The Summer Entertaining Series is all about sharing my tips and tricks to hosting beautiful gatherings, large and small during the summertime – with ease. I grew up valuing the experience of sharing food and drink with family, friends, neighbors – anyone and everyone. There is so much power and connection around food, and summertime is such a fun time to bring people together! I cannot WAIT to share all of the fun stuff I have planned over the next few weeks with you guys!
I am SO unbelievably excited to finally be sharing my Summer Entertaining Series with you guys! This is something that has been on my mind and my heart for a very long time. Summer is always the time (aside from the holidays), where people are getting together more, enjoying the gorgeous summer nights, and spending time with family and friends. Hosting beautiful, low stress gatherings is something that I hear so many of you needing help with! Which is exactly why I created this series – I am here for you guys to help inspire you to host any type of gathering you might want. Large and small, impromptu and planned, indoor and outdoor, with friends, neighbors, family, colleagues – literally any and every type of gathering you could imagine.
I grew up in what I call an “entertaining family.”
There was always food to be enjoyed, family or friends who would stop by, and good memories that were cherished around the table. My mom always hosted the most beautiful parties and I grew up watching her orchestrate them. Sometimes they were large and elaborate, and sometimes they were super small and impromptu. But they were always special.
And it wasn’t always about the food or how seemingly perfect and beautiful they were. Yes, of course, there was always amazing food and drink – but the real power of these gatherings, was that the food and drink itself brought us together. I’m such a firm believer in the power of connection that food brings us, and I want to show you guys exactly how to take the stress out of entertaining and making these kinds of gatherings happen.
It all starts with having a plan, and a few things in your back pocket, that are easy to throw together, no-fuss, and gorgeous to boot. And most of all, FUN!
I often get asked things like, “How do you put those cheeseboards together? It looks so daunting and perfect. I could never do that.” Or, “How do you make recipes ahead of time so that you can spend time with your guests and not over the stove?”
Overall, the biggest struggles I heard from you guys:
- how to be motivated to hostess this summer (trust me, I know it can seem overwhelming, and that’s why I’m here to help!)
- make ahead apps, drinks, and snacks
- pitcher-friendly cocktails AND mocktails!
- prepping for a variety of dietary restrictions
- making easy, but beautiful/fancy seeming spreads (basically, how to fake your guests out!)
- how to spend time with your guests and actually enjoy the party
- making the whole process low stress, and fun!
I’ve 100% been there myself and I can totally relate to all of these struggles – which is why I created this series in the first place!
Over the next few weeks, I have so many fun things in store for you guys and I can hardly wait! I’ll be:
- showing you exactly, step-by-step how I put together a summer cheeseboard to please a crowd, large or small!
- pitcher friendly cocktail recipes (and a mocktail pitcher too!)
- make ahead menus
- entertaining friendly recipes
- my favorite summer adult beverage picks (from rosé, to summer beers, to hard seltzers!)
- the best s’mores combinations
- and lots more!
My goal with this series is to show you that entertaining can be stress-free, and most importantly, so much fun. And most of all, I hope that I inspire you to bring friends, family, neighbors – whoever it may be, together. And that it doesn’t have to be fancy, or super planned out. I hope that what I have to share makes you want to create something special and connect with people you love, around amazing food and drink!
I am SO excited to bring you this series and I can’t wait for you guys to join me in hosting and entertaining this summer, no matter how large or small the gathering!
If you’d like to stay in the loop and receive my summer entertaining tips & tricks into your inbox, you can sign up using the form below!
If you’re not already following my on Instagram, be sure to do so here. I will be sharing fun bonuses on Instagram only during the series! If you make any of the recipes during the series, or if I inspire you host any kind of party or get-together, be sure to tag me, @spicesinmydna, and hashtag #summerentertainingseries on Instagram or Facebook!
Sending all of you a virtual cheers! Thank you so much for being here. I appreciate every one of you so much! xoxo
P.S. I told my brother to try this amazingly delicious passionfruit beer and this was his immediate reaction. He just loves to mess with me. Spoiler alert: this beer ended up being his favorite of the night! I just love that Brittany was able to capture this moment. I’m STILL laughing about it.
All of these beautiful photos were taken by the super talented Brittany of Brittany Dunbar Photography.
I love your enthusiasm! Can’t wait for the tips & tricks & recipes.
Thank you so much Denise – I appreciate that! I can’t wait to share!