Friday Crush

If you've read this blog and/or know me, you know that Thanksgiving is my own personal table-setting Olympics. It's the one holiday that I really gear up for in the table and entertaining department. Examples can be seen here and here.

You also probably know that I'm loyally devoted to Caspari and all things paper and entertaining that they produce. LIKE THIS NEW TURKEY PLATE.

Let's be clear that I already purchased my set...for next year. Because I had already purchased Caspari plates for this year. But this beauty was just too good to pass up.

We are closing in on potentially finalizing our move. Fingers crossed. Real Estate = Emotional Rollercoaster. Hope you have a fun fall weekend. See you next week!

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Caspari Christmas Ballet

Humor me.

I know Christmas is LONG gone but I never showed you my Christmas table. And I loved it so much that it made me sad to put it away without showing you. So here it is.

You know Caspari is my fave and they debuted this Christmas Ballet collection this year...and I had to have it:

The Nutcracker Ballet depicted in a napkin full of hot pink, red, blue and green. Be still my heart.

I paired it with my wedding china, Derby Panel Green by Royal Crown Derby:

I also used my wedding crystal for wine and light pink glass tumblers from IKEA for water.

Paper napkins served as a table runner as well as coasters. 

Hot pink poinsettias took center stage inside small glass vases (Tip: Did you know you should "sear" the stems of cut poinsettias with a lighter/flame in arrangements? My cut stems are still going strong weeks later). 

Various crystal candlesticks with Caspari taper candles in shades of red, hot pink, and light pink provided ambience.

Everything perched atop a red tablecloth (also Caspari, obvi) that is wonderful for fancy dinners because it feels more like fabric than paper.

And then, we had the Christmas mice:

I made a little trip to IKEA where I picked up a dozen mice for 99 cents each, followed by a trip to the craft store for some pink tulle for the ballerinas and some felt for the gentlemice.

After a relatively short crafting session where I just eyeballed everything and went to town with a hot glue gun, I had a small army of Christmas mice to adorn the table. The perfect finishing touch to each setting and the kids loved them.

And that's a wrap on Christmas. Thanks for playing.

Have a great weekend...see you next week!

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Berry Christmas

I am asking myself why the combination of red and purple has never occurred to me for a Christmas tree. I've definitely used purple in Christmas decorations, but never on my tree. This image is giving me a lot to think about. Meanwhile, look at that floor!

Christmas countdown is on...I am fielding daily questions about its proximity. If you celebrate, hope the lead up is proving joyful.

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Palm Menorah

Yowza.

That is a good-looking menorah. It literally took my breath away. It's by Michael Aram and I am a huge fan...of basically anything from that brand but specifically this.

Can you imagine how beautiful this would be lit to celebrate Hanukkah? I would never want to put it away!

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Chinoiserie Christmas Dream

Someone has been holding out on me.

I didn't know the blog Chez V existed. And although these photos are old news from 2014, they are perfectly relevant for any Chinoiserie-lover decorating for Christmas.

All images via Chez V

This image below is from a different post I can't track down, but let me tell you, the pink poinsettia inside the blue/white porcelain is pretty much everything to me right now:

I have never had hot pink poinsettias at Christmas...but this year I WILL. I am planning a whole Christmas table around them and I couldn't be more excited about it. And then I saw this picture. And I may never have another Christmas in my life without pink poinsettias.

Aside from the pink plants, this whole Christmas situation above is amazing. The magnolia leaves, those stockings, the tree...all of it. We are getting a slow start to Christmas decorating this year, but I'm hoping to knock most of it out this weekend and will be referencing these photos as I go.

😍💕🎄 (<--Emoji in blogger. #finally)

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Friday Crush

Need some Easter table inspiration? Take it from Eddie Ross...the man has PLENTY to give. I'm amazed at the sheer volume of creativity Eddie has. I feel like he posts a table like this weekly on Instagram...how does he find the time and endless ideas??? Even if you don't have the necessary accoutrements to make this table happen, take away this message - periwinkle and french blue paired with greens and gold are the ticket to Easter table success.

I am thrilled to be at this week's end. Hope your week was less chaotic than mine. Either way, let's all enjoy the weekend. See you next week!

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Buffalo Check for (Christmas) Breakfast

Home of Betty Peachey, Design by Randy Luken, Photo by Daniel Feldcamp for housetrends.com

Oh, to have a breakfast nook surrounded by windows where you can cozy up with a cup of coffee in your pajamas on a cold winter morning. And when I pine for this type of space, the image in my head usually looks something like this one above. 

I am 100% on board with the color blue at Christmas and its role on these chairs is stunning. And hung wreaths are so timeless and beautiful, especially when hung with a pretty ribbon. I love simple spaces that pack a delightful punch.

Y'all, last week was c-r-a-z-y-town. I'm shocked I survived, to be honest. But I did...though I peaced out on the blog last week (sorry if you noticed and/or missed me). I'm committed to fully enjoying the next two weeks of Christmas because I know I'm going to blink and my favorite holiday will be over!

