Entertaining Ideas: Best Recipes, Drink Ideas, Home Decor

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Anya Taylor-Joy Isn't Resting on Her Laurels

Even with an innate flair for the dramatic — Hair! Outfits! Roles! — the Queen's Gambit star is still finding her place amid all the attention.

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This article originally appeared on Cooking Light. For more stories like this, visit cookinglight.com.

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This article originally appeared on Real Simple. For more stories like this, visit realsimple.com.

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How to Avoid 6 Holiday Party Fails, According to Nate Berkus and Athena Calderone

Hosting a holiday party is no small endeavor. Not only are you shouldered with the responsibility of preparing food for a house full of people—but there's also cleaning, re-arranging, and entertaining involved, all of which combined is capable of making you spiral into insanity before guests even arrive. Seeing as we're in the throes of the festive season, we tapped two consummate entertainers for their pro tips on how to decorate and cook with ease. Here, interior designer Nate Berkus and Eyeswoon's Athena Calderone, who both partnered with LG Electronics during the lead-up to the holidays, spill their stress-free hosting secrets. Scroll down for their candid hosting mishaps—and how to avoid them. Take notes, people.

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7 Delicious Hot Cocktails to Spice Up Your Holiday Party

The holidays are here and that means cuddling by a fire and warming up from the inside out with something hot to drink. We're used to the mulled wines, hot apple ciders, and classic hot toddys, but for the hostess who wants to really impress her holiday party guests, this is the season to try a more adventurous hot cocktail. For a simple upgrade, add an extra kick to your egg nog by adding 1.5 oz of the spirit of your choice and garnishing with a dusting of nutmeg and some orange zest, says Spike TV's Bar Rescue expert Mia Mastroianni. And to perfectly spike your homemade apple cider (2 quarts of cider, 3 cinnamon sticks, 6 whole cloves, an orange sliced into thin wheels, and optional small piece of ginger simmered in a saucepan on low heat), she suggests adding 1.5 oz of spiced rum or bourbon to your seasonal mug. "One of my favorite things to do is keep a pot of cider mulling on the stovetop—it makes the house smell wonderful, and it's incredibly easy to prep." But if you're looking to go for something more novel and dazzling, check out our favorite hot cocktail recipes below, from a ginger hot toddy to lavender-spiked hot cocoa—plus what to add to your shopping list so you're always ready to pour.

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Rebecca Taylor on How to Host a Stress-Free Holiday Party

Seeing as Rebecca Taylor’s dresses are ideal for the holiday party circuit, it makes sense that the New Zealand-born designer, known for her rich textures and romantic silhouettes, would know how to entertain a group herself. As anyone who’s been tasked with throwing a seasonal get-together well knows, hosting is no easy feat, what with food shopping, cooking, and expertly mingling with everyone in attendance, without leaving anyone awkwardly standing in the corner. According to Taylor, the key is to keep the vibe as mellow as possible—and that applies to the guest list, too. “The most important ingredient for a great party is surrounding yourself with wonderful friends and family,” she says. “I just love funny people. Anyone that makes me laugh is always welcome to my house.” Here, Taylor shares more secrets for a successful night.