An afternoon sipping wine with Martha Stewart, totally casually right? I was lucky enough to attend the launch party for Martha Stewart Wine Co. to get a first look at the wine selections and I have to say I am so excited about this launch!

Martha Stewart has been the go-to household name for all things entertainment, DIY, home decor so adding a wine company to her brand only seems natural. Martha Stewart Wine Co. is a curated online wine service that brings wine (including selections from Martha) right to your door. You can buy by the bottle, wine packs, or they also offer a wine club.

The service has curated wine selections from across the globe to help make every celebration or a casual night in top-notch. Dinner party? You got it! Girls night? Done! Date-night in? They've thought about that too. No detail has gone unnoticed and the brand also highlights pairing suggestions with Martha's recipes to make your next get-together even easier to plan.

During the event, I got to taste a variety of the line's offerings and it was tough, but I have a few favorites that I'd highly recommend!

3 of my Favorites from the Collection:

1. The first being the Bear Hug Chardonnay, it was smooth but with a classic Chardonnay taste. Being from California it also reminded me of my last trip to Napa which was an added bonus.

2. If you like a nice sparkling wine the Fincalegre Cava Brut is a great option! It was tasty on its own and would be great for a celebration or can you say brunch cocktails?! Count me in.

3. If you're a Rosé lover then you should definitely check out the Villa Ruby Rosé -- which also happens to be one of Martha's favorites!

I have to add, in addition to a great selection the pricing for the line is very affordable too -- which is always a perk! The bottles range in price from $12.49-$29.99 and they're also offering a special on their 6-bottle pack for $59.99. WIN! If you're someone who enjoys always having wine in the house, you might also be interested in their wine club. They offer a half case and full case offering with either 6 bottles every 6 weeks for only $8.33/bottle or 12 bottle every 8 weeks for $7.49/bottle, plus that includes free shipping. You just can't beat those deals plus you won't even have to leave your house to pick them up.

It was a fantastic event and  I was very impressed by the line. I definitely know I'll be ordering some of the selections for Spring and Summer entertaining! You can learn more about the line or order some bottles yourself at the link below.

Photo Credit: Cover photo courtesy of Martha Stewart Wine Co. Facebook

V-day is around the corner and whether you’re single or attached, we think it’s the perfect time to celebrate your love for the ones who are always there for you – your ladies! Planning get-togethers can sometimes feel intimidating and time-consuming but they don’t have to! Today I’m sharing some tips to make hosting your own Galentine’s Day party as easy as 1,2,3!

The Décor

First things, first, let’s talk décor! One of my personal favorites about Valentine’s Day (besides the sweets!) is the décor and it’s the perfect place to start when you’re planning your party. Here are a few things to keep in mind.

Create a focal point
Living in a studio in NYC, my space is pretty limited so I have to pick one corner of my apartment to decorate, but the same concept applies for no matter where you live. Pick one table, a bar or a bar cart to highlight your party décor.  You don’t have to decorate your whole place to be festive. Pick one spot and do it right!

Tablecloths are a party’s best friend
Tablecloths are one of the easiest and inexpensive ways to transform a space from every day to party-ready. Plus they make cleanup a breeze.

Shop for props
The dollar bins at Target and Michaels can go a long way for your Galentine’s Day party! In fact, almost everything I purchased for my party was from both stores. I love the dollar bins because they always have the cutest holiday décor and you know it won’t break the bank. Here are some of my favorite options to pick up:

• Banners – One of my favorite ways to decorate for a party is by adding a banner. Often you can find these in the dollar bins either that are already festive or plain, allowing you to decorate them just the way you want.
• Napkins & paper plates – Skip the dishes and grab some cute options in the dollar bins for your party.
• Stationary – Cute stationary is always one of my go-tos for goody bags. Another way I like to use them is by laying them out on your table for decoration or using them as place setting cards.
• Paper straws – This classic item adds an extra dose of cuteness to whatever you are drinking.
• Confetti – Add a little confetti to a table and it already looks like a party!

The Sips
Because a party isn’t quite a Galentine’s Day party without something to drink!

