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

Massaged kale salad….

Last month I went on my annual girl's weekend in the Blue Ridge mountains. As with all girl's weekends, we ate and drank a lot. We did manage to squeeze in one super food -- Alisa's massaged kale salad. Delicious and nutritious. And, easy to make with a few short cuts.

Alisa's Kale Salad (adapted from Mel's KitchenCafe)
(Serves 6)

Ingredients:

1 10 oz. bag Trader Joe's Tuscan kale cut, washed and ready to use. (short cut)

3/4 teaspoon kosher or sea salt

1/2 cup dried cranberries/craisins

3/4 cup small diced apple

1/3 cup toasted pine nuts*

1/4 cup olive oil

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

1/2 teaspoon sugar

1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese

{i use my herb scissors to cut off stems} 

Directions:

1. Cut off any remaining tough stems from kale. Place kale in a large bowl, add salt and massage for 2 minutes with your hands. You'll notice it start to turn a darker green and the texture will begin to soften.
2. Toss in craisins, apples and pine nuts. In a small bowl whisk together the oil, vinegar and sugar.
3. Pour over salad and toss. Sprinkle feta cheese on top and serve.

*Place pine nuts in a single layer on a baking sheet in 325 degree oven until golden brown. I tend to get distracted in the kitchen and have burned nuts on many occasions. If this is an issue for you, check out Mario Batali's how to video on toasting nuts and spices.

The salad can be refrigerated for up to five days, so make a big batch and snack on it all week.

Serve it as a side salad or box it up in Chinese take out containers for a picnic...

Have a happy and healthy weekend!

Viburnum...

Spring is my favorite season. This year it is exceptionally welcoming after such a brutal winter. New flowers are starting to show their blooms all over my garden.

Let's start with my fave right now -- viburnum. They have been in full bloom for a couple weeks fading from bright chartreuse to white snowballs, and should be hanging around for another several days if they don't get pummeled by rain. In the language of flowers viburnum very aptly mean "idleness." They make lovely cut flowers on their own or in a mixed bouquet. If you're ever in the market for them for a special occasion, they are commonly called "guelder roses" at floral wholesalers.

Here they are hanging around in my garden.

 A few snuck in among the azaleas.

Wondering how I display them in my house? Of course you do.

I brought a big bunch inside in the morning to condition them for arranging. Viburnum are woody stemmed flowers so you should split them vertically about an inch up the stem to draw in more water before placing in a vase.

I placed a few tiny snowballs in a frog cube for my powder room.

And, these made a lovely, bright table display.

 {mercury glass vases from west elm}

Pull out your julep cups and mix them with something sweet like ranunculus -- another one of my faves. If you live in Atlanta, Trader Joe's has a nice selection right now.

Flower heads tend to get heavy and flop when making large arrangements. I usually gather a bunch in my hand until I like the shape, and then tie them together at their necks with twine before placing in an urn or wide-mouthed vase.

Simply plop them in. Done.

Enjoy them while they last!

Floral styling with frog cubes...

George's is my absolute favorite restaurant on 30-A. When we were in Alys last year I was smitten with the cute frog cubes they display on their tables. Just one cube with a few fresh sprigs of mint transforms this table from drab to fab. It adds an edgy yet sweet splash of green without taking up too much table space or obscuring diners' views. As luck would have it, they are for sale in the restaurant's gift shop. Of course, I bought one. 

{George's, Alys Beach}

When I got home, I noticed the "chive" imprint on the bottom of the vase. I found them at chive.com and placed an order immediately. Not surprisingly, chive is a Canadian company. It's no secret that I think Canadian wares and clothing are high quality and very tasteful. I was so excited when my box arrived. When I opened it…  

{notecard enclosed}

Love at first sight. I adore green and white parrot tulips. They are one of my faves.

Chive sells cubes in 2 sizes (small and large) in a rainbow of colors. I prefer white for its versatility. I also favor white flowers, which for the most part come from my garden. Let's take a look at some of the ways I use them.

I always have one in my powder room…

{gerber a daisy, white carpet rose, phlox "David" and limelight hydrangea} 

A little pieris greenery (from my yard) frames these white flowers nicely. The tiny buds add texture. 

Cubes look good alone…

{seafoam cube}

{i can't think of a better way to showcase a hellebore bloom}

Grouped into larger squares...

Down the middle…

 {just flowers}

 {pumpkins, fresh herbs & votives on craft paper and burlap ribbon}

On a tray...

{evergreen clematis is in full bloom -- cut some and bring them inside -- delicate and fragrant!}

And, on my office (aka the laundry room) window sill…

As you can see, the possibilities are endless. And budget friendly -- less than $8 a cube. Pick something from your garden and stick it in. Cubes make excellent hostess gifts. Speaking of gifts, I got one from chive with my order. 

I'll be back soon to show you more fun ways to use frog dishes and cubes.

Happy Spring!

My favorite things: hostess gifts

I'm back! If you're wondering where I've been, I successfully underwent ACL reconstruction surgery last week. On the road to a LONG recovery. Take care of your knees, especially if you're heading to the slopes for the holidays.

Last year during the holidays I shared some of my favorite things. Here are my picks for items any host or hostess would be delighted to receive:

Let's start with the most obvious -- a bottle of wine.

I'm not a chardonnay fan. I simply don't like the flavor of oak. When I ordered a glass of Mer Soleil Silver Unoaked Chardonnay this summer at George's in Alys I was hooked. This wine is fermented and aged in cement tanks, which sets it apart from oak barreled varieties. Tasty and comes in a cool ceramic bottle too. A bit of a splurge at $25 a bottle.

