Holiday Table

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

I hope you are enjoying the season. If your holidays are anything like mine, your life was like a freight train for all of December, which crashed violently on the 25th, turning your house into a pile of rubble, leading you to hibernate in your pajamas with your phone off ever since.

The holiday recovery zone may be one of my favorite places of all time. Post 12/25 is truly when all is calm and all is bright. (Unless you count the near-constant sibling bickering of my children, which I am not, because I am totally ignoring it). I haven't left my house or my "eating pants" (pants with an elastic waistband, for those of you who didn't go to college with Dan Novak, who coined the term) in days.

I've read a book and a half, I've sat and thought, eaten left-over party platter cheese and crackers for lunch, talked on the phone (remember THAT?!), and generally been a totally happy and relaxed hermit.

The reason this vacation is so needed is because, as I said, December was bonkers. And I mean BONKERS. I find myself wondering how Christmas turned into such a three-ring circus. And how I can avoid that next year. It will take me the next 10 months to figure that out but SOMEHOW something must be done. The only thing I know for sure is that it is completely my fault. [Evidence]

At some point, we'll have to fully unpack my issues, which essentially fall into the category of thinking I can and should do all the things, when in reality I cannot and should not be doing all the things.

But for now, whatever, Pretty Table!

One of the things I had really wanted to do but just couldn't get done earlier in the month was participating in Minted's #MintedHolidayStyle contest. They asked me, along with a handful of others, if we would like to share a festive tablescape on our blog & Instagram featuring their new matched napkin sets. You have to understand, every word of that is like irresistible candy to a blogger. I had to say yes! But time, opportunity, and good lighting rarely converge in the best of months for this type of project, let alone in a jam-packed December.

So I'm sharing it now! I used the lazy afternoons this week to shop for, stage, set and shoot a tablescape, just. for. fun. This is probably not most people's idea of a good time, but to me, arranging flowers and setting out forks and napkins -- without having to actually cook food or put away the laundry on my love seat -- is luxury of the highest order.

And bonus, I got to practice my manual shooting skills! Ah, blissful vacation afternoon. And unlike a real party, I don't have to clean up the dirty socks my son threw on the floor, or the stack of broken- down gift boxes next to our table. I just had to crop them out.

Here's wishing you a relaxed and blissful end to 2016, and much joy in the New Year!

5 ways to simplify your next kid party

This weekend my youngest son turned 3. I won't even get into how impossible that seems. But at his request, we threw a Minion birthday party. (The Minions are those little yellow guys from Despicable Me that are everywhere in stores right now, for those of you who aren't up on your non-English-speaking-banana-eating-fart-gun-shooting-weird-little-creature Kid Lore at the moment).

Warning: The Minion color palette could make your eyes bleed, so tread carefully if it's been a while since your last little kid birthday party.

I tried to keep this party really simple, but I also wanted to honor and celebrate our littlest guy. (You know how easy it would be to skip a big to-do for that poor third child...) I think I was really successful on both accounts, and my husband was even overheard saying, "This was the easiest party we've ever thrown." Trust me, that is music to my ears. (Let's just say that usually the 48 hours before and again after a party aren't always peaceful around here).

Now that it's all said and done, I am sharing the tips I employed to pull together a festive and fun birthday for our little guy, without making myself (or anyone else) insane.

1. Shop Online

Very shortly after my son declared his party theme was going to be Minions (and I cried inside a little), a company called Party Pail reached out and asked if they could send me some of their party supplies to try. I had never shopped online before for this type of stuff, but as soon as I hit the "solid colors" section of their website, I was like, um yes, yes you can.

I usually wait until the week before the party and grab armloads of random stuff at Wal-Mart or Party City. I can't stand errands, so I wait until the last minute on purpose to do this kind of drudgery. Plus, there's never a good time to get there. I either have to take my kids (which I have learned is not a good plan), or leave the house in the evenings (which is no fun for someone whose strict policy is not to move after 7 pm). And then because nothing at Wal-Mart or Party City ever quite fits the plan in my head, I stay up until all hours trying to tweak and DIY my way to party perfection.

