Here we are in mid-July! Gearing up for fall and the busy market season ahead while still trying to savor every last ounce of summer. I know that there's still 2 full months of meteorological summer left, but somehow once that calendar flips to August it feels like every day is even that much more precious. We've been doing lots of fun things, including peach picking, camping, cooking out, watching outdoor plays, visiting the river, and lots of trips to the pool!
Another thing I've been trying to be more intentional about is gathering. Sometimes it can be hard to extend the invitation to others, knowing that it can often make for extra work. But I never, ever regret doing it once we have. And that's what Crowded Table is all about - connecting us with those that matter the most to us. So how to make that easy enough to actually push us to actually DO IT? I have a few suggestions.
1 - Know your style. Some people are built for big parties with lots of mingling and conversations; if that's your style, invite away! I do enjoy a big gathering, but right now I'm definitely preferring smaller groups to help make space for deeper conversations and less stress for me in the preparation, which helps me to enjoy the get-together more. If you have young kids (as I do), being mindful of potential playmates and who might be left out in certain settings can help drive the invitation. Be mindful and intentional in whom you're choosing to spend your time with.
2 - Set the date. Life is BUSY. I don't think we are extraordinary by any stretch so I imagine you can relate, but the calendar can get filled up in a hurry if you don't plan ahead. Plus, I love the anticipation of knowing when I'm going to see someone!
3 - Set a simple menu. Don't feel the need to impress; your guests want to enjoy time with you, not feel like you're rushing around to get the next course ready. Summer gatherings are practically meant for casual foods; give in to it and save fancier dishes for another season! Plus, it's usually too hot to turn on the oven! We've been LIVING on snack boards/charcuterie boards, and my kids get so excited when I break this out for dinner. Even if it's chalk-full of healthy options, they love the choices and I love how easy it is.
A few other recipes I've been loving for serving to guests, bringing to gatherings, and making for my own family this summer
- Gaby's Cucumber Salad
- Peach Caprese Salad
- Fried Chicken Sandwiches
- Napa Sweet Corn Salad
- Honey Mustard Chicken Salad
- Peach Cobbler
- Homemade Popsicles - we LOVE these!
Got any other recipe suggestions? Send them my way!
4 - Make your space welcoming. No need to clean the whole house; give the bathroom a quick once-over, set out some fresh towels, light a candle, and put on some music. Evening gathering? Twinkle lights make everything better. We were recently at friends' who had an “Adult Cooler” and a “Kid Cooler” available; this was so welcoming and helped everyone to feel at home right away.
5 - Give yourself grace. Something will flop. The corn will get burnt. You'll have fruit flies in your kitchen. A kid or two will misbehave. Oh well. You're human, and so is everyone else. But memories are made in the doing, in the gathering; those faux-pas will become something to laugh about. So just do it!
So look at the calendar and get something on there! Let me know how it turns out - and please send me any yummy recipes I need to try! xo – Cheryl
PS - In-person markets will resume in mid-August, but you can always shop online or at one of my retail partners to snag a hostess gift or set the stage for your own gathering with a lovely scent! (Or scare away the bugs - Citronella is 20% off right now!)