Chicago in White 2015

We thought we were registering for Le Dîner en Blanc . . . instead we ended up at the Chicago in White event . . . and had a blast!

White events seem to be all the rage.  The French started it with Le Dîner en Blanc, a very chic pique-nique, the location of which is always shrouded in secrecy . . . and now it's spread all over the world!  Well, maybe we'll have a chance to do it next year . . .

But the Chicago in White event was absolutely lovely, and fun!  And now that we have all acquired complete white outfits, and a few little white extras, we are definitely going to do it again!

This year's event took place at Ravinia, the oldest outdoor music festival venue in the United States.  For this special night, Chicago Jazzman, Ramsey Lewis, celebrated his 80th birthday and performed accompanied by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra!  We would have gone to the event regardless, but having Ramsey Lewis perform was such an awesome treat!  I'm a big fan!

I couldn't resist snapping pictures of some of the guests.  These two ladies were having such a good time! This year, the proceeds of the event benefit Ravinia's “Reach * Teach * Play” program, that provides accessibility to music education in the Greater Chicago area.

So we packed up a nice dinner . . .  Brought umbrellas, since the day was slightly overcast . . .

Decked ourselves in white from head to toe . . .

Set a pretty table, to which we all contributed . . .

And  . . . enjoyed!

The event kick off  is announced with trumpets and the waving of the white napkins.

The menu was also a joint effort, but my friend, Layda's Caprese Salad on skewers, stood out for its prettiness and deliciousness . . .

And my friend, Chris, wins the prize for the bottle of wine with the most interesting name:  Sangue di Giuda - Judas' Blood!  It's a red semi-sweet sparkling wine with fruity undertones, pefect for a warm summer night!

Rose, Layda and Nick . . .

Miguel and Chris . . .

The centerpiece included ranunculus (my “new” favorite flower) . . .

Gillyflowers, tulips, roses and waxflowers . . .

I'm already thinking about next year . . .

Valentine's Day Mantle Vignette

When the days are gloomy and the sun is playing hide and seek, simple, brightly-colored, and not-to-be-understimated carnations, my birth flower, are just what I need to cheer me up!

Valentine's Day thoughts begin to occupy me, and I'm taking advantage of a few days at home, to attempt a fireplace mantle display, and I challenged myself to only use things I already had around the house . . .

So I headed over to my book shelves.  Anna Karenina and Pride and Prejudice!  Wonderful, well-loved romantic novels, and the books are bound in red leather to boot!  They are part of The Easton Press "One Hundred Greatest Books Ever Written" which I started collecting while I was still single!  I perched a pair of love birds on top.

Then, I thought it'd be nice to have something tall at one end of the mantle.  I like to bring out the pewter Cape Fear candlesticks in February, since we also celebrate George Washington's birthday, and pewter always puts me in mind of our Founding Fathers.

When we bought our first house, we commissioned a local glass artist to make us this small panel with tulips, which we installed in the front door of our old house.  When we sold the house, my husband removed it and now we display it on a copper easel, a lovely memory of our old home.

I found the twine hearts at Pier 1.  They come in white and red.  I'm not quite sure what to make of these hearts. They were an impulse buy, and I don't usually do that.  I'm living with them for now, and see if they grow on me.

I'm in love with this red mercury glass votive holder that I picked up at Pottery Barn  a couple of years ago. Isn't this red beautiful?

Then, at the other end, a rustic garden pitcher holds fresh tulips, that, as if on cue, managed to droop at the perfect angle for my photo.  I inserted a mason jar inside to hold the water.

I love this pitcher, and usually keep it filled with flowers during the spring and summer seasons, but there's no reason why it can't come out to play for Valentine's Day, too!  The metal finish echos that of the pewter candlesticks on the opposite side of the mantle, and helps to balance the vignette.

I was trying for romantic, but not too cheesy . . . What do you think?

It's certainly brightened the Family Room!

Easter Dinner with the bunnies

With my son, David, leaving to go into the Army in two weeks time, my head is too full of worry to leave room for a great deal of creativity.

Still, it was Easter, and we were together!  Two great things for which to be grateful!  So with this little pep talk to myself I went to the basement and started pulling things from the boxes.  There's Peter Rabbit!  Did I ever finish reading all the Beatrix Potter stories to David?

No wait, that's not Peter Rabbit.  And that egg belongs to John!

What am I doing?  They are too old for bunny ears, aren't they? 

 

 

What if they were a manly brown . . . ?

 

 

Perhaps if I used some tactical diversion . . . like carrot cupcakes . . .

 

 Topped with violas from the garden, which are completely edible . . .

