Entertaining Archives - Page 2 of 6

3 Tips for an Affordable Thanksgiving Tablesetting

Hello Pretty Ladies,

Can you believe we’re already at Thanksgiving week and the end of November? Blink, and it will be Christmas morning. I am finishing the rest of my Christmas decorating for clients, which should be done by Tuesday. I’ll get our home done by Wednesday, as well, to have all our Christmas gifts wrapped. I am almost done Christmas shopping, but I would like to wait for the sales this week to grab a few items for the boys and my hubby. I am finished with everyone else on my list. How about you?

That brings me to talk about this crazy sale week real quick. As you know, this is my job, and I like to be as helpful and informative as possible to help you shop for the best deals and get the best pricing. To do this, I am updating my best of Cyber Week sales blog post daily and adding items to my Liketoknowit, Amazon, and Walmart storefronts. I’ll also be sending out another Newsletter on Friday morning.

I will also be sharing up-to-date info on my Instagram stories, and I started a broadcast channel there called Chit Chat to announce sales, discount codes, and links. If you like this, it’s FREE to join. I want to keep you updated on what I think are the best deals and even what’s in my cart. I will also pick up items for our home and myself.

Thank you. I genuinely appreciate your support, including being here, commenting, liking my post, shopping my links, and using my codes.

I am genuinely so grateful & Thankful for your support and being here.

3 Tips for an Affordable Thanksgiving Tablesetting:

I’ve been hosting Thanksgiving dinner at our home for as long as I can remember—even before Ben and I were married. That’s been over 30 years, giving me several years of experience collecting entertaining pieces. Over the years, I have learned several tips and tricks to help create beautiful tablescapes and a few ways to save money.

Tip number one: Paper Goods

Will entertaining a crowd be more significant than your regular place setting allows? Nowadays, paper plates, napkins, stemware, and disposable silverware are so beautiful; some can even be used repeatedly, as you can hand wash them. I’ve found some affordable plastic options that look even real, which can decrease the cost of purchasing more of your place settings.

Tip number two: Use things you have on hand

You can create a beautiful table centerpiece with items you have on hand. Look through your everyday items or holiday decorations and use items that would work well for that season or your place settings. Another great way to save money is to use nature. Go outside and see what you could use indoors: pinecones, leaves, cut branches or greenery, seasonal flowers, or wildflowers.

Tip Number Three: Purchase entertainment pieces for multiple holidays and events.

When I say Purchase entertainment pieces that you will be able to use for multiple holidays and events, I mean think about how you’ll use those pieces and whether they are something that you will want to use on repeats, like serving platters, bowls, punch bowls, wine glasses, gravy boats, or ice buckets.

I like to collect entertaining pieces in white and crystal, as they mix well and go with every holiday. As your collection grows, you can add specialty pieces for special Holidays. This saves a lot of money when you go to entertain, as you’ll have things already working.

The same goes for lines, Tablecloths, cloth napkins, napkin rings, placemats, and table runners. Purchase white, and then you can always add in as you go.

Here are a few great options for Linens etc: Shop the Post below:

I have created fantastic entertainment—boards for inspiration on my Amazon and Liketoknowit storefronts. You can check them out below:

Need more inspiration? You can follow my Amazon Storefront HERE and shop everything I share on my Liketoknowit shop.

Here are a few of my favorite entertainment pieces you might like. Shop below:

Great Dishes and Place settings to build your entertaining table. Shop post below:

Have a beautiful day, Pretty ladies, and remember your smile is your BEST accessory.

Thank you for stopping by.

Thank you for stopping by and reading” 3 Tips for an Affordable Thanksgiving Tablesetting “If you haven’t signed up for my weekly newsletter, you can do so here.

“H️elping women look and feel good at any age!”

You might also enjoy the following:

Black Friday Deals I am Shopping

Thanksgiving outfits

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This Post may contain an affiliate link. All opinions are my own. I only promote brands that I genuinely love and believe in! Thank you for the support!

Creating An Easy Wreath Dessert Board

Hello Pretty Ladies,

I hope you have a beautiful Sunday. I am currently working on some collaborations. You can get a sneak peek this week over on Instagram. I am excited to share what we’ve been working on and a giveaway….Exciting Holiday content is also coming your way.

My plate is complete, and I feel the hustle and bustle of holiday prep. I am pushing myself to get everything done in November so I can enjoy the month of December. Ben and I are heading on a pre-holiday cruise from December 4th to the 16th, and we’re excited. Yet, it is a lot of pressure. I want to be ready with our family coming into town on December 22nd.

Today, I thought I’d share a fun and easy way to serve dessert this Holiday season. Watch the Video HERE. ( I think it turned out so cute.) If you watch it, let me know by commenting on it. I would appreciate it.

I love sharing cute and festive ways to help you entertain easily, even if it’s just for your family. That can be done quickly. I know many of you have a lot going on, and time goes by quickly. This cute dessert board is festive and comes together in minutes. Especially having Fairytale Brownies and delicious gourmet treats delivered to your door. Makes a great Holiday gift as well.

