you jot down your favorite recipes, the cookbook they are in, and the page number for easy reference.

Are you serving a pre-dinner soup? Remember there’s still time to win $100, and you can try my Sweet Pumpkin and Barley Sage Soup.

Brining a turkey is a wonderful way to enhance its juiciness and flavor, but it seems that the process is intimidating … until you actually do it and taste the difference.

Here’s my brine recipe. Yummy!

TIP: If you’re really in a bind, you can buy turkey brine “blends,” by rushing in to your local Williams Sonoma. So easy!

Don’t forget to ask your guests to help by bringing what you need them to bring. Planning a Thanksgiving meal (especially for a large crowd) is a lot of work. Write out the menu, figure out what YOU want to make, and then fill in the slots by asking your guests to contribute.

TIP: Make sure your guests know what time you plan to serve dinner. Make it clear if you want them their contribution “table ready” or if there’s time to prepare it in your kitchen. IE: green beans or salad.

Write out (I love having a plan!) and prepare as much as you can the day or two before Thanksgiving. I’ll be baking my sweet potatoes the day before, cooking, chopping, involving my family as much as I can.

Here are a few of my side-dish favorites:

Easy Sweet Potatoes (recipe in my book)
Smashed Potatoes, Parsnips and Rutabaga
Sweet Potato Cran-Apple Gratin
Brussels Sprouts Braised with Cream and Dates
Fresh Green Beans
Carrot Souffle‘

Last year I made Cornbread Stuffing with Sausage and Apples, but I added cranberries, too. Oh, boy! Check out Pioneer Woman’s step-by-step recipe.

I’m going to leave desserts up to Tidy Mom. Check out her 3rd Annual “Love the Pie” party. If you scroll down, you’ll find hundreds of pie recipes!

Thanksgiving is pie, wouldn’t you agree?

TIP: Think ahead to a separate place, possibly outside of your kitchen, where you can display the desserts. They are usually so beautiful, it’s enjoyable to walk into the dining or living room to see them displayed on a buffet, top of a piano, or a table.

Lastly, set the table. Friends, it’s not too early to be thinking about a welcoming table for your guests. My suggestion is to simplify. Make your table receptive by only adding the dishes you need, not cluttery and crammed with excessive dishes. Head to the great outdoors to bring nature in.

TIP: A low-line centerpiece makes conversation much easier than having to look around pillars and over-the-top flower arrangements.

Last year I journaled a 4-part Thanksgiving guidelines post, so if you feel you’re behind, you can catch up here:

Week 1: Stress-Free Thanksgiving – Invite, Plan, and Delegate
Week 2: Stress-Free Thanksgiving – Organize your Recipes & Shopping Lists
Week 3: Stress-Free Thanksgiving – Space, Table, & Turkey Planning
Week 4: Stress Free Thanksgiving – Write Out Chores, Include the Family

How are your Thanksgiving plans coming along? Are you feeling stressed or right on schedule? Or, if you are not hosting this year, what are you bringing to the table?

The winner of the Harry and David basket is Andrea from Recipes for Divine Living.

This is the week where serious planning has to take place for Thanksgiving.

My friend, Deb, who lives in a small house, has 14 coming to dinner next week. They have 6 adults with 4 kids coming, plus their family of 4.

Deb said: My house is SO cramped. But I hope they all come anyway.

When I asked her how her planning was going, I also asked her what “top 3 things” was she going to do to make it work? She told me that writing out her top 3 would really help her visualize what needed to get done.

Very few of us have the ideal situations, houses big enough, dining tables that stretch out long enough, beds for everybody in the house. We may have tiny living rooms, no family rooms, itsy-bitsy kitchens, no counter space.

Whatever we don’t like about our houses, we still can make it work.

I also told Deb, “I think you can do anything if you are prepared and you plan ahead!”

Isn’t it true that we actually look forward to being cozy with family and friends?

Her biggest problem: Main floor for ALL entertaining is 11 x 18. Currently holds table/chairs for 4 + sectional sofa, flat TV on wall, fireplace.

