One of the key signs of a good hostess is your guests don't want to leave. Time gets away from everyone while laughing and enjoying great times together. Growing up in a small Southern town, I knew so many ladies who made this look easy. It seemed to just happen with little effort. Now that I am older, I know it doesn't just happen. It is mastered through making your house a home and being prepared for entertaining.
If there were degrees given in the art of entertaining, my dear friend Charlene Holtsford would receive one. Whether the gathering is great or small, she is always appropriately prepared. Charlene has certainly made her house a lovely home, and it is always hard to leave.
I helped Charlene with a dinner in the Spring and observed her in action. I used this time to pinpoint how she makes it look so easy. I found that Charlene's gift lies in the details and preparing early. She has also accumulated an invaluable collection of serving pieces, that were chosen for their versatility as well as being pretty.
Even though she made the dinner party look effortless, she had gone over every detail beforehand. The house was beautiful, the food was delicious and the evening was lovely. In addition to being an excellent hostess, Charlene is the mother of three boys, a fabulous cook, a former Junior League President and the best volunteer recruiter there is!
As we all aspire to be a gracious Southern hostess, I hope you can find monogrammed serving pieces that work for your events, both large and small. I love the versatility of acrylic and how it blends with fine china or tailgating with paper plates! Come to a Mark It With a B party in your town and find that go-to piece that you will use again and again.
