The Friendsgiving Lifestyle | Episode 14: Garden Party Etiquette

What’s on the Table:

• The Alfresco Strategy: Why "Vinegar over Mayo" is your new menu mantra and how to use nested ice bowls to keep salads food-safe.

• The Comfort Kit: How to anticipate your guests' needs with "Just-in-Case" baskets (sunscreen, blankets, and shades) to ensure no one feels the "exit ramp" when the sun dips.

• Nature’s Uninvited Guests: Pro-hacks for bug control using holographic fly fans and silent strategies that won't ruin the aroma of your food.

• The Golden Hour Pivot: How to transition from the "party phase" to the "connection phase" with warm teas, fire pits, and the perfect April soundtrack.
  
  

New in the Shop:

We are officially expanding! This week, Sandra introduces a brand-new Digital Products category at FriendsgivingShop.com.

• E-Cards: Personalize and instantly send digital notes to your inner circle.

• Digital Downloads: Check back weekly for new e-guides, printable place cards, and kid-friendly freebies.

• 2026 Invitations: Our fall Friendsgiving collection is officially live. Secure your favorites before they're gone.

Listen & Connect: Subscribe to "The Friendsgiving Lifestyle" Podcast on Apple or Spotify, and join the conversation on YouTube @FriendsgivingShop. Don't forget to sign up for the Side Dish Energy Newsletter for subscriber-only sales and behind-the-scenes magic.

Quick Win from the Episode: Always keep a pack of clothespins in your hosting kit. They’re the secret weapon for keeping tablecloths from taking flight in the spring wind!

1. Atmosphere & Layout

• Zones of Engagement: Create "pockets" for conversation. Instead of one large circle, arrange clusters of seating to encourage intimate dialogue.

• The "Sole" Check: Since this is outdoors, ensure the ground is stable. If you have guests wearing heels, consider providing "heel stoppers" or suggesting lawn-friendly footwear in the invitation.

• Lighting: Layer your light. Use string lights for a general glow, but add lanterns or hurricanes with tea lights at table level for warmth.

• Tactile Comfort: Keep a basket of high-quality throws or wraps nearby for when the Los Angeles evening breeze kicks in.

2. The Menu

• Hydration Station: A beautiful glass dispenser with cucumber, mint, and lemon water. It’s functional decor that keeps guests refreshed without you having to play bartender.

• Grazing Trays: Focus on artisanal, easy-to-handle bites. Think high-quality cardstock-lined trays with seasonal fruits, cheeses, and crusty breads.

• The "No-Fly" Food Cover: Use stylish mesh domes or even elegant linen napkins to drape over platters when not in use.

3. Logistics

• Power & Tech: Ensure outdoor speakers are charged, and the playlist is curated for a low-hum, "perfectly imperfect" vibe.

• The "Refresh" Basket: A small tray in the guest bathroom or near the patio door with sunscreen, hand sanitizer, and those chic little individual fans.

But before we dive in, I have an announcement. I always have an announcement. I always want you to head on over to the comment section to make sure that you are letting us know that you're taking a seat at the table this week.

That means you are checking in saying, "Hey girl, I'm here and this is the side dish that I brought to the table." That maybe that the side dish might be just your energy. It might be the anxiety of hosting. I don't, it doesn't really matter what you're bringing to the table just as long as you are here.

You are always welcome at The Friendsgiving Lifestyle [00:02:00] podcast table. Say that three times fast. So go ahead and leave a comment over there and I will be checking those every single week and sometimes I will be shouting them out as well on the podcast. 

Alright, let's talk about the Alfresco menu. Cold and crisp when you're outside. The enemy is heat and the wilting of the food. Your action item, skip the heavy creams and the mayo based dressings that can spoil in the sun. Instead, lean into vinegarette vibes. Your strategy. Think chilled cucumber soup shooters, grilled chicken with a chimi cho sauce, or a massive watermelon and feta salad.

Your hosting hack is going to be serve your food in nested bowls. Place your serving bowl inside a slightly larger bowl filled with ice. It keeps the food, food safe and looking fresh for the duration of the party. Nobody likes a lukewarm salad. You know this. 

I wanna get your opinions on [00:03:00] everything from tablescapes to how to handle guests who trash-talk other guests after the party concludes. So head on over to my YouTube channel for that and so much more as we lean into the Friendsgiving lifestyle. You can find it on YouTube @FriendsgivingShop. So let's get the comfort kit ready for your guests. Garden party etiquette is all about anticipating your guests' discomfort before they even feel it.

