Receipts feat. Cameron Forbes of Forbes Functions

As a professional event planner, Forbes throws dinner parties galore so she can spot a good dining set. She was introduced to this “incredible Australian brand” by her friend Brooke (of the Uncommon Hostess). Forbes highlights the value of this 10-piece set: it’s “great bang for your buck” at $250 for four complete sets. “They drop new designs every few months,” she says. “I bought this pink and green set a few months ago, and love using it when hosting.” Recently, Forbes Functions launched a genius tablescape rental service (because who wants to buy napkin rings and cloth napkins for once-a-year-use?) that is adorably named “Ours At Yours.” One of the rental kits (“Evening Entertaining”) includes plates from In the Roundhouse, and Forbes can attest that “they hold up perfectly after tens, if not hundreds, of runs in the dishwasher.”

“Candles are expensive these days!” Forbes checks herself, “Or maybe it’s just the fact that I go through four or five candles per month.” Her daily ritual kicks off with Boy Smells first thing: “Before I start work every morning, I light the Cameo candle in my office.” If you’ve ever received one of these as a gift, you know how quickly they become a habit. And if you burn through them (literally) as fast as Forbes you’ll appreciate that the price point is reasonable when you lean into their subscription service (which takes $9.60 off the $48 price tag). Forbes favorite scent is Cameo: It smells like rose, ginger, and lemon.”

Ice Buckets always make me think of nice hotels—but one in your home? That’s luxe living. Forbes notes, “If you come over to my apartment on a Wednesday to watch the latest episode of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, chances are you’ll find a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc chilling in my ice bucket and a cheese plate with Boursin on my coffee table.” She has not one, but two of these 150 oz buckets and even after plenty of use, “they still look great after many nights of chilling wine and champagne.” If you’re having a small dinner party (or any other occasion at home) an ice bucket “is such an easy way to elevate casual drinks,” Forbes explains. They are also a “great hostess gift or present for the recently engaged and married” because you can have them monogrammed (add $12.50) if you have a bit of lead time.

Speaking of boursin — “Yes, I understand it’s basically seasoned cream cheese,” Forbes says. “No, that won’t stop me from including it on every charcuterie board I make.” The spread cannot be denied. “I’ve told a few private chefs that I work with that I enjoy Boursin, and their reaction is almost always one of universal horror.” There’s no room for culinary snobbishness when something tastes this good (and is so easy). Forbes explains that her secret tip is to add it “in pasta sauces and soups — it’s an easy way to make any dish slightly more creamy and comforting.”

As a professional event planner who’s hosted over 80 events in two years, Forbes estimates she’s gone through at least 2,000 taper candles. We’re lucky to have the recommendation of a true candle expert and these tapered options are the winner after Forbes stress tested many brands: “Hyoola provides the most durable, long-lasting candles on the market. The candles rarely break, tunnel, or drip, and they last for up to 8 hours.” These were the candles of choice at a recent birthday dinner for influencer Serena Kerrigan where Forbes’ team used 68 candles for one tablescape.

No party is complete with flowers. Even a low-key dinner party is immediately transformed by a bodega bouquet. Forbes works with plenty of florists and steps in to play the role when needed. Luckily, her mother is a lifelong gardener and taught her well: “I grew up learning how to grow, cut, process, and arrange flowers. One of [my mom’s] best gifts to me in the last few years was a pair of Japanese floral scissors.” Forbes warns they’re “dangerously sharp,” which makes them the “perfect tool for cutting any sort of stem.” These scissors are such a staple they occupy space in Forbes’ emergency bag, alongside other day-of essentials like fishing wire, Windex wipes, glue dots, and a box cutter. Forbes says: “Nowadays, when I see friends or people online cut their flowers with standard scissors, my heart breaks a bit.”

Forbes isn’t short on floral arranging tips. “Mrs. Alice is one of my favorite best-kept secrets,” Forbes confides. The tablescape-centered brand releases limited-edition curations like these Roman-urn-inspired vases seasonally. Forbes is a fan of the entire Mrs. Alice range from home décor to holiday decorations. “I have a couple sets of these glass vases and love using them for floral arrangements at home. They are small enough to not require dozens of blooms but dramatic enough to make an impact.”

Throw this roller into the freezer and you can depuff in a matter of minutes. Forbes was introduced to Lauryn Bosstick’s blog, brand, and podcast by two of her best friends last year and “was quickly converted.” Since then, she’s purchased “almost all of the Skinny Confidential products, and I can confidently say the ice roller is my favorite. When I moved in January and lost mine, I had to order a new one immediately. I use it almost every morning to help depuff my face and wake me up!”

A TikTok discovery (as so many great things are) for Forbes, the Art of Sucre’s viral glitter bombs turn any cocktail into a “sparky sensation.” The glitter bomb itself is a puff of hand-spun cotton candy containing edible glitter: the cotton candy melts and you’re left with an iridescent beverage. “The mimosa glitter bombs are my favorite,” Forbes says, “add to champagne or prosecco for a touch of shimmer and citrus.” Forbes notes that these glitter bombs add a festive aesthetic to a wide range of occasions, “from gender reveals to girls’ nights in.” A serious Art of Sucre fan, Forbes reached out to the brand’s founder, Emily, last summer and since then, “she’s become a mentor to me, and my appreciation for her brand has only grown!”

Tracie Martyn, a skincare brand and spa based in New York, was founded by holistic nutritionist Marius Morariu. Forbes was “instantly hooked” after “Marius invited my mother and me in for a ‘red carpet’ facial and test run of his new ‘ruby red-light bed.” Morariu’s treatments are beloved by Hollywood—Forbes notes that you “might just run into Matt Bomer or Camila Mendes in the waiting room.” She’s already gone through two bottles and says the formula is “super light, but since it is a concentrate, a little goes a long way, and it lathers like a dream. I use it after taking off my makeup with a cleansing balm and have friends with all different types of skin who love it.”

Forbes’ aunt introduced her to this Chai tea concentrate: “the very ingredient Starbucks and other shops use to make their drinks.” Who knew such nectars were sold at Target? Rarely a coffee drinker, Forbes prefers to make Chai tea lattes herself. “Why brew a Chai tea bag, wait for it to steep, ice it, and then add milk, when you can simply store a carton of Chai concentrate in the fridge and easily craft a latte at home?”

You’ve definitely seen this ubiquitous, cottagecore dress, which Forbes is a fan of. “I fell in love with Hill House during college,” she says. “I currently own four different variations of the Ellie nap dress—floral and gingham for spring and summer and plaid and tartan for winter and fall.” Comfort is one of the first factors that nap dress lovers attest to, and Forbes agrees: “I have literally napped in these dresses. They are the most comfortable things on earth and can be worn everywhere, from the grocery store to a wedding rehearsal dinner.”

We’ll conclude on a sweet note. “Birthday cake is one of my favorite desserts, and these marshmallows taste just like the Funfetti cake mix we all grew up on,” Forbes says. She calls these fluffy indulgences “the best marshmallows I have ever had”. They come in 12 packs and should be eaten within eight weeks (no preservatives). Even though funfetti flavor is Forbes’ favorite, she also recommends the cookies and cream and chocolate chip. “They pair perfectly with hot chocolate,” Forbes says, “which I drink all too often.”