It’s all about the hot chocolate bar
Take a break from mimosas and bellinis for this party and host your very own hot chocolate bar. Perfect for the winter season, a hot chocolate bar is a fun way to celebrate and very easy to put together. I suggest mixing up some hot chocolate in a crockpot so that you can make a large amount and keep it warm throughout your party. The great thing about creating a toppings bar too is everyone can customize their own drink just how they’d like.

Here are some ideas to create your toppings bar:

• Marshmallows
• Flavored syrups
• Candy hearts
• Chocolate chips
• Sprinkles
• Whipped cream

Want to add a little booze to your hot chocolate bar too? Add in some of your favorite liquor and even try out arecipe or two.

The Bites
Valentine’s Day is all about the treats so this Galentine’s Day party will have no shortage of sweets! Here are some easy ideas to put together.

Create a donut decorating bar
You don’t have to overcomplicate things either! If you don’t have time to bake your own donuts, buy a box of plain ones at the store and focus on the best part – the frosting! For this party I whipped up some classic whipped cream frosting with a touch of food coloring. Pick your favorite frosting recipe or even just pick up a can at the store. The fun is in the decorating with a variety of sprinkles!

Sugar cookie or cupcake decorating bar
If donuts aren’t your thing, you can try the same concept with sugar cookies or cupcakes. Whatever fits your fancy, it will all be tasty!

Add some sprinkles to your popcorn
Another fun snack idea is Valentine’s Popcorn. Add some white chocolate, a little salt, and sprinkles and you’ll have a delicious treat in only a few minutes! Add it into some cute paper bags, and your quick snack will look all sorts of festive.

Now that you have some inspiration, it’s time to plan your very own Galentine’s Day party! Have fun ladies and happy Valentine’s Day! 

Guest Blog originally published on CarryLove Designs

Is there anything better than a wine night with your girlfriends?! I don't think so! Luckily thanks to the awesome team at ANEW Wine I got to treat some of my best friends to an evening of just that!

I was really excited to try out their wines too because the it's actually from my home state of Washington! Shout-out to the Columbia Valley! Bringing all of my favorite things together for one night -- home, friends, and wine <3

We got to try the ANEW Rosé and the ANEW Pinot Grigio, both wines from 2014. I tend to favor wines that are light so both of these appealed to my palate. ANEW's wines are described as refreshing and rejuvenating and I would say both fit that description well. They were the perfect combination of being crisp with fruity notes. I can be a little picky about Pinot Grigios and I have to say I really enjoyed theirs. 

Of course no party is complete without some fun decor! I had fun making some prints to match with the vibe of the wines. You know it's going to be colorful if it's coming out of my studio!

The weather for our evening really couldn't have been much better. You never quite know what you're going to get in August in NYC so we lucked out on the perfect summer temps. To make sure our wine stayed the perfect temp too, I popped a few frozen grapes in each of our glasses. I picked up this tip from Pinterest and love it because it doesn't affect the taste of the wine and keeps the wine chilled just right. It makes the glasses look kind of pretty too!

Some of the ladies enjoying their wine!

Even Scoots joined in for our fun, sans wine of course, he has a few more years before he hits the legal drinking age ;-)

For the evening's pairings I picked  a wide array of cheeses, fresh fruits, crackers and some other tasty bites. If there's one thing I've learned from various wine tastings, it's how much of an impact the food pairing can have on the taste of the wine. I always think it's fun to compare the differences between the taste when paired with different items. The pairing suggestions (see below) also suggest trying the wines with seafood or cream-based dishes, which I'm sure would be totally delicious! You have to try the Pinot with strawberries or the Rosé with the brie or the gouda. LOVED those combos!

We had such a fun evening! I'll definitely be picking up some of their wine for future wine nights, especially with Fall TV nights just around the corner ;-) The prices are super reasonable too, which is always a plus! 

All of my friends were super excited they got to head home with a little goodie bag too! Cheers to ANEW Wine! Thanks for such a fun evening :)

Make sure you check out their website for more information on where you can pick up some of their wines and make sure to "like" their Facebook page!

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**Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. ANEW Wine provided me with wine and other promotional materials in exchange for a blog post. This post and all opinions stated are based on my own ideas and honest experience with the products and have not been influenced based upon the sponsorship.