Don't Have All the Money In the World To Throw Dinner Parties?

"If you hear a voice within you saying, 'You are not a painter' then by all means paint... and that voice will be silenced forever." - Vincent van Gogh

After sharing this quotation on my Facebook page yesterday and encouraging everyone who feels intimidated by hosting to muster up the courage to do it anyway, one of my readers expressed a concern about hosting that had nothing to do with confidence and everything to do with finances. It's one thing to be able to silence a negative voice in your head, but when the bottom line of your bank account speaks to you, you have to listen.

Blissful Weekend

I promise our lives are not perfect, but I feel like certain days are pretty close, and this weekend we had two such days. Our dinner party went off without a hitch last night! Success! I really did a lot to prepare in advance and I shared the load of responsibilities this time, asking each of my guests to bring different components of the meal, and I'm so glad I did. The food was delectable, the music was lively, the company was so fun and easy, and neither Shawn nor I were running around like crazy folk in the hours leading up to the first doorbell ring. Kate probably had as much fun out with grandma as we did with our guests. Thanks a million, Valerie, for taking her to the animal park, the mall, and out for pizza! She came home one happy camper. Oh! And we finally got more chairs for our dining table! (We had only four up until now and have been improvising with occasional chairs and benches from other rooms in the house.) How I love you, Craiglist, for helping me find four more solid wood chairs for $15 total.

I won't be prepared to give you this Latin-inspired menu for this dinner party just yet, but I promise to have it to you well in advance of Cinco de Mayo. But you should be very excited. Very. Shredded chicken tacos with hand-rolled tortillas, mango, queso fresco, avocados, etc., pineapple on the side, horchata and Brazilian limeade for drinks, and this delicious number for dessert:

Basically this is shaved heaven on top of whipped heaven on top of rich heaven on top of coconut heaven on top of dark chocolate heaven served on top of warm, caramel heaven with cold, vanilla heaven on the side.

After church today Kate wanted to hold Louisa, and they looked just so soft and beautiful to me that I had to take some photos.

Looks like Lou is enjoying whatever secret Kate is saying.

I love how Kate soaks in Louisa.

Can tomorrow be Friday again?...

What Will My Table Wear, Part III- Selecting Flatware

Perotti by Pottery Barn. A fantastic hand-forged look on a substantial base. This stand-out set with organic appeal will withstand wear-and-tear for decades.

Most people only keep one or two sets of flatware at a time, and that flatware usually has a lifespan of a solid decade or even much, much longer if you're able to avoid garbage-disposal casualties. Even though they get used 3+ times a day and 7 days a week, year after year, they can be one of those household items that are given little thought during the choosing process. And I think it's a missed opportunity.

I can understand the temptation to make a quick selection. There's a lot of stuff out there. But your flatware can stand out in a very good way if you're choosy, a bad way if you're not, or may be a snoozer and, consequently,  go entirely unnoticed.

Okay, let's get down to it.

How do you know what you'll want? What will work for you in a myriad of dining situations? I'd like to suggest an odd-ball, but fun way to narrow down your selection. Try to view the flatware in front of you as people, or bodies, all shaped differently, clothed in various styles, carrying a wide range of personalities. When you think of your flatware this way you can start to see that some pieces are very feminine with long, narrow necks and delicate lines, such as these:

Iona by Crate&Barrel.

while some are more masculine with wider necks, blunt edges, and minimal styling, like these ones:

Tiempo by Crate&Barrel. The perfectly round shape of the spoon's bowl makes a fun statement, but make sure the head is shallow enough to still be comfortable on the mouth.

Most sets of flatware are gender neutral. Even many ornate collections can be considered just as handsome as they are lovely. Take these stand-outs designed by Ricci, for example:

Amalfi Gold by Ricci

Once you've decided whether you're looking for something that's decidedly feminine or masculine or something gender ambiguous, you can move forward by considering the body and clothing of the pieces. Slim or wide, rounded or squared, tapered or flared, (rhyme!) classic or trendy, antique, modern or retro, textured or smooth, patterned or clean, dull or shiny, silver, gold, two-toned or colored, universal or regional. You might even consider if you want your flatware to be wearing a dress (uniform from neck-to-toe) or to have on a top and bottom like in the picture above. Just as you might wear a white top with a turquoise necklace, many sets of flatware have one point of interest on an otherwise simple body. Perhaps you want the details to be just in the seams.  Maybe the body shape you're going for is long and lean, curvy, or heavy in the belly.  I'll give you examples.

Slim; Shiny. Charlotte by Crate&Barrel. Charlotte wears a no-fuss maxi dress.

Wide; Round; Shiny; Classic. I love this set. Savant by Pottery Barn. Savant wears a fashion-forward, off-the-shoulder ballgown.

Square; One focal point. Fiesole by Pottery Barn. I'm thinking a belted maxi skirt with a white, cotton tank.

