Fall, Hosting & Entertaining, Spring, Summer, Winter · May 19, 2025

A Quick Guide to Two Popular White Wines: Sauvignon Blanc vs Pinot Grigio

This post offers a quick guide to Sauvignon Blanc vs Pinot Grigio!

Do you consider yourself a white wine person? I must tell you — white wine allllways makes an appearance at my gatherings. Whether or not you identify as such, if you’ve ever stood in the wine aisle feeling a bit overwhelmed or just wishing for a bit more insight (we’ve all been there!), I think you’ll find this post helpful.

Let’s break down the difference between these two crowd-pleasers — Sauvignon Blanc vs Pinot Grigio — in an accessible way so you can make an informed decision about what to pour into your (and your guests’!) glass!

Understanding just a little bit about wine can go a long way. This quick guide is intended to help you feel more confident in choosing something you and your guests will enjoy without overwhelming you. This may serve as a quick refresher for you, or maybe it’s brand new info which you can build upon later if you so please.

Now, on to the good stuff!

Let’s Get to Know These Lovely Dry White Wines

Both Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio are refreshing white wines that work beautifully for entertaining while bringing something special to your gathering.

Sauvignon Blanc — bringing the vibrance!

Sauvignon Blanc is believed to have originated in France, but has since found homes in New Zealand, California, Chile, and South Africa. I truly enjoy Sauvignon Blanca from all of these regions with each one featuring its own nuance. You are very likely to see this lovely white from New Zealand’s Marlborough region often in stores and on menus. Sauvignon Blancs from this region have a really distinctive zingy personality we’ve come to love.

Notes you are likely to taste:

Bright citrus (think grapefruit and lime)
Green apple crispness
Tropical notes like passion fruit or guava
Fresh herbs and grassiness like lemongrass
A refreshing, zippy finish

Sauvignon Blanc is like that outgoing friend who brings great energy to every gathering – vibrant, expressive, and impossible to ignore!

Pinot Grigio — bringing the charm!

Pinot Grigio (in Italy) and Pinot Gris (in France), found its most famous expression in northern Italy. The same grape takes on a slightly different personality when grown in Alsace, France or Oregon – a little fun fact to share when you’re pouring!

Notes you are likely to taste:

Subtle pear and apple notes
Delicate lemon
Sometimes a touch of almond
Light floral hints
A clean, refreshing finish

If we’re likening Pinot Grigio to a friend, it’s your easygoing friend who effortlessly fits in anywhere – adaptable, pleasant, and universally liked!

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How to Serve Each Wine

Entertaining with Sauvignon Blanc

While Sauvignon Blanc is one of my “go tos”, I find it to be a great fit for:

Spring & summer gatherings
Appetizer spreads featuring goat cheese, feta, or ricotta
Seafood meals and sushi (loved it with our Moules Frites menu!)
Salad-centered meals with vinaigrette dressings
Thai-inspired dinner parties (it’s a beautiful pairing with those bold flavors)

Serving tip: Serve Sauvignon Blanc nice and cold (but not too cold so you can taste the notes!), around 45-50°F. A pretty wine bucket filled with ice makes both a functional and decorative addition to your tablescape!

Entertaining with Pinot Grigio

Pinot Grigio is a lovely pairing as:

Welcome drinks when guests first arrive given it’s approachability
Light pasta nights with neighbors or friends
Afternoon garden parties
Seafood risotto dinners
Cheese and charcuterie boards with mild cheeses

Serving tip: While Pinot Grigio should be served chilled, it shows its best at around 45-55°F – just slightly less cold than your refrigerator temperature. Taking it out about 10 minutes before serving is perfect!

Seasonal + Simple Prosecco Cocktails

Sauvignon Blanc vs Pinot Grigio: How to Choose for Your Gathering

I’ve developed a little mental checklist to help me decide between Sauvignon Blanc vs Pinot Grigio when hosting a get together. If I want to be intentional about the experience and/or the pairing, I take note of the following:

Sauvignon Blanc is a great fit when:

Your menu features herbs, citrus, or vibrant flavors
You want a conversation-starting wine with distinctive character
The gathering is energetic and lively
You’re serving dishes with some acidity (like tomato-based plates)
Your guests enjoy trying bold, expressive wines

Pinot Grigio is a great fit when:

You need a crowd-pleasing option that most everyone will enjoy – this light wine is agreeable for just about anyone
Your menu features delicate flavors which you don’t want to overwhelm
You’re looking for versatility with various dishes
The occasion is relaxed and easy-going
You’re not sure about everyone’s wine preferences

Adding a Personal Touch

If you are looking for an easy conversation piece, consider creating a simple wine card for the table. You can write the name of the wine with 2-3 tasting notes for each, place it next to its corresponding bottle. This adds a lovely touch and gives guests something to chat about, whether they know a lot or a little about wine.

The Perfect Pairings for Sauvignon Blanc vs Pinot Grigio

Fortunately, food and wine pairings doesn’t have to be complicated or complex. Here are some go-to combinations to consider for your next gathering:

Sauvignon Blanc Pairings:

Herb-roasted chicken with lemon
Goat cheese crostini with honey and thyme
Summer salads with citrus vinaigrette
Grilled fish tacos with avocado crema
Asparagus risotto (Sauvignon Blanc is one of the few wines that works with asparagus!)

Pinot Grigio Pairings:

Caprese skewers with basil and balsamic glaze
Creamy garlic shrimp pasta
Margherita flatbreads (fun, easy, customizable)
Light vegetable quiche
Simple grilled chicken with garden herbs

A Little Wine Wisdom for Your Next Gathering

Truly, the best wine is always the one you enjoy! These guidelines are just starting points – your personal preference is what matters most. I’ve found that having both a Sauvignon Blanc and a Pinot Grigio on hand for gatherings ensures everyone finds a dry white they will enjoy.

Do you have a preference between Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio? Or perhaps you appreciate both depending on the occasion? Do share!

Cin cin!

More wine + hosting inspired posts which may be of interest to you:

Hosting an Elevated Wine Tasting Birthday Party

What Wine for Blue Cheese? A Simple Pairing Guide

This post was a quick guide to Sauvignon Blanc vs Pinot Grigio.

Fall, Hosting & Entertaining, Spring, Summer, Winter · May 5, 2025

The Ultimate Soccer Themed Birthday Party

This post is all about hosting a soccer themed birthday!

It’s soccer birthday time!

If your child is anything like my son, they are soccer obsessed! Anyone who knows my now-9-year-old associates him with all things soccer and Lionel Messi (he received an 800 page Messi memoir as a gift!). For that reason, he wanted a soccer themed birthday party this year. I’m sharing all the details in hopes that they are helpful to you in your planning! Let’s gooooooo!

Let’s Go! felt soccer pennant

Soccer Themed Birthday Planning

Our first step in the process was deciding where to host the party. My son has had parties out of the home the last few years, so we decided we wanted something more low key and affordable than spending hundreds of dollars on a venue, and then more on food, decor, etc. For this reason, we decided to host at home (and ended up with 10 boys at the house!).

It helps me to understand the thought process / brainstorming that goes into planning — I enjoy when others share their process, so I thought I would offer the same here for you in case you also find it helpful.

Brainstorming for the soccer party:

I wanted to use a lot of what we have for the decor. I have found that over the years I’ll purchase decor items and then they sit around in hopes that I’ll use them again (Minecraft, farming, Nerf…). This year I took the time to comb through my son’s soccer themed bedroom for decor items the weeks prior to his birthday and stored them all together in one place. This made it really easy for me to access them the weekend of the party. In years prior, especially since I have small children, it often felt easier to buy decorations for every party so I didn’t have to go digging around. This year I challenged myself to think about this differently.

I eased up on the pressure I put on myself to make the party look a specific way. This is always a challenge for me (maybe you too?), but I’ve gotten exponentially better over the years. I remind myself of several things: this party is for a 9 year old boy and his friends — they could care less what it looks like. They just want to bounce around the house and have a blast together. While I want the party to feel special to my son, my idea of special vs. his idea of special are different.

Now, on to the party itself!

Soccer Birthday Party Ideas

trophies I soccer balls I turf I confetti (purchased & forgot to use)

Initially, this one felt a little tricky as my husband and I were thinking through potential activities for the kids. My son’s birthday is in the wintertime and we also have a very small yard, so we couldn’t have the boys play soccer for most of the party. While we initially planned for the boys to play soccer for part of the party (my son will play soccer in the snow, rain, or sleet — you name it), there was a huge sheet of thick ice over our patio and yard from a previous storm. This particular year my son also had an indoor soccer game the day of his party, so we held a late afternoon event.

