It dawned on me that going with my heart this year and decorating according to the current mood is exactly the theme for this year’s Thanksgiving of it all.
Nothing too elaborate or over the top, just simply going with tried and true pieces that speak Thanksgiving to me.
Opening the cabinet doors of the section of the kitchen reserved for the good china and holiday appropriate plates proved to be the hardest part of the decorating plan.
Simple elegance is rooted in a cozy and comfortable ambiance.
To me it simply isn’t a Thanksgiving table without serving pieces and figurines denoting a pheasant and turkey pattern.
My great-grandmother, Mama Two, went to great measures to set a lovely Thanksgiving table each year she was with us.
Mama Two entertained and adorned with grace and what appeared an effortless command of the feast setting. At least one pheasant and one turkey plate, platter, or figurine always found a planned path to the tabletop.
Antique finds gathered over the years such as accent flatware pieces connect the dots to family tablescape traditions.
Posts of Thanksgiving past prove my tried and true favorites don’t seem to waver. Color combos and patterns continue to lean neutral to nature with at least one new or new to me addition added for good measure.
Football and tailgating season is here, and we’re a nation of football enthusiast who live for this time of year when fans gather together with the common interests of good times, good eats and victorious scores.
PTO days have been building, work schedules cleared, weekend honey-do-list put on after football season hold, supplies gathered, parking passes purchased, hotel rooms, campground sites and flights booked, menus planned, grills and smokers cleaned, the ESPN college football app downloaded.
Initial costs sting the wallet at first, but grant a good deal of bang for your party buck satisfaction from season to season.
To this day I find burlap a neutral and inexpensive choice of table covering. Burlap does come in a good selection of colors allowing you to go with team colors game to game.
Seasonal local fruits and vegetables make excellent table and centerpiece decorations. Scatter about or stack on a pedestal in groups. I’m never disappointed with the outcome and the response fellow tailgaters have to the seemingly effortless placement details.
Stems, leaves, and branches denoting regional and seasonal beauty in varying heights and colors gathered together in vases or free form vignettes achieve the look of effortless style and casual elegance.
Finish the look with ribbon, fabric, figurines, and embellishments in team colors to tie it all together.
Doesn’t this wrapped candle favor a football?
Stitched Leatherette Wrap Band Apple Chai Woodwick Candle Clear
Same with this faux leather plate charger.
Faux Leather Plate Charger
Fall fabulous faux leather pumpkin.
Decoristas have never met an end of summer retail markdown, sale, and clearance aisle they didn’t at the very least pay attention to, and at the very best pay a little for a big decorating score.
Fill each with an array of instant hot cocoa packets, marshmallows, chocolate and toffee chips, cinnamon sticks, pretzel rods, Pirouette cookies, candy canes or peppermint sticks.
Ground nutmeg and chilled cans of whipped cream top it off.
Recipes in this tailgating post give a spirited and seasoned tip of the hat to Louisiana.
LSU Spiked Blueberry Lemonade Recipe
Ingredients
2 oz. vodka
1 handful blueberries
1 pinch sugar
12 oz. lemonade
Directions
Add the vodka, blueberries and sugar to the bottom of the glass and use a spoon to muddle (or mash) everything, just until the sugar has dissolved and the blueberries are broken up. Add ice and lemonade, stirring to mix in the vodka-soaked blueberries.
Cinnamon water is my go-to option for an inexpensive and delicious alternative to leaded libations.
This stove top method brings out the flavor and color of the cinnamon.
Begin by adding 2 cinnamon sticks to 2 cups of water to a saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for 5 minutes.
Simple one cinnamon stick to one cup of water math for increasing the amount. To prepare a gallon of cinnamon water you’ll use 16 cups of water and 16 cinnamon sticks.
Allow concentrate/starter to cool before adding to cold water and ice to desired strength.
I invite you to visit The Farm Girl Cooks for more farm fresh delicious recipes.
Creole Sugar ‘N’ Spice Pecans
Add as much cayenne or other spicy chile powder as you like. Pure ancho or chipotle powder are especially good here.
