Festive Cocktail Party

Just the other day, right after baking Christmas cookies and preparing customers gift bags I thought it’s been awhile since I hosted a true cocktail party. Like a little kid who sees candy in the store, I had an overwhelming feeling of I want this. Not sure of how it would pan out on such short notice, especially during the holidays, I was hoping that a few friends would be available. As it turned out, most were and thrilled to join. And so began the quick list making of what to make and how to serve.

This post is going to be down and dirty. First, because that is how it came about and also because if you want to pull this together for New Year’s Eve or the upcoming weekend, you don’t need alot of hoopla. I will warn you there are a lot of dishes. And you don’t have to serve all of them. Choose the ones you like or able to tackle. Honestly, I didn’t even realize how many dishes I had put on the table until my hubby, Juancarlos, said ‘Honey, we definitely do not need the spicy chorizo. You have 17 plates out there!”

The good thing about this menu is that some of these platters were store bought which take a load off. It’s as simple as open a container and find a nice platter. Others required some time. I started prepping at 10am that day and finished right as guests were arriving at 5pm, minus the time to shower, dress and blow dry my curls.

I also needed some holiday decor since our house was not decorated for the Christmas. I made a stop at Trader Joe’s for some florals the day before but didn’t arrange until the same day. Lazy stupidity on my part when I certainly could have prepped the flowers the day before. I choose the simplicity and holiday tradition of white and red with some greenery. I kept the arrangements small and low so they could be a part of the table-scape without being in the way.

White Roses with sprigs of eucalyptus. Simple and elegant.

Mini Red Mums for the Christmas holiday spirit.

Because there were so many offerings, the easiest way to share this with you is to show the platter and give you a quick instruction rundown or the link to the full recipe. Quantities will be up to how many guests you are expecting. I made this for 10 people. We didn’t have many leftovers at all, since people came at 5p and left at 9:30p. I would say it was successful last minute soiree.

Here’s the menu:

Ok, ok I know this seems like a ton. But I had small amounts of each. Truth be told, as I was making one dish, I noticed items in the fridge that I could easily make something out of. And that is how I arrived at 17 different plates.
Modify as you see fit. Here goes…

PIquillo Peppers Stuffed with Goat Cheese

The ubiquitous Cheese & Charcuterie board is a must. Grapes, Machego Cheese, Pickled Garlic, Sopresatta, Mortadella, Piave Cow’s Cheese, Coppa, Black Cured Olives, Goat Cheese Aged with Pimenton, Cucumbers

This is a riff off my Bibb & Butternut Squash Salad. I just swap the lettuce for Farro.

Boquerones are fresh anchovies. Do not say YUCK, they are delicious, delicate fish. Served here with parsley, garlic oil.

Marinated Fennel

Simple & refreshing. Cut fennel in bite sized chunks, drizzle with Olive Oil, coarse sea salt & crushed black pepper.

Mackerel

When you buy great quality tinned fish the only thing to do is let it shine. These are Cabo de Peñas Mackerel with fennel fronds for decor.

marinated feta with rice cakes

I almost always serve up my Marinated Feta because it’s a tried and true winner. It goes great on almost anything (rice, pasta, salads, crackers, bread, roasted veggies… the list goes on). I made rice cakes. Combine cooked rice with flour, egg and form into small squares or rounds. I added sautéd kale to the mix. Refrigerate to let set, then fry in oil until golden brown. You can make these ahead of time then warm in the oven to serve.

Oven Roasted Tomatoes with Sourdough bread

Oh the delicious sweetness of oven roasted tomatoes with grilled sourdough bread

Radishes with Salted Herb Butter

So simple yet so different. This dish confuses then amazes guests. The peppery, crisp bite of the radish against the sweet, saltiness of herb butter is a winner every time. Herb Butter: leave butter at room temp. Chop your favorite herbs (I used parsely & basil). Mix in course sea salt and voilá.

Crudités with orange yogurt dip

Pick your favorite veggies for dipping. I like to mix it up with soft, like Endive and crunchy like Snap Peas, sweet like Red Pepper and clean and crisp like cucumber. For the dip, use full fat Greek yogurt. Mix in orange zest, the juice for orange.

smoked salmon with watercress

Another no cook dish. Arrange watercress on bottom of the platter. Roll pieces of smoked salmon around the platter. Top with shaved fennel, sliced scallions and chopped watercress stems. Finish with lemon zest, squeeze of lemon juice & olive oil.

marinated artichoke hearts

Store bought, and yummy.

