Longing for Simple

If you are like me, you have spent the last 4 or 5 weeks preparing for the holidays...the menu planning, the shopping, the decorating, the Christmas cards.  Yes, some of it is fun.  But is also overwhelming and sometimes exhausting.  Maybe I was just tired when I set my table for Christmas Eve dinner.  Even my son Anders said...

..."It's kind of plain".  But just maybe that's exactly what we need right now...for things to be simple.  So here it is...my simple little holiday table.  Every once in a while I pull out these fun Santa plates.

I bought them years ago at Kohl's.  I think I found them charming, each one just a bit different....nothing fancy.  Everything on this table has been used in previous settings.

Like these lacy paper placemats,

and bright red napkins, covered with snowballs.  While I usually think of these as "summertime" glassware, on this table they remind me of ice.

I've chosen one single chunky red candle...

I think I'll let this darling snowman family be the stars of the show...

So kiddies...find your spot at the table.

It's a simple dinner...roast pork, dumplings, sauerkraut and creamed spinach (because they won't let me make anything else)!  

Wishing you a happy, healthy, peaceful, simple Christmas.  Please join me at...

Centerpiece Wednesday (The Style Sisters)

Tabletop Thursday (Between Naps on the Porch)

Feathered Nest Friday (French Country Cottage)

Home Sweet Home Friday  (The Charm of Home)

Potpourri Friday (2805)

Seasonal Sundays (The Tablescaper)

Let's Dish (Cuisine Kathleen)

Open House Party (No Minimalist Here)

Take another look from a year ago,  Inspired.

Green and White and Red All Over

What's green and white and red all over??  Why, the perfect Christmas tablescape, of course.  I'm just a teensy bit behind in my holiday preparations, but looking at this fun and festive table makes me smile. Somehow, everything will get done in time...I just need to relax and not take things too seriously.  Like this setting...nothing serious about it!

I started off with a simple table cloth made of Marimekko fabric (always available at the Crate & Barrel for a ridiculously fabulous price).  With its giant burgundy, green and white dots on a bright red background, this cloth is just plain fun.  Time to stack...

I chose my white lacy paper placemats (also from the Crate) and

some shiny red chargers with my favorite plain white plates and

some playful red and white polka dot napkins (Pottery Barn) and

another little white plate and

finally my flatware, neatly tucked into a little red stocking trimmed with green baubles.  Beverages will be sipped from these festive glasses...

...a big chunky red water goblet and a deep green wine glass.  In lieu of a floral centerpiece, I opted for some playful holiday decorations.  From my rather vast collection of snowmen, I chose these handmade glass snow people...

...my very favorites,

This guy in his party hat...

...and this snow girl with her headband and scarf...

and Mrs. Claus!

I think they look rather happy standing next to this little burlap tree.  Excuse me, but I think I just might grab one of those wine glasses, pour something tasty, and ponder my to-do list.  Hope I inspired you to get in the holiday spirit.  Looking for more ideas?  I'm sure you'll find them at these parties...

Centerpiece Wednesday (The Style Sisters)

Tabletop Thursday (Between Naps on the Porch)

Feathered Nest Friday (French Country Cottage)

Home Sweet Home Friday  (The Charm of Home)

Potpourri Friday (2805)

Seasonal Sundays (The Tablescaper)

Let's Dish (Cuisine Kathleen)

Open House Party (No Minimalist Here)

Take another look from a year ago, Green and Gold and Red All Over.

Nice plates..if you can get them.

Oh, Target...not again!  Remember the Missoni collection that sold out instantly??  This holiday season, Target teamed up with Neiman Marcus and a whole host of designers to feature a collection of gift items. Released just this past Saturday, I rushed over to my nearest Target to see the Tracy Reese dessert plates. You guessed it...GONE!  I didn't even get a chance to see them!  Luckily, they were still available online and are the inspiration for today's table.  One is prettier than the next, and the quality is superb.

These gorgeous little plates are inspired by the brightly colored and elaborately patterned textiles that Tracy is famous for.  They even are edged with an 18-karat gold trim.

So pretty, but I must admit, this table was a bit of a challenge...so many colors to work with...where would I even begin?  In the end, I went for an eclectic look.

I thought the dessert plates had an ethnic look to them, so I decided on this ikat table runner

with its adorable chunky ball fringe (Home Goods).

I chose my plain white plates to show off the vibrant colors and patterns of the dessert plates.

