Wouldn’t you love it if you could easily invite friends or family over to your home for an impromptu celebration and pull it off easily?

You totally can!

 

Vase of Pink Zinnias - How to Prepare for an Impromptu Celebration - AnExtraordinaryDay.net

 

First of all… it’s a mindset.

And like the choo-choo train… if you think you can… YOU CAN!

 

Pink Zinnia Centerpiece - How to Plan for an Impromptu Dinner - AnExtraordinaryDay.net

 

Honestly… this isn’t rocket science.  It’s more about the want-to than ANYTHING else.

If you want to freely open your home for celebrating around the table you have to decide that you can do it and then prepare.

Mindset and preparation will make you a hospitality rock star.  Guaranteed.

 

ining room and pink centerpiece - Get ready to celebrate - AnExtraordinaryDay.net

 

It’s my firm belief that presentation is key.

Your home should have some semblance of order and cleanliness, but it doesn’t need to be perfect.

One of my favorite people never hesitates to invite me in when I drop something off at her home, regardless of the state of things.  And you know what… I don’t care if things are tidy or not.  After all, she has boys, and dogs, and a busy life.  But, her home is basically clean and a few boy messes really don’t phase me and I’m guessing they wouldn’t phase you, either.

So what do I mean by presentation?

Whenever I have people gather around my table, I strive to make my table pretty and inviting.

I don’t go to great expense to make this happen.  But, I do prepare to make it happen.

A color-themed or decorated table says, “I’m excited to have you sit here.”  “I took a few minutes to do something extra so you will know that I value you.”

 

Pink themed tablescape with pink zinnia centerpiece - Preparing to celebrate with friends - AnExtraordinaryDay.net

 

If you’ve been hanging around here for any time, you’ve picked up on how genuine hospitality is important to me.

Genuine hospitality is not about showing off your decorating skills or your culinary skills.  It’s about thoughtfully thinking about your guests and doing little things that will make him or her feel special.

Everyone needs to feel loved and to be loved on.

And the very best way for you to express your care is to consider what’s most meaningful to your guests and what you naturally excel at doing.

 

Pretty Zinnia Centerpiece with Mixed Shades of Pink - Celebration Preparation - AnExtraordinaryDay.net

 

 

I’m a visual person, so for me, I show my love by creating a pretty table for my guests, in keeping with who they are and their interests.   Since I’m an eat-to-live gal, not a live-to-eat gal, the food actually comes in second place.  Does that mean that I don’t care about what my guests eat?  Of course not.  Because food is not my number one priority, you won’t find me spending all day in the kitchen preparing a meal or snacks.  My food is always delicious, because that’s important, and it’s attractively presented, because that’s important to me, too.  But, my meal will generally be simply cooked and prepared.  Something baked or roasted and something steamed, and maybe a simple salad.  That’s it.

 

Table set for a special dinner - Impromptu tips for informal celebrations - AnExtraordinaryDay.net

 

I do LOVE the farmers’ market and I’m fortunate that on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, I can hit one less than ten minutes from my home.

Recently we hosted some friends from Slovakia and except for the meat and ice cream, everything came from the farmers’ market, including the salad mix which included fresh edible flowers.

 

Bright Pink Zinnia Bouquet - Centerpiece for Impromptu Gathering - AnExtraordinaryDay.net

 

And speaking of flowers, I can also count on fresh flowers at a booth or two at the market as well.

This week, I noticed the flower lady had zinnias in every color imaginable.  She will let me select what I want… I just tell her if I want a $4, $7, or $10 bunch.  I chose a $7 bunch.  Don’t you just love the colors?  They are like a blast of happiness.  Seriously, I’m crazy about them.

After I cut the flowers down to size and arranged them in a thrifted bowl with a vintage frog holding them in place, I went to my china cabinet to look at my placemats.

 

Pretty coral + pink + white table setting = EASY TIPS to get ready for a gathering - AnExtraordinaryDay.net

 

For several years now, I have been purchasing colorful placemats at the dollar stores and elsewhere inexpensively.  However, I did spend a wee bit more for these since I loved their deep coral/watermelon color when I found them on sale at Pier 1.  I’m so glad I did.  They perfectly match one of the flower colors.

A neutral tablecloth makes a wonderful backdrop with the addition of colorful placemats.  You probably notice that I almost always use them to coordinate my tablescape.

 

Simple colorful coral and white place setting - Get ready to celebrate with these ideas - AnExtraordinaryDay.net

 

I also keep my eye open for cloth napkins or tea towels that are on sale.  They are another great way to add color and texture to the table and I love that they give my lap good coverage.  You’ll never see me spilling food down my front, but I’ve dropped something on my slacks too many times with just a small paper napkin barely covering my lap.  So, this is just one more way to love on and value my guests.

