FLOURISH Summer Dinner Meeting

Who doesn't love to gather a few friends for dinner? A while ago, I enjoyed a "dinner meeting" with two of my friends as we planned the next Launch Your Creativity, a two day conference for entrepreneurs. {more about that at the bottom of this post.} When I get the opportunity to have a meeting here at home, I take it! I love impromptu breakfasts, lunches and dinners, and it's how I prefer to do business if I can. I have had antique dealers, pickers, magazine editors, sales reps, writers, and interior designers over for meetings in my home. I think there is something wonderful that happens when we share a simple meal, barriers come down right away, and we leave the table as friends. For this meeting, I set up very simple hors d'oeuvres at one end of our long garden table when we had drinks before dinner, and set the other end of the table for dinner. I used green square chargers layered with my Antique French Transferware plates, my favorite Linen Napkins {I know, you have seen these for years, that is a testament to how well they are made, wash, wear, use, repeat!} I served my delicious Summer Sangria…so refreshing and very easy. SUMMER SANGRIA: 1. 1 bottle of light, refreshing sweet white wine, I used Moscato. 2. Cut up fresh fruit. You really can't go wrong. I use whatever I have, for this one I sliced oranges, apples, lemons, a few strawberries and blackberries. 3. In your pitcher mix all fruit together on bottom. Pour wine over. Keep refrigerated until needed. 4. Drink. Enjoy with friends. It's so easy, and looks much more labor intensive & luxurious than it really is. There are a lot of sangria recipes you can find that use sugar syrups that you make, I just skip that step and use a sweet wine. For dinner we enjoyed Luxury Chicken Salad. Again, this sounds more labor intensive than it is. I'ts my go to "suddenlypeoplearecomingtodinnerandIneedsomethingfast" meal. You layer the following on a bed of mixed, organic salad greens: shredded chicken {mixed with BBQ sauce this time}, organic red, brown and yellow tomatoes, avocado, turkey bacon, corn, and a small amount of white or black beans. Serve with salad dressing on the side, fresh rolls or bread, my herb butter, fresh fruit, and end with dessert. We had an exciting evening planning the details for the next Launch Your Creativity event in October. A conference for women who own their own business and need a spark to ignite and refresh their brand, women who want to start their own business, and want to know how to grow their business, blog or brand. Industry leaders will teach about branding, blogging, finding your niche within your industry, building community with your clients and peers, how to pitch a book to publishers, and so much more. Held at the gorgeous, world famous Paris in a Cup Tea Salon in Orange, California, on Oct. 16-17, this is an intimate conference with seating limited to 42. I'm always excited to meet the women who attend, learn from the speakers, and have an inspiring time. If you are in the area, I hope to see you there! Shop for the best in French Antiques, furniture with the patina of age, vintage accessories to delight you and your family & friends, and French Country utilitarian pieces. Treasures that make your home fresh, beautiful, inspirational and uniquely yours. Visit our shop FrenchGardenHouse.com.