Your Guide to Stress-Free Hosting Over the Holidays

Photo courtesy of Ziga Plahutar With the holidays nearing, hosting family and friends at your home can either be the highlight of your year or a daunting task. Regardless of the scale of your event, your culinary skills, or the size of your home, hosting can... and should be enjoyable! So here are a few tips to make the most of hosting this year.    Prepare. Hours feel like minutes on the day of any event. You can take 70% of the stress off your plate simply by creating a game plan and knocking things off your list days in advance.  One week before Gather a guest count, design your menu, outline your to-do list, tidy up the yard, replace light bulbs, and tackle those lingering tasks that you have been putting off for months. Your home doesn’t have to be perfect, but tackling these things will help you feel more at ease come guest arrival.  Two days before Deep clean your house, or better yet, hire a cleaning service. Make a thorough grocery list and get your shopping out of the way. Buy more than you think you need so you don’t risk an emergency trip an hour before the party.  One day before Prep as much food as possible beforehand. Cut the potatoes and veggies, refrigerate the casserole, and marinate the meat to establish a ‘plug and play’ system the day of. Set the table, pick out your outfit, and set out the flowers—you get the idea.    The menu is less important than the experience.  The funny thing about hosting is that the food is often the primary source of stress during the holidays; however, a happy host and a good ambiance have a far greater influence on the success of any event. Whether you’re a culinary aficionado or not, here are a few tips to prioritize simplicity in the kitchen.  Stick to your strengths. Choose dishes that you have successfully made before, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. If cooking isn’t your forte, focus on the main dish and ask guests to bring sides. In most cases, people will reach out and offer to help—so let them!   Choose dishes that get better with time or are good served at room temperature. Coordinating the perfect timing for multiple dishes with guest arrival can be challenging, so put out some appetizers and drinks for the early birds, and select a menu that allows flexibility in timing.    Set the ambiance. The ambiance of your home is arguably the most important factor in a successful gathering. Besides ensuring tidiness, create a warm welcome by dimming the lights, lighting candles, and queuing up a dinner playlist. When music is on in the background, the energy of the party is in place before any guests arrive, ensuring there will never be an awkward silence (even for the early birds). Spotify has a ton of great playlists depending on the mood of your party.  Crafting a simple cocktail is an easy way to make a great first impression. Beer and wine is a no-fuss alternative, but always have something prepared and ensure to have non-alcoholic options. Depending on your group, prepare some table topics if the conversation needs a nudge.  Set the table with elegant place cards that have thought-provoking questions on the back. This not only sparks hours of engaging table talk but also relieves you of the pressure to steer the conversation. Here are some good ones: What’s one unpopular opinion you have? Lessons and blessings from the past year? If you could choose any invention for your house, what would it be? What tradition would you most want to pass on to your children? Enlist someone to take photos of the night. Everyone you love is in one room dressed up, and it is a perfect time to document how big the kids are getting and the individual families. While you are in the frenzy of hosting, you will most likely forget to take photos... and no matter the group, I'm sure you haven’t been able to get together as much as you’d like to. Even if it’s forced, everyone will be glad to have them!     

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5 Events in Boise & Beyond - November 8th -10th

Photo credit to LBRE   5 Events in Boise & Beyond 1. The Capital City Public Market Where: The Grove Plaza & 8th St When: Saturday, November 9th Time: 9:30 AM - 1:30 PM EVENT DETAILS HERE   2. Cinder Wine Tasting + Candle Making in Hyde Park Where: Lit & Co. Candles in Hyde Park When: Friday, November 8th Time: 6:00 - 7:00 PM EVENT DETAILS HERE   3. Art Show at Idaho Art Gallery Where: Idaho Art Gallery - 211 East Pine Avenue Ste.108 When: November 8, 4PM-8PM & November 9, 11AM-6PM EVENT DETAILS HERE   4. Dare to be Square-West! Where: Shrine Social Club - 1118 W Idaho St When: Friday, Nov 8th - Sunday, Nov 10th Time: 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM EVENT DETAILS HERE   5. Night Tours at the Old Idaho Penitentiary Where: Old Idaho Penitentiary - 2445 Old Penitentiary Rd. When: Friday, November 8th Time: 6:00 - 10:00 PM EVENT DETAILS HERE

