Get Greener than the Grinch

Holiday hosting can be economical and environmentally responsible.

Expert Q&A

Thanksgiving is coming soon, and then Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Christmas will be here before we know it! With dual concerns—the economy and the environment—many of us will strive to maintain our holiday spirit while spending wisely and responsibly. With the plethora of books, articles, and even a new television channel, Planet Green, devoted to help meet the ever-increasing demand for the green lifestyle, the holidays are the perfect time to implement all those great decorating and recipe ideas designed to entertain with the earth in mind.

While the swirl of parties and events can be overwhelming, don’t let worries over money and the environment dampen your holiday cheer. Entertaining expert Maria McBride’s new book Party Basics for New Nesters: More Than 100 Fresh Ideas for Holidays and Every Day (Collins Living) is filled with ways for couples to throw parties that are eco- and wallet-friendly.

demo dirt: I love this book!!! What inspired you to write it?

McBride: Thank you!   

My previous books have been about wedding planning, so I know how fearless couples become after planning the biggest party of their lives. They simply want to continue celebrating. I wanted to show ideas that would actually feel fresh and relevant to any one settling into their nest, and suggest that everyone from newlyweds to newly empty nesters and everyone in between should celebrate life. I also wanted to show that it wasn’t big budgets that made a successful party but being clever with the tools and resources easily accessible.  

demo dirt: Many people are under the impression that going green involves buying expensive products from pricey upscale grocery stores. What are some of your favorite examples of entertaining ideas that are fun, attractive, economical and green?

McBride: Going green does not necessarily mean shopping organic, although the more we all shop organic, the better the pricing becomes. Better than shopping organic is shopping locally for seasonal foods. Why? Foods that travel less reduce our carbon footprint, using less resources to traffic foods to grocery stores is a smart alternative plus you’re supporting local farmers. Farmers’ markets and independent grocers are both good sources for local produce and meats.

Celebrating green is not just about the foods you eat, it also means reusing, recycling, repurposing elements—the more mileage we get out of purchases we make the healthier our world will be.

Some of my favorite green style ideas:  

*coasters made out of cardboard or used gift boxes, cut into 4” squares, use rubber stamps to decorate with your monogram or a seasonal motif

*use less energy to make table coverings: create your own from placemats to table runners simply with using affordable remnant fabrics. I’ve used pinking shears to cut table coverings to whatever size I want, creating great looks without sewing.

·         stock your pantry with elements that are reusable in so many ways...like stemless goblets that are great for serving wine, holding candles, or floating flowers for mini vases

·         use cloth napkins with napkin rings.  Before paper, families would use cloth napkins and personalized napkin rings, so diners could reuse their own lightly soiled napkins at a second meal.  I love using cotton dish towels as napkins, naturally thirsty and oversized, once they don’t look as fresh,  I use them as kitchen towels.

demo dirt: In general, what are some key rules for partygivers to keep in mind for both casual and formal entertaining?

McBride: Casual or formal, make celebrating easier by stocking a party pantry.  Keep elements on hand you can easily dress up and down:  

*oversized white buffet plates  are great basics that can be used again and again,  with no extras for brunch, with fancy place mats, napkins or salad plates for a dressy dinner, the basic palette is easy to mix and match with any other color scheme.

*stemless glassware is easy to hold and looks great for drinks and foods, they are marvelous for serving salads and soups

·         turn off the overhead lights and stock up on candlelight, tea lights are affordable buys that create instant ambience and look good on any table

·         look for store sales, garage sales and flea markets for table elements that you can stock up on, I love to mix and match elements and know that if I bide my time, I’ll find elements that will long in my pantry at bargain prices

·         take the time to put a sound track together, the right music makes any event more lively.

demo dirt: Please describe how entertaining in an eco-chic and economical manner helps your spirit and mental/emotional health.

McBride: I always feel better when I get more mileage out of life, it has always been the people that surround me rather than the material goods that make me happy.  Celebrating with a partner and pals who also enjoys cooking and conversing is about as good as it gets. 

demo dirt: What is your hands-down absolute favorite recipe? Decorating tip? Drink? Organizational tip? Clever idea? (I loved the champagne cork cheese flags and personal salt and pepper shakers!)

McBride: My new book is filled with my favorite ideas. I love using egg shells to serve egg salad, I love using picture frames as serving trays,  I love bringing in elements from my garden and found treasures to decorate...from smooth stones to anchor napkins, pine cones sprayed silver to use as centerpieces or sea shells I collect on the beach to create mini aquariums or cutting up a fallen tree into two inch thick circles to use as rustic trivets. 

demo dirt: The book focuses on how couples give parties as a team. How does your husband get involved?

McBride: He’s the grill master and really is the soul in the kitchen, I’m his sous chef and clean up gal, it takes team work to make any party a reality. Plus he gives me the best hugs, I can never get enough of these.

demo dirt: Will you be entertaining this holiday season?

McBride: Absolutely, I love the holidays, Thanksgiving is meaningful and a food lover’s festival…but I love all the winter holidays, like winter solstice; celebrating the longest night of the year with lots of candlelight is so comforting and beautiful to me.  

demo dirt: What will you focus on in your next book or project?

McBride: More parties!  There are so many ways to celebrate life!

demo dirt: Any last tips for readers?

McBride: Don’t worry about getting it right. With practice, celebrating well gets easier and easier and more valuable as you make time to share with your family and dear friends. 

For more ideas on celebrating with an eco-chic flair, go to www.MariaMcBride.com.