Showing posts with label Tables. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tables. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Table for 4


Since the our oldest child was born over 22 years ago, Mr. Tide and I have spent just a few Valentine's dining alone.  I've spent a few with him on travel for work, but nearly every year we have had Valentine's Day dinner together as a family.  Our daughter hasn't been able to make it for a few years due to being in college or studying abroad, but this year we are so happy that she will be home with us and that we can celebrate the holiday together again.

While many people would consider spending Valentine's Day together with their children something less than romantic.  I have always looked at the holiday a little differently.  It's always reminded me of kids and cards with lollipops stuck in them, or a handmade heart made from a paper doily.  It is a celebration of Love after all, so having those around me that I love, makes perfect sense to me.  I'll trade roses and romance any day for some special time with my family. 

So here is what my table will look like this year when we all sit down to a special meal of my mother's famous chop suey, some crusty bread, and something yummy for dessert...chocolate of course!


We'll dine in the family room so that we can look out and see all of the snow that we have.


I'll use gold heart ornaments that I kept out from Christmas to use as napkin rings.


And a mix of glassware, because I like using stems from different patterns to give the table a more casual feel.

 

And for bread plates I'll use antique green glass dishes that we inherited from Mr. Tide's grandparents.


 

Instead of placemats or a tablecloth, I'll use these elegant embroidered valances.

 

I'll also use this beautiful rose globe votive holder that was given to me by my mother in law.


And I'll tuck this little book about hearts on the corner of the table just for fun.

 

We'll use silver, because everything tastes better when it's eaten with silver!



And when the sun sets we'll light all of the candles.

 

Each plate will have a beautiful flower, with no two alike.


 

And there will be more hearts scattered about the table.



And they will look even prettier by candlelight.


And we'll eat and laugh and talk about everything under the sun, until the sun is long gone.


And then we'll blow out the candles until next year.


I'm linking up with Tablescape Thursday over at Between Naps on the Porch.


Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Secrets

You know the feeling when you find a great restaurant, the perfect painter, or someone who does upholstery and you hope no one else will discover your new find? Well, whenever I'm tempted to keep these new gems a secret, I just can't! Sure I'd love to think that our painter will be at our beck and call whenever we might need him, or that when I finally get around to picking the perfect fabric for that wing chair I got from my Great Aunt Frances, that I'll be first in line, but to "not" share just seems wrong.

So, although it might mean I'll miss out on a few great finds, I'm going to share a cute little shop that's tucked away in Southern Maryland, but visiting it is well worth the trip.


Photo Courtesy of The Vintage Source Website

The Vintage Source is an eclectic mix of things you've been dying to have and things you never even knew you wanted! Open just one weekend a month, the shop is filled to the brim when the doors open and there are always plenty of people anxiously waiting to get inside and begin treasure hunting. The girls who run the shop each bring their own sense of style and creativity to the unique vintage items they collect throughout the month. You're likely to find everything from painted cupboards to custom slipcovers alongside a myriad of fun and even quirky items. Each month it's a treat just to see what's new and different!


Photo Courtesy of The Vintage Source Website


In December I picked up some vintage Christmas ornaments for just $1 a piece. I tucked them in with my holiday china to add a little sparkle.

In my family room I added a great coffee table with wide pine boards and just the right patina for the casual feeling I was after.




Our daughter now has her own apartment so when it came time to help her furnish it we went to The Vintage Source and found her a great single bed painted a soft shade of blue. We also found a perfect little black kitchen table that fits nicely into her kitchen.



The excitement of not knowing just what you'll stumble upon is what makes visiting the store each month so much fun! When we remodeled, we removed 2 gas stoves neither of which were really our style, so that also meant we lost all the mantels in the house. The plan is to put a sunroom addition on at some point and to add a fireplace to that room, but for now we're mantle-less which led me to a stocking hanging dilemma over the holidays!

My sister and I went out one Saturday in November and decided to stop by The Vintage Source to see what new goodies they might have and there it was, a horse pull, the perfect substitute for a mantel right? Well at least in my head it was! The stockings hung beautifully on it all throughout December, and now I'm trying to decide what to hang on it, but for now the haphazardly hung starfish garland will have to do.


So if you ever happen to be in sunny Southern Maryland on the 3rd weekend of any given month (remember to check the website as the schedule can vary slightly) make sure you visit The Vintage Source. You never know what you might find, but it will always be something special!


Photo Courtesy of The Vintage Source Website