Gatherings Podcast

In the final episode, we are talking about our favorite parties from the past year and some fun details about what made them so great! Chrystina’s Burlesque 29th Birthday Party Jess’ Annual Cookie Party The 30th Birthday Party that Jess threw for her husband Christina’s friend Heather’s Laid-back Pool Party Christina’s friend Maddison’s karaoke Birthday Party Jess’ Annual Camping Trip Friendsgiving Christina’s friend Stephanie’s Birthday party Year 10 Not-A-Wedding Party in the Poconos Then we veered off track a bit about renting houses with large groups. Our Usual Final Questions: What are you planning right now? Chrystina: My 30th birthday party. Jessica: Girls Night Party in the new Year How are you staying in touch? Jessica: snail main and carepackages Chrystina: visiting friends in far off places What are you into right now? Chrystina: Disney Jessica: Creating a Toxin-Free Home

Episode 10 is all about the kids. We spent some time chatting with Andy Shaw of Instafather.com  about hosting kids parties, hosting a kid at an adult party, bringing kids to parties and more. In this episode, there are a lot of great little tips for navigating the waters with little ones, whether they are yours or not.    Meet Andy Shaw How Chrystina + Andy Met Andy's Day Job His improv comedy   Kid smoothie recipes (we got a little side tracked) Jess’ questions from a parents perspective Bounce House, Actors & Extras vs old fashioned playtime Don’t set your kid up for failure Thoughts on Nap times Gift Opening at parties Buying gifts for kids Throwing parties at facilities vs home Thoughts on decorations Food, dietary restrictions and more When do parents stop coming? Chrystina’s questions from a non-parent perspective How long are kids parties? Making small talk with children Getting comfortable with inviting kids to your home Is babyproofing necessary? Andy’s Guest Post on Chrystina’s Blog Sna

In Episode 9 of Season 2, we had the opportunity to speak with Rico Gagliano and Brendan Francis Newnam, the authors of Brunch is Hell. This was such a fun episode to record where we discussed everything from dinner parties to playlists to icebreaker jokes. Brendan and Rico shared the title they originally wanted to give their book and their most memorable dinner parties. Definitely an episode not to be missed. (Also, if you're a dinner party person, Brunch is Hell should absolutely be on your reading list.) Meet Rico and Brendan The Dinner Party Download Icebreaker Small talk Guest of honor Cocktails Brunch Is Hell Their origin story The end of the podcast The start of the book Brunch is Hell The title of the book (and the almost title of the book) Why (restaurant) brunch is awful Dinner Parties Dinner party identifiers Helping people with guidance Etiquette rules Nights to throw dinner parties aka "Tuesdays are Dumb" Most Memorable Dinner Parties Brendan's Friday night dinner party Rico a

In Episode 8, we spoke with Sean Hand about networking, more specifically how to transfer the networking skills of the office to dinner parties, weddings, and more. In this episode, Sean shares a lot of great stories and tips on how to prepare for an event ahead of time. Not only that, but we talk about how to best utilize your plus ones at an event (and/or be the best plus one you can be). We're looking forward to sharing this episode with you all and hope you enjoy it as much as we did. Sean is the founder of a professional development website – AwkwardNetworker.com as well the Awkward Networker Podcast to help his global audience achieve networking success in their personal and professional lives. He has spoken to a wide range of audiences across the country and has been known to help improve the personal brand of thousands of people. Sean is a tireless advocate for young professional mentorship, with a passion for philanthropy, organizational development, and public speaking.  He sits on multiple non-pro

In Episode 7, we had the opportunity to speak with Ali Rosen from Potluck with Ali about keeping things simple while entertaining. The conversation takes a few turns, but there are some great tips throughout about avoiding party tension, setting yourself up for success, pre-party preparation tips, and tips to keep things simple. You'll also hear about that time Ali cooked for a bunch of fancy chefs, another version of the bakers vs. cooks debate, and a breakdown of prioritizing relationships for staying in touch. We're excited for you to take a listen! Ali Rosen is the founder and host of Potluck with Ali Rosen, a television show, and website dedicated to sharing the best and brightest in food. Potluck airs on NYC Life and its videos have appeared on HuffPost, Edible, and People. She is also the author of Bring It!: Tried and True Recipes for Potlucks and Entertaining. Ali was named as one of Forbes Magazine's 30 Under 30 for Food & Drink. She has also written for sites including Bon Appétit, Epicurious,

