Category: Entertaining & Hosting

When people tell me they’d like to host more often, one of the first things they say is: “If I’m going to do it, I might as well invite everyone.”

I understand the thinking. If you’re already cleaning the house, planning the menu, and setting the table, why not make it a big event?

But here’s a question I’ve been asking myself lately: What box are we trying to check?

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❤️ Did You Really Get to Visit?

Think back to the last large gathering you hosted. Maybe it was a holiday dinner, a backyard barbecue, a birthday party or a graduation celebration.

How many guests did you greet at the door…and then not really talk to again until you were saying goodbye? I’ve been there.

As the host, you’re making sure drinks are filled, food is replenished, people are comfortable, and everything is running smoothly. By the end of the evening, you realize you barely had a real conversation with half the people you invited.

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🌿 This Is Why I Believe in Small-Scale Entertaining

This year, I’ve been talking a lot about small-scale entertaining, and there’s a reason.

For me, that means gathering eight people or fewer. Not because bigger gatherings are wrong. They’re wonderful for celebrations. But smaller gatherings create something different:

✳️ They create space.
✳️ Space to listen.
✳️ Space to laugh.
✳️ Space to ask, “How have you really been?”
✳️ Space to hear the whole story instead of just the highlights.

Those are the conversations that strengthen friendships. Those are the evenings people remember.

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🥂 Connection Over Perfection

When there are fewer people around the table, something changes. Everyone gets included. No one has to compete to be heard. The conversation naturally flows from one person to another. You notice when someone has been quiet and invite them into the discussion. You leave knowing each other a little better than when the evening began.

And isn’t that the whole point?

Great food brings people to the table. Meaningful conversation keeps them there.

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💛 Start Smaller Than You Think

If you’ve been waiting until you have time to host a big party, consider doing the opposite.

Invite another couple over for dinner. Ask a neighbor to join you on the patio. Serve soup and salad to a friend you’ve been meaning to catch up with. Have dessert and coffee (or champagne!) with people you enjoy.

You don’t need a crowd to create meaningful memories. Sometimes the most memorable evenings happen around an ordinary table with just a handful of people.

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❤️ Ready to Host?

If you’ve been thinking, “I’d love to invite people over, but I don’t know where to start,” my Complete Dinner Party Plans were created for moments exactly like these.

Each plan includes:

• A complete, tested menu
• Step-by-step recipes
• A prep timeline
• Table setting inspiration
• Hosting shortcuts
• Everything you need to host with confidence

No guessing. No overwhelm. Just simple, meaningful gatherings that fit real life.

✨ Shop my Complete Dinner Party Plans and let me help you spend less time planning and more time connecting.
✨ Subscribe so you don’t miss more real-world entertaining tips and weekly recipes. Upgrade to “paid” and you’ll have access to all of my Complete Dinner Party Plans.
✨ Forward this email to someone you’d love to invite to dinner.
✨ Follow along for easy menus, décor ideas, and ways to make every gathering feel special, joyful, and authentic.

Here’s to smaller guest lists, deeper conversations, and evenings that linger in our memories long after the dishes are done.

Cheers,
Colleen 🥂

Yesterday, I came across a quote on Instagram that stopped me in my tracks:

“Sharing a meal is how we remember we are not in this world alone.”
— @Stephanitaeats

Then I read something even more sobering: One in four Americans now eats every meal alone.

That statistic honestly made my heart hurt. Not because there’s anything wrong with occasionally enjoying a quiet meal by yourself. I do it, too. But because when it becomes the norm instead of the exception, I think we lose something important.

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❤️ More Than Just Dinner

When we gather around a table, something remarkable happens.

✳️ We ask questions.
✳️ We tell stories.
✳️ We laugh.
✳️ We celebrate.
✳️ We comfort one another.
✳️ We solve problems.
✳️ We remember birthdays, anniversaries, promotions, new babies, and sometimes we simply celebrate making it through another week.

Meals have always been about so much more than food. They’re where relationships grow.

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📱 We’re More Connected… Yet More Alone

Ironically, we’ve never had more ways to communicate. We can text instantly. Video chat across the country (which I do with my family every Sunday). Comment on someone’s vacation photos before they’ve even unpacked.

And yet many people feel lonelier than ever.

Technology is wonderful. I use it every day. But a text message has never replaced sitting across from someone while sharing a meal. There’s something about breaking bread together that reminds us we’re part of a community. That we belong.

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🌿 Maybe the Answer Isn’t Bigger

When people hear the words “dinner party,” they often picture elaborate menus, formal table settings, and a guest list that feels impossible to manage.