Wreath Dessert Board

An easy way to create a fun dessert board for the Holiday with Fairytale Brownies and Cookies, A variety of Delicious gourmet treats delivered to your door.

Creating a wreath desert board is easy and fun. Grab a circle cutting board. Here, I used an actual wreath-cutting board. Gather your favorite candies, fresh fruit, fairytale treats, and a little rosemary for garnish.

Arrange the treats around the board and garnish with rosemary to give it that Holiday wreath look. It’s perfect for Entertaining this Holiday season.

Fairytale Brownies

Since the beginning, they have promised never to compromise on quality. Every Fairytale Treat is handcrafted in small batches with premium ingredients.

Belgian dark chocolate
Pure, all-natural ingredients
No trans fat, artificial colors, or preservatives
Certified Kosher

The result? Irresistible brownies, cookies, and blondies that spread joy wherever they’re sent

Have a beautiful day, Pretty ladies, and remember your smile is your BEST accessory.

Thank you for stopping by.

Thank you for stopping by and reading” Creating An Easy Wreath Dessert Board. “If you haven’t signed up for my weekly newsletter, you can do so here.

“H️elping women look and feel good at any age!”

You might also enjoy the following:

Three Little Black Dresses

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Thanksgiving Side Dishes

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AN AFFILIATE LINK. ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN. I ONLY PROMOTE BRANDS THAT I GENUINELY LOVE AND BELIEVE IN! THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT!

Easy Four Ingredients Recipe: To have Your Home Smelling Like William Sonoma

Hello Pretty Ladies,

Happy Sunday. I hope you’re having a beautiful November so far. It’s been chilly in Utah this week, and we even had a little snow dusting. Thank goodness that didn’t last, as I am not ready for that yet. I’ve been busy trying to prepare for the Holidays; some of you may know I decorated several homes for the Holidays and all my clients like their homes decorated before Thanksgiving.

This makes November the busiest month for me, between decorating and styling for clients ( I shop for them as well), decorating our home, creating content for you, and getting gift guides ready to help make your shopping easier. Honestly, I love what I do, and having the goal to have everything done before Thanksgiving helps me enjoy the month of December and take in the special moments of the season.

Here are a couple of tips I have for enjoying the season.

This week, I am getting our Christmas cards ordered and am almost done Christmas shopping; this has helped me create excellent gift guides for you, as I will be sharing many of the items I am giving this year. (If you follow my stories on Instagram, you’ve already seen several.)

I aim to have everything wrapped by the end of next week; my Holiday Wrapping paper should be here from All Wrapped Up in the next couple of days. This Is what I chose this year: ONE & this ONE. I have always pushed myself to finish shopping and wrapping, as I love seeing the gifts under the tree. Again, this is another way to enjoy the holiday season. It takes away some of the season’s stress, and it goes by so fast that doing everything early really makes a difference.

Why is it okay to start Christmas prepping early?

They say it’s earlier and earlier every year. What I do for a living has to be getting content and ideas done in time to share with you, but in reality, it’s beneficial to prep way ahead, taking away stress and giving you more enjoyable moments. Yes, it’s a lot of work, but it’s better to spread it out than force it all into 20-ish days.

It gives me time to bake or host a gingerbread-making night with the family; I can have a party for my girlfriends without feeling like I have so much more to do. Our family can see the lights in Salt Lake City and the Giant Gingerbread Houses at the Grand America.

One of my favorite things to do with my hubby is to go to a pretty mall to take in the festive feels of the season, have lunch, and not need to purchase anything, but If I see something I can pick up, I do, without having to check anything off a list. HINT (This is when my hubby shops) It’s a great way to get your hubby to the mall:)

Today’s Sunday Recipe:

Now That I’ve filled you in on a little behind-the-scenes and my thought process, let me share a Fast and easy recipe today for making your home smell excellent with items you probably already have on hand. Watch my video HERE

Easy Four Ingredients Recipe: To have Your Home Smelling Like William Sonoma

Fill the air in your home with an aromatic, woodsy, and citrusy fragrance, just like you would experience at Williams Sonoma. This inspired Williams Sonoma signature simmer pot recipe is easy, fresh, and non-toxic, and your space will smell like a luxury store.

Who doesn’t love their home smelling great, especially when you’re using safe and non-toxic ingredients? It is such a mood-booster. Try this easy fall simmer pot that smells delicious and is suitable for seasonal energy.

Simmer pots are perfect for the cooler weather in Fall and Winter. They give your space a warm and cozy vibe. Grab a blanket, a book, and a soothing cup of tea; try my London Fog below.

Or maybe it will put you in the mood to set your Thanksgiving table.

Ingredients:

Lemons – I do one to two lemons sliced

Fresh Rosemary – I grow this in my garden and love the earthy woodland aroma

Vanilla Extract – pure vanilla extract. Several types of vanilla will change the scent depending on the purity.

Peppercorns—for an earthy yet floral note. (I sometimes add them and sometimes leave them out, depending on my mood.

Water– I’ve found a 2 or 3-quart water pot allows you to have a much longer simmering time

Fill the pot with water, add ingredients, and simmer on low.

