Build-Your-Own-Bloody-Mary Bar

Brandy of Simply Creative Insanity sent me her Bloody Mary bar design, that has many cute details.  She began with the name, "Hail Mary", to add some whimsy to the bar and used the argyle pattern as the prominent design feature.  She filled decorative bottles with vodka and served garnishes in small galvanized buckets.  One of my favorite details is the tiny bottle of Tobasco tied to each glass (canning jars). 

This idea is terrific for Superbowl or brunch, and you can find the printables available in Brandy's Etsy Shop.  Cheers!

Your New Years Eve Bar

I still have cocktails on the brain!  This time it's a New Years Eve serve-yourself bar that I actually set up at the same time as my Christmas bar, but I wanted to show you how to change out a few elements to create a totally different look.

Once again I began by covering a card table with a TableVogue fitted cover and used a large canvas board as a simple backdrop.  To give it a glam look to coordinate with our Holiday Dining Table and Dessert Table, I used black accessories and silver serving pieces.  This is the time to pull out any of those precious silver trays or crystal decanters and put them to use.  Don't forget you can mix silver, silver plated, stainless, and pewter finishes together as I've done above, because they all have a similar look. 

For this display I used a single framed sign to display the juice selection and spicy nuts, instead of individual tags.  I also topped one of the decanters with a holiday stopper, and added a 'crystal' droplet to the side of the oversize glass holding the pecans.  These are the unexpected details that help make your party special and memorable.

Hope this inspires you to create your own stylish bar! 

Stocking Your Family-Friendly Bar {Guest Blogger}

Continuing with our "Bar" theme, I'd like to introduce you to Coryanne Ettiene of Housewife Bliss.  We "met" on Twitter and she is a delightful resource for all things "Homemaking."  She's offering tips today, for insuring that you have a Family Friendly bar to accomodate adults & kids alike:

Celebrating with family over the holidays inevitably means catering to a variety of drinking styles, and stocking a family friendly bar is not an easy feat. Not only do you need to account for the cocktails, but you need to consider the mocktails, children’s drinks and inspiring ways to keep them festive. When stocking a family friendly bar, here are some tips to remember:

• Plan ahead - Be sure to consider your guests drinking habits before they arrive as there is nothing worse that rushing to the shops to get the diet version of the drink you have in your bar. Likewise, if you know that more guests are not drinking this year, ensure you have extra mixers, and festive accessories for your drinks.
• Keep it Festive - Adding a little cheer to your ice trays will keep the most drab of drinks festive. Everyone loves a cheeky napkin, a sparkler for flair, an unusual straw or festive ice cubes added to their drinks. I add cranberries, currants, mint, citrus and cherries to my ice trays…they are always a hit and so very simply to make that it makes the perfect activity for the children.

• Be Prepared - Drinking and spilling go together like Vermouth and olives. No one wants to see his or her red wine spilled on your new cream carpet. To avoid the embarrassment and frustration of cocktail stains on your carpet or upholstery, opt to serve vodka, gin, champagne, and white rum. Compliment with clear mixers like 7up, Indian tonic and soda water, then garnish with lime, lemon and olives.

• Mocktail or Cocktail? - Telling the difference between a mocktail and a cocktail is not an easy feat, and is a standard that should be sought after in the family bar. There are very few guests who would prefer to sip a cola while the drinking crowd is enjoying margaritas, likewise those not yet old enough to drink but old enough to be included in the family toast should have an appropriate glass to raise. For every drink you offer, ensure that you have a duplicate mocktail to offer. This year I will be serving 2 sparking cocktails/mocktail:

Bliss Toast Mocktail:

A splash of white cranberry juice, topped off with sparking cider.

Bliss Toast Cocktail:

A splash of Tripple Sec, a splash of white cranberry juice, topped off with Champgaign.

• Youthful Drinks - The delight of being a child at a family bar is the endless supply of Shirley Temples and Roy Rogers. The best way to be a hit amongst your younger set is to keep these free flowing, heaping with maraschino cherries, fancy straws, swords and fun napkins for them to set their drinks on.
• Keep them flowing - If you are serving mixed drinks, serve them in a carafe to ensure that your guests can return to the bar for a quick top up.

Thank you Coryanne for your wonderful tips!  Check out Housewife Bliss for lots of other ideas and advice for better home living.
If you would like to participate in our Guest Blogger series, please send me an email at cdnease1@yahoo.com!

 

Photos: tablesetting

DIY Ice Bottle Cooler

This icey bottle cooler as seen on my Holiday Bar Design, is a stylish way to present vodka or white wine on the bar while keeping it cold at the same time.  It's a simple project but you need to give yourself a couple of days to freeze the layers.  This works well for vodka because it can go in the freezer without turning solid, and is best served very cold anyway.  Here's how it works...

What you'll need:

•  A 3-liter empty soda container that you will cut the top off of
• distilled water for more clarity in your end result 
• fruit such as lemons, limes, star fruit, or cranberries
• duct tape - only in case your bottle floats up in the water 

Place the bottle of vodka inside the 3-liter container and fill with an inch or two of the distilled water - freeze until solid.

When the base is frozen you can begin adding slice fruit or berries around the bottle and fill with more water to just cover the fruit layer - freeze until solid.

Once the first fruit layer is frozen you can add your next layer in the same manner, filling with distilled water enough to cover the fruit.  This layer should take you to the top of the vodka bottle - freeze until solid.

