New On The Blog

M y 10 Favorite
Hostess Gifts

Giving a party requires a great deal of work. If you have been fortunate enough to be included in a festive soiree, it is nice to arrive with a gift for the hostess. The typical present will cost anywhere from $15-$100. What you spend will be determined by your relationship and the type of event. Is it a formal dinner? A backyard BBQ? Also, when possible, know the likes and dislikes of your hostess. If she is allergic to flowers, you probably will not arrive with a bouquet in hand.

H ow to Create
a Tablescape
i n 8 Steps

1. Choose the table. Will you use a round that seats four or a rectangle that seats twelve? This decision will determine your centerpiece.

1 2 Tips on Dog
E tiquette

Warmer weather will be arriving soon, and I am seeing more of our four-legged members making an appearance in the dog parks and on walking trails. With pets taking more prominent roles in our lives, I thought it would be good to brush up on basic dog etiquette and ownership responsibilities.

L et's Celebrate

Meeting friends for dinner after work, grabbing coffee with your girlfriend or just ordering pizza on a Friday night with neighbors. We all have a deep desire to be connected in a world that often forgets the importance of relationships. Many of us have the desire to entertain, but we let our circumstances keep us from extending hospitality. Often it revolves around our lack of confidence in our ability to host events. I get this!

T he Art of
T oasting

A toast may be offered in any setting and made to an individual or a group. Increase your confidence at your next social gathering by learning the ins and outs of this ancient tradition.

A Party Idea
f or Each
M onth of the
Y ear

A perfect entertaining year for me would be hosting a different themed party each month! Will I do that? No. Will I dream about it? Yes! If I cannot have a party every 4 weeks, I can at least help my Lisa Lou family with ideas so hopefully a few of you can carry the torch of hospitality for the rest of us.

4 Things to
Say in a Thank
You Note

Remember as children, during holidays, we would spend what seemed like hours creating homemade craft projects for our parents? It might be a paper Christmas snowflake sprinkled with glitter or a cutout heart for Valentine’s Day. We would address it: To: Mom or To: Dad. We would sign our name, and this became the gift we gave our parents. The act of giving is how we should view all letters, especially a thank you note. We may not be cutting out cute hearts, but when we take time to put pen to paper and share a little of ourselves with someone else, we are giving a part of our heart to another person.

5 Senses of
C hristmas
E ntertaining

A successful hostess remembers one of the most important factors to make her guests feel welcome: engage all 5 senses! When entertaining, ask yourself, “How have I embraced taste, smell, sight, sound and feel?” It is easy to do and your friends and family will be left saying to themselves, “I don’t know what is was, but that was a fabulous party!”

Family Friendly Holiday Cookie
Swap

As your holiday social calendar is no doubt filling up, you may be looking for a family friendly party idea to get into the spirit! A Christmas Cookie Swap is wonderful for large groups and something the entire family will enjoy! I would recommend inviting at least six families so there are enough cookies for the exchange. This party idea is budget friendly for young families, the ingredients for the cookies are generally inexpensive, and your party décor is already in place with festive decorating.

Lisa Lou
- Oct 11, 2022
- 3 min read

Attire: What Do I Wear to the Party?

You just received an invitation to a party, and the attire says: Shabby Chic; Razzle Dazzle; Cowboy Couture.

WHAT????

Word to hostesses: when listing the attire on the invitation for a party, make it clear. We do not want our guests to solve a riddle to understand what is expected of them. There is a phrase I like to quote, “To be unclear is to be unkind.” When we are unclear, this only serves to add stress on those we have invited. An invitation to a party should be a joyful experience from beginning to end. I grew up with a grandfather that was a cattleman. If I received an invitation that said “cowboy” in it, I would don my favorite pair of jeans, polish my boots, and head out the door. The word “couture” might give me a clue that I should elevate my choice of attire, but why leave your guests wondering?

Here is a guide that will help clear up any confusion you might have.

Casual

Let me clarify up front. Casual does not mean athletic gear or cutoff shorts. Save this for the gym or yard work.

Women: If your invitation says casual, the best choice is a pair of jeans and a cute top. A comfortable pair of crop pants and flats always works, too.

Men: A nice pair of jeans and a collared shirt. This can be a golf shirt or a button down with the sleeves rolled up. *

*Casual Chic

Women: Step up your game a little in the casual department. Add heals with your jeans and throw on a blazer.

Men: If you mix jeans with a sports jacket, you will fit right in.

Business Casual or Business:

Women: Skirt or slacks with a sweater and flats for a casual look. A blouse, blazer, and heels for business.

Men: Slacks, a collared shirt, and a sports coat for a casual look. Maybe add a fun tie. For business go with a traditional suit and tie. You may switch up the color of your shirts but stick with traditional colors.

Cocktail

Women: A short, black dress is usually a great “go-to” outfit. Anything ankle length is also nice. Throw on some jewelry, heels, and a great handbag, and you are set.

Men: Dark suit, white shirt, and a tie.

Black Tie Optional

I find this dress code more difficult, because it leaves people wondering which way they should go. Let me clear this up. When the hostess of an event says “optional” what they are trying to say is, “If you do not own a tux, or do not feel like renting one, we do not want this to keep you from attending our event, so come on anyway.” The hostess is saying she wants you in a tuxedo, but your presence is more important to her than your attire. So, when my husband and I receive a Black-Tie Optional invitation, we always err on the dressier side and go Black Tie! If you do not wish to do this here is the best choice.

Women: A longer dress (does not need to be floor length), heels, great jewelry, and an evening handbag.

Men: Very dark suit, white shirt, and very dark tie. Preferably a solid black or dark navy. This can be a regular tie or a bow tie.

Black Tie/Formal

This is the easiest to decipher because we all know what to expect.

Women: Floor length gown, heels, elegant drop earrings and an evening handbag.

Men: Tuxedo. In all things know your audience and your hostess. A Hollywood gala or political black-tie event might be dressier than a friend’s 7p.m. wedding. Use your judgement and feel free to ask the hostess what she is wearing. This is sometimes the best route!

Together with you,

Lisa Lou

*A comment about men and shorts. In our casual culture, it is more common and acceptable to see grown men wearing shorts. A word of caution, though. Here is a quick recap on the history of shorts and when they should and should not be worn.