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My Jewel-Toned Turkey Table

I got it together and styled my Thanksgiving before the holiday in the hopes of helping you gather some inspiration for your own table.

As you can see, color takes center stage this year on my turkey table:

It all started with Caspari's Kilim Spice napkins and their kaleidoscope of juicy color. I fell in love with all of the berry jewel tones punctuated with soft yellow, orange and turquoise.

And naturally, I paired the napkins with some of my favorite Caspari paper plates...I actually wanted to go back to using my china this year but the napkins were non-negotiable and mixing them wasn't really working.

I also blinged out the table with some awesome golden touches. First up is a pair of Addison Weeks' Dewey Cups (next to last picture) - gorgeous brass julep-type cups encrusted with a gigantic jewel. They make the perfect bud vase but I could also see them holding straws or cocktail stirrers on a bar. So chic.

And those awesome cheetah napkin rings are from Annapolis shop Strawberry Banke Studio, a recent find that I'm so glad I know about. Their curated website is perfect for your upcoming lady gifts - a tray for you sister, a clutch for your mom, a silver bud vase for your best friend...it's all there.

Now, I am no flower arranger. I hope to one day hone in on that skill, but I can pick out flowers based on color and shape and I adore how the carnations (always my go to) looked bunched together in the Dewey Cup. And the pink flowers in the middle (I'm not sure what they are called) had the loveliest drape but needed some height, so I threw in some feathers - always appropriate at Thanksgiving.

Hope your table is coming together if you are hosting. I would LOVE to see pictures of your own table in the comments or on Instagram (use #aotable so I see it)!

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Jeweled Thanksgiving

This is where my head is for the table that I have yet to set for Thanksgiving:

Jewel tones all the way. I have had these Caspari Kilim Spice napkins on the brain for literally years and I have decided this Thanksgiving is finally their time:

And, recently, Addison Weeks and their AMAZING jeweled-brass Dewey cups came into my life and you know how much I love a julep cup on my table. Especially a brass bejeweled one.

Deep pink, shades of lavender, lots of brassy gold, pops of orange...maybe a touch of black. This is how I'll treat our turkey this year. But a busy schedule (and an Amazon delay!) mean that this table is still only in my head.

Are you setting a table? I would love to hear your details!

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Turkey Plate Tables

Thanksgiving is like the table-setting Olympics for me. It's a big deal in my table-setting-obsessed world.

I'm still a big fan of last year's table so I've been thinking for weeks now how to top it for this year. I will likely be using Caspari again because the patterns are just too good....and then Southern Living came along and put together these amazing turkey-plate scenarios for contemplation...

Photos by Laurey Glenn for Southern Living

THAT BLUE + MAGENTA. Woah....a vibrant palette that holds on to the holiday with that lone turkey plate. And it works.

And then an arrangement of brown turkey transferware with gorgeous chartreuse and crimson touches. LOVE the gold flatware. And the buffalo check/gingham combo, of course.

It's all being filed away as I concoct this year's table...do you have inspiration all set for your own table? Please share it in the comments!

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Easter Joy

Our Easter was joyous. The day was beautiful allowing a pause for spiritual reflection and quality time with family. And we had baskets, bonnets and so much candy.

My table was a bit last minute so it wasn't as layered as usual, but I did get some close-ups to show you the bright combination I settled on - Scalamandre's China Rose with Caspari's Garden Follies:

 The kids donned their first set of matching smocked outfits and let me tell you, my heart was full:

Ana Claire's Easter bonnet (from here) was just about the most precious thing I've ever laid eyes on. My phone blew up with all the pictures I took yesterday. Indulge me for a moment:

Holidays around here are ramping up in their excitement as Ana Claire gets older. She is just a joy to watch getting excited over special celebrations (and stuffing whole chocolates into her mouth like her father). And having Mac on hand to celebrate his first holiday doubled the fun. These kids...what a gift.

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Friday Crush

I'm bringing back this delightful Easter table from Olivia over at Lacquered Life. LOVE her fabric tablecloth mixed with her beautiful china. Not to mention the flower arrangement and the tiny touches of turquoise. Just beautiful.

I'm hosting Easter this year and have yet to spend two seconds thinking on menu or table. I'll be making a mad dash at all of it on Saturday. But I have been hoarding goodies for the kiddos' Easter baskets and I can't wait to put the finishing touches on them! Hope you have a wonderful weekend...see you next week!

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Greenbrier Christmas

The weekend we visited The Greenbrier was the first weekend they had their Christmas decorations out. Let's be clear that I planned our trip to coincide with this. And despite my terrible camera phone pictures, I did capture some of the Greenbrier Glee.

^ Terrible picture that I tried to make "vintage-y" via Instagram filters ^

Impossible to think that the already festive decor of The Greenbrier could get any more festive for a holiday, but they manage. And seeing all the traditional Christmas colors against the juicy tones of The Greenbrier's aesthetic was just a treat for the eyes. I think we visited at the perfect time of year.

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