Let's make heart-shaped quesadillas! These would b Let's make heart-shaped quesadillas! These would be fun for Valentine's Day dinner with your kids. 

In full transparency, I wanted to make quesadilla uncrustables, but bought the wrong kind of tortilla. If you want to make those definitely get flour tortillas not corn. 

These are easy to make though, just use a heart shaped cookie cutter to cut your tortillas, then fill and grill on the stove! 

#easymealsforbusypeople #easyrecipesformoms #valentinesideas #valentinesdinner #recipereel #galentinesbrunch
Here's a hack to make your boots stand up tall in Here's a hack to make your boots stand up tall in your closet! Use a magazine! Roll it up and stick it inside for your boots to stand tall! 

After organizing all weekend, I didn't want to purchase ANYTHING else to organize. I wanted something cheap that I already had lying around.

I like the pool noodle hack but did not have time to go acquire a pool noodle in January.

Try the magazine hack and let me know how you like it? What's your favorite organizational hack?

#organizationhacks #closetmakeover #homehacks #closethacks #widecalfboots #organizationideas #homeorganizationtips
A little matching moment for your Monday! 🌸🌺 A little matching moment for your Monday! 🌸🌺

As a boy mom, I have to work a little harder for matching ensembles, but this little floral wrap dress and button down for spring are just too cute! 

Linking our outfits here: https://liketk.it/40B4p

#ltkfamily #shopltk #ltkunder50 #boymomclub #familymatchingoutfits #familymatching #ltkkids #boyclothes #oldnavybaby #oldnavykids #oldnavystyle #floralsforspring
I purchased the @thebeachwaver B1 over the holiday I purchased the @thebeachwaver B1 over the holidays and loved it so much I bought one for my sister. The rotating barrel makes getting ready so darn easy! 

Use my code HELENWAVE for 10% off!

#beachwaver #beachwaverpartner #hairstylingtutorial #hairstylingtips #hairstylereels #curlingirons #curlingiron #curltransformation #igotbeached
Today we're making garlic and herb pigs in a blank Today we're making garlic and herb pigs in a blanket for your super bowl party. 

-First, roll out crescent dough and slice each of the triangles into thirds. 
-Then spread a little boursin herb and garlic cheese onto each of the triangles. 
-Add a lil smokie and roll it up. 
-Bake for 12-15 minutes on 375. 
-Serve and enjoy!

Do you add anything extra to your pigs in a blanket? 

#superbowlsnacks #superbowlsnack #superbowlappetizers #easyappetizer #easyappetizers #easyrecipeideas #easyrecipesformoms #easyrecipesathome #recipereel
You've heard of a butter board, but have you seen You've heard of a butter board, but have you seen a peanut butter board? 

Today we are making one for Valentine's Day. 

-First take a board and spread peanut butter all over it. 
-Then top with chocolate chips, valentine's day sprinkles, bananas, nutella and strawberries. I cut mine to look like hearts. 
-Then serve with graham crackers, pretzels or fruit and enjoy! 

Are you doing anything fun for Valentine's Day or Galentine's Day? Have you tried the peanut butter board yet?

#valentinesdays #valentinesdaydessert #galentinesparty #butterboard #peanutbutterrecipe #peanutbutterdessert #recipereel #valentinesdayideas #easyrecipesformoms
Today we're making jalapeno cheese dip in a bread Today we're making jalapeno cheese dip in a bread bowl. This is a great party snack and would be awesome at an upcoming super bowl party. 

-First, cut the top off a round loaf of bread and remove the middle. 
-Cut all of the pieces removed into cubes and set aside. 
-Then take a jalapeno queso block and cut it into cubes. Place in a pan. 
-Then add two cans of drained green chiles and a splash of milk. 
-Heat over medium high heat on the stove stirring constantly to prevent sticking. Trust me nobody wants that cleanup. 
-Then immediately pour into your bread bowl and serve hot with the cubed bread pieces. Enjoy!

Easy, and tasty! Are you having or going to a Super Bowl party this year? What's on the menu?

