By Audrey van Petegem, Senior Editor
If you are a fan of the Mad  Men show, then you know that the era’s drink of choice was the cocktail – and not just one… Set in the 60′s in NYC, the era romanticized the Rat Pack’s image of a bottomless drink and a smoke, a vice for each hand.
Forget about the cigarette. The cocktail represents the return of drink sophistication. Just their names – the Manhattan, Vodka Gimlet or the Old-Fashioned – conjure up images of men in snappy suits and women in beautiful cocktail dresses, looking stylish and sexy.
The cocktail is a classic [...]

The Succulent Wives are taking a little (very little) time off this summer. While we are still actively working on bringing you new content and ideas every week, we have also decided to bring back some of our favorite posts from the archives, those that are still timely, relevant, useful and that deserve to be revisited. Thanks for allowing us to recharge. We promise that we will be coming back with more new ideas and recommendations for cool stuff  than you’ll know what to do with…
We published this article last summer and  feel that it merits the attention of anyone looking [...]

By Audrey van Petegem, Senior Editor
As we all know, Easter celebrates Jesus Christ’s resurrection and it is considered to be one of the most important Christian holidays. But what we may not all know (I did not) is that Easter falls on the first Sunday following the full moon after the vernal equinox (when there is exactly 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness), which was March 21st. Thus, Easter can fall on any Sunday between March 22nd and April 25th. This year, Easter is on Sunday, April 8th. And after 40 days of Lent – the time [...]

By Anne-Marie Kovacs, Chief Wife
Are you entertaining this Thanksgiving? Are feeling the anxiety of the season creeping up on you yet? I am. I need a nap, being completely exhausted just thinking about my To Do list. So, in looking to simplify my life, I’m on the lookout for clever shortcuts. Thought you’d appreciate some of these ideas and tips I found in my search for simplifying the entertaining process:

Have a good planning checklist: Friends have made fun of me for years because of my lists. Called me the List Girl. They also call me organized. So there. This year, [...]

By Tara Riceberg, Guest Contributor – Party Planning & Entertaining
Throwing a Halloween party doesn’t have to be spooky. With these tricks, your guests will be treated to a frightfully fun time!

Pre-shop the stores for inspiration and for budgeting your money. It only gets expensive when you don’t have a plan and buy things spontaneously or last minute.
Create a subtheme to really focus your party and planning. Imagine “Halloween Party” becoming “Antebellum Gothic” (what would have become of Scarlett had Rhett not returned?) – Replete with moss covered columns, dead roses, faux silver platters and tons of candlelight. Decorate with three [...]

By Tara Riceberg, Guest Contributor – Party Planning & Entertaining
It is often believed that the success of a party depends upon the host. This is not entirely true. A great event is a combination of an inspired host and a considerate guest. As Labor Day approaches and the NFL kicks off the fall party season, here are some simple rules to ensure that you’ll be a fantastic guest.
1. RSVP Quickly
There is nothing more aggravating to a hostess than to track down her invited guests so see whether or not they are attending. Remember, the hostess has to plan a menu, [...]

By Audrey van Petegem, Senior Editor
When Anne-Marie’s family and mine got together in Chicago earlier this summer, Pig of the Month offered to supply us with an evening of BBQ bliss. Bliss it was!  The ribs arrived already cooked and frozen. We simply defrosted them overnight in the fridge. The next day we set the table and put on the barbeque. The precooked ribs and artichokes were placed on the hot grill and within minutes the dinner was ready. We were sent a choice of Get Lei’d Hawaiian and Love Me Tender The King of Memphis barbeque sauces. I love [...]

When I host a party, whether it is one of my children’s birthday parties, a New Year’s Eve party or just a casual get-together, I like to keep it simple. Sure, it’s easy to head to one of those party destinations that do all the work for you, but I find there is nothing like having a party in your home. It takes a bit more effort but it is so much more rewarding and guests really appreciate the effort!

By Tara Riceberg, Guest Contributor – Party Planning & Entertaining
The success of a party is completely dependent upon the hostess.  Be happy and well prepared to eliminate stress and ensure a fun time for all.
Here are 5 tips to guide you:
1. Be mindful of guests’ concerns. Some times, attending parties is just as stressful as throwing them.  Eliminate your guests’ fear of what to wear or what to bring by giving directions on the invitation.

Suggest a dress code from costume to white-only to super casual. In addition to alleviating stress, this actually creates anticipation and excitement for the party.

Request a [...]

By Tara Riceberg, Guest Contributor – Party Planning & Entertaining
Now is THE best time to have friends over to your home, as it has just been deep cleaned for spring!  What? You don’t like to entertain?  Worried that you can’t afford to host a party? You’ve never thrown a bash and have no idea how to do it?
NO EXCUSES!  Don’t let laziness, or fear, stop you from entertaining.
All parties, no matter how large or small, must be fun: fun to plan, fun to give and fun to attend. You must plan well and pay attention to details so that your [...]