4th of July Tablescape - 2013

Hi Friends! I am very happy to say I was able to create a beautifully festive tablescape for the 4th this year.    I say this because the last few years I was working I had been so pressed for time at family gatherings that I often resorted to paper plates. I know shame on me right?  Let me assure you there were no paper plates here this year!

We had a very small gathering with only one son, my mother, my brother and his girlfriend and the Mr. and myself.  It was a small crowd but a wonderful afternoon!  We were even able to get in a quick dip in the pool in between afternoon showers which have become an everyday event lately.

I love creating a 4th of July tablescape because for me it's like enjoying the fireworks.  It's when I let my go of the matchy-matchy look and go for the element of pure surprise.  I get such a kick out of combing different patterns, colors and textures this time of year.  I discovered how much I enjoyed mixing it all up several years ago when I created one of my most favorite tablescapes after the 4th.  I called that one American Country because of the elements I used.  Click HERE or on the name to see it.  This year I wanted to stay focused more on the 4th but still mix it up.  Since I have so many pictures to share the rest of my post will be minus the chit chat with a few comments towards the end.  I hope you enjoy!

We enjoyed all our favorites; BBQ, rice and hash, green beans, rolls and sweet tea.  The menu was fairly light because there were so few of us and I wanted to make sure we saved room for the dessert my  brothers girlfriend brought.  

Oh boy, am I glad we did!  This is what is left of what she brought, Strawberry Upside Down Cake.  It was positively delish!  She got the recipe off of AllRecipes.com.  

Because we were going to be outside for a bit I wanted to also provide a little extra refreshments.  I got this very simple recipe off of Pinterest and decided it was the perfect solution.  It's called Spa Water, doesn't that just sound refreshing to you?  I thought so too! 

All you do for this water is mix in fresh strawberrys, pineapple, ice cubes and water.  That's it!  It eventually has a pinkish tint and taste ever so slightly of the fruit.  It's very refreshing to say the least.  I chose this because you could easily add in a bit of wine for a spritzer if you'd like.

I really enjoyed the 4th this year because I didn't get stuffed and had a very nice time visiting with the family, catching up and relaxing.

How about you?  I hope you had a great 4th of July too.  I'd love to hear all about yours!

Here's a list of the accouterments from above to the best of my recollections... 

Lady Bug Dinnerware; Hausenware designed by Libby Wilke - Ross Stores

Lady Bug Cream and Sugar; Hausenware - Ross Stores

Blue Calico Dinnerware and Salad Plates; Queens - TJ Maxx

Burgandy Salad Plates; Toscana Burgundy - Pier 1

Star Shaped Melamine Dishes - Michaels

Hammered Flatware - Gibson - Stein Mart

Green Goblets - Walmart

Star Shaped Salt and Pepper ; Dollar General???

White Placemats with striped borders; Dollar Tree

Yellow Tablerunner; Pottery Barn

Hurricane Vase; Merino's Furniture

Bread Basket w/Fabric Insert; recent thrift store find

Thanks so much for stopping by today! 

  Have a wonderful weekend!

Tried and True and Little Something New

Is there anyone else out there like me who tends to stick with a certain look anymore?  I don't know about you but sometimes I feel like I am just an old stick in the mud kind of gal.  I  especially feel this way after being overloaded with images from blog land, pinterest, facebook, etc. Geez! But....all in all I have to say I really don't care!  Fact is, I like being an old fuddy duddy.  Not really, but I do know what I like and what look I want to live with on a daily basis.  That is why when it works for me it tends to stick around awhile with just a few tweaks.

That's right friends, I'm showing the den again, mainly to share the mantle and  a few other things that have endured the test of a few seasons.

You know I love a nautical look and it tends to take center stage when the summer time rolls around.

I've used this set up a few times now but I'd like to think I've improved on it a bit.

For one thing my willow candle baskets are shown tiered here and are in perfect symmetry.  I don't know why I haven't thought of doing this before.

I had them sitting on a few other mismatch pieces to get the height until I recently found these pewter candlesticks at a thrift store just last week.

They were cheap, cheap, cheap and a matching pair to boot!  I didn't know at the time where I'd use them but just had to have them.  I am so glad I brought them home.

I got home and saw my shell plate which I already had out and bingo it hit me.  They replaced the other stands I was using and were a perfect fit!  Love when that happens!

I found this pretty pompass looking grass at Ole Time Pottery when we were at the beach.

A few beachy looking balls from Merino's home furnishings.

This is the reality of my coffee table.  Now matter how cutesy I make it.  I end up feeling like it's too cluttered.  So I back it all off and this is what works.  One decorative thing in the middle, magazines, and my laptop.  Yes, that's a kindle sitting there on top of the mags. Hey, it's still reading material okay?  

My most favorite repeat look has been this hurricane candle that I have sitting in this basket.  I did this a few years ago and have kept it ever since.  I see now the stores have hurricane vases with built in wicker stands...hmm?? Wonder where they got that idea?  LOL!

Funny story about the shells.  There are a few shells less here then there used to be.  My grandpup was up a few weeks back and was chomping away on something on the carpet and I looked down and he had a half chewed up a sandollar in his mouth.  Puppys!

Back on the other side of the room.  I've still kept the large lantern on our antique card table.   

It still has the sailboats and bottles but I added an electric candle and few more sailboats I forgot I had.

The other big tweak was to eliminate the bright throw pillows.  I loved them in the store but in my den they tended to just pop out waaayyyy too much for me.  I guess I am just a creature of habit after all.

Okay well, I believe that about wraps it up.  One more tour of the den again for you showing just a few tweaks.   One more update for me!   I am also posting this to replace the link picture of my den on my side bar because I like to keep my most updated looks on there.

Thanks so much for joining me if you did!  It's always a pleasure!

Have a great day everyone!