You are currently browsing the category archive for the 'Seasonal' category.
I hope you don’t mind, but I am in a bit of a tea frenzy. With Alice and Wonderland opening this week, helping my mom and aunt with an afternoon tea for my grandmother’s birthday, and dreams of spring garden parties, well, let’s just say it’s tea time around here. And so while I am tweaking recipes for some updated tea sandwiches in with the old favorites, and mastering a mean linzer cookie, I figured I better get all the accessories together that we will need.
We need lots of plates for the crustless nibbles and scones – I like to mix and match … grandma’s china with some flea market finds is the way to go here, plus a bit of my own china too. For a spring tea, breakout the florals and butterflies if you have it. We also need plenty of tea cups, for the tea itself and they also work as great vessels for small floral arrangements throughout the party.
Same goes for tea pots – the more the merrier! It’s not a tea party without several varieties to choose from – for daily cups my favorite is green tea kombucha, but for tea parties, pots of your favorite loose-leaf is the way to go. In addition to china and porcelain tea pots, this is the perfect time to bring out my grandmother’s vintage tea service. Extra teapots can also be used to hold larger floral arrangements.
But since we cannot subsist on tea and sandwiches alone, we better add in some cake plates and tiered servers – we need to showcase the macaroons, petit fours, and other confections we whip up. And we need make sure we have plenty of condiment dishes for jam, clotted cream and all the traditional accompaniments.
And because it is a party, we may need a few other beverages on hand. I am thinking a raspberry lemonade in glass dispenser, and a silver jigger to spice up the spiking!
If your cabinets or grandmother’s pantry isn’t quite as ready for a tea party, flea markets or your local thrift stores are an excellence place to find these items on the cheap.
For resources:
Did you hear? Looks like we have six more weeks of winter.
Well, the weather may be that way and it might be a bit early for warmer wares, but nothing says we can’t bring in the sunshine inside with some spring colors.
Using the Pantone Fashion Color Report 2010 (thanks coco+kelley for the lead), we found a few things that brighten up any table.
The Venini vases may be a bit of a splurge, but the resin napkin rings have just as many colors without quite the investment. And the yellow tray can make you forget the snow, particularly if it is serving breakfast in bed. And those Missoni dessert plates, I have been eyeing that pattern for a while. It is amazing how just one or two little things can punch up the basics.
How do you handle the wait for spring?
For resources:
Do you keep the same holiday decor every year, or do you switch it up a bit?
I know that it can be pricy to change decorations from year to year, but I do like mixing it up … maybe because there are so many fun things to try. Red with lime green – metallics – magenta and white – bright colors like the old-school Christmas bulbs – so many fun things. But one style I have never quite gotten into was the snowflake – until now!
Maybe because in sunny CA the snowflake seemed downright silly, or maybe because they always looked a bit cheesy – you know the ones on the blue and white paper plates? But I think I am officially a convert.
The snowflakes on the Saks building inspired me, and I just couldn’t stop.
I found all kinds of great things for a winter wonderland in silver, pewter, grey, white, and cream.
There are lots of lovely ornaments that can be found at great prices, but you don’t have to stop at the tree. Gather bulbs in bowls, vases, apothecary jars, you name it!
Turkey, stuffing, potatoes – check! Pie, pie, pie – check! Candles, seating, wine – check!
And then Mom wants everyone to go around the table and say what they are thankful for … please pass more wine, stat! I am not exactly considered shy, but my hands get a bit clammy when everyone has to go around the table.
My vote – reading what others are thankful for. Have these cards around the living room while everyone is gathering, snacking, drinking, etc. with a few pens on hand. Designate someone (the cousin who keeps trying to invade the kitchen, wanting to help when there IS NO ROOM) to tell people to fill out the cards and collect them before dinner.
Then pass them back out randomly, and when the time comes, it is much easier to share Uncle Joe’s blessings.
Anonymity – one more thing to be thankful for.
Click here or on the image below to download the cards in all colors.
With all the food, drinks and decor, don’t forget about seating. I am a huge fan of assigned seating, even for family affairs. It is a great way to make sure converstion stays following – mixing up the chatters with the shy guys. And these ideas are a snap – just using things you already have on hand.
And you don’t even need to buy place cards, just cut down a white card stock and grab a sharpie…
Artichokes have built in holders with the leaves, so just tuck the card right in.
And the X on the roasted chestnuts provides an automatic stand.
For the lady apples or small pears, all you need to do is poke a quick hole on the side of the card, and then pluck it down on the stem.
Added bonus – when these are placed on the directly on the plate, they don’t even require more table space.
It’s no surprise that we will take any excuse for a party, so Halloween on a Saturday is right up our alley!
Are you dressing up? What are you wearing? Are you going to keep it simple, like the starlets of old? Or are you going all out like the new Grand Dame of Halloween?
Images of Ava Gardner, Rita Hayworth & Veronica Lake via Corbis Images Image of Gable & Lombard via Friends of 415 Image of Heidi Klum via The Insider
So not quite a real Oktoberfest, but I think this would make for a great fall get together with friends. A pumpkin carving – fall beer tasting – sausage eating party.
And to keep it easy, don’t be afraid to ask friends to bring a little something – either a pumpkin to carve or a good fall beer. Have some sausages grilled up with bunch of accompaniments and keep everyone’s hands free for knives and steins!
For a get together this casual, mailed invitations are not necessary, feel free to jazz up an e-mail version. But steer clear of evites and don’t forget to bcc: not everyone wants their info out there!
What you’ll need:
