Holiday Entertaining Tips

The party is at THE BUZZ today where I am delighted to be doing a guest post on holiday entertaining. Please do visit one of my favorite blogs and leave a comment.

Photo: Carolyn Roehm

Because I Love It - Holiday Cocktail

With Thanksgiving next week the holidays have arrived! This is one of my favorite drinks to serve over the holidays. RECIPE.

Photo: Martha Stewart

Holiday Party Tips - Bourbon and Pearls

My last guest in the series on Holiday Party Tips is Tabitha from BOURBON AND PEARLS. She lives in Scotland, but dreams of living in LA. She can't live without early morning spin classes, vintage first editions and Pol Roger champagne. Don't you love her already??

Best Source For Holiday Party Inspiration

Tabitha presses her nose against THE ADMIRAL CRICHTON'S site like the little matchgirl: their name is synonymous with the best parties and events in the country, they have delicious cocktails recipes, mouthwatering canapes and excel at table design.

Favorite Holiday Cocktail for Serving Guests

Why make cocktails, when given a choice, everyone always picks champagne. Serve it in vintage coupes, after two glasses everyone thinks they are drinking vintage champagne!

Favorite Party You Attend Every Holiday Season

The Spectator's Annual CHRISTMAS CAROL CONCERT in London, warmed by Winter Pimm's, mince pies and chestnuts.

Best Hostess Gift for Under the Tree

Keep things classic and traditional. Gold and Frankincense are a little hard to come by these days, but DIPTYQUE have hostess gifts all wrapped up with their evocative Myrrhe candle.

Best Holiday Tunes For Entertaining

Christmas classics sung by FRANK SINATRA will always set the right tone for any party.

Favorite Holiday Tradition

Every December, Tabitha tucks  misteltoe, and ivy into her door wreath to celebrate the winter solstice and to garner the hope and protection they have offered since times past. Find one HERE.

Photo Credits: Tiny White Daisies, Flicker

Party Details: Christmas Party CT

I am busily packing my bags to leave for the holidays and for our family party tomorrow night. For over twenty years we have been hosting a fabulous Christmas Party in CT. It starts with cocktails in the house which is decorated to the nines with the fires roaring - so festive. We then move to the barn for dinner with fifty of our favorite folks.

The front room of the barn.

Party Ready

And so is Auggie

Then we head back in the house for more cocktails, dessert and lots of singing (often a bit rowdy) Christmas Carols with musicians from  PETER DUCHIN ORCHESTRAS.

Party Details: Holiday Fete

Here is a photo of another holiday dinner I had for friends. I did the centerpiece myself - it is so easy! Floral foam and flowers mixed with herbs. 

Stylish Spirits

A friend brought me a few bottles of BULLY BOY vodka and gin as a hostess gift. They are so good and not surprising these scrumptious spirits are now being served in all of Boston and Nantucket's best restaurants. Any of these bottles would make the perfect hostess gift or for stocking your own bar during the holidays. 

Bully Boy Distillers is owned and operated by brothers Will and Dave Willis, who were inspired by their childhood family farm. During prohibition the farm was home to a collection of local artisan spirits, which were stored in a vault in the farmhouse basement. With names like “Medford Rum” and “Cow Whiskey,” these precursors to today’s craft spirits were harsh and remarkably undrinkable, but they had character.

Roughly 70 years after Prohibition was abolished the vault was rediscovered. Though covered in dust and cobwebs, it was inspiring, and the idea for a distillery that continues the legacy of artisan distilling in Massachusetts was hatched.

Paying particular attention to the caliber of ingredients used in its products, Bully Boy produces premium spirits in small batches, emphasizing quality over quantity. As homage to the farm, the distillery is named after Bully Boy, a favorite farm workhorse.

Cheers! 

Holiday Party Tips - Acanthus and Acorn

I hope you all are enjoying the Holiday Party Tips series as much as I am! I love reading entertaining tips from this stylish group of bloggers. My next guest is the always fab Rebecca of ACANTHUS AND ACORN. 

Best Sources for Holiday Party Inspiration

Everything! Rebecca's ever expanding file of snippets she's gathered from the pros and things learned along the way from years of entertaining. Ideas that are simple and elegant are the most inspiring.

Favorite Holiday Cocktail For Serving Guests

Cabochon Cocktail from entertaining guru Colin Cowie. It's easy to make and serves about 15 people. 