Ingredients
1 egg white
⅓ cup sugar
2 T Creole seasoning purchased or make your own
10 oz pecan halves
Directions
Preheat oven to 300° and place a piece of parchment on a cookie sheet. Alternatively, use a silicone baking pan liner.*
In a medium bowl, whisk egg white until frothy. Whisk in sugar and creole seasoning. Using a spatula, stir in pecan halves, making sure to coat them evenly and completely.
Pour the nuts onto the parchment-lined baking sheet, ensuring they are in a single layer. There shouldn’t be much gooey eggy spicy liquid, but if there is, don’t scrape it all out of the bowl and onto the pan. It will just stick to the parchment and will make for more difficult nut removal.
Bake the nuts at 300° for 15 minutes. Give the nuts a stir – I used a large off-set spatula to do the dirty work – then reduce the oven to 250° and bake the nuts for another 10 minutes. Immediately give the nuts another stir to release them from the parchment.
Allow to cool and store in an airtight container (something with a padlock would have been helpful here) for as long as you can stand not eating them.
Creole Seasoning
Ingredients
1/3 cup paprika
3 tablespoons dried oregano
3 tablespoons ground black pepper
2 tablespoons dried basil
2 tablespoons kosher salt
1 tablespoons cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon granulated onion
4 teaspoons dried thyme
4 teaspoons granulated garlic
Directions
In a medium bowl combine paprika, dried oregano, ground black pepper, dried basil, kosher salt, cayenne pepper, granulated onion, dried thyme and granulated garlic. Stir to combine. Can be stored in an airtight container for up to three months.
-Places In The Home
Country Living – Photography by Brian Woodcock
Caramelized Onion Dip with Crispy Shallots
Ingredients
¼ cup olive oil, divided
3 large sweet onions, chopped
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 shallots, sliced into thin rings
1 (16-ounce) container sour cream
1 tbsp. chopped fresh chives
Pretzels and potato, beet, and sweet potato chips for serving
Directions
Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are a deep golden brown, 35 to 40 minutes.
Meanwhile, heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Add shallots and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate with a slotted spoon; cool completely.
Combine sour cream and onions in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Top with crispy shallots and chives. Serve with pretzels and chips.
Preheat oven to 400°. On a rimmed baking sheet, roast sweet potatoes until tender, about 1 hour. While sweet potatoes are still warm, peel and pass them through a food mill into a large bowl. Add egg yolks, tasso, cheese, Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper. Using a spatula, gently combine.
Using a small ice cream scoop, scoop mixture onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Prepare 3 shallow bowls of pastry flour, egg, and panko. Roll each sweet potato ball in flour, egg, and bread crumbs, and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Freeze overnight.
In a large Dutch oven, pour oil to a depth of 4 inches, and heat over medium-high heat until a deep-fry or candy thermometer reads 325°. Add sweet potato balls, in batches, and cook until golden brown, about 4 to 6 minutes. Drain on paper towels.
3 tbsp. unsalted butter, plus 12 tbsp. cut into 1/2″ cubes and chilled
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1⁄2 cup Crystal hot sauce
1⁄4 cup Worcestershire sauce
2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1 tbsp. Creole seasoning
4 tsp. ground black pepper
1 1⁄2 lb. head-on large shrimp, unpeeled
Kosher salt, to taste
French bread, for serving
Directions
Heat 3 tbsp. butter in a 12″ skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic; cook until soft, 1-2 minutes. Add hot sauce, Worcestershire, juice, Creole seasoning, and pepper. Bring to a simmer; cook until sauce is reduced by half, 5-7 minutes.
Add shrimp; cook, flipping once, until cooked through, 3-4 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low; stir in chilled butter to make a smooth sauce. Season with salt. Serve with French bread.
On bottom halves of muffuletta bread, layer half of salami, prosciutto, mortadella, soppressata, and provolone on each bread half. Top each with 2½ cups olive salad, add top half of the loaves; slice sandwiches into quarters, and serve.
Muffulettas may be made up to a few hours in advance. Cover, and refrigerate until serving.
