If you’ve been following us for a while now, you know how much I love playing with traditional seasonal and holiday colors, and that’s especially true for the fall! Instead of a traditional autumnal palette of oranges, browns, and burgundy I love mixing it up. Last year I created a fall tea party with pink, green and gold pumpkins and this year I wanted to design a table that was inspired by one of our favorite paintings “Pastel Me a Story” by Carolyn Joe!
I have a lot of chinoiserie in our home, so I definitely wanted to incorporate that in the tablescape, as well as some pinks and light greens to tie in with my painting. I collaborated with Cavendar of Dream Creator Designs who designed the most incredible upholstered and velvet pumpkins with this color palette. I cannot get over how perfectly they coordinate – they completely transformed the look of the table and brought my visions to life. Plus the quality is impeccable and the stems are actually real pumpkin stems!
I paired the velvet pumpkins with some chinoiserie vases and jars and, of course, some fall florals and the foundation of the table was complete! To bring the whole look together, I brought in some blush candlesticks, sage green napkins, gold flatware, and place settings which consisted of my favorite glass beaded chargers, a simple white dinner plate topped with a chinoiserie salad plate.
I love how bright and colorful this table is. It still screams fall thanks to the adorable pumpkins from Dream Creator Designs but it still coordinates with the style and design of my home! The perfect combination!
Hosting Thanksgiving this year and looking for those last minute essentials to bring your tablescape to the next level?! We’ve got you covered with some of our favorite table accessories this year!
Thank you to Harry and David for sponsoring this post. All opinions are my own.
Y’all know I love a luxurious and gourmet dinner party. Nothing makes me more excited than dreaming up a beautiful tablescape, spending hours planning and cultivating the perfect menu and inviting our friends over for an incredible evening.
Sometimes, though, there just isn’t enough time in this busy life to do the shopping and planning needed for a WOW-worthy party – Especially true for Landon and me as we get acquainted with a new city AND with a baby on the way. BUT! This doesn’t need to stop us from hosting the jaw-dropping dinner parties we all love… We may just need to outsource a bit 🙂 ! And that’s where Harry and David comes in.
I recently discovered Harry and David Gourmet when I wanted to host a dinner party for some of our new friends in Denver; however, I honestly didn’t have the energy to put everything together (hello 1st trimester sleepiness). I’ve always been familiar with their annual pear and fruit deliveries but had no idea that Harry and David Gourmet had an inspired collection of thought-fully chosen appetizers, entrees, desserts and wines that are perfectly curated for the well-defined palette and for those who love to host dinner parties… Ummm, hello! I needed this in my life! I wanted to show our guests the full Everyday Hostess experience with a unique theme and ambience. With Harry and David’s ready-to-serve premium gourmet meals and paired sparkling wine, I was set!
Ever since we visited friends in Boston, I’ve been dying to bring that east coast, nautical charm to one of my dinner parties – and this was the perfect excuse! I set my table accordingly with a color palette of red, navy and white and incorporated the cutest lobster plates, starfish, boating rope, and of course this adorable lighthouse candle set as the centerpiece. I ordered two of Harry and David’s ready-to-serve gourmet meals and sparkling wine, and that’s literally all I did for this event. Harry and David did all the rest!
A gourmet charcuterie board is a classy way to open any dinner party, and Harry and David did a masterful job with theirs – pairing Artisan cheeses with salamis and crackers. After some mingling we enjoyed our main event, which was Harry and David’s Gourmet Lobster Truffle Mac and Cheese meal. Y’all, I could rave about this meal for hours. The quality, the presentation, the ease was absolutely superb. And it meshed wonderfully with my theme to boot!
You wouldn’t believe what was included in the Gourmet Lobster Truffle Mac and Cheese! This beautifully crafted meal included Citrus Herb Scallops with a mouthwatering Truffle Lobster Mac and Cheese and the sweetest fresh peach crisp made of ripe peaches and topped with a toffee crumble. Un.be.lieavable.
Harry and David could not have made this dinner party any easier on me. Not only was everything perfectly presented with the scallops displayed in individual sea shells and the Truffle Lobster Mac and Cheese in individual ramekins, everything was already prepared and just needed to be heated for a maximum of 25 minutes. So quick and easy, yet with the seafood coming from Maine, it tasted so fresh as if it had been caught and flown in on the same day. All I had to do was un-package the boxes and set the table, and voilà! A spread made to impress! And did I mention the paired sparkling wine they included with the meal?! No detail was spared.