Messi tapestry I mini Argentina flags

Here are the activity options we came up with for the party, knowing the kids may get bored with some quicker than others, or that they may not get through them all:

Outside soccer complete with goals, a glow soccer ball, pinnies, lights, and Daddy as ref.
Guess the team logo: super easy. The boys separated into teams and guessed the logo via a YouTube clip that my son had found. The clip featured the logo of a team on the screen with a countdown timer and that was that! Winners won a a little package of trading cards, these cute soccer candies, and soccer stickers.
Guess the flag: We didn’t get to this one, but it would have been fun. We have the The World Game after friends introduced us to it and we had a blast with it. Our plan was to either find a YouTube clip in the same vein as the one above, but with flags from various countries, or just using the flag via cards on The World Game.
Who knows the birthday boy best: This was super cute and made my son feel very special. We came up with a bunch of reasonable questions about my son and I created a handout via Canva. I had my son answer the questions ahead of time and then his friends answered them at the party once dinner was winding down. It was really cute to hear everyone’s answers and see who truly did know him best. The boys were hilarious with some of their guesses and were all good sports.
Trading card station: Fun and easy! The cool thing about this one is that you could get really creative if you were up for it. I had saved some large boxes leading up to the party, as I was planning to make a booth with a fun sign. It didn’t end up happening, so I just laid the boxes on the ground like a table, threw this soccer table cloth over it and we were good to go!
FIFA soccer video games: An easy option that requires no explanation!
Foosball: We have a small foosball game that we setup on the table after dinner. This worked really well for the kids who didn’t want to play video games, were waiting for a turn, or just wanted to switch things up.
MLS game: There was a Major League Soccer game on TV during the latter part of the evening. We kept this in mind in case we wanted to switch over to this, especially because the team was one of my son’s favorites. Another option would be to put on a clip of the “Best Soccer Highlights” or something of the sort based on your child’s interests.
Colored lights and custom playlist: We installed these lights (they were super easy and are changed via an app) after being inspired by them at our friend’s house. We planned to turn them on to rotating colors during the later half of the party and had my son’s custom soccer playlist ready to go to give this the party vibe.
Tattoos and stickers on the table: simply throw bulk soccer stickers and tattoos on the dinner table for another thing for the kids to do.

Sophisticated Soccer Themed Bedroom Ideas

Soccer Themed Birthday Invitations

We kicked off the birthday with a soccer themed birthday invitation, of course. Here are a few options if you’re looking to do the same:

While I love (and have in the all previous years) handing out paper invitations, it has become a challenge because my son is not allowed to hand them out in class anymore (unless the entire class is invited). So, this year we just went with a digital version which I texted to parents, which is the norm around here. Is it the same for you?

Soccer Party Favors

Fortunately, this one ended up being very easy. My son is very into trading cards right now (there’s been a boom since COVID apparently), so we bought packs for each child: they each received soccer, football, and Pokemon cards. This worked out nicely because those who didn’t have a ton of cards got to use those to trade during the party. Since one of the soccer themed activities was “trading cards”, this made the favor more dynamic. Plus, the kids love to see what they “pull” in their packs.

We went to a local sports store which sells these trading cards. If you don’t have a local store, you can certainly by them online. My husband also made a trip to a flea market which has Pokémon cards in bulk which are very reasonably priced. We broke those down into packs and handed out the extras to the game winners. This was an affordable way to incorporate Pokémon, which I had initially nixed given that the kids already were giving several other packs as favors! Also, it really came in handy when there ended up being a bunch of winners — I didn’t need to calculate a specific amount of winners per game.

Soccer Birthday Plates & Table Items

These adorable plates are from Meri Meri. If you’re shopping via Amazon, you can click the picture. If you would like to purchase or view the listing directly from Meri Meri, you can click on the brand name.

soccer cups I soccer napkins I soccer candle by age

I decided to add a little more interest to the table by using a green paper plate underneath the soccer plate. Coupled with the seagrass chargers I had on hand, both broke up the soccer ball patterns from the tablecloth and the soccer plate.

Here’s another great soccer plate option from My Mind’s Eye which boasts a bit of a different style with a scalloped edge.

I highly recommend scouring a home goods store for various paper goods and party decorations. I do this in the weeks leading up to a birthday because they typically have great finds which are obviously reasonably priced. It’s also just so nice to hold things in your hand and visualize the item on the table or in the room. That’s how I found the fun “Let’s Go!” pennants — it was superbowl time and I was able to utilize them the party!

Wrapping up our soccer themed birthday party extravaganza…

We made one room really soccer heavy (our dining room) with the items we shared here. I added green balloons and soccer balloons (which we had on hand) because I think balloons really make a party feel like a party — for kids and adults alike! If you incorporate balloons, be sure to add 2-3 outside the door to your home. This gets the birthday child excited, as well as the guests!

Okay, now it’s your turn! Have a wonderful time planning your child’s soccer themed birthday party and be sure to share any other fun or helpful tips and ideas if you’re open to doing so. We’d love to hear from you!

More hosting inspired posts you may enjoy:

Garden Party Inspiration & Tips for the Host

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Hosting & Entertaining, Summer, Summer, Summer · April 21, 2025

10 Bright & Fresh Cocktails for Summer

This post is all about fresh cocktails for summer!

Introducing Bright, Summertime Fresh Cocktails

During a beautiful summer day there’s nothing quite like a fresh cocktail on the porch or in the garden. I don’t know about you, but given the season I want to feel like I’m drinking summer from a glass – give me watermelon, give me tropical, give me a fun margarita! Fortunately, our curated list of 10 fresh cocktails features these bright flavors, offering a fun spin on the classics.

Cheers to summer sipping!

Fresh Cocktails Perfect for the Summer Season

1. Tropical Strawberry Hibiscus Rum Smash

Yum yum, gimme some! This Tropical Strawberry Hibiscus Rum Smash features dried hibiscus flowers, fresh mint, and tropical fruits. I love when a fresh cocktail is packed with ingredients of the season — I find it both grounding and celebratory to be anchored in the “now” in this way.

2. The Colada Sunrise Recipe

The Colada Sunrise is a twist on a classic piña colada, with the addition of mango and grenadine. Doesn’t it look stunning in the glass?! If you’re in the mood for something tropical, this is it.

3. Watermelon Lime Gin & Tonic

Carolina Galen has the best recipes. This watermelon lime gin and tonic cocktail combines fresh watermelon and lime with fragrant mint (maybe straight from your garden or a pot in your kitchen?) – it’s a beautifully balanced drink with a tajín rim that’s both fresh and bright. What’s more, the ingredients are easily found during peak summer months.

Seasonal + Simple Prosecco Cocktails

4. Peach Paloma

I love a good paloma. They are easy and classic, and we often make them with mezcal in our house. This peach paloma is super duper simple. Simply take the traditional paloma ingredients (grapefruit juice, tequila, and lime juice), give them a stir or a shake, and top with a natural peach soda.

If you have ripe peaches on hand, you could certainly garnish this beautiful fresh cocktail with them, or give them a squeeze to drain the peach nectar. The nectar would be beautiful with a little tequila, topped with club or peach soda.

5. Aperol Coconut Margarita

I did say I love a fun margarita! Also, Aperol. While it took me a while to accept that I love an Aperol Spritz, I’m all in now. And while I’m not a huuugeee coconut fan (are you?), I do enjoy it in the summertime and love that it’s in the form of coconut milk in this fresh summer cocktail, which adds a touch of creaminess. This Aperol Coconut Margarita makes me feel like I’m basking in sunshine while planning a trip abroad.

6. Creamsicle Prosecco Floats

Oh goodness. Are creamsicles nostalgic for you? While creamsicles may ring some childhood notes for some of us, for others they may simply be a beautiful, creamy, way to refresh. These Creamsicle Prosecco Floats are crazy easy — one scoop of vanilla ice cream, one scoop of orange sherbet, top with Prosecco and garnish. I love a drink that feels special, but is not at all overwhelming when it comes to the recipe.

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7. Spicy Pineapple Coconut Cocktail

This Spicy Pineapple Coconut Cocktail gets its heat from ginger, which is such a nice balance to the pineapple. If you’re not a ginger fan, you could skip it and instead, muddle some mint in the glass to add some layers of flavor. Alternatively, if you want heat, but don’t want ginger, you could also muddle jalapeño in the shaker and strain it out when pouring into your glass. If you don’t like too much heat, just start with a little bit and avoid the seeds.

8. Pineapple Mango Rum Punch

I love cocktails that can be batched for a get together. This Pineapple Mango Rum Punch is clearly just beautiful, combining pineapple, coconut, mango, orange flavors with grenadine. If you are not a fan of a punch that’s on the sweeter side, this would be lovely with the addition of lime juice (the tartness will cut the sweetness of the juices) and topped with club soda.

