Best of … easy entertaining ideas

Contributed by Tim Brugger, Catalogs.com Top 10 Guru

Agreeing to host a party or casual function is all it takes to get some people busting out in hives.

All they envision is hard work, plastic smiles and incessant small talk. I don’t know if we can help with the incessant small talk, that’s likely inescapable.

However, there are easy entertaining ideas out there; you just have to know where to look.

Right here for instance…

Theme decor

A party in a box

Easy entertaining can be just that with the right party theme. Take this island themed tiki centerpiece for example from Anderson’s Events and everything else that matches – tablecloth, banners, party favors. With the house outfitted in an island motif and your guests in sarongs, muumuus and coconut bras, your work is through. Now, just relax and enjoy.

Guests bring the entertainment

Instant fun

Everyone loves hanging by the pool, so make it even easier on yourself by requiring payment for entry. In addition to bringing their own suit and beach towel, guests must bring a pool toy like anything from PureBlueSwim.com and food to meet their cover charge. Have each guest bring an entrée or side dish to toss on the picnic table, alongside the 46 versions of the best potato salad ever made. How easy is that?

Go for fondue

Let your guests do the cooking

One cause of the consternation some feel when preparing to entertain is the food. What to serve, how to serve it and will I be in the kitchen all blasted night while everyone else is having fun? The answer, as it has been and always will be, is fondue. This stainless steel wonder from Cooking Enthusiast will do everything except wash your car. It will handle meat, seafood, chocolate and whatever else you want to cook and be done with. Now go mingle, you are the hostess remember.

Food delivered

Go beyond pizza

If the idea of even making fondue has your palms sweating, let’s take it up a notch. Lou Malnati’s Tastes of Chicago will deliver Chicago style goodies of all sorts, including these Vienna Beef dogs. No trip to the grocery store, no worries about serving your guests quality chow, just easy entertaining. Okay, go ahead. Order the pizza too!

Wine tasting

Perfect for your celebration

Wine tasting, as connoisseurs around the world know, is an always popular entertainment idea. Well, maybe not always; the boxes of wine with the little plastic dispensers leave a bit to be desired. But for easy entertaining, check out the folks at Windsor Vineyards Particularly their 14 Bottle Celebration Collection, there’s sure to be something even the most discerning vino sampler will appreciate.