Caraway Pans

I use Caraway Cookware

Non-toxic pots and pans are safe to cook and beautiful to set out. I adore the gold handles; of course, there are several colors to choose from.

Save 10% with my code: DARCYVANDENBERG Shop the link below:

rstr.co/caraway/vandenberg

The benefits of Caraway Cookware

Non-Stick

Transform your kitchen with the best-selling 16-piece Cookware & Minis Set, featuring non-toxic ceramic coating for elevated non-stick performance. Enjoy easy cleanup and healthier meals with less oil and no harmful chemicals. Featuring modern colors and a convenient Pan Rack & Lid Organizer, it’s the essential ingredient for a more stylish and organized kitchen. The 10.5” Dutch Oven lid also fits the Fry Pan.

Need more inspiration?

Need more inspiration? You can Follow my Amazon Store Front HERE and Shop everything I share on my Liketoknowit shop as well HERE

Have a beautiful day, Pretty ladies, and remember your smile is your BEST accessory.

Thank you for stopping by.

Thank you for stopping by and reading” Easy Four Ingredients Recipe: To have Your Home Smelling Like William Sonoma “If you haven’t signed up for my weekly newsletter, you can do that here.

“H️elping women look and feel good at any age!”

You might also enjoy the following:

Thanksgiving Day Side dishes

The Best Holiday Hack

3 Little Black Dresses by Jude Connally

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AN AFFILIATE LINK. ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN. I ONLY PROMOTE BRANDS THAT I GENUINELY LOVE AND BELIEVE IN! THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT!

Affordable and Easy Coastal Tablescape

Hello Pretty Ladies,

Entertaining doesn’t need to be complicated or daunting. Throwing an unforgettable party doesn’t require much time or money; it just requires a little thought, creativity, and heart.”

I was so flattered to be a part of Isabella’s @confessionsofasuperager “create the life you want to love” girlfriend’s trip… let alone having the honor of creating a tablescape and charcuterie board to welcome our friends Into her home.

“There is nothing that makes me happier than sitting around the dinner table and talking until the candles are burned down.”

Isabella had mentioned a month prior or so in her stories that if she were going to create a “Dream Team” to create a dinner party for her, she would pick me to create a tablescape, her friend Marie @cocktailsinbloom to make the cocktails, and our friend Suzanne @crazyblondelifeblog to cook the meal. Talk about the ultimate flattery.

“Hospitality should have no other nature than love.”

Fast forward to when she decided to make her “dream” a reality and decided to host a girl’s trip and Make it Happen….. See, ladies, dreams do come true… with action! Of course, I was flattered and even more honored to be a part of her “dream” in the presence of such talented, loving, and beautiful souls. This was an extraordinary time shared between incredible women, and I am so blessed to be a part of building these lasting memories and friendships.

This is your sign to host a girls’ night out or plan a girl’s trip with the woman you love.

Find more tips on Entertaining and Tablescapes HERE

Tips on ways to create a fab tablescape

Tip: Use what you have and then create around that. This helps you see what you might have to fill in with and makes shopping for items you need easier.

Get creative and think of regular items that you can create something with. I used wine corks for the place cardholders; I just used a knife and cut a slit in it to hold the card. In this case, two stickers were used to create the card.

Using what you have

A little something from our garden, cutting flowers from our garden, to bring a little outside in. It is an affordable way to create a centerpiece. These sweet little vases are perfect for single steams, making a big statement for a simple centerpiece.

Flower arranging Tips:

-Always remove any leaves below the water line. Leaves in water instantly start decomposing and causing bacterial growth.

-Cut stems at an angle so they can “drink.”

– Change water every couple of days to extend blooms

My secret little shops for finding affordable treasures

I am always looking for inexpensive treasures to create pretty and affordable tablescapes and items for entertaining everywhere I go. From little boutiques to antique stores, garden centers, and even second-hand shops. It’s a great way to be inspired by a tablescape, too.

Affordable shops

Amazon has everything you need to create a beautiful table. From beautiful tablecloths to runners, placemats, napkins, silverware, glasses, dish sets, chargers, and the little extras.

Follow my Amazon storefront for my picks, inspiration boards, and ideas.

HomeGoods is a favorite place to pick up unique and affordable vases, serving pieces, stemware, and glasses. I also like looking for unique pieces I can reuse for other occasions. We found the pineapple plastic—yes, plastic dishes above—and the silverware. We also found the Coral (we got the seashell on the beach), but you can purchase bags of them at HomeGoods as well.

The Dollar Tree—The Dollar Store has been hitting it out of the park lately—fabulous chargers for $1.25 each, Affordable dishes. Above, we found these gold chargers, wooden beads with tassels, stickers I used for place cards, and mini candle votives.

Hobby Lobby—This has an excellent craft section, candles, holders, silk flowers, a party section, and a great selection of home decor for every theme. You’ll find some fun things to create with seasonal items.

Zurcher’s Party Store—I always find the little details that make the party special here, including Party supplies, theme ideas, paper goods, unique candy, serving pieces, and party favors.

