Hostess with the Mostess

Hello Urban Women,

This summer I have been hosting a ton of events. Sometimes they are stressful, but when you really know what you're doing being a hostess can be a real resume builder!

The last ladies luncheon I hosted was a total success. I invited 12 of my fave Urban Women over for an afternoon tea/mocktail party and had a Jesus' "last supper" theme (hence the twelve guests-including me 13 people!). All of the women had to come dressed as one of the apostles and we had a secret ballot to vote the Judas out of the party! Unfortunately it was Linda who got voted out. But it was no biggie because she is a gossip which is basically betrayal. We threw leftover bread crumbs at her as she exited and played that awesome new megahit by Lady Gaga. As party favours I gave out mini crucifix that I had spent hours making using toothpicks, twine, white glue, and glitter (obviously Linda did NOT get a take home bag!).

Here are some other totally fun themes you can add to make you the hostess with the mostess:

• Paparazzi: ask each guest to bring a camera to the party. When the guests arrive you should be wearing your funkiest tube minidress so they can pretend they are paparazzi taking pics of the ultimate Urban Star. Give each guest a blank scrapbook that they can fill with the photos they took of you during the party!
• Pasta: each guest should arrive with a box of their fave pasta-for me it is always seashells, but some people like linguine, fettucini, or for the more daring-penne. Once all of the guests have arrived I boil up water in an oversized cauldron and everyone throws their pasta in! We all end up sharing in all the shapes and sizes and sometimes there is even enough to take leftovers in a totally cute to-go box.
• Pet Exchange: This theme requires people to go over the top! The idea is that everyone dresses up as their pet and dresses their pet up as them! You can just imagine how cute it was to see dogs, cats, and hamsters decked out in pink bedazzled tee's, crocs, and scrunchies. Serve a plate of gourmet dog biscuits and have each guest bedazzle a water bowl with their name on it!

At my apostle party I served some of Jesus' fave recipes: fish and loaves, goblets, cheeses of Nazareth, and those thin wafers. I also invented a few of my own new recipes to make the party feel really divinely inspired!

Trinity Casserole

1.Line a casserole dish with dried bay leaves and coat with margarine
2. Pile tinned tuna, salmon, and oysters on the bay leaf (3 types of fish, this is why it is called Trinity Casserole)
3. Add a layer of non fat soy cheese (for the vegetarians) to the top
4. Throw in the microwave on high for 30 seconds (may need longer depending on the size of your casserole dish)
5. Serve on a bed of parsley
6. Enjoy!

In terms of general hostessing abilities I have a few golden rules that apply no matter what the food, theme, or style of the party!

1. Always be wearing an apron when the guests arrive. This shows that you have been slaving over the stove and put a lot of effort into the party.
2. I stuff my mailbox full of letters I have written to myself so that the guests can see that I am quite popular and get tons of fan mail.
3. When I take my guests coats I am sure never to lay them on the bed of the master bedroom. I have only had bad experiences with people peeping into my personal effects. It is a total shock when you wake up and realise that your contact solution has been stolen by a supposed friend. Instead, I set up a mini coat check and charge a twooney for each person who wants their coat to be looked after.
4. Dim the lights and have a mocktail station set up. This combination really lowers inhibitions and before you know it your party will be raging!
5. Always ensure you welcome guests with a toothy grin and say good bye in an urban way by hugging them by touching as minimally as possible and pat the back. To add some Euro class I usually give 3-4 air kisses too.

I hope this inspires you to host a successful event ladies! Remember, it is never too late to start a legacy.

Until next time,

Urban Woman