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Guide to Idaho's Ski Resorts

Nestled in the Rocky Mountains, Idaho boasts world-class skiing that beckons both seasoned snow enthusiasts and eager beginners. With fresh powder, steep slopes, and majestic peaks, Idaho is a hidden gem in the ski and snowboarding world. Whether you are seeking a challenging black diamond run or looking for a family retreat on the slopes, there is something for everyone in Idaho. Check out this list of Idaho's top ski resorts!   Sun Valley Mountain Resort Located in the town of Ketchum, a three hour drive from Boise, sits the expansive Sun Valley Mountain Resort. Known for its top notch skiing and as a training ground for Olympians, Bald Mountain is ideal for intermediate to advanced skiers and snowboarders with steep pitches and long runs. There is also a second hill, Dollar Mountain, which is the perfect place for beginner skiers and snowboarders to hit the slopes. Sun Valley Resort Village sits only minutes from the hill, and is surrounded by multiple restaurants, shops, a movie theater, and a bowling alley. Downtown Ketchum offers a western ski town feel, with high end restaurants (try the Pioneer Saloon for a delicious steak) and classy boutiques and stores. To be at the heart of the action, stay at Sun Valley lodge or a wide variety of other options offered by the resort, or one of the many hotels in downtown Ketchum.    Bogus Basin A beloved local hill to Boiseans, Bogus Basin sits only 16 miles out of Boise. Bogus has 10 lifts that serve 88 runs across 2,600 acres of terrain. With night skiing offered as well, many Boiseans make the trip up on a friday night to enjoy some skiing and food at one of the multiple lodges. Bogus offers lodging at the Pioneer Condos, a ski-in-ski-out experience that cannot be beat. Also consider staying in Boise and making the short drive up for the day!    Brundage Mountain Ski Resort Located a two hour drive from Boise to McCall, Brundage is a classic Idaho ski resort with amazing terrain and a friendly vibe. Brundage is known for having the “best snow in Idaho”. Its elevation and location create the perfect storm for snow (and powder!), with an average of 320 base area inches of snow per year. Brundage Mountain also offers guided SnowCat skiing trips for experienced skiers searching for untracked powder on 18,000 acres of backcountry terrain. McCall offers a range of lodging options in the charming mountain town, with top choices including Shore Lodge and Hotel McCall.     Tamarack Mountain With fresh powder and 2,400 thousand vertical feet of terrain, Tamarack Mountain in Donnelly is a skier's delight. Tamarack receives an average of 300 base inches of snow per year, and has a range of groomed corduroy, wide-open bowls, and tree runs. Tamarack offers a variety of lodging options next to the hill, with estate homes, Tamarack Village condos, and cabins for rent. The Village at Tamarack also has a variety of options for dinner, breakfast, and a drink just steps from the hill. It is a mini version of larger resorts like Telluride or Aspen, giving it a sophisticated, yet approachable appeal.   Schweitzer Ski Resort In the rugged Selkirk mountains sits Sandpoint, a northern Idaho town that is home to Schweitzer ski resort. With 2,900 acres of skiable terrain and a variety of high angle groomers, tree runs, and bowl skiing, this resort has something for every skier. The mountain village surrounding this hill offers family-friendly activities, dining, spa, and slopeside lodging. This hill is about an 8 hour drive from Boise.   Pomerelle Mountain Resort Located in southeast Idaho outside of the small town of Albion, Pomerelle is one of the oldest ski areas in the western United States. Sitting 8,762 feet above sea level, the resort receives an average annual snowfall of 500 inches, making it one of the snowiest resorts in the state. It has a small town feel with less of the tourist crowds, making this a hometown hero of resorts for those in the eastern side of the state.   Soldier Mountain If you’re really looking to escape the crowded lift lines and experience a more laid back Idaho ski day, check out Soldier Mountain outside of Fairfield. This charming family-friendly resort packs a big punch in terms of terrain, with 7,177 vertical feet of mountain doused in fresh powder. It is the most affordable option and ideal for beginners and tiny skiers with a designated magic carpet area. A fun fact: Bruce Willis owned Soldier Mountain for a bit before donating the mountain to a non-profit. It is now owned by an investment group of skiers and riders.    

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