The idea of how to host a successful home party for 200+ high schoolers and their families sounds like an enormous task, doesn’t it? Just the thought of it can give anyone anxiety!  So, how did I create a large home party (64 kids and 140 parents and grandparents) seamlessly with grace, fun and calm for ... Read More about You Can Host a Successful Home Party

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Summer is made for alfresco dining! What’s even more enjoyable this time of year is finding ways to celebrate with a small, intimate group of friends outdoors and create a memorable experience. That’s why when Yankee Candle came to me (full disclosure, I am a Yankee Candle Ambassador) with their new Signature Collection, I knew ... Read More about Garden Tea Party with a Flavored Iced Tea Bar

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If you followed me for anytime now, you may have noticed that alfresco dining is my absolute favorite way to entertain and serve a meal. Most of the year in Phoenix, at least, it’s possible to do this and it’s uncommon to find a restaurant here that doesn’t have some sort of outdoor patio or ... Read More about Alfresco Dining: How to Set an Easy Table

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Here in Phoenix, we are coming into prime alfresco dining season – Spring! Our weather is warming up, but the nights are still cool, so everyone (and their mother!) is yearning to get outside and enjoy dining outdoors. I absolutely love this time of year and take every chance I can get to have dinner ... Read More about How to Dress up a Backyard Patio Table

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One place we never skimp on Christmas festivities is on our outdoor holiday decor. There’s nothing more welcoming than driving up to a home and seeing it brightly lit with sparkling lights, pine garlands, mini Christmas trees and glowing lanterns. In fact there’s a joke in our neighborhood that you can see our house from ... Read More about Outdoor Holiday Decor: How to Add Cheer Outside

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Now is the time when we get to brag about our weather here in Arizona. Because believe me, you don’t want to be here June through September – it’s pretty miserable. That’s when most of the country has their glorious summers and beautiful fall weather. But now that fall is upon us, those of us ... Read More about Tricks on Cleaning Outdoor Cushions: Quickly and Effectively

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I love entertaining and hosting guests at my home – but in 2020 entertaining has looked quite different. I’ve been finding new, creative ways to entertain in the past few months, transitioning from only “hosting” my immediate family of 5, to kicking off our beloved Grandma Dinners again just a few weeks ago. I am ... Read More about The New Micro Event Trend: A Modern Tea Party

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If there’s one thing I love, it’s touring remodeled and renovated homes – especially ones that have character and have maintained the integrity of the home’s original charm. That’s exactly what I found when I was invited on a vintage home tour of my friend’s, Diana Elizabeth Steffen, updated Phoenix cottage bungalow. First off, let ... Read More about Vintage Home Tour: A Phoenix Cottage Bungalow

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To be honest, I had never heard of a cutting garden until a few months ago when I started to do some research on growing a garden for the purpose of not only enjoyment, but for creating your own bouquets! It’s such fun to harvest flowers from your own backyard with the thought of using ... Read More about Designing a Cutting Garden: Your Own Bouquet Source!

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One of my favorite memories as a child was going to the local shopping mall, which was super glamorous at the time, and having a frothy, refreshing Orange Julius drink at the food court. I had to beg my mom, and every once in a while, she would cave into the super sugary, but oh-so-yummy ... Read More about Orange Julius Remake – The Healthy Version

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