Minimalism is a word that has swept the design world by storm. With a spotlight on Scandinavian style and decluttering becoming the highlight of some of culture’s favorite new tv shows, a few questions remain. What are the main differences between organization and decluttering, AND how do I make that a reality in my own home? After living in an RV as newlyweds, Courtney Florey and her husband learned first-hand the importance of decluttering and the freedom that comes with it! Now living in their own home, Courtney has taken her experience in small spaces and larger homes alike to educate and inspire the everyday host to declutter their own spaces. Through this conversation you will hear: 

• The difference between organization and decluttering. 
• The most common obstacles hosts face as they approach their own decluttering and how to overcome them. 
• Tackling decluttering in marriage and with other family members involved.
• How to make this a lifestyle and system that’s easy to maintain.
• What is offered in the Simplicity Society and how to join. 

I believe that our homes should be an oasis and a place that you are confident welcoming others into! The more your space feels true to you, the more you will find rest and peace there. Creating a home can be overwhelming and it can be even harder working against systems that have been in place for years. Courtney and I are here today to give you just the encouragement you need that it’s possible and starts with a yes! 

Join Courtney's Simplicity Society for more support and community as you take on your own decluttering. Take $5 off your first month with code GATHER. 

Amanda Held Opelt found herself not experiencing grief until much later in life. Feeling unprepared she quickly found herself facing a series of significant losses from miscarriages to the loss of her sister at a young age. This process led her a place of vulnerability where she learned the important role that others play in the journey to healing along with what was needed for her to work towards a new normal. Through her studies across cultures  grief rituals played a big role in finding hope.

In our lives usually one of two things is true, we either don't face the reality of grief until late in life, or we face it right from the start. Either way grief is one of life's realities that we all face, ready or not. I have found that in culture we talk about grief very little and with that, we expect ourselves and others have just as little time to process it.  You may notice that this topic is one I'm particularly passionate about expanding on this show. As I have done my own grief work I have seen just how needed more knowledge is on the topic to be better equip for this very common part of our lives.

Amanda will walk us through the things to say/not say during grief, along with how to use grief rituals to heal. This powerful book is the perfect resource no matter where you find yourself on the grief journey.

Buy Amandas book here
Follow Amanda on social media at @amandaheldopelt

It was the summer after my senior year of high school. I had just graduated and I was on my way to Chiquila, Mexico. We landed, for my first time in Mexico, and drove to a remote village where everything was new to me. There was something so foreign, yet so inviting, and that combination made me dive into every experience that approached me over the next few weeks. One thing that stood out to me in such a profound way was the way the culture was food, and the food was culture. As we walked the streets, there were open air dining areas where the community gathered. Grandmas in the village were hand crafting their own tortillas with a method I could have never imagined. The salsa and vegetables were prepared in a way that revealed flavors and cooking techniques that I would have never known existed. Since coming back to the east coast, I had yet to find an option on the shelf or in the restaurants that brought me back there…until I had Somos. 

Through learning more about this brand and the co-founders who created it, I knew that I had so much more to learn and that it was a conversation I knew would expand all of our knowledge on the way we approach Mexican Cuisine and culture. Through this conversation with Miguel Leal you will hear: 

• What role food plays in the average Mexican household.
• The main difference in the food culture between America and Mexico. 
• Through working in many of the leading retail food brands, what led Miguel to start Somos.
• What sets Somos apart from other Mexican food brands and ways you can use each product.
• What we all can adopt from Mexican table culture. 

Miguel said through this conversation, “Once you fall in love with the food, you fall in love with the culture. That’s what we want to do at Somos. I want to bring two neighboring cultures together, one taco at a time.” My hope is that this conversation does exactly that! 

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Cotier Brand:
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We have heard it time and time again, Love thy neighbor. But...what does that mean in our lives, now? Recently I learned about the new book "Glad You're Here" Written by Walker Hayes and his neighbor and dear friend, Craig Allen Cooper. Their story is one that goes against how so many of us view neighbors in the most refreshing, culture-shifting way.

As the world grows increasingly distant, I wanted to have this conversation because those in my very own community have had the greatest impact on my life. Neighbors have celebrated with me, mourned with me, in many senses were the community that raised me, and the thought of loosing this profound connection saddens me. Yet, it doesn't have to be this way! This profound story of authenticity, generosity and connection is one we know will give you a glimpse of what's possible!

Through this conversation Craig will walk us through:
- How his early neighborhood relationships impacted him
-How he came to meet the Hayes Family through natural 'friend chemistry'
- What it looks like to know your neighbors needs and respond
-The importance of time in a relationship
-How to embrace all of life's seasons in relationship

We know that you will crave more of this story! To learn more about Craig & Walker's relationship be sure to pick up their book here! Also, because I know it will move you as much as it did me, Listen to Walker's song written about today's guest titled Craig. 

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Cotier Brand:
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I’ll start here. There have been seasons where I have royally messed up on friendship. Chances are you are either nodding your head as someone who is in the same position or have unfortunately been on the other side of a friendship gone wrong. While I have been grateful for the increasing amount of relationship resources in culture, there still is so much to discover. If there’s one thing I learned is that relationships require being a constant learner. They require learning from past experiences, constant self-reflection and ultimately intentionality.

 Recently I reconnected with a high school friend, Rob Guinta. We were at a retreat together and somehow we stumbled upon a topic he recently taught on, ‘ 4 Ways to Fail at Friendship.’ Knowing him and his depth of study, I knew that this was a topic for the show! Cultivating meaningful relationships definitely includes time around the table, and definitely includes atmosphere, but most importantly it includes the heart of the person on the other side. 