9. Passionfruit & Elderflower “Wildest Dreams” Martini

This floral and fruity martini can be made with gin or vodka (based on your preference), and Baked By Claire includes many variations — one of which you’re bound to love if you’re a passionfruit and elderflower fan. My husband grew up with passionfruit so a passionfruit drink or dessert always catches my eye. With it’s bright, complex flavor profile, boasting both tartness and sweetness, it’s a well rounded flavor for a fresh summer cocktail.

Grab your favorite coupe glass and your cocktail shaker. As my kids would say, “LET’S GOOO!”

10. Pink Dragonfruit Pineapple Rum Fizz

This gorgeously hued pink cocktail in a highball glass is as easy as it is stunning (and can be batched). Simply combine pineapple juice, dragonfuit powder, and rum, and top with soda water (or club if that’s what you have on hand).

Did you find a fresh cocktail perfect for you during these summer months?

If you try one of these recipes or have your own favorite for fresh cocktails during the warm weather months, please share!

Whether boasting flavors native to you or simply a refreshing cocktail you enjoy, we would love to hear it. Cheers!

Other breezy summer entertaining posts which may be of interest to you:

Summer Entertaining Menu

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Hosting & Entertaining, Spring, Summer · April 7, 2025

10 Enchanting Garden Party Drinks

This post is all about garden party drinks!

There’s something so magical about gathering friends and family for a garden party. The flowers are blooming, the weather is inviting, and we’re ready to celebrate! As we know, the right drink, or garden cocktail, can transform any experience. So, let’s elevate the atmosphere into an enchanting social occasion with fresh flavors and beautiful, yet simple, presentation!

And, at Peony Lane & Co. we like options, so we’ve included both hand shaken cocktails and punches to fit your needs:

Elevated Garden Party Drinks (by the glass)

1. Garden Party Cocktail

This Garden Party Cocktail (aptly named) by Love Happy Hour is loaded with warm weather flavors. It features Empress Gin which is a beautiful shade of indigo, as well as violette liquor (which is easier to find than it may seem), and even rose water. This does need to be hand shaken, as it uses egg white (sub aquafaba if you’re not a fan) so that’s something to consider depending on the size of your party.

2. Lemon Herb Spring Garden Margarita

If you are looking for a unique, elevated garden party drink, this is it. At first glance, the ingredient list for this speciality margarita may seem a teensy bit intimidating and while this recipe may require a few more steps than a few of the others, the steps themselves are not hard, and the ingredients are all very easily sourced. Fun fact – this recipe could also be batched to make your life easier. I think OhCarlene knocked it out of the part with this one!

3. Lavender Rose Fizz Cocktail

This Lavender Rose Fizz Cocktail features layers of flavor from the garden — we’ve got an interplay of lavender, rose, and rosemary — just gorgeous! Egg white creates a beautiful layer of foam, which you could always sub with aquafaba if that’s your preference.

4. Limoncello Martini

This limoncello martini is so bright with a *touch* of floral from the elderflower liqueur. And, in classic martini form, this drink is nearly all alcohol, so just be mindful as limoncello is sooo easy to sip. Sunshine in a stemmed glass right here! (Batch this one for a larger gathering if you’d like and you could always add club soda to taste.)

5. Spring Fling Cocktail

Boasting a gorgeous spring green shade, this spring fling cocktail includes fresh cucumber & basil, chartreuse liqueur, gin, and a few other accessible ingredients. Could you imagine a cheerful garden party with this delicious drink in hand? Stunning.

6. Tomato Spritz

Fresh, ripe tomatoes in a cocktail? Ummm… it’s a yes for me and I’m not even a big tomato person. In this tomato spritz cocktail recipe, tomatoes are muddled and joined by fresh basil, Lillet, St. Germain, sparkling wine, and a few drops of olive oil (optional). I love how creative this is — garden party guests will be so intrigued! Also, isn’t this such a creative way to use up that bounty of tomatoes during the summertime?!

Garden Party Inspiration & Tips for the Host

Enchanting Garden Party Drinks: Punches/Batched

7. Elderflower Gin Punch

This punch from The English Home is pretty ding dang simple. It features gin, elderflower syrup, lemon juice, optional Angostura orange bitters, and a sparkling white wine topper. Easy garnish suggestions are also included to up the beautiful ante — we’ve got ourselves a winner here!

8. Lavender Gin Lemonade

Super duper simple. This recipe is literally in keeping with its name — it calls for gin, lavender syrup, lemon juice, & club soda. While Another Cocktail Blog does have a recipe, I would recommend batching this (to taste) and topping with club soda so guests can pour their own. You could certainly sub vodka for gin, and leave out the lavender if that’s not your favorite flavor — you could just garnish with it. The choice is yours!

9. Sparkling Mediterranean Rosé Punch

Sparkling Mediterranean Rosé Punch is the bright garden party punch you need in your life! Featuring Aperol, vermouth, grapefruit juice, and rosé, this is so vibrant and cheerful. I’m a sucker for a rosé cocktail or punch, especially in the warmer weather months and this one transports you in the best possible way.

10. Summertime Rosé Tequila Sangria

Summertime Rosé Tequila Sangria feels so on point for a garden party cocktail to me. Sangria – check. Rosé – check. Tequila? Check. Add some ripe fresh produce and basil, lime juice, sparkling water, and agave or simple syrup and you’re good to go!

Seasonal + Simple Prosecco Cocktails

Simple Tips To Elevate Garden Party Drinks

Grab some edible flowers or herbs and freeze them in ice cubes — regular or cocktail sized cubes. You can either use these ice cubes in a cocktail, or in a decorative container to keep wine chilled. Simple, yet adds a special touch. Even though this is obviously a super simple process, A Classic Twist has a great blog outlining this if it’s helpful to you:
Place a small pot of herbs next to your drink station (if you have one), along with simple cloth or paper napkins. This adds an extra touch of “garden”, color, and olfactory pleasure!
If your garden themed occasion is a bit more casual, considering having a wine charm or marker available to denote which glass belongs to whom.
Clear glassware is so beautiful for events such as this, given that there’s often a lot of color already through the tablecloth, napkins, flowers, and other decor. But, feel free to add even more color with a beautifully hued wine or cocktail glass. You truly cannot go wrong with either. Vintage mismatched picks from a thrift store would also be beautiful given the garden party theme.
If you’re using something other than a fridge to chill your wine, get creative. I’ve used enamel bowls, traditional wine buckets, and brass containers such as this one which I used to chill wine for our Garden Party Birthday:
Add butterfly pea powder to water and freeze to use as cocktail cubes. This will create a beautiful change of color in your guest’s drink as they sip.

From hand crafted garden party drinks to batched creations, we hope this list has inspired your menu for your next garden party! The great thing about a punch or a cocktail is the ability to swap ingredients and flavors based on your preference and what you have on hand. Allow yourself to get creative and taste test your favorites. Above all, make it a point to enjoy your guests’ company, great food + drink, and your outdoor space!

More festive food + drink inspiration:

10 Beautiful & Easy Spring Cocktails

The Best Spring Cheese for Your Board: A Simple Guide

Fall, Lifestyle, Spring, Summer, Winter · March 24, 2025

The Very Best Books About Cheese

This post is all about the best books about cheese!

For those of us who love cheese and want to learn more, or simply to display our love of fromage around the home, here’s a thorough, but not lengthy, list of great books about cheese. If you happen to be in need of a gift, any of these would great for a cheese lover (pair with a beautiful local cheese to up the ante)!

The Best Books About Cheese for Beginners & Intermediates

Cheese Illustrated is a small book filled with very helpful information. I really love it for it’s ease (and beautiful cover!). This helpful primer is organized by location/region. When you’re looking to pair cheese with a wine from the same region, this really comes in handy, as you know the saying goes, “If it grows together, it goes together!” This lovely hardcover book includes a beautiful illustration of each cheese (hence the name), as well as some helpful notes, descriptions, and suggested pairings.

The Art of the Cheese Plate is just beautiful. It really covers so much and features simply but beautifully styled cheeses and pairings on unique platters, dishes, offering a great variety of color stories. Featuring all the best cheeses, you will feel rich with information, recipes, and knowledge with this cheese book in your hands, though not overwhelmed.

The Cheese Wheel is a fun, easy guide profiling 110 various cheeses, including how to pair them with a drink, as well as which cheeses complement each other on a board. This author, Emma Young, is so knowledgable — she has touched all areas of cheese as a cheesemonger, cheese maker and even a cheese judge! In this book, she also outlines for the reader how to discern one’s personal likes and dislikes, which I think is a cool feature.

Madame Fromage’s Adventure’s in Cheese is just. so. fun! Tenaya Darlington manages to bring so much whimsy and joy to cheese education. She covers everything from the history of cheese, to “choose your own adventure” cheeseboards, to styles of cheese, and all the tips, tricks, and hints in between.

