The Heathy Hedonist’s Guide to Hosting
Everyone loves a party! But sometimes the joy of bringing people together can get lost in a flurry of ‘to do’ lists…
…of food or gift buying: of balancing work and (let’s face it) your own expectations of the perfect gathering, rather than your guests’ (who are generally just thrilled to be invited!). Well, no more! With our combined years of experience at La Maison Wellness, below are our top tips for stress-free mindful hosting… Whether that be for an established holiday like Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year… or a ‘the sun’s out’ casual, impromptu barbeque! Prepare for your loved ones to be wow-ed, and for everyone to have fun- including and especially YOU Healthy Hedonist!
1. Fill your own cup
And we don’t just mean literally… although hosting & party prep will always be that bit more enjoyable with a Mindful Cocktail in hand! At La Maison Wellness we believe that you cannot give to others, at least not in the purest sense, without first attending to yours truly. This translates in a very practical way: think of the parties you’ve attended where the host is clearly stressed… did that make you feel great as a guest? Whether it means scaling down your expectations of an event, or even cancelling/ postponing if that’s what is necessary… if your guests are worth your hospitality, they will understand! Coming together to celebrate is the true spirit… as long as no-one loses sight of that, we guarantee you’ll have a perfect gathering!
2. Don’t sweat the small stuff
Make a list of the things that are hindering your enjoyment/ anticipation of hosting. The items that are causing you stress. We imagine 9/10 times your list will be along the lines of ‘my home is a mess’, ‘I don’t have the budget for fancy food/ decorations’… or ‘I don’t have anything to wear!’ Now make a list of the reasons that you’re bringing people together. Is it to show off your immaculate living space or share some Mindful Cocktails & hopefully fill the room with laughter? To create special memories, or curate the perfect outfit? Once you realise that what is causing you stress doesn’t necessarily align with special memories or even a great party, hopefully you can focus on the heart of hosting- anticipating quality time with the people you love!
3. Prep-prep-prep.
That said, being time-poor or financially restricted doesn’t have to mean less of a party! Our no. 1 secret to success is that making things easy on yourself will not make for a lesser gathering. For this reason, we recommend punch-style recipes: Mindful Cocktails where all the ingredients can be combined a few hours before & stored without ice, ready for serving. This means you can focus on having fun with your friends, rather than being stuck in the kitchen bartending. Check out ‘Pleased as Punch’, ‘Cup of Love’, or our Mindful Sangrias for inspiration!
4. Delegate
More often than not, the people you are hosting are your closest friends and family and their motivations for attending also do not align with the “small stuff”.
People are coming to see you and likely appreciate that you’re making the effort to host the gathering. Don’t be afraid to ask others to pitch in, by bringing a small plate of food, some nibbles or even an activity. Quite often, it makes your guests more invested in the party!
5. Make sure that everyone has a seat at your table.
Last, but not least, and arguably most important… is to make sure that everyone feels welcome! The La Maison Wellness website has tons of recipes and products spanning all approaches to alcohol and/or dietary restrictions from moderating to sober, lactose or gluten-intolerant, to sugar-free!
