Holiday entertaining: creating a rustic table

I started hosting Thanksgiving at my house a few years ago after my sister moved to Atlanta. She actually lives on my street. So convenient. Setting the holiday table is by far my favorite thing to do. This year I decided to go with a rustic woodland theme.

Creating this theme is easy and inexpensive. It works well for any holiday, and has become popular at weddings. It can be casual or elegant. Neutral or colorful. The possibilities are endless.

Get the look:

For this table, I chose a neutral palette with pops of green and natural fabrics like linen and burlap. A white tablecloth offers the perfect place from which to start. As does white china.


Tree slices -- often referred to as "tree cookies" --  form the base of my woodlands centerpiece. Birch votives in staggered sizes add height, but don't obstruct your guests' views across the table. Decorate with dried moss and berries.


Lots of texture = more interest.


Mix it up. Use fine china and silver with more rustic pieces like mason jars.


 {mason jar + burlap + raffia + blooms from your garden}

Make it personal and add a bit of whimsy.


Some shine….



Plus patina.


A bit of kitsch goes a long way.


You see. It's all in the details.


I hope this provides you with some inspiration for your next holiday gathering --  perfect for Christmas. Have fun with it!

Shop the look:
Tree slices, Amazon
Birch votives and card holders, Etsy
Moss, burlap ribbon & raffia, Michael's
Linen table runner and ribbon, burlapfabric.com
Place cards and rubber stamp, Paper Source
Succulents, Southeast Succulents

Currently...

Today is the first installment of my new regular column "Currently." Because I haven't had time to write any feature posts, I'll fill you in periodically on what I've been up to. Always mindful of Austin Kleon's advice in Steal Like an ArtistI ripped off this idea from another blogger.

Currently reading: Another psychological thriller -- In a Dark, Dark Wood  by Ruth Ware. Speaking of psychological thrillers. Go see the movie "Room" based on Emma Donoghue's award winning novel.


Currently wearing: Ann Taylor Hair Calf Ballet Flats. A padded insole makes them super comfortable. A bargain at 40% off!


Currently drinking: Pinot Noir. We recently hosted a wine tasting. Jack Hammer pinot was the hands down favorite wine among our guests. Ghostwriter is another excellent choice at a higher price point. If you live in the Atlanta area I highly recommend shopping at Perrine's wine shop on the westside.


Currently designing: Rustic floral arrangements in recycled jars. Tutorial coming soon.
Currently eating: Trader Joe's Gingerbread Molasses Cookies. They are a holiday item, so stock up now while supply lasts.


May I suggest...

While I normally have book suggestions to share, I've been in a reading slump for the past six months. I did enjoy rereading one of my all-time faves To Kill A Mockingbird as a prelude to Go Set A Watchman. Mockingbird is a tough act to follow. I don't recommend reading the two books back to back.

Instead, I've been binge watching TV series on Netflix, Amazon and BRAVO. Let's start with the latest.

Red Oaks. A coming of age story about a college student who spends his summer working as a tennis pro at a country club in New Jersey. If you grew up in the 80's, you'll get a kick out of this.

A Place To Call Home. Described by the Wall Street Journal as an "addictive saga of 1950s Australian family of wealth and privilege caught up in the aftermath of war and conflicting loyalties." If you like Downton Abbey and Australian accents, this series is for you. I think I like it more than Downton, which says a lot. Here's the catch, you have to pay to view on Amazon. It's worth every penny. Go ahead and buy the entire season. Season 2 is available on DVD. I'm tempted to buy it.

{my fave. warning: addictive.}

Chef's Table. Brought to you by Netflix, a six episode series about some of world's most renowned chefs. Binge watch them all in a few days and report back to me on which chef you liked best.

Catastrophe. British TV comedy about an American lad and an Irish girl and their ensuing life after a  drunken hook up. The two main characters are very likable. Available on Amazon Prime.

Odd Mom Out. Brought to you by Bravo. Definitely on the lighter side. A New York mom trying to fit in with the over-the-top 5th Avenue set. Guys can skip this series. Definitely chick material.

That's all. Have I missed any must see shows?

Where have you been bluemopheads: book two

Happy fall! It's been a while. Over 4 months since I last posted. What have I been doing since our spring break trip to San Francisco? A little of a lot.