How to build an accessible collection to entertain on quick notice:

Here are a few tips on what to collect or have on hand to create a beautiful tablescape and entertain easily.

White serving pieces

White china or dishes

Crystal or clear glasses and stemware

White or cream linens

White candles

Glass / Silver/ gold candlesticks

Assortment of vases

Shop some of my favorites below:

Live life stylishly and look good at any age.

Thank you for stopping by.

💕Remember, Wearing a smile is your most important accessory!

Have a beautiful rest of the week, and thank you for stopping by and reading.

“Affordable and Easy Coastal Tablescape.” If you haven’t signed up for my weekly newsletter, you can do that HERE.

This Post may contain an affiliate link. All opinions are my own. I only promote brands that I genuinely love and believe in! Thank you for the support!

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Pearls & Prosecco Bridal Shower

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Pearls & Prosecco Bridal Shower

Bridal shower

Pearls & Prosecco Bridal Shower

Hello Pretty ladies,

What an honor to throw my future daughter in LOVE a bridal shower in June.

In honor of the wedding week approaching.. 8/24/24, I wanted to share all the details of this beautiful day celebrating are all the details of this unique shower, What I created, The DIYs, Tips for building a Beautiful event, Ways to save money without sacrificing style, The menu, How to prep, Picking a theme, and Where to shop.

I’ve saved highlights on Instagram (the circles in my bio) of more details, prepping, flower arranging, close-ups of the DIY, etc., and live moments.

It brings me joy to entertain and create events, and it was an honor to be creative for such a special occasion. I enjoy doing this and showing my love through food and entertainment. I hope that shows in all the details.

Today, I am recapping a little bit of the shower and sharing some entertaining tips. I hope you enjoy this Post.

Are you planning a bridal shower or wedding?

I have some great money-saving tips.

Key ideas & details that take your party from drab to fab …

Tables setting

Table settings set the whole tone and theme of the party. After you’ve settled on the party’s theme, this should be your next focus: picking the linens, the table place settings, flatware, and the stemware. Round or rectangular tables and Chair style. This will help you make the choices for the following steps: The flowers, the decor, the menu, your invitations, and the tables help set the tone of your party.

Round tables/ white wooden chairs

White linens

Gold and white dishes and Gold flatware

Lots and lots of baby’s breath

White flowers/ crystal vases/upon gold chargers

White candles with crystal and gold candlesticks

Pearl strand and loose accents

Diamond Napkin Rings

Gold Champagne buckets on every table

White and gold place cards

White dual-sided frames with engagement photos

Dinner Menu

Food is served on all-white serving platters and bowls. The same color serving pieces give the buffet table a polished and professional look. Menus printed for tables and the buffet

Starters

Passed Crudites with Hummus cups

Main course

-Smoked Chicken Pasta Salad

-Fresh Berry and candy walnut fresh green salad with vinaigrette

– Melon and Berries with homemade Coconut whipped cream

-Crescent Rolls & Butter with Flaky salt

Dessert

Assortment of cookies, candies, and treats

Dessert table

Dessert table: Dessert tables are a fun way to add drama to a party; whatever the theme, you can find candies, treats, and fun display pieces to match your party. I went with an all-white theme for a Pearls & Prosecco Bridal Shower. White desserts and candies were served on all-white serving pieces and stands.

Handmade candies and chocolate treats dipped in pearls. I made these a couple of days before and refrigerated them. I did the strawberries the night before. Getting creative and making a few handmade treats will save you money and create an impact on your dessert table. If you need inspiration, look on Pinterest for ideas that fit your theme. I often make candies and treats. I create them because they are simple to do with store-bought items you dip in chocolate and roll in sprinkles, such as pearls.

-Pretzel sticks

-Strawberries

-Rice Krispy treat hearts

-Cherries

-Oreos

– Vanilla wafers

Bakery Items

I wanted to add a focal point dessert, if you will, and thought specialty sugar cookies would make a pretty impact. And who doesn’t love a good sugar cookie? I ordered from one of our favorite local bakeries, Parson’s, in Bountiful. I ordered white sugar cookies with white icing decorated to look like roses, heart sugar cookies dipped half in white chocolate and the other in a white chocolate drizzle.

Tip: When doing a dessert bar, you do not have to have every item, one per person per item. Not everyone will have dessert, and they rarely take one of everything. If it is a small item, they might have two or three; if it’s a more oversized Item like a full-size cookie, brownie, or cupcake, they’ll have one and maybe a candy. For instance, I order 24 specialty cookies from the bakery with 40 guests. With all the other desserts to choose from, it was the perfect amount. (please remember if you only have one dessert choice, make sure to order 1 for each person attending)

Candies

White chocolate Reeses peanut butter cups

Butter mints in solid white

White cotton candy gummy bears

Vanilla Taffy

: Mimosa Bar

: Bar cart display/Champagne wall

: Water & Ice Tea

Processo Bar

All champagne flutes rimed white frosting pearls…I created four signature prosecco flutes.

-Clear rock candy= Sparkle Time

-White cotton candy= Fly High

– Fresh Berry = Berry Pellegrino Mocktail

It’s all about the details.

