Popcorn, potato chips, french fries, hot dogs and birthday cake – these junk foods conjure up memories of movie theaters, spring training baseball games, or maybe a child’s birthday party complete with balloons, pinata and birthday candles. Normally these foods don’t recall thoughts of delicacies like champagne, pinot noir, or caviar. But why can’t ordinary, ... Read More about Junk Food and Champagne? How to Pair Fun Food and Wine!

The post Junk Food and Champagne? How to Pair Fun Food and Wine! first appeared on to have + to host.

A few months ago I was in the mood for a blue and white tablescape but couldn’t find any placemats or chargers I wanted to use, so I decided to try my hand at making my own and came up with an idea for a DIY fabric charger. I absolutely love how these turned out ... Read More about Here’s How to Make Your Own DIY Fabric Chargers

The post Here’s How to Make Your Own DIY Fabric Chargers first appeared on to have + to host.

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

The post How to Dress up a Backyard Patio Table first appeared on to have + to host.

Sometimes one of the most effective ways to create a dramatic centerpiece is actually by using something very simple. I’m talking about wood branches and how these can be incorporated into any tablesetting, or home decor, for an amazing affect with little effort. A great example is my purple country table that I set recently ... Read More about Purple Country Table: How to Use Wood Branches

The post Purple Country Table: How to Use Wood Branches first appeared on to have + to host.

Can you believe that Thanksgiving is only about 6 weeks away? Have you started planning your table decor yet? Maybe not, but for decor geeks like me, I’m always looking for ways to plan ahead and take one thing off my list so I can focus on what really matters: my guests. The inspiration for ... Read More about Time to Plan Thanksgiving: A Purple Table Idea

The post Time to Plan Thanksgiving: A Purple Table Idea first appeared on to have + to host.

If you don’t have a Trader Joe’s in your area, I’m going to apologize in advance, because it may be the greatest store for seasonal finds ever! Imagine my surprise when I walked in the other day and found these gorgeous blush-colored gourds – perfect for my pink pumpkin table! They had them in all ... Read More about Pink Pumpkin Table: An Unexpected Twist on Fall Decor

The post Pink Pumpkin Table: An Unexpected Twist on Fall Decor first appeared on to have + to host.

I knew I was meant to entertain when I began collecting dishes in high school. This particular set of hand-painted pottery on this Italian table started as one plate over 30 years ago and had been growing slowly ever since. I absolutely love how this looks on my dining table – not one pattern is ... Read More about A Dreamy Italian Table: My Authentic Dinnerware Collection

The post A Dreamy Italian Table: My Authentic Dinnerware Collection first appeared on to have + to host.

The idea of a seafood picnic clambake supposedly originated in New England – Northern coastal Native Americans steamed shellfish (clams, lobsters, mussels) over hot stones covered by seaweed, and this practice was later adopted by early settlers on the Atlantic Coast as a way to celebrate the abundance of the bountiful ocean. I’ve always admired ... Read More about New England Clambake: West Coast Style

The post New England Clambake: West Coast Style first appeared on to have + to host.

One of the traditions in my family, since I was a child, is allowing the birthday girl or boy to choose their party theme and menu. So when my daughter had a milestone birthday this summer, right in the middle of COVID, she requested a tropical birthday party with a Hawaiian-inspired menu. Normally, it would ... Read More about Tropical Birthday Party: Hawaiian-Inspired

The post Tropical Birthday Party: Hawaiian-Inspired first appeared on to have + to host.

A few months ago, I was asked if I’d like to be featured in a local magazine spotlighting my company, To Have + To Host. The issue was about Mompreneurs – just like it sounds – moms in the metropolitan Phoenix area who have started their own businesses and are their own bosses. Naturally, I ... Read More about Blue and White Garden Dinner Party: Postponed

The post Blue and White Garden Dinner Party: Postponed first appeared on to have + to host.