Once the cooler is frozen, take it out of the freezer so it can thaw slightly - enough to work the 3-liter container off of the ice (about 30 minutes).  You may still need to dip in luke warm water to help ease it off.  Once you have the ice cooler out of the container store it in the freezer until ready to set on your bar.

Important Tips:

When setting the ice cooler out on your bar, set it in a shallow dish or tray that is lined with a small towel.  This will prevent the icey base from slipping around on the dish, as well as help contain the melting ice.  Under normal home temperatures this should last a few hours. 

If you would like to use the ice cooler for white wine or other cold drink, just insert an empty bottle (wine bottle or other decorative bottle) into the 3-liter container and follow the same steps.  You can add your beverage to the empty bottle inside (using a funnel) after the cooler is frozen.   

Creating Your Holiday Bar

If there's one thing you can count on at a party, it's the fact that everyone will make their way to the bar for a refreshing beverage.  Setting a festive display and adding a few special details is simple with these ideas and tips. 

I decided to design a bar that would coordinate with my Cocktails & Cheers party.  By following the same color scheme and incorporating the felt circle swag & other circle/dot details, the look is modern and whimsical.  

I began by setting up a card table and covering it with a fabulous fitted table cover from TableVogue.  

• My first tip is to serve juice mixers in pitchers, bottles, or other decanter.  This looks so much nicer than having all types of commercial containers on the table. 
• For soda mixers, I like to set out smaller size cans or bottles.  This way you can store the extras for later, instead of throwing out a half empty 2-liter.
• A little detail to add to your ice bucket is to freeze ice cubes in silicone trays with fun shapes.  I used a star shape for this party and added a cranberry to some while keeping others plain.
• I also like to have a savory snack on the bar.  It's nice to have little nibbles while your getting your cocktail or chatting with someone.  I made spicy nuts for this table and am sharing the recipe for this slightly sweet, slightly spicy snack here.  Other good choices are chex mix or flavored popcorn.

 

• My next tip is to add some type of glass garnish whether it's a wedge of lime, a sugar rimmed edge, or in this case, a mini candy cane hanging off the side.  Everyone loves this thoughtful touch.
• Round up your items in trays for an arrangement that looks neat and deliberate.  It also helps contain spills or drips.  
• Adding playful or humorous cocktail napkins is one of my favorite ways to incorporate personality, and can even help generate conversation.
• Keeping your liquor choices to the basics can keep your budget in check as well as being a space saver.  I find that bourbon, vodka, and rum usually satisfy most tastes.  For extra options I like to add in a flavored rum such as coconut or spiced rum.  All these liquors can be mixed with the same sodas or juices, again minimizing your space and cost.
• One of my favorite 'special occasion' projects is making an ice cooler.  It's an impressive presentation but is simple to prepare - you just need a couple of days for freezing.  The one I made here holds vodka but you can also make them to hold white wine.  You can see the tutorial for the ice cooler here.  

 I hope these tips will help you organize your next bar set-up.  And check out the TableVogue site for more on their fantastic fitted table coverings. The quality is wonderful and the fit is perfect!

CHEERS!

Stylish Buffet Design

From sleek chic to found vintage, I have a round up of beautiful buffets.  You may not always have a dessert table at your celebration, but you do have snacks and drinks, right?  These inspiring displays show you how to serve with style.   

Grab an aperitif from a modern-rustic display like the one here designed by Viridian Design Studio seen on Elizabeth Anne Designs.

Serve a delicious rustic Italian meal from an old farm table, with simple white dishes, cutting boards, and fresh herbs as the accents.  Don't forget the chalk board menu! (Sunday Suppers)

Sample some cheese with ease - the juxtaposition between the wood table and the delicate gauze covering is true French style.  The monocromatic color tones make the cheese shine, and yet they become part of the design. (Sunday Suppers)

You'll need a cocktail to help wash down the cheese! This modern layout of a make-your-own-martini bar, lets everyone please their own palette. (Sunday Suppers)

You can't deny sweets altogether, so set up a fun S'mores Bar.  This layout on Postcards and Pretties combines modern lines with rustic baskets.

For an all-out rustic look, present your bounty in galvanized containers.  Add a touch of softness with a vintage-inspired floral fabric, or lace runner.(found on Elizabeth Ann Designs)

Bring out the paint-chipped furniture and thrift store finds to mimic this vintage-inspired display.  This look is so fun because you can get creative with your use of old items. (by Marry You Me for The Sweetest Occasion)

This final buffet is pure country with it's farm table, linen table cloth, old crate, and wild flowers.  Who wouldn't want to linger here for a while? (Southern Living)

Set Up A Bar...Anywhere!

There is something so attractive about a well appointed bar. And no, I'm not talking about the liquid courage! I love the look of all the different bottles, glassware, accessories, and even the mixers. Many people don't have an actual bar in their home, but as you'll see here, you can set up a bar anywhere when you entertain. An easy fix is to set up a tray stand in any nook and turn it into a bar.

Clean off a bookshelf and turn it into a bar. I love that you can put your glassware on one shelf and the drinks on another.

If you're really tight on space, clear off the top of any side table and rally up everything in a nice tidy tray. A tray always makes anything look neater and pulled together.

When setting up a bar(or any party planning detail) my motto is "know your audience". Don't serve Gin and Vodka if your crowd is more Bourbon and Coconut Rum. I also like to pour juice mixers into a pretty pitcher, and smaller sized sodas are more attractive lined up in rows than a couple of big 2-liters, however it is more expensive. Wherever you set up your bar, enjoy your time with friends. Cheers!