Details don’t have to cost much; they require creativity and maybe a little DIY. Below, I am sharing some tips, things you can collect to help make your entertaining easier, and places to shop.

Tips:

-Look through what you have around the house that fits your theme. Maybe you have something that could work, but it needs to be spray-painted.

– Champagne and wine bottles – for vases and candle holders

– Collect serving pieces in white or crystal; this makes creating a beautiful buffet, charcuterie board, or dessert bar easier.

Shop for out-of-season items or check out sale sections for things that could be used multiple times.

Items you will always use for parties, dinners, and events

Candles and candlesticks

Vases

Platters, cake stands (not just for cakes), great risers, perfect for other desserts and great for appetizers

Frames- for signage photos, and great for party theme art

Linens and napkins

Chargers

Details that make a difference

Bubble machine $20 a fun detail & impact for entry, especially for pearls and Prosecco theme.. (cute for wedding Bride & groom exit)

Ribbon

Lighting

Invites & Signage

place cards

food signage

linen napkins and napkin rings

Music-Play list that goes with your theme.

Shopping resources:

Etsy

Amazon

Homegoods

Target

Dollar store

Walmart

Micheals

Zurchers Party store

Rentals

Photo wall backdrop Idea:

A great way to save money is to create your Photowall; I used the items below to make one for this event.

I have a white ruffle shower curtain with gold sequin fabric. Years ago, I purchased a photo backdrop stand and got my money’s worth out of it. I’ve used it for Birthday parties, events, school dances, etc. I own this one HERE.

White, clear & pearl balloons & Gold confetti Balloons to create a balloon feature (I purchased an electric balloon pump) are affordable, and you can use them repeatedly. Purchase it HERE

Strings of pearls mixed in with the balloons.

: Pearl earrings in Champagne bottles

: The tags to match the invites

: Assembly

Party Favors

The Party favors were a pair of Pearl earrings in mini champagne bottles. I purchased the pearl earrings in bulk, hand-punched the earring cards with a scallop paper punch and heavy card stock, and pierced the holes to place the earrings on the card. I added metallic grass to look like champagne placed in bottles and tied with the tag.

Flowers

Tip: You can save a ton of money if you create your flower arrangements or get help from a friend who can. Another huge money saver is purchasing flowers from Trader Joe’s or Costco. They have great flowers at excellent prices. If you live near a flower mart, that is another beautiful option.

What I used:

All white flowers, Hydrendyas, roses, camimile

Lots of Baby’s breath

I planned this spring when I planted all the pots for our decks, porches, and entryways and potted them with all-white flowers to match the bridal shower theme. Thinking ahead and filling all of our potted plants to match really help

Entertaining

I genuinely love it… the planning, preparation, creating… DIY, shopping, Etc. But it’s a massive amount of work and many long days and nights. Prepping ahead of time makes a huge difference. The more you can do and set up before the event day, the better and easier it will be for you. I have a great list of things you can do before the event and more tips HERE.

Quotes I love

“People will forget what you said. They will forget what you did. But they will never forget how you made them feel.”

Maya Angelou

“Quality is never an accident. It is always the result of an intelligent effort.”

“Hospitality is simply an opportunity to show love and care.”

Live life stylishly and look good at any age.

Thank you for stopping by.

💕Remember, Wearing a smile is your most important accessory!

Have a beautiful rest of the week, and thank you for stopping by and reading.

“Pearls & Prosecco Bridal Shower” If you haven’t signed up for my weekly newsletter, you can do that HERE.

This Post may contain an affiliate link. All opinions are my own. I only promote brands that I genuinely love and believe in! Thank you for the support!

You might also enjoy the following:

Easy Berry Lemon Tart Recipe

Halloween Decor and Party Ideas

Patriotic Lime & Berry Spritzer Recipe

Hello Pretty Ladies,

Are you Cheering on the USA? Today, I share a fun and easy Patriotic Lime & Berry Spritzer. Make it a cocktail or mocktail..either way, it’s festive and yummy. Perfect if you’re throwing a closing ceremony party

I hope you had a great July! It went way too fast, with the 4th of July, Our Son’s Birthday, a couples getaway, and a girls’ trip! We’re in wedding month; our oldest gets married on the 24th. I can’t believe how fast a year went by. Exciting times and a month ahead!

Summer does need to slow down.

Today’s little catch-up

The Nordstrom sale ends TODAY. I shared my picks on several prior blog posts; most are still available or have been restocked! So, many get items to grab at deep discounts. This is where I shared my favorite things: What I purchased, a couple of great things to pick up that you rarely find on sale HERE, and a few fun surprises. These blog posts are dedicated to helping you out if you’re interested in shopping the sale, and my LTK shop Nordstrom collection tab is shared HERE.

August is back-to-school for many, and several are trying to get in the last of their summer vacations. I’ve been sharing outfit inspirations for teachers and vacations in my shop.LTK is linked below. Subscribe to post notifications, and you won’t miss a thing.

