Bringing in Blue for this Year's Easter Tablescape

Spring is such a wonderful time of year! Decorating an Easter tablescape is a yearly tradition, and even though life is crazy right now, I still wanted to do it. In fact, I believe now more than ever, it's essential to create a positive environment by surrounding ourselves with things we love and  make us feel good. That’s what this tablescape does for me. So lets discuss the details.

The pieces I chose this year are bright and calming, as I think this is something we all need. I also really wanted to concentrate on adding different textures so I arranged each place setting with multiple layers. I started first with a wood charger with a bead trim, then a navy melamine dinner plate, and topping it off with a white scalloped salad plate.

The bunny ear napkin rings I had from last year, and I used them again. In fact, I think I might use them every year because they’re so festive and fun. For napkins, chose plaid cloth napkins because they add an interesting pattern to the table.

You can create a beautiful dining room center piece simply by using three jars or vases that you already have around your home, and filling them with faux flowers. It is more attractive if the largest vase is in the middle and the two other vases are placed on either side.

To save money I wanted to reuse a lot of the same pieces that I’ve used in prior tabelscapes. The gray diamond patterned table runner I got about a year ago. I’ve used it a few times because the neutral color goes with so many looks. I would recommend buying a couple neutral colored table runners that you can use in multiple settings. I would suggest a white, a gray, and an ivory one. Those colors will pretty much work with any tablescape.

Another item I reuse a lot are my glass goblets. If you switch up the decor on the tablescape, but reuse the same glasses, the tablescape as a whole will still look like new.

I hope y’all have the best Easter making it magical with your loved ones!

*For more information on the items in this post, you can shop them by clicking on the photos below.

*If you’re interested in the wood eggs, birdhouses, or wood bead garland, you can use code NISSALYNN for 10% off your order on the product’s website.

Step By Step for Decorating a Christmas Tablescape

You can find the video tutorial footage in my Highlights on my Instagram page.

I’ve come up with easy steps to decorating a Christmas tablescape.

1. Start with table runners. I have an 84 inch long table so a lot of table runners don’t go the entire length of my table, so I use three table runners. One down the middle and two on either end of the table running horizontal.

2. Add a charger plate at every seat.

3. Add the dinner plate.

4. Add the salad plate

5. Assemble the cloth napkins. I like to use a patterned napkin paired with a solid napkin and sparkling metallic napkin ring holder. The solid napkins I have here are from Target.

This gorgeous Boucle rug from Orian Rugs is the perfect rug for my riding room.

6. Place napkins in center on place setting.

7. Add silverware. Remember to ask yourself: Do you need a dessert or a soup spoon? Add all the silverware you need and place them in the proper places. (Salad and dinner forks on left, knife and spoon on right.)

8. Add glasses to the right side. Ask yourself what drinks you are having: Do you need wine glasses and water goblets?

9. Start adding the centerpiece. Place largest pieces first. I place chunky candles and accessories then fill the middle space with large pieces of greenery.

10. Keep building with smaller greenery stems to fill in the holes, then add taper candles. A trick my mom taught me was to put tin foil in the candlesticks to keep the taper candle from falling over.

Sharing my dining room Christmas tree. The heart ornament in the middle has special meaning. I gave it to my grandmother last Christmas. She passed away last February. I went back to home this past July and brought it back with me to always have.

The decorative white and black, and gold gift boxes are from Target.

My Fall Tablescape

Fall is my favorite! I love walking past my dining room and seeing it all decorated for fall! 🍂I enjoyed using neutral colors, like sage, creams and whites this year because it blends well with my everyday home colors.

A Party Fit for a Princess

Happy first Birthday to our little Miss Annalise! Since my oldest daughter is now fifteen, I hadn't thrown a little girl themed party in years! So I knew when Annalise turned one, I wanted to have a super elegant, storybook, dream birthday party fit for a princess!  

I started planning weeks in advance. I loved how everything turned out! It was just what I dreamed! The gorgeous custom made banner was the key to the whole table setting! It's from SweetGeorgiaSweet, and it was the perfect focal point! I love it so much!

Read more below.

I started planning for the tables cape by searching for ideas. I knew I defiantly wanted whimsical princes tulle skirt! So that was the first thing I started working on. The first thing I started making was the ribbon and tulle table skirt. I was lucky to go to Hobby Lobby on a day when all their ribbon and tulle was half off! 

What would I do without my handy, talented husband Justin? He photographed some of these photos and edited them all for me. He's an Art Director/Graphic Designer by trade - therefore I am one lucky girl! He also built the decorative box with the gold crown on it. In fact, the crown was originally hot pink from my oldest daughter's room - so we spray painted it gold. We used the pink trimmed sheer fabric to drape the table to create a "storybook" look. (I sewed on the pink trim) The box with the crown, and fabric drape are actually from above Annalise's crib in her nursery. We just took it off the wall and nailed it to the bead board backdrop (which Justin also built). Justin and I also designed the thank you tags and personalized circle crown printables that went on the glass apothecary jars.

I ordered the cake and cupcake toppers and wrappers from Amazon. I just picked up the cake and  cupcakes from a local grocery store bakery - and added added the gold pearls and sprinkles. 

(It's much cheaper then going to a specialized bakery.) 

My favorite part of the table display was the roses cascading down the cake. There's something about fresh flowers that makes everything so beautiful! 

Design Tips for an Easy Thanksgiving Tablescape

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, lots of folks are already thinking about decorating their Thanksgiving table. Putting together a tablescape is one of my favorite things! But first, what is a "tablescape" and how is it different than just setting the table? The term tablescaping has developed in recent years with people decorating their tables, particularly for holidays, more and more elaborately to create an experience for their guests. 

"Tablescaping is the act of creatively arranging a tabletop so that it conveys a specific theme, mood, or experience. It's a thought process of being creative and planning to design a table top with a specific theme or mood." 

So it's different than just setting the table with forks, knives, plates etc. Most tablscapes have been methodically thought out and planned, shopped for and set to be perfect for one's guests. One drawback is the clean-up afterwards, especially with all the extra dishes!  

But If you don't have time to do all that - here's some quick tips for your Thanksgiving dinner;

1. First place a simple, neutral table runner down the middle of your table. You can also opt for buying placemats if you want. They don't have to match the table runner. These can be found at your Home Goods or Target stores. 

2. Add pillar candles  at several different height for your centerpieces. You don't have to use candle holders - but it would look great to add height to your centerpiece. You can also place a few vases of fresh flowers as well. 

3. Adding chargers can also be a nice touch. A charger is a large plate that sit under the dinner plate. If you want to skip that charger, go ahead! Also, If you want the look of formal china without the cleanup - buy these amazing plates at you local grocery store. They're plastic, sturdier than paper, and  have a silver accent to look like china.

4. Sprinkle real or artificial leaves or foliage down the center of the table runner.

5. Add your silverware and glassware and if you have cloth or paper napkins place them in the glasses for a fun festive look. And that's it!

Happy Valentine’s Day Entertaining!

Happy Valentine's Day friends! It's one of my favorite holidays to decorate for-
I just love the bright, happy colors!

Here are some photos of my Valentine's Day decor! I love decorating for my kitchen table for Valentine's and putting special surprises at each place setting for the people I love. For breakfast we have pink pancakes and berry smoothies, and for dinner it's heart shaped pizza!💕💕 

 I also love displaying multiple banners on my fireplace. I
 sewed the fabric one and my husband made me the paper one with words.   

Hope y'all have a fabulous day!