Lifestyle - Katherine Elizabeth Design House

Entertaining July 5, 2016

Types of Thank You Notes

If you read our post on The Etiquette of Thank You Notes, you know I am a huge advocate of handwritten thank you notes! If not, head over and check out some of our tips on when to write a thank you note (hint – pretty much always)!

So now that we are all writing thank you notes ;), what kind should you send?

I always like to have two sets of stationery on hand – One that is more traditional and classy for professional use (sending a thank you note to a potential employer for an interview or to my boss for tickets to a football game) and one that shows my personality for casual use (sending a thank you note to a friend for gift or to my fiancé’s parents for having me over for dinner).

I’ve compiled a few of my favorite stationery sets in case you are in the market!

The Everyday Hostess - Informal Stationery

Boatmen and Geller | 2. Palm Beach Papery | 3. Palm Beach Papery | 4. Boatman and Geller

The Everyday Hostess Formal Stationery Crane & Co. | 2. Crane & Co. | 3. Neiman Marcus

However, if this is your first set of stationery and you are looking for a one-card-fits all approach, pick a set that is classy but still shows your individual taste, such as the following:

The Everyday Hostess Stationery

Palm Beach Papery | 2. Minted | 3. Crane & Co. |

PS – Don’t forget to keep a set of “Forever” stamps in your wallet so you are always ready to send a note in a pinch!

Entertaining June 24, 2016

Personalized Party Supplies

It’s all in the details. This is probably the most widely used phrase that comes out of my mouth when planning a party. No matter the size or formality of the event, it’s always the custom little touches that your guests leave talking about.

You can throw the simplest party that requires very little planning, but by including just a few personalized details, it looks like you have put way more effort and time into your event.

Two Funny girls and everyday hostess personalized stir sticks

Napkins and cups are always the two most popular items to customize, but my absolute new favorite item to include in events is personalized drink stir sticks! These adorable stirrers from Two Funny Girls add an extra sophisticated and stylish flare and can be customized for any type of event! I love monogramming them, but you can also add a single initial or even a design of your choosing! I recently had a Bachelorette watching party and Two Funny Girls was able to design an adorable red rose on them for me! You could even have your team’s mascot or logo added to them for your tailgating parties this fall!

Strawberry Mojito Summer Cocktail

No matter the formality of your next party, these stir sticks are perfect! They always make a big statement and your guests will be incredibly impressed! Definitely check them out, as well as Two Funny Girl’s wide inventory of adorable party supplies!

The Everyday Hostess Cocktail Recipe, Strawberry Mojito, Memorial Day Recipe
This post has been sponsored by Two Funny Girls. All opinions and comments are my own.

Lifestyle June 22, 2016

Wedding Wednesday – Our Proposal Story

Today is the very start of a new fabulous series that I am SO excited about! WEDDING WEDNESDAY!!!

Yes, it certainly is wedding season, so it’s fitting, but the real reason I am starting it this year is because…

Landon and I just got engaged!!!!

The Everyday Hostess Engagement - Kate Jolliffe and Landon Haaf Proposal

We are over the moon happy and so excited to be starting this next chapter of our lives. Thank you to all of you who have sent us such sweet words with your love and support. We are so grateful.

To start off Wedding Wednesday, I thought it would be most fun to start with our proposal story! So here goes!

Landon surprised me with a birthday trip to Nashville (my favorite city ever!) and while I, of course, wondered if this could be THE weekend, I naturally talked myself out of it. So I went thinking this would be an incredible weekend filled with fun tourist activities, hiking, and naturally lots of country bars with good cocktails and dancing. Little did I know it would be the most amazing and incredible weekend of my life.

We spent the first day walking around and exploring the city and all the hot tourist spots. Landon had never been to Nashville before, so it was fun showing him around this lively city.

The second day, we decided to take the scenic route down to Franklin (if you haven’t been, go! It’s just the cutest little town with a picturesque Main Street and some incredible art festivals!) via the Natchez Trace Parkway. Of course we stopped at Loveless Cafe, because how do you go all the way down there and not stop for their world famous biscuits?! We continued down the parkway checking out the beautiful views and stopping at all the overlooks.

We finally came upon a map, which led us to Jackson Falls. We planned on making a sort of “nature walk” part of our outdoorsy day, so this was the perfect spot! We strolled down the paved walkway to an absolutely gorgeous waterfall where kids were playing, sliding down the natural rocks, and enjoying their picnic lunch with their parents. Landon was looking for a quieter and more remote location (little did I know it was so he could propose!) so we walked back out and hiked to the other overlook at the top of the trailhead. We arrived at Duck Creek overlook and realized we had already stopped there during our drive so we headed back to the waterfall in hopes of a more solitary environment!