Here's my story...

Chapter 1: My boy becomes an adult. In June, we traveled with our temple to Israel for almost two weeks. It was an amazing trip. One we will never forget mostly because my older son had his bar mitzvah there --  something I highly recommend. A short preview of my upcoming blog post.

{old city of jerusalem}

{spices -- machane yehuda market in jerusalem}

{view from the top of masada}

{hummus at every meal}

Chapter 2: Diary of a swim team mom. As is custom, the month of June revolved around my younger son's swim team season. I'll keep this brief. If you want to get a comprehensive overview of country club swim leagues, read diary chapters one and two. The Israel trip put a crimp in the schedule. Missing two weeks of practice does not bode well for a receiving a coveted spot on the championship team. To help secure one, my husband found places for him to train all over Israel, including Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and a kibbutz in the north near the Golan Heights. This is serious business. Geography was not going to get in the way. The hard work paid off.  They won both of his relays and the overall team championship. Everyone was happy. I, of course, was relieved when it was all over.

 {highlight of the season -- drink beer and keep track of your kid's events made easy!}

Chapter 3: Independence Day in Rosemary Beach. We rented a house in Rosemary Beach for the July 4th week. I was so looking forward to it. But things got complicated with the championship meet (that I wasn't counting on), which took place that Tuesday night. We ended up going to the beach in shifts. My husband flew back to Atlanta to watch the meet and then flew back with the champion Wednesday. Lucky for me, they streamed the meet live online so I got to watch it with bloody mary's in hand. The best of both worlds although I admittedly was happy to be on the Rosemary end of the deal.

{gulf side beach reading. i highly recommend disclaimer}

 {what's new on 30a? joe loves lobster rolls not to be missed}

{and, beautiful new homes on the south side of alys beach}

Chapter 4: My baby turns 1. Rory spent six weeks training in the country. She was supposed to come to the beach with us, but that plan was foiled for reasons I will not disclose. We were disappointed that we couldn't celebrate her first birthday with her. But, she did have a pool party with her gun dog friends. Although her water retrievals improved significantly, she returned home with few noticeable changes in the obedience department. Seems you can take the girl out of the city, but you can't take the city out of the girl.


{happy 1st birthday rory!}

Chapter 5. Namaste and noshing. I officially put pilates on the back burner and took up yoga at Form Yoga in Decatur to improve my strength and flexibility. Love it! My goal is to do a hand stand. It might take a few years, but I'm determined. In pursuit of that inversion, I purchased some cute (but pricey) yoga clothes from Sweaty Betty -- my new go to for active wear. As Derek Blasberg points out -- the gear impacts the performance. So true. In between classes, I spent most of my time eating (and drinking). You could find me at least once a week at the Krog Street Market or over on the west side dining. I don't want to spoil any of my upcoming blog posts, but some notable faves are JCT Kitchen, Superica, Fred's Meat & Bread and Yalla.

{photo credit: form yoga studio. i'm currently at handstand stage #2. final stage tba}

{oh so healthy cheese steak & fries from fred's}

Chapter 6: Decatur does Rosemary. We just returned from another fabulous week in Rosemary for fall break. Rory came with us. She put her water skills to good use. Lots of our Decatur friends were there relieving us from too much family togetherness. Always a good thing. The weather and company were perfect. Can't wait to go back.

{first stop: dinner at george's}

{my little pool otter}

{i love rosemary beach}

{one of many spectacular sunsets}

A good note to end on.

I'll be back soon. Until then, you can find me most days on Instagram.

Destination: San Francisco

We were able to piggyback a 3-day trip to San Francisco -- one of our favorite cities -- after our spring break trip to Lake Tahoe (post coming soon). San Francisco is a 3-hour drive from Tahoe. Based on our experience there five years ago, we knew trying to complete our San Francisco bucket list would be close to impossible. It was. A good excuse to go back.

Here's what I would recommend for a family trip to the city.

Note: You can skip this narrative and jump down to my photo journal below.