The party looked like I had been preparing for days and all I had to do was review all of H&D’s gourmet options, click to order, and it showed up on my doorstep fresh and ready to wow in just a matter of days!
It’s the perfect way to host a luxury event with friends and family without getting bogged down in all the details leading up to the evening. I also love the idea of sending these meals to friends and families as gifts or as part of a meal train for someone with an illness or to new parents (no casserole from you!).
Check out their full list of gourmet selections for your next dinner party. It’s sure to impress and you’ll have all your guests asking for your recipes and tricks!
From a casual tailgate party to a swanky New Year’s Eve soiree, we love putting our personal touch on any event! At the same time, no party discriminates – they can all lead to some serious stress!
And since we probably shouldn’t legally recommend always having a spare bottle of wine at the ready (but like, you should), we’re here with five entertaining and party planning tips and hacks that will make your hosting life easier! The key in my book: Prepare, prepare, prepare…
Let’s get to it!
1. A Few Weeks Out
You can never give yourself too much time to prepare for a party! I prefer to front load all of my preparation in the weeks leading up to the event so that I can enjoy the day of! No matter what, something will pop up day-of that you weren’t expecting (you ran out of ice or one of your ingredients went stale and you need to go back to the store) and the last thing you want to do is have to deal with that plus something else (like trying to select the best floral for your centerpiece) that could have been handled earlier in the preparation process.
The best types of parties are when the hosts are relaxing and enjoying time with their guests, so prepare in advance to help reduce any last-minute stresses!
2. Set up the Night Before
This is my number one party trick and key to success! I always set up as much as I can the night before as if it’s the actual party. So what does this exactly mean?
Set the table – If you’re hosting a sit down dinner, fully set the table as if someone will be arriving any minute (less the food and drinks, of course). I always have a vision in mind for the tablescape and then find ways to tweak it once I’m actually putting it together. Setting up the night before allows me some extra time to make these small little improvements as I see it coming together.
Set up Platters – Pull out your platters and serving pieces in advance and label them with Sticky Notes with what will be served on them. Then if you realize you need one more, this gives you more time to find one to borrow or buy. Also, this helps me to ensure that I don’t forget to serve anything on the day of the party! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had numerous appetizers to serve and then just forget one of them on the day-of. Having platters ready with labels helps to remedy this!
Prep the Meal – Most menu items can’t be made the night before, but they sure can be prepared in advance! For example, if I’m making a chili, I will cut all of the veggies in advance and store them in a plastic bag and refrigerate overnight. The same goes for any dry ingredients. Then all I need to do the next day is mix them together and cook! Gone are the times of hours of chopping on the day of a party!
On the day of the party, make sure you give yourself enough time to complete any final tasks, like doing a final house cleaning or last-minute food and drink preparation. In my opinion, I’d rather start earlier in the day and have an extra hour of free time to finish getting ready or enjoy a glass of wine in the quiet rather than working up until the minute your first guest arrives.
3. It’s all About the Details!
The devil is in the details… and by “the devil,” of course I mean wowing your guests when they walk through your front door or sit down for dinner!
Look, I love channeling my inner Gatsby at a lavish party as much as the next girl, but for one reason or another that kind of grandeur isn’t always realistic. I’ve found that you can make just as much of an impression on partygoers with a shrewd attention to detail as you can by writing a huge check for your event.
From colorful straws to personalized napkins, or coordinated centerpieces and place settings, there are myriad ways to show your attendees that you’ve poured love and care into your party. Some of my favorite detail hacks that go a long way:
Place cards – I love to incorporate personalization anywhere I possibly can and this usually starts with cute place cards for each guest.
Printables – Printables are an adorable and very budget-friendly way to add some customization to your party. Whether it’s a cute print for your cocktail bar or labels for each buffet item that corresponds with your party theme, these are the perfect way to add an extra tailored touch to your party.
Straws and Napkins – These may seem like a small detail, but when your paper straw or napkins perfectly correspond with your party theme, people notice.
4. The Menu
Since he’s probably reading this, I’ll go ahead and say my husband is a GREAT bartender and budding mixologist 😉 But I don’t want him to miss the mixing and mingling at our parties and then blame it on the a, a-a-a, a-al-cohol – even if Jamie Foxx says it’s OK.