The Everyday Hostess Engagement - Kate Jolliffe and Landon Haaf Proposal

As luck would have it, literally all the families were gone! There were just a few scattered couples but they were all off on their own having their own romantic moments so we felt like we had the serene setting all to ourselves. We sat on a bench overlooking the waterfall and just talked about our relationship and life and how much we loved each other. It was just perfect.

I must have been in my own little world because as we were talking he was setting up a GoPro on the other side of him to capture the next few life changing moments, and I did not even realize it! He then started playing one of our favorite romantic country songs and asked me to dance. Well duhhh! I love to two step, especially with my favorite dance partner. We sang and danced and the moment was just beautiful. The song started to fade and Landon started telling me how much he loved me and got down on one knee and proposed.

The Everyday Hostess Engagement - Kate Jolliffe and Landon Haaf Proposal

It was absolutely perfect and so is he. This was the best moment of my life and of course I cried, said yes profusely, and jumped into his arms. We called our family and friends to share the news from Franklin and spent the rest of the evening celebrating!

The Everyday Hostess Engagement - Kate Jolliffe and Landon Haaf Proposal

To cap off the most incredible weekend EVER, Landon threw a surprise engagement party at our new apartment when we got home the next day. Even my family flew in from Colorado and California to surprise me! It was the absolute best way to top off an amazing weekend and celebrate with our loved ones. The Everyday Hostess Engagement - Kate Jolliffe and Landon Haaf Proposal

Y’all, I am one heck of a lucky girl. We are so excited to be starting this chapter of our lives together and planning our wedding.

Over the next year, I will be sharing our favorite wedding tips and tricks as well as featuring my favorite vendors and companies that we are using for our Colorado destination wedding! I hope you enjoy following us on this adventure and get some good advice and tips for the next big wedding in your life whether it’s your own, your daughter’s, or your friend’s!

Xoxoxo

Kate
PS. Did I mention how lucky I am?! Landon made this amazing video to capture the whole weekend! 😍

Bachelorette Watching Party May 30, 2016

Bachelorette Watching Party with Hotel ZaZa

ABC is back at it again with the new season of The Bachelorette, and we are all about Team Jojo right now! To kick off the new season, we had the honor of hosting the most amazing Bachelorette Season Premiere watching party with Hotel ZaZa for the lovely Circle Seven Five members!

View More: http://lindsaydavenportphotography.pass.us/bachelorette-party-csf-5-25-16-print

Set in a private room in the Dragonfly at Hotel ZaZa, this watching party was nothing short of luxurious and over the top! The Hotel itself exudes opulence and grandeur, which made it the absolute perfect venue for our classy and extravagant evening. From the signature cocktail coined “Boyfriend Material”, to the open bar, passed hors d’oeuvres and macarons (yes, you read that correctly…macarons!), luxurious lounge furniture for our viewing pleasure, and of course our Bachelorette brackets, no detail went unnoticed! The team at Hotel ZaZa was absolutely wonderful to work with and was so generous by providing the space and our tasty snacks and beverages. Their royal treatment made this event a night our members will never forget!

Hosting 101 May 12, 2016

Camp Out Date Night

The sun is out and the weather is warming up, so we can finally ditch those movie theater date nights for some fun and creative outdoor dates!

My boyfriend and I have found ourselves repeating many of the same types of dates lately, so I have made it my mission to come up with some unique ideas that everyone can do in their own city and on any budget. So grab your honey and jump in with us as we explore our city and even our own backyard and create easy yet flirty and romantic date nights this summer!

gold dust vintage teepee

Growing up in Colorado, camping was a regular summer activity for us. Now here in Texas, the campgrounds and scenery are a bit more limited, but I still love the idea of a summer camp out date night! So! We created our own little camp out here in our backyard! You can do this with any type of tent or teepee, or if you don’t have these, you can also make your own fort (who doesn’t love a good fort?!) out of the blankets and pillows you have laying around your house!

View More: http://cottonwoodroadphotography.pass.us/theeverydayhostess

We set up this beautiful teepee thanks to my dear friends Gold Dust Vintage (if you are in DFW – you HAVE to check them out!) for our weekly date night. Fox and the Fleur created the most incredible floral arrangements to give my teepee a more whimsical and romantic feel. She draped the entire 12 foot teepee in a gorgeous garland filled with peonies, tulips, roses, and poppies! Could this be any prettier?! I am still swooning just looking at it! She even created a beautiful matching bouquet for the centerpiece of our table!

fox and the fleur flowers View More: http://cottonwoodroadphotography.pass.us/theeverydayhostess

I brought out my favorite sheepskin rug and piled the inside of the teepee with some of our comfiest and fluffiest pillows, to create a romantic atmosphere for stargazing.