Deb’s Top 3 things TO DO by the end of this week:

1. Clear out basement. Move sectional and TV down so main floor is 100% for serving & eating. Budget 2 full days for Goodwill runs and consolidating storage down there. Set up outdoor firepit for teens and attic nook for games/crafting.

2. Delegate menu dishes among guests.

3. Plan/count/move/find: chairs/dishes/cloth-napkins.

Have you thought ahead enough to make a list and prioritize the top 3 things that you and your family can do to make the holidays easier? What method works for you for planning?

My friend, Laura from OrgJunkie.com and I go way back (2006). She was one of my first blogging friends (even though we’ve never met) and now she has a fantastic book out called Clutter Rehab, 101 Tips and Tricks to Become an Organization Junkie and Love It!

Today I’m giving away 3 copies of Laura’s book!

Exciting! I love so many of her organizing tips. Here are some of my favorites:

3. Consolidate everything (using containers)
12. Put vertical dividers in the kitchen cupboards
18. Have a donation station
38. Work together with a friend for inspiration and motivation
46. Toss your junk mail right away
50. If You haven’t used something in a year, get rid of it
62. Embrace plan B and let go of perfectionism
80. Think about your habits
89. Organize your pantry

I love 92. Invite company over for motivation

I have a hard time with 99. Focus

And I appreciate 101. Use multitasking wisely

Memory Binders
What I want to share today is #56: Use memory binders to organize your kids’ memories or keepsakes

Laura and I have shared the same method and since about 2000, I will say my kids’ memories are stored and there’s easy access for reading through the binders. It’s a fabulous way, and so easy, if you have kids. This might be a new concept to some of you, but my faithful readers have heard me chat about this for years.

My friend, Heidi, recently reminded me of one thing we both have in common. I have 3 teenagers and she has 3 kids under the age of 5, but we both are not crazy about the time involved in scrapbooking, and wanted to incorporate our kids’ memories into something tangible, with easy access for both us and for our kids’ enjoyment. (I thumbed through my oldest son’s book one year ago as we sent him off to college, and found a very sentimental letter. I try to fill the books with anything memorable that will be fun for the kids to look at as they get older.)

That’s when I posted several years back about making easy, very inexpensive Memory Binders for your kids.

-Heidi wrote me last week and sent me a picture of her books, and I love how she organized them by her kids’ ages.

-My books are organized by my kids’ school years.

-Either way, I’m linking to my original post, but here are the simple supplies that you will need.

Supplies to buy for creating Memory Binders
2” white binders from Costco (4 in a pack)
Scrapbook paper (or plain colored paper)
1 box sheet protectors
Starting with Pre-K, I have saved art, special memories, class pictures, sports awards, first book report, every report card, articles their dad has written – you name it, and have filed these papers into these books.

Answer this question to WIN a Clutter Rehab Book (3 winners)

In what area do you need help with organization?

Extra entry by retweeting this:

Clutter Rehab book giveaway @SandyCoughlinRE @OrgJunkie today. Come Win a copy! http://su.pr/2U4ftG #giveaway

And liking “RE” Facebook page.

Also liking “Org Junkie’s” Facebook page.

Make sure and come back and let me know.

Good Luck to all! 3 AWESOME books … you will be a happy, organized person when you are done reading this book, whoever you are!

Drawing ends Saturday night at midnight, 9/3/11. Winner announced on Monday, 9/5/11.

Thanks for joining me in my “30 Days of Summer Entertaining” series. Did you know that you can receive RE posts directly to your email? If you are interested in becoming a follower, you can do it very easily on the right side of my website where it says “Find Me,” and then SUBSCRIBE.

What I love about outdoor entertaining is that it can still be classy and elegant.

One way is to bring your water goblets to the outdoors (make sure they are chunky or heavy duty), in either a large container, bowl, or basket.

Line with a clean towel.

I use my Dollar Store goblets all season long, for different kinds of dinner parties. Years ago I had several boxes of summer goblets of different colors, but I got tired of the space they took up so I pared down and gave them away.

Why not just use ONE CLASSIC water glass?

I often think we accumulate way too much STUFF.

