• Candles. Lots of them.
• Clean up clutter, make bathroom pretty
• Keep it simple
• Stay organized
• Offer both hot and cold foods
• Mix colors & textures (e.g. puree & crisp)
• Don’t mix ingredients (e.g. shrimp, pasta)
• Choose things that can be prepared ahead of time
• Lighter to heavier courses
• Bring in seasonal items - strawberries
• Low-maintenance meal
• Use pre-made items
• Need: paper plates and napkins, maybe cups
• Remember music playlist!
• Push furniture to sides of room
• Pick place to set up food/drinks
• Set out serving plates etc beforehand
• Menu portions:
  • Apps: Three to four pieces per person is plenty. Pair cheese with olives, fruit and mixed nuts to bulk up the platter.
  • Salad: Plan on 1 to 1½ cups of lettuce per person, especially if you’re adding nuts, dried fruit and cheese.
  • Sides: Allow ½ lb. per person of a fresh, uncooked vegetable. If you're serving two vegetable sides and one potato side, start with 3 lbs. of each vegetable, which is enough to serve six people on its own, and keep the potatoes at the same ½ lb. per person. With rice, grains and pasta, estimate about 2 oz. per person.
  • Drinks: With wine, have one bottle for every two guests. Serving a signature cocktail? Have at least a gallon for 12 people and add a sprinkle of edible gold leaf to each glass for extra sparkle. ($26 for 100 mg, surlatable.com)
  • Dessert: One cake will serve 12 people.

7 p.m. day before -- Set table, stock bar and put premade frozen sides into the fridge to thaw.10:00 a.m./noon -- Rise and shine! Start your veggie side dishes and stash in the fridge to be reheated later.3/4:30 p.m. -- Preheat oven and then put your meat in depending on type.4:30 p.m. -- Make cheese plate and set out to warm to room temperature.4:45/5 p.m. – Shower and get ready.6:15 p.m. -- Fill ice bucket.6:20 p.m. -- Meat is done! Take out and let rest. Put premade sides in oven or on stove.6:30 p.m. -- Guests arrive! Pop open the wine and enjoy the company.7:00 p.m. -- Dinner is served.

• Menu:
  • Gougeres
  • Cheeses
  • Sunflower cake from Masis Bakery
  • Lemon Pepper Couscous with Basil
  • Pasta with
  • Martinelli’s (1:3 ratio x 2 - maybe)
  • Pink Lemonade
  • Brownies
  • Snickerdoodles or Pound Cake or Chocolate Chip cookies
  • Something with brown butter or shrimp or lentils or zucchini or green beans or pesto
  • Potato gratin
  • Almonds
  • Baguette
  • Summer vegetable lasagna or vegetarian chili
  • Salad
• Games
  • Who Am I?
  • Murder/Mafia
  • more active: Cranium