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NABBW Columnist - Organizational Skills
Zen
Organizer Party Planning Diary Recently a dear friend gifted me with a birthday party. While it was a great success, some things did not go as she planned. Doesn’t that always happen when we have folks over? Her response, however, has been to declare that she is never going to entertain again. My suggestion is that we break the experience down and examine what elements were successful and which could have been handled differently for a better outcome. In the case of entertaining, a better outcome is one where the hostess is so relaxed she’s enjoying her own party. Here are some questions to help you create a Zen Organizer Party Planning Diary. Are you ready to begin? 1. Find something to write in that you enjoy using…it could be a beautiful leather bound notebook, your computer or anything in between that will prompt you to keep up your entries. 2. Who were the guests? It’s nice to keep track of who was invited to which gathering at your home. You may want to make notes about your guests: do some, for example, circulate easily and just naturally help you co-host? As a single woman I know I frequently ask my more outgoing guests to help me. If one loves music, I ask that friend to be sure there is always music playing…another becomes the bartender and maybe a third helps clear the table. You get the idea. 3. Was there a theme? My friend had problems coordinating the food but she is a master at creating environments. Because of my desire to travel to China this year, she had a Chinese theme. It truly felt like a gathering for the zen organizer the minute you entered the space. 4. What went well (be specific)? Was this the party you managed to get all the hot food on the table at the same time…and the same temperature? Did you try out a new wine and instantly knew you had a party favorite? You see how this goes. 5. What did you learn i.e. what didn’t go as planned that you would do differently in the future? At my party we learned once again the importance of clear communication. One of my dearest friends is a fabulous cook. When he said he was going to make a special dip, we thought he was going to make it at home and bring it with him. He meant he was going to make it at the party! This meant we had no dip for the first 90 minutes of the gathering and there wasn’t enough room in my friend’s tiny kitchen for her to complete her food tasks. Hence the green salad never got made! It was a comedy of errors. On the positive side, we were all laughing and enjoying each other so much, I think only the hostess noticed the obvious lapse in food presentation. 6. If you entertained at home, was the house ready? If yes, what schedule did you follow? Write it down as your blue print. If not, what didn’t get done? Were you shoving things in closets at the last minute? Did you want to wash the kitchen floor and ran out of time? When all is said and done, was anything you didn’t do really not all that important to the success of the party? Before the guests arrived for my birthday party, my friend lamented that she had not had time to wash the kitchen floor. When they left, she said she was glad in the end that had happened. The floor was filthy from all the extra traffic! Be sure you aren’t overwhelming yourself with the goal of perfection. Remember: the only realistic goal is to do your personal best. Only God is perfect. If you analyze your party planning, you will come up with a fool proof strategy that will make entertaining a breeze. Parties…they aren’t just for people like Martha! Regina Leeds is the author of “The Zen of Organizing: Creating Order and Peace in Your Home, Career and Life” and “Sharing a Place Without Losing Your Space: A Couples Guide to Blending Homes, Lives and Clutter.” She is a regular contributor to Lime Radio on Sirius Satellite channel 114, Lime.com, Vegetarian News Magazine and Modern Sage.com. You can reach her through her web site: reginaleeds.com. October
2005: The Art of 'Zen Organizing' |
New
York City native Regina Leeds has brought order to home and
work environments across the United States since 1988 when
she started her company, Get Organized! by REGINA.
Currently based in Los Angeles, her clientele run the gamut
from movie stars to business people and housewives. Regina
regularly travels throughout the United States to assist her
clients. National
Association of Baby Boomer Women Copyright
2005, National Association of Baby Boomer Women |