SHOP THE LOOK
CRACKERS: c/o Wholey Cheese // COLD SHOULDER TOP: BP. // WHITE SKINNY JEANS: similar SP Black // TROPICAL PRINT WEDGES: Schutz // EARRINGS: c/o Lisi Lerch // PLATES: Anthropologie // PINEAPPLE CUP: c/o Stag & Hen // SUNNIES: Karen Walker // CUFF BRACELET: c/o Julie Vos
Summertime always calls for celebration. Whether an outdoor barbecue with friends or a wine night with the girls, the long days and warm temperatures are reason enough to plan a gathering, so you always want to be prepared to host. Today I’m so excited to partner with a brand you may have heard of, Snyder’s of Hanover, to talk about my top five summer hostess tips and how their Wholey Cheese baked crackers can take a little bit of the stress of out hosting.
Click through to read my tips so you can be the hostess with the mostest this summer.
1 – Start With The Snacks
A great celebration always calls for great food. One of the many things my momma taught me growing up was to always have snacking options readily available for your guests. Whether a small gathering of friends for dinner or a larger birthday party, the key to being a great hostess starts with the snacks.
You probably know Snyder’s of Hanover for their amazing pretzel snacks, so it’s not hard to imagine how delicious these cheesey snacks are. Unlike some of the other cheese-flavored snacks out there, their Wholey Cheese crackers are ultra-light and are baked with real cheese. In flavors like Smoked Gouda (which happens to be my fave) and swiss and black pepper, these snacks are delicious and such an easy go-to to have as a snack for your guests.
2 – Don’t Spend Hours in The Kitchen
Having amazing appetizers and snacks to start your summer celebration doesn’t mean you have to spend hours in the kitchen. You don’t want your guests to get too full after all, so keep the snacks and appetizers to around 3-4 options. With your Wholey Cheese crackers ready to go (they’re so flavorful, you won’t need any dips to pair with them), keep the additional items simple such as crock pot queso (which only calls for three ingredients!) and a spinach and artichoke dip you can buy at the store or easily whip up.
3 – Make a List
I’m such a list girl and I definitely make a list and check it twice (or like five times) before I host a celebration. Jot down everything you’ll need to buy and do before the celebration date arrives and leave the list somewhere you will see it (like your fridge or bathroom mirror) so you can add to it and check it off! It will be such a relief to see all of the to-do’s crossed off as the celebration date draws near.
4 – Don’t Forget The Invites
Thanks to all of the e-invitation options we now have access to, sending out invitations, whether last minute or even a save the date for months later, has become so easy. As soon as you have selected a date, get the word out to your guests so they can mark their calendars
5 – Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help
There are certain things I know I’m good at and others I know I need help on. For me, that means hiring a cleaning service to come to our home before we host to get the nitty gritty cleaning done (it’s really not that expensive!) but perhaps calling a caterer for the main course would help alleviate some stress. A great hostess knows that spending quality time with those you’ve invited to the celebration is most important, so whatever you need to do to allow yourself to enjoy the party yourself is essential.
6 – Say Cheers!
Be sure to have drink options readily available for your guests (and always buy more than you’d think you’ll need!) Set up a DIY drink area in your kitchen or bar area with iced beers, wine and/or spirits with mixers so your guests can help themselves.
7 – Introductions
This one is easy to forget, so be sure to do it at the beginning! If there are any of your guests who don’t know each other, break the ice by starting an introduction. The more comfortable your guests feel, the bigger hit your celebration will be.
Fair-well xx,
Thanks so much to Wholey Cheese for sponsoring this post. All opinions are my own.
Photography by Angie Garcia photo.