#partysnacks #partysnack #easyappetizers #easyappetizer #cheesedip #recipereel #superbowlsnacks #superbowlfood
My baby is finally feeling better, thank goodness! My baby is finally feeling better, thank goodness! I'm going to be honest, I am exhausted. The emotional toll this week has taken on me has just made me a new level of tired. 

I saw something the other day and it really stuck with me. 

Nobody talks about this when you are thinking about having kids. They talk about the financial piece and the how it's going to change your life piece. But nobody talks about the risk you take by having something you love so much and all the worry that comes with it. 

It's a risk every day to have your whole heart walking around, and going to school and picking up illnesses. There is so much worry and stress that comes with it.

But on the other hand, what a privilege it is to have something you love that much. I have never loved anything the way I love this little boy.

While sometimes the emotions, intrusive thoughts, worry and stress get the best of me, I am grateful every second of every day that I get to be this perfect, beautiful tiny human's mom.

Thanks for all the sweet messages of encouragement this week. It's so nice to know I'm not alone. I'm very grateful for all of you! 

#momthoughts #dailymotherhood #workingmomstruggles #toddlermom
Do you decorate for Valentine's Day? I love a holi Do you decorate for Valentine's Day? I love a holiday that is all about pink and red. 💕 

Decided to update my little kitchen island tray this year with Valentine's Day decor! ❤️

Do you decorate for Valentine's Day?

#valentinesdaydecor #valentinesdayideas #valentinesdaydecorations #galentinesdaydecor #galentinesdayparty #valentinesdayparty #holidayhomedecor
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Entertaining · May 27, 2020

10 Awkward Party Situations and How to Avoid Them

Woof. Is there anything worse than an awkward situation at a party?  I’m sure there is and I’m just being dramatic, but what a way to dampen the mood. Also, if a situation is truly awkward and uncomfortable, that could be the only thing that people remember for an otherwise truly wonderful and well-planned event. In this post, I’m going to share my tips for getting out of truly awkward party situations. A lot of these scenarios can be avoided with a little extra planning and preparation.

awkward party

Uninvited Guests: Sometimes a party is “the more the merrier” and sometimes it absolutely is not. Think of a dinner party, wedding, game night where you invited exactly the right amount of people, etc. This uninvited guest now needs a place to sit, has made the teams uneven or the dinner portions smaller. There is nothing more annoying than when someone brings a guest who wasn’t invited, but as a hostess, you have to make it work.

First, always have an extra chair and place setting already ready to go and wrapped in a placemat in the back, just in case you need to pull it out quickly. Also, plan to make extra food ahead of time. If you don’t need it, you can send your friends home with a doggy-bag. When an uninvited guest arrives, you must channel your inner Meryl Streep and act like nothing is wrong. Graciously smile and welcome them into your event. After you have made your introductions, go and make room at the table for an extra place with your pre-made place setting and chair. This is an easy fix. You don’t have to panic and the uninvited guest doesn’t have to feel uncomfortable about being an extra body.

If you are hosting a game night, again, plan to make extra food and pick back-up games that don’t need a certain number of people. Charades, pictionary or anything in the “Apples to Apples” or “Cards Against Humanity” variety are always great options.

When a guest arrives who didn’t RSVP: Suppose you have reached out repeatedly to track down a guest’s RSVP, and they have totally ghosted you. Rude, am I right? Then the night of the event they show up with no warning. You can follow a lot of the same plan above, but since you know these guests are a wildcard, plan like they are going to show up. If they don’t, you have extra food. If they do, you’ve made just enough. Have their place settings and place cards already made in the back to pull out if they make an appearance. Again, you must act like absolutely nothing is wrong and you are not inconvenienced in the slightest. You’ll learn, a lot of hosting events is channeling some Oscar-worthy acting skills.

When a guest asks to bring a plus one:  Events are expensive and take a LOT of planning. As much as we wish we could invite everyone we’ve ever met and allow them to bring a date or friend, sometimes this isn’t feasible. The venue either doesn’t hold that many people or our budget needs to be stretched to cover other things. However, people will almost always ask if they can bring a plus one, especially for a wedding. You need to start by being clear who is invited on your invitation, but that doesn’t always guarantee that your guests get the hint.

