Table for six....

I love it when you write to me with questions.  Some of them have obvious answers while others, like the one I am about to tell you about, need a little more thought.  Allison from Los Angeles wrote to me about a little problem that she is facing.  She has a dining table that seats 8 but is only going to need 6 seats for her next dinner.  Where should she seat the guests?  This question does not have an easy answer but leads me to another question instead:

Is the dinner going to be formal?

If it is a formal dinner, it might be nice to seat the host and hostess at the head of the table and the guests of honor to their left.  If it is less formal, you might leave the heads of the table empty and sit in the six seats along the sides.  If you do that, you might consider skipping a centerpiece and placing your decorations at the ends of the table instead.  In the middle of the table, place a long but low row of candles that will flatter all of the guests.  This way, all six of you will be able to see each other clearly.

There are so many other tricks to help you with seating arrangements in my new book, Tablescapes, so please order your copy today!

Big Table - Little Notice!

 

One of my favorite Texas Hostesses, Carla McDonald, sent me this fantastic photo of her New Years Eve table.  She did a fantastic job of whipping a breathtaking table together with inexpensive items from Hobby Lobby and Party City!  Here is what she writes:

Here's a picture of my very last-minute New Year's Eve party table, which I did all by myself!  We decided about a week before NYE to do this party so I scrambled!  I took all the Christmas ornaments off of the slim flocked trees and replaced them with New Year's Eve 2009 stuff: noisemakers, crowns and hats, 2009 glasses, streamers, etc.  On the table, I used a silver lame fabric for the tablecloth, Lucite candelabras and lots of votives.  I made a bunch of small arrangements of white cabbage flowers with glitter sprinkled on them to make them festive.  Cabbage is supposed to bring good luck and I didn't want to serve any!  I also put white boas on the backs of the girls chairs so that they could have fun with them all night and flirt with their dates, which they did.  After dinner and a champagne toast, we had the solarium cleared out and turned it into a disco with a microphone for singing along to classics like Car Wash.  It was such a hoot!!!  I always say, I'm never happy unless I'm planning a party!

Thanks so much for sharing, Carla!!!  Send us more of your fantastic celebrations!

Have you met Ms. Jones?

One of my favorite photographers, Amanda Jones, travels the country taking the most fantastic portraits of pets.  You know how I adore my Lola.  I hate to admit it but Lola has had her portrait done in many medias!  From sculptures and paintings to photography sessions, this dog has really seen it all!  Amanda's images are by far my favorites though.  Please check out her schedule and her amazing work at www.amandajones.com.  OH....and she takes pictures of people too!

Wedding Workshop

Calling all Brides to Be!  There is a can't-miss event coming your way.  Paper Source is hosting a workshop at all of their stores across the country on Thursday, the 22nd of January from 6-8.  Check out their website for all of the details!  You will come away inspired I am sure!  Be sure to take your Wedding Workbook with you to record all of the new ideas you will come away with!

Table Textiles

As if you haven't figured it out already, I am completely obsessed with setting the table.  I really need to calm down about it a little but in the meantime, I am going to order these gorgeous Place Mats and Napkins from John Robshaw Textiles.  Are they not gorgeous!?!  If you can resist these, you have great restraint!  Send me a photo of the the way you use it on your table to askkim@kimberlyschlegel.com.

New Year - New You - New Calling Card!

It is a new year and the perfect time to invest in yourself.  While you are busy loosing those extra pounds and keeping your other resolutions, why not order a new calling card to go along with your new look!  I think les squirrels cards from Iomoi are so charming but they have tons of styles to fit any new look you might be striving for.  Email me the one that you select!  askkim@kimberlyschlegel.com.   I can't wait to see it.

Stunning Silver

This is a test...This is only a test.  It is a test to see if my husband reads this blog!

Justin, If you are reading this I am going to make Valentines day really easy for you!  I desperately want new silver from Ricci Argentieri's Labirinto pattern.  It is so beautiful and I would work with almost any silver pattern.  I hope you like it too hunny because I want to set your table with it every night!

xoxo, your wife

A Polka Dot Plate

I adore this cheerful but not overly saccharine china from Kate Spade for Lenox.  The pattern, Sag Harbor, in navy is perfect for a beach house, nautical dinner or young lady moving into her first apartment.  All it needs is a fantastic natural linen tablecloth and it is perfectly chic!  I wish that I hadn't gotten married yet so that I could register for it at Bloomies!

Hamburger Soup for your SuperBowl guests...

This fantastic recipe is from my fun friend Gigi whose mama makes it back in Georgia!  We can't get enough at  my house but it is honestly a great meal for a house full of football fans.

2 pounds of ground sirloin - I like to the 90% fat free

Cut up four pieces of bacon for seasoning - This is optional but it adds great flavor

Half a bag of frozen okra

1 large can of niblet white corn

1 large can of Veg All

1 bag of frozen picksweet English peas

1 and a half cans of Hunts tomato sauce

All all of the ingredients to a big pot and bring it to a boil.  Cover it and let it simmer for as long as you need.  Add salt and pepper to taste and add half a teaspoon of sugar.  Gigi loves to spice things up so she serves it with her favorite hot sauce called Red Hot.  It really gives it a kick!

Enjoy!

Perfect Superbowl recipes...

Over the next few weeks I am going to give a few of my friends and family's  favorite Superbowl Party recipes.  I hope you love them as much as I do!  This first one is for the most delicious Artichoke Dip you can imagine.  I have cravings for it all of the time!  It is from my dear friend, Allison and she hopes you love it too!

Ingredients:

1 8 oz block of Cream Cheese (softened)

1 cup of Mayonnaise

I (14 oz) can of Artichoke hearts, drained and chopped

1/2 cup of grated Parmesan 

1 cup of shredded Mozzarella

Salt and Pepper

Directions:  

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese with a hand held electric mixer until smooth.  Then beat the mayonnaise until smooth.  Add the artichokes, Parmesan and mozzarella and mix together.  Also add  a touch of salt and pepper.

Transfer the dip to a pie plate or shallow gratin dish.  Bake in a pre-heated oven for 30 to 40 minutes until the top is golden brown and the dip is bubbling. 

Allison likes to add a little more Parmesan on the top for the last 8 to 10 minutes to get it nice and golden.

Serve it with crackers, tortilla chips, crostini or veggies.

Superbowl Party Shuffle...

It is that time of year again!  Time to put away the fine china and pull out the popcorn bowls for your Superbowl party.  This is one occasion where an invitation by email is absolutely acceptable.   But if you must skip out on the snail mail for this one, at least make it cute!  Check out these options from Evite.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to all!  You may be resolving to make sure you get Christmas cards done next year after missing your chance this year.  I think that you have a few options before that though!  If you missed your chance to send out an adorable photo of your smiling family this Christmas don't fret.  You can still send out your photo on a Happy New Year card.  Simply visit your favorite local stationery store and ask them to show you their options.  Write up a charming message and get your cards printed as soon as possible.  Your friends and family will be thrilled to receive their surprise card in the new year.