Through his conversation we will walk through: 

• What relationships need in adulthood vs. what was needed during teenage friendships 
• The 4 ways to fail at friendships: listen to the full episode to unlock these! 
• What to do if you find yourself saying, “wow, i’ve really failed at friendships” 

So many of us accept the misconception that, friendships in adulthood can’t be vibrant. Instead, I’m here to say not only can they be really rich, but they are critical to your health and life! My hope is this conversation gives you a new lens on friendships, refines you approaches them and leads to deeper connection to those around you! 

Follow Rob on Instagram @robguinta
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Cotier Brand:
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'What should I serve guests with dietary restrictions' 

Over the past few months, this has without a question been our most commonly asked question!
 
Let's be honest, it can be intimidating! After years of eating, cooking and catering gluten and dairy free myself, I have learned quite a bit along the way. Through this Date with Kayt we will talk through: 

-How the way we talk about and serve special diet foods can divide a table...and how to make sure that doesn't happen. 
-How to use the recipes you already love to serve special diet guests 
-Checking labels and being cautious about hidden gluten and dairy in common products 
-4 gluten and dairy free menu options with  flavor packed and hearty meals that everyone can eat, and everyone will enjoy! 

Curious about where to find certain ingredients or could you use help with an upcoming menu? Email us at [email protected] and we'll include some of the questions in the next episode! 

Kids, food, and hospitality have become a trio that leaves both parents and hosts with angst and uncertainty. While we all dream of community dinners, smooth meals at guest homes, and kids that happily eat ALL of everything they are served, we know that is rarely the reality. As with parenting culture in general, people are quick to throw advice around, yet few are actually experts on helping you see change and bringing peace back to meal time! For years I have been following Jennifer, from Kids Eat in Color. She has a way of walking parents and caretakers through the battlefield of picky eaters through her own experience and research. With resources on everything from approaching new foods to managing mealtime meltdowns, she has created a well-loved, impactful platform with the goal of helping you and your child approach the table with more confidence. Through this rich conversation with you in mind, you will hear Jennifer discuss: 

• The way she approached picky eating and new food groups with her son who was falling off the growth charts.
• 11 expert tips for picky eaters that you can implement today!
• Ways she would suggest parents help their kids with meals in advance before they even get to a guest table, to help make the process smooth.
• Advice for a host who is preparing a meal for families with kids.
• How to manage mealtime meltdowns and tantrums. 
• Recipes and fresh food ideas for parents in a recipe rut.
• Encouragement to the family of young kids longing for community.

Jennifer shares so beautifully in this episode about her own experiences with hospitality as a mom of young children, as well as the stages of working with her own picky eaters. Coming from a place of both personal and professional experience, this episode will leave you feeling like you are understood, not alone, and have actionable techniques to start using today! 

Visit Kids Eat in Color’s Website Here 

Follow Them on instagram at @kidseatincolor

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Visit This Episodes Sponsors

Cotier Brand:
Save 15% on conversation napkins at Cotier w/ code Gather15 through their website here!

Reeds:
Shop Ginger Ale and Reeds full drink collection at your local store or through their website here for 15% off with code GATHERGINGER

Wine causes both delight and a lot of head scratching when it comes to hospitality. Without a doubt, wine is considered a significant part of hospitality and food culture around the world. We all can think of a time where we have sipped the perfect glass, and stopped to savor the perfect pairing with the meal being enjoyed with it. It isn’t always this way, however. So many of us find ourselves saying “I’ll drink what they’re having,” or heading to the store and leaving wondering if the bottle we picked up is the best option for what we are serving. How would it feel to make the shift from perplexity to the confidence of an everyday sommelier? Dana Beninati, a renowned sommelier, joins us for a conversation to demystify the world of drinking and pairing with confidence. Some of the things you can look forward to hearing her talk about are:

• How does one become a sommelier, and what does that certification mean? 
• Glassware, champagne flutes, decanters - what supplies are must-haves and which ones aren’t necessary.
• How to buy a bottle of wine. “Is there a difference between a $3 and $100 bottle?” Also, how to read labels.
• The basics of pairing wine and food, and the truth about white wine with fish! 
• Resources to turn to for continued wine education. 
• Dana’s passion for working to bring an end to childhood food insecurity.

This conversation is filled with joie de vivre! We are sure that this will leave you with an extra pip in your step as you prepare your menu for your next event. While becoming a sommelier is an admirable goal, my ultimate hope is that you leave our conversation with Dana feeling more equipped to be confident and properly serve wine than when you started. Cheers to becoming an everyday sommelier! 

Follow Dana on Instagram at @dinewithdana

Cozy: We seek it and we crave it. If we’re honest with ourselves we feel that a certain level of cozy is only achievable by a select few. We can all think of a home we’ve been in, or one we’ve dreamed over through our social screen, that feels nothing shy of inviting. Each detail intentionally placed, each color complimenting the next, all woven together in a way that says, “You’re welcome here.” If I've learned one thing about design, it’s that one’s home design often makes or breaks the confidence they hold as they welcome others in. Liz Marie Galvan is known and loved through her intentional, warm and inviting design. With her cozy cottage farmhouse style, she has inspired hosts to use design and identify their own style to make their homes cozy. Through this conversation we will walk through: 

• The journey that led to the success of the Liz Marie Galvan Blog 
• The role her grandmother had in shaping her love of design from a young age
• What being a military wife taught her about community and hospitality 
• How to define cozy and how to can vary from host to host
• How to prepare your outdoor spaces for summer hospitality 
• Antiquing: how to approach it and her favorite finds this season 
• How sticking with a budget, and using what you haves gives you more confidence in your design 

Whether you are a design enthusiast, or someone in need of a pep talk this episode has you in mind! Do you want to listen to the Ted Talk that Liz & I gushed about? Watch it here! Be sure to get your copy of Liz’s newest book, as a guide to create cozy all year round!