About The Host Notes
Welcome!
The Host Notes is your place for joyful recipes and hospitality tips – designed to help you create connection, celebrate the everyday, and host with intention and joy.
I’m Amber Dawn — a recipe developer, writer, and hospitality enthusiast based in the Greater Seattle Area. I am a brand storyteller and hospitality marketer, with hands-on experience as a baker and caterer. I’m here to share my love for serving others through delicious food and unfussy details with you and help you create meals and moments that make people feel truly welcome and seen. Including you!
Fun Facts About Me
Current Coffee Order
Americano w/ coconut milk
Hosting style
Warm + unfussy
Go-To Dinner
salmon w/ cucumber salad
Kitchen Soundtrack
Indie folk + blues
Favorite Place
Near the water
Pantry Staple
Flaky salt
Hospitality, Made Simple and Meaningful
Whether you’re planning a cozy brunch, hosting a crowd, or simply trying to get dinner on the table with a little less fuss, The Host Notes is here to support you with recipes, rituals, and not-so-subtle reminders that hosting should nourish you, too.
If you want to:
- Host more often, but don’t know where to start
- Make cooking for friends and family easier and more enjoyable
- Learn how to accommodate different dietary needs
- Create meaningful moments around the table
- Get out of your cooking rut
- Bring a bit of hospitality into your everyday life
… you’ve come to the right place.
Here you’ll find: Joyful Recipes & Hospitality Tips
- Make-ahead appetizers and crowd-pleasers to simplify entertaining
- Flavor-forward, seasonal recipes designed to be joyful to make and share
- Brunch ideas, main dishes, sides, and sweets that are as delightful as they are doable
- Hospitality how-tos, checklists, and real-life hosting advice you can actually use – Download my free, mini hosting guide, 5 Tips for Hosting Overnight Guests to get started!
Featured In
The Host Notes and my collaborative work has been featured in Pacific Northwest food and lifestyle publications, such as Snohomish City Lifestyle, local product campaigns, and small business storytelling outlets throughout the region. Check out the Sugar Cookie Magic feature inspired by family Vanilla Sugar Cookie recipe!
Let’s Keep in Touch
Subscribe to The Host Notes newsletter for inspiration delivered straight to your inbox —seasonal recipes, real-life hospitality tips, and personal anecdotes to remind you to savor and connect with joy.