Four Generation Olive Salad
Ingredients
1 anchovy fillet
2 tablespoons plus ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided
3 cups coarsely chopped cured green olives with pimento
2 cups coarsely chopped black olives
1 cup finely diced celery
1 cup finely diced carrot
1 cup thinly sliced fennel
1 cup finely diced cauliflower (optional)
4 cloves garlic, minced
¼ cup capers, chopped
10 baby artichokes, boiled and quartered
1 thinly sliced lemon
¼ cup fresh oregano, chopped
1 tablespoon lemon juice (optional)
1 teaspoon ground black pepper (optional)
½ teaspoon salt (optional)
Directions
In a large bowl, combine anchovy and 2 tablespoons olive oil. Mash with a fork until combined. Add olives, celery, carrot, fennel, cauliflower, garlic, capers, artichokes, lemon, and oregano, stirring to combine. Add remaining ¼ cup olive oil to just cover mixture, and stir well. Cover, and refrigerate 1 hour.
Taste mixture, and add lemon juice, salt, and pepper as needed.
***When I can’t find muffuletta bread I use a loaf of Everything Italian Bread from the bakery at Walmart.
When only the original will do, and no recipe I’ve tried quite captures that New Orleans sweetness, place an order for these original creole delights guaranteed to be a sweet hit.
Directions
Place your order online or by phoning Aunt Sally’s Original Creole Pralines direct at (800) 642-7257
Talk about the Big Easy!
New Orleans Beignets
Instructions
1 package (¼ ounce) active dry yeast
¼ cup warm water (110° to 115°)
1 cup evaporated milk
½ cup canola oil
¼ cup sugar
1 large egg, room temperature
4-½ cups self-rising flour
Oil for deep-fat frying
Confectioners’ sugar
Directions
In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add milk, oil, sugar, egg and 2 cups flour. Beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough (dough will be sticky). Do not knead. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
Punch down dough. Turn onto a floured surface; roll into a 16×12-in. rectangle. Cut into 2-in. squares.
In a deep cast-iron or electric skillet, heat 1 inch oil to 375°. Fry squares, in batches, until golden brown on both sides. Drain on paper towels. Roll warm beignets in confectioners’ sugar.
Excitement drives this gridiron gatherings tailgating ideas and recipes post down the field of football season is here dreams.
Pregame good times celebrated at home or on location to roast, toast, grill and gab before the game is almost as exciting as the game itself.
The return of high school, college and NFL football is not without a bit of mask-proof of vaccination controversy this year, but at least the return of high school, college, and NFL football with fans welcomed to attend under stadium and state guidelines with safety in mind is happening.
The football nation is gearing up for Friday night lights-Saturday gridiron gatherings-NFL Sunday soirees at stadiums and at home (yes, Virginia, there is an at-home option).
It is said that football is a religion, and the South the mother church of the football faithful.
Evidence of this is seen on any home game Saturday at Tiger Stadium.
Now, we all know football means fall and fall as a theme opens up the field to easy and affordable statement making food, beverage, and decorating choices to build upon.
Lighting sets a festive mood, especially at a late afternoon or evening tailgating event.
Outdoor candle lanterns paired with LED votives and pillars advance the tailgating area into chic dinner party territory, and why not!
You’re not locked into a particular theme other than casual yet elegant football tailgating finery.
You’ve got people to see, dishes to taste, and socializing to do.
Hit the remote and forget about it.
Shop flea markets and online swap shop sites for a new to you light fixture ready to become a lighting focal point to add to your tailgating area.
Give the fixture a good cleaning and perhaps a quick coat of spray paint, remove all the existing wiring, retrofit with LED pillar candles (easy peasy), and adorn with natural elements, string lights, mesh fabric in team colors, or a fall festive garland.
Planning these ultimate pregame meet, greet and eat get togethers is part of the game day experience- a social event that counts as a prime style occasion for decoristas to seize the design and decorating opportunity to show your personal style.
Tailgaters are known for bringing their A-game to the game day tailgating tablescape.
