Friday Favorites: Bar Essentials

Hey everyone!  This week's post is all about everything you need to set up an awesome bar/drink station.

 Here are some vessels for drinks.  FYI, I skipped showing you guys just a table set up as a bar, you know that's an option. 

1. Instead here is a Green Glass Bottle, perfect for putting water out onto individual tables/place settings, or just to have clustered together in a designated bar area.  It's just prettier than bottled water sitting out.

2. I have probably 8 of these plastic bins sitting in my laundry room, not holding anything, but they are an awesome item that you probably have around your house to use as a beverage bin.  Just fill with ice and drinks, and you're ready to go! (Also try a blow up kid's pool)

3. Chalkboard paint has gotten incredibly popular lately, so it might as well be involved in your bar.  Here is a carafe and cups from Pier 1; keep a cup of multi-colored chalk out so guests can label their cups, or fill the carafe with wine or a mixed drink and label it!  Best thing is, you know the label won't fall of or fall down if it's written right on the glass!

4. These dispensers are pretty awesome, they're from Target and I just think a perfect way to serve anything!  I love lemonade and I have a lot of friends who love mixing iced tea and lemonade; or put in any punch recipe you have!

Now for things to actually drink out of!

1. Orange tumbler glasses, found at One Kings Lane.  A tumbler (short and wide) glass is great for classic mixed drinks like Jack and Coke.

2. Highball glasses.  I went with a classic highball glass from World Market.  These are also great for mixed drinks, but perfect for a tall glass of soda or lemonade too.

3. Purple wineglasses.  I like that these are short and sturdy wine glasses, no skinny stems that can be awkward to hold.  Since these aren't traditional wine glasses either, they're a perfect multi-tasking bar glass.  They'd be perfect for frozen/blended drinks, like margaritas or daiquiris, and still work for wine!

Finally drink accessories!!

1. Fancy Ice Cubes!  Just stick lemon slices, herbs, fruit into your ice cube trays, add the water, and freeze.  Also, you could make the ice cubes out of any beverage, like lemonade or ice tea.

2. To really have a complete bar, you need actual tools to make drinks.  This is a complete set (that comes in an ice bucket!) from Crate & Barrel that has measures, a strainer, bottle opener, just everything.

3. Finally, Wine charms!  I like these little wine monsters that stick onto the stem of the wine glass.  There are tons of wine charm options out there; I saw bowties, mustaches, flowers, holiday-specific ones, etc.  If you don't want to buy a specific set, you could use pipe cleaners or Silly Bands.

You don't have to have every liquor/drink option to have a complete bar, just make sure you have a couple options, alcoholic and non, and whatever tools people might need...no need for a shaker if you have a couple pitchers of sangria out!