Happy first day of December, and by the way, how did we get here?
My head is stirring; this is the month of no rest—Jingle jingle.
Caroline, Sean, and Grands were in town last week, and we had three parties spaced out over seven days.
Coupled with the first big snowstorm of the season and no bread or fresh flowers at the market for a spell, I had to get creative with the decor.
Sunday evening, I served a delicious Boeuf Bourguignon for fourteen, intertwining an evergreen garland down the length of the table and peppering it with clementines. The silver candlesticks were hauled up from my office and given a quick shine before filling them with used tapers. The silver sequin tablecloth was purchased on Amazon for $50 and added instant bling, and beef stew with red wine sauce spills can do no harm. A quick turn in the laundry machine on cold, hang to dry, and good to go for the next fete. The dry cleaning turnaround time for the formal white linen slows me down.
The white linen came out for giving thanks on Thursday, and the evergreen garland went back outdoors, waiting to be hung by the family entry. Peyton and Booie made the most adorable place cards, generously glittering BOTH sides.
We celebrated Booie’s 30th birthday on Saturday with cocktails, food, a rousing game of Trivia, and a decadent Red Velvet Cake. I brought the silver sequins back for round two, adding a pair of fun Bistro tables. Lindsey made a festive balloon garland like the icing on a good cake, and we all partied the night away.
These little party tricks are easy, relatively affordable, and show your guests that you care. Bonus points when your tablescape is edible; the clementines were enjoyed by young and old alike.