I love crunch, so it’s natural to offer nuts. You can buy any kind of nut you like. I hope you try mine. Dana’s Nuts: Spiced & Candied The pickled mushrooms are store bought. Easy peasy.

Homemade cookies

Of course you can put out whatever dessert you like. A store bought cake cut into bite size pieces. I just finished making the Christmas cookies, so naturally I put them out.

I placed everything out on the dining room table. Moved the chairs out of the way. People made their plates then we gathered in the living room to sit and chat warmed by the fire. I hope this inspires you to throw a last minute cocktail party. You don’t need 17 platters. Just a few, some wine and cocktails and good company.

Danny & Maria seem pleased with the selection.

Andrea & Jim happy deciding what to get first.

A lovely group gathered for an impromptu cocktail party. It was a great evening indeed.

Happy New Year. Here’s to Abundance…
Health
Wealth
Joy
Peace
And every good thing the universe has to offer.

Thanksgiving Table-scape: The Muted Browns

Let’s face it, nobody needs any new Thanksgiving recipes. This is one holiday meal that people expect tradition. I can attest to this after years upon years of hosting. We used to serve a variety of different meal offerings that strayed from the traditional since neither Juancarlos nor I are fans of the usual Thanksgiving fare. Our guests enjoyed it all but one year they asked if we could serve a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. In our deep desire to be good hosts we heard their pleas and provided just that: Roasted Turkey & gravy, Mashed Potatoes, Cranberry sauce and Candied Yams. And because it’s us, we also served some of the non traditional items too: Sauteéd Garlic Shrimp, Buttered Fettuccini, etc. Guess what? Everyone devoured all the non traditional items and we were left with tons of the traditional Thanksgiving meal. I probably don’t need to tell you that that was the last Thanksgiving we hosted.

So, after a long winded explanation as to why I’m not posting a recipe, the next best offering is table setting ideas. I recently picked up some new linens. And when I say new, I mean new to me as these were thrift store finds, of course. I pride myself at tracking down rare treasures. A perfect example are the three dishes below. Each one found in different thrift stores, in different years, in different towns. And yet, somehow they all work harmoniously together.

Plate of yesteryear gracefully finding a new home.

I decided to lean into the soft browns of Fall to create a quiet, more subtle toned table scape. Maybe it’s how my heart feels these days, soft, peaceful and in need of quiet calm. I had some mix and match ideas in mind, but instead of overwhelming you with too many options I will keep it to a few. Naturally, you can mix and match to your hearts content with the linens and dishes you have on hand. I had two tablecloths with several different napkin options, and one runner.

The above line up… pre-ironing.

When it came time for florals I had been scheming for weeks about creating a whimsical display using only a variety of wild grasses that grow on the side of the road. But every time I passed them, I was scissor-less, and then time just plum ran out. So I did the next best thing… walked around my yard - with scissors. Both centerpieces are made from stems I cut from our garden. Well, and maybe a few from a nearby park. Shhh, no one was looking. The most important thing was not that I clipped someone else’s branches, but that you don’t need to spend a dime to create something impactful. I created two centerpieces. One tall, while the other was long, and low.

Using a brown ceramic vase with 5 hydrangea blooms, several maple leaf branches and few grass sprigs created a burst of Fall.

The long wooden tray is one of my favorite pieces that I inherited from my mom.  My parents brought it back from their honeymoon in Mexico. So besides being old, it’s unique, versatile and has a tray load of meaning.  I placed the center candlestick in the middle, added a bark-less tree limb and then tucked in the tree branches and grasses to create a long, low centerpiece.

Let’s set the tables. That’s to say; one table but with two different looks. I promise I’m not going to drive you crazy with countless options. Sometimes, I even annoy myself.

The first table is truly soft brown tones with a long, low centerpiece. The line up:

  1. Tablecloth of muted brown, soft orange, green tones

  2. Table runner with black, beige and brown stripes

  3. Brown cotton napkins

  4. Plates: Gold trimmed dinner plates, floral salad plates, burgundy floral soup bowls

  5. Glassware: stemless red wine, stemless white wine, green & gold water glasses

  6. Brown iron candlesticks

  7. Burlap wrap (not in below photo): to be used as an organic placemat

The line up of dishes, napkins, tablecloth, glassware and runner.

