Home & Garden Blog

I went to the Las Vegas Market recently & for some reason I got drawn to these liquid containers. Maybe because they were filled with tequila or vodka infused with orange and pineapple slices :). The cocktail was my escape from a stressful & tiring week. But back to these containers….

Forgive me for being clueless, I found out they are called a samovar. A samovar is an urn with a spigot or faucet used to boil water for tea. What one showroom did was place them in a round table & each samovar contained a different cocktail. They looked extremely charming & inviting as you can see all the fruit slices floating giving it so much color, perfect for parties or wedding receptions even.

They can get pretty pricey, almost $300 at retail but I think their look is timeless at any event.

Well, you need a perfect cocktail recipe for that samovar. Here’s one for you. Enjoy!

Tequila SeaBreeze

A Smarter Home & Garden reader turned me on to this cool aluminum wine tray from MuNiMulA ($98). It holds four wine glasses and a bottle of wine, stopping a spillage accident before it starts. You could also walk around at a party, delighting your friends with offerings of vino. Do it!

MuNiMula Wine Tray, $98.

Lightseed Hanging Candleholders, $9.99 (was $14.95)

Even if your backyard won’t be featured in Sunset magazine anytime soon, these Lightseed Hanging Candleholders will certainly charm things up a bit. Wouldn’t they look great illuminating your next summer night barbecue? They come with a cable and a tea light, so all you have to do is pick a spot to display them. Hang them from trees, or go all out and screw in a few hooks around your patio.

You might even like them enough to bring them inside after the party–hang one or three from your ceiling. Try varying the lengths of the cables for some extra visual interest.

Tracy Porter Serving Trays, $24.99 each (was $32.95)

You could just bring food and drinks to your guests with your boring old hands, but that’s no fun. Add a little style to your hostly duties with one of these Tracy Porter serving trays. They’re on sale right now at wrapables.I love the unexpected color combinations and the Asian inspired “bamboo” handles. Your guests will fawn.