Seasonal flowers, natural or spray painted branches, magnolia leaves or seasonal stems paired with vintage or in the style of vintage trophy or champagne bucket vases make impressive centerpiece presentations.
Fresh and festive flower bargains afford me the opportunity to load up on blooms of beauty.
Pick up a sunflower bouquets ($4.87 each) at Walmart.
Pop in eucalyptus stems in fall or team colors paired with gathered cotton team print fabric- fabulous!
Pack a plastic urn with magnolia leaves
Plastic urns are lightweight and easy to haul around game to game, and magnolia leaves a wonderfully inexpensive-natural-beautiful choice of centerpiece accent.
Mums and pumpkins, the unofficial official season and flower of fall and football, remind me of homecoming court corsages and crisp fall game day afternoons and evenings.
Cut out a pumpkin, add mums in team or seasonal colors, and voilà; fall is on the table.
Paired together as focal point centerpieces, mums and pumpkins naturally create the look of the season.
An easy DIY pumpkin centerpiece project is a couple bags of moss and an application of spray adhesive away from becoming a dazzling seasonal stunner.
The DIY project from Better Homes & Gardens adds succulents cuttings to the moss, and although lovely, I prefer the natural simple elegance achieved with just the moss.
I lean towards selecting tablewares and serving pieces made from natural materials or with the look of for their durability and focal point factor.
-and-
You get a whole lotta bang for your buck as we are entering into the fall and holiday season where natural pieces and neutral colors complement and reign entertaining supreme.
There’s a time and a place for paper and plastic, and tailgating is the time for paper plates, napkins, and plastic drinkware.
Stacking draws the eye and frees up valuable tabletop space.
Brown or white paper lunch bags filled with snacks like popcorn, crackers, chips, and pretzels mixes and placed in baskets or on trays conquers the issue of a more visually appetizing way to present snacks and goodies in individual servings.
Now let’s look at a few more tailgating ideas and recipes.
Show your football in the fall spirit with this in the spirit of fall spirit.
Delish shows us this easy recipe and serving presentation idea for Apple Pie Vodka.
Back to the individual serving appetizers school of thought, after studying the staged image of the popcorn, loving the rustic, rusty, and fabulous decorative tin piece, it dawned on me how easy it would be to replicate the look with a new PVC ceiling tile.
Consider it a tailgating table investment piece, although the price per tile is under $20.
Melt the butter in Dutch oven (or just toss the butter in with the veggies like I do). Add the sliced carrots, chopped celery and chopped onion. Sauté until onions become translucent.
Add shredded chicken, beans, bay leaf, garlic, paprika, salt and pepper. Stir to incorporate all the flavor goodness together. Add water, bouillon cube and chicken broth bringing to a boil.
Once a good bubbling boil is reached, reduce heat to low and allow soup to simmer for 45-60 minutes.
In a large skillet, cook sausage and onion until sausage is no longer pink; drain. Transfer to a 4-qt. slow cooker.
Add the broth, pumpkin, syrup, pie spice, garlic powder and nutmeg. Cover and cook on low until flavors are blended, 3-4 hours. Stir in milk; heat through.
This recipe for Moist Pumpkin Bread with Maple Glaze from Butternut Baker includes pumpkin, maple glaze made with real maple syrup, and a crunchy streusel so rich and so delicious it will become your new fall taste treat obsession.
From pan to pack tote to platter, cookies, sweet breads, cakes, and brownies travel well and satisfy the sweet tooth of big kids who tailgate.
Dessert and coffee go together like football and tailgating.
Make mine a cup of Community Coffee- a Louisiana tailgating tradition.
Distinctive and delicious tailgating ideas and recipes sets the pregame party in motion to score an entertaining touchdown.
Spring on the beauty time is here, and my heart is full of expectation for the best of the season to show up and beautifully show out.
Speaking of time, when I started blogging ten years ago one of the suggestions from those in the know was to be 100% truthful and transparent with your readers.
Based on this expert advice and my truth is key philosophy, I find it necessary to share with you all a realization.
This spring forward daylight savings time thing is kicking my 50something tuchus.
