December Project: Inside Your Home

Holiday Entertaining

Sometimes I think my life goal is to be a hostess with the mostess. I like to imagine myself Gwyneth Paltrow and day dream about throwing soirees like its 1999. Then in the very next second I realize a) I'm not Gwen, b) I don't have infinite funds and c) I don't have enough friends to host! Just kidding... kinda, sorta!

That said, I have thrown a dinner gathering or two in my lifetime. Most recently, I had my two lovely co-workers over for a mini-dinner party and a Christmas movie-- Meet Me in St. Louis. It was a deelightful night filled with good laughs, great food and holiday cheer!

Since dinner parties and social gatherings, whether on a Gwyneth-scale or little-ole-me scale can prove to be rather stressful, here are my prep tips to keep that entertaining cray to a minimum.

Two weeks before: 
1) Plan early: The professional event planner in me knows that advanced planning is key. So especially during the holiday season, when calendars fill up quickly (that sounds so grown up to say!), nail down your date and invitees early!

Paperless Post

2) Menu: If you're anything like me, trying out a new recipe when guests come over is a big no no (The RISK!!! Ahhh). So turn your kitchen into a test kitchen two weeks before and start exploring menu ideas.

Three days before:
3) Plan your tableware and decor: If your're using linens, make sure they are cleaned and pressed. Unless you are throwing a 90's-catering theme party, skip the dated napkin swans and go rustic by rolling up your napkins and tying them together with a piece of ribbon or twine. Decide which flatware, silverware and glasses you are going to use... that is if you fancy and have more than one option for the occasion. Plan out your centerpiece and tablescape.

Two days before: 
4) Finalize your menu & shop: Stop experimenting and go by them ingredients. Grocery lists organized by dishes are the way to go here. Even better, when you get home from the store, organize your ingredients by dishes or by courses. For example, the ingredients for your appetizer salad all go in the same shelf in the fridge etc.

5) Stock the bar: Read Tips #4 and #5 here for my thoughts on this.  

6) Clean up! Scrub the living daylights out of your sink, tub, toilet and floors.

Day before: 
7) Plan your cooking timeline: Knowing what order things are to be chopped, cooked, or popped into the oven will make your life much easier.

8) Make ahead: If there is anything you can make ahead of time, do it now.

9) Set your table: Lay out your tablecloth, napkins, glasses etc.

Happy hosting!

Holiday Gift Guide: For Around the Home

I'm not saying that things make a home, but you don't hear me complaining about such gorgeous things.

1. Happy Chic Set of 2 Pop Canisters from Jonathan Adler, 2. Chinoiserie Green Teacup from Mydeco, 3. Oval Ikat Lampshade from Etsy, 4. Elf Candleholder from Cb2, 5. Cast Iron Apple Pot from terrain, 6. Sparrow Clips from MoMA. 

7. High Tea Baking Cups from Confectionery House, 8. Fine Dining Placemats from Anthropologie, 

9. Selenite Brass Box from Kelly Wearstler, 10. Midas Glassware Collection from Design Within Reach, 

11. Queue Vase from Z Gallarie, 12. Nixon Throw from Jonathan Adler.

13. Kelly Wearstler's Grodian Weave Cushion from Plum Cushion, 14. Tapestry Collection Plate from French Bull, 15. Guppy Barware from Z Gallerie, 16. Sticky Teaspoons from Anthropologie, 17. Lacey Tray from Chiasso, 18. Cheese Knives from Decor Craft.

19. MOR Cosmetics Soap Opera Gift Set, 20. Agate Pedra Coasters from MoMA, 21. Ikat Bowls from Anthropologie, 22. 3 Mini Candles Diptyque from Space NK, 23. Five Nesting Ranunculus Rose Bowls from Etsy. 

Holiday Cheer: Holiday Party Hosting Tips

When I was younger, my life's ambition was to not work a day in my life. I wanted to just sit home and eat bon bons all day. Yes, I am for real.

Once I got older, I thought about becoming an ambassador, just so I could throw sophisticated soirees all the time. (Because somewhere in my little mind, that's all an ambassador did. Foreign relations be dammed.) Now that I am actually a working gal, and seriously doubt that a career in foreign affairs in anywhere in my future, I settle for throwing the occasional miniature dinner party.

This year, my best friend and I have every intention of hosting a holiday dinner party and we've been dreaming up sample menus. We're excited to say the least, but more on that another time.

For now, here are some gorgeous pictures and holiday tips to help get the creative juices following for your own holiday party.

Tip #1: When it comes to selecting candles for your tablescape, chose votive candles instead of tapers to give your table a more casual yet intimate feel. Added bonus: The dim light also casts an attractive glow and makes everyone look great.

Tip #2: Keep center pieces and candles low so that everyone can actually make eye contact across the table.