The Best Spring Cheese for Your Board: A Simple Guide

Cheese, Sex, Death is a playful and informative take on the world of cheese. Erika Kubick is so creative in her approach to educating her readers about cheese and she also has a really great Instagram account full of fun tips and pairings. With Cheese, Sex, Death you will learn about a range of cheeses and how to create a delectable cheese plate based on various buildable elements. Recipes included!

The New Rules of Cheese offers a lot of helpful modern etiquette for cheese. It’s organized by the following categories: buying cheese, serving & eating cheese, as well as rules that apply in the making of cheese. The author is a down to earth cheesemonger who brings her personality to her writing which makes this a really easy and accessible read.

Other Cool Books About Cheese

Cheese, Wine, and Bread is a book about Katie Quinn’s journey throughout Europe serving as an apprentice in England (cheese), Italy (wine), & France (bread). If you’re someone who enjoys living through others’ experiences living abroad while they explore food and culture, this one is for you.

Cheese and Culture weaves together the very rich history of cheese through expanding upon cheese making over many centuries. Through this beautiful book we learn how cultural and societal events effect cheese making process through the experience of the cheese scientist. For those of us who appreciate how culture influences food and how food influences culture, this one is a worthy read.

This Cheese Log Book is simply a reminder to make a simple record of your cheeses if that’s an enjoyable experience for you! This is also a fun gift for the cheese lover. You could also make your own record or ask your local cheese shop or cheese counter if they have a complimentary one they can give you. If you live near a Wegmans, check with the cheese counter — they do have cute little booklets they hand out.

Do you have a “best books about cheese” list of your own? If so, please feel free to share a favorite with our community in the comments — we always love hearing everyone’s suggestions — together, we’re such an awesome wealth of knowledge!

More cheese + gift idea inspiration:

What Wine for Blue Cheese? A Simple Pairing Guide

23 of the Most Perfect Gifts for Hosts When Traveling (by plane or car!)

10 Tasteful + Quick Hostess Gift Ideas

Hosting & Entertaining, Spring · March 11, 2025

Garden Party Inspiration & Tips for the Host

This post is all about garden party inspiration!

Is there a better event than one that’s centered around the garden? Beautiful hues, fresh flowers, pleasant music and outstanding weather — what more could we ask for?! If you are planning, or would love to host, a garden party themed get together, we hope you will find some elevated yet accessible inspiration here. Garden party inspiration for the host is underway!

Decorating for a Garden Party

When deciding how to create your table, focus on a color story that pairs with the season and the fresh flowers accessible to you.

Garden Party Themes: Color Story

For example, if it’s summertime, you may want to choose bolder shades like touches of fuschia, bright yellow, blues, warm reds, etc. In the springtime, pastels are always an apt choice. If you have a garden, you could use the floral hues available to you to inspire the tablecloth, dishware, and the like.

Fresh Flowers

For any garden themed party, fresh flowers are ideal. Certainly, your local market or grocer will have fresh flowers, a neighbor’s yard, or more budget friendly options like Produce Junction are all considerations. You could also purchase small pots (or larger ones) from your local nursery to sit on the table and then plant or gift after your event.

Start with a tablecloth — vintage works beautifully here if that’s your style. For this birthday garden party, I used a block print style tablecloth which boasts my two favorite colors: pink & green, which both celebrate the spring season beautifully.

I then focused on the flowers in bloom in my garden during May, which were peonies and lilacs — two of my absolute favorites. Also, as we all know, their perfume is such a treat.

And while I don’t have any lily of the valley in my yard due to their toxicity to children, I love to celebrate this flower in the spring season, so I represented it in other ways: through antique glassware, my earrings (!), a letterpress card, and a tiered stand I found on Ebay.

Once I had chosen the vases for the flowers and had an idea of where I was going to arrange them for height on the table, I chose my platters which fit the color story. I also played around with some smaller vases and other decorative items to amplify the floral and springtime feel.

Garden Party Ideas: Decorative Touches

Because this was a garden party inspired birthday for my daughter, I made this “1” from a wooden “1” I bought at a craft store. I hot glued dried moss and baby’s breath as a simple decor item to fit the theme.

For favors, I made these simple and lovely handheld ribbon wands.

This party in particular was meant to be held outside, but we had an unseasonably hot day in May — it was humid and in the 90s! I don’t have great shade in my yard, so I, regretfully, moved the garden party inside. Fortunately, it was still a beautiful celebration which felt very garden-centered, so don’t let the weather stop you if the same thing happens to you.

Garden Party Inspiration: Food & Drink

For this event we went with finger foods one might have at a picnic, but slightly elevated. We had a cheese plate as an appetizer and our main menu consisted of mini croissant sandwiches, scones & croissants with lemon curd and clotted cream, tuna tartines with frisée, and open faced cucumber sandwiches. I also threw together Manchego truffle potato chips because they are easy and beloved. We needed a chip with our sandwich bites!

You may be interested in:

The Best Spring Cheese for Your Board: A Simple Guide

Because I was hosting and also tending to a baby who is content to only be held by me, we went with wine for this event, though there are many cocktails which would be such a great fit. I chose a sparkling rosé (Sparkling Summer Water) because it felt celebratory and perfect with the color palate and the season, as well as a still rosé and a dry white. For those who did not want an alcoholic drink, we had lemonade in glass bottles.

For an extra touch of color and interest, I froze strawberries and slices of lemons and limes in the ice I used to chill the wine. Frozen edible flowers would be beautiful as well.

You may be interested in:

10 Beautiful & Easy Spring Cocktails

And lastly, this was a birthday, so our dessert was cake-centric. We had a large birthday cake, as well as these beautiful tiny cakes in pale pastel shades. This was a fun offering, as we were able to try various flavors.

Ideas for a Garden Party Theme

While there are many ways you can get creative with a garden party theme, here are a few tips which may be a helpful baseline in your planning process:

Decide which flowers are in-season, accessible, and meet your budget. You do not need to be overloaded with flowers — just a few small glass vases down the center of the table with buds and greenery will do the trick.
Based on your flowers, choose the color story for the rest of your event, including the tablecloth or table runner, napkins, dishware and platter.
Determine if you would like your event to be a sit down meal or if you will be serving handheld options. This will offer you guidance regarding the menu and the table.
Drinks should feature seasonal options. You can have one or two signature cocktails, or a prepared cocktail / punch / sangria. Be mindful of how much work you want to be doing while your guests are present and decide the drink options from there. Elderflower drinks, lemonades, spritzers, and iced teas are all great options which can be served simply or offered with various flavor profiles.

And there you have it — some simple garden party inspiration for your next event. If you have any other ideas or have hosted your own garden party event, I would love to hear them!

More hosting + entertaining inspiration you may enjoy:

Seasonal + Simple Prosecco Cocktails

Hosting an Elevated Wine Tasting Birthday Party

Home Decor, Lifestyle · February 18, 2025

Sophisticated Soccer Themed Bedroom Ideas

This post is all about creating a unique and sophisticated soccer themed bedroom!

My son lives and breathes soccer. Are your kids the same? When we decided to re-do his room from a “little boy” room into a “big boy” room, we leaned into a soccer theme, but I wanted something sophisticated. To do this, I considered my son’s favorite colors & soccer teams and found what I consider to be a nice balance to create a big boy, sophisticated soccer themed bedroom. I hope you’ll find some inspiration here with the tips below to guide your own space!

Soccer Themed Bedroom Overview

My son not only loves soccer, he loves the GOAT, Lionel Messi. We’re happy to support this obsession because, as far as we can tell, Messi is a stand-up guy. So, I decided to pull from Messi’s legendary Argentinian heritage to use a shade of blue similar to that of the flag and the national Argentinian soccer team. You can see the blue on the trim of the windows, as well as the mini Argentinian flag tucked in the fern. It took me a long time to get this color right. At first I color matched a paint that reminded me of the walls of the Sunday School room in the basement of the church I attended growing up. While those were pleasant memories for me, it wasn’t exactly the vibe I was going for.

I tried to color match this throw rug several times to get the shade right. Apparently, because there are shades of cream that show through (however slightly), they had a hard time getting it to the blue shade I wanted. To solve my problem, I ended up taking some of the paint color I chose for the walls, a warm white from Benjamin Moore, and mixing it in to get the closest to the shade I had in mind. After four attempts back and forth from the store, I finally called it quits and went with my custom blend.

Because my son’s favorite color is red, I knew I had to incorporate it somewhere, but I didn’t want it to overwhelm the room (it’s small). I also wanted a deeper shade of red, so it would be a bit more elevated and a little less jarring than primary red.