Now if it isn’t a wedding or pre-planned catered event, and you can easily make the accommodation, then say yes and let your guest know you are looking forward to meeting their friend or date. If it is a structured event, and there is no way to invite any more people, you need to just be honest. Let your guest know your financial and space limitations. Be kind and let them know that as much as you would love to invite their date or friend, you can’t expand the guest list. You need to be firm, but kind, and consistent across the board. If you make an exception for one guest and not another, but the other finds out, then you’re in for a TRULY awkward situation.

When people aren’t mingling: Yikes! You’ve planned the perfect event, but then people are keeping to themselves and it’s a boring party. This is the time to go into “Hostess Crisis Mode.” If your guests don’t know each other, then it’s your job to introduce them. Jump-start the conversation by explaining where you know your guest from and something they might have in common. You will have to steer the conversation until they begin talking to each other without you, then you can move on to the next group.

If you have a dance floor, a group dance or popular song is a great way to get people on the floor. Tell your DJ to encourage everyone to join and then keep the tempo high.

How to exit a conversation with a “Chatty-Cathy”: You’ve been cornered by the group mansplainer. What do you do? Luckily, as the hostess, you’ve got a built-in exit strategy. Actually lots of built in exit-strategies. Is something burning, you better go check on that. Did an old friend just arrive? You must go greet them. Are people’s drinks looking a little low? Gotta go fill them. You get the idea, just say, “I’d love to hear more about that later, but right now, I need to go check on the appetizers.” Or insert your excuse here. Easy as that!

What to do with unexpected children: Someone brought their child to an adults-only party. Now what? First, you can probably avoid this situation by clarifying on the invitation that the party is for adults. However, we all know that people only read what they want to on an invitation, and sometimes children show up. Again, don’t panic but be prepared. Have a box of kid-appropriate activities in the back. Toys, coloring books, Legos etc. If you want, you can even queue up Netflix or Disney+ in a separate room. It’s also never a bad idea to have a babysitter already on deck in case this happens.

Always prepare at least one dish a kid would appreciate so they can have something to eat. Snacks and desserts are always great for bribing good behavior. If the parents have a new baby, it’s a little more expected that they will bring their child. In this case, let them do what they want, but set up a private space for them to go for diaper changes, nursing, or anything else they need.

Having an unexpected child show up might throw a wrench in the party, but it’s not a grenade if you are prepared. Again, always act like you are totally fine and happy to see them.

How to avoid kid-related disasters: Sometimes, the party is completely kid-friendly and you are inviting whole families to attend your event. You still need to prepare for a party like this. Go ahead and make peace with the mess that is coming to your house. Turn a blind eye to the tornado, and deal with it later. You may want to think about child-proofing parts of your home. If you don’t have kids and your house has never been child-proofed, put anything that might be dangerous to children in high cabinets. Also, put your Grandmother’s China, favorite wedding present or anything that could get broken in another closed-door room.

Snacks, kid-friendly meals, and desserts are a must. Put those low and where they can find them. Put the food for the adults on a higher level. Also, have kid-friendly activities ready to go. If this is an event for the whole family, it’s not a bad idea to hire a babysitter to entertain the kids, while the adults get to mingle. If it’s a child’s birthday party, then obviously the focus is on them. Always have a first-aid kit available!

The most important thing about hosting a party where children are involved, is you must remember they are your guests too. Even if they act like Gremlins, you cannot complain, make a scene or scold these kids. Just deal with it and know that they are going back to their own homes soon.

When someone has been over-served: Ah, the unruly guest and what to do with them. First, remain calm and don’t make a scene. They are probably already doing that themselves. If you have a bartender, go ahead and subtly notify them to stop serving the unruly guest (we’re going to call them UG from now on.) If you don’t, then delegate someone to keep an eye on UG and don’t let them drink anymore. Ask for UG’s help in the kitchen, give them a glass of water and politely let them know that they are acting a fool. Tell them they need to get it together or you will call them a car.

If it’s past the point of no return, you as the hostess need to call them a car or delegate a trusted friend to do it for them. Don’t embarrass UG, and calmly and subtly get them safely into a car.