It’s Sunday, which means Sunday dinners, and tonight, we’re having Grilled Steak and veggies, Pom fritz, Fresh fruit, and Homemade Rolls. I’m sharing a recipe for one of my favorite salads and a few things you could have missed. Watch my video HERE.

*Make sure to tune in on Instagram and the blog this week. I have some fun things to share

Thank you so much for being here! OX

Shop my Outfit Below:

Cheering on the USA Cocktail Idea

I’m sharing a fun and easy Patriotic Lime & Berry Spritzer. Make it a cocktail or mocktail—either way, it’s festive and yummy. It’s perfect if you’re throwing a closing ceremony party. Something I love about this cocktail is the fruit-filled ice cubes; they are complete and pretty, making cocktails easy. Adding flavor to your ice cubes takes away work later, and you can make several cocktails at a time.

Recipe:

Raspberries

Blueberries

Mint

Limeade (I like Trader Joe’s sparkling limeade)

Raspberry sparkling water

White rum

You’ll need larger ice cube trays; I like the round citrus-shaped ones, an Amazon find I use often. Grab them HERE

Making the Ice Cubes: Fill the trays with raspberries, blueberries, and a mint sprig, then top off with raspberry sparkling water and freeze.

Creating the cocktail:

Place 1 or 2 ice cubes in your glass, add a shot of rum if making a cocktail, pour limeade over, and stir.

(If you don’t like your cocktails very sweet, use 1/2 limeade and 1/2 Raspberry sparkling water) It’s that easy

To make it a mocktail, add ice cubes and limeade.

If you don’t have Trader Joe’s sparkling limeade, use regular limeade in the freezer section, make it as directed, and then add sparkling water.

💕Remember, Wearing a smile is your most important accessory!

Thank you for stopping by.

Thank you for stopping by and reading. “Easy Berry Lemon Tart Recipe”

You can do that here if you haven’t signed up for my weekly newsletter.

This post may contain affiliate links. All opinions are my own. I only promote brands that I genuinely love and believe in! Thank you for the support!

Easy Springtime Appetizer: Tulip Baguette Bites

Hello Pretty Ladies,

Happy Easter! I hope you’re having a day full of God’s blessing and the love of your family.

Today, I am sharing a recipe perfect for any springtime entertaining. Easy Springtime Appetizer: Tulip Baguette Bites are easy to make, look like spring, and are tasty. They’ll be a hit at your next springtime party, Bridal shower, or Mother’s Day.

I have a how-to video HERE if you would like a visual.

🌷Easy Appetizer 🌷

Tulip Baguette Bites

A perfect Springtime appetizer you can make for Easter, Mother’s Day, or any Springtime entertaining.

Recipe:

-French Baguette sliced

-Cherry tomatoes

-Chives

-Basil leaves

-Spreadable Cream cheese or Boursin garlic & fine Herb Gournay cheese (I use Boursin)

Prep: slice bread, cut chives to stem size, cut Basil into small leaves, cut tomatoes in 1/2, cut off tops to square up, and cut little lines into the tomato to create the tulip ….

How to Assemble:

– Spread cheese onto bread

– Add two chive stems

-Add basil leaves

– Place one yellow and one red cherry tomatoes on the stem

Arrange on a platter and serve.

Thank you for stopping by.

Are you cooking brunch or dinner or headed out? I would love to know in the comments below.

May you have a beautiful Easter Sunday full of God’s love and blessings✝️🙏🏻 and a great rest of the week. Thank you for stopping by and reading. “Easy Springtime Appetizer: Tulip Baguette Bites”

You can do that here if you haven’t signed up for my weekly

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Easter Table for Two

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THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AN AFFILIATE LINK. ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN. I ONLY PROMOTE BRANDS THAT I GENUINELY LOVE AND BELIEVE IN! THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT!

Easter Table Setting For Two

Hello Pretty Ladies,

A little Easter Table Setting For Two on our (Kitchen island) … Perfect for Easter Breakfast or Brunch! I had a little fun creating a small table setting; wouldn’t this be fun for the kids or grandkids, too? 🍽🐇🥕🌸🌿

Of course, this little tablescape for two would be easy to adapt for a place setting of four, six, eight, or whatever number you might be hosting. All you would need to do is keep adding in the place settings for the proper number of attendees.

As you can see, I love adding layers and textures to interest you. One of my best tips is to use what you have. See what you might already own with a similar feel or color pallet. You can always add a couple of affordable purchases to create a similar feel.

I hope you enjoy this little Easter Table inspiration.

Why a Festive Table For Two

I know midlife can have you sharing your family, and some of you have shared that you only host Holidays every other year. This doesn’t mean you can’t have a festive table setting for you and your hubby. Creating a festive little Easter table setting doesn’t take much time, and you can use what you have.

Because it’s just the two of you, if you wanted to pick up little egg holders like I did or grab a couple of festive easter mugs or plates, you’re only purchasing two, which makes shopping affordable. I picked up these little gold eggs and bunny egg cups at Target’s dollar spot.

: Plates layered on chargers and a round placemats

: pretty silverware and layered napkins

: Bunny egg holders from Target.

