Happy Holidays, friends! ย I had to take a little blogging break in order to prepare for (and recover from) my 36-person Thanksgiving last week! ย Hope yours was as special and fun as mine was.

I have a few new Friday Favorites to share! ย These are some of my go-to items for entertaining and I thought they might be useful right around now. ย Have a great weekend! ย xoxo

 

Silicone ice cube trays

silicone ice cube trays

Cocktail hour just got a whole lot more interesting with these silicone ice cube trays!ย  I love using these cubes to spruce up any iced beverage I may be serving to my guests.ย  They come in all different shapes and sizes and are so fun and easy to use. ย I especially like the large size which chills a drink evenly without diluting it. ย Plus, food-grade silicone doesn’t leach anything weird into your ice. ย If you search silicone ice cube molds, do try to find ones that are BPA-free. ย Of course, you can freeze more than just water in them. ย Try freezing pesto, baby food or stock. ย Props to my husband for adding these to our kitchen!

The three images above are the ones I have, purchased from Amazon and Williams-Sonoma.

 

MYdrap Reusable/Disposable Napkins

mydrap reusable linens

MYdrap reusable/disposable napkins have become my ultimate go-to for easy entertaining. ย My mother-in-law gave me my first roll last year and I have been buying them ever since. ย They are perfect for occasions when I want an upgrade from paper/disposable napkins, but without the cost, effort, and upkeep of traditional linen napkins. ย And 99% of the time, people think they’re using my regular linens. ย Plus, these are made of biodegradable, recyclable materials, so I feel better about not throwing away a lot of disposable paper goods.ย  They can be washed and reused up to 6 times, so you are sure to get your moneyโ€™s worth! ย I always buy the neutral “linen” ones because they resemble my real napkins, but they come in so many colors, fabrics and sizes. ย You can order them directly from buymydrap.comย orย Amazon.

 

Gold Flatware

my favorite gold flatware

I have admired matte gold flatware for a while. ย I think it looks unique, stylish, and warm, especially when paired with simple, neutral dishes and a rustic table.ย  It can add that pop of elegance you need when you donโ€™t want to pull out the fine china. ย For Thanksgiving this year, my husband surprised me by bringing home this beautiful set of matte gold flatware from Design Within Reach. ย I thought it was the perfect addition to our holiday table and I have already used it again since last week. ย There are other pretty styles that I have seen as well, such as these from ย Canvas Home, or these from Vera Wang at Bloomingdales.

 

Cheeseboard

cheeseboards

The perfect cheese board is such a staple for entertaining, especially around the holidays when I want to keep things simple, but elegant.ย  While there are many tricks and tips to creating that perfect cheese plate (and perhaps that should be a post soon,) it all starts with a great board. ย I think it’s worth investing in a nice board which you can use for not only cheese, but serving hors d’oeuvres as well. ย I personally prefer wood, but there are some beautiful boards in marble or slate, as well. ย I have the middle sized oval board pictured on the left. ย It’s from Spencer Peterman, but I purchased it at Lost and Found in LA. ย The board in the center and right is from Williams-Sonoma.

 

Toothpicks and Skewers

toothpicks

What is a party without some kind of skewered hors d’oeurve? ย Ditch the frilly cocktail picks. ย You can give your starters a complete makeover with these cute little skewers and toothpicks.ย  I think they add inexpensive chicness (is that a word?) and refinement to my hors d’oeuvres which would otherwise look a little amateur. ย Norpro toothpicks available here. ย Bamboo knots from here. ย Bamboo mini forks from here. ย When you are ordering skewers and the like, be sure to pay attention to the size since there are many offered. ย 4-inches is a good basic size to have for hors d’oeuvres, but you may want a smaller size for garnishes for drinks or for holding mini sandwiches together.

 

It’s party time! ย Enjoy!

 

โค๏ธ Our Recipe? Try These Next!

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4 Comments

  1. pamela ellison says:

    thanks for all of your great tips – love that flatware! Question, how does your favorite stockpot compare to le creuset? Thanks!

    1. Pamela says:

      Love them both! Le Creuset is enameled cast iron which takes longer to heat up, but maintains heat well. I love the Le Creuset for putting in the oven, too. My stock pot is too big for that.

  2. Miriam says:

    Thank you for this series. I’ve discovered practical products for myself as well as great ideas for holiday gifting.

    1. Pamela says:

      Oh good!