When a guest overstays their welcome: It’s 3 a.m. and you still have stragglers. A. Congratulations, you threw an awesome party. B. How do you get them to leave?

There are lots of non-verbal ways to give a little *hint, hint* that it’s time to skedaddle. Turn off the music, turn on the lights, stop serving drinks, pack up the food, etc. If that doesn’t work, move to the next phase and start cleaning up. Pick up empty cups and bottles, start throwing away trash, etc. If that doesn’t work, start asking if they are finished with their drinks, and throw them away. They’ll get the hint eventually.

How to look calm when you are freaking-the-freak out: Like I mentioned, hosting is a lot of acting. You have to act like you are cool, calm and collected even when you aren’t. You can help relieve a lot of stress by planning ahead. Make a timeline of the day so you know when to heat which dish, when to go get ready, and when to set up the signature drinks. Also, do as much as you possibly can ahead of time. Prepare all your dishes to sit in the fridge or freezer and heat right before the event. Also, have an A, B, and C plan for all weather-related issues.

Prepare a timeline of the event is well. Knowing exactly what time everything will happen will make your event look effortless. Don’t forget to delegate. Have people on deck to help with refilling ice or appetizer trays, taking people’s coats, opening wine, etc. On your timeline, make it very clear, who is responsible for what task and send the timeline out to everyone involved.

Make an plan for each of the scenarios above, so when they rear their ugly heads, you can squash them like a bug. If the plan gets derailed, take a deep breath and a sip of wine, then spring into action. You will be ok.

I am an Enneagram Type 6 meaning I need a plan in place for every potential scenario. Having these plans to avoid awkward party situations has helped me more times than I can count. These are easy steps to take so that people remember the wonderful event you planned and not the uncomfortable situation that took place.

What are some scenarios that have happened to you at an event before?

In: Entertaining

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Let's make heart-shaped quesadillas! These would b Let's make heart-shaped quesadillas! These would be fun for Valentine's Day dinner with your kids. 

In full transparency, I wanted to make quesadilla uncrustables, but bought the wrong kind of tortilla. If you want to make those definitely get flour tortillas not corn. 

These are easy to make though, just use a heart shaped cookie cutter to cut your tortillas, then fill and grill on the stove! 

#easymealsforbusypeople #easyrecipesformoms #valentinesideas #valentinesdinner #recipereel #galentinesbrunch
Here's a hack to make your boots stand up tall in Here's a hack to make your boots stand up tall in your closet! Use a magazine! Roll it up and stick it inside for your boots to stand tall! 

After organizing all weekend, I didn't want to purchase ANYTHING else to organize. I wanted something cheap that I already had lying around.

I like the pool noodle hack but did not have time to go acquire a pool noodle in January.

Try the magazine hack and let me know how you like it? What's your favorite organizational hack?

#organizationhacks #closetmakeover #homehacks #closethacks #widecalfboots #organizationideas #homeorganizationtips
A little matching moment for your Monday! 🌸🌺 A little matching moment for your Monday! 🌸🌺

As a boy mom, I have to work a little harder for matching ensembles, but this little floral wrap dress and button down for spring are just too cute! 

Linking our outfits here: https://liketk.it/40B4p

#ltkfamily #shopltk #ltkunder50 #boymomclub #familymatchingoutfits #familymatching #ltkkids #boyclothes #oldnavybaby #oldnavykids #oldnavystyle #floralsforspring
I purchased the @thebeachwaver B1 over the holiday I purchased the @thebeachwaver B1 over the holidays and loved it so much I bought one for my sister. The rotating barrel makes getting ready so darn easy! 

Use my code HELENWAVE for 10% off!

#beachwaver #beachwaverpartner #hairstylingtutorial #hairstylingtips #hairstylereels #curlingirons #curlingiron #curltransformation #igotbeached
Today we're making garlic and herb pigs in a blank Today we're making garlic and herb pigs in a blanket for your super bowl party. 

-First, roll out crescent dough and slice each of the triangles into thirds. 
-Then spread a little boursin herb and garlic cheese onto each of the triangles. 
-Add a lil smokie and roll it up. 
-Bake for 12-15 minutes on 375. 
-Serve and enjoy!