To start, just layer in the above items. Here’s how I laid out mine with one twist at the end for non conventional silverware placement. Note: after putting the plate down without a charger or placemat I felt the dishes needed a landing spot. So I grabbed some burlap wrap and laid it down in an organic bunch, then placed the dishes on top.

Then the runner, candlesticks, silverware atop a simple napkin fold. Fold it in half lengthwise, and then again. Place to the right of the plates letting the bottom 1/3 hang over the table. Line up your silverware, then fold the bottom 1/3 up to create a pouch. Add a single sprig of grass.

Place the red, white wine glasses with the water glass to the right, and the dessert spoon above the plate.

Add the centerpiece, and call it done.

The centerpiece mimics the tablecloth pattern which is a happy accident because when I was in the park cutting branches I just cut what drew me towards them.

Nature in all its beauty and glory.  This is nothing more than some random leaf branches and grasses.

And now for a few alternates. Push the soup bowl to the left and place the silverware directly on the plate. Place the napkin and grass sprig inside the wine glass. And lastly, you can swap the low centerpiece for the taller one.

Onto table number two. Here is the line up:

  1. Burnt Orange/Brown tablecloth

  2. Taupe Linen napkins with orange border

  3. Gold rimmed plates, bowls

  4. Stemmed red & white wine glasses and gold rimmed water glasses

  5. Wooden board for centerpiece

  6. Silverware

The line up for a table with more orange than brown.

Ok, you know the drill. Start the layering all the elements. The napkin isn’t a fold as much as a natural falling with folds. To achieve this look simply grab the center of the napkin allowing the natural folds to occur. Then place it on the soup plate and adjust as needed to create a natural 3 folded effect. If you need more napkin ideas check out my post 5 Folds - Countless Options

Once you place the florals on the center of the wooden board, fill in with candles and some pine cones. The wooden board not only plays into the brown theme but also makes it easy to remove if you prefer putting your food platters on the table.

Nothing store bought, just some fall foliage in a vase.

Pine cones and candles round out the centerpiece.

As i mentioned, my original centerpiece ideas was natural, beige grasses.  So this pop of color was unintended but ended up working well.

Now for the last swap out. Switch the taupe linen napkins for plaid ones swirled into a rosette. Change out the gold rimmed water glasses for golden yellow goblets, and the stemmed white wine glass replaced with stemless.

Plaid napkin in rosette bundle.  Gold rimmed water glass swapped for golden yellow goblet, and stemmed white wine glass replaced with stemless. To create the rosette effect, check out the video in my blog post about Table Settings - A Multitude of Options

I hope the browns were soothing. And as promised, I didn’t go nutty with variations, but hopeful gave enough for you to create your own festive table-scape. If more options are your jam, then check out a past post that offers variations on the variations! Thanksgiving Table Settings - Casual to Elegant

 

Happy Turkey Table Dressing!

Miami - The Long Goodbye

Our idyllic view

As I sat on the balcony of our beloved Miami condo for the very last time, I couldn’t help but think about fate, about destiny, about a convergence of life happenings that brought me there. Decades ago I moved to Miami to advance my career in television production. Ironically, I only stayed at that job position for 1 year but ended up staying 9 more, partnering with Brian and Kevin of Forti/Layne Entertainment producing, editing and co-directing so many wonderful projects.

Our most spectacular view from the balcony.

Obviously, I racked up hundreds of experiences during that decade. However, for this story to come full circle I want to focus on the night I went to a party at a building that jutted out into Biscayne Bay. I have crystal clear images of that night;

  • meeting at my best friend, Emilce’s house, downing some pre-party cocktails

  • packing into a car with a group of friends singing to Santana’s “Maria, Maria”

  • pulling up to the grand building tucked back off the busy, kinda seedy main street of Biscayne Blvd.

  • the warm wind that gusted off the bay as we entered that forced us to walk with leaned intention

  • the spectacular water view from the apartment

  • and finally the seed planted in my brain that I would live there one day

Biscayne 21 as it was known.  Located at 21st Street and North Bayshore Drive off Biscayne Blvd and jutting out into Biscayne Bay.

