RISE AND SHINE TABLESCAPE

Rise and shine it's breakfast time!

They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It gives us energy to face the day and jump starts our morning.

I never used like to eat breakfast but now I do. Eating breakfast out is my favorite meal to eat out.



If you are like me, you don't normally set a nice tablescape for breakfast. But, if you do it the night before, it's there waiting for you and it's sure to put a smile on your face.

So that is why I picked a breakfast tablescape today.

I got the tablecloth, napkins, larger red plate and smaller plate with rooster on it all at one time. However, I have not used them until now. Well, except the larger red plate. It's used a lot and is one of my top picks for my tablescapes.

I love the pattern on the solid red plate and that little rooster just makes me happy when I look at him.

I added a milk glass that says Milk in several languages around it and a darling little rooster juice glass.

Both perfect for breakfast.

I bought these cute little rooster napkin rings over a year ago. I love the roosters but it's the little rooster foot prints that I couldn't resist.

I folded the napkin in a fan shape today.

This big girl is the centerpiece. Normally, she sits on top of our refrigerator but she got to hop down to take center stage today.

The flatware I used is our everyday flatware. We just changed it out a few weeks ago and I really like it.



The butter dish is from my milk glass collection. I love it and try to use it whenever I can.

I think for breakfast I'm going to have some fresh fruit, eggs and homemade blueberry muffins.

I'll serve the muffins in the red braided bowl. It's a great size for breads or muffins.

The two little rooster salt and pepper shakers sit at the base of the milk glass vase filled with fresh white hydrangeas from my garden.

For those who want to know where I got everything here is the list:

Tablecloth & napkins - K-Mart

big red plate and smaller rooster plate - K-Mart

milk glasses - Crate and Barrel

juice glasses - Williams Sonoma

napkin rings - EBay

flatware - Villeroy and Boch

red bread bowl - Ross

Big chicken - I don't remember

salt and pepper shakers - TJ Maxx

milk glass butter dish - thrift store

milk glass vase - thrift store

I'm joining in on the fun over at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursdays. Hop on over there to enjoy a lot more wonderful tablescapes.

BEACH TABLESCAPE

I sure picked a strange day to do a beach theme tablescape. It's cold, windy and I'm sure it's going to rain soon.

Oh well, we can still pretend we are at the beach.



Since it was about 6:30pm when I started to take my photos they are sort of dark and the colors are not as pretty as they are in person.

The dinner plates are a pale aqua blue and I got them at TJ Maxx. Then I found the the same color salad plates with shells on them at Kohl's on sale a few months ago. However, I was just there again today and they still have this set and they are on sale again.

I wish you could see the tablecloth in person. It's so pretty. The pale aqua blue sort of shimmers and the stripes of cream and browns are textured.

I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it. I found it at the thrift store. It was brand new and still in the package.

Oh, except there was a little problem. It's not a tablecloth at all. It's actually a curtain.

However, it fits the table just fine and no one will ever know.



Today I got a little package in the mail and it was these darling napkin rings. They remind me of sea urchins. I knew they would be perfect on this tablescape. I found them on EBay.

The flatware is a clear crystal with silver. Well, wait a minute. It's not actual crystal and silver. It's actually a clear hard plastic or something that looks like crystal and the silver is stainless steal.

I thought they were pretty and for $9.99 for the whole set, I couldn't pass them up. They will go with just about any type of tablescape. I found them at Ross.

Oh no, I almost forgot to light the candles for you. There. That's better.

Do you see the seahorse candle holders? They came from Kohl's too. I thought they were so cute and I fell in love as soon as I first saw them.

The candles were being sold at Kohl's too and were so cheep I had to get them too. I love the way the different colors are on the candle and even though it's hard for you to tell, the colors are perfect with the tablescape. Yes the little star fish and jute came with the candles. I think that's what caught my eye really.

These glasses are darling. They are nice weight too. I really like them. Star fish are so sweet looking. I love the deeper aqua color on these too. Another item on sale at Kohl's.

They also have some that look very close to these at Pier One but they cost more.

Here is an over all shot with the lights turned off.

Looking outside makes it look like it's a nice summer day. It's actually just the reflection of the pool.

Normally, when I set up my Tablescapes I do eat breakfast, lunch or dinner that same day. However, we already ate so we won't be eating here tonight.

Maybe tomorrow?

This little shell serving dish would be great to use for salad dressing. It's not real big and I also think it's a good size for whipped cream to use on dessert.

The little beach pail is full of shells. The pail came from Kohl's also and the shells are ones I've had for years.

It's hard to tell but the little candles are pale aqua blue candles inside of a real shell. I got them at Pier One Import in the clearance section for only 79 cents.

They would make a cute favor for your guest to take home.

If I were going to give them as gifts, I would wrap them up in some cello paper or sheer material and tie it up with a bow and a little shell. It's all about the presentation.

I really like to have little favors for my guest to take home. It's not about how much you spend on the gift. It's just a nice thought knowing that they are taking home a little bit of your time together.

What are some the favors you have given or received as a favor?

I hope you enjoyed this tablescape. I enjoyed putting it together for you.

I'm linking up to Tablescape Thursday over at Between Naps on the Porch. If you have not yet stopped by there you really will want to do so. There are so many different tablescapes and each one is lovely.

ICE BUCKET TURNED PLANTER & THRIFT FIND

Yesterday I showed the centerpiece I used in my Tablescape. It was an ice bucket that I put flowers in.

Today, I thought I would show you what it looks like as the ice bucket it really is.

I love this piece! I collect milk glass and this is my favorite piece I own. I have never seen one like it and I have no idea what it is worth, if anything.

I found it at a Thrift Store awhile ago and was thrilled when I did. I had it in my garage for a long time and actually forgot about it. Until I went in there to clean up a bit and came across it.

It used to be easy to find milk glass at Thrift Stores but not so much any more and when I do find any it's normally a vase. Plus they raised the prices up a lot!

I also thought I would show you my latest Thrift store find.

I had seen these on Pier One Imports web site and really wanted to get a set. I went to three different Pier Ones and couldn't find them. They had them in black and a yellow gold but not the red.

So when I saw them I got really excited!

I don't think they have ever been use. They still have the original price tag on them from Pier One.

They weren't very expensive to begin with but my excitement came from not being able to find them and now here they were. Plus at more then 1/2 price!

I love birds. I love red. These plates are perfect for me. I can't wait to use them in a Tablescape. I think in the summer when we are having dinner outside would be great.

If you had these, how would you do your Tablescape?

SIMPLE YET PRETTY TABLESCAPE

I love the colors of yellow and blue together. There is something so refreshing about it. So today, I choose those colors to set my table with. Nothing fancy. Just simple. Yet pretty.

The shades on these places are a muted pale color. I just love them. I felt they fit in perfectly with the weather we have been having here in CA. Sunny, yet not very warm. Still a little bit of a chill in the air.

I didn't have any napkin rings to go with this setting (I KNOW!) so I just tucked the napkin in under the salad plate.

I like this look. It seems like all the magazines and stores are starting to do this with their napkins too.

Even though we are not going to have any company over, I still got out the real silver. I wanted a bit of shine brought to the table. It shows how you can mix expensive, fancy items with more plain items to make your tablescape look beautiful.

Here you can see the pattern on the plates. Even though they are plain in color, they are not plain in design.

The tablecloth and napkins are by April Cornell and I found them at TJ Maxx. I thought the colors in them were a great match for the plates.

The center piece is what inspired this whole tablescape really. I saw it and fell in love with color.

Of course, the little white Target,salt and pepper birds fit in nicely. A little touch of Spring! Plus the white is a nice pop of color on the table.

Here is a better look at that pitcher. I put flowers in but of course you could use it to serve iced tea, lemon aid or water.

The serving dishes are all white. I just went through what I already had and thought they all looked nice together so out they came. The food will be added at dinner time.

So there you have it! A simple, yet pretty tablescape.

I got the dinner and salad plates at TJ Maxx also. I just love that store. No I don't get paid to say that.

I'm linking this post up to Tablescape Thursday over at Between Naps on the Porch. If you have not yet done so, go take a look at all the other beautiful tablescapes over there. These ladies have some wonderful ideas!

VALENTINE'S DAY LUNCHEON - THAT'S AMORE

Today was my Valentine's Day luncheon and I went with a theme of AMORE! Or LOVE for those that don't know Amore is the way it's said in Italian.

The colors were red, black and white.


I actually knew before Christmas that I was going to use a theme like this. I didn't set out to make it like this but it sort of came about on it's own.

I found this darling Cupid piece that actually goes in the garden. I thought it was so cute and I bought it as a gift to give to my sister that I live with, Patty.

As I kept looking at it in my cart it hit me that it would be so cute as a center piece on a Valentine's Day table.

Isn't it funny to see how different tablescapes come about.

I did give Cupid to Patty but since I live with her, I knew I could use for the tablescape.

I knew I already had the square black and white polka dot plates. I had them from Halloween. So I was on the hunt for some plates to use on top of them. Something that red and white on them.

Then as luck would have it, one day walking around Home Goods I spotted these great plates with black, red and white that were perfect for my table.

Here is a better picture of Cupid. Isn't he darling? I didn't paint him black. He came that way. I think that's what caught my attention and made me buy him.

He even has little bow and arrows.

I already had the lace table cloth and napkins. Do you remember seeing them at my friends Vintage Valentine's Day party?

Of course Valentine's Day makes you think of hearts right? So hearts were also a big part of the theme.

I had hearts on the plates, heart napkin rings, hearts on scattered on the table, heart bowls.

I found the glasses at TJ Maxx in the clearance section. I thought they were perfect for this table because the top was red and the stem was black. The little heart candles were from the 99 cent store.

I used our silver. To me it gives a feeling of romance.

Of course there had to be a favor at each place setting. What says Valentine's Day more then chocolate hearts?
Everyone got a package of red foil covered hearts, a chocolate, marshmallow and carmel heart and another chocolate heart shaped candy. All were from See's candy. Then I wrapped them all up in cello paper and tied them with a red ribbon and attached a cute red heart tag I made.

I also made the name cards. I used red glitter paper and then attached a white tag to it. The white tag was from the Martha Stewart collection I found at Michaels. Red glitter letters were used to spell out every one's name.

Also on the table was a heart ornament and an old key which represented the "Key to my Heart".

Since it was an AMORE theme I knew we would have to have Italian food. This little red heart bowl was perfect to put the Parmesan cheese in.

I made heart shape garlic toast. I know, it's a bit dark but my sister, Maureen, likes her garlic toast this dark.

We started with a salad and they were plated with the heart shape Parmesan crisps I showed you how to make in the last post.

Silly me, I forgot to take a photo of the main course that was Lasagna.

Our dessert was very good. It was fresh strawberries topped with a piece of heart shape pound cake and whipped cream. I served them in the crystal dishes that belonged to my dad.

The strawberries were very good. They were grown just down the street from me where they have a fruit and veggie stand.

The food was good and the company was lovely. We had a nice visit and all to soon the day was over.

I have such great friends and family! I really enjoy being able to have these small luncheons and sharing time with them.

They were so sweet, they even brought me hostess gifts. I love these cute napkin rings that my sister got me. I'm putting together a tablescape just to go with these as the theme.

Maureen also got me a See's heart shape candy, a pot of baby red roses and a gift card to Panera Bread. We go there together every Tues after Weight Watchers and get a bagel for breakfast.

Sandra gave me these cute heart spreaders, a red heart bowl and some note cards and a note pad.

I almost felt like it was Christmas!

I'm hooking up this post with Susan's Tablescape Thursday over at Between Naps on the Porch. If you have not yet gone there, do so. There are tons of great tablescapes you can get ideas from.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Valentine's Day!