I don’t go for the “unbreakable” dinnerware anymore, because it just takes up space. It’s not that far to carry out the dishes to my outdoor entertaining space, and trays also come in handy. I’ve yet to have anything break outside when entertaining. Have you?

What are your thoughts on having too many entertaining supplies, and would “one” glass for all entertaining purposes work for you?

If you’ve missed the last 5 days of my 30 Days to Summer Entertaining, you can catch up now:

Day 1: Summer Entertaining is About the People
Day 2: When Perfect Robs You of Something Good
Day 3: Who To Invite to Dinner
Day 4: Planning the Menu for Outdoor Entertaining
Day 5: Setting the Table Using What You Have

Feel free to grab my button and share it with your readers .

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Thanks for joining me in my “30 Days of Summer Entertaining” series.

As I always say here at RE, learn to KISS and everything will flow smoother and you’ll be a happier hostess.

Keep It Simple, Sister!

There are so many ways to plan an outdoor party.

1. How do you want to serve your guests? Sit-down dinner, buffet style, or fill your plate at the grill?

2. Think about the seating. Folding tables, mixed-matched tablecloths and chairs work just fine!

3. Plan out the menu. Use a piece of paper to write down what you want to serve. Always start with the main dish. If you want burgers, then build around that entree.

4. Delegate by jotting your guests’ names down by a food item or entree’.

5. Let your guests know what they are bringing and then start preparing and organizing the food items you’ll be serving.

6. Pull it all together with a healthy attitude that things do not have to be perfect. When everyone contributes, it becomes more “community” and less about you.

One thing I love is the surprise and uniqueness of what each guest has to offer when they bring a dish. It does feel better, especially in our economy today, when everyone becomes a contributor to the meal.

So many people are intimidated by the menu. I’m not sure why, except I think our expectations supersede the reality of what we’re really trying to accomplish.

I’m not trying to impress and one-up with my outdoor dinner parties.

I just want to celebrate summer, families and friends, the early harvest, nature, and good conversation.

Again, keeping it simple is really the secret.

Do you tend to “over-do” when planning the menu by either NOT delegating, or possibly making TOO MUCH food?

Feel free to grab my button and share it with your readers .

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This week I’m honored to be linked up with some of America’s top entertaining experts to bring you everything you need to kick off a fantastic summer barbequing season.

Party planning, mixology, printables, home entertaining tips and everything you need to face the outdoor entertaining season with relaxed confidence will be shared by some of my friends (see all of their links at the bottom of the post), specifically Coryanne, from Housewife Bliss, who was our inspiration in pulling this together.

This is the month when I really start thinking about summer barbecuing for family and friends. I just love taking advantage of the fresh, homegrown foods that we grow in our garden beds, the strawberries that are plentifully flowering right now, and the farmer’s market is not too far from my house for the produce that we do not grow. It’s only a hop, skip, and a jump away!

Summer entertaining is a Reluctant Entertainer’s dream, because you don’t have to clean your house.

With a summery night, you don’t have to do much to make it magical.

Not much thought has to go into the table setting. Set it simply and use paper napkins. For a larger group, using a mix of chairs around the tables is perfect. Picking a few fresh flowers and adding some herbs from the herb bed makes a very simple centerpiece.

And don’t forget to get the kids involved in helping out with easy chores.

There’s just nothing like the flavor of a barbeque, and the ease of not a lot of kitchen mess. I love how the men always mingle around the BBQ.

It’s really the perfect time of year to get together to celebrate different events, or just being together, in our own backyards, on patios, or even at a front-yard porch party!

Planning a Summer Barbeque Dinner Party

1. Get your outdoor entertaining space cleaned and ready for summer.

2. Set the date and time; invite the guests.

3. Plan the menu, choosing recipes that you can make ahead and that are easy to serve. Delegate aspects of the meal to keep it affordable, getting back with your guests on what you’d like for them to bring.

4. Think ahead to how many tables and chairs you’ll need and the linens you’ll be using.

5. Look in the yard for flowers, herbs, greenery – or head up to the Farmer’s Market – to make a simple tablescape.

6. If you have kids coming, what fun things will they do? Badminton, swimming, lawn games, board games … have something in mind so they won’t be bored.

