Tablescape Tuesday - Week 2 - 2016

One of my favorite things to do here in our house, is our tables. I always say the tables and our dinner parties are my creative outlet. Some people knit, scrapbook or make wreaths, I like to set our tables, come up with the perfect guest list and the perfect menu for a dinner party. That is my creative outlet.  Last week we had planned on having six for dinner, but two had to cancel at the last minute, so we moved dinner from the dining room to the eat in kitchen for a more intimate dinner setting. The holidays just seem to fly by, so right after the holidays was the perfect opportunity to get together and catch up with our neighbors.  I had remembered from last year, that right after Christmas, our Super Target had their standing rib roast on super sale. And it was again this year. Then on top of their sale price, the Target Cartwheel app had another 20% off! Great time to pick up a great roast for a nice dinner!
Here are some of my tables from this holiday season. 

Thanksgiving Table Inspriration

We are hosting Thanksgiving again this year. Our house just seems to work for it. It will be even better once we have the downstairs finished, but the guys will all gather around (and R) and catch the games. We were at West Elm a couple of weeks ago and I saw these plates and fell in love with them. I thought they would look so cute on our table this year. They didn't have all of them in the store, so I went home and ordered them, they arrived two days later, perfectly packaged. 

One Kings Lane is another great source of inspiration as well as supplies for the table. I have these napkins in blue as well and I just love them. I enjoy layering napkins with the right napkin ring. Pier 1 is a great source for fun and funky napkin rings. 

These napkins are also West Elm, I picked these up the same time as the plates, but I am not sure if I will use them for Thanksgiving yet. I need to wait to see what I can do with the gold tissue napkins from OKL and look at napkins I have already. 

I saw this silverware on OKL this week, but at $62 a place setting, they just weren't in the budget. 

But how about these from OKL for $44 for four place settings? I think they look like they will be really close and add that kind of classic element. 

I saw these glasses over the weekend and thought they would work really well just as rock glasses but how about on the Thanksgiving table as water glasses?

These are an item I missed on OKL, sometimes that happens. But I will have to keep my eye out for something like this. I know they will come in handy for dinner parties. 

Another missed item, I can see these on our Christmas table. I am on the hunt for these though. 

I had to have these for one of our Christmas tables. With all of the really fun Christmas stuff I have, I can't wait to create some really fun tables. 

Have you seen the latest Target ad campaign? I love it. It just speaks to me and reminds me of get togethers that we have. Only it is usually the boy putting the cheese platter together. I find myself singing the song all day too! LOVE their Threshold stuff. 

All Hallows Eve Dinner Party

Last night we had friends for dinner, two couples. I had a lot of fun coming up with the tablescape and the menu. Especially since it was the night before Halloween.

The boys had blood capsules at their place setting.

The buffet even got a little pumpkin thing going on as well.

The girls had red glittery barrette horns.

The black compote dish is from my mom's shop, and I found some great shiny brite ornaments last year that I thought would be perfect in the dish.

Love Tablescape Thursdays!

Menu

Appetizer

Pumpkin Cheddar Dip from Jax House (this was a huge hit, even with the two boys who didn't like pumpkin, they loved it!)

Apple Cider Fizz 

Autumnal Mixed Green Salad (I am definitely making this again, I made my own dressing, delicious!)

Braised Short Ribs (do you have a go to recipe when entertaining? I think this is mine, they were SO good. I will have to see if I have posted this recipe, I combined a couple that I found, and have made this a number of times now, and it is always a crowd favorite!)

Mashed Potatoes

Garlic Parmesan Roasted Brussel Sprouts

I was going to serve mini pumpkin pies and pumpkin ice cream for dessert, but since we had some pumpkin haters, I went with a box of truffles I had on hand and we passed them. Good thing I had them on hand!

Halloween Tablescape

Our friend J stopped over and joined us for dinner last night. We actually sat at the dining room table and enjoyed our "spooky" decorated table.

We had soup bowls on the table for some butternut squash soup.

I sorta pulled the centerpiece together quickly.

Zombie Pills. . . .

Thanksgiving is next!

On the Menu Monday (MPM) - Week 40

Seriously people, week 40? I don't know where this week has gone, and there are so many things that I still want to do yet this year. The weekend went by way too quickly, cocktails with some neighbor girls Friday, a housewarming party, a wine event at TCF Stadium and dinner out with the neighbors. It was a beautiful weather weekend, a perfect fall weekend. There was some down time of course too, but not much.

The weather was gorgeous this past weekend, and the colors were beautiful. We drove around some of the lakes and really enjoyed the view!

This week is a week away, no meal planning and another really busy weekend, but full of some good stuff!

Monday
Plans - Travel for work
Dinner - Out with co-workers

Tuesday
Plans - Travel for work
Dinner - Out with co-workers

Wednesday
Plans - Travel for work
Dinner - Out with co-workers

Thursday
Plans - Travel for work
Dinner - Out with co-workers

Friday
Plans - Up in the air
Dinner - Up in the air

Saturday
Plans - Bi-monthly dinner with friends
Dinner - Parma 8200 (LOVE this place!)

Sunday
Plans - Canadian Thanksgiving
Dinner - NUM! Can;t wait, our Canadian friend C is a FABULOUS cook! Every year she adds something new to the menu, can't wait to see what it is this year. There will be a lot of us with 10 too!

We are hosting Thanksgiving again this year, looking forward to it. Starting to get the menu together, not sure if we will repeat any of the recipes from last year yet, but I know we all loved the cranberry appetizer, so I am sure that will be a repeat. And of course turkey. What about you, do you have any go-to recipes that get made year after year for special occasions?

I am starting to think about the tablescape, I made this floral arrangement using a cornucopia that I picked up somewhere and thought it would make a nice centerpiece. I know the boy is thinking where are we going to store this. . . .

For more (real) meal planning with links to menus and recipes, check out the Orgjunkie and Stone Gable.