Planning Tips

Practical tips and quick & easy menu ideas to pull off a last-minute watch party with just about an hour of prep time

Answers to reader-submitted questions about dining etiquette to help you navigate anything from a company dinner to a fancy first date

Practical ideas to make your home the most welcoming space for overnight visitors

Answers to all your questions about hosting Thanksgiving–whether it’s your first or 50th

Roundup of 24 Thankgiving dessert ideas you can proudly take along to as your holiday contribution or serve in your own Turkey Day spread!

Roundup of over a dozen tried-and-true Thanksgiving side dish suggestions, including traditional vegan, gluten-free, paleo side dish ideas

Y’all know I love to play hostess with the mostest any ol’ time but especially during the holiday season…which is now. I went into Trader Joe’s for wine a little over a week ago then just started grabbing things (I blame Katey McFarlan for piquing […]

I’m no Emily Post but I have picked up a few etiquette tips over the years. For starters, I grew up under the tutelage of a mother who went to an old-fashioned Southern finishing school. She stoked my interest in decorum and it stuck. I […]

I’ve helped put on two bridal showers this year and shared bits and pieces of the behind-the-scenes stuff on my Instagram. Firstly, thank y’all so much for all of your kind comments and positive feedback! I’ve gotten a number of questions about the planning and […]

This past weekend, I co-hosted my cousin’s bridal shower with seven other lovely bridesmaids. Many of y’all sent sweet messages or asked questions about the shower in general and I got lots of messages specifically about how I decorated her bridal shower chair so I […]

The 4th of July holiday weekend is upon us and, whether or not you celebrate, most everyone enjoys a color coordinated spread. No matter if you’re cooking out, pool-hopping, or wine-ding down with friends and family, I think a cheese board should be part of […]

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 Summer entertaining is much more fun and versatile because you suddenly don’t have to confine your gatherings to the indoors. Pool parties, patio dinners, and picnics […]

Easy tips for creating a DIY drink station at your next gathering + delicious combination ideas using Smirnoff, fresh fruit, herbs, and juices

Last week, I spent some time on the first day of spring eating lunch among fresh flowers and planting a miniature herb garden. It was as picturesque as you might imagine and there are plenty of pretty pictures in this post just in case your […]

Decor ideas, recipes, recommendations, and tips for a beautiful seasonal gathering

A simple DIY that serves as decor, an activity, and gifts for your guests to take home!

Valentine’s Day is on a weekday this year and, even when it fall on a weekend, many of us don’t want to be bothered with the hustle and bustle of dining out with millions of other couples. It’s kind of like last-minute Christmas shopping with […]

A simple twist on an old classic cocktail + 3 ways to step up your next champagne toast

S’mores are a campfire classic that have made their way into many different settings in the form of desserts, drinks, and more. There’s something about the original melty marshmallow, chocolate bar, and graham cracker combo, though. For this reason, I wanted to incorporate real s’mores […]

Because every party needs a next-level selfie situation

Because Thanksgiving dinner is never ready on time

Elevate your next host or hostess gift with affordable product recommendations and relevant recipe inspiration.

This post was sponsored by AT-A-GLANCE as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own. I’ve made Thanksgiving dinner for my family for the past few years now but this year marks the first since […]

Stay on top of your grownup correspondence with stationery for the modern girl–from bridals & babies, to #girlboss, to hostess with the mostest. Thank you to Basic Invite for sponsoring this post. As always, all opinions are my own. I touched on the importance of […]

I have been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and Tecate. All opinions are mine alone. The following content is intended for readers who are 21 or older. #CollectiveBias #TecateBornBold #Tecatepartner Ladies, fight night isn’t just for guys. And there are some great fights happening this […]

A look inside my living room, the details that make it entertaining-friendly, and tips I followed to decorate it on a budget. About eight months into homeownership, the living room is finally to my liking. I’d describe the style of this room as feminine, warm, […]

This At-Home Wine Bar post has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. As always, all opinions are my own. The following content is intended for readers who are 21 or older. #SipsofSummer #CollectiveBias The purpose of creating a wine bar like this […]

My appreciation for wine has grown immensely over the years. I latched on to moscato and pink moscato sweet whites in college and, while I do still enjoy a good riesling or gewurztraminer, dry reds have been my primary jam for the last few years. I’ve learned about […]

How to Host Mother’s Day brunch complete with menu, flowers, and DIY decor to wow the mother or mothers in your life. My great-grandmother, grandmother, mother, and I are/were each the oldest of our siblings. We also look so much alike–especially in the same stages […]

Ideas for creating a quick and delicious spread of easy snacks for last-minute guests in your home. It’s not a secret that I love to entertain. If you give me the tiniest bit of notice that you’re stopping by the house, I’ll have a mini […]

This post is inspired by the upcoming 109th Founders’ Day of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, which is the oldest historically black sorority, founded by a group of visionary women on January 15, 1908 at Howard University. With sisterhood and all things magical in mind, […]

Christmas is just over a week away and New Year’s Eve is right after that so I thought I’d share some recipes that have become my go-tos when entertaining. These are easy appetizers and cocktails I’ve shared on the blog before, rounded up into one […]

Pick a Theme This gives both you and your guests a point of focus for everything from food to decorations to attire. A simple theme makes it easier to make decisions and prioritize expenses, menu items, and timing of your gathering. Is this a costume […]

Edible Arrangements has nothing on this girl here, y’all. I have been making and gifting fruit bouquets and centerpieces for a few years now and it is such a special way to dress up an event or make someone feel appreciated. People always love them! […]

My mom has taught me a lot of things about making a home festive and welcoming for the holidays. One of the most important lessons is that it can be done on a budget! Y’all have probably already heard me mention my frugal ways in previous […]

What girl doesn’t enjoy playing in makeup on some level? I definitely do! And, thanks to YouTube gurus, I’ve gotten pretty good at beating my own face over the years. One thing I know to be challenging for a lot of us is sustaining a look for the duration of […]

Y’all know that I am all about home cooking and DIY solutions, but sometimes you might want to give yourself or someone else a break. I recently discovered that La Madeleine has lots of great options for the holiday season and thought it would be helpful information to share. […]

A few lessons from the French on how to build a cheese board whether you’re making a snack or throwing a party, start with this beginner’s cheese board. The holiday season is nearly here. Although, if you enjoy entertaining like I do, the subject of […]