7. Is your ITunes play list ready, or Internet hooked up, so you can play music from Pandora?

8. Make sure the BBQ has enough coals, tools are cleaned, and tiki torches filled with citronella.

9. The day of, set the table, using plenty of citronella votive candles to ward off the bugs, and make sure the “guest” bathroom is clean.

10. Do your prep work in the kitchen to make the night as simple as can be.

11. No matter what drinks you’ll be serving, always have plenty of water accessible for your guests.

11. Go over your “check-list” and make sure you completed your tasks.

12. Get yourself showered and ready for a fun summer night. Dress lite, as the last thing you want as the hostess is to be overheated.

The goal for summer entertaining is to show up to your own party calm, cool, and collected. Ready to welcome your guests into your home, to show them you care and that you want to get to know them more. Rather than being frazzled and overwhelmed, it pays to plan ahead and to be organized.

As I always say here at RE, nothing has to be perfect. Let the imperfections go and if something unexpected happens, it’s okay.

Go with the flow, put your guests first (and your pride last), and learn to move on.

It will be the best gift to yourself and to the beautiful people in your backyard.

(It’s tradition for me to take a picture of the women when they come to my house for dinner.)

Are you thinking about hosting a summer dinner party? Out of the 12 tips given, are there any you’d like for me to explore further?

Don’t forget to visit the ladies from The Great American BBQ Blog Hop:

The Daily Basics Cynthia’s blog is fabulous daily inspiration for getting back to basics and enjoying life again.
Party Blue Prints Dawn offers great sources for planning the perfect party.
Second City Soiree Jen, The Chicago hostess, offers a wealth of creative ideas for hosting events.
Celebrations at Home Chris is a Virginia Event Planner who offers fabulous advice for celebrations at home.
Intoxicologist Cheri is a nationally recognized mixologist who creates drinks for every occasion.
Housewife Bliss Coryanne has a passion and shares her love for the traditional domestic arts.

When we left town a few weeks back for Spring Vacation, I had several goals in mind.

- One was to empty out as much as I could from our stand-up freezer in the garage, and to SHUT IT OFF.

-The second was to clean out as much as I could from the fridge in the house – and cook with it while we were away.

-And then I always try to clean and tidy up before I leave, so I come home to a clean house.

Mission accomplished!

First of all, my husband’s been asking me for months to thin out the large freezer. Our idea of eating it down, using up what we had (and buying less at the store), PLUS saving electricity – were good goals to have. Our plan by the end of summer is to harvest our garden, and then turn the freezer back on, because we’ll have berries, jam, green beans, tomatoes, tomato sauce, etc. to freeze.

The fridge was emptied and freezer turned off to defrost. IT FEELS GOOD TO SAVE MONEY.

Then when we got home 5 days later, my lovely daughter scrubbed them both out. (Garage freezer before and after.)

There’s something about spring being in the air that makes me want to spring clean everything – including the larger appliances.

Next on my list are cleaning my back patio and my pantry, and certain areas of the garage.

I want to share with you my friend Sarah Mae’s new eBook that’s available for purchase: 31 Days to Clean, Having a Martha House the Mary Way! She did a fabulous job … I know, because I read it over the weekend.

Here are some of the chapters: Why Clean? Overcoming the Curse, Confronting Laziness, The Secret to Having Energy, Your Cleaning Style, Finding Joy, Dealing with Distractions.

The heart of our homes is not in the ability to keep it perfect at all costs; the heart of a home is love. We live in a thing, a non-eternal structure that needs to be maintained. The thing is worthless without the life we bring to it and through it. This book is about bringing life to the mundane in order to love well. – Sarah Mae

Head to Sarah Mae’s Facebook page if you want to check it out! And thank you, Sarah Mae, for allowing me to have a teeny part of your brilliance.

What are 3 things that are on your “spring cleaning” list?

I was looking at my dining area the other day, and I noticed how drab and “wintery” it looked … sigh. (Sorry, should have taken a picture.) I really am not a fan of winter, and during those months I need to do whatever it takes to perk things up around here. So to the closet I went, to find a “fresh” ironed table cloth to liven up the area a bit.

