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Giving Thanks
Notes from Nicole

Giving Thanks

I just wanted to take a moment to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving!!! I hope you have a beautiful day filled with lots of food, booze, family, friends, love and special memories! I also realize that Thanksgiving and the holidays in general may not be an easy time for everyone, especially if you are alone, away from your family or missing loved ones that are no longer here. But just remember that you still have many things to be thankful for and this is the perfect opportunity to reflect on those blessings. I am so thankful to YOU for reading …

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 …

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Entertaining

Thanksgiving Etiquette Tips

Thanksgiving is a time for gathering with loved ones to feast and celebrate the spirit of gratitude but whether you’re hosting a dinner or attending as a guest, it can be a lot of pressure. I wanted to share some useful tips to help you have a stress-free Thanksgiving, so I turned to my friend Myka Meier, etiquette expert and founder of Beaumont Etiquette – a distinguished consultancy offering a fresh, modern and unpretentious perspective on business and social etiquette. Myka has studied at etiquette schools throughout Europe and also trained in London under a former member of The …

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Food & Recipes

Holiday Kitchen Essentials

The holiday season is my absolute favorite time of the year. It’s all about fun gatherings with family and friends, lots and lots of food and plenty of excuses to go shopping! One of the things I love most is cooking during the holidays and over the years I’ve hosted many family gatherings so my kitchen is well stocked with all the necessary tools for prepping a a huge meal.  Since the Thanksgiving countdown has officially begun and you’re likely in the midst of planning your Turkey Day menu, I thought I’d share some of my favorite kitchen essentials that …

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Decorating Ideas

3 Insanely Chic & Incredibly Easy Painted Halloween Pumpkin Ideas

Halloween is right around the corner so this past weekend I finally got around to decorating the pumpkins I picked up a couple of weeks ago. When I was thinking of ideas for my pumpkins I knew I didn’t want any kitschy designs like a Jack O’ Lantern or spooky scene. I wanted my pumpkins to be super chic as well as neutral in color so I could easily incorporate them into my decor. I also wanted to come up with something simple that I could execute quickly and easily using leftover materials I already had at home. I ended …