Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1376329
HOSTESS TRICKS I HAVE LEARNED OVER THE YEARS Let people help. No one wants to hang around like a vestigial organ. Giving guests specific jobs ahead of time puts everyone at ease — bonus points if that job aligns with their particular skills or interests. For instance, ask friends who bake to bring dessert; tell vegan friends to please pick up a bag of ice from the Sonic in town. Make it festive. I joke that my love language is "Overdoing things no one asked me to do," so this comes naturally to me. But just in case anyone reading does not feel the constant need to prove their worth, let me tell you: People appreciate a sense of occasion. It doesn't have to be anything big or over the top — though if I'm in charge, then you can count on it — but the right special touch can make the memory. Learn your party trick. Mine is cocktails, and I have found a well-made cocktail is pretty much everyone's love language. My most requested is a margarita, which I make with 3 ounces of tequila, and then 1 ounce each of Cointreau, fresh lime juice, and fresh grapefruit juice. Shake well and serve over ice in a glass rimmed in a chili powder/salt mix.