Where to stay
This was our second stay at Cavallo Point -- a resort housed on the former Fort Baker army base just across the Golden Gate Bridge. Why did we go back? I'm not sure where to begin. Let's start with family friendliness. The hotel welcomes families (as well as dogs of all sizes) with open arms. It is very well appointed, but not super fancy or stodgy. You can get dressed up to dine or just show up in your sightseeing clothes or active wear. No one seems to notice or care. The lodging houses are surrounded by Golden Gate National Recreation land with stunning views of the city, bay and the bridge. After a busy day touring the city, you can return to the hotel and have a complimentary glass of wine or two or grab a hand-crafted cocktail from the Farley Bar. Sit on the rocking chair front porch while your kids run freely on the front lawn. As much as we love the energy of being in the city, there is much to be said for being on the water where your kids can play outside. The concierge has a collection of balls and Frisbees available to use. Kids can choose to eat from a kid's menu for $10 a meal. The food is delicious. Younger children can visit the Bay Area Discovery Museum located at the foot of the property (admission fee not included). Other amenities: complimentary coffee and pastry station every morning, free yoga class most mornings, free parking, a shuttle to and from the ferry station in Sausalito on a regular schedule throughout the day. You can also get a ride into the city at 9:00 and get picked up at 4:00. If you need a break from your family, you can indulge in some spa treatments or relax at the Tea Bar in the Healing Arts Center & Spa or take a cooking class at the Cooking School. One of my favorite things about the place is the fresh scent of lavender and eucalyptus wafting through the air everywhere you go. Bliss. I can't say enough good things about Cavallo Point. We would definitely go back.

What to do
So much to do, not enough time. We had a car, which made some activities easier than if you were without one. Tip: Do not drive your car into the city. Traffic and parking are a nightmare. Walk, bike, cab, Uber or take public transit.

To make this as brief as possible, here are my top ten things to do (in no particular order) if your time is limited:

1) Visit the Exploratorium. It is a must. Plan to spend an entire day there. Your ticket allows you to enter and reenter as much as you want on the purchase day.
2) Walk or bike ride across the Golden Gate Bridge. Note: It is really loud on the bridge, which might scare some kids. Have a back up plan if you think this might be an issue for your family.
3) Take a break from the city and enjoy it from the other side of the bay. Take a ferry ride to Sausalito and explore on foot or bike.
4) Visit the Ferry Building. Learn about its history. Eat and shop there. Tip: Do your shopping at the end of the day and bring some large reusable shopping bags with you. Bags are hard to come by and you are charged extra at most places for a paper bag. Most are small and unwieldy. You'll see the local ladies shopping there with chic market baskets filled to the brim with fresh produce. Although tempting, buying one of those expensive satchels would only be a pain to travel with later.
5) Climb the stairs to Coit Tower and take in the best panoramic view of the city, bay and bridges. While you're there, check out the murals painted on the walls. Take time to stop and smell the roses and other flora in the secret gardens as you climb up and down the 400 stairs on Telegraph Hill that lead to the Tower. I don't recommend taking the stairs with small children.
6) Ride the cable cars! A visit to the Cable Car Museum is worthwhile for younger kids.
7) Visit China Town. Eat there!
8) Go see Lombard Street -- the crookedest street in the world.
9) Go to a baseball game at AT&T park and check out McCovey Cove.
10) Visit the sea lions on Pier 39.

A few things to note. If you plan to visit, Alcatraz, which I highly recommend for older children, tickets are hard to come by. To be on the safe side, buy them well advance. The new Walt Disney Museum -- that we didn't have time to visit -- is more geared toward older kids and adults. We visited Golden Gate Park during our last visit, including the California Academy of Sciences. If your time is limited, research the various museums before you go, and choose wisely. The Exploratorium surpasses any other kids museum we've visited. Put it on the top of your list. You won't be sorry.

Excursions
If you have more than a few days and a car, I recommend these excursions:

1) Take a walk in the redwood forest in Muir Woods. There are trails for every age and energy level.
2) Visit The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito.
3) If you have kids with "The Farm," aka Stanford, on their college wish list, go while you're in the area. In our case, we have two boys nowhere near college age who are college sports fanatics. So, we drove out to Palo Alto to tour it. Not knowing much about the University, I thought the tour was interesting. The campus is gorgeous, as are the zillion dollar homes and cottages in Old Palo Alto.

