Like most people I have a lot of heroes.
During this season (and let’s be honest any party planning season), I try to emulate three amazingly talented women.
They are (in no particular order):
my mom, Netsie (melissa’s mom), and my aunt Cheryl.
When we decided to stay in DC this year for thanksgiving, we wanted to make sure that our dinner would be something we’d be proud to have our moms (and in my case Aunt Cheryl) attend.
But this is no easy task, which you would know, if you had ever attended a dinner they have put on.
Let me explain.
When we were young the ‘rents decided that we would do thanksgiving in UT with dad’s fam and Christmas in WA in mom’s fam. And so the UT thanksgiving tradition was born. We loved playing with the cousins, the paper turkey place cards, and dollar movies. As we got older, the dinner was moved to the PG Smart’s house and my expectations for thanksgiving were forever changed. Aunt Cheryl’s tables were something out of a magazine. Her vintage style combined with her class made the tables look like something out of an Anthropologie catalog. She introduced me to cored fresh apple candle holders, salads with pomegranates (which I now have an obsession for), and orange rolls. The menu was always elaborate and left us immobile for hours afterward. The woman knows how to put on a show!
Two summers ago, I had the great privilege of “apprenticing” with the great party planner, Netise Stevenson. Since SMIKAH was getting married in CA and wanted to celebrate their big day with all their east coast friends, we decided to throw them an engagement party. But this was not your typical engagement party; it was a full dinner fiesta theme party for 100 people complete with a mariachi band. No detail was overlooked. We called our selves the EPPP (engagement party planning peeps), had spread sheets, timelines, virtual phone conferences, and sent hundreds of emails back and forth. I learned a lot from Netise during the process but the most important thing was that some people got it and someone people don’t. She definitely has it—she is a true visionary. She has a talent for design that I will never have—and has an eye for how things will look. She puts thought into every detail from serving bowls to center pieces to lanterns hanging from trees. When she showed up with a suitcase full of entertaining supplies, I knew I wanted to be just like her. Whenever I am undecided about buying something for a party that I know will make it that much better, I always think what would Netsie do? And I never regret it.
As mentioned, we always went to UT for thanksgiving and so mom was always in charge of the pies—something she could make at home and bring. And because she knows her kids aren’t the biggest pumpkin, pecan or apple pie fans, each year she would make us a chocolate pie (along with 5-6 traditional kinds). And I am pretty sure my sibs and I were the only ones that ate that one. Mom brings a personal touch to every meal. She knows what we like and makes something for each of us. There is always lots of meat for the boys, corn for Shea (the rest of us are allergic), and homemade jam s(strawberry for me and raspberry for everyone else). Syd hates salad dressing so she always makes a special salad just for her. She has individual salt and pepper shakers for each person—who really wants to share the shakers anyway? And when it comes to dessert she makes something for everyone. The diabetic, the chocolate lover, the fruit lover, the cookie lover—there can never just be one dessert it is always a buffet of tasty treats.
Least their wonderful husbands go unmentioned, let me say that Ricker is a killer in the kitchen, Thom brings the party games and jokes, and Dad is a master at polishing silver.
Now for Thanksgiving 2010 in DC. The planning started months ago…seriously months ago. And when I was up to my elbows with chargers, candles, linens, and card stock and I hadn’t showered in days, I wasn’t even offended when my friend said, “well at least you admit you’re over the top.” I fully admit I have gone over the top but seriously are you surprised? Have you met my parents? Go BIG or go home!!
My roommates have been more then patient with me and have even jumped on the crazy party planning train. I turned our guest/gym/storage room into the “thanksgiving” room. I needed a place to practice table settings and put all of the treasures purchased for the big day:). We also started a dry erase board calendar,
In the spirit of the season, I am grateful for these very talented women for teaching me how to entertain and setting the bar extremely high. I have a greater appreciation for all that goes into the holiday entertaining and I am grateful for the lessons learned from these great women.