It’s one of those there’s not enough café au lait in Louisiana to caffeinate the moments of my life days.
Raise your hand and coffee cup if you know what I’m talking about.
The silver lining of the time change is more daytime to enjoy the sights of the season.
Color, texture, pattern and taste repeats throughout chosen spring favorites.
Braised Artichokes with Shallots & Peas
Ingredients
Finely grated zest and juice of 2 lemons
6 large artichokes, about 1/2 lb. each
3 Tbs. olive oil
2 large shallots, finely chopped
1 sprig fresh thyme
½ cup (4 fl. oz.) dry white wine
1 ½ cups (12 fl. oz.) low-sodium chicken broth, plus more if needed
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1 small clove garlic, chopped
Leaves from 1 bunch fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
6-8 leaves fresh mint, cut into slices
1 lb. fresh English peas, shelled
½ cup (4 oz.) creme fraiche
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
Directions
Have ready a bowl of water to which you have added the lemon juice.
Working with 1 artichoke at a time, pull off and discard the tough outer leaves until you reach the tender, pale yellow-green inner leaves.
Cut off about 1 inch from the top to remove the prickly tips. Using a paring knife, remove the tough outer layer on the stem.
Cut the trimmed artichokes lengthwise into quarters.
As each artichoke is finished, drop it into the lemon water.
Warm a large saute pan over medium-high heat and add the oil. Add the shallots and thyme sprig and saute until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Drain the artichokes, shake off the excess water, and add to the pan. Raise the heat to high, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the artichokes are lightly browned in places, about 5 minutes.
Add the wine and cook until reduced to about 2 tablespoons, about 3 minutes. Add the broth and ½ teaspoon salt and bring to a boil.
Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the artichokes are tender when pierced with the tip of a paring knife, 12-15 minutes.
In a small bowl, mix together the garlic, parsley, mint and lemon zest.
When the artichokes are done, there should be at least ½ cup (4 fl. oz.) of liquid left in the pan. Add a little more broth if needed. Add the peas, then stir in the creme fraiche and mustard.
Cook, stirring, until the peas are warmed through, about 2 minutes.
Gently stir in the herb mixture, taste and adjust the seasonings, and serve. Serves 4-6.
This Helsa Vintage Green Stacked Artichokes accent immediately caught my eye, and the thought is how lovely a focal point piece for an entry table or tablescape this spring appropriate accent will make.
The time of year for gathering around the simple yet elegant Thanksgiving table with family and friends who are family is upon us.
The plan is to place the emphasis on the gathering, the feasting, and generating a feels like home ambiance.
Cozy welcomes family, friends, tradition, and style home, and is the requisite for our home for the holidays celebrations.
In keeping with the spirit of the home for the holidays feel, I’m suggesting these distressed metal houses as a super cute decor addition for the holiday table, sideboard, or bar cart.
Holiday Time Distressed Metal House Table-Top Christmas Decoration
Battery operated candles (I source faux candles and battery operated lights with safety in mind) or a strand of LED fairy string lights placed inside illuminates holiday style and brings the look home.
Decor items that easily make the transition from Thanksgiving to Christmas decoration have a longer shelf life, decoratively speaking.
Around our house, Thanksgiving day officially signals the holidays have arrived, and I believe in taking full decorating advantage of the relatively short decorating season.
For that express reason I ordered the Holiday Time Winter Frost flocked un-lit wreath from Walmart to “spruce” up the foyer for Thanksgiving into Christmas.
Swing by Dollar Tree if your Thanksgiving table is in need of new, replacement, or extra glasses.
Tradition dictates these beverage glasses making an appearance in most every holiday table post.
Why?
I own them.
I love them.
At $1 each, you simply can’t beat the price.
Thanksgiving feast your eyes upon the newest addition to the holiday sideboard.
Dave and I made a quick fall getaway trip up to Bossier City a couple of weeks ago for fun and a visit to Antique Shoppes At 1100 Barksdale.
Among treasures found was this vintage soup tureen. For less than the cost of two tall specialty coffees, I secured a lovely serving piece to adorn the sideboard.