After filling my cart at Party Pail, I quickly realized I've been depriving myself of a wonderful thing all these years: Pajama-Couch Shopping. No going out in the cold after dark, no chugging after heavy shopping carts in tundra-like parking lots, no trying to wait for a free evening, no trying to sneak party favors past the kids. It was glorious!

And they had really cute stuff at really good prices. I got paper napkins, placemats, utensils, cups, paper straws, baking cups (that were adorable - I filled them with bite sized watermelon for the kiddos), TONS of balloons, treat boxes, and paper fans. It was literally a party in a box. And once I got everything open, I went back and ordered more. Sure, you can't be quite as big a procrastinator if you're doing it online, but this was my most favorite party shopping ever.

(Quick tip on the balloons: I was going to buy a disposable helium tank to fill them from Party City. It was $40 and would fill 25 balloons. But then I noticed they rent tanks as well, which fill 55 balloons but still cost just $40. We ended up going with the rented version and it was slick as rain. You pay a refundable deposit and get it for 2 days. It was perfect- and definitely easier than ordering pre-filled and trying to fit that many balloons in your minivan too!) Also yes I have a minivan. Real designers have minivans. Bahaha.

2. Consolidate Decor

My friend Steph recently threw the. most. gorgeous. first birthday party for her youngest son. When I popped over to help her hang some garlands, she totally had an epiphany. She realized that by trying to decorate the entire house and yard, none of her "party zones" would ever make a very big impact. Even though she'd made a boatload of decorations, they didn't feel like a huge quantity because they were spread too thin.

After she said that, we decided to hang ALL of her cupcake garlands in the foyer. She had hit the nail on the head- when you group things that way, the impact is massive and you need less decorations.

I took that lesson to heart when I decorated for my party. Instead of spreading decorations throughout the house, I focused on decorating only our dining space. The mass of balloons wouldn't have been impactful at all if they'd migrated to other rooms, but by keeping them all in a tiny space together, it felt like a mountain of balloons!

The same was true for the photo backdrop. If you hang paper fans by one's and two's all around a house, it doesn't make a statement like one giant wall of them can.

3. Forgo the DIY's

Sometimes it's just not worth it to DIY. I am only a fan of DIY when it saves you HUGE money, and/or when the thing in your head isn't available or isn't available at a price you can afford.

Over the years, I've made more than my fair share of party decorations, including paper pinwheels. They're simple and inexpensive to make so I thought I was coming out ahead. (I've even blogged about how to do it). Then I saw that Party Pail sold them, and for only $2.49 each! Those things take at least 20 minutes a piece to make and cost $2 each in scrapbook paper. So, this was really a no-brainer.

I bought 12 and hung them up, all together, on one wall to make a photo backdrop. Even including many bouts of hysterical laughter catching up with my mom and aunt as I decorated, I did the whole wall in less than the time it takes to DIY one pinwheel. All it took was scotch tape and an occasional sanity-check with a level.

4. Give the Cook a Break

Ahem, the cook would be you. The older I get, the more I realize my passions do not lay in the kitchen. (And I'd like to pause here to say no judgement if you love to throw elaborate parties, enjoy DIY's tremendously, and get massive pleasure from preparing gourmet spreads- go for it! This post is about making yourself happy and not crazy. Do what makes you that).

Anyway, I do not like to cook at all. So coming up with a meal for a crowd is enough to send me into hysterics. Plus, there's so much mess in the kitchen to contend with as you're trying to get everything else ready. So my go-to food plan these days is letting Costco do the cooking. Here are my favorite things to grab for various parties:

- Brussels sprout/ kale shredded salad kit (located in the "cold room")

- Spinach salad/ poppyseed dressing box salad (in the pre-made food cooler toward the back by the deli. It has eggs and grape tomatoes and dried cranberries).