So, I like to simplify the drink menu. I always recommend serving beer, wine, and then a signature cocktail that correlates with the party theme. Be sure to choose some crowd-pleasers, especially if you’re getting adventurous with your cocktail – but a signature drink is a great way to make a statement and also allow you (and your husband) to interact with your party guests!
Unless you’re having the party catered, I like to have as many menu items as fresh and homemade as possible; however, a multi-course meal can be difficult to plan and coordinate. Therefore, I like to have a signature and gourmet dish, a couple sides that are delicious but not too time-consuming, and then I’ll add a few pre-made options that I have tweaked to look homemade. For example, I’ll serve a cedar plank salmon with goat cheese mashed potatoes and a caesar salad. All will look homemade, but in reality, I’ll use a bagged caesar salad and then make homemade parmesan crisps to add to the top to make it look like I worked on this salad all day long!
5. Clean Up
Make sure your dishwasher is empty before people arrive. That will make the clean up and end-of-night tear down way easier on you and much fewer dishes will be staring at you from the sink in the morning. Also, try to avoid cleaning while guests are there! Sit back and enjoy and take in every minute with your friends and family. There will be no guest guilt associated with not helping and they will be able to fully enjoy as well!
Holy guacamole! how cute is this Cinco de Mayo brunch party?!
It wouldn’t be a proper fiesta without a vibrant color scheme. And this show-stopping balloon garland from our friends at Lushra paired with all our decor from Mesa Chic accomplishes that in a big way.
Ay dios mio! That balloon garland is everything. Lushra’s balloons are just gorg and make for the perfect statement decor that your amigos will find muy impresivo! Lushra is Dallas based but they have an incredible DIY kit, which is what I used, that makes even the novice DIY’er a balloon expert!
With the help of the folks at Mesa Chic, we found the perfect accents to complete the vivid look. How amazing is the serape table runner and the banner?! The whole color scheme was built off of the runner and I think it helped pull the look together perfectly.
Sprinkle in some theme-appropriate napkins like these or these,a pinata or two, adorable sombreros, and the cutest custom cookies from Just Call Me Cookie, and our buffet was decked out in Cinco de Mayo style!
Pro-tip: score some cacti (yes, I buy these on Amazon) for your Cinco de Mayo bash – they’re not only on-brand for the holiday but also SUPER trendy right now as everyday home decor!
Kate Spade and lots and lots of pink — who needs Cupid? Because that’s a match made in heaven! Saying that I was on Cloud 9 while creating this Valentine’s Day tablescape is a bit of an understatement. This Kate Spade inspired Valentine’s Day brunch setting is more than enough to make a girl swoon!
I mean, what else could we ask for in a tablescape besides lots of pinks, golds, Kate Spade products and a table full of tasty treats?! My eyes are still seeing hearts!
I’m absolutely obsessed with Kate Spade these days (for more than just her first name), so of course, I had to find a way to include her iconic style into this Valentine’s Day brunch party!
To create this lovely set-up, I started off with a simple white table cloth and dressed it up with a black and white striped table runner (really basic fabric from Hobby Lobby), which we are seeing in so many of her designs right now. Then I just layered the table with as much pink and gold as possible! Fresh flowers are always a wonderful centerpiece, but if you want to reuse them in the future, many silk arrangements look very real!
Bed Bath and Beyond carries these adorable pink, gold and white plates and chargers, which I paired with some gold flatware to bring in a touch of “glam.” To add a little bit more of a pink feminine flare, I got some super cheap ribbon from Hobby Lobby and just tied bows around each chair to give the table a more finished and buttoned-up look.
Finally, to top off the entire tablescape, I found these large 40-inch gold mylar XOXO balloons to tie in the Valentine’s Day theme a bit more. Who doesn’t want some extra X’s and O’s around Valentine’s Day?! (Brb — going to listen to that Elle King song on repeat!) These balloons are so popular and trendy right now, and it is not hard to see why! They could not be any cuter! I got mine from Ella Celebration who worked with me to get exactly what I needed. You can order any letters or numbers that you want, and they are perfect for any gathering or birthday party!
Of course, no party is complete without a delicious menu! I played matchmaker with some festive recipes… and they make for a wonderful marriage of flavors and colors, if I do say so myself! The deep color of Red Velvet waffles just scream Valentine’s Day, plus who doesn’t want to wake up to a plate of red velvet waffles?! I also just love these adorable Apple Rose tarts. They are little bouquets of deliciousness, and we could all use a few more roses this holiday!
