Read Full Feature in Nesting Newbies Magazine, Winter ‘10

One of the easiest menus to pull together for a party is a wine and cheese tasting. Or is it? Grab your keys, head off to your local market, and find your way to the cheese counter. Now, choose.

“With over 1000 varieties available, it can be overwhelming to navigate through all the choices,” says Chef Lea McIntosh. “Selecting cheese can be as intimidating and complicated as choosing a fine wine.” It’s no wonder we all end up with the same old wedges of cheddar and Monterey Jack in our shopping bags.

Getting to know cheese could become a new hobby or life’s passion, but for those of us who just want to throw a good party, Chef Lea has developed two selections—one using American artisanal cheeses and one with international choices. Each selection offers your guests a wonderful tasting experience. “I want you to have a stress-free introduction to the world of cheese, and you’ll see how the cheese stands alone as the only course you’ll need to serve for entertaining.”

Photography By: Natali Wi

Read Full Feature in Nesting Newbies Magazine, Winter ‘10

“Most families have some old china, flatware, or linens lying forgotten in a dusty cabinet,” says interior designer Jennifer Rowland Clapp. “A lone teapot from grandma? Perhaps a mishmash of tarnished, silver-plated serving pieces? A rogue set of teacups emblazoned with roses? It doesn’t matter if they’re valuable or pure kitsch—unearth them and be merry! If you pair your vintage pieces with modern pieces, you’ll have a setting that conveys your sense of personal history.”

Photography By: Natali Wi