Holiday Hijinks
‘Tis The Season To Set The Table
We’re back with a second place setting post (you can check out the original one here) and this time we’re all about creating that festive holiday feeling. While humming Christmas carols (getting into character is key) and using only items and accessories that we already had around the house, I whipped up seven different tablescapes with glee. Here’s the play by play.
I began our first place setting by whipping out our spring table runners (who knew they’d work so well in the winter), popping a feather tree on a cake stand and positioning a few other white objects (some ceramic pears and candle holders) along with vases of green yard clippings on either side. Some cute green bowls topped with white snowflake ornaments (snagged for pennies at Target last year) finish everything off (and would make super cute favors for your guests at the end of the night).
Here’s a yummy little detail shot. Feeling festive yet?
Our second table setting feels a bit more traditional and classic thanks to a red runner (actually a cheap pashmina repurposed for the day) and some more little trees that I bring out each December. Red punch, white servingware and a big ornament in each bowl (which could also be a take-home favor) finishes everything off for sparkle and spirit to spare.
Then we swapped out the runner for our neutral fall one, added even more ornaments, borrowed some hurricanes from the den and a few other white objects from the coffee table (an antler candlestick and a shell ball from the coffee table). The glam finishing touch was placing our chandelier ornaments (snagged for 70% off at West Elm last year) on each plate for graphic interest and seasonal shine. Oh and we tossed one of our Ikea sheepskins (that usually lives atop a slipper chair for a cozy layered look) on the bench for that warm and cozy Christmas dinner feeling. Mmmm.
Then we went back to the red pashmina-turned-runner, added a seasonal tree, some bottles of Pellegrino and the pitcher of punch. It’s an easy and functional centerpiece (no more running into the kitchen for drink refills). On each plate I popped a green embroidered napkin and an apple place card holder (instructions below). Easy peasy.
To turn any apple into a chic little place card holder, use a knife to create a shallow slice just behind the center of the apple, then stick a place card (ours are hand written on pieces of card stock) into the groove. Cute, no?
Next I went back to a slew of glittering white objects (the feather tree, shell ball, antler candle stick, flower votive holder, hurricanes, etc) and added some green wine & Pellegrino bottles (we save them for everything from decorative accessorizing to beverage serving) and a few green glass votives (to light up each place setting and go home with each guest at the night’s end). Oh and swapping out the green accents for blue glass vases and votives would create a pretty white and blue scheme perfect for a Hanukkah gathering as well.
This setting felt like it could also function as a New Year’s tableau due to all the glitz and glamour (thanks to that ever present feather tree, our mercury glass candle holders- cheap scores from Ikea- and oodles of ornaments- including a few special ones for each guests to tote home). Oh and we swapped out our bench for the other two chairs that go with our dining set to demonstrate another easy holiday decor idea. Hooking stockings to the back of each chair is super simple (we used an ornament hook to loop them around the back of the chair) and you could also fill them with cute little favors like wooly socks and candy canes for each guest.
And finally a super casual holiday gathering of little snacks and festive beverages need not be served at a formal table. We love a cute little buffet of bubbly water and punch along with some pistachios and some yummy little cookies and crackers (Trader Joe’s famous Gorgonzola crackers are a crowd favorite at our house). And to add even more holiday spirit to the tableau, we popped a few ornaments on our cake stand along with a few white ceramic pears for a little sparkle that goes a long way.
So there ya go. Seven seasonal ways to add sparkle and spirit to your home just in time for company. We’d love to hear your favorite scheme as well as any tips and tricks that you have up your sleeves for setting a seasonal table with style. Happy entertaining!
Looking for more holiday placesetting ideas? Check out these from MyHomeIdeas and these from BHG
Many Thanks
We have so many things to be thankful for.
The dishwasher. Words cannot express our gratitude for the fact that our newly remodeled kitchen includes a dish cleaning maid. We feel like the Jetsons. A little robot cleans our dishes.
Our parents. They love us unconditionally. They whip up our favorite meals. They even read our blog from time to time.
Paint. You’re shocked, right? Kidding. We know we wear our love of paint on our sleeves- but we can’t help being thankful for such an affordable way to overhaul an entire space in an afternoon.
Young House Love. Not the blog (although we’re thankful for that too) but our actual home that we love so much. From our backyard wedding to our never-a-dull-moment home improvement undertakings, it’s the backdrop to some of our favorite memories.
Our little monkey. Burger never fails to amuse us, provoke us, and melt out hearts. He’s our Renee Zellweger. He completes us.
