Put down the glue gun and step away from the centerpiece"

Stylish entertaining should be focused on guests, not crafts and decorating; Young couple shows how to make guests the focus of any party in new book

Stylish entertaining should be focused on guests, not crafts and decorating
Young couple shows how to make guests the focus of any party in new book

Dulles, VA--Entertaining should be about the guests and having a good time, not crafts and impossible to meet standards, say Ron and Julie Malloy, the authors of ITS JUST A DINNER PARTY: A Modern Approach to Entertaining, an entertaining guide geared for todays busy young professionals. The Malloys offer realistic advice for entertaining stylishly—and with ease.
The backbone of Ron and Julies advice is the concept of guest-centric" entertaining. Guest-centric entertaining stresses simplicity, grace, and a refreshingly genuine hospitality," Julie says. Guest-centric entertaining means that as a host, you should be focusing on your guests comfort and happiness throughout the entire process." That means from the first planning stages until the last guest goes home, you keep your guests comfort and happiness in mind. When you take a guest-centric approach to entertaining, you cant help but provide a warm, welcoming event that will be remembered fondly," Ron says.
In the Malloys honest and humorous entertaining guide, they reveal straightforward and simple techniques for party planning, relaxed etiquette, bar and menu basics, and a few reliable recipes for any occasion. Most importantly, they show you how to enjoy entertaining--and how to ensure that your guests enjoy themselves too.
ITS JUST A DINNER PARTY covers everything you need to know for throwing a party--whether it's your first or your 101st.
It includes such information as:
-How to decide whether to buffet or not buffet" (p. 16)
-How much liquor to have on hand (p. 29)   
-Simple, straightforward directions on how to set a table--for maximum comfort and usefulness (p.46)
-Fifteen tips on serving food (p.87)
-How to arrange flowers and keep them looking fresh (p. 168)
-The best CD's and music for party ambience (p.171)
The Malloys also offer straightforward advice on how to handle uninvited guests, rude or obnoxious guests, RSVP follow-up, clean-up, and special considerations for kids at the party--and much more.
Most importantly, though, ITS JUST A DINNER PARTY shows how to be a gracious host. Entertaining inevitably involves fiascoes—it is impossible to entertain without something going awry," Julie says. Because of this a graceful host is the most important element in a party. No matter how good the cheese or how high the soufflé, if the host doesn't possess grace, the party won't reach it's potential."
Despite their hectic work schedules, Ron and Julie Malloy entertain regularly and love doing it. For years their friends, relatives and associates have consulted them for events ranging from small business dinners to enormous weddings. Ron Malloy is the co-founder and CEO of Design2Launch, Inc., a software service provider. Prior to this venture, Ron had many years of experience in sales, marketing and management. Julie Malloy is the president of Black Cat Productions LLC, a product development and public relations firm.
Her public relations work has appeared in The New York Times, San Diego Tribune, and Wallpaper magazine, among others. When not working or entertaining, Ron, Julie, and their two dogs, Gatsby and Garbo, can often be found cruising Long Island Sound on their boat, Grace. This is their first book.
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