Holidays 2017: New Years

Night Before New Years Eve Party
For the last five years my mother and I have hosted a “Night Before” New Years Eve party at our ranch partly inspired by Jeffrey Katzenberg’s “Night Before” the Oscars party. Though his party is all about raising money for The Motion Picture and Television Fund, ours is more about the avoidance of hosting a big New Year’s Eve bash and all that that entails. The night before the big ball drop doesn’t hold quite the same pressure for off the charts merry making and allows for a quieter, more relaxed friends and family vibe. We’re still celebrating the season and ushering in a New Year with joy and laughter just without all the popping champagne bottles, riotous countdowns and forced smooching. I look forward to it every year and start planning menus and decor early November.Continue Reading

July 4th 2017

July 4th Feast
I wasn’t able to get this post together in time to help inspire party plans for those of you celebrating the 4th of July this year, but decided it’s never too late to share the pictures, ideas and recipes of a successful celebration! Continue Reading

Shrubalicious

Our ranch manager recently told me she and her husband love to use vinegar shrubs as a mixer in their cocktails. The subject came up because I had been telling her that I recently started drinking apple cider vinegar in water to help with the pregnancy indigestion I had been suffering from. When she mentioned the shrubs I looked at her blankly and asked “What the hell is a vinegar shrub?” Continue Reading