Low and behold, as I opened the door, I could hardly see what I had! What a mess!

It was time.

Time to organize my tablecloth closet.

I refolded and hung them by their colors … white … pastel … darker colors.

Mission accomplished. It felt good to get that closet in shape! (My goal each day in January is to organize one small area of my house, be it a drawer or a closet.)

A beautiful bright, cheery Williams Sonoma cloth … 70×108 inches is the size I buy.

Ah … it makes me SO happy and ready for Spring when I change or move things around and liven up my house!

Do you hang or fold your tablecloths?

And if you’re a tablecloth girl like I am, which is your favorite?

“Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” -William Morris

It’s January, a time when I come up with a plan of getting organized in my home. I seem to let things get over-cluttered, partly because I end up with so much “stuff” or things that I want to display.

And then there is entertaining supplies. How much do I really need? How much do I want to store? I’m constantly having to thin out and let go of stuff and to figure out what I want to use, and then figure out an organized storage system.

I will admit, organization is the KEY!

Where to begin – start small!
Choose a room that needs to be de-cluttered, or if that is too overwhelming, pick a drawer or a cupboard to start with!

Separate your trash from your treasures!
Have 4 containers nearby.
- Garbage
- Recyclable
- Giveaway
- Store

Things given to you!
After a gracious thank you, gifts do not necessarily require a lifetime home. If you think of the amount of gifts that we’ve received over the years, our homes would be filled to the ceiling with clutter.

- sort out what are prized possessions
- either display them or store them
- reuse or recycle (meaning – can it be given away as a gift?)
- give it away or toss it

Give each item a home!
Group like things together. For example, since our kitchen remodel I’ve had several junk drawers to go through (yes, one year later I have one more to go). When I tackled them, I had a garbage can nearby. Some things had sentimental value, but I really did not need to keep them, so they got tossed. You can do the same in your closet, your bathroom drawers, your book shelves, your kids’ toys, even with your entertaining supplies.

Staying on top of an organized system takes determination. Even though I sometimes lack in this area, there is just something about the NEW YEAR that sparks my creativity, my desire for order and a certain freshness.

Paperwork?
Now this lady scares me! I am NOT the expert on paperwork, for sure. But I do have a goal this year … again, to be a bit more organized than I was last year and to stay on top of my paperwork.

Katie gives some great tips: 10 Ways to Declutter Your House! The less you need the freer you become! She also wrote a post on “never handle a piece of paper more than once.” Check it out! Also last year AnNicole shared about stuff that brings great sentimental value to you – and what to do with it!

My 2 good friends Tsh and Laura each have a brand new book out, both available on Amazon.

Clutter Rehab: 101 Tips and Tricks to Become an Organization Junkie and Love It by Laura Whittmann.

Organized Simplicity: The Clutter-Free Approach to Intentional Living by Tsh Oxenreider.

If you had to pick one room or one drawer to start thinning out, which would it be?

It’s the week before Thanksgiving and so hard to believe. I know it can be stressful if you are the one planning and preparing the feast for your family and friends. Remember the goal for the day is to be able to enjoy YOURSELF, as the hostess, and to focus on the people who are sitting around your table. It’s an honor to host and welcome people in our homes, on a day that takes much preparation and planning. For our family, we’ve been traveling with high school soccer play-offs and it’s been important for me to be organized and stay on top of my Thanksgiving Schedule! If you’ve missed my last two posts, you can catch up here:

Week 1: Invite, Plan, and Delegate
Week 2: Organize your Recipes and Shopping Lists

This week I’m thinking ahead to the space: What I want my Thanksgiving table to look like, who will sit where, and even the conversation around the table.

