Holiday Favorites

Dinner Napkins

Monogrammed Cards

Cocktail Napkins

Plaid Stockings

Valentine's Day

On Valentine's Day JCW and I spent the day in Annapolis.

 

We walked down Maryland Avenue which is one of my favorite streets.

I had to pick something up at Star Monograms and Belle taught JCW the baby ropes.

 

We had brunch at a new restaurant called Iron Rooster and are definitely going back.

 

I got a little something for our little one on the way from Wheat.

Before heading out we stopped at Kilwins for some treats.

That evening, friends hosted a Valentine's dinner.

We couldn't have asked for better food or company.

The molten chocolate cake for dessert was the perfect ending to a very sweet day.

Pomegranate

I would love to add these Pomegranate linens to my collection. I can picture myself using the Hunt Club Napkins all the time but I am also partial to all the whimsical patterns like the Zebra motif.   

Bunny Williams for Ballard Designs

I am a fan of Bunny Williams's book, An Affair with a House so I was excited to see her collaboration with Ballard Designs. I received the catalog as I was brainstorming my fall dinner tablescape and it would have been very easy to work in the following pieces...

Melange Flatware Set

Campbell Napkins

Horn Salt & Pepper Set

I have also been coveting stag horn flatware along with this bamboo flatware but there is always the more affordable bamboo alternative.  

Fall Dinner

We had a little fall dinner party over the weekend. It was a great excuse to break out my Spode Woodlandplates, Glen Plaid Glasses and woven chargers from William Sonoma.

While I was setting the table, JCW was hard at work in the kitchen. He made Beef Bourguignon from a recipe he found in Cook's Illustrated. 

We ended the meal with a (light) dessert of Rum Cake & Berger Cookies. Hosting this dinner definitely put us in the mood for the upcoming holidays. 

Melamine Plates

These personalized plates from Mark & Graham would sure jazz up meal time. The orange or navy would be the most practical for me but the racquets plates sure are cute!

Happy Menocal

I swoon over Aerin Lauder's style and sophistication. She posted an image of a hand painted menu card from a luncheon that she hosted last summer and it's still ingrained in my mind. The menu cards were commissioned from Happy Menocal, a New York artist that has worked with Anthropologie, Jonathan Adler, Stubbs & Wootton and Vogue. Check out some of her incredible work...

Tory Burch Tabletop

Tory Burch just launched some fabulous blue & white table top pieces as part of her home collection. She is carrying spongeware bowls, plates, and pitchers as well as linens. It's fun to see how the pieces are styled on tabletops. I am always admiring Tory Burch's entertaining and décor pictures on instagram.  

 

Seersucker Linens

These Seersucker Dinner Napkins from Mark and Graham are sure to spruce up your tablescape or tailgate. There are almost too many fun monogram options to pick just one.

NYC Thanksgiving

After a wonderful Thanksgiving morning in horse country we headed to NYC for dinner with JCW's family.

Everyone was busy cooking when we arrived.

Our view from The Standard the next morning.

 

We went to the Alton Lane showroom where I struggled with JCW to pick out something other than a blue windowpane.

JCW's mom was going over some fabric swatches and I think we all agreed on this Schumacher...there may be some daughter-in-law overlap with this one.

 

Vagabond House

The best part (besides cooking & eating) of Thanksgiving is creating your tablescape. I've had pretty much every item from Vagabond House's Antler Rustic collection on my lust list for quite sometime. The Morning Hunt collection is also a favorite.

This Pewter Ice Bucket would look great on my newly finished bar table.

Vagabond has an impressive collection of Bar Ware including some rather handsome decanter tags.

The Polo Player Salt & Pepper Shakers would be a great addition to a polo tailgate...

...and lets not forget the Turkey Salt & Pepper Shakers for your Thanksgiving table.

There is something so adorable about this Hive Honey Pot...I am thinking brunch or shower.

Will you be hosting and have you started planning your Thanksgiving table?