That’s not what I’m talking about. I’m talking about small-scale entertaining.

Invite another couple. Ask your neighbors over for burgers. Have your sister over for soup. Invite friends for dessert and coffee. Host brunch for four. You don’t need twelve guests to create meaningful connection.

Sometimes all it takes is one invitation.

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💬 So… How Do We Shift This?

I don’t think the answer is complicated. I think it starts with each of us making one simple decision: Invite someone over.

Not because the house is perfect. Not because it’s a holiday. Not because you’ve mastered a new recipe. Simply because people need people. Imagine what could happen if each of us invited just one person, one couple, or one family to our table each month.

Friendships would deepen. Neighbors would become friends. Children would grow up watching adults gather around the table. And perhaps that statistic would begin to move in a different direction.

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🥂 My Hope

This is exactly why I created my Complete Dinner Party Plans.

Not to convince you to become a gourmet chef. Not to encourage elaborate entertaining. But to make gathering feel approachable again. Because I believe some of life’s most meaningful moments happen around an ordinary table with ordinary food shared among extraordinary people.

Great food brings people to the table. Meaningful conversation keeps them there.

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❤️ Ready to Gather?

If you’ve been thinking, “I’d love to have people over, but I don’t know where to start,” my Complete Dinner Party Plans were created for you.

Each plan includes:

• A complete, tested menu
• Step-by-step recipes
• A prep timeline
• Table setting inspiration
• Hosting shortcuts
• Everything you need to host with confidence

No guessing. No overwhelm. Just simple, meaningful gatherings that fit real life.

✨ Shop my Complete Dinner Party Plans and let me help you make entertaining easier than you ever thought possible.
✨ Subscribe so you don’t miss more real-world entertaining tips and weekly recipes. Upgrade to “paid” and you’ll have access to ALL of my Complete Dinner Party Plans.
✨ Forward this email to someone you’d love to share a meal with.
✨ Follow along for easy menus, décor ideas, and ways to make every gathering feel special, joyful, and authentic.

Here’s to pulling up another chair, sharing another meal, and reminding one another that none of us is meant to do life alone.

Cheers,
Colleen 🥂

One question pops up in my messages pretty regularly:

“Why don’t you ever show photos or videos of your dinner parties once everyone arrives?”

It’s a fair question. You’ll see me share the table before guests arrive. You’ll see the menu, the flowers, the cocktails, and maybe a sneak peek of dessert.

But once the doorbell rings? The camera goes away. And so do the phones.

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❤️ The Real Reason

Part of it is simple respect for my guests’ privacy. Not everyone wants to appear on social media, and I never want someone wondering if they’re about to end up in the background of a Reel.

But the bigger reason is this: The whole point of gathering is human connection.

When we’re constantly checking notifications, replying to texts, or scrolling through our feeds, we’re only half present.

How many times has this happened? Someone starts telling a story… Your phone buzzes… You glance down “just for a second.” You read the notification. You reply. Thirty seconds becomes two minutes. Suddenly you’ve missed the punchline, the funny story, or the heartfelt moment that everyone else is laughing about.

Those are moments we never get back.

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🍽️ Small Gatherings Create Bigger Conversations

One of the reasons I’m such a believer in small-scale entertaining is because it’s easier to truly connect.

When you’re gathered around the table with four, six, or eight people, everyone has the opportunity to be part of the conversation. You hear the stories. You ask follow-up questions. You laugh together. You notice when someone hasn’t spoken in a while and invite them into the conversation.

Those moments are much harder to create when everyone’s attention is divided between the people in the room and the devices in their hands.

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📱 Two Ideas That Really Work

If you’d like to encourage more conversation at your next gathering, here are two simple ideas.

🧺 Create a Phone Basket

Invite guests to silence their phones and place them in a basket for the evening.

With that, life happens. If someone has a babysitter at home, an aging parent, or another important reason to stay reachable, of course that’s different.

This isn’t about rigid rules. It’s about creating space to be present whenever possible.

💬 Come Prepared with Conversation Starters

One of the easiest ways to keep people engaged is to have a few thoughtful questions ready before guests arrive. When conversation is flowing naturally, no one is wondering what’s happening on social media. They’re too busy sharing stories, laughing, and getting to know each other.

In fact, over the next few weeks I’ll be sharing some of my favorite conversation starters that have sparked some of the best discussions around our table, so stay tuned!