Once I found the 1998 World Cup poster pictured above on Etsy, I ended up color matching the red from this poster so I could paint the frame. I felt it was important to pull the red in elsewhere in the room to help anchor the color. There is a small bulletin board above my son’s desk (not pictured) which I painted this same shade of red, as well as this wicker piece which serves as his nightstand.

soccer decor — Sweet little wicker nightstand

The World Cup poster ended up serving as a guide for the colors in the room. In the poster, you can see that there are two shades of blue, red, green, and yellow. I found all these colors to be joyful for a child’s bedroom and easy to incorporate. As I noted, I used the warm white for the walls because I wanted to balance the brighter hues. To tie the room together in terms of the color story, I chose (and consulted with my son) specific soccer balls to hang on the walls. We have four floating above my son’s desk (not pictured) and three near his bed.

Soccer Themed Bedroom Decor Ideas

My son loves to find gold or antique brass items when we’re out and about and use them as “trophies” for his room. We used this one as a soccer ball stand on his desk:

This was a fun gift from Santa — a custom soccer stadium (for the US) map, which can be checked off once a stadium is visited! My son has been excited to visit as many stadiums as possible — time to plan some trips!

Soccer Themed Bedroom Ideas — Custom soccer stadium map

I pulled the green and blue from the room and used this in my son’s bedding with a simple quilt and a lightweight block print blanket. I was relieved that he liked them!

And, one of my favorite touches (aside from the vintage yellow & green lamp in the first photo!), while not soccer themed, is a great find that creates extra storage. We live in a very old home with very little storage — his room doesn’t even have a closet! These vintage suitcases:

I found these at an outdoor flea market in the Lancaster area before we even started to re-do my son’s room. I’m so glad to have found the perfect place for them!

Lastly, we found this great chair at a thrift store one cold any rainy day when we wanted to get the kids out of the house.

I bought this fabric off of Etsy in hopes that it would match the red in the room and it ended up being perfect! I used more of it to wrap a frame that hangs above the small red nightstand. You can see the corner of my son’s desk here, which I have left out of the photos because there are several personal items on and above it. But, I wanted to note that I painted his desk the same color as the walls because his room is small. This was helpful, as it doesn’t take up “space” in the room visually, and since it has a red bulletin board above it and soccer balls above that, there is plenty of other color and pattern happening.

Soccer Themed Bedroom Tips

Here are some helpful tips for elevated soccer bedroom decor:

Choose a piece of art to anchor your space (ie. the soccer poster I chose)
Pull a few colors from the art and repeat those throughout the room to create some grounding
Ideally, choose art that incorporates your child’s favorite colors and find “adult” or muted versions of those colors
Be creative with your interpretation of your child’s interest. How can you find elements of what your child loves and bring it into the space?
Incorporate some modern elements, as well as some vintage or antique
Consider adding pennants (or team flags) to your child’s walls — you can incorporate their favorite teams and make custom ones on Etsy (we have several of these hanging)
Consider creating a gallery wall with antique frames you’ve collected featuring illustrations or pictures of your child playing soccer, prints from Etsy, framed jerseys, etc.
Make sure to include spaces that are your child’s that they get to decorate how they would like (if they want to be included in the process)
Soccer sheets would be really fun — they can be tucked under a quilt and still make your child happy
Feel free to ask for cut outs of your child’s favorite soccer star when you see them in store setups (or purchase on Etsy). I did this and my son was so thrilled:

Soccer Theme Room — I definitely felt like the best mom ever when I scored this Messi cutout!

Do you have any other creative ideas to create a sophisticated soccer themed bedroom? Doing so takes some patience to find and collect items, but it’s so fun to see it all come together. Take your time and fun with it!

More inspiration you may enjoy:

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Spring, Spring · February 4, 2025

10 Beautiful & Easy Spring Cocktails

This post is all about beautiful & easy spring cocktails.

Throw open those windows and get that cocktail shaker ready! It’s time to celebrate spring with one of these beautiful and easy spring cocktails. Whether you’re hosting a spring event or would simply like to enjoy a bright + beautiful cocktail at the end of the day, we have 10 gorgeous, colorful options that will have you excited for spring!

These vibrant, easy spring cocktails also run the spectrum of spring colors — from chartreuse green, to deep pink, to pale pink, to orange (!), to pale yellow — there is a shade to compliment any table or event. We love beauty as much as we do ease around here.

Without further ado, beautiful and easy spring cocktails!

1. The Spring Fling Cocktail

Peanut Butter & Fitness features this beautiful spring cocktail, which highlights the spring season not only through its flavors, but it’s bright chartreuse green hue as well. Truly, no color speaks to spring better (in my opinion), than this one!

2. The Aviation Cocktail

The Aviation Cocktail is a classic gin drink. While gin is a wonderful liquor at any time of the year, I love to feature drinks with gin especially in the springtime given its floral notes (though some brands are much more floral than others). The crème de violette liqueur gives this lovely drink its beautiful lavender color, and also pairs well with the gin to further impart floral flavors.

3. The May Queen Floral Cocktail

This stunning spring cocktail requires a bit of planning ahead, but is still simple in its steps. Combine elderflower liquor (so floral!) with hibiscus rose syrup and a few other lovely ingredients, and you have a gorgeous and veryyy sippable cocktail on your hands.

4. Empress Carrot Cake

I’m not sure about you, but the Empress Carrot Cake screams Easter to me! We often have carrot cake as one of our desserts on Easter, so this drink feels like another fun way to incorporate this flavor. This is so simple, as it calls for carrot & pineapple juices and gin. That’s it! If you want to get fancy, there are options to add the carrot cake flair, including a cream cheese foam! Oh my goodness, yes please.

5. The Peony Royale Cocktail

What represents spring more than peonies?! This is another simple cocktail calling for spring-focused ingredients like peony vodka (um, yes) and cherry juice, as well as a few others. What a stunning drink to serve your friends among the blooming flowers.

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6. Wet Your Whistledown Cocktail

We love a Bridgerton theme! The creator of this cocktail explains how each ingredient is inspired by an element of the super-popular show — what awesome attention to detail which makes this one extra fun. Whether or not you are a Bridgerton fan, this easy spring cocktail truly is both simple and springy.

7. Spring Blossom Cocktail

Birds Party celebrates cherry blossom season with this one! With cherry brandy and sparkling lemonade, this cocktail is sure to please as the blossoms usher in spring.

Another super simple, yet delicious option with a similar theme from Beijos: Cherry Blossom Cocktail.

8. April Shower Cocktail

The April Shower Cocktail is stunning, isn’t it? It’s a classic drink which uses grapefruit to brighten and balance the beautiful flavors. What a fun way to celebrate April — rain or shine!

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9. The Lemon Prosecco Float

I just love lemon in the springtime. For me, when I’m reaching for lemon-centered desserts and flavors, it truly means spring is here. This Lemon Prosecco Float is a delightful, classic Italian cocktail which could not be simpler: lemon sorbet, drizzle of vodka, topped with Prosecco. What a joy in a coupe this is!

10. Lillet Rosé Cocktail

This Lillet Rosé Cocktail might be one of my favorites. We love a rosé cocktail in the spring — this one uses Lillet Rosé and is topped with bubbles (and incorporates grapefruit – yes!). It’s simple, it’s bubbly, it’s pale pink, it’s bright & floral — in my book, it doesn’t get much better.

Okay friends — it’s time to start shaking + springtime sipping! Cheers to green grass, gentle sunshine, flower buds, bird song, and a beautiful & easy spring cocktail. If you try any of these, please let me know your thoughts! Salud!

More hosting + cocktail inspiration for your enjoyment:

Seasonal + Simple Prosecco Cocktails

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We love to hear from you!

Fall, Hosting & Entertaining, Spring, Summer, Winter · September 23, 2024

Seasonal + Simple Prosecco Cocktails

It’s time to celebrate! Pop the bubbly and get to pouring! There’s nothing better than mixing up simple Prosecco cocktails to enjoy, whether casually with friends, or a bit more formally at a festive event. The effervescent nature of Prosecco creates a festive energy + invites a celebratory experience — the perfect fit any time of the year!

What is Prosecco?

Prosecco is a sparkling white wine from Italy, and is often more affordable than champagne. It can be enjoyed on its own, or used to make a delectable cocktail or spritz. It’s a well-loved sparkling wine given it’s light, crisp, fruity nature and is perfect for both casual and celebratory occasions, and anything in between. Prosecco is also especially versatile because it can be subbed for champagne, and also comes in rosé form. Uh, yum.

Now, for the best part! Simple Prosecco cocktails, categorized by seasonality because that’s how we do things here:

Winter Prosecco Cocktails

This Winter Aperol Spritz from Platings + Pairings calls for a cranberry simple syrup and a sprig of rosemary, offering full winter vibes.

