Margaret Gallagher is the newest addition to the Half Past Seven family as our director of marketing & sales. Graduating from the University of Virginia (Go Hoos!) in 2017, simply put, Margaret has a passion for people. Whether that is entertaining in her new home, going out to dinner with friends, or relaxing with family, she finds herself constantly surrounded by others (& music!).
Originally from Winston-Salem, Margaret has grown up in sunny Jacksonville, FL, and let’s just say, the apple didn’t fall far from the tree! Her family, with their keen eye for design and passion for celebration, believes in toasting to life’s smallest joys as well as the greatest victories. After all, any excuse to pop open the “Christmas Wine” is a win in their book!
Margaret's hosting mantra is, “a loud table is a proud table”. She has always been the go-to host for gatherings both big and small. Whether it's College Football Saturdays, a quick "glass" of wine, or Taco Tuesdays, her home is the epicenter of warmth and fun.
Margaret married Michael Gallagher of Baltimore, MD, last October! When not with friends and family, she can be found at the beach, decorating her home, or traveling with Michael and her pup, George.
How do you like to entertain? What is the vibe (where, feeling, how)? I am a homebody. I love (and honestly, prefer) to host in my home. I love nothing more than an excuse to spruce up my space, cook, host, and clean! I prefer casual (see barefoot note below - haha) and approachable. Oh, and there is always music playing!
What are you serving? Usually, I am a one-dish wonder! No mess, no fuss. I’m a huge fan of Defined Dish and find myself reaching for her recipes all the time. My mom’s an amazing cook too, so I often give her a call for advice. These enchiladas are a top favorite of mine. Told you, it’s pretty casual around here. Plus, they pair perfectly with my famous margaritas. Which leads me to the next question…
What are you sipping? Not to brag, but I make the best 3-ingredient skinny margarita! Only one will do (as mine are extra bitter) and then we are on to wine. Current obsession is Kelly Flemming Sav Blanc (worth the dime, I promise!).
What are you wearing? It usually depends on my mood, but I often go for something comfortable like this maxi dress. One thing I know I’m not wearing is shoes—don’t ask me why! Maybe I’m just channeling my inner India Hicks? My sister does the same thing, so I guess it's a case of monkey see, monkey do!
What are you listening to? I grew up listening to the Great American Songbook with every dinner, so I often find myself playing that in the background. But if I had to pick one artist for a dinner party, it would be Steve Tyrell. His voice provides a comforting and nostalgic feeling and makes any occasion feel a tad bit elevated… It’s hard to explain!
Fun fact: I can’t sit in silence (I know, shocking!). So much so that the first thing I do when I wake up is put a “Jazz in the Background” playlist on every Sonos speaker in the house. Trust me, it’s a game-changer and a great way to start your morning. My husband even agrees with me on this one. ;)
How do you make your guests feel special? How do you make them feel at home? For a larger gathering, I’m all about those place cards! My sister, the reigning queen of calligraphy (is there anything she can’t do?!), and always volunteers to do this. Oh, and don’t worry about the carpet—shoes are totally fine, even if I’m barefoot. Mi casa es su casa!
If you are hosting a dinner, what is your go-to centerpiece? Depends on the season but candles and more candles! I especially love them in these votives with any floral arrangement in season.
How do you end a celebration? Easy! If the night stretches on and we’ve drained the wine bottle(s) dry, you’ll find our crew belting out Broadway tunes like we’re a Tony-worthy nominee! Hamilton, anyone?
What is your favorite Half Past Seven product to entertain with? The Egret Decanter! It is so beautiful and practical. Also have never seen a decanter that can (successfully) sit on an axis like that.
Let’s play this or that…
- Charger OR Placemat: Charger!
- Stemmed OR Stem-less: This changes every week… But lately, I’ve been grabbing my stemless HPS glasses.
- Red OR White: Gah, Sophie’s choice!! All jokes aside, at this very moment, white. Tomorrow will probably be red though.
- Tablecloth OR Bare: Depends if I am inside or out, but I think I’ll have to go with tablecloth.
- Votives OR Taper Candle: Votives
- Formal OR Informal: All about the juxtaposition! Informal with a flare of formality. So, think: Barefoot meets my Bernardaud chargers. And that casual one pot dish is paired with the delicious “occasion” wine… All about balance!
