The Hosting Edit...

Hosting has become unnecessarily intimidating. From the picture-perfect tablescape to a spotless, magazine-worthy space, a restaurant-quality meal, and a perfect evening, the pressure to host a perfect night can easily take what matters most out of the moment.

The simplicity and connection of a simple “come over” are being lost in the pressure of perfection, but the best nights never are. Here's how to have perfectly imperfect nights that create memories for life.

Have people over just because. Hosting does not require an event, just a desire for connection. Friends gathering at one house for a cocktail before a night out, ordering in a meal and putting it on a real plate on Thursday night, and a light snack selection to catch up with someone you haven't seen in a while all count as hosting.

Set the table with loosely thrown-together flowers (not an arrangement), plates that don’t necessarily match, and something small yet thoughtful your guests will enjoy, and put on a playlist that sets the tone without being overpowering.

Make one dish, order a few more, and ask guests to bring something small if they offer to help. Keep a few simple snacking staples on hand if you need extra food; make sure your guests have a drink when they settle in. For the rest of the evening, don't rush to put up and clean the plates when dinner is over. Be present in the evening you have created, because your guests will be.

Honestly, guests will not remember the fancy napkins you ordered, that the plates were fine china, or even exactly how the meal tasted. Someone will inevitably drop or spill something, and something will be forgotten, but it will not be what comes to mind when you think back on the night. The conversations, the connection, and the time well-spent together will be.

So stop stressing. Invite a few people over and keep hosting imperfect nights with those who make moments better. Bring back hosting without the unneeded stress and standards.