New Year Countdown Tablescape

In a little more than 48 hours, we will be saying goodbye to 2015 and will welcome a brand new year. Here at home, we take the countdown seriously ..... I wear polka dots {according to Filipino tradition, it will bring prosperity}, put coins in our pockets {again for prosperity}, make loud noises to drive away the negative vibes and spirits, adorn the table with round fruits {another tradition to attract prosperity!}  and finally drink and eat all we can! But unlike Noche Buena {Christmas Eve family dinner} which is usually formal,  our Media Noche (New Year's eve family feast} is more upbeat and mostly finger foods and lots of drinks. 

This year, I focused on "countdown" to midnight as the theme for my New Year's eve tablescape. I gathered all our clocks in the house and made it the focal point of the table. Instead of fruits, I used the my round silver and gold balls {purchased from Pier 1 during Boxing Day for 50 cents!} for prosperity. 

We will bid 2015 adieu with a grateful heart for all the wonderful things we received and all the lessons learned along the way. With much anticipation and hope, we can't wait to welcome 2016 and for the new opportunities it brings!

Let the countdown begin! Tic toc tic toc tic toc .....

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A Tablescape for the Nature Lover

You know that moment when everything falls into place? This is the case when  I did this tablescape for Christmas. A pine tree in the front lawn fell a couple of months ago resulting to cut woods, pine cone scattered in the parking lot of the public library, woodland plate set from  many moons ago and Christmas tree trimmings. The result? A woodland tablescape!

Since my woodland plate set is only good for 4, I mixed it with white and mercury glass plates which worked out very well.

I love this coasters which my fear hubby cut and polish from the fallen pine tree. The wood grain and bark truly add character to the tablecsape.

From the pine cones I gathered near the public library, I made this table napkin rings that added another conversation piece to the table.  You can find the step-by-step DIY pine cone table napkin rings HERE in the previous post.

Bringing the nature in indeed!

How to have an Elegant, Easy and Merry Holiday Get-Together

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Like us, I'm sure your December calendar is almost (if not already) filled with get-together invitations from family and friends.  If you are the one hosting an event or two, it can be quite stressful considering the other things on your to do list (Church activities, wrapping gifts, volunteering, work-related year-end deadlines, etc). I'm on the same boat! But this is the essence of the Christmas Holiday - celebrating the birth of Christ with the people that matter to us.

I like hosting sit down, full-course dinner BUT during the Christmas holiday when I am pulled in many different direction, I stick to casual and simple yet elegant and merry get-together. Most likely your guests are also inundated with lots of parties this season so all they are expecting when they come to visit is to to have fun and spread the Yuletide cheers with you and yours!

Here's a couple of ideas for an elegant and easy holiday entertaining.....

* Cocktails/ Wine and Cheese Party*

I like throwing wine and cheese party when my guests are mostly couples or adults where we can all drink, sample good quality cheeses. lots of music, and just have fun. 

My guide when hosting this kind of party are :

• Serve different kinds of cheese - remember some like blue cheese while others hate it. Be safe and offer different options. I usually have intense Blue cheese {I'm one of those who like it!} like Stilton, nutty and sharp super-aged cheese like Gouda, and soft and creamy cheese like Brie and Gournay.
• Label your cheese : I like using black slates from the hardware store as cheese board because I can label the cheese with chalk directly on the slate.
• Set out a separate knife for each cheese to prevent mixing flavours. Cheese knives are great but butter knives work well too.
• Crackers or artisan bread, honey, jam, nuts, fresh fruits like grapes and/or fig and dried fruits like apricot and/or date add depth to a cheese plate.
• Have red, white, sparkling wines and non alcoholic beverages available for everyone.
• Prepare one or two appetizers or light dishes for those who like to have something else. You can find the recipe of Salmon and spinach Wellington here.
• Set the mood with merry Christmas music that everyone can sing along!
• Always, always, always assign a designated driver.

* Christmas Afternoon Tea Party *

If friends are coming over for "ladies only" Christmas get-together this is my favorite. It's easy, fun and pretty! You can find some tips for a memorable tea party experience in my previous post.

Since this is a Christmas tea party, I put together a red, white and green country arrangement in our small tea room. For this special occasion, I also made a cinnamon bark with star anise as tea stirrer instead of a regular teaspoon. Sparkling wine is always a good idea too! Again, set the mood with music and have lots of fun!

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A Classic Thanksgiving Tablescape

It was Thanksgiving yesterday here in the great white north. Next to Christmas, Thanksgiving is another favorite holiday here at home. In my case, I get excited celebrating Thanksgiving because it combines the three things I love doing the most : decorating the house, tablescaping and cooking for family and friends. Classic and rustic harvest were my theme for this year's tablescape.

Thrift shops, HomeSense and my backyard are my go to places to source out my decorations. As in the past, all of these things were purchased right after Thanksgiving last year at more than 60% off it original price. And of course, bringing nature in will always be part of my decoration style.

Table runner from HomeSense, table cloth napkin from Pier 1, harvest dinnerware set from Value Village (a local thrift shop) and the wheat stalks were from the neighbor's farm.

To add Thanksgiving theme to my cocktail tray, I just attached a magazine cover with fall theme at the back of the glass tray and voila ....

So many things to be thankful for : family, friends, good health, abundant harvest, happy cat, chickens and ducks, surpassed trials and challenges and material blessings just enough to live comfortably and be able to share to those who need them. With grateful hearts, we gather and give thanks!

Linking with : THE SCOOP