Yum! A cranberry rosemary spritz is both simple and beautiful. This spritz from The Social Sipper calls for a sparkling rosé, so rosé Prosecco is a delicious and affordable option to use.

Ethan from DineDrafts created this festive Winter Wonderland Sparkler calling for cranberry, pear, vodka, and champagne. You know the deal — go ahead and swap the champagne for Prosecco for a just-as-perfect sparkling option.

Spring Prosecco Cocktails

Elderflower has such a beautiful perfume, boasting a bit of fruitiness as well as floral notes, making it perfect for a spring sipper. When I think of elderflower, I think of the UK, and May-June is elderflower season. No question — this Elderflower Prosecco Cocktail from Truffles and Trends is synonymous with spring!

Okay, we all know that rosé = spring. Grab a bottle of rosé Prosecco, mix up this beautiful cocktail and top with some edible flowers to celebrate both the spring blooms and your friends!

As soon as the lavender begins to bloom (some varieties as soon as early spring), throw together this simple sangria with a rosé Prosecco to add some bubbles and admire the blooming, cheerful shades of spring!

Summer Prosecco Cocktails

The Limoncello Spritz is a classic drink from Italy. It’s especially refreshing on a hot summer day and calls for only limoncello, Prosecco, and club soda. Paige’s recipe calls for lemon sparkling water to amplify the lemon flavor, but feel free to go with plain seltzer or club, depending on your preference.

A stone fruit inspired cocktail is the perfect fit for a summertime refresher. This simple Prosecco cocktail calls for muddled plums and fresh thyme, celebrating the beautiful bounty of this season!

This Sparkling Berry Cocktail allows room for you to use whatever fresh berries you have on hand, or will partner best with your menu. It also has the option to create one cocktail, or create a batch — appreciate this flexibility for menu planning!

Fall Prosecco Cocktails

This apple cider spritz brings on all the autumnal energy! Add apple cider and a bit of cinnamon to a traditional Aperol spritz and you’ve got a (very simple &) beautiful cocktail, transitioning you from the summer to early fall.

Make the cider honey syrup ahead (which will add so much flavor and depth!), and throw this together just before serving. With lovely fall flavors and a bit of bubbly, this Bourbon Champagne Cocktail is the ultimate cocktail for an elevated autumnal event or girls get together.

This recipe from Half Baked Harvest also calls for a syrup (maple!) which can easily be made ahead. There are layers of flavors in this cocktail, topped with Prosecco (sub in for the champagne in the recipe), adding a fun fizz topper!

Simple + Classic Prosecco Cocktails / Spritzes

Here are a few Prosecco cocktails which I would be remiss not to mention. Some are classic, some are with a twist. Mix up these delicious drinks during whatever season you see fit!

The Bubbly French Blonde is a blend of so many of my favorites: elderflower liqueur, gin, Lillet Blanc, and Prosecco. This vibrant drink gets me excited about all these flavors just thinking about it!

The Hugo Spritz is a classic drink from Italy. While it’s been in existence for a long time, I just had it for the first time this summer. It. was. delicious! Feel free to sub the Prosecco for rosé Prosecco if you’re in the mood. It will not disappoint.

Another Italian drink, the Amaro Spritz is simple & delicious. With three ingredients (plus garnish if you’re up for it), this can be thrown together in no time.

Now, certainly, you can drink these simple Prosecco cocktails any time of year. I’ve categorized them by seasons in case you’re hosting a soiree or festivity grounded in a certain time of year, holiday, or event.

Do you have a favorite Prosecco cocktail? If so, please share! As always, happy hosting & Cheers, Salud!

Other festive inspiration you may enjoy:

Hosting an Elevated Wine Tasting Birthday Party

12 Refreshing August Cocktails for Summer Sipping

Hosting & Entertaining · September 9, 2024

What Wine for Blue Cheese? A Simple Pairing Guide

What wine for blue cheese? Does blue cheese go with red or white wine? What’s the best wine for blue cheese? These are questions I’ve asked myself many times given the powerful nature of this cheese (as well as my love of hosting wine-centered celebrations)! Let’s chat about the most ideal and accessible wine pairings for the blue on your board.

A Quick Blue Cheese Guide

Blue cheese is a complex cheese, both tangy and distinctive, and in a category all its own. It makes a beautiful, striking addition to a cheese plate or board and is often relied upon as an option to balance the other cheeses.

Now, for a bit of a blue cheese primer. Blue cheese has several outstanding flavor profiles including: tanginess/sharpness, pungency, saltiness, creaminess/butteriness, as well as earthy/nuttiness. Depending on the type of blue cheese, as well as its age, all of these flavors will vary and balance one another.

As you may be aware, in the making of blue cheese mold is introduced, resulting in the edible mold we know as a distinct marbling characteristic in our favorite blues.

A few types of blue cheese include: Roquefort (sheep’s milk from France), Gorgonzola (cow’s milk from Italy), Stilton (cow’s milk from England), Danablu (cow’s milk from Denmark), and Cabrales (goat, sheep, & cow’s milk from Spain).

And, with the right wine pairing, the power of the mold is truly a standout. With the wrong pairing, it can be really wrong. Ick.

Read on to discover the perfect wine pairings for your upcoming festivities, whether you’re welcoming everyone to your event, or bringing a cheese plate and a beautiful bottle of wine to your host!

White Wine for Blue Cheese

A white wine and blue cheese pairing can be a lovely experience, especially if you lean towards wine with a bit (or a lot) of sweetness. Consider staying in the off-dry to dessert wine spectrum to truly balance your blue cheese wine pairing.

Here are a few white wines to consider:

Sauternes

This sweet, French dessert wine is a classic pairing with blue cheese, especially Roquefort. The honeyed sweetness and rich, full-bodied nature of Sauternes contrast beautifully with the sharp, tangy flavors of the cheese.

Riesling

A slightly sweet or off-dry Riesling and blue cheese combination can be a delectable match. The wine’s sweetness and acidity help cut through the creamy, salty nature of blue cheese.

Gewürztraminer

This aromatic, spicy wine often has a touch of sweetness that pairs well with the intense flavors of blue cheese. Its fruity and floral notes can complement the cheese’s complexity.

Chenin Blanc

chardonnay and blue cheese

A medium to sweet Chenin Blanc, especially one from the Loire Valley, can work well. Its balanced acidity and honeyed flavors can enhance the cheese without overpowering it.

Viognier

The rich, floral, and fruity profile of a Viognier can pair nicely with the creamy texture of blue cheese. Consider a Viognier with some residual sugar for an even better match.

Chardonnay

A bold, buttery, oaky Chardonnay can offer a complimentary balance to a pungent blue. Pairing Chardonnay and blue cheese is certainly an option, to great relief for Chardonnay lovers.

When pairing white wine with blue cheese, it’s important to consider the specific type of blue cheese and its intensity. Lighter, creamier blue cheeses might pair well with slightly sweeter or less intense wines, while more pungent varieties might need a more robust wine.

Red Wine for Blue Cheese

When pairing red wine with blue cheese focus on choosing wines that are medium-to-fuller in body to find a balanced compliment:

Port

While technically a fortified wine, it’s worth mentioning again due to its exceptional pairing with blue cheese. Its sweetness and richness balance well with the intense flavors of the cheese.

Zinfandel

A fruit-forward Zinfandel with moderate tannins can work well with blue cheese. The wine’s bold fruit flavors and spice notes can complement the tangy and creamy elements of the cheese.

Shiraz/Syrah

A Syrah or Shiraz with rich, fruity flavors and a hint of spice can be a good match. The boldness of the wine often pairs well with the strong taste of blue cheese.

Malbec

Malbec, especially from Argentina, has a robust flavor profile with dark fruit notes and a touch of earthiness that can pair well with blue cheese, particularly those with a milder profile.

Cabernet Sauvignon

A Cabernet Sauvignon with softer tannins and a bit of fruitiness can also work. The wine’s structure and flavors can stand up to the intensity of blue cheese, though it’s best to choose one with less oak influence to avoid overpowering the cheese.

Garnacha (Grenache)

A Garnacha with its ripe berry flavors and softer tannins can be a pleasant pairing. Its fruity and slightly spicy character can complement the flavors of blue cheese without overwhelming them.

Just as you would when pairing white wine with blue cheese, it’s important to consider the cheese’s strength and intensity when pairing red wine with blue cheese. Milder blue cheeses may pair well with lighter reds, while stronger, more pungent varieties may require a more robust red to stand up to their flavors.

Rosé & Sparkling Wines for Blue Cheese

If your event calls for rosé or a sparkling wine, you’re in luck! Fortunately, both wines can pair beautifully with the blues:

Rosé

The bright acidity and fruity notes of a rosé can balance the strong, tangy flavors of blue cheese, especially if the rosé is on the drier side. A well-chilled rosé with a bit of fruitiness can complement the creamy texture and sharpness of the cheese without overwhelming it. Choose a higher acidity and berry-forward wine and see how you like this pairing.