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🥂 What I Want People to Remember

Years from now, I don’t think my guests will remember exactly what was on the menu. They probably won’t remember the centerpiece. They certainly won’t remember what anyone posted online that evening. But I hope they’ll remember how they felt.

✅ Welcomed.
✅ Relaxed.
✅ Included.
✅ Heard.

That’s what gathering has always been about.

Great food brings people to the table. Meaningful conversation keeps them there.

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❤️ Ready to Host Without the Stress?

If you’ve been wanting to invite people over but aren’t sure where to begin, my Complete Dinner Party Plans are designed to make entertaining feel simple and enjoyable.

Each plan includes:

• A complete, tested menu
• Step-by-step recipes
• A prep timeline
• Table setting inspiration
• Hosting tips
• Easy, Easier, and Easiest shortcuts

So instead of spending hours figuring out what to serve, you can spend your time doing what matters most: Being fully present with your guests.

✨ Subscribe so you don’t miss more real-world entertaining tips and weekly recipes.
✨ Shop my Complete Dinner Party Plans and let me help you host with more confidence and less stress or upgrade your Substack subscription to “paid” and you’ll have access to all of the Dinner Party Plans.
✨ Forward this email to a friend who’s always saying, “We should get together soon.”
✨ Follow along for easy menus, decor ideas, and ways to make every gathering feel special, joyful, and authentic.

Here’s to putting our phones down, pulling up a chair, and making memories that are too good to interrupt.

Cheers,
Colleen 🥂

Before there were Pinterest boards, Instagram reels, and endless entertaining checklists, there were people like my grandmother. She hosted dinner parties for decades. No mood boards. No tablescape tutorials. No social media inspiration. And yet somehow, she made it all look effortless.

My parents had the same gift. Long before anyone was photographing charcuterie boards or debating napkin folds online, they were gathering friends, neighbors, and family around their table.

For years, I thought they were simply natural hosts.

Looking back, I’ve realized something important: They weren’t necessarily more talented. They were more prepared. And one of the smartest hosting tricks I learned from them is something I still do before every single dinner party.

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✨ The Sticky Note Method

A day or two before guests arrive, I set the table and pull out all of my serving pieces. Then I place a sticky note on each one:

“Salad.”
“Potatoes.”
“Appetizer.”
“Dessert.”

Simple. Maybe even a little silly. But it’s one of the best hosting systems I’ve ever learned.

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🍽️ Why It Works

This tiny trick solves two major hosting problems before the party even begins.

First: It tells you whether you have enough serving pieces.

Nothing derails dinner prep faster than realizing ten minutes before guests arrive that you have nowhere to put the roasted vegetables.

By assigning serving dishes ahead of time, you immediately know whether you need to borrow, purchase, or repurpose something else.

No surprises.

Second: It eliminates decision fatigue.

When the food is ready, you’re not standing in the kitchen holding a hot bowl and wondering:

“Wait… where was I putting this?”

The decision has already been made. You simply transfer the food, wipe the rim if needed, and serve. That’s one less thing occupying your brain when guests are arriving. And trust me, those little decisions add up.

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❤️ The Real Secret to Easy Entertaining

The more I entertain, the more I realize that hosting isn’t about talent. It’s about systems.

The hosts who make entertaining look effortless aren’t magically organized. They’ve simply removed as many decisions as possible before the party starts.

Which brings me to something I talk about often: Most people don’t need more inspiration. They need a plan.

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🍷 The Slice, Dice & Dish Hosting Method™

That’s exactly why I created the Slice, Dice & Dish Hosting Method™.

It’s a simple framework designed to make entertaining feel approachable instead of overwhelming.

Step 1: Plan the Vibe

Before choosing recipes, decide what kind of gathering you’re creating.

• Casual backyard dinner?
• Summer supper with friends?
• Cozy game night?
• Holiday gathering?

The vibe drives every other decision.

Step 2: Choose the Menu

Select recipes that fit:

• Your schedule
• Your skill level
• Your guests
• Your energy

Not recipes designed to impress strangers on the internet.

Step 3: Prep Ahead

Do as much as possible before guests arrive. Future-you will be incredibly grateful.

Step 4: Set the Table

And yes… Label those serving dishes. Trust me on this one.

Step 5: Enjoy Your Guests

This is the step most people forget.

They spend so much time trying to create the perfect evening that they never actually experience it. The best hosts aren’t performing. They’re participating.

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🥂 What Hosting Is Really About

Hosting has never been about perfectly folded napkins. Or elaborate centerpieces. Or whether your house looks like it belongs in a magazine.