- Pre-made rotisserie chicken salad

- 12 pack of bakery croissants (I do not leave Costco without these. Ever.)

- Food court pizza. You can pre-order one for $10 from the food court. They are huge, delicious, floppy New York style pizzas that that are hot and ready at whatever time you specify. (Just remember the food court only takes cash).

- Baked Mac N' Cheese. This is back in the pre-made section as well. I crumble saltines and stir them with melted butter and sprinkle on top, because this dish isn't caloric enough on its own.

-Rotisserie chicken. A whole chicken for $5. You can't beat that.

- Fruit. Costco has great fruit for a crowd, and if you don't have time to cut watermelon, there are plenty of pre-cut fruit trays.

- Chips, dips, and snacks. Anything. Seriously, any of them.

- Acaia chocolate-covered blueberries. Oh sweet goodness.

(For the record, I don't get ALL of this for the same party, but wanted to share all of my favorite party fare in one place).

This is actually a super fun game I played with someone the other night. We tell each other all of our favorite stuff to buy at Costco. (End of game). Your turn- go!

5. Cheat on the Cake

I cheated on the cake soooo big time. My friend Steph not only knows how to hang a mean garland, but she is the most talented home baker I've ever met. Her cake creations are beyond stunning. So I asked her if she would make the cake for this party (and for the record, all parties I ever have from now on). So yes, this Minion is a cake. Can you even believe it?!

I know!! She's awesome. Obviously, that makes me a total cheater on this list of "ways to simplify" because I'm sure it took her more hours than I want to know about. And because not all of you have a Steph.

But I will tell you how I would cheat on a cake if I didn't have a Steph: Target.

Clearly you aren't going to get this kind of cake at Target. But I learned at my oldest son's 6th birthday party that kids don't care! That year, I ordered a sheet cake at Target for only about $15 and had them add some icing writing in our theme colors (that time it was Ninjago Legos, another lovely palette, ugh!) but told them to leave the top of the cake with a large blank area. Then I loaded it up with his Ninjago toys arranged in a battle scene. No cake has ever been oohed and ahhed over by a group of kids more than that one. It was crowded around, photographed, and fawned over. That's when I realized that kids don't necessarily need a gourmet cake. (Wha?!) Their needs list basically ends at toys and sugar when it comes to birthday parties.

Hopefully this list encourages you that you don't have to be a super mom or exhaust yourself staying up late to DIY in order to throw your kids a cute birthday party. I've done plenty of that, and I'm sure I will again (even as I write this I'm dreaming of curtaining off our entire family room so you can step through a wardrobe into a winter wonderland for the Narnia party my daughter wants this Fall...) but I'm just saying you can give yourself a break and not feel bad about it IF you want to!!

And Happy Happy Birthday to my joy-giving BABY boy...who I can't believe is so old!!!

{As mentioned above, I was gifted product by Party Pail for this occasion. All opinions are 100% my own, and I only recommend companies to you that I would share with my best friends at our weekly playdate.}

Happy Easter!

 

Happy Easter my friends! We had a long, full, sweet day today, celebrating the Greatest Day in History with good friends and our little family. As the day comes to a close, I am overwhelmed afresh by the lavish love of Jesus, as the very rocks and grass are rejoicing in his victory over death. I hope that this post will find you in similar repose, and that wherever you are, you may be filled with the joy of the Savior.

He. Is. Risen!

5 Easy Steps to an Easter Table

Believe it or not, Easter is only days away! Winter tends to linger a long time in Chicago and hints of Spring are more common in May than in March, so for that reason I feel like this holiday above all others sneaks up on me. 

I thought in preparation, I'd share the really super simple way I dressed my table last year, since it would be easy to pull this together in the few days you have remaining. Gotta look out for my fellow procrastinators! (Oh darn, wait, I'm not going to be one of those anymore...)

