entertaining
OUTDOOR FAVORITES FOR SPRING + SUMMER
Spring is on its way out the door, as the heat and humidity are quickly on their way in, so we are currently all about cleaning up the yard, flower beds and waiting patiently for the last of the pollen to clear so we can power wash the exterior and move full-on into summer mode!…
MY FAVORITE TIRAMISU RECIPE
Tiramisu is my hubby’s all-time favorite dessert and since this is really the only sweet treat he will eat, I’ve been trying to find the perfect recipe for the past few years and I’ve finally landed it! I’ve been making this for special occasions, deployment homecomings and just because, for a few years now and…
GARDEN-INSPIRED FINDS FOR SPRING
Blue and white may be my all-time favorite color pairing, but fresh spring green and rattan, wicker and everything woven is a very close second. I’ve found myself gravitating toward the house plant section of the grocery store and grabbing another bird’s nest or stag horn fern every time I go in there lately, just…
SPRING THINGS, PART I
I hope you all had a lovely weekend and are off to a great start this new week! Just popping in quick to share a few pretties that have landed on my radar for spring this morning, from a beautiful burl wood tray and a rattan wine holder to a gorgeous and incredibly reasonably priced…
FALL-INSPIRED ENTERTAINING PIECES TO ADD TO YOUR EVERY DAY BASICS
It’s finally starting to feel like fall around here and it’s a pleasant reminder that the holidays are right around the corner! I’ve already started adding little touches of fall to my every day dinnerware and serving pieces; wood, marble, ironstone, bamboo, unlacquered brass and tortoise go such a long way in adding warmth and…
CHARCUTERIE FOR TWO
Lately, we’ve been celebrating the end of another week with a simple cheese plate and a cocktail on the porch while the kids play outside. The weeks just seem to fly by at warp speed, so, come pickup time on Friday afternoons, I’m ready to down shift and enjoy every moment of having my littles…
SHOP SMALL: LOVING LATELY FROM PALOMA AND CO
La Dolce Vita was one of the very first design blogs I ever followed more than a decade ago, so when designer Paloma Contreras opened Paloma and Co, it was inevitable that I would covet every single curated piece! This is one of my first stops for gifts for friends, hostesses and sometimes even teachers,…
LONG LIVE DAHLIA SEASON
The only upside to the close of summer is that my back-to-school blues are assuaged by lots and lots of dahlias! My friend Sarah started her own sustainable flower farm last February and I couldn’t wait to sign up for her fall subscription for all the dahlias, zinnias and cosmos my little heart could wish…
SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: NAUTICAL BOARDS
If you guys have been following along for a while, you know that arranging charcuterie is one of my latest passions. There’s just something so therapeutic and satisfying about creating something for family and friends that’s as delicious as it is beautiful. It’s also my favorite way to celebrate the end of a long week…
BEAUTIFUL, BUDGET-FRIENDLY TABLE LINENS FOR SUMMER
Summer is the season for entertaining and even though I don’t need an excuse to set a beautiful table, it certainly helps when you find table linens that are gorgeous AND ridiculously affordable! I stumbled upon this navy and white buffalo check table cloth a few weeks back and did a double take when I…
LOVING LATELY: BLUE + WHITE + LOTS OF RATTAN
I can’t think of a more quintessential color palette for summer than blue and white.; when paired with rattan, wicker and bamboo, the effect is effortlessly chic! My husband likes to tease me that there isn’t a wicker piece I won’t find to blog about and I have to agree; chances are, a lot of…
RATTAN ENTERTAINING FAVORITES FOR SUMMER
Summer is my favorite time of year to entertain; it’s the one season where I can really go all out on my table and for my guests while still making it feel casual and laid back. Adding some texture to the table is my favorite way to add an easy, breezy, laid back vibe for…