In Episode 6, we talk with Jennifer Coyle from Hello Brio about minimalism and party planning. We cover everything from food and drink to table settings, paper products, and more. We also have a detailed discussed about some of our favorite sustainable kitchen items. We all now have plenty of new ideas to make our kitchens more eco-friendly, and would love to hear some of the tips you're using in your kitchen too! Jennifer is the editor behind Hello Brio, a lifestyle blog dedicated to helping people create their own true happiness. She believes in minimalism, mindfulness, intentional living, and nearo waste (near zero waste). Jenn is a self-taught web developer, momma to baby Beans, hand lettering artist, and burrito lover. An Introduction to Jenn & Minimalism Nearo Waste Minimalism and Party Planning  Food & Drink Table Settings Corelle Plates Paper Products Etsy Napkins Marleys Monsters Kitchen Towels Decor Guest Lists Gifts (or No Gifts) Sending Invitations Paperless Post Setup + Ki

In Episode 5, Jessica interviews Chrystina about starting a conference. Chrystina started a blogger community called PHLbloggers in Philadelphia in September 2014. Since then, it has grown to a community of 350 members with an annual conference called The Blog Connect. This past April was year three. Jessica gets inside Chrystina's head about where the idea came from, how to handle the logistics, and tips she's learned along the way. The Blog Connect Recaps: 2016, 2017, and 2018 What made you start a conference? What was the first step from idea to action? What makes a good conference? Is there anything you've wanted to do with the conference so far that hasn't worked out? What's something you thought would be hard that wasn't? What were any unexpected hurdles that you faced? How do you keep everything organized? How do you keep a team in line with your vision? How do you get speakers? How do you get sponsors? How do you set a price point for tickets? What are you planning right now? Chrystina: A work bada

For Episode 4, we had the chance to chat with Kristin Donnelly, the author of the Modern Potluck cookbook, and her newest cookbook, Cauliflower. Throughout this episode we talk about Kristin's past career as a Food & Wine magazine food editor, the logistics of hosting potlucks, potluck tips for guests, and more. We definitely all hit it off and ended up on a few tangents including pyrex outlet stores and pig roasts. Hope you enjoy! Meet Kristin Donnelly  A discussion of what it means to be a food editor of Food & Wine magazine Life of a blogger Work life balance The Modern Potluck cookbook Potlucks & casseroles Tried & true dinner party habits The rules of the potluck The logistics of potlucks Potluck tips for guests Holidays & potlucks What are you planning right now? Jess: Son's and husband's birthdays Kristin: Husband's birthday & pig roasts Chrystina: Roommate's surprise birthday party What's going on in your kitchen? Chrystina: Dino nuggets Kristin: Cleaning out the fri

Y'all are in for a treat today. In Season 2, Episode 3 of Gatherings Podcast we sat down with Madeline from Where is the Damn Corkscrew about 10 overlooked party to-dos and went over her handy last minute party checklist. We each shared our own stories about times that things went well (and not so well) in each of these areas, and we're so excited to be sharing the list with you today! If you are interested in downloading Madeline's freebie, make sure to sign up for her VIP list here. Madeline is the founder and hostess-in-chief over at Where Is The Damn Corkscrew. She's a checklist champion, recovering people-pleaser, reformed perfectionist, and self-identified ambivert (half introvert, half extrovert). She spent years struggling with awkwardness, disorganization, and psychological barriers when hosting and attending parties and events. Despite those challenges she forged ahead into the abyss anyway, organizing and attending and professionally staffing events left and right, because she loves sharing quali

Episode 2 of Season 2 and we've decided it's time for us to get real with y'all. Even though we've been hosting parties for years, it doesn't mean that we're not affected by imposter syndrome. (Which, in case you didn't know is when you feel like a fraud while you're doing it.) For this discussion we've brought in Ana from Rosemary and Rye to bring her own insight to the discussion. She's the most positive person, and you're going to love her. We're super excited to share the episode with you, enjoy! Ana is the self taught chef, photographer, baguette lover, and blogger behind Rosemary + Rye. She lives in the beautiful state of Colorado and, naturally, enjoys craft brews and kombucha. If she's not making a huge mess cooking in the kitchen, she can be found snuggling with her rescue pup, Harper; hiking; or sneaking bites of home made ice cream out of the freezer. Meet Ana and Rosemary & Rye Why we're talking about the imposter syndrome Our imposter syndrome moments The social media problem (Pinterest,