This menu is perfect for a relaxed family morning brunch at home or for a more formal brunch with friends and family! Plus each recipe is decently simple and quick, so you can prepare the night before and throw it all together in the morning and enjoy your Valentine’s Day with your loved ones!
How do you celebrate Valentine’s Day? I would love to hear about your favorite traditions in the comments below!
Cupid’s making his debut in just a couple weeks, but it’s not too late to plan the perfect Galentine’s Day party or Valentine’s Day dinner with your honey!
This year, I put together a super girly Galentine’s Day dessert party with everything red and pink and sparkly! We used our favorite balloon garland as a centerpiece to give it a festive feminine flare and a pop of fun! I can never have enough chargers, so we doubled them up for a little added interest and used our gold glitter chargers as a base and layered them with glass gold beaded chargers.
Christmas may be over, but winter is still in full force! So before Spring-ing up the home or bringing in splashes of pink and red for Valentine’s Day, I’m enjoying every minute of our winter-y rustic-glam tablescape for the next few weeks! I’m thinking pinecone everything, sleds, and cozy white fur! Still wintery but doesn’t scream Christmas!
I always have an internal battle of whether I want a rustic or glam look during the winter, but this year I thought – why choose?! We can marry these two looks by adding some traditional deeper hues of browns in our pinecone decor, chargers, and adorable little sleds to my favorite gold patterned place settings. The combination creates a perfect blend that ties the whole look together perfectly.
I’ve been eyeing these gold patterned plates, white velvet napkins and agate napkin rings for months now and finally decided to splurge! They bring in the glam touch I wanted for this tablescape, but can be used for all formalities and themes for years to come! I mean come on….I could literally wrap myself in these napkins, they are so lush and gorg!
To tie the whole winter vibe together, I found these adorable little sled ornaments (currently on sale for $3 at Ballard), cut off the ornament string and decided to use them as placecard holders in front of each placesetting!
I could not be more thrilled with how this whole look came together and perfectly brought my rustic glam visions to life! How do you all decorate between Christmas and Valentine’s Day?!
When I’m all snug in my bed, visions of glam-y tablescapes dance in my head. And, literally, that’s not a joke! Most of my tablescape ideas come to me while I’m sleeping 🤦🏼♀️and this year’s Christmas tablescape is no exception!
What better way to host family and dear friends over the holiday than around a statement tablescape filled with special pieces for all to enjoy!
I designed this glittery and glam tablescape to coordinate with our Christmas tree and mantle that we shared here. I love to put a spin on the traditional holiday colors by incorporating the palette used throughout our house during the rest of the year and pairing it with traditional holiday themes like reindeer and nutcracker sculptures to bring a magical and festive feel to our home during the holidays. So that means gold everything with touches of silver, champagne, white, seafoam and as much glitter as I can get my hands on! (Roomba has her hands full for the next 6 months – ha!
On Comet, on Cupid, on Donner and GLITZENNN! This table would not be complete with out the cutest glitter reindeer, which helped bring the entire look together! Enjoy and happy tablesetting!
We are getting all ready for Thanksgiving over here in the Haaf household! This year we are hosting Thanksgiving dinner at our new home with my husband’s family and then hosting a sips and sweets open house for all our friends and family to join after everyone enjoys their feast (and watches the Cowboys game)!
Needless to say, the stress level is a bit high since this will be our first time hosting a holiday at our home – not to mention, our first time ever making a turkey! Therefore, we are in full practice and early set up mode to make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible!
If you’ve been following us for a while now, you know how much I love playing with traditional seasonal and holiday colors, and that’s especially true for the fall! Instead of a traditional autumnal palette of oranges, browns, and burgundy I love mixing it up. Last year I created a fall tea party with pink, green and gold pumpkins and this year I wanted to design a table that was inspired by one of our favorite paintings “Pastel Me a Story” by Carolyn Joe!
From colorful straws to personalized napkins, or coordinated centerpieces and place settings, there are myriad ways to show your attendees that you’ve poured love and care into your party. Some of my favorite detail hacks that go a long way:
Cupid’s making his debut in just a couple weeks, but it’s not too late to plan the perfect Galentine’s Day party or Valentine’s Day dinner with your honey!
