I am excited to share this charming Harvest display created by the newest FH Dinner Party Series Guest, Lindsey Rose King, founder and lead curator of Mostess. Not familiar with Mostess? Well, this couldn’t be more perfect timing as Holiday gifting is upon us! Mostess sends seasonally curated home decor and hosting items in one beautiful box (four times a year). Perfect for gifting (they also have one-time gifts!) or to treat yourself! Each season Mostess reveals a new, themed box, that is beautiful and curated in a fabulous way! Today Lindsey invited us into her home to show us how she’s entertaining for Fall, which includes tips for hosting guests and her go-to recipe! Be sure to Check out her site MostessBox.com for amazing gifts this Holiday season!
Q & A:
FH: Tell me a quick bio of how you came to start?
Lindsey: For nine years I worked as a political fundraiser and consultant in Washington, DC. One evening I was trying to plan a party for close friends when the idea for Mostess sparked. After working 10 hour days, the seemingly simple task of crafting a signature drink and finding beautiful Pinterest-worthy tabletop decor proved not so easy. Why couldn’t I effortlessly welcome guests into my home like my mother and grandmother always had? I felt that there must be an easier way for women with full time jobs to not only find time to socialize, but also welcome guests into a beautifully styled home. In 2016 I launched Mostess as a solution for women who want to spruce up their entertaining and hosting skills without being overwhelmed by the process.
FH: How would you describe your blog or company?
Lindsey: At Mostess we believe that there is no substitute for bringing people together offline. In today’s world, however, we are always pressed for time and in person gatherings can feel overwhelming. With hand selected high quality items and entertaining ideas from Mostess, hosts can spend more time enjoying their home and their guests. People visit our website to get home styling inspiration, modern hosting tips, and to snag our coveted seasonal boxes (either for themselves or as a gift)!
FH: What is your entertaining style? Traditional, Contemporary, Seasonal?
Lindsey: My entertaining style is a combination of modern and traditional with a creative flare!
FH: How often do you entertain and for how many guests?
Lindsey: During the holidays and football season we have large, casual gatherings. Our home is modestly sized, so for more formal affairs, like dinner parties, we tend to have two to six guests.
FH: Do you have a go-to recipe or dish or cocktail {or do you avoid cooking at all costs}?
Lindsey: I always have a go to cocktail! My favorite is our Mostess Original:
In a champagne glass:
- add 1 brown sugar cube
- add 3-4 dashes of Jack Rudy Cocktail Co Aromatic Bitters
- fill glass with prosecco or brut champagne
- garnish with 2 Jack Rudy Cocktail Co Bourbon Cocktail Cherries
I’m not one for cooking things from scratch and I rarely have time to! For the main dish, I prefer to leave it to the experts (ordering pick-up, heating a premade dish, or having it catered). However, I do like to make the appetizer myself. For fall, I love serving baked Brie because it’s simple to make and always a crowd pleaser. We included the recipe and a Brie baker in our Fall 2017 Hearth Box!
What you need:
- Brie cheese
- dried cranberries
- walnuts
- honey
- crackers
- pear slices
Preheat oven to 350. Place unwrapped Brie in oven safe dish and top with dried cranberries and nuts. Place in center rack and bake uncovered for 20 minutes. Remove and drizzle with honey. Serve with crackers and sliced pears.
FH: Did something inspire you for today’s table? A certain color, flower, plate?
Lindsey: The feeling of fall, which to me, means crisp air and warm company! I wanted to create a laid back, approachable look but also bring in some clean seasonal components.
FH: What’s your favorite element in today’s tablescape? Can you share with readers tips for re-creating at home! {Example – the flower arrangements – what flowers did you use/ how did you choose them. The table cards – did you print them on a special site?}
Lindsey: I have two favorites:
- The seasonal flowers we used for the centerpiece. I included red hypericum berries, white chrysanthemums, and roses. Since the table is on the smaller side, I made sure to style the flowers in a low profile vase. I also loved how the red berries pop against the clean, neutral color palate on the table.
- The place cards. These handmade paper place cards with gold acorns were available in our Fall 2017 Hearth Box. For Love and Lettering wrote each guest’s name in black ink on the white place card, which really popped. To create a seasonal look, we set each place card in a pinecone. It was a fresh and inexpensive alternative to place card holders.
FH: If you could give one party tip for readers what would it be?
Lindsey: Make guests feel right at home when they arrive! One way to do this is to personally greet each guest and kindly explain where things are and when things are happening. For example, if you are hosting a dinner party point guests towards a beverage as soon as they arrive. At the same time let them know what time you are expecting to serve dinner. This takes any guessing games off the table so that guests can relax and effortlessly enjoy your home!
FH: Table top… Share all the deets!!
Lindsey: To style this tabletop, I incorporated all items that were available in our Fall 2017 Hearth Box with some of my favorite classic and seasonal pieces. One reason Mostess boxes are so helpful is that I handpick all of the items to pair easily with home accessories you might already have on hand. Our Winter Box, which is available now to pre-order and ships early December, will have festive holiday items that pair well with the contents of our Fall Box as well as other items you already have on hand.
- Plates: Pottery Barn
- Salad Plates: Pottery Barn
- Napkins: Towel was made for Mostess by To The Market
- Water glasses: World Market
- Silverware: World Market
- Centerpieces/ Vases/ Candle sticks: Flower arrangement made by Mostess
- Chairs & Dining Table: CB 2
Home location: Houston, TX
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Photography by: Kate Elizabeth Photography www.kateelizabeth.org
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