Where to eat
We compiled a long list of places to eat before our trip mostly based on recommendations from friends who have visited or lived in the Bay Area. That plan went by the wayside when we got there. We ended up eating close to where we were each day or close to the hotel with the goal of hitting at least one dining spot that served seafood, Asian, Mexican or Italian cuisine.

A few things to note before I offer my restaurant picks. I was really surprised that the seafood we sampled at most restaurants was meh at best. I can get much better quality and variety here in land-locked Atlanta. Also of note, we ate lunch at the highly acclaimed Vietnamese restaurant The Slanted Door at the Ferry Building. Having eaten at the restaurant's old location on previous trips, we were excited to visit its new digs. Unfortunately, the restaurant has lost its luster for us. In my opinion, it's living off its reputation.

Here are some restaurants I would highly recommend. All have kids menus. If you have picky eaters, these are good options for you.

Ferry Building Marketplace
The marketplace houses some of the best food in the city. I recommend a movable feast of samplings from the food stalls. My favorites are: coffee at Blue Bottle Coffee, the sour dough baguette at Acme Bread, cheese and sandwiches at Cow Girl Creamery, cupcakes at Miette and ice cream at Humphry Slocombe. Be on the lookout for TCHO chocolate bars in some of the specialty shops. The company used to give tours of its factory in the city, but they have moved to Berkeley. Try the Mokaccino -- milk chocolate mixed with Blue Bottle coffee. Tip: Seating inside the marketplace is scarce. What little there is, is hard to find. Some large communal tables, as well as counter seating, are located in the area just outside Peet's Coffee. Or, you can eat outside on benches if it's a nice day and you don't mind being surrounded by pigeons. Not an option for me.

Sausalito/Milly Valley...

Fish
Located literally on the dock of the bay in Sausilito, Fish serves only sustainable seafood plus fresh salads and more. Stand in line to place your counter order. Enjoy a glass of wine or a beer from an extensive list, or fresh squeezed lemonade served in mason jars. Be ready to pounce on a picnic table outside as soon as one opens. The servers will deliver your food there. The fish tacos were notable, but the chowder and fish & chips were our faves. Skip the BBQ oysters. Come prepared to stand in line, and have cash or check in hand. No reservations. No credit cards accepted.

Copita
When we asked the hotel concierge for Mexican restaurants recommendations, she sent us to Copita Taqueira conveniently located on the main drag in Sausilto. The atmosphere is warm and lively with outside sidewalk seating. Copita prides itself for serving traditional Mexican dishes using fresh seasonal ingredients. Lunch and dinner menus are 100% gluten free. Your meal begins with a complimentary jar of jicama & cucumber spears dusted with chile powder, lime juice and flake salt -- a refreshing combination of tastes and textures. The bar features an extensive selection of tequila, so be sure to order a margarita. The $10 house margarita was shaken and served at our table then poured over a single square ice cube (my fave). It was excellent. Tacos are available in orders of two or four, which makes it fun if you want to try several. The mahi-mahi fish and special pork tacos were outstanding. The braised short rib was very good, but I would stick with tacos next time. The very generous bowl of tortilla soup was delish. Keep that in mind if you plan to order tacos. My eyes were definitely bigger than my stomach. Reservations recommended on busy nights.

Poggio
Poggio Trattoria serves classic Northern Italian cuisine using seasonal locally sourced ingredients, including some grown in the garden on site. I met some people at our hotel who had eaten there the night before. One was a chef. If  he was raving about it then I knew it was good enough for us. The restaurant was warm and inviting with outside sidewalk seating. You can order half or full size pasta portions. I ordered the pasta of the day, which was excellent. As were the kids pizzas straight out of the wood fire oven. My husband ordered the yellow fin tuna. It was very good, not outstanding. If we were to go back we'd skip the surf -- except for the divine poached rock shrimp butter leaf lettuce salad -- and go with some turf. The $69 grilled porterhouse steak (enough for 2-3 people) was tempting, but we couldn't talk the kids out of their pizzas.  If you are child free and feeling casual, I would recommend sitting at the lively bar and ordering several pizzas and salads to share along with a few (or more) glasses of sangria from the vat sitting on the bar. Reservations recommended.