View More: http://cottonwoodroadphotography.pass.us/theeverydayhostess

And of course, no date night is complete without a tasty meal or snacks! I put together a delicious Mediterranean spread with some of our favorite hummus and bites which paired perfectly with our refreshing moscow mules. (I also brought out some chilled white wine to enjoy while stargazing). We enjoyed our meal on our little floor height coffee table provided by Gold Dust Vintage, which was perfectly set for the occasion.

View More: http://cottonwoodroadphotography.pass.us/theeverydayhostess gold dust vintage and everyday hostess shoot Mediterranean platter Medterreanan platter

This outdoor camp out was the perfect way to end a long week and kick off the start of summer! Plus it’s always nice to do something a little different than the typical evening out. The food was delicious, the setting was impeccable and the company was even better! And, of course, the stars that night were absolutely incredible!

View More: http://cottonwoodroadphotography.pass.us/theeverydayhostess

So grab your leading man and surprise him with your own camp out date night! I promise it will be a night to remember!

Stay tuned throughout the summer for more inspiring and interactive date nights!

Styled by: The Everyday Hostess |

Photography: Cottonwood Road Photography |

Teepee and Table Rentals: Gold Dust Vintage|

Floral Arrangements: Fox and the Fleur |

Outfit Details:

Dress: Shoshanna (similar) |

Male Shirt: Brooks Brothers |

Watch: Fossil |

Etiquette May 6, 2016

When to Write a Thank You Note

Never underestimate the power of a handwritten thank you note. It’s a lost art, which according to Emily Post, “reflects your appearance, taste and character.” In a world filled with text messages, emails, and social media posts, a little handwritten note can go a long way. It is tasteful and demonstrates a genuine gratitude.

As you can all tell, I am pretty passionate about thank you notes! So! How do you know when to write a thank you note? My best advice – when in doubt write one, but here are a few factors to consider!

When You Receive a Gift – No matter the size of the gift, always write a simple thank you note within 3 days of receiving the gift. My mom always told me to write the note before I used the gift, so to this day, I still write a thank you note either before I use the gift or within 3 days…whichever is first. The main exception is wedding gifts. Etiquette suggests you have 3 months to send thank you notes upon receiving the gift.

Get Well Gifts – Thank you notes should be written by the patient or a friend or relative as soon as the patient recovers. You can also call or email closer friends to thank them rather than sending a formal note.

Condolence Notes or Gifts– A thank you note should be written by a close friend or relative of the recipient for each gift whether it is in the form of flowers, notes, or donations. Kind Act – Always write a thank you note after a kind act. If someone invites you over for dinner or to stay with them, it’s proper to send your host a little thank you note telling them how much you appreciate their hospitality.

Interviews – Emails are the most popular way to thank potential employers for an interview; however, I highly recommend sending a formal handwritten note thanking them for the opportunity and their time. This will help you stand out from the rest of the candidates. However, if the employer is making the decision within the next few days, an email thank you is appropriate for the sake of timing.

If you’re not currently in the habit of writing thank you notes, that’s okay! Not many of us are! But start small! If your friend’s parents take you out to dinner or invite you into their home, send a short little note! Nothing lengthy, just a simple display of appreciation. As you start doing this, it will come much easier and will soon become a habit! You will be amazed at the impact it has on the recipient 🙂

Lifestyle April 5, 2016

Baby Bump Brunch with Maxwell + Gray!

I am SO SO SO honored and excited to be co-hosting this month’s Yeah! Mama event with Stacy of Maxwell + Gray. We are throwing the absolute cutest Baby Bump Brunch for all expecting mothers in the Dallas area and cannot wait to shower you all with lots of love and goodies!

April Photo Invite (1)

Come join us at Rosanne Beck Studios on April 30th at 11:30am for yummy bites, mocktails, and custom Mommy Swag Bags filled with LOTS of gifts from our favorite vendors!

Hop on over to Maxwell + Gray to RSVP today! We cannot wait to celebrate with all of you!

Featured Vendors:

Brunch March 9, 2016

Hosting a Tea Party

easter-4

Spring is finally in the air! What better way to celebrate the start of Spring than with a festive tea party?! Whether you are hosting a shower or birthday party or celebrating Easter, it is the perfect time to gather your friends and family and enjoy some of that gorgeous sunshine with a pot of tea and some sweet treats!

If you’ve never hosted a tea party before, it can be a bit intimidating. There is a sense of formality associated with them that can be a little overwhelming. So! We have provided you with tips and tricks to create the perfect gathering! Without further ado, let’s take a walk through Tea Party Hosting 101.