Sparkling

The effervescence in sparkling wine provides a refreshing contrast to the rich and creamy texture of blue cheese.

Sparkling wines typically have good acidity, which helps balance the creaminess of blue cheese. The acidity can cut through the cheese’s richness, making each bite more enjoyable. For stronger blue cheeses, go for a more robust sparkling wine (Champagne, Cava), while milder cheeses can pair with lighter, fruitier options (Prosseco, Crémant).

So, what wine pairs nicely with blue cheese? So many beautiful wines! What initially presents as a challenging pairing, now becomes ripe with opportunity, offering a delectable experience for party goers with any wine preference. Happy pairing!

More hosting inspiration which may interest you:

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Autumn, Fall, Fall, Lifestyle · July 8, 2024

How to Host a Festive (+ Cozy) Fall Book Club

It’s time to plan a festive fall book club!

The air is changing + the leaves are rustling, which makes it the BEST time of year for book club! Fall is the most quintessential season to get cozy with a book, and it’s also the ideal time to gather with friends over delicious food, a thoughtful read, and invigorating conversation. Now, let’s make it happen!

Fall Book Club: The Essentials

The essentials for any book club meetup: the book, the menu, the drink, the setting, the conversation.

Let’s start with the centerpiece of the gathering: the book.

If you have an established book club, you likely have a technique regarding how you choose your next read. Some groups choose via their group text thread, some choose at the end of the last meeting. Others send out a questionnaire. Some even use instagram polls! Whatever your avenue, consider a book full of cozy vibes for one of your fall meetups:

Autumn: A Novel brief description: “MAN BOOKER PRIZE FINALIST • The first novel in Ali Smith’s Seasonal Quartet is an unforgettable story about aging and time and love—and stories themselves.” (via Amazon)

Mexican Gothic brief description: “An isolated mansion. A chillingly charismatic aristocrat. And a brave socialite drawn to expose their treacherous secrets. . . . From the author of Gods of Jade and Shadow comes “a terrifying twist on classic gothic horror” (Kirkus Reviews) set in glamorous 1950s Mexico.” (via Amazon)

Mexican Gothic was picked as “one of the best books of the year” by many outlets.

Weyward brief description: “Weaving together the stories of three extraordinary women across five centuries, Emilia Hart’s Weyward is an astonishing debut, and an enthralling novel of female resilience.” (via Amazon) Weyward is another book which has earned high ratings across various sources, as well as the winner of two Goodreads awards!

The following bloggers have also put together lists of their favorite cozy fall options, which offer an array of genres and options:

The Autumnal-Inspired Menu

I love a potluck-style book club meetup, where everyone brings something to assist. Life is busy and this can often be the most accessible option for many. If this is the case with your crew, consider assigning book club members something savory, something sweet, and drink options.

If this is not the case with your crew and the host is in charge of the food, that works well too. The host then has the freedom to plan a full menu, and maybe even try a new recipe that’s been on their autumn menu pinterest board!

Fall Book Club Menu Considerations

If your group enjoys a cheese or charcuterie board, go with it! If this is the case, choose some cheeses that are fall-inspired, whether by flavor or by color.

Cotswold Cheddar from Trader Joe’s

This cheese is delicious! Trader Joe’s has this year round (at least that’s been my experience on the East Coast). It’s a beautiful cow’s milk cheese blended with chives and onions, which adds so much flavor and looks festive on a cheese board. I’ve got a wedge in my cheese drawer right now!

Whole Foods also has a version of this cheese, labeled Somerdale Coopers Hill.

Another wonderful cheese option is Mimolette. It’s a mild cheese (though looks sharper given its bright hue) and has notes of butterscotch. The rind is a pale brown shade and is a little craggy, making it a perfect fit for an autumn or Halloween-y cheese board. PS: Pecans pair beautifully with Mimolette!

While the Mimolette picture below is linked to Amazon, we can find this at our local grocery store which has a gourmet cheese section, so I’m hopeful you may have a purchasing option near you as well.

Compliment your board with some candied nuts, which you can buy at Trader Joe’s, or most major grocery stores, or make your own very easily. Add some dried cranberries, oranges, and figs, tuck in a spray of rosemary, and you’ve got a beautiful autumnal cheeseboard to serve your guests as they walk in the door, ready to chat all things book!

Here’s a super simple recipe from Carlsbad Cravings if you’d like to make your own candied nuts:

This recipe calls for white sugar, but you could also use brown if you want a slightly deeper flavor.

To add more interest to the cheese board with both color and flavor, a red-wine soaked cheese is a good fit for fall. Many major grocery stores now carry a form of this cheese. Just look for a wedge that’s in a near-burgundy rind, with cheese white in color. If you’re unsure, take a moment to ask an employee, especially if they have their own cheese counter. They’re happy to help!

Depending on the size of your group, one or two cheeses is likely plenty if you’re also serving other bites. Add some crackers, fresh bread, and brined olives, and you’ve got a hearty appetizer. If you’re only serving a cheese board, add some sliced meats, pickled vegetables, and maybe a dip or two to balance out the board. Consider also including a soft cheese like brie or camembert or a baked feta.

Further Menu Considerations

Building upon the cozy fall book club theme, let’s consider a few other menu options:

This baked feta dip with fig jam and pecans is super simple and hits so many autumnal notes.

Here’s another great option:

For something that feels a bit more like a meal, these caramelized onion, apple and goat cheese melts from New York Times Cooking are just the thing! Make several either in a pan or in the oven, slice and serve on a big wooden cutting board.

The Fall Book Club Drink

It’s always nice to serve everyone their first drink and then have a setup which allows them to serve themselves. This way your guest feels welcome, but you can stayed tuned into the conversation without worrying about keeping an eye on drinks and getting up every so often to refresh them. Of course, it’s always nice if you are getting up to refresh your own to check-in and see if anyone else needs anything.

Mulled Wine

A fun make-ahead drink, this could hang on the stovetop under low heat or no heat (once already heated), with glass mugs at the ready. Mulled wine on the stove also makes the house smell like quintessential fall!

Here’s another option with the spices already prepared, just add wine, or apple cider, for a non-alcoholic option:

Wine Options

If you’d like to have traditional wine options on hand for those who might not favor a mulled wine, consider a Pinot Noir for red, which will satisfy the red wine drinkers, but is often light enough for the white wine drinkers.

Another great addition is a bubbly! Prosecco or Cava, which pair well with the fatty cheese options, and can be spruced up with a little apple cider, or mulled spice syrup (which you can easily whip up with the mulled spices). For a white option, try a Sancerre or Pinot Gris (both can boast pear and apple notes).

The Festive + Cozy Setting

If your location (& weather) allows, head outside around a fire pit for your initial drink OR flip flop and have a drink inside while everyone is arriving and then gather a plate of food, refresh drinks and head outside for a cozy conversation around the fire.

Our summer book club post has some great suggestions for fending off any straggling mosquitos or bugs, as well as cozy blanket, and string light options. Whether you’re inside or out, having a few cozy blankets folded or tossed over the seating options not only warms up the setting, it also invites your guest to get cozy, which is our goal!

The Table

Since the table is the centerpiece of the evening, take a few extra minutes to add some autumnal hues. Napkins and/or a tablecloth go a long way in adding color and warmth, and a few lit candles (whether real or battery operated) offer a special touch and set the perfect vibe for a fall book club.

fall books kids — What a pleasant autumn tablecloth!

books set in autumn goodreads — Great matching napkins, or stand alone option without the tablecloth

books with fall covers — A linen mustard napkin?! Beautiful with the patterned tablecloth to break up the print and to elevate the table, but can absolutely stand alone.

atmospheric books for autumn — Perfect napkins throughout the entire autumn season

fall romance books — This jacquard dish towel offers a pop of autumn color — would be great in the kitchen, or sitting underneath a dish on the table

If you will be indoors for at least part of the evening, set the tone with the lighting. If you have dimmers, feel free to bring the light down a bit, and burn a few candles. Touch lamps also add so much to a table (indoor or out)!

I have both the first two touch lamps listed above and love them both. If I was in the market for another option, I’d absolutely go for the third option with the pleated shade! I love that look. The more modern gold touch lamps listed last are so adorable and would add a great updated look to any table.

If you’re in the market for a touch lamp, just be sure to check out the dimensions prior to purchasing so you know what works for your setting.

If you want to add a little more to the table (although it will likely be quite full with food, plates, napkins, cutlery, and candles, so don’t feel the need, you can scatter a few leaves, acorns, and pumpkins at the base of the candles to up the autumn ante.

