Holiday Entertaining

An At-Home Bar Upgrade

Mixing up at home cocktails with Garden & Gun and Blade and Bow
Filed Under > "Hostess with the Mostest"

I’ve always been a fan of a great at-home bar. I strongly believe it’s a must-learn life skill to mix up classic cocktails, and as an avid host, it’s important to provide an array of libations for your guests at a moment’s notice.

Now more than ever, with the amount of time we’re spending at home, a great home bar has truly become a necessity. While I have a few bar carts and drink stations set up around my home, nothing has upgraded the experience quite like my recently acquired Field Bar, a collaboration between Garden & Gun and Blade and Bow.

This bar is unlike any you’ve ever seen. Handcrafted in York, South Carolina, by the father-son team at Leake Furniture Makers, this expandable bar is made from cherry wood and brass. When closed, you’d have no idea what treasures are held inside: four crystal rocks glasses, a bar set by Lost Cove Jewelry, a custom throw and a custom set of napkins, both in Blade and Bow plaid. It’s also equipped with plenty of drawers and compartments to stow your other cocktail accouterments.

A true showstopper, the Field Bar reminds me of antique curio cabinets—the kind you would fold out to sit down and pen a letter. This is a true piece of art, but one that can travel. (When we’re allowed to travel again, that is).

If you’re looking for a last-minute holiday gift that’s sure to wow, put the Field Bar on your list. And don’t forget to add a bottle of Blade and Bow Bourbon as spirits aren’t included! Truly, MKR

In partnership with Garden & Gun, photography Kathryn McCrary

Gather: Your Field Guide to the Thanksgiving Season

A Clickable Guide from Waiting on Martha & Friends
Filed Under > Holiday Entertaining

Waiting on Martha's Thanksgiving Guide

With all of the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, sometimes you just want a one-stop guide for all your entertaining needs.  Since we like to think of Thanksgiving as basically our Super Bowl here at WOM, we find such joy (and maybe even an adrenaline rush!) in culling the best recipes and most beautiful details for the Big Day.

So let me introduce you to our gorgeous new Thanksgiving Guide, a clickable e-mag that features everything you need to host your own beautiful gathering.  In the guide, we’ve featured some of our most popular Thanksgiving recipes that are sure to please any crowd (hello green bean casserole!), along with our favorite hand-selected products to get the job done. 

But we’re not stopping there. Also in the guide, you’ll find my top five secrets to styling a stunning spread, along with a fool-proof entertaining timeline to ensure everything goes smoothly. We’re sharing our tasty menu, but be sure to download the printable menu to customize yours at home, along with the hand-lettered conversation cards and place cards by our girl Jenn Gietzen

Throughout the guide you’ll also find the smiling faces of some of our favorite tastemakers (big hugs to you all!); we invited them to weigh in with their own great entertaining tips and day-of essentials.  I think you’ll agree that our guide is jam-packed with all of the inspiration and takeaways you’ll need to host a very special gathering this year.  Check out the guide HERE and tell me,  who’s ready for Turkey Day?? Truly, MKR

Click to view: “Gather: Your Field Guide to The Thanksgiving Season

SHOP THE STORY / CLICK LEFT & RIGHT ARROWS TO EXPLORE

 

 

Cover image, Rustic White for Waiting on Martha 

A big thanks to our friends who taking part in our Thanksgiving Guide: Allyson Conklin, Anna Liesemeyer, Cassandra LaValle, Chassity Evans, Devon Cruse, Gaby Dalkin, Gray MalinJenn Gietzen, Kathryn McCrary and Rustic White

How to put together a Halloween Candy Board

A spooky and fun take on just what you can put on a "cheese" board
Filed Under > "Hostess with the Mostest"
halloween candy board

There are a lot of food and entertaining trends I CAN’T get behind, boards for everything is not one of them.

Collecting your classic cheese and charcuterie boards in all different shapes and sizes has become as popular as collecting matchbooks or blue and white chinoiserie pieces. Not only do these boards look gorgeous placed around your kitchen, but they’re extremely practical. Practical yes for your classic cheese plate obviously, but if you’re not thinking outside of the cheese board it’s time to start. And what better way than loading one with all the Halloween treats your stomach can handle for a Halloween Candy Board.

Crafting a Halloween Candy Board is truly easier than it looks. Personally, I like to start from the center and work my way out. Mix up colors and types of treats like chocolate pumpkins, cupcakes (I just added eyeballs to store bought cupcakes), homemade mallows, and cookies. For those local, Pum’s Sweets made these gorgeous mini sugar cookies!

Always include a bowl, or rather three if you’re doing more than one as odds always work better in this case. My pumpkin bowl is filled with a classic Autumn Mixture of mine, recipe coming on Friday! And if you feel like making your own bark I highly suggest this easy bark of mine. I make it every year!

Aesthetically make sure you’re angling treats all different directions so it doesn’t look like your Halloween Candy Board is tilting or moving in one specific direction. And try to make everything flow together so you have very few spaces or gaps showing. Lastly, have fun and don’t take it too seriously.

One more thought. I love a good grazing board as much as the next person, but based on everything that’s going on grazing is a no-no. To help make your Halloween Candy Board more socially distanced friendly grab plenty of inexpensive tongs and make sure everyone has their own that way they can pile the treats on their plate and simply place the tongs in a “dirty” bucket once they’re done for the evening. And grab some Halloween themed goodie bags so guests can take a few goodies home with them.

Happy Halloween friends, and if you need any Halloween decor ideas make sure to check out my favorite Halloween-themed post HERE! Truly, MKR

Photography Rustic WHite Interiors

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