Entertainment Tip: All the Summer Girls

When I entertain, I keep things simple. The hostess sets the tone of a party, and if she seems stressed or overwhelmed, the party guests are bound to feel the tension. If a recipe requires a ton of prep work or means I’ll spend much of the party distracted by the state of things in the kitchen, I’ll nix it. I want to be relaxed so my guests will pick up the cue to have fun too.

Music is another great way to set the tone for an event. I’ll either create a playlist ahead of time or select a Pandora station that fits the mood.

Finally, I always try to place hors d’oeuvres and drinks in numerous locations. If the crudité and the cheese plate and the bruschetta all end up on the coffee table, or the only wine to be found is in the kitchen, the party starts to feel like a human traffic jam. If you spread the food and drinks around, guests will circulate, keeping things lively.