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Memorial Day Picnic
Tag Archives: entertaining
dining al fresco
This spectacular weather has me ready to move it outside. Who’s in?
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What to Give
Last weekend we had the pleasure of entertaining good friends from out of town, and they arrived with a beautiful basket overflowing with goodies for the whole family. Their gift reminded me of something cookbook author and consummate hostess Ina Garten once said – that the best gifts are those that can be used and subsequently discarded (tickets, soaps, flowers, candles, for example) or consumed (chocolates, wine, cookies, etc). The Barefoot Contessa is on to something! We have enjoyed the basket all week, thinking of our lovely time together each time we’ve dipped in. Truth be told, I’ve saved the last scrumptious treat for myself. So if you will please excuse me, I have some chocolate to attend to…
image 1 via theimportanceofsalt.com, image 2 via me, moments before consumption. How gorgeous is that packaging?!
Flower Lust
The flowers for this weekend’s dinner party were insanely gorgeous and I cannot take credit. Molly Flavin, the amazing florist and owner of Molly Flavin Floral Designs, filled our house with the lush and fragrant blooms of spring. Peonies, ranunculus, hydrangea, grape hyacinth, and cherry blossom branches – all favorites – provided the perfect backdrop for a lovely evening.
front hall arrangement, above and below
white ranunculus in the powder room, above
white hydrangeas in the dining room
cherry blossom branches and hydrangeas in the living room, above and below
grape hyacinth on the bar, above and below
hydrangea and ranunculus in my favorite French opaline glass vase
The white ranunculus are now on my bedside chest and the grape hyacinth have moved to the kitchen, where we spend most of our time. If only they could last until spring actually arrives!
all images via the aesthete and the dilettante
