Ideas for Your Christmas Table

THIS POST IS FROM ROOM REMIX - THE BLOG .

Southern Living

I'm probably like many of you in that I didn't grow up with exotic tablescapes or decorations in my home. 

Midwest Living

My mom was the ultimate entertainer, but not because she threw glamorous parties or gorgeous family dinners.  She was a minister's wife on an extremely limited budget who never knew who was going to show up at her home or when, but somehow miraculously always managed to have just the right amount of food on the table and everyone always felt welcome and loved.  

allaboutyou.com

I don't know how she did it, but I never remember having to turn anyone away, or it being obvious that she had to really get creative to serve everyone for any given meal.  No fancy tablescapes, but lot's of good food, great conversation and much laughter.  She was, and still is, an amazing example of what true hospitality and entertaining is really all about...

allaboutyou.com

Our Christmas family get togethers have remained simple and uncomplicated in that way over the years, many times because there were so many of us that you couldn't get us all at a table (or even two) anyways! 

Midwest Living

For the last five years or so, though, (has it been longer, girls?)  we've started setting up several long tables in their basement and one of my sisters and some nieces have done a great job of decorating them with just some simple, inexpensive decorations to add a little festive flair. 

Midwest Living

That's what drew me to many of the ideas in this post.

4 of the ideas from Midwest Living's Festive Holiday Tables



They're very pretty but most of them are made up of simple elements that you could use to make your table festive on a budget without putting a ton of time into it.

Midwest Living

This pretty napkin started out plain white, but they added the gold dots with paint.  So pretty...

Style at Home Photo Virginia MacDonald

I also like this unique arrangement for a buffet table using iron shepherds hooks inside tall sturdy vases filled with sand and then accessorized with ornaments and lanterns...



Midwest Living Photo Kim Cornelison


How do you decorate your Christmas table?

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A Visual Feast - Terrace/Tablescape

THIS POST IS FROM ROOM REMIX - THE BLOG .

Photo John Granen and Peter Krumhardt

I'm not going to have time later to post but I wanted to get a quick one out to say

Happy Easter/Happy Weekend

and give you a little eye candy from Traditional Home (April 2010 issue) before I scoot out of blogland until Monday. Traditional Home calls this a "visual feast" and the moment I saw it in the magazine (love when mine comes in the mail!) I immediately agreed! Don't you love those chandys too? Too see the rest of this beautiful terrace/tablescape click here.

Easter & Spring Decorating & Entertaining Ideas/Inspiration/Recipes

THIS POST IS FROM ROOM REMIX - THE BLOG .

Add a simple spring touch to your candles

or your placemats (Martha Stewart Tutorial here.)


I'm so excited that today is the first day of Spring! You wouldn't know it by our temperatures today, but at least the sun is shining.

Because I'm in the spring mood, and because Easter is coming up quickly, I thought I would do a post with some Easter/Spring ideas and inspiration just in case you're looking for some.

10 Easter Crafts to Brighten Any Home from Readers Digest (craft projects created by Jennifer Sbranti)

9 Unique Easter Egg Decorating Ideas from Readers Digest (photos: Meaghan Mountford)

Spring/Easter basket from Southern Living

Make a Spring nest centerpiece or try one of the other ideas at Country Living's Spring Centerpieces and Table Decorations (photo: Simon Bevan)

Bright and Crafty Easter Eggs from hostessblog.com

Fun Easter Crafts from Country Living (photo: Frances Janisch)

Easter Paper Crafts from Good Housekeeping (photo: Michael Partenio)

Cute Easter/Spring bags from Parents.com? Click HERE for tutorial (photo: Sarah Kehoe)

15 Easy Easter Crafts from Woman's Day (Photo: © Len Lagrua)

Easter Dinner Made Easy at Woman's Day

Easter Dinner Recipes from Country Living

8 Egg Shaped Easter Treats from Woman's Day (Photo: © Quentin Bacon)

Sweet Chick and Bunny Treats from Woman's Day (Photo: © Anastassios Mentis)

Easter Entertaining: 4 Brunch Menus at Woman's Day (Photo: © Mark Thomas)

A nest of sweets for your tablescape from Southern Living (photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas)

or a Robin's egg placecard also from Southern Living (photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas; styling: Buffy Hargett)
Tablescape idea from Family Circle (photo: Allison Miksch)

I love this idea for printing your menu on the napkins. The one shown below is actually for Mother's Day, but you could use it for any special celebration, including Easter or a brunch to celebrate the arrival of Spring. Some extra work that you probably wouldn't want to go through for every occasion, but wouldn't it be fun to try it just once? Instructions at Country Living. (photo credit: Miki Duisterhof)

Country Living tablescape (photo: Laura Moss)
Elegant Easter: Flower Arrangements and Centerpieces at Good Housekeeping (photo: Michael Partenio)

Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade Easter Centerpiece

A simple tablescape from Martha Stewart


Happy weekend - Happy Spring! :-)

Placecards and Tablescapes

I thought I had seen pretty much every idea imagineable about what to do with blackboard paint and had sort of promised myself never to do a post that had anything to do with it but... these blackboard placecards are a fun DIY idea. Maybe you've already seen them? For complete instructions on how to make them, visit Canadian House and Home.

As long as we're talking placecard ideas.

Have a great day!