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Entertaining Essentials

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Tips for Creating a Stylish Home Bar
Entertaining

A Guide to Creating the Ultimate Home Bar

When it comes to entertaining, it’s great to have a well-stocked bar so you can be ready to entertain at a moment’s notice. Every grown-up home should have a proper bar and if you don’t, setting up the perfect home bar is way easier than you think! Read on for my tips on creating the ultimate home bar including how to style it, the essential spirits to stock it with and the most stylish tools and accessories to help you mix up the perfect cocktail!

I love a good bar cart because of its versatility. You can style them up …

Thanksgiving Wine
Entertaining Essentials

Thanksgiving Wine Picks from a Master Sommelier

During the holidays we spend so much time obsessing over menus and food prep but let’s be real people, the holidays are also an excuse for indulgent alcohol consumption! Aside from good food, I look forward to wine, wine and more wine on Thanksgiving! If you’re stumped on what wine to pair with your Thanksgiving meal, I’ve asked Alpana Singh, Master Sommelier and owner of Chicago’s Boarding House, to share her expert advice and go-to wine picks, all of which are widely available and almost all are under $20!

When considering what wines to serve on Thanksgiving, Alpana …

Thanksgiving Table Setting Ideas Intro
Entertaining Essentials

Holiday Table Inspiration

When you’re spending hours in the kitchen preparing a huge holiday meal, my philosophy is to simplify your table setting as much as possible. I prefer a more casually elegant setting when I’m entertaining at home which to me feels much more inviting and unstuffy. I put this table setting together last year for an editorial and thought I’d revisit it with these never-seen-before outtakes to illustrate some useful tips and and inspiration for setting your holiday table. (Photos by Marietta Leung)

Don’t spend a fortune on fancy dinnerware!
I don’t believe in the idea of having extra-fancy china …

Nicole Gibbons - Black Enterprise Business Report
Entertaining Essentials

Check Out My TV Segment on Entertaining Essentials!

A few months back I taped a segment for The Black Enterprise Business Report on TV One that was all about essentials for entertaining with style. I was called to do the segment the night before it taped so I had less than 24 hours to scramble together a chic tablescape along with several useful entertaining tips! Because I had such short notice, I ended up renting most of the pieces I used also brought in a few of my own pieces from home. One of the points I stressed in the segment is the fact that it’s ok to …

Smythson-Inspirational-Notebooks
Entertaining Essentials

Jot Down Your New Years Resolutions in These Chic Leather Notebooks From Smythson!


Make it Happen and Follow Your Dreams notebooks, $75. Be Happy notebook, $60.

Along with a new year comes new dreams, new aspirations and resolutions to improve ourselves and our lives. I recently declared “Make it Happen” my personal mantra for 2011 so when I came across this chic notebook emblazoned with those very words, I wanted it immediately! I’m thinking of getting this as my personal goal journal for the year. What better place to chronicle my hopes and aspirations than in a luxe pink leather notebook from Smythson of Bond Street?! There are several other equally colorful …