These ruffly gold leaf(ish) chargers were also the natural choice.  I played with many napkins before selecting these gold trimmed navy blue ones,

tucked under the plates and secured with shiny gold napkin rings.  Gold, gold, and more gold!  What a great opportunity to use my favorite vintage gold barware.

It's finds like this that makes shopping in antique, vintage, and resale shop so much fun.  Every table needs some candlelight...gold mercury glass votives perhaps?

And finally, something gorgeous (and gold) for a centerpiece.  I just love these oversized pears by Michael Aram, a favorite designer of mine.

I think this table is a nice start to the holiday season... The Tracy Reese plates would make a perfect gift for your favorite dish lover, if you can find them!  I wish you luck.  I'll be visiting the following parties this week, so please join me.

Centerpiece Wednesday (The Style Sisters)Tabletop Thursday (Between Naps on the Porch)Feathered Nest Friday (French Country Cottage)Home Sweet Home Friday  (The Charm of Home)Potpourri Friday (2805)Seasonal Sundays (The Tablescaper)Let's Dish (Cuisine Kathleen)Open House Party (No Minimalist Here)

Take another look, one year ago: Champagne and Curling Ribbon

Sayonara

While the pictures may be pretty, today's story is a sad one.  When he was 2, my son Anders chose a favorite food...sushi.  Fourteen years later, he would eat it every single day if possible.  And he had a favorite sushi shop...a little restaurant named Bowl House.  Sadly, Bowl House recently served up its final fish, and needless to say, Anders was heartbroken.  Today, this post is my tribute to our beloved Japanese restaurant.  Bowl House was not a fancy restaurant.  Miso soup was served in little plastic bowls.  Sushi arrived on mismatched trays and platters.  My own table is a bit more structured.

What could be a better place to begin than my little bamboo table.  Won't some sushi look beautiful sitting on these simple white plates.

They'll act as a blank palette for the colorful fish.

Matching dipping bowls will hold soy sauce and wasabi.  For the non-sushi lovers (that would be me)...

...I'll be slurping noodles from these big gingko-covered soup bowls.   What Japanese meal would be complete without some tea,

which I will serve from this darling tea set, a gracious gift from my recent Thanksgiving guests.  I've set my tea cups upon this handmade glass tray...

...which would also make a fabulous sushi plate.

A beautiful yellow orchid is the final touch.  Bowl House was run by a charming gentleman, who I do believe enjoyed watching my kids grow up from sushi loving toddlers to teenagers who are actually quite fun to go out to dinner with.  Sadly, we did not even know his name...we just called him "the boss". Sayonara, dear Bowl House, and thank you for years and years of wonderful meals and memories we will never forget.  And a special thank you to this week's stand-in photographer, Sofie.  Don't worry Laura...the job is still yours!  Need some holiday ideas?  Please join me this week at the following parties:

Centerpiece Wednesday (The Style Sisters)Tabletop Thursday (Between Naps on the Porch)Feathered Nest Friday (French Country Cottage)Home Sweet Home Friday  (The Charm of Home)Potpourri Friday (2805)Seasonal Sundays (The Tablescaper)Let's Dish (Cuisine Kathleen)Open House Party (No Minimalist Here)

Take another look...one year ago...Sketchy Santas.

Pilgrim-Style

It's almost midnight and I've just finished setting my table for the big day tomorrow.  You may recall that I "rehearsed" this tablescape, knowing that I'd have to simplify a bit.  You will have to excuse the pictures on this posting (taken with my phone!)...but my photographer happens to be spending the holiday in Colorado with her whole family.  Hope you guys are having a great time.   And here's my pilgrim-style table for 22! 

Sorry folks, but with a group this big, you will only be getting...

...one plate,

...one wine glass, and no chargers or placemats!!

Do you like my napkin rings?? I made them using this adorable burlap striped ribbon from Hobby Lobby...glued around a cardboard tube.  How easy was that?

And for fun, I simply printed up some place cards and decorated them with polka dot Washi Tape.

A few gourds,

and mercury glass votives, and a few more candles...

and I'm calling it a wrap!  Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.  I can't wait to see your tables.  Join me at...

Centerpiece Wednesday (The Style Sisters)Tabletop Thursday (Between Naps on the Porch)Feathered Nest Friday (French Country Cottage)Home Sweet Home Friday  (The Charm of Home)Potpourri Friday (2805)Seasonal Sundays (The Tablescaper)Let's Dish (Cuisine Kathleen)Open House Party (No Minimalist Here)

P.S. Hurry home, Laura!  The blog's not the same without you!!