Where to Shop & Use What You Have

I found some adorable things at Target Dollar Spot, Amazon, the Dollar Store, and Hobby Lobby. To complement my Great-Nana’s pink dishes and my goblets from Anthropologie. My Silverware is something I picked up years ago, and I adore it. I’ve linked something similar HERE for you.

Add texture and Layers.

Adding texture and layers is easy. Mixing metals, glassware, and fabrics gives texture. Layer your place setting by using a placemat and a charger, and then your place settings add texture and interest. Tip: You don’t have placemats? Use a napkin or a handkerchief, even scraps of fabric. If you don’t have a charger, use a large dinner plate from a different place setting collection.

Usually, I cook a big Easter dinner for All the boys and their friends, so a place setting for two might be appropriate for Ben and me to enjoy a little coffee and pastry before church. Or a great idea for a special little treat shared with the grandkids.

Creating a Center Piece

A great way to create an easy Center Piece is to use a long wooden dough bowl or a tray. If you have little collections of Rabbits or Easter items, you can create layers within that bowl or tray, which acts as an anchor. A good rule to remember is to work in odd numbers when creating vignettes and remember to have space between the collections /Vignettes. Also, remember to add height to your collections; don’t have all your items be the same size.

I always have fresh flowers in our home, and if you’re not good at arranging them, a cheap and easy way to incorporate flowers in your displays is to use baby’s breath. It’s inexpensive; you just cut them at the same length to give that bushel effect. It’s pretty and easy to do.

One of my favorite quotes

“I believe in Christ like I believe in the sun—not because I can see it, but by it, I can see everything else.” —C.S. Lewis.

Easter Recipes

Here are a few of my Favorite Easter Recipes, which my family loves. My scallop potato recipe is a great Easter side paired with Ham. This Brussels Sprouts and Asparagus dish is another great side for brunch or dinner. They’ll love eating their veggies. As for dessert, my Easy Strawberry Shortcake is always a hit and tastes like Spring. Finally, here’s my secret recipe for the BEST Carrot cake.

Shop the Post Here:

The Bunny plates are on sale for 54% off for the set of 4 and will arrive on Friday in time for Easter.

For a special treat …. I have joined 3 of my Girlfriends for a Blog hop and would love for you to head over to their blogs for some Spring inspiration.

BLOG HOP⬇️

Dawn With @partytildawn on Instagram and her Blog Party Til Dawn

Suzanne With @crazyblondelifeblog and her Blog Crazy Blonde Life Blog

Cindy With @lululoves7_and her Blog Lulu Loves 7

Thank you for stopping by.

Are you cooking brunch or dinner or headed out? I would love to know in the comments below.

May you have a beautiful Easter Sunday full of God’s love and blessings✝️🙏🏻 and a great rest of the week. Thank you for stopping by and reading.“ Easter Table Setting For Two”

If you haven’t signed up for my weekly , you can do that

You might also enjoy the following:

The Best Carrot Cake Recipe

Easter Baskets for the Men in Your Life

FRIDAY Top Sellers, Hostess Ideas, AND WEEKEND SALES #14

Happy Friday pretty ladies,

This week was a whirlwind Over here. Between all the sales and content creating, family life, and trying to get several of my Holiday client’s homes decorated (the first year ever that all my clients wanted homes decorated for Christmas before Thanksgiving.)

I think the trend of enjoying the season longer has really hit home for so many. It’s a lot of work and such a joyful season for most, I truly understand enjoying it for longer.

Hope you enjoy this week’s FRIDAY Top Sellers, Hostess Ideas, AND WEEKEND SALES #14

This season MUST HAVE Gifts, Top Sellers

Faux leather fleece-lined Spanx leggings
Amazon Bestselling sweater– comes in several colors Now 33% off = $39.99
Volcano Capri candle– Makes a great gift for a candle lover
Buttery soft blanket– Dupe for Barefoot Dreams
Colleen Rothschild Hand cream– Hands down the BEST hand cream!
Colleen Rothschild Butter Lip Mask– Truly the Cream of the crop Lip Mask
Stanley Cup– 40oz Tumbler A must-have cup for a liquid lover.
Ugg Platform mini boot– Sherpa boot and I also linked the BEST DUPE

5 items I own that I’ve been wearing or using multiple times this week!!

–Pumpkin pie pan and serving dish! I love sitting on my stove and storing a pie! Perfect for the season🎃🍂 24.99 They have the Pumpkin oven-safe casserole pan too and have enjoyed it sitting on my stovetop all season long.

–Steve Madden cap-toe ballet flats with a little bow. 3 fall trends in one. Cap toe, ballet flat, and bows true to size and comfortable! Wear with straight leg, cropped pants joggers, and cargos! Cute with skirts and dresses too!

–Gold bead hoops, by Lisi Lurch, are lightweight and won’t tarnish perfect for daily wear. Makes a great gift at $44 and something that’s been on my Bestsellers list week after week.

–Meg-cropped wide-leg denim comes in 3 washes and 3 colors for $99 and is such great denim. TTS and so cute year-round. I wear a couple of times a week so very easy to style. Wear with sweaters and booties, wear with sandals and tees/tanks, or perfect with a blazer and ballet flats,

This is how I styled the Meg Jean & hoops yesterday.

