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Cabbage Dreams Tablescape

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As much as I don’t want to jinx us, I feel like ol’ Phil has lost his touch… it was 70 degrees in Texas this week! And while I am doing my best to live in the here and now and to savor what each season brings, I can’t help but think of spring when the sun is shining so bright!

Now, we all know my love of cabbageware (my collection started from my brother’s Peter Rabbit baby shower)! And I have been seeing posts of Hobby Lobby’s cabbage plates (at an excellent price). Bordallo will always be the standard when it comes to cabbageware, but I love that there are more affordable options. Could these be everyday dinner plates? Absolutely! But realistically, I reach for my white, basketweave plates for every day.

Anyway, I was finally able to grab some from Hobby Lobby today! They had 4 left at my store, and I was satisfied with that. With the two Southern Living plates I have from Dillards, I now have 6 place settings. Enough for an intimate spring brunch!

For this set up, I used a mix of cabbageware from Southern Living, Hobby Lobby and Target (last season). My favorite Pottery Barn napkins, which have sadly been discontinued, made some pretty cute placemats! I love mixing patterns, à la Julia Berolzheimer. She is the master of print mixing when it comes to textiles!

As you can see, florals and Ikat prints together are my favorite way to style a table. The Ikat tones down the feminine florals just enough. You could also do a stripe, a geometric print, or a plaid. Solids and florals-on-florals tend to keep it very sweet, which does have its time and place.

I’ve gathered some links for you to make your own cabbage table! (Links not commissionable)

Hobby Lobby Plates

Southern Living Cabbage Collection

Cracker Barrel Cabbage Collection

Temp-tations Cabbage Set

Bordallo Plates

Target Pink Raddichio Mug

Target Pink Raddichio Plate

Tablecloth

Pink Napkins

Silverware

How do you feel about cabbageware? I’d love to know!

xo, Amanda

Spaghetti Western Social

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Last spring, as one of our last evens at the BSM (Baptist Student Ministry), we hosted a Spaghetti Western Social! And it is just what it sounds: spaghetti dinner, spaghetti westerns in the background, western attire and two-steppin’. It was a blast!

To set the scene, I created this invitation in Canva.

Then, I ordered some tablecloths and balloons for decor. I decided to mix red and white checkered ones on the eating tables, and denim with lace edges on the high top round tables. I planned to have those around the dancing area for a more authentic touch.

How cute are these tomatoes!! Totally on theme, right? I also grabbed a red sequin backdrop for a little glam.

Want to see how it turned out?

I fished the tomato sauce cans out of the trash for these lovely centerpieces (they were washed, I’m not a barbarian). There were so many comments on how cute these turned out.

Last minute, I called our local bakery to ask if they had a sheet cake left. When he described the cake, I said, “I’ll take it!” not realizing it was perfect. On brand, couldn’t have been better.

Did we get any other photos of just the decor? No… but we have so many fun memories from that night! Our associate director (at the time, he’s the head guy now!) did a great job getting games and playlists together.

The best game involved stacking poker chips under an opened, over-turned bottle of water. Teams raced to see who could sweep the most pokers chips out from under the bottle using a ruler without turning over the bottle and spilling out the water. There were some amazing skills showcased in this game!

And, of course, line dancing and two-stepping! Our group loves to dance (yes, we are Baptists… but that doesn’t stop us!), and they danced all night long. I loved getting to teach them some new moves, and learning the new line dances. We were worn out by the end.

This was one of Austin’s favorite events to date. I love that we got to spend that time with students, learning and dancing, and having a wonderful time.

xo, Amanda

New Arrivals (With a Bit of Nostalgia)

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Spring? Not for six more weeks (thanks, Phil). But the new arrivals hitting the shops are starting the whispers of sunshine and wildflowers. Here are several of my favorites so far! (These links are not monetized, this was a labor of love.)

GAP

The year is 2009. Remember the days filled with sheer, collared tops? I had several: bright yellow, black with white polka dots, and pink. I loved the femininity of those tops, and love that the feminine details of sheer, lightweight fabrics, pintucks and ruffles are making a comeback. The eyelet bandana is definitely in my cart!

Old Navy

It’s no secret that I am a huge fan of Old Navy’s linen pants. They usually go on sale later in the season for under $20! I love that they wash well, and there are new colors and prints each year. More of the feminine details here, I will be snagging the short sleeved button down knit top in a few colors.

Loft

Loft! There are so many button downs that, dare I say, look much like Sezane! Again, more chic details than what has been put out lately. And of course I had to add the two-in-one tank over tee moment… While others wore one (or two!) lace tanks under their Hollister tees or Lacoste polos, I was wearing a spaghetti strap over a snug, unbranded tee. Glad to see a little nod to that niche fashion choice.