Choose a Theme

The theme will dictate the formality of your tea party and can easily be tailored to the interests of your guests. Traditional British tea parties are always fun and a bit fancier, but be sure to pay attention to the interests of your guests. If they are younger, a princess theme may be popular. If they like Paris, a French theme would be super cute. The ideas are endless. One of my personal favorite themes is an Alice in Wonderland themed tea party. Even with this theme, you can use bright colors and decorate it with more of a “Mad Hatter” style or you can use black and red and decorate it with the “Queen of Hearts” in mind! Check out how I styled my Alice in Wonderland themed party here!

easter-69

Stay tuned for Part 2 of “Hosting a Tea Party” and for how I partnered with Holiday Warehouse to style a magical and whimsical Alice in Wonderland Easter Tea Party!

Choose a Location

The location of your tea party should be dependent on the weather. If it is warm and sunny outside, a garden, terrace, or nearby park is a great choice. However, an indoor tea party in your dining room is also beautiful.

Choose the Date and Time

The time of your tea party is very important, as it will dictate what kind of food you will serve. Low teas are typically held mid-afternoon between meal times, while high teas are traditionally between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Choose the Guest List and Send Invitations

Customize your invites to the theme of your party. You can easily make your own, send a digital one through Evite or Paperless Post, or there are some super cute ones you can order through Etsy! I recommend sending your invitations out about 2-3 weeks before your event so you will have a final RSVP count a week in advance for menu planning purposes.

easter-86

Plan the Menu

The menu is very much determined by the time of the event. If you are hosting a “low tea” or mid-afternoon tea, chances are it is between meal times, so less food is needed. A few sweet and savory snacks such as pastries, scones, and tea sandwiches on a three-tiered stand is perfect. Proper etiquette recommends serving the scones first followed by the tea sandwiches and then sweets. High-teas served during meal times usually require more substantial food such as savory hors d’oeuvres like quiche, meat pies, or a light soup or salad.

easter-115

I also like to serve a few little desserts such as macarons and decorated cookies. These types of sweets can help emphasize the theme of your event. Be sure to check out Part 2 of “Hosting a Tea Party.” We will share our customized tea party menu plus we will talk about the most delicious macarons from We the Birds Macarons and the beautifully decorated cookies from The Best Dressed Cookie and how they made this Wonderland come to life!

Entertaining January 4, 2016

How to Properly Set a Table

Setting the table is usually the last item on the to-do list when hosting a dinner party. If you’re like me, you’re probably more focused on making sure that the meal comes out perfectly and on time rather than on the table. However, when you go to set it last minute, it becomes a hurried and stressful event trying to figure out the correct placement of each fork or spoon.

Avoid the stress and the guess work of which side the bread plate goes on and check out our handy guide for setting a proper table!

How to Set a Table - The Everyday Hostess

Appetizers December 30, 2015

Hosting a Cocktail Party with Stonefire Flatbread

When hosting a cocktail party it is always important to prepare appetizers that people can eat with a single hand while mixing and mingling. We are all familiar with that awkward situation when you have a drink in one hand, a small plate and a fork in another, and then a friend comes up to greet you and have to re-situate everything that you are holding just to give a simple hug or handshake! How uncomfortable is that?! I literally hate that situation but find myself in it regularly.

Therefore, in order to avoid this at my parties, I like to serve easy bite sized appetizers that can easily be served on a napkin, so you don’t have the extra plate to hold on to. Then once your guests have taken their bite, they can easily crumple up their napkin, and voila! A free hand to shake as many hands as they want with!

I recently started including Stonefire naan into my appetizers at cocktail parties. The pre-made flatbread can be found in the bakery or deli section of your local grocery store and tastes absolutely delicious. You can easily use the naan to transform any of your favorite snacks into small flatbread bites for your friends and family.

I have taken three of my favorite traditional dishes (Cranberry Brie Tarts, Spinach Artichoke Dip, and Caramel Apple Crisp) and put a unique spin on them to make the most delicious and easily “servable” appetizers for any cocktail party! Check out these recipes for my favorite Stonefire cocktail appetizers below!

Cranberry Pecan and Brie Flatbread with a Maple Brown Sugar Glaze

Salted Caramel Apple Crisp Flatbread

Spinach Artichoke Flatbread

These are all so simple to make and are absolute crowd pleasers! So simple that you could easily throw them all together last minute for your NYE bash tomorrow! Once you have made the delectable flatbread, all you have to do is slice it into even bite sized pieces and serve! No longer do your guests have to balance a plate and silverware while trying to mingle at your party!

Check out these perfect cocktail party recipes and include Stonefire in your own soiree, and I can guarantee that your party menu will be an absolute sucess! Plus, once you have tried these recipes, head on over to Stonefire’s website for even more flatbread recipes that you can make from home!

Enjoy!