“What recipe will fill the tureen on Thanksgiving day?” you may ask.
Autumn Squash Soup (in the taste style of Panera Bread)
Ingredients
1 Tablespoon vegetable or olive oil
2 pounds (l large) butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and chopped into cubes
2 carrots, peeled and chopped
1 large yellow onion, peeled and chopped
2 teaspoons bottled minced garlic (easier to use and flavor packed)
1 teaspoon Kosher salt (or to taste)
1 teaspoon fine black pepper (or to taste)
2 Tablespoons brown sugar
½ teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon nutmeg
3 cups vegetable broth
1 cup apple juice
½ cup pumpkin puree
2 Tablespoons maple syrup
2 Tablespoons cream cheese, softened
½ cup heavy cream (Greek yogurt or half-n-half may be substituted)
Directions
Preheat oven to 450°F.
Peel squash removing seeds. Cut peeled butternut squash into chunks and place on a cookie sheet. Drizzle olive oil over squash chunks and season with salt and pepper.
Bake at 450°F for 25 to 30 minutes or until fork tender.
Using a potato masher, mash the roasted squash cubes. Set aside.
Meanwhile, in a Dutch oven or soup pot heat oil over medium-high heat. Add chopped onions to heated oil and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion becomes soft and translucent. Stir in minced garlic.
Add roasted butternut squash, pumpkin puree, broth, apple juice, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and pepper to pot and stir to incorporate. Bring to a slight boil. Cover and lower the heat to simmer. Allow to simmer for 15 minutes to incorporate flavors.
Remove pot from the heat. Add the maple syrup and softened cream cheese, stirring until cream cheese is melted.
Use a hand blender to blend mixture until smooth. If you do not have a hand mixer, carefully transfer mixture to traditional stand blender in two batches. Puree each batch until smooth. Transfer mixture back to the pot and adjust flavors to taste.
If you feel the soup is too thick, add more broth to reach desired consistency.
Garnish soup with a swirl of heavy cream, half-n-half, or dollop of Greek yogurt and roasted pepitas.
Rounding out the decorative details includes a selection of simple yet elegant Thanksgiving table items easy to find in retail stores, produce sections, and online retailers.
So many if not all of these items will transition beautifully from Thanksgiving to Christmas decor.
Yesterday I dropped by our local Joann store to pick up two small faux cedar wreaths for a holiday project.
More on that to come.
As soon as I walked through the front doors the aroma of cinnamon filled the air. To say the scent instantly put me in the holiday mood is an understatement.
I spied a huge display cinnamon scented pine cones, and knew those babies were coming home with me.
Pine cones identify with fall, Thanksgiving, winter, and Christmas.
Further tie the season and holidays of cozy together by using pine cone ornaments tied with velvet ribbon as napkin rings.
Loop ribbon in your choice of design, texture, and color through the top of an ornament ring.
Tie each ornament around individual dinner napkins, securing in a loose knot.
Custom napkin rings made their way to the table several holidays ago by way of small oval framed pictures secured with wire ribbon and a tucked in ginkgo leaf.
Here’s the fun part.
Announce to your guests the custom made napkin ring is theirs to take home as a from me to you favor gift.
I hope these simple yet elegant Thanksgiving table decor choices lend ideas and inspiration.
“Forever on Thanksgiving Day the heart will find the pathway home.”
Conversations, estimations, and prognostications for the upcoming LSU Tigers football season has gone from a meow to a roar.
Football fans- this is not a drill.
If you haven’t scouted the recipes, planned the menus, decorations and tailgating tablescapes ideas we’ve got something to talk about as well.
Football fans and the tailgating nation from conference to conference, division to division take their football and tailgating times serious.
Football fans here in the South surely do, and come rain, sunshine, humidity or hurricane, we let the good tailgating times roll.
Tiger Stadium
Tailgating planning and execution is a process that rivals that of an elaborate dinner party.
The selection of a tailgating tablescapes theme and the perfect decor accessories and tablewares can be an entertaining success from parking to parting.
