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LIFE OF THE PARTY
From growing up in an entertaining household to becoming a seasoned hostess herself, Lauren Petit has a plan—and playlist—for every occasion.
WRITTEN BY COLIN SHEA DENNISTON | PHOTOGRAPHED BY LEAH STIEFERMANN
Even while living in a city condo in Chicago, Lauren Petit and her husband, Bud, were always the go-to couple for hosting and events. “I've always been an entertainer,” she says. “When I lived in Chicago a lot of my friends didn't have family there, so I was always the one hosting.” But her entertaining roots run much deeper. “I was raised on it because of my mom,” she says. “My mom's always been a big entertainer and hostess making everything from scratch. Keeping it sim-
ple but making everybody feel welcome.” Now back in 417-land, Lauren, Bud and their two children, Olivia and James, regularly welcome friends and family out to their spacious farm compound. From Halloween Boo Brunches to spring crawfish boils, Petit is an expert in turning possibility into perfection. For this classic Americana summer barbecue, friends gathered for a laid back, shoes off, come-as-you-are summer soirée.
When it comes to entertaining advice, Petit encourages everyone to keep one thing in mind: “Before you even begin to plan your menu or make your list of things that you need for the day, I just want to remind everybody that anytime you have an event, it's not a time to impress. It's just a time to make people feel welcome in your home and just get those people together that you love.” With that in mind, Petit does encourage would-be entertainers to (continued on p. 39)
IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS
A close-up of Petit's table setting shows some special details and just how much thought she puts into one of her events. According to Petit, would-be entertainers should "lay out all of those details ahead of time."
A FAMILY AFFAIR
Petit’s children enjoy getting in on the hosting action as well. “They love to help set things up and then they talk about it at school. I think they look forward to it as much if not more than I do” says Petit.
INNOVATIVE, ELEGANT & PRACTICAL PLUMBING IDEAS
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(continued from p. 37) have as many of the details ironed out ahead as possible to ensure maximum enjoyability. “Of course, you have to be prepared,” says Petit. “You need to have your full menu and your drinks, whether you want to outsource anything, if you want to do a playlist or if you want to have just like a little string band come—lay out all of those details ahead of time.”
For this party, those details included a specialty cocktail truck, a Kudo grill and a petting zoo and horseback rides for the kids—and let’s face it, adults too.
HAPPY HOUR
In addition to a full bar, Party Party Co. served two signature cocktails out of their reimagined 1973 Stidham horse trailer, a honey-basil margarita and a peach aperol spritz.
A FIRE FOR ALL SEASONS
The outdoor replace is an anchor for year-round outdoor entertaining. “In the fall if I'm having people over, we always have that re going,” says Petit. “And even in the wintertime we will turn on the outdoor re and we’ll have our white Russians and we'll decorate.”
FLOWER POWER
While she often assembles her own flower arrangements from what grows naturally around her farm, for this event, Petit called in the help of Moxie Flowers in Nixa. “If there's anything that you can outsource to make your night easier, do it. It will be worth it,” suggests Petit.
BE THEIR GUEST
Rather than having a formal seated dinner, Petit encourages her guests to chat, mingle and grab food when the mood strikes them. “It just keeps it where it’s not stu y. Relaxed, laid-back, family style,” says Petit.
STAY A WHILE
Keeping her guests feeling welcomed, well fed and relaxed is always top of mind for Petit. “I let my guests stay as late as they want, I never have a cuto time on my invite,” says Petit. “I say, ‘Okay, we start at six’ and it goes until we go,” she adds.
GRILL MASTER
While her husband, Bud, is most at home behind the grill, Petit laughs that from barbecuing to re building to last minute cooler re lls, he s her go-to guy.
CROWD PLEASER
Whether it’s a musician, a face painter or even live animals, Petit always plans something special for the kids. “I was like, ‘What can I do that's really fun and a little quirky and a little out there?’ Bring this whole zoo out to the farm and let the kids run wild! And the adults loved it too to be honest,” says Petit. The animals came from locally owned Once Upon a Hilltop Farm.
DESIGNVIBES
“Biophilic design is about being more natural and enjoying more of the outside in your indoor spaces. This could include larger windows to give a room a more expansive feel and connect the indoor space to an outdoor space.” —Chad Holgerson, Keystone Creative
“Refined traditional design paired with a mix of organic and earthy materials makes for elegant but livable spaces. This fresh look, rooted in simplified classic details, is an opportunity to create something both unique and timeless.” —Madison Rees Rock Solid Renovations
—Crystal Monahan, Insite Interior Design
