Spring Tablescape
Setting the table has always been one of my favorite rituals. A thoughtful tablescape sets the scene for the experience I hope to create around my table. From the texture of the linens, to the weight and design of the plates, to the glassware, each piece contributes to the overall story.
Entertaining Meditation
When Patanjali suggests in sutra 1.40 that we can settle the mind by focusing on whatever we want so long as it’s elevating, I understand that to mean it’s cool to plan parties while I meditate. For me, entertaining is a joy when I’ve taken the time to think through the experience in advance—when I’ve considered the vibe I’m trying to create, anticipated both my needs and the needs of my guests, and prepared as much as I possibly can before the big day. Visualizing the big picture allows me to identify all of the little details that go into making the experience what it is.
Thanksgiving Tablescape
Thanksgiving is hands down my favorite holiday. I’m not hosting this year, but my mind is still dreaming about menus and decorations and tablescapes. When Patanjali suggests in sutra 1.40 that we can settle the mind by focusing on whatever we want so long as it’s elevating, I take that to mean that it’s cool to plan parties while I meditate. For better or for worse, I try to encourage my imagination because I spend way too much time being careful and deliberate, worrying about logical, rational stuff that makes me feel heavy and boring. I need more imagination in my life! And so, I decided to let myself go a little crazy with my faux Thanksgiving preparations, to the point of actually setting my own Thanksgiving table. It was glorious. I told myself it was for the blog, but that was just the convenient excuse I used to justify my creative shenanigans.
My Haven
I recently had the pleasure of hosting lunch at my home for the team at Haven Collective. It was such a great day! We did a photo shoot and interview for a feature on their website, I led them through a little meditation practice, and then we opened a bottle of rosé and sat down at my farm table to enjoy a meal.
Impromptu Entertaining
One of my biggest inspirations for entertaining comes from a scene in Breakfast at Tiffany’s where Holly slips a handwritten note under Paul’s door inviting him over for drinks. I love everything about it—the personal note, the impromptu invite, the throw-it-all-together-at-the-last-minute attitude. As a recovering perfectionist and a chronic over thinker, spontaneous entertaining is one of the sharpest tools in my h(om)e practice because it asks me to go with the flow.
Attention Is Love
My entertaining philosophy has always been deeply rooted in my desire to make others feel at h(om)e. I strive to create a warm, inclusive, and thoughtful space that invites my guests to kick back and relax into themselves. For me, the art of entertaining lies in the small gestures that demonstrate how much I care.
Setting the Thanksgiving Table
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I love the stuffing, the pumping pie, and the easy flow of wine into glasses that clink with the people you love. I love how the entire day is spent anticipating the time you’ll spend gathered around the table to share a meal. There’s a beautiful simplicity to Thanksgiving. It’s not about gifts or gimmicks or fancy, shiny mementos – it’s about giving thanks for what you have.