7 Crunch Time Tips for Last Minute Holiday Entertaining

If you’re hosting for the holidays and in a panic about pulling it all together, here are a seven helpful last-minute entertaining tips to help make the task of playing hostess as stress free as possible!

Serve Your Food Buffet Style
Create a food buffet to encourage you guests to help themselves. This will free you up to spend more time socializing with your guests.

Presentation is a Must
Be sure to have a selection of pretty serving pieces on hand. White porcelain, crystal or silver serveware are always classic. No matter what you are serving, make it beautiful! A …

My Favorite Holiday Candles

There’s nothing more comforting than filling your home with delicious scents that evoke the spirit of winter and the nostalgia of the holidays. This season I can’t stop burning Diptyque’s Pomander candle. With notes of orange citrus, warm cinnamon and spicy cloves, this candle leaves the delightful scent of Christmas lingering in the air. It’s the perfect holiday candle! Below, I’ve rounded up all of my favorite candles for the holiday and winter season! What’s your favorite holiday scent?

1. Sydney Hale Candle Company – Clementine & Clove: Notes of winter citrus and spice.

2. Crabtree & Evelyn

A Tartan Inspired Holiday Tablescape

Need some inspiration for a picture perfect holiday tablescape? I teamed up with American Express to create this fun video showing you how I put together a stylish holiday tablescape using pieces that can be purchased from Pottery Barn, West Elm and Williams-Sonoma, using gift cards redeemed with American Express Membership Rewards®  points!  I hope this inspires you to find creative and beautiful ways to use Membership Rewards® points this holiday season! Click the video to watch plus get the look below!

Williams-Sonoma: Tartan Tablecloth, Schott Wine Glasses, Aaron Flatware | Pottery Barn: Linen Hemstitch

How to Keep Brown Sugar Soft

I’ve been doing a ton of baking lately and one of the things I absolutely hate is when I go to grab the brown sugar only to find it hard as a brick! (I’m sure I’m not the only one!) Recently I was at Sur La Table picking up a few things when I spotted these terra cotta brown sugar saver discs by the checkout. Apparently these have been used for ages but they’re a new discovery for me. All you do is soak one in water for about 15 minutes, pat it dry then drop it in an airtight …