Fast forward a decade, I moved back to NY having never lived in that building of my dreams while actually living in Miami. I settled back into New York living by buying my first co-op and moving in with my now husband, Juancarlos. Then 2 years later by absolute luck…AKA fate, an apartment in that very building came available. So, I bought it sight unseen. That is how much I wanted to be there.

Our beloved southern home, at just the right height, just the right location, just the perfect view.  Just perfect.

After the closing, keys in hand, I pushed open the door that turned my purchase from wishful dream to glorious reality.

Not a lick of substantial furniture, armed only with an air mattress and some linens.  It was all I needed to feel at home.

514, magical numbers.

At first, we rented the apartment full time thinking it would be an investment property, and then eventually turn into a retirement pied a terre. But after awhile Juancarlos and I realized we wanted this place all to ourselves. Now after 20 years, we were forced out. The greedy glut of overbuilding and erecting enormous monstrosities has bought us out. A developer will tear down the quaint 15 story building to replace it with not 1 but 3 towers of 53 floors each! Yet another part of Miami history turned to rubble. If you have ever seen the movie “Something About Mary” then you have seen our building. It was the one to the left of the singers on the final scene. And oh yeah, they tore down the historic beautiful house that Mary lived in to construct an obnoxiously tall building that used to block the sun on our pool. But what can you do, fight city hall? So, we sold off most of the furnishings, gave away some, packed up the rest and drove back to NY with our memories in tow.

Even with clouds the days were beautiful.

Miami represents a million things to me. My first venture out of my native NY to pursue a career in live television. Being away from my beloved family and all our gatherings. Buying my first car, having 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms all to myself. No more elevator to the basement to wash my clothes, I had a washer/dryer all to myself and only having to deal with my lint, and no one else’s. Meeting new friends that would last a lifetime, Winning awards for my production work. Meeting my husband, being proposed by him in Miami. Having a second wedding celebration there for our friends who couldn’t/didn’t want to fly after 9/11, honeymooning in Miami and the Keyes and so much more. We have hundreds upon hundreds of photos, and I will do my best to inundate you with images so you too can be wrapped in the warm glow that tugged at my heart.

Engagement Party smiles. Juancarlos proposed to me in Miami two weeks before September 11. 

It was a second home, and as such we welcomed our family and friends. For many years, my parents would spend the entire month of February there. Sometimes we would join them and spend precious moments together, by the pool, at the beach, but mostly eating. Who doesn’t enjoy a good meal with the people who bring you joy?

Since Miami had such meaning to us from a marriage point of view, we used to go down in October to celebrate our anniversary. And of course, we would meet up with friends or invite them over for nibbles and drinks, laughter and good cheer. We celebrated not just anniversaries but many a birthday as well, with our dearest fra-mily. Our home was small but mighty in the joy it provided.

Anniversary tapas dinner.

Another year of celebration.

Happy Birthday to me!

Birthday celebration with framily, during a February visit when my parents were down.  See my dad in the background? On this occasion our friends, John & George, hosted at that fabulous house.

From an uncomplicated lifestyle, to enough room to entertain, to a view that never got old, only got better. It fulfilled my every dream from decades prior.

The sunrise that warms our souls and inspired us to get up and get out.

Midday beauty.  Nature’s artistry at work.

Reflections.  Even the tall buildings provided interesting views.

At night the glow provided a different kind of warm.

A glow that filled not just the sky, but my heart.

Never boring, never got old.

Blue, but never the ‘blues’.

One sure way of knowing when I’m comfortable and completely at home is preparing and enjoying meals. And boy, did we do that. If I have a kitchen, I will be stirring up some food of love. Every morning we would take our coffee & breakfast to watch the sun rise. Every late afternoon after a day at the beach we would make a healthy meal and eat on the balcony. In the evening, a cocktail or wine and watch the lights brighten the skyline. It was endless joy.

Balcony moments with my love.

Sun rays reaching towards us to welcome us to another picture perfect day.

Here is a smorgasbord of food offerings over the years.

That balcony was filled with LOVE.

I’ve even had the great fortune of selling my children’s book at the famous Books & Books stores in Coral Gables and Miami Beach, as well as school author visits.

Signing books at the Coral Gables Books & Books store.

Proudly showing off my title at the Miami Beach Books & Books location. (Unfortunately, that store closed after the pandemic.)

A school assembly, getting the kids energized and excited.  There is nothing better than a child’s enthusiasm, and to encourage creativity, imagination and curiosity.  I have been blessed.

