About
I love to host.
Growing up in the Hospitality State of Mississippi, I was raised on the principles of gracious entertaining, polished silver, starched linen, and recipes handed down through the generations. Most importantly, hosting a party is the ultimate expression of gratitude and love.
To host is to love.
I approach every party as if it were my own - relying upon my collection of Southern Junior League cookbooks, using the recipe boxes and silver platters handed down from my grandmothers, sourcing items from the best specialty stores, and presenting it all in a way that feels authentic, comfortable and elegant.
Even though it’s been three decades since I lived there, my Southern roots run as deep as the memories of my Mississippi grandmothers. At an early age, my grandmothers taught me all about hosting parties for family and friends. Grandmama Mary Wallace hosted us each year for the most thoughtfully planned Thanksgiving weekend. I still have her carefully crafted seating charts and handwritten place cards. I loved hearing her talk of her upcoming party plans, such as a neighborhood ice cream social, complete with a barbershop quartet.
As a child I also spent hours sitting in the kitchen of my other grandmother, Lady B, while she made steaming pots of Gulf Coast seafood gumbo for Christmas dinner and heaping batches of pimento cheese for our family reunion — neither with a recipe and never prepared exactly the same way twice. As I grew-up, my passion for entertaining continued. While attending Vanderbilt, I made meals and party food for our events at the Tri-Delta house and served as the Hospitality Chair for many extra-curricular groups.
When I arrived in Washington, DC over 25 years ago, I worked on Capitol Hill for my hometown Senator and later on the Senate Appropriations Committee. After that, I lobbied on telecommunications, energy, and homeland security policy issues. But all the while, I found my true joy in helping friends throw parties. I spent my weekends as a caterer and party planner, hosting countless bridal and baby showers — each time picking up tips and learning first-hand lessons about how to plan every detail. Finally, after nearly 15 years moonlighting as a caterer and party planner, I chose to embrace The Party Bee as my true career.
Thank you for entrusting me to come alongside you and help you host your next event. I am so glad to share in this ultimate expression of love to your guests.
