Cherry Amy - So much to celebrate: entertaining the ones you love the whole year through

PRAISE FOR SO MUCH TO CELEBRATE

Yall are going to fall in love with Katie Jacobs. Shes a modern Southerner who knows how to throw a stylish party with grace, charm, and really good food. Best of all, she reminds us that celebrating has one aimto bring those you love together.

ELIZABETH MAYHEW

Draper James Brand Editor, Today Show Contributor, and Washington Post Columnist

Katie is the absolute perfect party hostessher yummy food, gorgeous tablescapes, and fun ideas are so inspirationalbut what makes her even more wonderful is how she invites her guests into her home with a warm and welcoming heart. As I thumb through this book, I can feel her hostess style radiate, and I cant wait to plan my own gatherings following all of her tips!

CASSIE MCCONNELL KELLEY

lifestyle expert and founder of Womanista

I love that Katie is all about entertaining the ones you love! Im a tried-and-true Southerner who happens to be a mom of three, and this is one of my greatest desires. Thanks, Katie, for inspiring me and so many other women who want to serve our loved ones with the best that life has to offer. I am making the lemon whoopee pies now!

HOLLY WILLIAMS

singer-songwriter and owner of Whites Mercantile

Oh, the joy and whimsy Katie has brought into the world with this beautiful book! A mix of delicious recipes, creative entertaining tips, and a heavy helping of nostalgia, her colorful words and pictures inspire us all to not only stir up a party anytime... but to stir up a memory. And isnt that what life is all about? To share a meal, share a memory, and inspire those around us along the way. Inspiring us to do just that, So Much to Celebrate has a permanent place in my kitchen.

DAWN MCCOY

TV host, lifestyle expert, social media personality, actor, and writer

One peek inside Katie Jacobs book and you will be instantly transported to her lovely table. The ultimate party hostess and styling pro, Katie shares her magical gift of making entertaining look effortlessand totally doable at the same time. From the table settings at her Mothers Day tea party to the clever touches on her fall tailgating spread, Im smitten with Katies tips and ideas and cant wait to try them in my own home.

ERIN BYERS MURRAY

food writer, author, and editor of Nashville Lifestyles

Copyright 2018 by Katie Jacobs

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or otherexcept for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by Thomas Nelson. Thomas Nelson is a registered trademark of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc.

Thomas Nelson titles may be purchased in bulk for educational, business, fund-raising, or sales promotional use. For information, please e-mail SpecialMarkets@ThomasNelson.com.

ISBN -13: 978-0-7180-7518-7

ISBN -13: 978-0-7180-7519-4 (eBook)

Cover photo: Amy Cherry

Styling: Katie Jacobs

Title calligraphy: Abigail McGinnis

Cover design: Mary Hooper

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Information about External Hyperlinks in this ebook

Please note that footnotes in this ebook may contain hyperlinks to external websites as part of bibliographic citations. These hyperlinks have not been activated by the publisher, who cannot verify the accuracy of these links beyond the date of publication.

DEDICATION

I HAVE SO MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR. THERE IS SO MUCH TO CELEBRATE!

Living life with joy and gratitude alongside the people you love makes every day special and worthy of celebration. Impromptu barefoot-in-the-kitchen dance parties, a three-tier chocolate cake just because its Tuesday, and cotton candytopped milkshakes to mark the end of summer vacation transform seemingly ordinary moments into the essential threads that weave together the fiber of who we are.

So many of my favorite, and profoundly pivotal, memories happened in the kitchen or around the dinner table. Eating steak and baked potatoes at the long farm table on the porch of our familys lake house, the Thanksgiving meal overflowing on my moms kitchen island, pot roast served in my grandmothers elegant Williamsburg dining room, pizza on the floor of my first apartmentso much of my life has centered around food and sharing meals with family and friends. My grandmother taught me how to set a table, and my mother taught me how to arrange flowers. But more importantly, they taught me the art of celebrating: how to create meaningful, unfussy gatheringsnot without effort, but carried out with relative easethat create lasting memories with the ones you love.

Now that I am a mom, I realize more and more that time is fleeting. It forces me to stop, take a breath, and remember how grateful I am that I have so much to celebrate. I want to always take the time to make loved ones feel special and create extraordinary celebrations to foster memories that will last a lifetime.

I set out to create a book that is not only beautiful but is also a guide to creating lifelong memories with your family and friendsinspiration to encourage more parties, more togetherness, more celebrations. It is my hope that the family suppers, holiday parties, and informal gatherings found in these pages will inspire you to live a little more life together with the ones you love.

THE ARRIVAL OF SPRINGS FIRST SUN-KISSED DAYS BEGS TO BE CELEBRATED.

Warmer weather ushers out the long, cold days of winter, and sunny days are a welcome friend that everyone rejoices in. The seasons clean slate and fresh blooms inspire parties featuring lighter menus and sunny decor. Tablescapes displaying natural elements bring the outdoors in, showcasing the earths beautiful bounty.

Theres nothing more blissful than enjoying the first flush of lovely weather with the ones you love. My favorite way to spend a springtime afternoon is with my daughter, Emmaline, at the botanical gardens, giggling and watching the geese as we sit on a vintage quilt laid in the grass. We love to pack a picnic of simple sandwiches, fresh fruit, and lemonade and bask in the sunlight for as long as possible.

Whether youre enjoying an intimate outdoor picnic for two or a porch-side dinner party for ten, springs cheerful sun-filled days are reason enough to celebrate.