The Local Palate
Tailgating has come along way from the hibachi and red Solo cup days, not that there’s anything wrong with that.
Tailgaters decked out in team attire and colors believe in getting the party started early in game day style.
The old adage football is a religion in the South has a lot of truth to it.
The shall we gather at the stadium loyal gather together to get the pregame ritual kicked off in true Tiger style.
Game day chic includes both a pregame bag and a clear bag compliant with stadium policy.
Team logo and tiger chic flats and sandals bring style and comfort to the look.
For the away games to college towns where fall is actually fall, gold metallic espadrille slip-on sneakers or warm lined suede boots fit the bill.
If real estate is all about location, location, location tailgating tablescapes is all about display, display, display.
Pitch your tailgating tent in a prime location, hang a focal point chandelier, and proceed to impress the crowd with your tailgating tablescapes skills and style.
I begin by dressing the table in whatever choice of table linens fits this weeks theme.
Burlap is the tailgating accessory that consistently tops the tailgating tablescapes must have table linens list because of its durability and inexpensive price tag.
Versatile for table covers and table runners, burlap, the on-trend farmhouse chic fabric, is a very forgiving fabric.
There’s no crying in football or spilled chili, dip, gumbo, cocktails, etc…
Spills happen.
If a stain should occur, cover it up with a serving tray or platter for the duration of your tailgating soiree (a hosting trick).
Between tailgating times, head over to a fabric store or online retailer to pick up or order a couple of more yards of this tailgating friendly fabric.
I really like this artificial grass table runner option.
Dress it up or dress it down style on the field.
Decorating your tailgating tablescapes with pieces in team colors, seasonal accents, and holiday du jour decor never fails to impress the crowd.
My game changer tablescape works with a casual yet elegant theme.
It brings a bit of juxtaposition to the tailgating tablescapes mix with stoneware plates paired with inexpensive faux wood chargers.
Wreaths make fantastic candle rings for tailgating tablescapes, and when football season is over you can use these for home for the holidays decorating.
Birch slab round tree slices, woven trays, and baskets make the extra point as serving pieces and decorative additions for the fall football tailgating tablescape of it all.
Natural Wheat Stacks make the starting lineup for fabulous tailgating tablescapes accessories.
Good look, great height.
Easy to work with centerpiece options include a team mascot figurine, collectible helmet, and a bronze poly-stone football player sculpture.
Arrangements of fresh or faux flowers and plants of the season set a festive and colorful scene.
Crotons, hydrangeas, garden mums, marigolds, branches, decorative feathers, dried lotus pods, magnolia leaves and sunflowers give a festive nod to fall and transport well.
Vases and containers can be as simple as a collection of empty vegetable-sauce-bean cans to dollar store metal vases with rope accents to craft pumpkins to a football cut to accommodate a can in which to house fresh flowers.
When selecting vases and containers, I keep ease of transport, the unique factor, and avoid breakage at all times in mind.
These versatile and sturdy crates add just the right amount of vintage to the look and ease to tote, travel, and tablescape.
Chili and chilly is a delicious tailgating combination for fall game days.
A woven crate basket can pull triple duty as a tailgate supply tote for a hot chocolate with all the fixings, turned upside down and used as the aforementioned fixings display, and holder of fleece throws in seasonal or team colors.
I like items that pull double tableware duty.
Is it an urn for a fall foliage centerpiece or is it a stylish beverage tub?
Tailgating recipes for barbecued anything, Creole seasoned popcorn and lemonade with a kick, cold or hot dips, salads, sandwiches, soups, stews or chili, and tasty tailgating appropriate desserts always satisfy a hungry tailgating group.
A sugar mold also makes an excellent condiment holder.
Gumbo or deer chili served with homemade buttermilk cornbread with pork cracklin’s has Louisiana c’est si bon written all over it.
Toups’ Cracklin’s
Ingredients
5 pounds skin-on pork belly
4 cups lard
Peanut oil, for frying
Cracklin’ Spice (recipe follows)
Directions
Place pork belly skin side up on a cutting board, and cut into 1-inch pieces.