{via}

Block Nine Pinot Noir continues to be my favorite red. I just served it at Thanksgiving. At under $15 a bottle, you can't go wrong.

{via} 

And speaking of red wine. Back by popular demand -- Tech Stain Remover. An unexpected, yet practical gift. Be creative. Package it with a bottle of red wine. Trust me, every hostess needs a bottle in her arsenal. Available on amazon.com and most local hardware stores like Intown Ace.

Speaking of stains, do you all know about The Laundress? I think we all agree that doing laundry is a tedious and loathsome task. The Laundress products can add a bit of style to your otherwise dull laundry room. I like the Apres hand cream and soap duo. On sale now for $34. Okay, a bit of a luxury, but every laundress deserves something special. Why spend money on the living room, when we spend most of our time in the kitchen and laundry room? If you have a question about a mysterious stain or truly terrible laundry quandary, just ask the laundress.

{For a small fortune, you too can stock your laundry room with The Laundress products}

 via

There's always a lot of food around for the holidays. It's nice to receive baked goodies, but why not gift something that can be enjoyed after the holiday season? As you know I'm quite smitten with Jeni's ice cream. Her salty caramel sauce is to die for! A steal at $22 for a two pack.

Scented candles can be a tricky purchase. A candle scent -- like perfume -- is a personal preference. I continue to stand by my fave Seda France "Japanese Quince." For something more subtle, you can't go wrong with "Cutting Garden."

Note to the hostess: You do know not to burn scented candles near food, right? They are meant to be used near an entrance to your home or in the powder room. Burn non-scented candles on any surface that has food on or around it.

I love these signet mugs from Anthropologie. Perfect for tea and coffee drinkers alike. Mug + small treat = $10!

{via}

I stumbled upon the Canadian company Chive last summer. Chive has an extensive collection of vases and pots -- not to mention gnomes -- for all of your floral needs. Styles are definitely more on the modern side. My fave is the simple frog cube. At less than $10, it comes in a rainbow of colors. Cut a flower, herb or piece of greenery from your yard -- holly would be nice this season -- pop it in a cube and present it to your hostess. Go ahead and order a case. You will have to pay a small shipping fee, but I received a free gift with my order. I do love a little surprise. White is an obvious choice for its versatility, but silver would be nice for the holidays.

 {I always have one in my powder room.}

Enough for now. What will you be giving as hostess gifts this season?

Hoo...

 {Anthropologie}

A Wise Old Owl

A wise old owl lived in an oak

The more he saw the less he spoke

The less he spoke the more he heard

Why can't we all be like that wise old bird?
-- The Oxford Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes

Curious about the wise old owl, I did some research. In Greek mythology the Little Owl was a messenger of Athene -- the the goddess of wisdom. This may explain why owls symbolize wisdom today. The Greeks used owls as decoration for their army as they believed it offered them protection. If a Little Owl flew over the army during battle, it was an omen of victory. During World War II, the US Army used the rhyme on a poster tweaking the ending line with "Silence means security."

Has anyone else noticed that owls are trending big time this holiday season? I'm seeing them everywhere. And they are really cute. Let's take a look.

Anthropologie…

{flannel wreath}

{fluffy ornaments, accessories and more mugs than you can shake a stick at}

Star Provisions is filled to the rafters with holiday decor. Owls abound, including this owl adorned tree…

{The silver owls are my faves.}

{Love this vignette. The white porcelain guy is a piggy bank -- cute idea for a child's bedroom.}

Jonathan Adler added an unglazed porcelain owl ornament to its "swanky swag" menagerie...

Here's the wise guy hanging on a gilded tree...

Last, but certainly not least, what a fun way to plate your eggs Christmas morning and store your contacts before bed. Ace is the place.

It was pretty obvious what to order with my delicious dinner at Sobban last weekend.

{Hitachino Nest beer from Japan}

Restaurant review coming soon.

Thanksgivingukkah food and decor...

For the first time since 1899, Thanksgiving and the first day of Hanukkah will be celebrated on the same day. And it won't happen again for 70,000 years. In light of this very special occasion, I've decided to do a mash-up for my menu, tablescape and decor.

Orange and blue happen to be one of my favorite color combinations. I was flipping through some shelter mags this week and couldn't help but notice that the covers of House Beautiful and Cottage Style both feature rooms in blues and oranges. Purely coincidental I suppose. But a nice jumping off point for my holiday inspiration.

My mood board:

{evidence of my lovingly used Paper Source rubber stamp collection}

 

Twists on my regular menu:

• Latkes instead of mashed potatoes. No need to cut your knuckles grating potatoes or splatter grease all over the kitchen when you can use frozen latkes from Trader Joe's.
• Maple cinnamon roasted butternut squash (Short cut: Use Trader Joe's pre-cubed bags.)
• Challah stuffing
• Brussel sprouts with pomegranate molasses

Recipes for these sides can be found on one of my favorite blogs The Shiksa in the Kitchen. I am, after all, a shiksa and slowly learning about Jewish cooking. I like Tori's blog for a lot of reasons. She's cute, her step-by-step recipes are easy to follow -- she does tutorials on stuff like how to peel, seed and prep butternut squash -- and she doesn't use a lot of mixing bowls, because she doesn't like to do dishes. Her History Kitchen tells the stories behind our favorite foods. Plus, she has an adorable yellow lab named "Marley." A girl after my own heart.

I'll be back soon to show you how my vision comes to life. In the meantime, check out my Thanksgivingukkah Pinterst board for more ideas.