Ico Towel featured on Apples & Onions blog! Check out their Labor Day entertaining tips!

"The Daily Meal asked us what our favorite products are for entertaining this Labor Day weekend! So many simple ways to liven up your celebrations so you have some time top enjoy the weekend too!

A store-bought artisan product- Don’t spend  TOO much time laboring over the food, take some help from the store with quality products. Start cocktails with a tin of Bazzini’s nuts.  http://www.bazzininuts.com/gifts/tins.html Artisan pickles (http://rickspicksnyc.com/) add variety to your burger and dog toppings. Or pick up a pie from a local bakery or artisan ice cream at your local creamery.

Beverage Tub- Target always carries inexpensive beverage tubs in bright colors.  We love this turquoise.  Perfect for chilling water, beer and rosé as you relax in the sun.

Striped Straws- Because they’re fun, they’re striped and we want to SCREAM summer on this last weekend of summer 2011.  We think they do.

Deck Towel- Pool parties, beach trips and picnic blanket needs are solved with one linen towel/blanket. It even makes a pretty tablecloth!

Drink Dispenser- If you want to serve sangria, fresh lemonade, ice tea or Arnold Palmers, fill one of these beverage dispensers.  Then guests can help themselves and you’re free to have fun.

Outdoor Umbrella- Shade and stripes.  There’s no classier way to protect your skin.Striped Straws

Bambu Plates and Cutlery- Disposable, recyclable, compostable and still chic! These are the hippest option for plates and cutlery when you can’t transport the real thing.

Disposable Cotton Napkins and Placemats - These colorful rolls combine the elegance of cloth napkins and placemats with the convenience of paper, so they’re perfect for summer garden parties and picnics. They’re made of fine-woven 100% cotton with easy-tear perforated edges and special bonding so they won’t fray. Gingham prints and pretty red and navy blue colors add a fun touch."

The Martijn towel is featured on the Apples & Onions Holiday Gift Guide. Lydia (the wonderfully supportive sister of our founder, Buck Ellison), runs this Los Angeles-based food consultancy. If you haven't read its blog, it comes highly recommended. It's the perfect of marriage of recipe, fashion, and entertaining tips, all presented with biting wit.

Happy Weekend Friends! I’m starting to get into the holiday spirit and have started some of my Christmas shopping! To help you choose unique and thoughtful gifts for your loved ones this year we’ve complied a list of A & O approved holiday gifts and gift guides.

Deck Towel. My brother Buck started selling these linen towels he made in his tiny NY apartment bedroom while getting ready to graduate from college this May. Now they are featured in GQ magazine’s Best Stuff of the Year (December 2010). Perfect for the beach, picnics, soccer games, sofa throw blanket, bed spread, table cloth or plane blanket. Truly a super functional and chic gift for the people you know who have everything.