ideas
S T Y L E M A K E R
Ju st m inutes
before guests
arrive in her
Indianapolis home,
Sara Snow remains a
vision of calm. Potted
herbs she uses for
cooking have been
pulled onto tables for
easy centerpieces, and
a bag of prewashed
organic greens fills a
bowl on the kitchen
counter. Forthe rising
queen of living
green—Sara hosts
two Discovery
Network shows—the
secret to entertaining
is simplicity. “Keeping
things simple means
you’re not feeling
crazed when guests
arrive,” she says.
And a party lets her
showcase her
philosophy. Having
grown up in the ’80s
in a rural Michigan
house with solar
panels and big organic
gardens, Sara soaked
up early lessons. Her
mom didn’t forbid her
from eating a sugary
brownie, but she did
ask that Sara pay
attention to how it
made her body feel.
“That taught me to
really respect food
and recognize that it’s
more than just
something that fills
our bellies,” Sara says.
Today, Sara wants
people to find their
own balance in how
they eat, decorate,
and entertain. “Rather
than tell people they
need to change how
they live, I prefer to let
them see how easy it
is to incorporate new
habits into daily life,”
she says. “I want
people to feel
encouraged to try
something new rather
than be guilted into
making changes.”
Invitations written on paper embedded with
■ wildflower seeds set the tone for an eco-friendly
gathering. “It makes the party a little more special
fend memorable—you can stick the paper in the
ground and watch it grow,” says Sara. (Search
online for “plantable paper.”)
Potted herbs are conversation-starting
centerpieces. A swish of chalkboard
paint on each pot makes an easy-to-
change label.
M
ismatched plates from thrift stores keep the party
casual. “They’re an alternative to disposable plates,
which create a lot of waste,” Sara says. “At 25 cents
apiece, you could even donate them right back.”
Sara’s recycled cotton bags are party
favors; she figures guests can never have
enough. “I shove all my bags into one that
I take to the store.”