Do this NOW, this week:
1. The Space: Think ahead to how many guests are coming and your dinner table space, or if you plan to serve buffet-style.
2. The Table: Assuming you will be sitting down, think about what tablecloths you will use, napkins, dishes, etc.
3. Centerpiece: Come up with a plan (KISS: Keep It Simple, Sister!) for the centerpiece. Write it down in your notebook!
4. Placecards: Again, KISS, but plan a simple place card, perhaps one that you can tie to the water goblet.
5. Turkey: It’s time to order your turkey or have a plan for where you want to buy it and how you want to cook it. Will you be brining it? Cooking it in a bag?
6. Grocery shop: You can buy nonperishable items this week to make your shopping “lighter” next week. Get your lists out and start checking off what you will buy.
7. Coolers or extra refrigerator space: Think ahead to storage of the food the “day of,” if you have an extra refrigerator or you will need to have a cooler ready.

Even if you feel behind, come up with a plan. Get your notebook out and start making lists. Get your family to help out – give them jobs and remind them that Thanksgiving is a “family affair.” The weight of the Thanksgiving meal should not fall entirely upon the hostess. I know that I’ll be asking for a lot of help to tie it all together, and my family is usually very supportive and willing to help.

Willingness is good and I will take advantage of that.

How is your week ahead looking? Have you thought about your table and the list above, or are you worried about getting behind?

Through my 31-Days to Stress-Free Entertaining series, one reader had a good point when she asked me if there is a “good time” to have a party?

With the holidays here now, people are really busy. I know, because we’ve had a hard time getting some dates on the calendar with our friends.

For a group event, do you just pick a date, and then pray that everyone can make it?

Dinner Dates – one family
Choosing a dinner date for one family is easy. Pick 3 dates that work for you, and then give the family the options and let them pick what works for them.

Dinner Dates – several families
Again, pick several dates that work for you. It may take several emails or calls to nail down “the date,” but most the time it all comes together.

Party Dates – event for many
I’ve chosen a date, and then verified with a handful of people, asking if they could make it. Once I knew that it worked for a few people, I go ahead with the additional invitations. Some will make it, some won’t. It’s hard to find a date that works for everyone when you’re hosting a larger group.

My advice for the holidays is to choose a date EARLY, even sending out a “Save the Date” email.

I recently had a dinner party at my house that required that I know the exact attendance. I sent out an email early, with the date, and then later with all of the details. I heard back within days from those who would be attending and it all worked out beautifully.

It’s time to start thinking and planning, if you haven’t already.

Besides Thanksgiving, will you be hosting any dinners or parties in the next couple of months?

(For Thanksgiving, I’m posting a 4-part series on a Stress-Free Thanksgiving! Next week join me for Week 3. (Here is Week 1 and Week 2.) The winner of this beautiful GIVEAWAY is Lisa. Congrats!)

It’s hard to believe it’s the 2nd week of November already! And hopefully by now you’ve made your guest list for Thanksgiving Day dinner, and you’ve planned out your menu and delegated some of the dishes at the time of confirming the invite. That is the time to let people know what you’d like them to bring.

Remember that Thanksgiving Day is not a day to be exhausted and to try to impress people by doing it all.

It’s a day to share the load, enjoy each other in the kitchen and around the table, and to create FUN memories for the family (not horrible memories of stress and strain).

A few years ago my friend Eliz emailed me her entire menu for Thanksgiving Dinner. I was so impressed with how organized she was, I followed suit.

Do This NOW — this week!
1. Choose Recipes: Pick up a few magazines at the store or library and find what recipes you want to use, or rummage through your cookbooks or family recipes.
2. Organize Recipes: Tear out the pages or copy the pages from a magazine or cookbook.
3. STAPLE all the recipes (pages) together and write “Thanksgiving 2010″ at the top; fold in 1/2 and keep in your notebook. Another option is to staple them right into your notebook.
4. Shopping List: Go through each recipe and make separate pages for different stores and record what you will need to buy.
5. Turkey: Order your turkey or have a plan for where you will buy it.

IE, create a shopping page for each:
Costco
Winco
Market of Choice

Thanksgiving Day really is a themed dinner party! Most Americans sit down together with many courses for many hours to enjoy the food and fellowship.

The secret is to be organized so you can enjoy the day with your family and guests.

My mother lived “organization” and was planner. I understand that not everyone had the same experience that I had while growing up, and entertaining can actually be painful. There is still time to learn and grow in this area of hospitality. You can read books, magazines, blogs – but the best way is to find a mentor who can teach you how. You can quietly observe a hostess that you admire in how she pulls it all together.