And we're back, for Episode 1 of Season 2. During this episode, we got the chance to interview Joan Porambo and Kyle MacPherson from Field Notes, NY. During this episode they talk about how they started hosting dinners at the Lansing Farm in upstate New York. We talk about food, timing when cooking for so many people, and the logistics of hosting outdoors. We also get an insider's look at the life of a chef, which was really cool! A little more about Joan and Kyle: We're two school and industry educated chefs who are looking to gain a better appreciation for where the food we cook with comes from, and who grows it. In order to evolve and learn, we've teamed up with the Lansing family to do dinners on the farm each week, using crops from the surrounding fields. We hope to better understand what goes into growing the produce we use everyday, by not only cooking with it, but also by being a part the process from beginning to end. An Overview of Field Notes, NY How they started hosting these dinners What it m

During Episode 10 (double digits!) of Gatherings Podcast, Jessica and Chrystina talk about holiday traditions from Thanksgiving through New Year's Eve - and even touch on Valentine's Day. Chrystina's Annual Christmas Party Cookie swaps Getting rid of cookies Jessica's Month of Thanksgiving Slow food Friendsgivings Cinnamon Hot Cocoa Chrystina's Annual Mix CD Chrystina's Random Caroling Party Jessica's Family's Super Sundays Chrystina's Christmas Eve Traditions Jessica's New Year's Traditions What are you planning right now? Jessica: cookie party, brother's birthday, and January get-togethers Chrystina: another badass babes dinner What's going on in your kitchen? Chrystina: artichokes Jessica: turkey dinners How are you staying in touch? Jessica: holiday cards Chrystina: also holiday cards What are you into right now? Chrystina: deva curl haircut Jessica: blog photography Find us online: Gatherings Podcast Facebook Twitter Chrystina Noel Sweet Love & Ginger

During Episode 9 of Gatherings Podcast we talk with Vicki Miller, the founder of Vinocity about wine pairing for the holidays. Actually, we start by asking about wines for the holiday and end up asking every question we've ever had about wine when it comes to party hosting. Just for you. (Alright, alright, and a little bit for us.) Vicki Miller is a long-time student and teacher of wine.  She was a practicing attorney in Philadelphia for 16 years at a major U.S. firm and has studied wine for over 20 years.  She is WSET Level 3 Wines & Spirits Certified. Five years ago Vicki founded Vinocity and began teaching about wine.  Vinocity plans and hosts wine tasting events for corporate clients, non-profit institutions, and associations, but with a unique approach.  Vinocity events combine the educational aspects of a wine course with the socially engaging aspects of a wine tasting with friends.  These events tell the rich story of wine, from the grapes, to technology, to the natural perils that challenge the

During Episode 8 of Gatherings Podcast we talk with Plum Deluxe founder and creator, Andy Hayes, about hosting tea parties, our favorite teas, thoughtful conversation starters, where to even begin when you're hosting a tea party, and many tea party logistics. You're definitely in for a treat! Andy Hayes is the founder and creator of Plum Deluxe.  When he's not blending teas or baking up something yummy in the kitchen, he's hiking in the hills around his home of Portland, Oregon. Our love of tea parties Meet Andy Starting Plum Deluxe A Discussion of Tea - Why Tea, the Tea Lifestyle, and Tea Culture Our Favorite Teas Andy: White Tea Jessica: Black Tea & Herbal Tea, Mindful Morning Chrystina: Rooibos & Chai Andy's Party Hosting Style & Moments That Matter Type: Relaxed Eclectic Food Bars Taco Parties Thoughtful Conversation Starters Where to Begin When Hosting a Tea Party The Intention The Tea Tea Party Logistics A Soup + Tea Pairing Brainstorm Sweet or Savory When to Brew the Tea

During Episode 7 of Gatherings Podcast we talk with Roaa Elgabrouny about hosting Sunday pancake parties. She's been hosting them for months, but it started long before then when she was inspired by her family's parties in Egypt. We learn a little bit about how parties in Egypt differ from those in the U.S., the strength that mothers have, and how hosting parties is all about the people. More about Roaa: My name is Roaa elgabrouny. I am an Egyptian international student at Drexel University. I am an avid globe wanderer, a rent-less nomad at heart, and a committed pacifist with strong humanitarian views. I believe in the power of knowledge. Knowing is the only irreversible act: you can love then hate, but you can never know then un-know. Nothing makes me more excited in life than meeting a new person. It’s the most enjoyable experience and it is what I live for. My goal is to meet as many humans around the world from different backgrounds, as I believe that this is the best way to grow my personality and open

