Hostess with the Mostess

I mentioned in one of my recent posts that I am still trying to find my passion in life. I should re-phrase that. I have quite a few things I am passionate about, but I'm not sure how to swirl them together into something that I could potentially make a career out of, or maybe even just make some part-time dollars from once we settle down and have kids!

I have a had a wonderful experience working in Marketing and Human Resources for the past five years, but so far it's not what I want to do with my life for the next 30 years {I figure that kind of time frame does give me a little wiggle room to figure it out, but I am sooo impatient and want to figure it out now!}.

So far, I have found one thing that brings together a lot of my loves, which is hosting friends and family at our house! Here's why I love it:

• Alex and I get to introduce people to Lexington and all of the wonderful things it has to offer. 
• I get to plan activities outside the house and choose restaurants that fit the personalities and tastes of those coming to visit {Just ask my husband, as much as I love cooking, I love picking out just the right restaurant}.
• I have the opportunity to make interesting food and get creative with menu planning and cocktails. I also get to break out all of my vintage {and some new} serving dishes, pitchers, bowls etc. I love making the simplest things feel more special with such a small touch. Here's one of my new favorite cocktails to make for guests, especially with Spring here! Thank you Karleya Chard for introducing me!

• I am motivated to have a cleaning spree. A clean house just brings me so much personal satisfaction. {Lately, Alex has been complaining that I want our house to be "too clean" all the time?! Huh?! Oh well, I don't understand all of the things that make him tick either}.
• I also get to showcase all of my hard work in decorating the house, and I have the opportunity to play up my detail-oriented nature with small additions that create an inviting and homey atmosphere, such as seasonal candles, fresh flowers spread out throughout the house, blankets and throws within reach,  and just the right amount of natural light vs. lamp light. {This might be a little bit of the marketer in me}.
• It gives me a really good excuse to get crafty. In the past, I have printed menus, created agendas and activity sheets, decorated bottles of water and planned other little thank you gifts for my guests! Although, I am hosting them at our house, they've also taken the time out to come visit us and made the drive down, so I like to say thank you! {Last time I checked, gas isn't cheap}.
• And last, but not least, I get so pleasure out of taking care of others, giving them a mini vacation and just spending time with the ones I love.

A couple days before St. Patrick's Day Weekend we hosted Alex's cousin Fran for one night. Although, it was a short stay we had the most amazing time for a Thursday night. I was only sorry that I had to work the next day because I could've stayed up all night talking to him and Alex. It was such a lovely, impromptu visit! Sometimes the short ones are the best. Come back soon Fran! Bring Jeff too!

About a week later I hosted some of my college roommates for a short weekend. They came down on Saturday morning and we had a wonderful day together. Luckily, the weather cooperated for us too. We had lunch at the house and then hit the town to do a little boutique exploring. After a few tiring hours of shopping we bopped over to a local winery to have a wine tasting and feasted on some cheese! {I cannot think of a better afternoon snack}. 

Then we changed for dinner and visited a historic restaurant in Lexington. After dinner we headed back to the house for some birthday cake, games and girl talk. I love that we don't have to do anything outrageous or party all night to have fun together. We love to just be.

After the weekend they told me that they had decided I should run a bed and breakfast. The funny coincidence is that I am currently reading two books simultaneously that have to do with running a bed and breakfast. Not sure I could handle working nights and weekends, but definitely something to file away... As a result of their stay, I also added another quinoa recipe to my repitoire, a delicious Buffalo Chicken Quinoa Salad recipe from my friend Amy that I made almost immediately. Easy, on the healthy-side and delicious!

Eileen and I at Sausage Making

This past weekend we headed up to Cleveland for Easter and my in-laws were the hosts with the most! Every year they host 30+ people for the annual Holy Saturday Sausage Making {Let me tell you, that is no small feat}. My father-in-law makes the most delicious breakfast sausage {first place!} and my mother-in-law is the ultimate at Easter baskets.

Of course, they have many other talents, but I love the way they're so inviting and loving. They have a way of making everyone feel included, including my own parents! However, even more important, is the way they help us keep the main purpose of the Easter celebration in the forefront of hearts and minds. We had a wonderful time as always with the family, although I was exhausted by the time we made it back to Lexington last night. Luckily, I'll have a pretty low key week to get caught up before we host another small group at the house this upcoming weekend. 

April = the Keeneland Spring Meet! Our friend is turning 30, and in honor of his birthday they're renting a party bus. {There might be such a thing as too much fun}. So we've got a couple newbies coming to visit us and experience the wonderfulness that is a party bus + Keeneland in the Spring time. The weather is set to be in the 60's {Wohoo}! A couple of our guests live quite far away from their families so I have a little Easter surprise already waiting for them {That's me needing an excuse to be creative again}. And, we have another birthday to celebrate so I have the perfect excuse to whip up a Bourbon Fudge Cake. If you haven't heard about that, you must check it out here! It's become one of my go-to recipes. 

I am so looking forward to relaxing in Lexington this weekend and letting off some steam with friends. Here's one of my favorite pictures of Alex and I at Keeneland right after we got married and moved to Lexington in 2012. It will be one of the places we remember fondly once we make our move back to Home Sweet Ohio in a couple years.

October 2012

Mark 16:6 - "And he said to them, "Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here; behold, here is the place where they laid Him."