: Leather jacket| Fair isle sweater| Meg cropped Jean| | Chelsea boot| Ball hoops

: Leather jacket| Fair isle sweater| Meg jeans | Chelsea boot

Shop the photo below:

Hostess Gift Ideas

Not hosting Thanksgiving this year and headed to a friend or family member? Here are a couple of my favorite hostess gifts to give.

-Meyers counters spray, dish soap, and hand soap with a couple of holiday dish towels (I give the winter pine IOWA scent and these dish towels) since they more than likely be decorating for the Holidays right after.

–Beautiful Paper plates and napkins in a pretty festive vibe without stating a holiday theme. (The host could use that day for pie/desserts, but if she already had Thanksgiving paper goods) she could easily use for Christmas or New Year’s entertainment. I like these HERE and HERE

If your host serves alcohol, a nice bottle or two for wine or bubbly is nice. I also like to accompany a bottle with a Bottle chiller or champagne bucket or one of my favorite things a champagne saver/topper I love a good Prosecco but if I only want a glass, this keeps it bubbly for days.

|Sales Happening this Weekend|

(Tap the store name to shop)

ANTHROPOLOGIE -40% off select furniture and home

Banana Republic Factory

50% off everything with an extra 15% off

Caraway– up to 20% sitewide. Best Pans and bake wear as well as safe to cook

– BOGO on lip glosses/plumpers and Beyond mascara, mix and match use code DARCYV

Chico’s Several Styles 30% off markdowns

Colleen Rothschild – Alert *Mark your Calendar’s BIGGEST sale of the YEAR 30% off site-wide STARTS Nov.16th Code- CYBER

Dime Beauty– Purchase The Works System and receive a Free Wonderscreen (Tinted included!) + my 20% off code or link stacks!! code DARCY20 at check out (link click on Dime Beauty)

Express – 40% – 60% off everything Beat the Holiday Rush

Grandlash– 20% off sitewide + $11 steals until tomorrow, 11/12! 🛍

Gibsonlook– 30% off over 400 items using code DARCY30

J Crew factory– 50% off outerwear

J Jill– 30% off the entire site extra 40% off Sale styles

Loft– 44% off with extra 11% off

Lumineux– 20% off with my link (tap on the brand name) Best teeth whitener

Nordstrom– Fall sale with up to 50% off

New Balance– $79 select styles

Some of the Biggest sales of the Year

Serena & Lily– 25% to 70% off sale of the year

Sephora-30% off the Sephora Brand

Soma– 3 Bras for $99 several pieces on sale for $29 and Christmas Pj’s 37% off until 11/7

Social Threads– Several new Items added to the sale section

Steve Madden– More styles added to the SALE

Tula– Starting November 1st through November 15th, use my code DARCY15 for 25% off at TULA.com – PLUS free shipping with no minimums all month! You have a HUGE opportunity to save and Tula doesn’t do this often so now’s the time to stock up on holiday gifts! Plus 40% off select items

This sale offers massive savings on all of our holiday kits, stocking stuffers, and best sellers. With your code, followers can save up to 70% on products! Sale 11/1-11/15

ULTA– 30% off several brands & Black Friday deals up to 40% off weekly TODAY Free gift with a $70 purchase

Victoria Emerson– Several pieces for $20

Loft 50% off 1 style & 40% off the rest

Thank you for stopping by.

Have a beautiful rest of the week, and thank you for stopping by and reading.

“FRIDAY Top Sellers, Hostess Ideas, AND WEEKEND SALES #14″

If you haven’t signed up for my weekly , you can do that

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Creating a Chicken Nacho Bar Perfect For Entertaining

Hello Pretty ladies,

Happy Sunday! I hope your week was a great one.

Today, I am sharing a quick update from the week. A couple of fall favorites, Some great BEST SELLERS, A recipe perfect for Fall entertaining & football season “Creating a Chicken Nacho Bar”

Thank you for your support & following along. OX

Creating a Chicken Nacho Bar Perfect For Entertaining

Creating an easy Chicken Nacho Bar

Chicken Nacho Bar, Perfect for Sunday Football is kicking off and that means Sunday Dinners are taking on the fun feel of tailgating. Buffet style✔️🍁🏈 This is also a great idea for a Holloween party.

Most grocery stores have ready-made whole chickens you can pick up. Makes for easy dinners and is a great helper on Football Sundays! Serve with your favorite side dishes or Create a Chicken Nacho Bar, a tailgating style your family will love. Simply remove chicken from bone, shred it up, and serve with all the Nacho fixings. Your family will love the food, regardless of who wins the game.

What you’ll need:

Chicken

Beans Refried or black beans (I make me bean dip)

Salsa

Pico de Gallo

Guacamole

Nacho Cheese sauce

Shredded cheese

Green onions

White onions

Jalapenos

cilantro

Sour cream

Hot sauces

Tortilla Chips

These are the items my family loves to pile onto their nachos, but the ideas are endless and you can include more items your family would love as well. get creative and have fun.