My parents were good role models. Our home did not have to be perfect before they invited people in. And they always included my sisters and me by having us help get ready, cook, and set the table—mistakes and all. We witnessed the benefits and happiness that living a hospitable life brought to our parents. Their happiness did not revolve around perfection. It was a matter of the heart. – The Reluctant Entertainer

I don’t know about you, but for me, I want to continue to learn how to be a gracious hostess. I am not perfect in this area, but I want to strive to have more grace in my interactions with others.

How are your menu and shopping lists coming together this week?

Come back tomorrow for an amazing GIVEAWAY from Back 40 Life … you won’t believe how beautiful it is … I have one hanging in my house! And if you are a bit behind on your Thanksgiving Day planning and you missed Week 1, you can catch up, HERE.

I’m excited to be hosting Thanksgiving this year in my home. The last few years my family and I have been out of town, over at the high desert, where we created wonderful memories with our kids. Let’s say that our colorful friends are coming this year. The Greens, Blacks, and Browns – 4 families, a total of 18 people.

Here are my thoughts on planning a dinner, on how to be organized, and how to make the meal come together, with little stress.

It’s easy to either dread the day, or to love the day. To be completely disorganized or to have a plan where it all flows easily.

My timeline goes like this: If you are planning a traditional turkey dinner, I’ve found it’s exciting to venture out and to try a few new recipes. Personally, I don’t feel like you have to “test” a new recipe, either. With the traditional menu, why not change it up a bit and try something new? There’s always an abundance of food on Thanksgiving Day, so if a new recipe isn’t the “star” recipe for the day, that is okay. (You will just make a note that you do not want to make it again).

Do this NOW — this weekend!
1. Notebook: Gather or buy a notebook (Dollar store works!)
2. Guest List: Write out your guest list.
3. Menu: Plan the menu and decide what YOU want to cook first, and then what you want your guests to contribute. (But be flexible!)
4. Invite: Call or email your guests and invite.
5. Delegate: When you hear back from your guests, follow up right away and tell them what you’d like them to bring.

Example Menu for Traditional Thanksgiving Meal:
Remember, have fun and gourmet it up a bit! (I am Coughlin, the hostess, so you can see exactly what I will be making.)

Drinks – Coughlin and Black
Appetizers – Smith and Brown
Turkey – Coughlin
Dressing – Green
Potatoes – Coughlin
Sweet Potatoes – Coughlin
Vegetable – Smith and Green
Salad – Brown and Black
Rolls – Green
Dessert – Coughlin and Black and Brown

Since I am the hostess, I am preparing most of the food, but not all of the food. Thanksgiving is a time to include everyone in the meal. If you feel you have to do it all, to be honest, I feel sorry for you. You will be exhausted. I am not super-woman and I need the help.

Plus, I love how each family can contribute to such a beautiful day.

Have you made your Thanksgiving Day invitation?

Have you planned your Thanksgiving Meal?

You’ve got your homework outlined for you this weekend, so get going on your planning! Next week, join me for Part II of organizing your recipes, shopping list, and thinking about the table! Watch for the promised Balcony Girl’s Apple Charlottes recipe and the Pecan Pie recipe that goes with this easy “no-roll” pie crust! Have a great weekend, friends!

When I see day old bread in the grocery store, and it’s the yummy kind that makes a delicious Breakfast Casserole, I buy a couple of loaves.

Then I take off the top crust, pull apart. Put into Ziploc bags.

And freeze. Ready to pull out any time when I know I need to make a large breakfast the next day.

Like I did when I made this Breakfast Casserole. (BTW, I have this recipe and another, Pear Vanilla French Toast, in my new book. It’s perfect for house guests, if you want to prepare the night before.)

It’s good to think ahead and be prepared.

Do you ever prepare ingredients in advance and freeze? What’s your favorite breakfast casserole recipe?

I was looking around my kitchen to see what I could do to make it sparkle a bit more, knowing we had another dinner party coming up. I had already put a lot of miscellaneous stuff away, canning jars that needed to go out into the garage, white platters that belonged in their own spaces, and then my eyes met the messy fridge.