The Conversation

The most fulfilling part of the evening! Often, the conversation flows really naturally, but if you find the group at a lull, have these discussion points open on your phone (or printed out) to refer to:

Reader’s Guide for Autumn by Ali Smith

Book Club Kit for Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (this one even has a music list suggestion!)

Discussion Questions for Weyward by Amilia Hart

We’ve now touched upon all the essentials for hosting a festive + cozy fall book club! If you have any other suggestions, please leave them below and happy hosting!

More posts to inspire your book club experience:

How to Host an Inspired Summer Book Club

Seasonal + Simple Prosecco Cocktails

What Wine for Blue Cheese? A Simple Pairing Guide

Lifestyle · June 24, 2024

23 of the Most Perfect Gifts for Hosts When Traveling (by plane or car!)

This post is all about gifts for hosts when traveling.

Let’s check off one of the most important items on your travel to do list — what to bring your host! With a variety of options below, you’re sure to find the perfect gift!

When you are thinking about what your host might enjoy, consider how they spend their days during the season you are traveling so they can put your gift to immediate use. Also, if they’ve expressed any admiration regarding your own items: a carrying case, a nail polish color, a candle in your home — that’s a helpful hint! Just think through whether they would want one of their own, or just enjoyed it on you or in your home.

Gifts for Hosts When Traveling To Your Destination By Car

If you’re traveling by car, it can be much easier to bring gifts for hosts given since there are generally no (or few) restrictions.

1. Cheese Knives

These cheese knives from Anthro will pair with just about any cheese board, during any season. The handles have a nice weight to them, so they are sturdy enough for a soft or hard cheese.

2. Stylish Cheese Plane

If your host makes cheese boards or enjoys spending time in the kitchen, a cheese plane would be a lovely gift. A cheese plane makes cutting thin slices of both semi-hard and hard cheeses a breeze (as well as vegetables and other foods). I especially like a wooden handled tool — it balances the stainless steel with warmth.

3. Gourmet Cheese

what is a good gift for a host — Humboldt Fog by Cypress Grove

Yum, yum, gimme some! You could stop by your local cheesemonger or your favored grocery store and grab a nice block of cheese (or three!) to offer your host. Of course, Trader Joe’s is always has a great selection at reasonable prices as well. If you feel like your stay warrants several gifts in one, grab some nice cheese (one hard, one soft, one fun), The New Rules of Cheese book listed below, and the cheese knives listed above. All done!

4. Chocolate Truffles or Candy

A stunning box of luxury sweets clearly communicates, “thank you!”. Not only are these treats high quality, but they are wrapped beautifully, which will leave your host with a decorative box they can repurpose. This means it takes the wrapping out of the equation for you, which can be challenging when packing bags and trying not to tear a nice gift bag or wrapping paper.

5. Beautiful Coffee Table Book

If you know your host, you’ll likely know if they would appreciate a coffee table book which can be displayed just about anywhere, or can just be a nice addition to a library, whatever the size. When choosing a coffee table book as a hostess gift, consider their interests (gardening, baking, painting, antiquing, traveling, etc.) and the general color story of their home.

6. High quality butter, honey, jam

If you have a local vendor that sells a high quality butter, honey, and/or jam, consider this as an option for your host. It’s an accoutrement that will get used, maybe even while you’re visiting!, and is a fun representation of the local culture by your home.

7. Fragrance

If you know that your host enjoys candles, diffusers, soaps, or specific types of perfumes, this can be a great, straight forward choice. Keep in mind that there are many people who are very specific about the scents they incorporate in their home, so this should be a gift for someone you know fairly well so you can discern what they will enjoy. Brooklyn Candle Studio has many luxurious scents that aren’t too strong. They have an entire “Escapist” line which highlights beautiful areas around the world!

8. Flower and/or fern

If your host is a flower person, they would be thrilled seeing you at their front door with a colorful addition to their space or their garden! A perennial flower would be a nice touch for outdoors so they can think of you each year it grows back. Inside, a delicate maidenhair fern would do the trick, or a colorful pot of whatever flower is in season at the time of your visit.

9. La Colombe Coffee Lattes

10. High Quality Olive Oil

If your host enjoys cooking, they will appreciate a high quality olive oil. If you have a specialty shop or market that sells nice olive oil, stop by and ask the employee their opinion. If not, both La Tourangelle & Graza are great options.

Gifts for Hosts When Traveling To Your Destination by Plane

11. Local Coffee

If you know how your host prepares their coffee (drip pour over, fine, etc.), buy your favorite bag from your local coffee shop and ask them to grind the beans for you. If not, buy the beans whole and let your host grind the beans themselves. They’ll think of your time together every time they brew a cup!

12. Cocktail book

If possible, a nice extra touch would be to buy the ingredients for one of the cocktails and make them for your host during your stay. This would be a lot of fun if your host doesn’t mind you whipping this up in the kitchen or at their bar. You could choose a drink together once they open the book, or peruse the recipes prior to your trip (or while on the plane!) and decide which one you think you’d like best. My sister often brings us a fun seasonal cocktail book based on the time of year and we do just this, or we bookmark one to make during her next stay!

13. Cheese Book

This cheese book is petite, so it won’t take up too much room in your luggage or in your host’s home. If you enjoy having cheese together, this is a great touch!

14. Beautiful Scarf

There are so many ways to use a beautiful scarf! It can be tied around the strap of a purse or nice workbag, around your neck, as a scarf around the head, and even utilized as a headband! Oh, how versatile this fabric can be, adding a touch of sophistication and fun.

15. High Quality Tea

Does your host enjoy tea more than coffee? Here are a few nice options to choose from.

16. Gift Card

If you spend some time at your host’s local market (maybe it looks like the one above — swoooon), consider buying them a gift card. This could be a stand alone gift or paired with one of the other’s on this list. Depending on the size / scope of the market, they may even sell gift cards online, just in case you don’t make it there for one reason or another. We all know how long weekends can go with extended coffee dates and relaxing into the spontaneity of the moment.

17. Herbs de Provence & Finishing Salts

This is another gift for the host who enjoys spending time in the kitchen. These herbs and finishing salts would be lovely paired with the olive oil and the local market gift card, or truly as a stand alone gift.

18. Magazine Subscription

Magazine subscriptions are great! A gorgeous edition full of creative ideas and inspiring photos arriving to the doorstep every month? Yes please! Some great options:

Flower Magazine

Southern Living Magazine

Better Homes & Gardens Magazine

19. Groceries

Grocery delivery is so easy these days. If you would like to make a meal for the host one evening, have the groceries delivered so you can spend more time together, and include a few surprise treats!

20. Paper napkins

There are SO MANY lovely options for paper napkins these days and at all different price points. You’ll probably be going through a bunch of these while in your host’s home, so consider adding one of these to your hostess gift.

21. Seeds for the Garden

Another gift for a gardener, or anyone who enjoys trying to grow fresh food or flowers. Creeping thyme is a beautiful, hardy perennial ground cover which blooms for several weeks in the spring or summer, depending on the varietal. The blooms can also be used as a garnish in food and drinks!

Basil is always a good option — it smells divine, compliments many dishes, and even keeps some bugs away!

22. Spiral Tapered Candles

Spiral taper candles are on trend and come in so many shades. What a playful addition to a tablescape, sidebar, or fireplace. If you have any vintage or antique brass candle holders, they would pair beautifully and add a special touch:

If you like this idea, but don’t have time to run to the antique or thrift store, try these options:

23. Tote bag

Grab this adorable tote and throw in a bunch of delicious treats! A sparkling bottle of wine to celebrate your time together, a fatty cheese which will pair perfectly, a beautiful box of truffles, a magazine tied with a bow, and a local bag of coffee.

Wrap it in a tea towel (like these cheerful options) or bring a flattened gift bag and tissue paper, which will be less likely to get beat up if the gift hasn’t been wrapped yet, and will also take up less room in your luggage.

What Not To Gift Your Host

While there are many options for gifts, there are a few “no nos” when it comes to gifting:

1. Don’t gift your host a big or bulky item.

Since you don’t know exactly how you host is going to feel about your item, do them the favor of not buying something they may have to find storage space for when you’re not visiting.

2. Don’t gift your host something that you expect them to display (unless it’s a joke).

A funny / novelty item that you wouldn’t expect your host to display beyond your stay? That’s probably just fine. But, picture frames, large vases, or art pieces can be tricky, as it can lead to your host trying to find a spot for the item in their already curated home.

3. Do consider gifting your host something that is perishable or has a “shelf life”.

Unless you know your host really well, it’s ideal to gift them something that can be used up, just like many items on this list.

This covers a wide variety of options of perfect gifts for hosts when traveling, either by plane or car!

For more gifting inspiration, checkout our favorite things page or this quick hostess gift ideas guide:

10 Tasteful + Quick Hostess Gift Ideas

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