Whenever I entertain, my rule of thumb is to have an option for everyone. Luckily when it comes to drinks, a few staples can be very versatile!

Before a party, I want to make sure the bar is stocked. If it’s running dry, the size of the party helps determine my shopping list.

If you’re simply having a pregame or cocktail party, on average you can expect 3-4 drinks per person. When food is involved, typically guests may have a drink or two before the meal (whether a mixed drink or glass of wine), maybe another 1 or 2 while they eat, and after that many you might expect a round or 2 of shots afterwards.

If I’m stocking up from scratch, this is what my shopping list might look like:

One (or two) 750 ml bottle of whiskey
- Jack Daniels is pretty universal as a mixer
- Crown Royal or Bulleit work well in cocktails
One 750 ml or 1.5 ml bottle of vodka
- Absolut or Ketel One typically work (I’m not big on vodka)
One 750 ml bottle of gin
- (Depending how much you and your friends like gin, a 375 ml bottle might do)
One 375 ml bottle of rum
One 375 ml bottle of tequila
Two bottle of red wine
- Personally I like to have a Cabernet Sauvignon and a Malbec on hand.
Two bottles of white wine
- Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay I think are the most universal
A case of good ol’ domestic beer
A six-pack of craft beer or seasonal
*Seasonally/Per Occasion* 2 bottles of champagne or a seasonal liqueur (aka Bailey’s)

That’s a wide selection that basically covers every palate. When it comes to mixers, you can’t go wrong with coke, tonic, ginger ale, and some sort of juice mixer (orange and cranberry are classics)

Root beer works well as a mixer, too. Mango juice (typically a more pureed consistency) works well if you’re making frozen margaritas.

If you want to serve a more special cocktail, below you’ll find some very easy takes on simple classics with a slight, memorable variation:

Champagne & St. Germain

Flute of champagne or white wine

St. Germain elderflower liqueur

Pour 1.5 oz of St. Germain elderflower liqueur into a flute of champagne or a sparkling white wine (I like Martini & Rossi’s Asti Spumante). The St. Germain adds an extra sweetness with fruity notes like pear and citrus.

The liqueur itself is very sweet, so mix it with a drier wine or a brut champagne/cava if you prefer.

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Gin & Tonic (Lightly Remixed):

3 oz Gin

La Croix sparkling water (I prefer the lime or lemon flavors)

Lime wedge

In a tall glass filled with ice, pour the gin followed by a can of La Croix sparkling water. For a classic taste, stick with the lime flavor, though the other fruit flavors might offer interesting variations. Squeeze in some lime juice and stir well.

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Gin & Grapefruit Juice

1 large grapefruit

1.5 oz Gin

Cut and juice the grapefruit; if you prefer a version without pulp, store-bought grapefruit juice works too. Pour the gin and stir well. Enjoy!

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How many articles do you come across promising a better, faster, stronger (whoops, Kanye distraction), stabler, hotter, more exciting love life?

You’ve seen them: A New York Times feature by a couple’s therapist. A salacious Cosmo how-to with a “sexpert’s” commentary. A mommy blog from Pinterest on how to be a good wife or girlfriend. They’ve all been in your Newsfeed at one point, and they’re always sharing tips to improve your romantic life.

What about being a good friend? Not nearly as attention-grabbing. But I think it warrants the same spot, if not higher, on our priority list.

Why? (If you’re really asking, this especially applies you)

Think of the people in your snapchat list who get the unflattering selfies. The ones who witnessed your strangest drunk antics in college, were actively responsible for them, and kindly filled you in on your tomfoolery the next morning. The herd that you round up for brunches, Netflix marathons, nights out, nights in, and your biggest life events. Don’t you think they deserve your best efforts too?

Life has led me to conclude two rules for bettering my friendships, no matter what stage they’re in. Never forget these simple steps (that conveniently rhyme): Give a shit. Be considerate.

Give a

It’s kind of an all-encompassing term, I know. But the whole point is two-fold: first, have enough self-reflection in your life to really appreciate your friends. Take a step back and be amazed. The moment you realize how lucky you are, your actions will naturally reflect that.

Secondly, actively use your words and actions to make your friends feel wanted. The world is full of enough rejection, but friendship is acceptance, guaranteed.

So when your friends show you who they are, in the form of sharing a personal anecdote or the Harry Potter fan fiction they wrote in 8th grade: give a shit.

When they’re hitting a rough patch and need advice: give a shit.

Even if they choose to stay mum on what’s going on: give a shit.

When they’ve accomplished a milestone, whether they finished grad school or the enormous breakfast burrito: give a shit.

It’s not hard to do. Even if you can’t put it into words, most of the time you don’t even need to.

Be considerate.

"That's the thing about friendship. It's a lot rarer than love, because there's nothing in it for anybody." -Owen Wilson, You Are Here

It’s easy to underestimate the impact your actions have on other people. You never know if a small surprise made someone’s day, or whether your carelessness deeply hurt somebody. Putting a little more thought and intention into your actions can go a long way in establishing trust and bonding between you and your friends.

The beautiful thing about thoughtfulness is that it often inspires someone to reciprocate in appreciation. Do something nice, your friends will likely do something nice back, and you’ve set off a great spiral of kindness!

Kind gestures aside, just be accountable.

Make your friends a priority. Make time in your day to see them. You probably dedicate 10 hours of your day to work and hopefully 6-8 hours of your night to sleep. In the precious windows in between, it’s not hard to grab a drink or lie comatose on the couch for 2 hours watching Youtube in good company.

I’ve heeded a lot of advice from the internet. Nuggets like, “The average person will spend 229,961 hours, or a third of their life, sleeping. That’s why investing in a quality mattress is important!” Or how to use tape or a business card to get the perfect cat-eye. Most of these tips showed me how to make my life more efficient.

Relationship articles, too, have provided quite an array of advice (that mostly I take with a grain of salt.) Most have to do with what I have to do to attract someone, amuse them, encourage them, and basically keep them around. Most seem to be long to-do lists that establish strange rituals and rules which ultimately just make me question my instincts and sanity.

So let this be my contribution of sage internet advice that focuses on improving your satisfaction and quality of life:

Want good friends? Start by being one.

Give a shit. Be considerate.

Places. Spaces. Food. Drink.