Food, drinks, and hungry guests are givens. More easily overlooked? These items, all key players in a smoothly running cookout. To ensure you don’t forget anything, click on the image below for your own downloadable checklist. (Party on.)

Our Gear Up for Grilling Season: BBQ Essentials Boutique opens Friday, May 10, at 3PM ET.

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Our All-Clad Stainless Steel Cookware Boutique opens Wednesday, May 8, at 3PM ET.

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If you visited Rue La La at all last month, you probably saw our April login page. (If not, peep it here.) A personalized welcome mat? Needless to say, I was inspired.

One trip to Home Depot, a few printouts, and some work with an X-ACTO® knife later, my front porch has serious personality. Here’s how to create your own.

What you’ll need:

• Door mat (about $10 at Home Depot)
• Black spray paint ($2)
• Stencils – I printed mine on regular printer paper, in a few different sizes
• X-ACTO knife
• Scissors
• Thumbtacks
• Newspaper
• Tape measure, if you want to be precise

How to do it:

1. Print out your mat message. (Need an idea? How about a Rueism?) If you have heavier paper, it might make the cutting process a bit easier, but I used regular and it worked well.
2. Decide what size your font should be by placing the pages on the mat and eyeing them from standing level. If you can’t read it clearly, it’s too small.
3. Use the X-ACTO knife to carefully cut out the letters. Do this on a safe surface, like a thick piece of cardboard or magazine (I used an old Rue La La box). Make sure to save the letters that need fill-ins, like Es and Os.
4. Go outside (inhaling toxins is no fun) and place your stencil plus fill-ins – tape measure optional – on the mat where you would like the message.
5. Secure the pages and pieces with thumbtacks. Don’t be modest – the spray will cause lightweight paper to blow around a bit, and you want these as stable as possible.
6. Cover the rest of the mat with newspaper to prevent the paint from spreading.
7. Spray the stencils completely.
8. Let dry for a minute or two, then reveal!

By Julia Ivins, Staff Writer

What will your welcome mat message be? Let us know in the comments below or tweet us at @ruelala, then check out our Rue How-To column every Wednesday.

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Red. White. Champagne. When it comes to wineglasses, that’s about as far as my expertise goes. But, after a little vino research, it seems the primary features of glasses (wide brim, narrow bowl, etc.) actually benefit the flavors in different ways. So here’s a lowdown – from a non-expert.

In general, all wines need to be aerated, acidity-regulated, and aroma-preserved. The taller the bowl and wider the brim, the more oxygen reaches the wine, while narrow rims and smaller glasses preserve the aromas inside the glass (ideal for older vintages and sweet wines).

Regulating acidity is all about where the wine lands in your mouth – directed by the shape of the glass. Narrow rims direct the wine to the center of the tongue, tempering acidity, while flared rims direct it to the tip of the tongue, showcasing it. Now, I release you to throw your first eight-course dinner party – with every appropriate glass represented.

Our Geyser Peak Winery Boutique opens Wednesday, May 8, at 11AM ET.

Our Sink In & Sleep Tight: Mattresses & Bedding Basics Boutique opens Tuesday, May 6, at 11AM ET.

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Photos by Adam Roberts.

Is Cinco de Mayo on your radar? It’s certainly on ours. (Can’t beat Mexican food.) In preparation for Sunday’s endless feasting, we’d been scouring the Internet for party-ready recipes.

That’s when we came across The Amateur Gourmet – the answer to our foodie dreams. Adam Roberts doesn’t mess around in the kitchen. Check out his super-comprehensive blog, mouthwatering recipes, gorgeous cookbook, and impressive accolades.

That is, of course, after you whip up a mean batch of Carnitas Tacos with Green Salsa and Pico de Gallo.

Our Sunday Supper: Mexican Night Boutique opens Sunday, May 5, at 11AM ET.

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Our Rugs 101: Find the Best Style for Your Room Boutique opens Friday, May 3, at 3PM ET.

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Leather is one of the most durable materials for upholstering furniture. Over time, and unlike other textures, use lends the piece a patina and character. The more worn-in it looks, the more it feels a like an integral part of your home. Now – on to making it such.

1. Tell a color story.
You can’t go wrong with an old-school, single-color look. But you also could really shake it up. Play the dark leather off of a bright wall color (like yellow) to make a strong statement.

 
3. Leather ottomans are not just for feet.
Use the Jackson ottoman as a coffee table, entryway bench, nightstand, or settee at the end of your bed. Its uses are endless and the leather makes it feel more luxurious than wood.
 
Our Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams: Signature Leather Collections Boutique opens Tuesday, April 30, at 11AM ET.

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For today’s Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams Boutique, our Home Team took off to Greensboro, North Carolina, for a three-day photo shoot. There, they created five different worlds – one for each buttery leather chair to live in. Luckily, we were able to snap a few behind-the-scenes shots and see how each setting came to life.

Our Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams Boutique opens Tuesday, April 30, at 11AM ET.

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Continue reading “A Look Behind the Scenes: Inside Our Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams Photo Shoot” »

Our Fashion on the Floor: Rugs in Trending Prints Boutique opens Monday, April 29, at 3pm ET.

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