Tip #3: Greet all guest with a cocktail, champagne or prosecco as soon as they walk through the door. It's a great way to get into the spirit.

Tip #4: Instead of stocking your entire bar for your party, why not offer a single holiday-themed house cocktail. Supplement with wine, beer and sparkling water. Added bonus: By streamlining your bar, you not only save time but also money! 

Tip#5: If you must have a fully stocked bar. Here are my tips on what you should save and splurge on. 

• Vodka: Save. Because vodka is suppose to be a tasteless alcohol, the lower priced ones don't have that horrible flavor that other cheap liquors might have. 
• Whisk(e)ys and Scotch: Splurge. This one is a no brainer since these spirits are usually drunk straight up or on the rocks.
• Gin: Save. A low end gin will most probably take the bloom out of your martini but if you are looking for something to mix with other alcohols, you can afford to avoid the top-shelf. Just make sure you aren't going so cheap that you have an artificially juniper flavored one (check the label).
• Bourbon: Splurge. Cheaper Bourbons tend to give you the burn without the flavor. 
• Rum: Splurge. Taking the cheapskate route will likely give you a rum that taste more like an Island backalley than a sugarcanned vacation.
• Tequila: To be honest, no one is going to go near this stuff during the holiday season, so save and don't even get any! 
• Club Soda or Tonic Water: Splurge. It may seem instinctive to save on the mixers but store brands can go flat quickly and often have an aftertaste to them.
• Juices: Splurge- fresh squeezed is always best because you don't want that corn syrupy taste. 

Tip#6: Make a whimsical sign for your bar like "Santa's Favorites". Guests will know where to find their drinks and will get a kick out of your creativity.

Tip #7: When Decking the Halls, don't be afraid to venture outside the traditional red and green Christmas colors. I'm loving the purple and magenta hues.

Tip #8: Consider the first thing guest see when entering your home. A bold, creative wreath sets the festive tone for what's to come.

Tip #9: Scatter plenty of bowls of snacks, like nuts, olives or even a cup full of candy canes, through out the house.

 

Tip #10:  Hang candy canes, scatter silver and gold tinsel on a table, or stick ornaments in a vase of bowl for decoration. 

Tip #11: Keep the music upbeat and holiday specific. Make sure to have your music playing way before guest are due to arrive, so that an early straggler does not show up to an awkwardly quiet house. 

Tip #12: You'll have more fun at your party if you let go of the idea that a party has to be perfect. Parties are about fun, not perfection. So lighten up and enjoy yourself!

All Images Courtesy of Loony.

Wallpaper

2 months have lapsed since I moved into my grown up, single gal apartment. Electric minty green paint has graced the walls in the bedroom, a new couch and media center have been purchased ("ouch," said my wallet), and my dining room chairs have been given a makeover with a coat of blue paint (detailed coverage to come).

While there is a lot more to be done to make this house (well, apartment) my home, things are looking good and I am as pleased as can be.

But do you remember that long narrow hallway? The one I mentioned previously, the one that I wanted to cover in wallpaper? Yeah, it still remains wallpaper-less. And sadly, will continue to remain so. Wallpapering apartment walls is just unrealistic.

Keeping expectations real, I have been keeping my eyes peeled for wallpaper-esk alternatives and look what I found on New York Magazine's blog The Cut!

Payton Cosell Turner- a young artist with an obvious talent for patterns- created wallpaper using stickers! Each wallpaper pattern is made up of thousands of hand-applied stickers and can be removed and re-applied in any space.

How fun is that? I mean didn't we all get into trouble for pasting our stickers all over our bedroom walls at one time or another?

Now before you get your knickers all up in a bunch, don't worry, I am not crazy enough to attempt this in my apartment, but seriously! How cute!

To see more of Payton's work, click here.

Wallpaper

Lately, I've been cheating on Food. My part time lover? Home decor.

Brought about by my big move into my "grown up" apartment, I've been scouring home decor blogs allowing my imagination to grow wild with possibilities.

In my new grown up apartment, there is this short and narrow hallway that leads into to the main living area. I've been dreaming about wallpapering that entire space with a bold, bright and beautiful pattern. Dreaming being the keyword, since it's an apartment and wallpapering the walls is not really an option.

But a girl can keep dreaming right? No harm, no foul.

Here are some of my favorite botanical wallpapers that I've come across in my adulterous blog surfing.

To be honest, I would really love a black and white zig-zagged wallpaper. Think Missoni but in black and white. Alas! I haven't found it anywhere. Double alas! Even if I found it, it's not like I can use it!

So, out of the patterns above, which wallpaper is your favorite?

Oh and Happy July folks!

(images: Graham & Brown, House to Home, de Gournay, GP & J Baker, Alvhem some via Decor 8)