I knew I had to clean it off!

So all the Christmas pictures came down.

I used Windex to make the front shine!

And then I realized having a clean fridge front actually made my kitchen feel larger.

I always put pictures on my fridge after Christmas. And we enjoy our friends for a few months. But then they start to feel cluttered (sorry, friends!) and it’s time to put them away.

When’s the last time you’ve cleaned off the front of your fridge? Do you like the fresher feel?

And tell me what you do with all the wonderful Christmas pictures that you get in the mail every year?

Fifteen years of history, I see as I’ve flipped through the index cards that I have rubber-banded together. I see names of couples and families, along with faces etched in my mind. The dates of when we had these families over, or even what I served, is not what’s gnawing at me. No, the “names” and memories are what’s staring at me …

What has happened to this couple? Why did they divorce? We used to have so much in common! Oh, the pain that their family has endured … as I think of one couple in particular who did divorce, and then a few years later they lost a child.

My mind then takes off and starts to contemplate relationships. We’re made for them, we’re to pursue them, we need them – but oh so often they can turn into a painful situations as things don’t turn out the way we expect. It’s true that differences, different paths, or even pride can get in the way of what was once a close-knit relationship. Sometimes they change because they’re no longer healthy. We all grow and mature and sometimes life takes us in different directions.

But there is still a memory. A strong feeling. A good feeling. A deep feeling of love. That is what hospitality is all about.

The great writer Henri Nouwen describes hospitality as “a central attitude of the minister who wants to make his own wounded condition available to others as a source of healing.”

Being real and opening up our homes and lives with others can actually help heal our guest’s hurts. That is just a beautiful thought!

Back to my index cards that I started on Day #1 of my marriage: A set of index cards on which I recorded the name, date and what I served for my guests. I did this in fear that I would serve the same thing twice to my guests – God forbid! But little did I know that almost 20 years later, as I flip through these cards, that they would have deeper meaning …

“We do not know where we will be two, ten or twenty years from now. What we can know, however, is that man suffers and that a sharing of suffering can make us move forward.” (Henri Nouwen)

Do you ever reminisce about couples or individuals you’ve dined with?

On Christmas Eve, as we were preparing for our course of a progressive dinner where 13 people would be joining together in our kitchen (buffet style), it was getting down to the wire.

On the Eve, and throughout the day, we counted 7 families who stopped by with goodies and gifts. We felt so honored and loved!

But as I kept looking up at the clock (4:30, 5:10, 5:20), and I knew our guests were coming in 10 minutes, I lost it. I was saying things like, why are we doing this? why do I commit to these things? get the salad ready! put the drinks here! wipe the counters! put this away! put that away! … and then I ran into my bedroom to put on a dress, boots, scarf, and lipstick.

DING-DONG.

What wasn’t done wasn’t done. Period. The night of Christmas Eve was about to begin.

Later we talked about the night as a family.

TRUTHS
1. It was cool how our whole family rallied together in the last 30 minutes and got everything done!
2. We were thankful for all of the friends that stopped by to wish us good cheer!
3. It was good I had thought ahead to what I wanted to wear, and had it laid out.
4. Once 5:30 hit and we started settling in with our guests, we forgot about the “mad rush,” and we were able to relax.

REGRETS
1. I didn’t start earlier in the kitchen that day to get prepared.
2. We weren’t able to take the time to sit down and visit with each family that stopped by.
3. I wasn’t more gracious in welcoming the people who came to my door. Instead I kept working away.

So here is a New Year’s question for you. If you knew you had around 15 people coming to dinner at your house, and this scenario happened to you, do you think it’s better to take the time and sit down and talk with the guests and let the “schedule” go out the door?

Or, keeping in mind that a progressive dinner means that you have to stay on a “schedule,” do you think I did the right thing by letting our friends come into our messy world (the kitchen was a disaster!) and chat with us while we continued to prepare appetizers, do dishes, and I guess you’d say “multi-task?”

I’d love to hear your thoughts? And I’ll tell you ahead of time, since each person has their own hostessing style, there really isn’t a right or wrong answer!