I’m Not a Summertime Entertainer (And I’ve Finally Made Peace with That)

When I started The Experience Host, I imagined myself creating recipes, planning beautiful gatherings, and sharing entertaining inspiration throughout the year.

Then summer arrived.

Instead of dreaming up dinner parties, I found myself drawn outside. The garden needed tending. There were home projects I couldn’t wait to tackle. Beautiful evenings seemed made for sitting on the patio with a cup of tea rather than spending hours in the kitchen preparing for a large gathering.

At first, I wondered if I was losing my enthusiasm.

But the more I paid attention, the more I realized something important.

I’m simply not a summertime entertainer.

Now, don’t get me wrong—I enjoy spending time with family and friends. I’ll happily sit on a patio, share a meal, or attend someone else’s barbecue. But if I’m being honest, spending days planning, shopping, prepping, cooking, decorating, and cleaning up for a summer gathering just isn’t how I want to spend this season.

My heart belongs to a different kind of entertaining.

Give me Thanksgiving with a table full of people and comfort food simmering on the stove.

Give me Christmas with candles, twinkling lights, and recipes that have been passed down through generations.

Give me Halloween, Easter, or even Cinco de Mayo—holidays with traditions, colours, and a reason to gather.

Those are the moments that truly inspire me.

I love hearty meals that fill the house with incredible aromas. Slow-cooked soups, bubbling lasagnas, rich stews, fresh bread, beautiful desserts, and tables that invite people to linger just a little longer.

That’s where my creativity comes alive.

Summer, for me, is something different.

It’s my season to recharge.

It’s when I garden, work on my home, soak up the sunshine, and quietly gather inspiration for the months ahead.

One of the unexpected things I’ve learned is that creativity has seasons.

Some people thrive hosting backyard barbecues every weekend.

I thrive when the leaves start to change, candles are lit, the oven is on, and there’s a holiday to celebrate.

I’ve stopped trying to convince myself that I should be inspired by summer entertaining simply because it’s the season.

Instead, I’m embracing what genuinely brings me joy.

When autumn arrives, you’ll probably find me planning menus, setting the table, and dreaming up new ways to bring people together.

Until then, you’ll most likely find me in the garden, enjoying the simple pleasures of summer and letting inspiration arrive in its own time.

And I think that’s exactly how it’s supposed to be.