Many a time this place has grounded me. I used the beach and the water to find my way, to answer my questions, to assuage my doubts, to remind me of my talents and all the opportunities that the universe has locked and loaded for me.

The ocean vastness was never overwhelming. It showed me the greatness that was far reaching and touched us all.

Moments of thought.

Long walks along the golden sands providing quiet time to reflect.

We frequented a beach that rarely had crowds of people.  Most of the time we had yards of beach to ourselves.

Ocean and sky in various forms.

Seagull happiness

Perfect days

Gorgeous, striking color contrasts

Shining sparkles that bounce off the water as if you say, look at all the possibilities life has to offer.

Each sparkle an opportunity, all rushing towards me.

The quiet expanse that calmed and soothed me.

Sun that would warm my skin and my soul.

The sun and water that rejuvenated me.

The gratitude for all I am given.

My happy place

Happy in our home.

Quality time with my husband, where we walked for miles, talked for days and dreamed up our future.

My personal sherpa.

Together in the place where we met, fell in love, got engaged, celebrated our wedding and honeymooned.  How could this place not have meaning to us.

Just another day at the beach

Change is hard. And this change is not just hard but ironic. Since over two decades ago I made the hard choice to leave Miami to return to New York. To once again further my career, to be closer to family, and be near my beloved city. When the thought of leaving Miami became hard, I enlisted the advice from the popular book, Who Moved My Cheese? Back then, I was so afraid of making the move, of making a mistake. Would I find work? Could I survive freelancing? Would I miss the diversity of work, my friends, the sun and warm weather? But as the book professes, there is Cheese everywhere, and enough to go around for everyone. My cheese may have been moved again, but I know I will find an abundance and variety no matter where I turn.

Togetherness

Sky, sea, land

And so here is the long goodbye, as we drove away from a view that will forever be etched in my mind. With gratitude and love for how much the universe has provided me, I give thanks for all the blessings in my life. And am reminded that the sun shines in the sky, no matter what longitude or latitude in which you are standing.

 

One last goodbye

Roasted Red Pepper Sauce- With Pasta

I like pasta. Hold up. Rewind, I LOVE pasta. Call it an indoctrination from childhood that completely took hold of my taste buds. Since I enjoy eating this multi-shaped, multi-useful, molto delicious carb I’m always looking for new sauces, toppings or items to toss into my favorite comfort food.

Oodles of years ago during my crazy life in the world of television production, I needed quick and easy meals to make. Call it a self fulfilling prophecy but pasta makes for quick and easy meals. Besides a variety of pasta shapes, I always made sure to keep my pantry stocked with items that I could quickly toss into the pasta. Peas, beans, canned tomatoes, capers, anchovies were among the regulars, and jars of roasted red peppers were also their constant companion. When push came to shove, I would boil pasta and then without even sautéing them in garlic and oil I would just throw them on top, add cheese and happily consume. Sounds pathetic, but on particularly long work days even taking that extra step to cook the topping was seemingly too long. But they did their job, and given the chance, roasted peppers can be much more useful and handy. So take my word, keep them stocked in your pantry as a must have staple.

That’s the way I roll. I buy them. My mom, on the other hand, always roasted her own red peppers, and then placed in plastic bags into the freezer. Let me tell you, they were delicious. I literally can still smell their sweet aromas as I ponder her peeling off the skins. But not even that extraordinary olfactory experience arms me with the patience to make them myself. There are some homemade foods I don’t mind taking the time and effort to make. And there are others I am willing to concede buying a store bought version. I will admit that homemade roasted peppers are the bomb, still I’m not motivated. I take the easy way out. (Note: It is funny how some tasks seem too much for one person while for another it’s not problem at all. I get it now when I say something is easy for me it might not be that easy for someone else, no matter how easy I think it is.)

Dreaming of my mom’s peppers made me think of the dip I made a while back using roasted red peppers, walnuts and goat cheese. I featured it in a post entitled: 3 Dips a Dipping. It dawned on me that that combo could create a creamy, no cook sauce that would melt into a big bowl of steaming hot pasta. And even though the dip has walnuts, I think the texture will be great. I do you one further. Toast some extra nuts to sprinkle on top of the pasta to amp up the crunch and bring another level of nutty flavor to the dish. Then I thought that this dish might need some extra zing. So, I made a gremolata to finish it off. The parsley, lemon and garlic are sure to add that fresh zip to the creaminess of the sauce. Now you have had a sneak peak into how my little brain conjures up dishes that my tummy approves. So let’s get started because I’m hungry now.

