Yeah that's right... National Cheese Day is June 4th.  A whole entire day with a great excuse to celebrate our best addiction - CHEESE!! I swear I could eat cheese everyday and never get sick of it.  I've been known to eat cheese straight out of the bag when it's shredded and I could easily destroy a block of cheese by myself.  Don't Judge Me!!!




So to celebrate National Cheese Day I wanted to make a quick tutorial on how to make an adorable cheese board for the next time you're entertaining.  Some cheese boards have other stuff on them like dried fruits or mustards but I like mine with strictly cheese and some meat since that's what everyone tends to devour most. 

 
Step 1: Get a Wooden Cutting Board
They have cute shapes and sizes of boards.  I have little mini cutting boards that I use strictly for occasions like this. The best part is you can do your cutting right on the board and use it as the display.  


Step 2: Purchase
Choose several different varieties of cheese.  I like to get at least one that doesn't have a super strong flavor, 2 with strong flavors, and 1 or 2 spicy flavors.  This gives everyone options and the different cheese taste different with certain wines and other meats and fruits. 

Step 3: Cut it
The key to an appealing cheeseboard is if you plan to keep the main block of cheese on there, you don't cut the entire thing at once.  Cut several slices and let them just fall forward which creates an awesome display.  Once the sliced pieces get consumed, you can either cut some more or allow guests to cut slices themselves. With the meats I usually slice them on a separate cutting board and put only the sliced or cubed pieces out on the cheese board.  







Step 4: Arrange
This is the fun part but also it's pretty easy.  Just display everything so it looks pretty on the board.  It doesn't have to be perfect at all.  No one will sit there and be like "Oh, wow this cheese board is very unorganized."





Step 4: Serve
Enjoy your art and the delicious taste of cheese!! Cheese boards are perfect for any occasion.   And they're great inside or outside.  People even arrange cheese boards on the go when they are visiting a vineyard or having a picnic. 


What foods do you put on your boards?

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How To Prepare Your Outdoor Space for Entertaining

If you are a homeowner or have any kind of cozy outdoor space, chances are you entertain people at your home at least once or twice a year outdoors.  That being said, there's still some things you can do to not only refresh and maintain your outdoor space but to liven it up a bit so that your guests have an even greater experience.  Here are a few ways to prepare your outdoor space for entertaining this year.

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The Best Hostess Gifts This Holiday Season

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One of the best parts of being a guest in someone's home during the holidays is that you know what you can get them as a gift.  Host and hostess gifts are a great idea for anyone that likes to have people over and guess what?! Obviously, this person likes to have you over or they wouldn't have invited you!

So here are 3 of my favorite items that not only are awesome to receive as a gift but are definitely going to brighten the day of the host or hostess you gift them to!

Wine Totes

One of my favorite things about a wine tote is that when you want to give it as a gift, you can actually use it as the wrapping! Just include a bottle of wine when you show up and put a bow on the outside of the wine tote.  Built NY has one and two bottle wine totes. They have soft yet sturdy handles and the neoprene material comes in several fashionable designs! Plus these store flat when not in use and they are stain resistant, but if you do have to wash them, they are washing machine friendly! I've tried to use those paper gift bags you get at the liquor store but the handles always break.  No need to worry about that with one of these!  I also love this for when I bring wine to somewhere outdoors like for a picnic because I can keep it safe and secure inside this tote and not have to worry about someone getting into it or kicking the bottle over and breaking it.



Six Pack Totes

If you're not a wine drinker and neither is your host, that's okay.  Six Pack Totes from Built NY are perfect for 6 bottles or cans of beer or malt liquor. And if you don't want to use it for booze, you can even stuff condiments and utensils inside for a tailgate party or backyard barbeque!   The tote is super slim and folds flat when not in use but I have to say I love that it's sturdy AND lightweight.  Just like the wine tote, it's made from a stain resistant neoprene material that can be machine washed. 

It does come in a few different patterns and designs.  Say goodbye to cardboard carriers and paper bags! I have seen way too many people drop their beer as they carry it in to a party, so it's nice to know that you can have a sturdier more reliable method of carrying bottles or cans. 

Baking Dish Carrier

And finally there's the Go Go Baking Dish Carrier from Built NY.  It keeps your dish warm during transport and it makes a very comfortable way to carry it in and out of the house.  And an even more brilliant idea is to give the gift of a baking dish itself, wrapped up in this carrier.  I can't tell you how much of a miracle worker one of these carriers can be.  No more having to hold a hot dish in your lap or struggle to keep it from tipping when the car turns.  You can simply place this in the trunk or on the floor of your car. Easy as that!

Which one of these would make your life a whole lot easier?

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Dog-Friendly Entertaining Tips for Thanksgiving

It's almost that time again, where you house fills up with friendly guests and good food.  But, there are some things you need to keep in mind when it comes to your dog (or any pet). 

I've heard horror stories of dogs that get into something they shouldn't and have to be rushed to the vet.  You don't want that to interrupt your holiday so make sure you follow these dog-friendly tips.

[1] No Table Scraps

It's [NOT] a good habit to get into and there's things that are put into human food (yes, even meats) that aren't good for dogs.  Make sure your guests know this is the rule in your home. Trust me, your dog may beg, but I assure you he will be just fine without scraps from your plate!

[2] Keep Your Dog Busy

There will be //a lot\\ of activity and it's easy to get overwhelmed when you're a dog so make sure you have plenty of things for your dog to do so they don't get into trouble.   I give mine chewies.   I highly recommend the Benebone Wishbone!

They come in different sizes and flavors and are made with food-grade nylon.   They are perfect for keeping your dog occupied.  Plus, when you purchase Benebone, a portion of the sale is donated to animal support organizations! OH and they are made in the USA!

[3] Keep Coats & Bags Up High

When your guests arrive, make sure you put their coats and bags somewhere your dogs can reach.  Dogs can get nosy and if they happen to snoop in pockets or purses they can get into some dangerous things like pills, gum, etc.  This is also a good habit to get into because sometimes little boy dogs (like my Rocky) like to sniff around and mark new items by lifting their leg.  {{{That's right - Rocky has sprinkled on his fair share of purses!}}}

[4] Safe Zone

If your dog tends to get overwhelmed when there are a lot of people over, make sure he has a nice quiet area he can retreat to at any time.  It's always good to keep a cage or crate or his dog bed in a room that's quiet.   If he seems to be overwhelmed, you may have to put him there yourself. 

[5] Celebrate with Your Pet 

All the fuss with your guests can make your dog feel left out so make sure you include him in your celebration and continue to give him regular attention throughout the day. This way, everyone has a good time! 

What tips do you have for pet-friendly entertaining? 

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Entertaining in My Porch + A Giveaway

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So ever since we set our screened-in porch up, that's been the main area for entertaining.  And I just have to show you one of the great ways I prevent spills and breaking cups.   These are the Tiki Collection Pint Glasses from Silipint.

Not only do I love the fun bright colors and the festive designs but they are made of 100% food grade silicone so drinks stay cooler instead of baking in the sun and I don't have to worry about anyone breaking a glass, or creating a lot of trash if we use disposable cups.  These are also SO much easier to hold onto which means less spills! And they are dishwasher friendly so that's even less work for me!

 

When you entertain you want to create as minimal a workload for yourself as possible so that's why these are a great alternative to your regular cups.  They are also freezer and microwave safe and the silicone based inks won't chip or fade so these things are gonna last a really long time!  

And guess what?! One winner will get a set of Tiki Pints from Silipint!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

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