Recipe
In a pitcher, stir together 8 cups cranberry juice, 4 cups currant flavored vodka, 1 cup club soda, 1 cup ginger ale and 1/2 cup Rose's Lime Juice. Pour over cherry ice cubes, (put maraschino cherries with stems in ice trays, fill with water and freeze) placed in a silver bowl for guests to help themselves!

Favorite Party You Host Every Holiday Season

Rebecca's favorite holiday party is any gathering in her home, because nothing puts her in the holiday spirit and gives her greater pleasure this time of year than creating a wonderful and festive evening for friends!

Best Hostess Gift Under The Tree

This can be a challenge, but everyone enjoys beautiful hand towels for the powder room or kitchen.

Best Holiday Tunes For Entertaining

Of course all the classics by such greats as Bing Crosby, Johnny Mathis and Nat King Cole. Plus, Diana Krall, Harry Connick, Jr and Michael Buble. But also mix in some other tunes like Boogie-Woogie Santa Claus (Lionel Hampton), All I Want For Christmas Is You (Mariah Carey) , Zat You, Santa Claus? (Louis Armstrong) and Santa Baby (Eartha Kitt) for fun! 

Favorite Holiday Tradition

All things related to the stockings!!! The family tradition is to open up all the gifts under the tree, have a big holiday breakfast and then dive in to the stockings filled with fun treats, gag gifts and scratch-off lottery cards!

Images: Eddie Ross, Inspired Design, Tiny White Daisies and Martha Stewart

Delicious Holiday Dessert

While looking through Bon Appetit, I came across this RECIPE for a chocolate peppermint tart. Yummm! Perfect for the winter months.

You're Invited to the Party...

Grab a cocktail and come join me at THE ENCHANTED HOME for my tips on holiday entertaining. 

Holiday Party Tips - Chinoiserie Chic

Pour yourself a cocktail (or a cup of coffee) and enjoy some tips on holiday party entertaining from my next stylish guest Beth of CHINOISERIE CHIC.

Best Source For Holiday Party Inspiration

Nobody decks the halls for the holidays better than Martha and her team at MARTHA STEWART. There is always great inspiration for holiday parties and holiday decorating. 

Favorite Holiday Cocktail for Serving Guests

A Blood Orange Champagne Cocktail RECIPE

Favorite Party You Attend Every Holiday Season

A masked cocktail party - Beth is searching for a black lace mask like Audrey Hepburn's in How to Steal a Million. Last year Beth wore a Venetian mask. How fabulous!

Best Hostess Gift for Under the Tree

A beautiful orchid is always a welcome gift. To make it even more special, present it in a blue and white Chinese porcelain cachepot. 

Find one HERE.

Best Holiday Tunes For Entertaining

The new Christmas CD by MICHAEL BUBLE joins the ranks of Nat King Cole and Johnny Mathis for truly wonderful holiday music.

Favorite Holiday Tradition

High tea at an elegant hotel that is all decorated for the holidays!

Top Photo: Tiny White Daisies and Bottom Photo: Chic Galleria

Party Details: Chic Holiday Dinner

Every year I host an annual holiday dinner for my closest friends. Here is my table from last year with a fresh, modern holiday look.  The color theme: green, white and silver. I arranged flowers in a revere bowl with berries and rosemary to add interest and texture along with roses, freesia and lilies. 

The tablecloth was made with Dwell Fabric I found on sale at FABRIC.COM

My favorite addition to the table are the bucks. Love them! I made collars out of boxwood from my mantle for an extra pop.

The place card holders I made with a glue gun and assorted Christmas balls.

The final touches: silver chargers, silver napkin rings and silver tapers. And the table was complete!

The menu: 

Assorted Cheeses and Crackers with Fig Jam 

Red and White Wines

Pork Loin with Chunky Apple Walnut Sauce RECIPE

Grantineed Acorn Squash from PRETTY PINK TULIPS

Arugula Salad

Gingerbread topped with Caramel Sauce, Ice Cream and Candied Pecans from LA DOLFINA 

Champagne (I always serve bubbly with dessert)

This year due to a work event the same day as the dinner, I am treating everyone to dinner out at one of Boston's best restaurants. Plenty of good food, holiday cheer and no cooking!