Roasted Pepper Sauce Pasta set up

 

Ingredients

1 c marinated roasted red peppers
1 1/3 c goat cheese
2/3 c walnuts, roasted
1 lb. pasta
1/2- 1 c pasta water reserved
Olive oil
1/2 t salt
1/4 - 1/2 t red pepper flakes, to your taste

Gremolata (optional)
Remaining Walnuts, chopped
3 T parsley, minced
1/4 t garlic, grated or crushed
1/2 t lemon zest
1 T lemon juice
3 T olive oil
Salt/pepper to taste

Roasted pepper, goat cheese, walnuts

Instructions

  1. Toast the walnuts in a pan over low heat or on a baking sheet for 5-7 minutes until lightly toasted. Be careful not to burn them. Set aside to cool.

Roasting any nuts releases the oils and brings out their nutty flavor.

2. Boil your favorite pasta. (I think this dish works best with a shape that the sauce can find its way into nooks and crannies like rigatoni, bow tie or fusilli. I had Papparedelle on hand, so used that.)

3. In a food processor, buzz up the walnuts to a chunky consistency. You don’t want a fine grind. (Remember to reserved the remaining nuts to sprinkle on top.) Remove them from the blender and set aside, Of course, you can rough chop them with a knife.

4. Add the roasted peppers, goat cheese, salt and red pepper flakes. You can add splash of olive oil until you get a paste.

Roasted peppers and goat cheese.

You want a creamy consistency to the roasted pepper/goat cheese mixture.

5. Add the walnuts back in and pulse only until combined or simply stir them in.

6. Meanwhile, chop up the parsley, walnuts, grate the garlic, lemon zest and combine together with lemon juice and olive oil to make the gremolata.

parsely, lemon, walnuts, garlic

7. Once the pasta is done, drain making sure to reserve about a cup of the pasta water. Place the pasta back in the pot and add the sauce and gently fold together. Add the pasta water as needed to help emulsify the mixture. Or you can put the sauce in the bowl, whisk in the pasta water and then toss the pasta.

Ready all your elements to toss together.

Thin out the roasted red pepper sauce by whisking in pasta water. Add as much or as little to your liking.

8. If you aren’t into the gremolata idea, plate and top with the toasted walnuts.

Roasted Red Pepper Pasta topped with walnuts.

But if you want to add a little extra ‘sum-ting sum-ting’, dollop the gremolata on top as well. I love it both ways, but will attest that the garlic lemony-ness of the gremolata adds a lovely zing that cuts through the creamy sauce.

Roasted Red Pepper Pasta topped with parsley, garlic, lemon, walnut gremolata.

Yup, that simple. A no cook sauce that is creamy and delicious, and also packs some crunch.

The best part about this is that you can make the Roasted Red Pepper as a dip and then use the leftovers for pasta. Or the reverse. Either way, you get twice the benefit.

Postscript: After making all that hubbaloo about how roasting peppers from scratch was too much work, I decided to take it on. I have a very competitive nature and one that thrives on a challenge. So, of course I had to roast my own peppers. WHAT??? Plus, how could I go on and on about the aroma and not tackle the task myself. But true to form it was just as time consuming, and a labor of love process as I had imagined. But that aroma was unmatched. That said, not sure I will repeat that task again, but at least I have a recent try under my belt. Maybe my mom will just give me some of hers next time.

 

Floral Spring Table Setting

A burst of floral joy spread out on a table.

I’ve noticed that every Easter I feel compelled to create a table setting to share with you. I’m not sure why I’m more motivated to bring you another Springtime way to dress a table versus another recipe for Easter. Maybe I feel you all have traditions and a menu you follow and don’t need another recipe. Or maybe the weather made me do it. I think I get so excited at the thought of longer days and warmer temps. It evokes images of flowers, sun and a bright cheery feeling that I want to spread out onto the table.

Colors are incredibly powerful. So much so that advertisers spend a pretty penny researching their affect on consumers. I love how a color can completely change your mood. When I look at the array on this table scape it’s no wonder it brings such joy. Here’s why.

  • Green makes you feel optimistic and refreshed. It also relaxes you partly due its connection with nature and ease on the eyes.