It’s about creating a place where people feel welcome. It’s about making room for conversations that might not happen otherwise. It’s about turning acquaintances into friends and friends into chosen family. Because great food brings people to the table. Meaningful conversation keeps them there.

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🌿 Your Permission Slip

If you’ve been waiting until you’re:

• More organized
• Less busy
• More confident
• Better at hosting

Consider this your permission slip. Start small. Invite a few people over. Make something simple. Use sticky notes.

The goal isn’t perfection. The goal is gathering. And gathering gets easier every time you do it.

✨ Subscribe so you don’t miss more real-world entertaining tips and weekly recipes.
✨ Shop my Dinner Party eCookbooks if you’re ready to host with less stress and more confidence.
✨ Forward this email to a friend who’s always saying, “We should get together sometime.”
✨ Follow along for easy menus, decor ideas, and ways to make every gathering feel special, joyful, and authentic.

Here’s to simple systems, meaningful gatherings, and hosts who actually get to enjoy the party.

Cheers,
Colleen 🥂

If you’ve been around here for any length of time, you’ve probably heard me say it before:

Hosting doesn’t have to be complicated.

Yet so many people tell me they want to invite friends over but never quite get around to it.

Why?

Because they think they need:

• A perfect house
• A gourmet menu
• Fancy dishes
• More time than they actually have

The truth is much simpler.

Great food brings people to the table. Meaningful conversation is what keeps them there.

That’s why I created the Slice, Dice & Dish Hosting Method™—a simple framework that helps busy people spend less time stressing over the details and more time enjoying the people around their table.

Whether you’re planning a casual summer supper, a holiday gathering, a game night with friends, or a special celebration, these five steps will help you host with confidence.

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✨ Step 1: Plan the Vibe

Before you think about recipes, think about the experience you want to create.

Ask yourself:

• What kind of gathering am I hosting?
• Casual or elevated?
• Indoors or outdoors?
• Family-focused or adults-only?
• Conversation-centered or activity-centered?

This will determine everything else.

A backyard barbecue feels very different from a candlelit dinner party. A game night requires a different menu than a holiday gathering.

Seasonal Inspiration

Summer

• Patio supper with friends
• Backyard dinner party
• Farmers market-inspired gathering

Fall

• Harvest dinner
• Soup and salad supper
• Cozy game night

Winter

• Comfort food dinner party
• Holiday gathering
• Fireside supper

Spring

• Garden-inspired brunch
• Seasonal dinner party
• Fresh and colorful gathering

This Week’s Challenge

What’s one gathering you’ve been thinking about hosting?

Write it down.

Not someday.

Within the next 30 days.

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🌿 Step 2: Build a Seasonal Menu

One of the biggest entertaining secrets is this:

Seasonal ingredients do most of the work for you.

They:

• Taste better
• Cost less
• Require less fuss
• Naturally create beautiful menus

What’s in Season?

Summer

• Tomatoes
• Corn
• Zucchini
• Peaches
• Berries
• Watermelon

Fall

• Apples
• Pears
• Squash
• Sweet potatoes

Winter

• Citrus
• Root vegetables
• Potatoes

Spring

• Asparagus
• Peas
• Radishes
• Strawberries

My favorite hosting rule?

Build your menu around what’s fresh and seasonal instead of chasing complicated recipes.

Simple almost always wins.

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📖 Step 3: Use a Proven Plan

This is where most hosts get stuck.

Not because they can’t cook.

Because they’re trying to reinvent the wheel every single time.

Questions start piling up:

• What should I serve?
• How much food do I need?
• What can I make ahead?
• When should I prep?

And suddenly a fun dinner party feels overwhelming.

This is exactly why I created my Dinner Party eCookbooks.

Each one includes:

• A complete menu
• Tested recipes
• Hosting timelines
• Styling ideas
• Entertaining tips
• Easy, Easier, and Easiest shortcuts

Because hosting gets much easier when someone else has already done the planning.

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🕯️ Step 4: Create a Welcoming Table

A beautiful table doesn’t need to be expensive.

It simply needs to feel intentional.

You don’t need:

• Matching dishes
• Designer linens
• Elaborate centerpieces

You do need:

• A welcoming atmosphere
• Comfortable seating
• A few thoughtful details
• A host who is excited to see their guests

Light a candle.

Fold the cloth napkins.

Add a few flowers from the grocery store.

The goal is creating a space where people feel comfortable gathering.

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🥂 Step 5: Be Present

This may be the most important step of all.

Once your guests arrive, your job changes.