The setup: create a comfort basket near the patio door. Fill it with sunscreen, bug spray, the unscented kind, and a few pairs of cheap sunglasses, and most importantly, ashina or light blankets. The vibe has to be. If it's 75 degrees at two o'clock, it will feel like 60 by five o'clock. Providing blankets tells your guests, I want you to stay as long as you like.

It removes the I'm cold, and maybe I should head home, exit ramp that some people feel when it gets a little chilly outside. 

[00:04:00] Over on The Friendsgiving Shop, I've introduced a new way to send your besties a note. In addition to physical products, you can now see our new E-cards. You can personalize the note that you send with each e-card as well.

We're also introducing something new today, and because you're tuning in to the podcast, you are the first ones to know. Normally, I introduce our physical products on the podcast. But this week I'm introducing a brand new category. Last week we talked about our fall Friendsgiving invitations that are really taking off, and this week I wanted to let you know that we've introduced a brand new category on the shop, and this is for our digital products.

Now we have E-cards, which are a digital product, but these are digital downloads that are going to help you. This means you're going to find new products. In there almost every single week from now through the end of the year. Those digital products will include e [00:05:00] guides, some eCards that are going to be downloadable so that you can do place cards for yourself at home in addition to some freebies that I know your kids are going to like too. So head on over to friendsgivingshop.com to check out what our new digital products are for this week.

Alright, so let's navigate nature's uninvited guests. Let's talk about bugs. Nothing kills a garden party faster than a swarm of gnats. Your strategy, forget the smelly citronella candles that interfere with the smell of your food, your hosting hack.

Use fly fans, those small battery-operated fans with holographic blades on the food table. They're silent, chemical-free, and bug-free. Hate the light. Reflection your action item. If you're on the grass, remind your guests. In the invite to wear lawn-friendly shoes, stilettos, and soft soil are a recipe for a twisted ankle [00:06:00], suggesting wedges or flats. Tell your friends I love you in advance. 

The Side Dish Energy Newsletter is something you can subscribe to on our website. Delivered to your inbox with care. You'll find new product announcements, subscriber-only sales, and fun behind-the-scenes of what is coming soon. It's called the Side Dish Energy Newsletter because the sides are where it's at. 

If you still need some inspiration or invitations, head on over to friendsgiving shop.com and check out the journal, because I have so many blog posts over there with great detail about giving event planning ideas, food inspiration, and of course, invitations as well. 

We also have a brand new option on the website. You can sign up for text reminders, so anytime something comes out with the shop, you will be reminded via text message. You can sign up on our website today. So let's talk about the transition from daylight to nighttime. The most magical moment of a garden party is the golden hour. Your [00:07:00] pivot is as the sun starts to dip, you need to transition the energy.

Here's your action item. This is when you bring out the warm finish. Maybe it's a tray of hot herbal teas or a small fire pit with high-quality chocolate for s'mores. Switch from your daytime upbeat playlist to something a bit more mellow, the shift in light and sound signals to your friends that we are moving from the party phase into the connection phase.

This is where the best conversations happen. The Friendsgiving lifestyle is about the connection, not the caviar. If you haven't had a chance to subscribe to the podcast, take a moment to subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Send the link to a friend, you know, sharing is caring.

And don't forget to listen to the Friendsgiving Soundtrack for April, which is out on Spotify right now. If you'd like to sponsor an episode of the Friendsgiving Lifestyle Podcast, or maybe you have a product that you want reviewed or featured in an upcoming episode, send an [00:08:00] email to support@friendsgivingshop.com.

You can follow us on Instagram @TheFriendsgivingShop on Blue Sky and TikTok, Pinterest, and YouTube at Friendsgiving Shop and my personal social media. @SandraColtonMediciOfficial on YouTube and @SandraColtonMedici on TikTok. Let's wrap this up with some gratitude. There is something about being under the open sky that makes people more open-hearted.

Garden parties aren't about perfection. They're about the beauty of the outdoors and the people you share it with. I've put a garden party checklist, including my favorite bug-repelling hacks, in the show notes. And next week we're talking all about the Art of the Toast, where I'll teach you how to speak from the heart without being awkward.

One more reminder. Don't forget to snag your Friendsgiving 2026 invitations on the shop and check out our latest journal articles. I'm Sandra Colton-Medici. Get some fresh air, and I'll see you in the [00:09:00] garden.