Do you love simple centerpieces that aren’t fussy but lend an air of prettiness to your table? I found a 6-pack container of spring hyacinth bulbs at the garden center and turned half of the pack into a spring bulb centerpiece. It was easy to make and didn’t require any artistic flower arranging skills. I…
A few unseasonably warm spring days have graced our region and on one such day I took advantage of the balmy weather and created a front porch dining space using colorful and fun items from World Market. I love the color coordinating jewel tones I found throughout the store. And I’m super excited to say that…
Christmas is coming … quickly! Seems it gets here faster every year. I’m hosting Christmas at my house this year so I’ve been playing around with a Christmas table setting or too. I found some gorgeous plates at the flea market last month with the intent of using them for Christmas dinner. My first idea for…
Remember when you were a kid and reenacted the pilgrim’s first Thanksgiving in grade school? I loved it! Some of us would dress as pilgrims, and some would dress as Indians. We’d do a little play (I never got the parts with reading lines, unfortunately) and talk about what the pilgrims ate at a long…
When I became a vegetarian a few years ago, I knew I would hate giving up turkey on Thanksgiving Day. I’m not a fan of tofurkey because … well, it’s fake. I typically include a vegetable soup at Thanksgiving, something creamy and a little rich. Since so much time and energy is invested in cooking…
So much attention is given to Halloween and Christmas that Thanksgiving is often overlooked. It’s a wonderful holiday where we express all that we’re thankful for, and one thing I especially appreciate is the blogging community. I’ve had the chance to meet some warm and wonderful people who are always supportive and encouraging. I asked a…
On occasion it’s fun to set a cozy breakfast table for two … whether it’s for you and a friend, you and your hubby, or you and whoever. In my opinion, food seems to taste better when you have a nice place setting to stage it. Isn’t that why we like to go out to eat…
Thanksgiving is a few days away and that means I get to set a pretty table for the family and cook a fabulous turkey with all the trimmings. This year I’ve ordered a fresh turkey for my family from Reams Meat Market, which is well known throughout Chicagoland. I decided to customize our Thanksgiving table…
At Thanksgiving I typically gravitate toward traditional or farmhouse style table decor, but when Bormioli Rocco Glass Company approached me about creating a tablescape with their gorgeous Italian dinnerware, I opted for a modern country table setting. And I’m excited to share that they’re offering $200 worth of their exquisite tableware to one of my blog readers!…
School has begun, the days are starting to shorten, and Fall decorating is on my mind. Today I’m joining some blogging friends for the Autumn Abounds blog hop. We’re all sharing seasonal decorating inspiration. I’ve chosen to create an easy Fall centerpiece that you can easily do yourself. When the days get shorter, I enjoy…
Is it really August already? Would someone please tell Summer to slow down? I am not ready at all for Fall to roll into town! Autumn is a beautiful season, but my first love will always be Summer! We had a busy weekend but I took time to create a simple Summer table setting for hubby…
As the weather warms I like to spend more time outdoors which means I have less time for stuff indoors. Food preparation becomes less complicated and table settings turn simpler. Today I’m sharing an effortless spring tablescape as I join a group of bloggers that are sharing a week of pretty tablescapes. At the end…
This week I’m joining a group of lovely bloggers to bring you a week of pretty tablescapes. The table tour officially starts tomorrow and to kick things off, I thought I’d share some of my favorite table settings that I’ve shared here on my blog. My mother always set beautiful tables at the holidays and…
I’m sitting here thinking of Easter as it’s blowing snow outside. Every few years we get an April snow and I guess this is the year we’re blessed with one last flurry of the white stuff. It promises to be in the 60’s later this week so the snow will be gone soon, thankfully. I’m…
My mother taught me the art of table setting many years ago. I loved our family holiday dinners growing up because her table was always exquisite and well thought out. Dining was an experience of both good food and beauty. I’m honored to be part of this week’s Fall Tablescape Tour with other bloggers so…
Fall doesn’t officially begin until September 22nd and it’s always a bittersweet time of year for me. I adore summer and hate to see it go, but I also love autumn with her crisp evenings and brilliant colors. So I always experience a mix of emotions this time of year. This week I’m celebrating the…