The napkins here are actually tea towels from the Target dollar spot.  They came with two different style towels in a pack for $3.  I purchased 4 packs so I could set a table for four with just one design.  They can be mixed or matched and I love both.

Aren’t they a fun touch on the table with the simple Dollar Tree dinner plates and Walmart salad plates?

 

Pretty tablescape and sideboard for a celebration - AnExtraordinaryDay.net

 

The placemats and napkins are a key part of my preparation.  Based on season, occasion, or flowers, I can easily put together a table that looks thoughtfully curated.  And frankly, it is.  It just doesn’t take but a few minutes to put it together because I have prepared in advance so that I can pull it together quickly.

Everything I have for the table is inexpensive… whether thrifted or picked up at the discount store on sale or dollar store. It doesn’t cost much to be prepared.  And it’s the greatest feeling to just open up that cupboard or drawer and have a few things to make the prettiest of tables.

 

Pink Zinnia Flowers - Impromptu Gathering Ideas - AnExtraordinaryDay.net

 

For you, being prepared might be picking up pretty paper plates and napkins to have on hand or maybe some candle tapers or birthday cake candles.

When you have the mindset of wanting to easily invite people to celebrate even the smallest of occasions around the table with you, you’ll figure out how that looks for you in your home.

It might be sale placemats, farmers’ market flowers, and dollar store plates.  It might be paper plates and pretty paper napkins.  It might be china and crystal.  Whatever is your style… do it.

 

Pretty Pink & Coral Zinnia Centerpiece - A QUICK & EASY Impromptu Celebration Idea - AnExtraordinaryDay.net

 

The meal you serve might come from the grocery store deli or it might be one that you lovingly prepared from scratch in your kitchen.  Both are good choices.  Do whatever fits your lifestyle, your mindset, and your budget… but do it!

I’m a firm believer in planning.  Nothing ever just happens in life.  We need to decide in advance to make it happen.

This week, take some time to assess your cupboards and see what you have and what you need so you can be prepared for an impromptu celebration around the table.  You might even write out a little cheat sheet to help you put things together quickly.  You could even put together a place setting and take a photo of it to remember so you can put it together in a flash or have your partner help you.

Pin It to remember for Later because it's so good - AnExtraordinaryDay.netQuick & Easy Ideas for Fabulous Impromptu Celebrations - Coral & White Tablescape - AnExtraordinaryDay.net

 

I hope you feel empowered to put out the welcome mat and invite people to gather with you around your table.

  • What are your biggest challenges to inviting people over?
  • What would make it easier for you to be hospitable?

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Comments

  1. Minnie says

    Hooray! You came a visit’n today!
    Welcome and come on in?
    First let me say your table is stunning, your thoughtfulness shows up as cozy, warm and most welcoming.
    And the display in the background…the ambience is….well it just says GATHER AROUND and ENJOY!
    I am not a live to eat gal either but I’m sure anything you put on your table is yummy and well thought out because that seems to be who you are.
    Around my house eat’n parties do SEEM to happen a lot, sometimes all our kids and their little ones just show up at the same time and we end up having a meal but a little planning at some point was done on my part. BBQ is always on stand by, box of soda in pantry, foods I have cooked and frozen are in freezer. I always have the back yard clean and comfortable. (We have dogs so I go on 2 rounds a day of maintenance, if you know what I mean)
    To those that show up it does look as if nothing was planned but we hostesses know the well planned truth.
    And thanks to you everyone is able to do their planning beautifully.
    Blessings to you!
    Minnie
    Oh! I forget to say what a lovely view from your window.

    • You make me smile!! Minnie, I bet you make EVERYONE who comes to your home feel loved and treasured. I do hope someone will be encouraged to make a plan and work it. 😉 The blessing people get from being around our tables is incredibly rich. Thanks for all your kind thoughts and your compliments. I have a tiny balcony and right now there is only room to stand because the plants are growing large. It makes me so happy to sit at the table and enjoy the intricacies of God’s creation in my containers.
      Have a blessed day, my friend!! <3

  2. Gwen says

    Just love it all. I’m prompted to make the effort to host again. Love the zinnias and placemats together!!! The things on your “buffet” look nice too.

    • Thank you, Gwen! I do hope you consider hosting again. I know it IS a lot of work for you, but just think of what a blessing you are. Everyone will be so glad you put out the tablecloth. 😉 I was pretty smitten over those zinnias and placemats, too. It’s the little things, isn’t it? xo

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