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Have you ever dreamed about hosting a fabulous dinner party like on TV and didn't know where to begin? Or do you dread large parties, but just found out you will be hosting your family's holiday or birthday event and need some extra help? I'm Miss Jones, and I'm here to help. Here at the Mostess with Miss Jones, I'm creating your one-stop shop for entertaining and hosting ideas, including full “game plans” to make hosting your occasion as easy as pie (full disclosure: there may actually be pie involved). Here, you'll find my strategies for approaching an occasion from start to finish, including:
- pre-set meal plans with grocery lists and timelines
- tips and tricks for keeping guests entertained and conversation flowing
- my own recipes I've created over the years, sorted by theme or occasion
- my favorite gear and supplies
- and so much more!
Why the Mostess with Miss Jones Exists
In recent years since finishing school and settling into adult life, I've become somewhat of a de-facto hostess among my family and friends. But it wasn't always something I was good at.
At first, I had big dreams of hosting a brunch for some friends. Not just a few breakfast items, I wanted to create an Instagram-worthy table that would impress my friends and establish myself as the Martha Stewart of the friend group. How hard could it be, right? It's BRUNCH – it's designed to be leisurely! I very quickly learned that there can be SO much more time and effort involved in entertaining than I anticipated. I picked out a handful of visually appealing recipes and quickly got frustrated. How was I supposed to get all of this prep work, shopping, and cooking done when I work a full-time job? On the day of the brunch, my morning was filled with frantic internal questions like “How could it possibly look so effortless when someone else does it?” “What do I do with my guests while I'm in the kitchen?” “Did I forget to buy restock the toilet paper in the bathroom??” “How do I make my hour long potato recipe cook in 5 minutes so they'll be ready at the same time as everything else?!” Sound familiar?
Since that first bumpy ride of a brunch, I've been making notes and developing my system for hosting an occasion. I'm still learning every day what makes a dinner party, a birthday, or a cocktail hour truly special, and I'm here to share the tips, tricks, and recipes I've picked up along the way. It is possible to host your loved ones without the stress and dread, so let's do this!