Do you add anything extra to your pigs in a blanket? 

#superbowlsnacks #superbowlsnack #superbowlappetizers #easyappetizer #easyappetizers #easyrecipeideas #easyrecipesformoms #easyrecipesathome #recipereel
You've heard of a butter board, but have you seen You've heard of a butter board, but have you seen a peanut butter board? 

Today we are making one for Valentine's Day. 

-First take a board and spread peanut butter all over it. 
-Then top with chocolate chips, valentine's day sprinkles, bananas, nutella and strawberries. I cut mine to look like hearts. 
-Then serve with graham crackers, pretzels or fruit and enjoy! 

Are you doing anything fun for Valentine's Day or Galentine's Day? Have you tried the peanut butter board yet?

#valentinesdays #valentinesdaydessert #galentinesparty #butterboard #peanutbutterrecipe #peanutbutterdessert #recipereel #valentinesdayideas #easyrecipesformoms
Today we're making jalapeno cheese dip in a bread Today we're making jalapeno cheese dip in a bread bowl. This is a great party snack and would be awesome at an upcoming super bowl party. 

-First, cut the top off a round loaf of bread and remove the middle. 
-Cut all of the pieces removed into cubes and set aside. 
-Then take a jalapeno queso block and cut it into cubes. Place in a pan. 
-Then add two cans of drained green chiles and a splash of milk. 
-Heat over medium high heat on the stove stirring constantly to prevent sticking. Trust me nobody wants that cleanup. 
-Then immediately pour into your bread bowl and serve hot with the cubed bread pieces. Enjoy!

Easy, and tasty! Are you having or going to a Super Bowl party this year? What's on the menu?

#partysnacks #partysnack #easyappetizers #easyappetizer #cheesedip #recipereel #superbowlsnacks #superbowlfood
My baby is finally feeling better, thank goodness! My baby is finally feeling better, thank goodness! I'm going to be honest, I am exhausted. The emotional toll this week has taken on me has just made me a new level of tired. 

I saw something the other day and it really stuck with me. 

Nobody talks about this when you are thinking about having kids. They talk about the financial piece and the how it's going to change your life piece. But nobody talks about the risk you take by having something you love so much and all the worry that comes with it. 

It's a risk every day to have your whole heart walking around, and going to school and picking up illnesses. There is so much worry and stress that comes with it.

But on the other hand, what a privilege it is to have something you love that much. I have never loved anything the way I love this little boy.

While sometimes the emotions, intrusive thoughts, worry and stress get the best of me, I am grateful every second of every day that I get to be this perfect, beautiful tiny human's mom.

Thanks for all the sweet messages of encouragement this week. It's so nice to know I'm not alone. I'm very grateful for all of you! 

#momthoughts #dailymotherhood #workingmomstruggles #toddlermom
Do you decorate for Valentine's Day? I love a holi Do you decorate for Valentine's Day? I love a holiday that is all about pink and red. 💕 

Decided to update my little kitchen island tray this year with Valentine's Day decor! ❤️

Do you decorate for Valentine's Day?

#valentinesdaydecor #valentinesdayideas #valentinesdaydecorations #galentinesdaydecor #galentinesdayparty #valentinesdayparty #holidayhomedecor
Today we are making a Valentine's Day waffle platt Today we are making a Valentine's Day waffle platter with nutella filled uncrustable waffles. I do realize waffles don't have crusts, but it helps keep the Nutella inside! 

How to make them:
-First, mix your batter and dye it pink with a little bit of food coloring. 
-Then make your waffles, I found this cute @bydash mini waffle maker for Valentine's Day!
-Once they are done, spread a little nutella on a waffle.
-Add a second waffle to the top and use a heart shaped uncrustable cutter to make an uncrustable waffle. 
-Arrange these on a cute plate, add some strawberries, serve and enjoy!

What's your vote on Nutella? Delicious or overrated? 

#waffleboard #breakfastboard #valentinesbreakfast #breakfastrecipe #nutellapancakes #nutellawaffle #recipereel #breakfastreels #valentinesdaybreakfast #valentinesstrawberries

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