While certain stores are telling us it is Christmas time (I'm looking at you, um, every store) the truth is that it is fall and I am celebrating it by showing you, my lovely readers, my pictures from a Halloween/Fall open house we hosted for our neighborhood. Open houses are a fantastic way to entertain because the times are fixed and YOU get to fix those times!
1. First I created a simple invitation/flyer. This was stuffed into everyone's mailbox in our neighborhood. I made sure to let our invitees know that they were not obligated to come at a specific time during that 2 hour window and they could stay as long as they liked. I also put that it would be held outside so people could dress appropriately. I did this quickly and could have lined it up perfectly blah blah blah but I didn't because life. You will though.
2. Everyone knows the most important of every party (after your guests, right?) is the food! Open houses need food that doesn't need to be piping hot, frozen, or eaten in a certain window of time since everyone will be eating at different times. Slow cookers are a must for anything hot you may decide to serve but I try to think of finger foods (no utensils!) that are both kid and adult friendly and need no preparation.This is not the time for Great Grandma's sardine souffle.
Placing food in its own
one-serving container makes it easy for guests to eat, mingle, and play.
Offer enough beverages that people have a choice but not a whole bar. I like to have two alcoholic options and two non-alcoholic options. This year we had a slow cooker of hot chocolate that could be "warmed up" with brandy or Irish cream if one was so inclined. This is easy entertaining so offering a whole fancy hot cocoa bar was not happening but a pretty dish of marshmallows is a must!
We also offered cold beer, water, and apple cider. Tags on the straws on which guests can write their names ensures no cup mix ups.
3. Games or an activity is a also a must if you are hosting a party with children. We put out a few lawn games such as ladder ball and bean bag tosses. A fun party activity is tying donuts to the trees and the kids have to eat them without their hands. And when the donuts are gone they can just climb the tree, apparently.
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| or the kids can just eat the donuts like my sweet fox, Ellie. |
4. Decorations can set a festive mood but don't need to be extravagant. I used a tablecloths I already had and I topped them with a yard of burlap. I grabbed a few decorations from my mantel and put them on the table too. I found the cute sparkly bat pics at the craft store and my decorations were done! Jim moved our mums to the tables too but again, we already had those. No fuss stuff.
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| Pixie photobombed me. Stinker. |
5. Lastly, as a host it is your job to mingle and bring people together who may not know each other. Remember to introduce people or to introduce yourself to new faces. You are obligated to make your guests as comfortable as possible! Walk around and ask if anyone needs a refill, invite guests to help themselves to food, play a game or two to get the kids started, and make room on your table for any offerings your guests may bring.
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| My neighbor baked and decorated these cookies. Aren't they fab? |
Open house entertaining is a carefree way to bring friends and family together!
Cheers!
Jenny
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