During Episode 6 we talk with Miranda from Spooky Little Halloween about her annual Halloween party, Halloweenie Roast, how she comes up with her themes, how she incorporates that theme through the decor, and the best place to shop for supplies. Also, don't miss our discussions about craft stores, wolf pack emails, watermelon pumpkins, and grilling in the questions at the end of the episode.   Miranda Enzor is the writer and Halloween lover behind spookylittlehalloween.com, the blog dedicated to celebrating October 31st all year long. Halloween has been one of her favorite holidays to celebrate for as long as she can remember. Miranda also host an annual party called Halloweenie Roast and teaches fellow Halloween lovers how to host killer parties through her e-course, Killer Halloween Party. Meet Miranda Blog: Spooky Little Halloween Blog: The Good Groupie Shop: Society6 Miranda Guest Posts How to Host a 1920s Party Part 1 How to Host a 1920s Party Part 2 An Introvert's Guide to Hosting Parties Backg

During Episode 5 we talk with Sara from Cake Over Steak about her favorite cookbooks - as well as how to plan a pizza crawl with your 25 closest friends. We asked her questions about logistics of planning a pizza crawl, who pays - and how they pay, how you keep people moving from location to location, and how to build the schedule for the day. Also, we apologize if you end up filling your Amazon cart full of cookbooks. (Sort of.)   Sara Cornelius is an artist who has combined her creative abilities with her love for home cooking into her illustrated food blog, Cake Over Steak. When she's not at her day job listening to hours of podcasts, she's dreaming up new recipes, testing them in her kitchen, photographing them, illustrating them, and then writing about them on her blog. In the rest of her spare time she enjoys working out (for #balance), reading, planning weird dinner parties and foodie excursions with her friends, and spending time with her husband and their socially awkward dog. Meet Sara Blog: Cake

During Episode 4 we're chatting with Lizzie Post from the Emily Post Institute about party etiquette. We came prepared with all of our party questions and she was able to help provide insight, tips and tricks, and a few sample scripts along the way. We can't wait for you to check it out!   Lizzie Post, is the great-great-granddaughter of Emily Post and co-author of Emily Post’s Etiquette 19th edition as well as Emily Post’s Wedding Etiquette 6th edition and The Etiquette Advantage in Business 3rd edition. She and her cousin Daniel Post Senning are co-presidents of the Emily Post Institute as well as co-hosts of the Awesome Etiquette podcast, where they answer listener questions, and explore the topic of etiquette through the lens of consideration, respect and honesty. Lizzie does speaking engagements across the country sharing advice about entertaining, weddings, dating, dining etiquette, tech-etiquette, finance, and lifestyle. She has worked as a spokesperson for companies including Bob Evans, Bank of Americ

During Episode 3 we're chatting with Lauren Caselli from Lauren Caselli Events about life stories, event planning, benefits of facilitation, and all the things.    Lauren Caselli is a strategic event marketer and facilitator that works with creative corporate and tech companies to help them build brand awareness through top-notch event experiences. In 2015, she founded the Boss Lady Bash, an event for creative female entrepreneurs starting their own businesses without taking big business loans. Selling out 7 times, the Boss Lady Bash is a premier example of how to create connection in an increasingly digital world, and is proof of the continuing value of in-person experiences. Meet Lauren Chrystina met Lauren at The Yellow Conference Lauren journeyed from New York City to Montana and started her own event company, Lauren Caselli Events Event Planning 101 "Events [are] about getting people together in a room, having face-to-face time with them, getting them away from their phones and away from their scr

Our Ideal Dinner Parties Chrystina: indoors, 6 people, one cop out course, no decorations. Jessica: outdoors, +6 people, fire, live music, potluck, dessert cop out. Our Dinner Party Rules Chrystina: be super detailed on the invitation to tell your guests what to expect, what to bring, what to wear, and a general understanding of the menu - and don't forget to offer your guests a hot cup of tea before the night is out! Jessica: make sure there's something for everyone, always have a salad course How to keep the conversation going Other things: Chrystina only made it 16 days on the Whole30. Jessica tells a story about Chauncy's blackout juice. Jessica is answering questions about her baby shower. Jessica got baby chicks. Chrystina tries to figure out how to store tea. Everyone's spring cleaning. Sign up for Jessica's newsletter to get her cookbook. Jessica’s Loving: Organizing Chrystina's Loving: Reading: Strength Finders 2.0 Listening to: Ed Sheeran's new album Watching: 30 Rock, Chef's Table