  • Pink is soft and evokes a sense of romance and sweetness.

  • Magenta is bold and energizing.

  • Yellow, of course, is reminiscent of sunshine, smiley faces and the start of a new day, which makes you feel positive, happy and raring to go.

With all those good vibes it’s clear why I love creating Springtime tables.

You know from previous posts that I have a ton of tablecloths and fabrics, but that doesn’t stop me from getting more. Lately, I have been thrifting at a local church and grabbing some fun and inexpensive finds. If you go back to my last post, Rose-colored Salad, the table had a remnant cloth that I recently bought for $2. I loved it because it was a color combo that I definitely didn’t have in my stash. I know, hard to believe there was a color gap in my linens closet, HA.

I have been wanting to use the ‘floral on top of floral’ theme for a while but could never quite achieve exactly what I was envisioning. So, when I saw the stark white cloth with bursts of Springtime flowers I immediately grabbed it. In my utter excitement, I never fully inspected it; just brought it to the register and paid. Once I got it home and opened it up to wash, I realized it was a sheet. You think that bothered me? Not in the least. Once washed, fabric is fabric, and everything has multiple uses. I also picked up the rose & gold rimmed plates and bowls to add to the floral theme. I got 12 of each for $15 (for those, like me, who use their fingers to count, that’s 62¢ a dish!) A fruitful shop of flora, for sure.

The line up: White Sheer for the base, Floral sheet for the runner, yellow/white napkins, Dinner plate with gold leaf pattern, Rose/gold/floral soup & salad plates, Peach candle sticks, Tiffany wine glasses, vintage green/gold water glasses.

In the past, you have seen me lay the more detailed cloth as the main base and then use a sheer or mono-colored fabric for the center runner. This go around I wanted the placemats and dishes to pop so they could take star billing. To do that I switched it up by placing a white sheer as the base. Then I twisted the floral “sheet'“ and threw it down the center of the table.

Using the white sheer material creates a clean base for the plates to shine.

Then I began to build the floral layers, first by using large leaf mats Instead of the usual placemats, Then the dishes with gold leaf pattern topped with my new rose/gold/floral plate & bowl. The floral motif is fairly evident.

In a previous post where I used the large leaf mats I provided this link in case you wanted to purchase something similar.

Next, I folded the napkins in a way reminiscent of a tulip and used green grosgrain ribbon to emulate a stem. I cut a few small leaves from our rhododendron tree and added them in for more floral flair. I then placed the ‘tulip’ napkins in the cut glass wine goblets which brightened the entire table up another notch.

Then it was time to place the silver and glassware, and candles around the table. To continue tying in the leaf and color scheme, I used my favorite vintage green and gold glasses. If you remember, those were another great find at the Lincoln Road Mall Street Fair in Miami. I am so glad I wrapped those up, stuffed in my suitcase and brought back to NY.

All the colors are working together, and the place settings are the star, popping off the simple white sheer base.

The gold and yellow play nicely together. All the designs of leaves and florals swirl around creating whimsy.

And how can we have a Springtime table without actual florals? I wanted to keep the flowers as close to the colors in the table runner. At Trader Joe’s, I found three that answered the call. All mums, in 3 varieties and colors: Yellow Sundance Chrysanthemum, Magenta Mums & Lilac Mini Poms. My vision was to make the florals feel like wildflowers spread out along the table. To achieve that I used all my mini vintage vases. Arranging and choosing which vase with which flower is a fell thing. Go with your gut and what visually looks appealing to you. Typically, I like monochromatic floral design. In keeping with that the yellow mums needed to stand on their own and be in vases that enhanced their vibrance. The magenta and lilac flowers worked beautifully together.

 

Side note: If you don’t have mini vases, you can achieve the same effect with small juice glasses, or those glass yogurt cups. Look around your own stash to see what works. The goal is to use what you have. Everything has more than one purpose.

Honestly, I am in love with this table. I finally achieved the floral on top of floral design I have been dreaming. It feels so fresh and light and cheerful. And frankly, cheerful is what I know I can use right now. Maybe you can, too.

Happy Springtime. Happy Easter. Happy Passover.

A floral explosion

I think the flowers in the vases mimic the flowers in the cloth.

Happiness running through the length of this table and in my mind.

 

Color your life with brightness & cheer!