Modern; Tapered; Trendy; Shiny. Uptown by Crate&Barrel. Uptown wears skinny jeans and ankle boots.

Flared; Shiny. Scoop by Crate&Barrel. Scoop has no pretenses. She's confident in a pair of boot-cut jeans, her favorite t-shirt, and tan leather flip-flops.

Details in the seams; Classic; Flare. Vera Wang Wedgewood Grosgrain. Black tunic and an eclectic trio of long, chain necklaces.

Long and lean; Round/Oval; Modern. Oona by Crate & Barrel. These may look simple, and will be versatile, but they'll make a nice statement as well.

Long and lean; Squared; Modern. Luna by Pottery Barn.

Curvy body; Textured; Shiny. Shiny Hammered by Pottery Barn. Wearing trusty thermals.

Heavy in the belly; Smooth; Shiny; Modern. Eva by Crate&Barrel. Naked.

Textured; Classic; Dull & Shiny; Wide. Tivoli by Pottery Barn. Substantial, stylish yet unpretentious, and comfortable. I like this set quite a bit. However, carefully consider your drawer space as the size of these will likely take up double the space of another set.

Square; Antique; Dull finish; Classic. Maxfield Demitassee Spoon by Pottery Barn. I am in LOVE with these spoons. So smart and handsome. "An antique tea service from an English hotel inspired the design of our demitasse spoons."

Two-toned; Regional; Textured; Patterned; Wide. Byzantine Gold by Yamazaki.

Two-toned; Clean; Dull finish; Smooth. Surat by Crate&Barrel. Surat is dressed for an evening black-tie event in Manhattan.

 If you're like me, you might be the kind of person who loves flannel tops and jeans as much as you do a pencil skirt, and maybe sometimes you even play with edgier looks. Or maybe you're too artsy for what's generally offered on the market. If you fall into one of these categories, you might benefit from an eclectic collection, hand-selected from from a flea market. Rather buy a miss-matched set without traipsing through market after market? Try the Sheffield Heirloom Silver-Plated collection from Pottery Barn.

It's pricy, to be sure, but if money's no issue, you'll have a show-stopping collection on your hands... er table.

I'd like to give a quick caution against choosing pieces that are very stylized such as these:

Kyoto by Crate&Barrel. Even if you have a great interest in Eastern Asia, you probably don't eat only Asian food in your home. Using these to eat cannelloni, for example, may feel as incoherent as using chop sticks.

and these:

Hazel by Crate&Barrel. These are definitely eye-catching, but the odd shape reminds me of the effects of the hall of mirrors in a carnival fun house. I wouldn't rule them out entirely, but I would just want to be sure this is a style I'll love for years and years.

Each is appealing in their own way, but may lack versatility and become "old" to the owner years before the flatware has worn out its usefulness.

Whatever you do, I recommend shopping for your flatware in a place that will allow you to hold the pieces in your hands and see them at every angle. Get something that feels properly weighted and comfortable to you and anyone else helping you to make the purchase. Otherwise you may end up with something that resembles camping flatware in looks, feel, and quality!

My personal favorite? The Bella Silver-Plated Flatware by Pottery Barn. Stunning. Stunning, stunning, stunning. Elegant, timeless, fashionable, substantial, and smooth with beautiful lines and a gorgeous luster. They're probably too nice for everyday use, but I'm not sure that would stop me from making the purchase. This is a set worthy of safe-keeping, to be handed down to the next generation.

In my dreams I own this set. Well done, Pottery Barn designers!

If this kind of stuff catches your fancy, read my posts on Building a Collection of Dining & Entertaining Pieces and Choosing Drinkware.

Eats and Beats Bargain Dining & Entertaining Picks

At this time of year I do a lot of online browsing for the post-holiday sales. I know I'm not alone! Even though I'm pretty well-stocked in terms of dining and entertaining pieces, I couldn't stop myself from looking to see what was out there. Well, I'm so glad I did because I found some beautiful pieces, and since the deals are so good, I thought I'd share them with you.

Here are my favorite low-cost picks for January. Happy shopping!

We have a similar one that holds our room-temp fruits and veggies when not in use for entertaining.

Nice lines, versatile, and only $5.21! Holy moly!

 

 

Having a bowl like this is so useful, not only for serving pasta, but for any dish that has a sauce.

Not really a dining or entertaining piece, but it's just so cheery and stylish!

Someone gave this to us when we got married and I use it constantly to serve bread, side dishes,
cheese and crackers... you name it.

Never really thought of myself as a bear person, but I kinda like the subtle way this calls attention to itself.

We actually own this piece. It's very high quality and versatile.

We have a similar set from Crate&Barrel and they go with EVERYTHING. A total must-have.

Click on photo to see pictures of these beauties in action. They're perfect!

Doesn't this seem perfect for orange juice?

Trays are great for serving drink service, small, individually plated items, and silverware.
They're also useful for outdoor entertaining. Easy clearing when you're ready to come inside!