Buckeye Roadhouse
A local favorite since 1937, the restaurant cuisine is described as quintessential American with a California twist. It is named for the buckeye tree outside its back doors. The two-floor open concept space is warm and cozy with dark lacquered panelling throughout. It is a definitely a special occasion place, judging from the number of birthdays being celebrated around us. Nevertheless, they welcomed us in our very casual attire. There's something for everyone on the regular menu with a kids menu to boot. We rarely order chicken out, but our sever recommended the signature chile-lime "brick" chicken. It did not disappoint. The fish of the day was excellent as was the organic butter lettuce salad I ordered to accompany it. Topped it off with a  classic gimlet. There's a smoker out back, so consider ordering something from that section of the menu, especially if you're from the south and have a hankering for BBQ. My son devoured the smoked wings. Reservations recommended.

Palo Alto…
If you're in the Palo Alto area, don't miss the Palo Alto Creamery Fountain & Grill. It's a retro diner that serves breakfast all day, as well as typical diner food. Go for the beef. The burgers and fries are excellent. I highly recommend the Reuben too. Time your visit right or plan to wait for a table.

Where to shop
If you live in a major metropolitan city, skip shopping on Market Street. There you will find the same department and apparel stores you have at home. The one and only shop I wanted to visit was Serena & Lily located in the chic Pacific Heights neighborhood. I was expecting a retail store, but it's a design center. Some bath and dining linens are for sale, but not much. The store is still worth a visit if you want to see firsthand color ways, fabric designs and rug samples, as well as inspect the quality and construction of the furniture pieces on display. You also get free fabric swatches that you would otherwise pay $2 each when ordering from the catalog.

My photo journal:

  {Watching the kids play on the Cavallo Point lawn at dusk. Golden Gate bridge is really close.}

 {Former Officers' residences now impeccably restored suites. Book all the rooms for large families & bring your dog too! Relax on your own rocking chair front porch.} 

 {Lots of places to relax and take in the sea and floral air at Cavallo Point.}

 A visit to the Ferry Building is a must! 


Organic flowers.

{A steal $15 a bunch!}

{Pretty in pink.}
Beautiful fresh produce...




Confections at Miette. I love this shop! Get yourself a treat. Buy gifts for friends and family.

 {Ginger snaps are winners.}

{So is the toffee.}

{Ginger bread cupcake with cream cheese frosting. So pretty and tasty. Get one!}

Wash it down with some Blue Bottle Coffee.


Time to walk it off. Head over to Telegraph Hill on foot. Enjoy the scenery as you walk up the 400 stairs to Coit Tower.

{Secret gardens abound.}

{Level upon level.}

{Stop and smell the amazing roses…}

{Peaking out everywhere.}

{Panoramic view of the city from Coit Tower.}

Take the cable cars to China Town. Eat there!

{Red lanterns.}

Take the ferry to Sausalito. Check out the docks and get some sea food. 

 {Grab a cup of chowder and a shandy at Fish.}

Walk or bike around. Eat at local restaurants. Copita Taqueria is an excellent choice for traditional Mexican.

 {Dine al fresco.}

 {Margaritas are a must. Shaken and served at your table.}

{Cleanse your palette with cucumber and jicama spears.} 

{Pork tacos are the bomb.}

It you're in the mood for Italian, head over to Poggio. Share some pizzas and salad. 

 {Poached rock shrimp salad my fave.}

The Buckeye Diner in Mill Valley has a warm atmosphere and great food. Order a gimlet to go with your meal. You can't go wrong with anything on this menu.

{The Buckeye Roadhouse serving good food since 1937.}

 {Gimme a gimlet please.}

Don't expect to score any sales at the Serena & Lily design shop. It is very well appointed and worth the visit for viewing and free fabric swatches.

{Lovely Serena & Lily design shop. Table and bath linens for sale. Don't expect to buy anything else.}

If you make it out to "The Farm," stop by the Palo Alto Creamery Fountain & Grill for some diner grub. 

{Reuben!}

Confucius says: "Wherever you go, go with all of your heart." Great advice for a visit to San Francisco.

 {Stop by and say hi to Confucious in China Town.}

The End.

What are your favorite hotels, things to do and restaurants in San Francisco?


 
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