dinner-party

We love parties: throwing them, going to them, wining and dining with people we love. When invited to a party — or even a small gathering of friends or family — it’s good practice to bring a token of appreciation. Or maybe you just need a little something for a party-throwing friend. The best gifts […]

You may have seen the beautiful colors of India in pictures of the biggest Hindu festival called Diwali. Occurring in October or November of each year, it’s a party that lasts five days, celebrating the victory of light over the forces of darkness. You can host your own colorful and light-filled Diwali-inspired gathering with these […]

Filled with mystery and intrigue, and dramatic character acting, what could be more fun than a rousing game of who-dun-it? Here’s how to do a murder mystery party of your own. The Party Kit For your first murder mystery party, look for a game that isn’t too complicated. Before you select a game, read the […]

Trying to come up with some fresh ideas for your date night at home? Try these four ways to have a deluxe date night in. If you’re feeling friendly, you can easily add more seats to include your favorite couple for a double-date night. To the Floor In Darling Dates for Two, I was smitten […]

You’ve been watching too much Food Network, or flipping through too many staged dinner party photo shoots in your Facebook feed, and the result? You invite too many people to dinner. Whoops. I applaud your over-eagerness and want to remind you what Maya Angelou told us — people will remember how you made them feel. […]

It’s a welcome adventure to grab a friend or two, pack up some goodies, and head to an outdoor location to share some relaxing time together. However, as the summer season comes to a close, you may get your fair share of extreme heat, or just the opposite, an unexpected downpour of rain. Here are […]

Remember when you were a kid, those friends with summer birthdays? They might have missed out on some birthday celebration because they didn’t get it announced in class, and their friends were away on summer vacation. (Was this you?) Well, now that we’re all grown up, we get this fabulous thing called “choice.” We can […]

Fabulous entertaining on a minimal budget is easy and inspiring with the following ideas. Decorations Using what you have is the name of the game for frugal decorating. If the weather cooperates, head outside to the garden and let Mother Nature decorate for you with leafy trees, flowering bushes, or verdant herbs. If it’s too […]

Party favors are such a nice way to tell your guests how much you appreciate them.  But here at Plum Deluxe, we appreciate that not everyone has the time to handcraft artisanal French macarons and paint custom wooden boxes that lavish your guests with the feeling of luxury.  (Ok, I am exaggerating, but you know […]

Now, here’s a recipe for fun! Take a handful of good friends and one cozy kitchen, combine with a few delightfully sweet recipes, the intoxicating smells of baked treats, and quality time spent together. The result of this group baking party will be a memorable day with piles of goodies to share with everyone. Different […]

A smoky backyard campfire may not drum up images of “couture,” but with a bit of creative decorating we can take elements of the classic campfire gathering and make a dreamy setting for your next party. Your guests will get the essence of the cookout but be lounging around comfortably inside with glittering lights and […]

It’s been an intense year for topics that are generally considered verboten at the dinner table — namely, politics and its quarrelsome twin conversation starter, religion. Whether you are hosting an intimate afternoon tea or a boisterous wine dinner, I believe you have a responsibility as a host to create a safe, sane space for your […]

There are few things more fun than the hilarity and competition of playing board games. Shouts of joy over securing Boardwalk in Monopoly, fist-pumping when the Longest Road is secured in Settlers of Catan, the relief of knowing you’ve connected all your destinations on Ticket to Ride — they’re all part of an experience that […]

Busy schedules got you down? It can be hard to fit all of your entertaining plans into one weekend, along with errands and just taking a minute to put your feet up before Monday morning hits again. Hosting guests during the week may sound like an even bigger drag, but consider the benefits: you can […]