Here are 5 easy things you can do to pull together an Easter tablescape at the last minute:

1. White Plates

First of all, white dishes. These cabinet staples have served me for every occasion over the last 10 years. (Ours are the Crate & Barrel Aspen; Simply a perfect plate). All of your colors will pop and your food will look beautiful if you start with white dishes. And with so many choices on the market - from Pottery Barn's catering set to the Ikea 89-cent-a-piece plates (no joke!), there is an affordable option for everyone.

2. Paper Napkins

It's OK. I'm giving you permission just this once to forgo the fancy linens. Rather than spinning your wheels and spending extra money to coordinate tablecloths, runners, placemats and cloth napkins, you could give yourself a break this year. You probably bought your table because it was beautiful-- why not show it off? (I did have to make sure to scrape the crumbs and crusted yogurt out of the cracks with a toothpick first...why didn't anyone warn me that kids and plank wood tables don't mix?!) Nevertheless, I love the way the dark wood of our table contrasted against the white dishes and colorful touches, and it was easy peasy to just throw the plates down on it.

And yep, those are paper napkins. Mine were from Target, where there is always a fun color and pattern to be found in the party department. I simply laid them on top of the plates and called it good. (I know, I even skipped placecards...that's kind of like blog sacrilege or something!)

3. Use What You Have

I have a collection of whiteware dishes and ceramic bunnies. Some people collect tea cups or vintage cake stands. Others of you have moms who are collectors, and who are also happy to let you borrow stuff. For everyone else, the Good Will is standing by with a treasure trove of 50-cent vintage bowls. By grabbing a collection of dishware and grouping it in a long narrow line down a table, you'll have visual impact and fullness without the huge expense of extra flowers or tons of holiday-themed decorative objects. 

I used varying sizes of white bowls and bunnies, and if you use the Martha Stewart trick of elevating some bowls on cake stands, it will add even more interest. 

4. Easy Eggs

I filled many of the dishes on the table with Easter Eggs. I grouped them with like colors and didn't worry about making them overly decorated or fussy. Simple was the name of the game; All I did was use the standard dye tabs in a Classic Paas kit and dip the eggs once. Just like we did when we were kids. I thought the pastels were so beautiful, I didn't see a need to make it any fussier than that.

5. Bright Flowers

I chose a bright yellow shade of roses for the middle of the table (all tables do need some flowers, I think). Because the eggs were all so pastel, I felt like bright flowers would bring some life to the table. (Actually it was my mom who suggested this...she is always chiding me-- rightly so-- for being too boring in my color choices). It was also her idea to dot the table with bright pink begonia buds...a touch that really makes the whole thing in my opinion. 

Doing a rose centerpiece like this is the simplest way to do flowers. And the good news is, roses are pretty much always available unlike some of the other more exotic flowers. Begonias are fairly prevalent this time of year too. I found a potted one last week at Trader Joe's. The nice thing is, the rest of the plant can sit in your entry or powder room (minus the handful of plucked blooms), and then you can plant it outside once the ground thaws. 

And that's it!

I'm hoping this year to keep it equally simple, but pretty. I wasn't sure where to go with it until a package showed up in the mail this week. My "aunt" Wanda sent me a turqoise glass cream & sugar set and candle sticks that belonged to my grandmother Kate!

I was beyond thrilled and touched, and instantly started envisioning them as the stars of my Easter table amidst a sea of varying shades of blue with white tulips. Dancing girl emoji! Thank you so much Wanda!

Oh, P.S! I have to mention that I shared at the Entrusted blog how to make these easy and cute bird's nest cupcakes. Check them out- they're just too darling not to share!

Birds Nest Cupcakes

You can also see all the photos from last year's Easter here. That was way back when nobody read this blog, haha!

I'm really thankful I'll get to spend another year with my friends Travis and Stephanie and their gorgeous kids (and maybe even Steph's gorgeous mom- hope you can come Caron!) In any case, it's always more fun to set a table for company.

What are your plans?? I hope it's a wonderful Easter wherever you'll be. Jesus is alive! YES!