In a large Dutch oven, place lard and pork belly. Do not layer pork belly in more than 3 layers. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring frequently; reduce heat to medium, and cook, stirring frequently, until skin blisters and turns golden brown. Transfer pork belly to rimmed baking sheets, and refrigerate until cold.*
In a large Dutch oven, pour oil to a depth of 4 inches, and heat over medium-high heat until a deep-fry thermometer registers 380°. Add pork belly in batches, and fry until puffed and golden brown, about 2 minutes. Let drain on paper towels, and liberally sprinkle or toss with Cracklin’ Spice.
The beauty of a French themed tablescape is found in the ooh la la factor, and this We’ll Always Have Paris French themed tablescape focuses attention on the it’s all in the details appeal of understated elegance.
Soft lighting, informal china and crystal, and benign neglect to formality describes the European sentiment.
French decor elements bring a palette of both deep and soft blue and green, crisp white, rich brown and citrine, soft gray, and deep wine red to the table.
Vintage pieces make a wonderful contribution to tablecsapes, lending an air of distinction that exemplifies the art of classic French themed tablescape savoir faire.
Grab a free place card template printable, pop over to your photo editor of choice, add your own favorite French themed embellishments, colors and fonts and voilà!
Frame prints or printables such as this menu écrit en français as conversation pieces.
Wall shelf-wall sconces plucked from the clearance shelves at Hobby Lobby have served as my go-to tabletop décor accessory at shop and at home.
The decorative duo immediately caught my eye as tabletop gotta have it rather than wall décor.
When you like the details, finish and presence of a decorative piece, but not in the context of its original purpose, repurpose.
It’s the 1st of November. Do you know what your Thanksgiving tabletop and decorating plan is?
Inspiration is everywhere, and we thrive on it here at Places In The Home.
Let me share with you a few of the Thanksgiving tabletop and decorating suggestions and finds in seasonal color, texture and pattern to set the holiday tone and the Thanksgiving table with the look of the season.
Birds of gorgeous feather colors flock together among 6′ baby tear and frosted eucalyptus garlands from Hobby Lobby. Duck hunting in the Sportsman’s Paradise goes with the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, and this new to me find sets the scene- one very well known to the men of the Places In The Home family.
Fall clearance sales are underway much to the delight of the tablescape maven.
May I also suggest checking out dollar, craft, hobby, and fabric stores for candles, candle holders, decor, chargers, etc… Dollar stores are inexpensive to begin with, so there’s that.
The upside to Christmas and holiday items being stocked and displayed on a store shelf near you earlier and earlier each year is the deep discounts on fall and harvest themed items shoppers see sooner and sooner in the season.
The cream craft pumpkin from Lowe’s is 50% off, and the Ashland Finial Vase from Michael’s is on clearance. Both are calling my name.
After creating the gallery I remembered Dollar Tree stocks a white stoneware dinner plate with gold rim. You can’t go wrong with a set of white dinner plates with gold or platinum rims. A simple yet elegant white dinner plate makes a strong argument for the perfect foundation plate, and complements almost every china pattern known to man.
My style preference leans traditional. Classic tableware and vintage linens set most of my holiday tablescapes and Thanksgiving tabletop, but I do like to gift the eye a decorative surprise.
Marry a traditional china pattern to a modern and/or contemporary pattern.
Intermingle pops of bold color with the customary fall palette.
Mix seasonal buds and branches with roses and taxidermy.
I am always impressed and amazed when decor accents and accessories that normally would not be paired together come together in perfected contrast to create remarkable beauty.
One of the best pieces of Thanksgiving tabletop and decorating advice I can offer is this: I embrace the words do small things with great love.
Incorporate pieces, finds and treasures you love into your Thanksgiving tabletop and decorating.
Personal mementos and collections tell a compelling all things house that make a home story.
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To me it simply isn’t a Thanksgiving table without serving pieces and figurines denoting a pheasant and turkey pattern.
The Local Palate
Gold Faux Wood Charger
Dessert compotes remind me of my grandmother- a woman who mastered the art of the holiday table with signature style and grace.