YumSugar

How-To: Build a Set of Mismatched Tableware

CasaSugar — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 06:15:29 -0800

When we're talking fine china and silver, we don't all have the luxury of having complete matching sets of dinner and serving pieces. Luckily, mixed sets can still look just as chic. Whether it's a tea set, antique silverware, or a mismatched set of dinner plates, there are a few things you can do to make building a mismatched set look purposeful, while still keeping your costs down.

First of all, in-store sales at home décor shops are a great place to find bargains on fine china and silver on pieces that don't make a full set. For instance, you might find two dinner plates at a great price, but you'll have to come up with four more to serve a party of six. You can also find great bargains at flea markets and thrift stores, but you'll have to do more sifting to find good quality pieces.

Read my essential tips for building your own set of mismatched tableware.

Thanksgiving Tablescapes

CasaSugar — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:00:25 -0800

Need inspiration for crafting your Thanksgiving table? Check out these gorgeous spreads, and then see how you might adapt these ideas to fit your holiday dinner.

View Slideshow ›

Open House: How Do You Dress Your Thanksgiving Table?

CasaSugar — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 05:30:04 -0800

When it comes to the Thanksgiving table, how you dress it is often as important to the hostess as what food sits upon it. Over the years, I've seen family members fuss over table settings, switching out placemats, rethinking china sets, and shifting floral arrangements.

I admit that I'm known to fuss over my Thanksgiving table as well. The first year that my hubby and I hosted Thanksgiving dinner for friends and family, I stayed up late into the night sewing a dozen napkins, pressing tablecloths, and arranging flowers. In the end though, it was all worth it. Not only did the food turn out wonderfully, but the table looked spectacular as well. Plus, as far as I'm concerned, deciding on color schemes and flower arrangements is all part of the fun.

So tell me, how do you dress your Thanksgiving table? Do you keep things casual? Is your feast a buffet-style affair? Or do you get formal with placecards and calligraphied names? Tell me all about it in the comments!

Source: Flickr User thedabble

Sale Alert: VivaTerra's Dining Sale

CasaSugar — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 05:30:25 -0700

From now until July 2, save on a number of eco-friendly dining items, including the plates I featured in my Ocean Waves roundup. I love the Flowered Enamel Serving Bowls ($22 to $26), as well as the Bottle Glass Tumblers ($38 to $49), which are made from cobalt-blue recycled glass. Stock up on Summer dining essentials when you shop the sale!

Have Your Dandelion Plate and Eat It Too

LilSugar — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 14:29:08 -0700

Moms panicked during the BPA scare and some of us have even opted to feed our wee ones primarily organic diets. Once the wholesome food is prepped, is there a safe way to serve it?

Dandelion ReUseable Toddler Plates ($7 per set) are made from a unique corn formula which provides a nice alternative to petroleum-laden plastic tableware. Corn is a renewable and sustainable resource which uses less fossil resources and generates fewer green house gases than plastic. The toddler-sized divided plates keep finicky eaters happy since they have barriers to keep their foods from touching each other and can be rinsed in the sink. In addition to the plates, Dandelion Toddler also makes bowls, cups and utensils to complete the set.

Guess What This Picnic Set Is Made From?

CasaSugar — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 08:30:41 -0700

While it's always best to go with reusable picnic tableware, sometimes you've got to deal with disposables. Luckily, this disposable picnic set is made from a biodegradable plant fiber. Can you tell me what the fiber is? (Hint: It's sweet indeed.)

How-To: Set a Gorgeous Thanksgiving Table

CasaSugar — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 06:15:54 -0800

This Thanksgiving, take some advice from designer Marc Blackwell to set a gorgeous and personalized holiday table. Blackwell, who designed a table for Beringer Winery at San Francisco's annual benefit for Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS, also designs very cool tableware, which you should check out after you read his tips.

Here are Marc's five tips:

Make a centerpiece from what's in your garden and refrigerator. For instance, arrange oranges among eucalyptus branches or set asparagus or artichokes in glass containers.
Mix family heirlooms and keepsakes with new things for a modern combination.

For the rest of the tips, read more.

Try mixing service styles as well. For example, have amuse-bouches waiting at the table when guests are seated, then serve the next course family style and the next plated.
Leave the wine and water on the table so guests can feel free to serve themselves.
Always have a light source on your table. Votives with individual aluminum holders are an inexpensive alternative to fancy candlesticks, and they can be arranged or scattered.

Source

Keeping Mealtime Manageable: Top Tableware

babysugar — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 13:00:12 -0700

Mealtime with munchkins may not be easy, but it can be a whole lot of fun! Moms use clever tricks to make breakfast, lunch or dinner a success and one that has worked for me is to keep the surroundings interesting. Toddler tableware may sound like an oxymoron, but with these adorable plates, bowls and silverware, your tot may be asking to sit at the table, rather than run the other way.

View Slideshow ›

Nice and New: Amy Butler Eco Giftwrap and Tableware

CasaSugar — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 15:00:51 -0700

Sometimes, when you're hosting a large party, there's little choice but to go with paper. Luckily, Amy Butler has been working with the Gift Wrap Company to come up with an ecological alternative to gift-giving and paper partyware. She has just released a new line called "Giftwrap Green," including gift wrap, bags, and gift-card boxes made from 100 percent postconsumer recycled materials, printed with her beautiful designs. In addition to the gift wrap and bags, she has also developed an ecologically-friendly line of paper tableware, "Eco Tableware," including coordinating plates, napkins, and towels. The plates and napkins are printed with 100 percent soy ink and the plates use a water-soluble coating so that they can be rinsed and recycled, too. So, whether you're going to a party (gift giving) or throwing one, you can be green and chic in Amy Butler style.

Would You Eat Bone Marrow?

YumSugar — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 16:15:03 -0700

I recently went out to dinner and found an intriguing dish on the appetizer menu: bone marrow served with little toasts. A long, skinny spoon is used to scoop the marrow out of the bone. It can be spread on the toast, or eaten alone. The flavor is surprisingly delicious and rich. It's a bit oily, but the texture is smooth. Similar to paté's flavor palate (only not so livery), bone marrow is a rare treat that I highly recommend. What do you think, could you eat bone marrow?