And some lemon parfaits . . .

 

With lots of jelly beans tucked among the flowers . . .  They may be men now, but they still love sweets!

 

Brown eggs and woven mats evoke a garden setting anybunny would enjoy . . .

 

And an easy guy-pleasing menu of Baked Honey Ham, Rosemary Potatoes and Green Beans - An easy-peasy meal that left us plenty of time for playing board games! 

I hope the kids remember this dinner.  I hope they remember the bunny ears . . . I hope they remember how much we laughed.  May the Risen Christ bless us and watch over us all!  Alleluia!

Happy Easter!

My children's schedules continue to be as crazy and unpredictable as ever, so this year we celebrated Easter with an early morning breakfast.  The table was set the night before . . .

First thing first:  My husband/sous chef checking e-mails before heading to the kitchen to prepare breakfast . . .

Some pretty egg-shaped salad plates in soft pastels . . . 

The soft paisley green napkin by Ralph Lauren goes on top . . .

These fun hopping bunny napkin rings appeared in last year's Easter table, too.  Click here to see that post.

I love all the different textures on the table, the homespun squares on the tablecloth . . . the bird's nest chargers . . .

Beautiful tulips . . . Spring is here!!!!!

Then the Easter bunny did his thing and filled the table with candy!

He even brought chocolate umbrellas and hung them from the flower vase . . .

Here are our two “little” boys, who never seem to grow too old for candy . . .

And now, Mama can sit down and have a cup of coffee . . .

And before long, my oldest goes back to college with a batch of cupcakes for his buddies . . .

Happy Easter to my family and friends!  God bless you!  The Lord is Risen!  Alleluia!

Details:

Nest Chargers - Pottery Barn

White dishes, cups and saucers - Traditions by Apilco from Williams-Sonoma

Pastel egg-shaped salad plates - Pottery Barn

White ramekins holding M&Ms - BIA Cordon Bleu, Amazon

Napkins - By Ralph Lauren at HomeGoods

Napkin Rings - Pottery Barn last year

Green water goblets - The Dollar Tree

Tulip-shaped wine glasses - IKEA

Parfait glasses (holding jelly beans) - Bed Bath and Beyond

Flatware - My everyday from Costco

Mini salt and pepper shakers - Crate and Barrel bought eons ago

A Topsy Turvy Easter

Our sons had complicated work and school schedules so we had our Easter feast on Saturday night - our Topsy Turvy Easter Brunch!

Instead of the simple, symmetrical lines I usually prefer, I tried something more whimsical, and, overcoming the testosterone that surrounds me, I went pink!

I bought these glass candy dishes from Lillian Vernon, a long, long time ago - at least 15 years ago . . .

They are tiny, but perfect for candy-coated sunflower seeds . . .

Remember the nests from Williams-Sonoma?  They are making their second appearance, this time holding jelly beans . . .

The jelly bean colors were pure serendipity.  The Jolly Ranchers jelly beans were, at first, a make-do substitute for the Jelly Bellies I'd bought earlier . . . and which my DH ate as soon as he discovered the stash!  But the colors in this bag matched my theme . . . Sometimes, things seem come together so beautifully!

More rabbits!

The tulips were placed in bud vases in two different heights to create interest, and it was still easy to see the person sitting on the opposite side . . .

The taller bud vases came from IKEA (79¢ each!) . . .

The smaller vases came from Crate and Barrel . . .

I bought the tablecloth and napkins at HomeGoods . . . The pink and green plaid was a strong design element that balanced the overall softness of the pink theme . . .

I placed tea light holders on the table thinking that it would be dark enough to light them.  However, there was still plenty of daylight left when we sat down at 6:30 P.M. . . . And that was totally fine with me!

Later on, they glowed beautifully on the fireplace mantle.  What a lovely green color!

Where do you go if you want the best seasonal - and reasonably priced - flowers?  Trader Joe's of course!

The tulip-shaped Chardonnay glasses came from IKEA.  At $1.99 each, who could resist?

Fresh Blueberry-Raspberry Muffins with Streusel topping . . .  The napkin has a Reticello lace corner and is part of a tablecloth set given to us by my godmother on David's baptism.

What would Easter be without a butter lamb on the table . . . ?

The menu, as always, was my kids' favorite:  Dad's pancakes, scrambled eggs, and sausage . . .  

I added the muffins and Quiche Lorraine, and a nice bottle of Chardonnay (I mean, it was dinner, right?)

Oh, and some flaky rolls . . .

Never surprise the kids while eating, or we get this . . .

And this . . .

Happy Easter to everyone!