Crazy Crab! An EASY, Impromptu First Course!
Prepare to dazzle your guests with my easy and oh-so-delectable first course, which will be whipped up in a snap! Picture this: a bed of fresh, tender bib lettuce leaves on a pretty salad plate. Then, add the star of the show, a generous layer of succulent lump crab meat. Crown the lump crabmeat with […]
Holly’s Easy-Peasy Cheddar Drop Biscuits!
Running short on time? These easy-peasy cheddar cheese drop biscuits are delightfully simple! When I found myself running short on time before a dinner party where I had promised to bring my homemade biscuits, my dear granddaughter Felicity stepped in to save the day! She whipped up a fresh batch of our favorite cheddar cheese […]
Chargers: When NOT to use them!
The topic of chargers came to mind when a friend asked about displaying them at a wedding reception dinner. A “charger” is a plate that is more significant in diameter than a dinner plate. It is also referred to as a service plate or an underplate. While chargers are used for decorative purposes these days, […]
A Charming Dinner Party Seating Plan: The Secret 2-2-2 Method!
When it comes to a dinner party seating plan, we all know the traditional rules of how to seat guests for table diplomacy: 🌸 There is the old adage that “six seats itself,” in which the host and hostess anchor the ends of the dining room table, allowing the other two couples to easily mix. […]
Hostess Etiquette: Taking the Mystery Out of the Dress Code
The golden rule of hosting is simple. We want our guests to feel entirely at ease and enjoy themselves! Yet, even the most seasoned hostesses can make a dress code assumption, which can lead to a rather awkward, yet entirely well-intentioned, mishap. A dear friend of mine recently invited a group of ladies for a […]
How to Use and Repurpose Your Fine China and Silver Every Day!
Something my parents instilled in me by example, was to use our best pieces EVERY day… not just for special occasions! So, are your finest treasures trapped behind glass? We often keep our “best” pieces tucked away, waiting for a grand occasion that feels “worthy” of them. But a true secret to lovely living is […]
The Art of the Gracious Guest: Essential Etiquette No-Nos for Your Next Party
While visiting my daughter, Alexandra, in Berlin, Germany, she hosted a delightful impromptu cocktail party in my honor. Alexandra and her charming friends, whom I simply adore, always make such a lovely gesture of welcoming me when I visit. As we prepared the wine and cheese, our conversation turned to the “unwritten rules” of being […]
Floral Arrangement Secrets for Dinner Party Entertaining!
There is nothing quite like the magic of flowers to bring a room to life and signal to your guests that an elegant evening awaits. Whether I am plucking blossoms from our garden at Fox Hall or selecting a few stems from the florist, preparing my floral arrangements is pure joy for me! I want […]
Repurposing Family Silver Treasures: The Story of “Truffle Trays”
A Short & Sweet Secret: The Story of “Truffle Trays” I imagine you love to repurpose silver as much as I do! I inherited some darling, small, round silver trays from Mummy. I wasn’t quite sure how she used them or what their original purpose was, but in the spirit of lovely living, I decided […]
Secret Candle Etiquette: How to Prepare a Proper Candle!
What a stupendous time Stuart and I had with the CEO.org team planning our next “Live Royally” event for 2027. We explored breathtaking palaces and private castles in Salzburg and Vienna, Austria. Everywhere I turned, from the grandest ballrooms to the more intimate dining chambers, I would tilt my head back to admire the gilded […]
Table Etiquette: Which Direction Do You Pass Anything at a Dinner Table?
The No-No to Know: Keep Passing! This isn’t earth-shattering, but I have witnessed this more often than I can count on my hands! Have you ever attended a dinner party, a large charity function, or a wedding where an item is being passed from guest to guest- perhaps a basket of warm biscuits, savory gravy, […]
The Art of Being a Gracious Houseguest
After years of hosting at Fox Hall, and Animal Haus in Vermont, my husband and I have been fortunate to have some truly delightful houseguests. Their impeccable manners have touched my heart and serve as brilliant examples of how a guest can contribute and be “easy keepers”… the kind of guests you want to have […]