• Stop tweaking.
• Stop apologizing.
• Stop worrying.
• Sit down.
• Pour yourself a drink.
• Put your phone away.
• Join the conversation.
• Enjoy the people you invited.

The memories people carry home rarely come from the centerpiece or whether the potatoes were perfectly seasoned.

They come from:

• The stories shared
• The laughter around the table
• The feeling of being welcomed

Great food brings people to the table.

Meaningful conversation is what keeps them there.

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❤️ What You’ll Find Here Every Week

The Slice, Dice & Dish community was built around one simple belief:

Gathering matters.

Every week you’ll find:

✓ A hosting mindset shift
✓ Seasonal ingredient inspiration
✓ A simple entertaining tip
✓ A featured recipe
✓ Dinner party inspiration
✓ Encouragement to gather more often

Because hosting doesn’t have to be overwhelming.

Sometimes all you need is a simple plan, a good meal, and people you enjoy sharing it with.

✨ Subscribe so you don’t miss more real-world entertaining tips and weekly recipes.
✨ Shop my Dinner Party eCookbooks if you’re ready to host with less stress and more confidence.
✨ Forward this email to a friend who’s always saying, “We should get together sometime.”
✨ Follow along for easy menus, decor ideas, and ways to make every gathering feel special, joyful, and authentic.

Here’s to gathering more often and stressing a whole lot less.

Cheers,
Colleen 🥂

If you’ve ever admired a beautiful table setting from entertainers like Martha Stewart or Ina Garten, you’ve probably noticed one thing they almost always have in common:

Cloth napkins.

And no, they aren’t reserved for holidays, fancy dinner parties, or dining out.

In fact, I’m such a believer in cloth napkins that I use them almost every night at home.

When my husband and I first started dating, he couldn’t understand it. Why use cloth napkins for an ordinary weeknight dinner?

Now? He never questions it.

Because once you start using them, you realize something important: cloth napkins have a way of making an everyday meal feel just a little more special.

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✨ It’s the Little Things

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned about entertaining is that it isn’t usually the big things guests remember.

• It’s the little details.
• A candle on the table.
• Fresh flowers from the garden.
• A handwritten place card.
• And yes—a cloth napkin.

Something about unfolding a cloth napkin and placing it in your lap signals that this meal matters. It encourages everyone to slow down, linger a little longer, and enjoy being together.

And honestly, isn’t that the whole point?

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🌿 Practical, Sustainable, and Beautiful

Beyond looking nice, cloth napkins are incredibly practical.

They:

• Hold up better than paper napkins
• Create less waste
• Wash and reuse beautifully
• Last for years when cared for properly

A simple set can be used for everything from family dinners to holiday gatherings.

And the best part? They don’t have to match perfectly.

Mixing colors, textures, and patterns can make your table feel collected and welcoming rather than overly formal.

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💰 You Don’t Have to Spend a Fortune

Here’s one of my favorite entertaining secrets:

Many of my best table linens came from thrift stores, tag sales, antique shops, and secondhand stores.

When I’m browsing, I’m always looking for:

• Cloth napkins
• Tablecloths
• Placemats
• Runners

Most simply need a good wash and maybe a quick press before they’re ready for a second life around your table.

Not only does this save money, but you’ll often find unique pieces that no one else has.

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🍽️ Start Small

If you’re thinking about upgrading your entertaining supplies, cloth napkins are one of the best places to start.

• You don’t need twelve.
• You don’t need designer labels.
• You don’t even need matching sets.
• Start with four or six and see how often you reach for them.

My guess? Much more often than you think.

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🥂 The Takeaway

Entertaining isn’t about perfection.

It’s about creating an atmosphere that makes people feel welcome.

And sometimes the simplest things—like swapping paper napkins for cloth—can completely change how a meal feels.

A little more intentional.

A little more memorable.

A little more special.

And that’s exactly what gathering around the table should be.

✨ Subscribe so you don’t miss more real-world entertaining tips and weekly recipes.

✨ Upgrade to paid so you won’t miss out on any of the fun dinner parties I’ve planned for you.

✨ Want to host a dinner party but aren’t sure where to start? My Dinner Party eCookbooks take care of the menu planning, recipes, timing, and hosting details so you can focus on enjoying your guests.

✨ Forward this email to a friend who’s looking for simple ways to elevate everyday meals.

✨ Follow along for easy menus, decor ideas, and ways to make every gathering feel special, joyful, and authentic.

Here’s to beautiful tables and everyday moments made a little more meaningful.

Cheers,
Colleen 🥂