 

I love classic dinnerware, and the shape of the bowl is what sold me on this set.

If browsing through dining stuff is your cup of tea, read my posts on how to build a collection of dining and entertaining pieces and how to select drinkware.

What Will My Table Wear, Part II- Choosing Drinkware

It's probably not normal that I have three full sets of glassware. Four if you count my set of glass mugs. And then there are my ceramic mugs. 12 in each set. Maybe some of you are thinking, That's nothing! If that's you, you're probably quite the beverage connoisseur. Since I don't drink alcohol, coffee, and have yet to delve into the world of mocktails, it automatically eliminates the draw toward a lot of specialty glassware such as margarita glasses, martini glasses, beer steins, and espresso cups. Even if you do drink coffee and alcohol, though, you may not have the space or the budget for all these types of drinkware. So, I'm just going to focus on 4 types which I think will take care of your hosting needs more than aptly.

Before we do that, though, I do want to briefly mention that I use the same criteria for choosing glassware as I do for the rest of my collection- classic style, beautiful lines, and versatility. For details on each of those check out my previous post on building a collection of dining and entertaining pieces.

• Everyday glassware- Simply called a "glass" or a "tumbler," this is what you use for your average breakfast, lunch, and dinner at home, and what you'll most likely use for serving things like lemonade, iced tea, and even juice to friends. (Though, juice technically should go in a slightly shorter glass..) For this, you just have to go with something that speaks to you. If you want glassware that has a tint of color, I think that's fine, (-I do have a weak spot for seaglass green-) but I would personally steer away from that brownish tone you still see here and there. It looks outdated and reminds me of coffee-stained teeth. (Sorry.) Some everyday glassware options have a decorative embossment of sorts, like the ones in the second photo below from Pottery Barn. If you go for a tinted glass or embossment, just try to make sure it's not something you'll get sick of, unless, of course, you can afford to replace them at will for something you like more. As for us, we went with these ones from Crate & Barrel. 

Impressions Glasses

Cow Milk Glass from Pottery Barn. Not as versatile as some everyday options, but I love the color and the embossment gives them such a fun little personality.

• Wine Glasses- I use these not just for formal dinner parties, but anytime I want to lend a little elegance to a regular dinner or a special lunch. I even use them sometimes to showcase a dessert, like these lemon curd parfaits. These glasses were one of my absolute favorite items to register for before our wedding. While there are few everyday glassware options that call out to me, there are so many truly beautiful wine glass shapes and styles. I could go into all the things you could consider when making your selection (ounces, height, base, made for white, made for red, etc.) but when it comes down to it there are only a few things that I think are worth considering. 1) Stem or stemless, 2) is the rim wide enough to comfortably sip from without hitting your nose in a weird way, and 3) is it beautiful to you? Oh, and I will also say that I don't think it's necessary at all to get crystal. Spend the extra money on napkin rings. Or food. Ours are the medium ones pictured directly below. 

Nora Wine Glasses from Crate & Barrel

 I also love some of these less traditional shapes:

Brim Balloon 28oz Wine Glass from Crate & Barrel

Pierre 15 oz Wine Glass from Crate & Barrel

Rimini Wine Glasses from Crate & Barrel

• Water Goblets- It wasn't until I started throwing fancier dinner gatherings that it occurred to me that water goblets might be a worthwhile addition to my collection. It certainly wasn't the end of the world, but my everyday glassware just looked a bit frumpy next to my wine glasses. So I started to hunt for an affordable water goblet collection. Not only are they the obvious choice for water, but they're great for so many other cold drinks when you want something a bit nicer than your everyday glassware but not as fancy as a wine glass. I opted for the ones below from Pottery Barn and am so, so happy with them! They are AWESOME! Shawn loves them too. But I also really love the ones below those from C&B. 

Only $24 for a set of 6 Classic Water Goblets from Pottery Barn

Just a bit more expensive, these are $1 more per glass at C&B

• Mugs- Mugs kind of give me warm-fuzzies because they make me think of blustery Winter days with hot chocolate.... which, I've actually been known to drink throughout the whole year, but that's beside the point. I also use mine for hot or cold cider, and sometimes for desserts. If you ever have company for breakfast or brunch, you'll find these helpful for hosting. If you purchased a set of dishes, they very well may have come with mugs, like ours did. On top of the ones that came with our set of dishes (that you can find in this post,) we also have a set of the large mugs pictured below from, you guessed it, Crate & Barrel. My choice was very classic, but, because they're such a casual item, I think there's room to play with the color and style of mugs, even mixing and matching. So, by all means, have fun with your selection and make no apologies.

16oz Cafe Mug from C&B

Striped Mugs from West Elm

 

With a Twist Teacups from Anthropologie

Loule Mugs from Anthropologie

Old Havana Mug from Anthropologie

Pie Crust Mug from Anthropologie