entertaining

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Anyone who knows me can tell you I like to cook. My kitchen cabinets are overflowing with more gadgets and tools than any college student could ever need, and I am the only student I know that has a fully stocked pantry. So when I see kitchen stuff I like, I have to have it. That’s exactly what happened when I stumbled upon this Elements of Style blog about Bake It Pretty’s selection of fun and fabulous cupcake wrappers.

I have already gotten together a wish list of things I need in preparation for my fall project of hosting a Share Our Strength’s Great American Bake Sale. Stemming from too many hours of watching the Food Network and a desire to do some good with my spare time, I realized that the combination of hungry fans on a football Saturday and a great cause would be a recipe for fundraising success. All of the money raised in the bake sale will go toward Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign, which is fighting to end childhood hunger in America by 2015. The program joins together the efforts of community groups, activists and food programs to catch children who are struggling with hunger, bringing them healthy and nourishing foods to the places they live, learn and play.

Here are a few of my must-haves before this fall:

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I absolutely love these playful yet classic cookie cutter shapes from Bake It Pretty. I can just imagine how much fun it will be to decorate these cookies with icing!

Peacock

Essential to any bake sale, cupcakes get a makeover with these designer cupcake wrappers.

What do hungry fans like more than sugary sweets? Sugary sweets that say things like “War Eagle” or “Go Dawgs.” I love the idea of being able to personalize my cookies to say just about anything using this Message-in-a-Cookie Cutter from Williams-Sonoma.

Also from Williams-Sonoma, this Apple Pocket Pie Mold makes perfect apple pies portable.

To learn more about Share Our Strength and its efforts to end childhood hunger in America, or to find out how to host your own Great American Bake Sale, click here.

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Dinner Time

The AH&L staff loves a good party. We also love to entertain at home. But it’s hard work. Or, rather, we think it’s hard work. But on The Peak of Chic today, local blogger and tastemaker Jennifer Boles shows us how to throw an easy, fun dinner party on a school night! And, she’s right—Cafe Lapin is delish! (I ate there every Friday this summer just to have the lemon meringue pie.)

Ciao Bella!

Italian Wine Tasting

Celebrate “Leonardo da Vinci: Hand of the Genius” and all things Italian with a special Italian Wine Tasting at the High Museum of Art on October 22, from 5-9 p.m. Each ticket includes admission to the exhibition and three wine tastings or one full glass of these select Italian wines. Additional tastings/glasses, Italian nibbles and other drinks will be available for purchase. Tickets: $20; $10 for members.

Visit high.org/ItalianWineTasting for more information.

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Here’s a bit of exciting local news that’s even more exciting for your holiday tabletop: The Mrs. Howard showroom at The Galleries of Peachtree Hills is holding a tabletop extravaganza showcase this week on October 1 and 2. Visit to see designer lines like  William Yeoward, Dransfield & Ross and Marc Blackwell, plus great advice for making your tabletop look its best for the holidays. Get all the details on the Mrs. Howard Personal Shopper blog.

Cheers!

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Hostess with the mostest: Phoebe Howard in her Buckhead condominium

Hostess with the mostest: Phoebe Howard in her Buckhead condominium. Photo: Erica George Dines

I’m doing a final check of the copy for our November issue before it goes into layout later this week. Here’s a sneak peek at one of designer Phoebe Howard’s top 10 tips for holiday entertaining. This one, however, is good enough for year-round use!

Be mindful of your guests’ schedules the following day and choose the appropriate start and end time. Make sure the evening progresses at a comfortable pace. There is nothing worse than feeling trapped at a late night party because the hostess is either unorganized or unaware. Keep an eye on the time. Make a schedule: One hour for cocktails, one hour for dinner, 30 minutes for dessert, and try to adhere to it. (Of course some parties take on a life of their own and when that happens, go with it!)

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