THE LATEST FROM FRAN BERGER
Lifestyle
In Search of the Perfect Coffee Mug
What are the qualities that sets one coffee mug apart from all the others? Ever notice how we collect coffee mugs? And we all have different reasons not just for accumulating them but also for keeping them. I have a...
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How will you make your football party stand out?
It IS great time to entertain your friends and family—make those memories stand out with a themed cocktail drink! As you plan your football party, there are some quick and easy ways for you to enjoy the day too. Keeping...
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Aperitivo: Savor Italy's Tradition of Leisurely Socializing
Enjoy the relaxed pace and informality of a timeless continental style. One of the reasons I became a restaurateur is that I love to entertain. And, one of my favorite ways to entertain guests follows the Italian Aperitivo style: informal and wholly...
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Home Entertaining in Style: The best way to build a collection of fine silver and crystal
The secret: estate sales, flea markets, thrift stores. And they’re fun! For some folks, having the perfect set of home entertaining “ware” is a matter of inheritance. If you are one of the lucky ones to have inherited crystal, china,...
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Two Drink Recipes, for a Nice Summer Afternoon Spritz
Bringing you 2 fabulous spritz drinks to help you keep cool during California’s dog days of summer-early fall. It’s not the end of summer in California until we endure those final “dog days” through early fall. It’ll be boiling here...
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Summer Drink Recipe: Grapefruit Aperol Spritz
Brings you this fabulous spritz drink to help you keep cool during California’s dog days of summer-early fall. It’s not the end of summer in California until we endure those final “dog days” through early fall. It’ll be boiling here...
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How will you pick the perfect wine glasses for your home?
With so many options, designs, and ideas sometimes it’s hard to settle on a choice – unless you have some professional help. They say that if you really know what you want in life, making decisions is easy. But, that...
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Party Etiquette: Which bread plate is mine?
This tip will save you from the embarrassment of grabbing the wrong bread plate (or wine glass) at a formal party. A friend of mine told me this story about one of the first formal parties he attended. It was...
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Elevate Your Mixology: 8 Essential Tools for Your Home Bar
Spare yourself the last-minute run-around – get these 8 handy home bar tools now. Next to food, drinks are a main hospitality ‘go-to’ especially if you plan to get serious with home entertaining. Of course, I’m talking specifically...
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Summer Cocktail idea for you and your friends
La Dolce Vita with a Negroni cocktail recipe: gin, Campari, Vermouth and a twist of Orange peel. Even if you’ve only been following me for a little while, you know that I love anything Italian and I’ve been very fortunate...
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Flowers for Home Décor – How to keep Hydrangeas fresher longer
A popular ornamental plant is our favorite home flower decoration – hydrangea! The name “hydrangea” may or may not ring any bells. But if ornamental horticulture happens to be your “thing” or if you have ever seen the plant and...
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How to get the perfect rug size for your dining room.
Tips for Home Décor – creating the right “balance” between look and function. When I buy rugs for my home, I think about how they’ll look in my home – color and style, and how they will ‘get along’ with...
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Enjoy Al Fresco Dining – Even in Winter!
What a great opportunity – to cozy up with warm drinks, hot food, and close friends. The Italians love dining outside so much that there’s a term for it in Italian – Al Fresco; dining in the fresh air. Dining...
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Upgrade your Coffee Table or Dining Room Table
Make a statement with cool accents and fabulous conversation starters. A lesson I learned from my mother: if it has dust on it, it’s been out too long. The lesson from that idea may not be what you immediately think....
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The Perfect Valentine’s Day Adult Beverage
Celebrate love and friendships with this favorite cocktail recipe. There’s more to a mixed drink than a chunk of fruit, a swizzle stick, and a little paper umbrella. Most people think of mixed drinks as “cocktails” and some mixes are...
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Tips and Hints for your Outdoor Winter Décor
Because your home should look as good on the outside as it does on the inside. Yards look so sad this time of year, especially the backyard. The grass goes brown and the trees are mostly bare. Add to this,...
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Outdoor Dining for (almost) anywhere.
Just because it’s a little chilly outside doesn’t mean you can’t have your party outdoors. I’m not talking about freezing weather. Let’s be sensible! And – yes – I know: “chilly” weather in California isn’t the same kind of “chilly”...
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Another Year with Sophisticating Living
What I’ve learned about sophisticated living – and how I’m taking it to the next level in 2018. A friend of mine is fond of saying, “We only get one ticket to the big dance. Make it count!” I get...
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How about a New Years’ Day party?
An excellent way to balance a great NYE party is an excellent NYD Open House. New Year’s Eve is a great time to celebrate, don’t you think? What better time to party than to ring in the new year? And...
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How Much to Tip when I travel?
Tipping guidelines for keeping up with etiquette while traveling. There are general travel tipping guidelines, but during the holidays it’s even more important to remember to thank those with whom you interact and accept their services. Check out my videos...
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