Black and White Server

I recently opted for an ottoman to pair with my sofa, which to be fair, has taken some getting used to. It’s perfect for kicking back on a marathon Arrested Development and knit session; it’s less ideal for balancing a cocktail for Sunday night Mad Men. (Yes, my arguments pro and con essentially revolve around television.)

Solution? Every stylist’s go-to: a tray. Now, thanks to this handy number from Bouclair, I’ve got room for my feet and for my Old Fashioned.

Black and white server, $20, Bouclair, Vancouver and Calgary, bouclair.com

Simple Servingware

I’m into my 12th year of living in Vancouver, which means I’m about to host my 12th orphan Thanksgiving. My nearly 20 years of vegetarianism means someone else handles the turkey (though I’ll admit, I’ve been known to dabble in the odd piece), but I’ll cover some favourite side dishes (like this Smashed Yam and Sweet Potatoes with Brown Butter and
Maple) and the easiest appetizer I know: a cheese platter. But easy can be pretty too, and this simple slate board from Trudeau fits the bill. With a piece of chalk, I can write the name of each cheese for my guests—and you know I’ll be grabbing a nice slice of this one for myself. Venti Slate Cheese Board by Trudeau, $30, available in Vancouver at Ming Wo, mingwo.com, and in Calgary at the Happy Cooker, happycooker.ca.