America’s Next Top Model. John and I founded our relationship on discussions about Tyra’s antics back when he was just “that cute account guy from work”. I’m oh so grateful that we met, fell in love, and still get to watch Tyra spaz out 11 seasons later.
You. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for reading. You’re the reason we’re writing this very post, and we appreciate your support, your kind words and everything else that you do to make blogging a joy.
Image courtesy of BHG
The Perfect Gift, On The Rocks
This year we have a bevy of wallet-friendly DIY holiday gift ideas to share, but this $10 project is earmarked as urgent since it takes a few weeks to get going. But fear not, there’s a super speedy set up and then it just sits there for a few weeks getting gorgeous on its own. So after the initial minute or so of tossing things together, your work is officially done.
What is it you ask? Why a chic little vase full of beautiful and fragrant paperwhites in full bloom. Potted in a simple glass vase along with a few river rocks and about an inch of water, they practically guarantee gorgeous holiday scenery. So whether you’d like to throw together a little paperwhite show for your mom, your neighbor, your best friend, or yourself- here’s a short and sweet tutorial.
Step 1: Get it together. Purchase 3-5 paperwhite bulbs- also called Narcissus (we snagged a box of four at Walmart for $5), some river rocks (we got ours for $2 at Michael’s), and a clear glass vase at least three inches deep and five inches wide (we got ours at Target for $3). Total project cost: $10. Flowers in December: priceless.
Step 2: Lay the foundation. Use about half of your river rocks to line the bottom of the vase to create a nice little bed for the bulbs to rest on. The idea is that the rocks will elevate the bulbs about an inch or two so their roots have room to grow.
Step 3: Get your plant on. Add the bulbs to your little rock garden and wiggle them in a bit so they remain standing (if they topple over, reposition the rocks beneath them to support them). It’s important that your bulbs still remain elevated, so make sure they’re not pushed against the bottom of the vase, which doesn’t give their roots any room. Then just add the rest of your rocks around them so they feel even more snug in their chic new home.
Step 4: Just add water. Once your bulbs are snugly surrounded by the rest of your rocks (note that they shouldn’t be buried completely- the top part of the bulb should still be exposed) add just a smidge of water so that the very base of the bulbs (where the tiny roots live) are submerged. The idea here is that the water line just kisses the very tip of the bulb, while the rest of it sits well above the water line on the rocks.
Step 5: Go about your business. Maintain the water line and place your vase in a sunny spot and wait patiently (or not so patiently) for three to four weeks. By then the stalks should be shooting up towards the sky and you’ll end up with beautiful fragrant white flowers (see the box in step 1 for a visual)- perfect for those bleak and cold winter days. And have no fear if your paperwhites aren’t completely in bloom come gift giving time, just explain to the recipient that they’re primed and ready so they just have to sit back and enjoy the show.
Oh- and if you want to take this ten dollar project to a whole new level you can use etching cream to monogram the glass bowl to create a truly personalized gift (and elicit all sorts of “you’re so crafty” comments). So if you wanna add a little extra oomph to your paperwhite prezzie, just use a stencil to etch the first initial of the giftee’s last name and rejoice in your thrifty yet terrifically chic little potted paperwhites.
And even if you don’t etch your way to something personalized, you’ll still end up with a smashingly cheap and thoughtful gift for minimum time and money. Just tie some red ribbon around ‘em and you’re set. We can’t wait to see ours do their thing. Three weeks and counting…
For more info about growing paperwhites, click here. And to see how ours turned out, click here.
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A Little Thanksgiving Eye Candy
Since T-giving is just days away, we figured it was high time we sleuthed out some decorating and entertaining inspiration (thanks Google!). Luckily, all of these ideas will take just minutes to throw together- so having a few days notice is really all ya need. This Thanksgiving why don’t you…
…place a pear on each plate with a simple leaf shaped place card tied to the stem (thanks, Martha):
… create little turkeys with a pine cone, some feathers, and a pipe cleaner (Martha again):
.. or top each napkin with a leaf and line the table with amber candles, twigs and gourds (found here):
… fill a bowl with fruit, leaves and maybe some acorns and call it a day (seen here):
… fill a wooden bowl (or woven basket) with apples and keep things woodsy and warm (via Pottery Barn, seen here):
…. let the food be the star (it’s really all the decoration you need) and place a small vase of flowers or branches on the table (thanks Domino):
… dress your front door for the occasion with a leafy square wreath that says “it’s turkey time” (from BHG):
So there ya have it. A bevy of ideas from Martha, BHG, Domino, and everyone else who came up when I googled “Thanksgiving decorating”. Happy entertaining!