Ann Taylor

Ann Taylor always has the most beautiful tops and dresses, and don’t sleep on her accessories! I’m obviously partial to blues and purples, but there are so many great orange and pink options, too!

J. Crew

J. Crew has a few new cute items. These dresses scream, “sun is coming!”

Banana Republic

I love the bold silhouettes from Banana Republic. This gingham jacket is reversible to a chocolate brown… *drool*

Sam Edelman

I know, a break from the blue… But hear me out, I have a pair similar to these woven ballet flats from J. Crew Factory and LOVE them. I wear them all the time, and I know these Sam Edelman would be better quality. So chic. Lace loafers? Um, very cool. And these slingbacks are just waiting for wedding season to ramp up.

Larroude

If you have not yet tried this brand, trust me when I say that these are the most comfortable heels I own. I am not clamoring to get them off my feet when I get home, and in fact, realize several hours later that I’m still wearing them. They have several new options for this season and I may have my eye on another pair…

Where do you all shop new arrivals? Let me know in the comments!

xo, Amanda

I’ll Have a Pink and Blue Christmas

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Red and Green? Never been my thing. But Blue and Pink? That I can get behind.

How about a little post-Christmas home tour? Are my decorations still up? I’ll let you decide. While you mull that over, I’ll show you around!

I was inspired by a mantle I saw on Pinterest . The florals mixed with greenery feels so fresh, and I happened to have some faux florals gifted from a friend that fit the style. Next year I might try to add the oranges and pinecones.

I love this nativity scene from Hobby Lobby, purchased well before I settled in to a pink and blue theme.

Our main tree, ready for more gifts. Were they wrapped on Christmas Eve? Maybe.

In. Love. With our Dining Room Tree. I love the way the Twelve Days of Christmas set looks against the wallpaper! I purchased this set from the Madisonville Christmas Company, it’s a great place to stop year round. The tree was set in a blue and white planter for a unique look. And of course, my Custom China Plate Ornaments.

Christmas should sparkle. Last year, I stumbled across a rhinestone tree at Michaels, sparking a search for others. That search led me to vintage Czech rhinestone trees. Love at first glint. I decided right then and there that I would not be a collector of Santa figurines or snowmen. No, only (fake) diamonds for me please. Austin got me the turquoise one this Christmas, and I hope to add a new tree each year!

Our Dining Room also made the perfect spot for my advent calendar!

My kitchen gingerbread village, complete with chinoiserie print background. And another rhinestone tree, of course!

I love our home at Christmas, it’s always so sad when it has to come down. But for all things there is a season, and I’ll be working to bring the same feeling of warmth throughout the remainder of winter. In fact, there is snow in the forecast for us this weekend!

Stay warm out there, wherever you are.

xo, Amanda

“It Takes a Village” Christmas Table

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Whew, Christmas came in a whirlwind! I may have just recovered from all the activities. We had the privilege of hosting some special people for a holiday meal, and I was so excited by how the table turned out!

Last year, I painted the wooden laser cut village scenes to sit on top of our built-ins in the living room. This year actually turned out pretty sparse on the decor due to emergency surgeries and hospital stays… That’s another story-all is well and on the mend. By the time I got to the village scenes, I didn’t feel like decorating any more spaces. But, serendipitously, that freed them up to be an amazing little centerpiece for our special dinner!

I’ve loved this block printed tablecloth for a while now, and snapped it up along with the LED birch trees for added drama.

I was really eager to use the etched glass chargers I found on clearance from At Home (they were a great dupe for the Terrain mercury glass chargers). And I gasped when I saw the matching napkin rings at Home Goods (almost perfect dupe for the now sold out napkin rings from West Elm)!

Since the punch was such a hit at Thanksgiving, I wanted to make another special drink or punch for this dinner. My punch bowl came with only 8 cups and I needed 10. During my hunt for extra cups (and ones that were not actual leaded glass), I noticed that Crate and Barrel’s hatch glass collection now had teacups with saucers! No lead, dishwasher safe, say less.

I wandered the aisles of Hobby Lobby looking for snowy fabric to wrap around the trees, and stumbled across the most darling place card holders that look like little evergreen trees in galvanized pots. You know how you just know something is going to work? I could literally feel the zing of creative energy when I picked them up. And at 60% off, it would have been a crime to leave them!

A star topper place card and ribbon finished it off, and voila! I just couldn’t believe my eyes when it all came together.

It truly takes a village to love on and support the churches in our area, and my husband has been blessed with the best team for the job. They are kind, generous, hard working and creative people who love their jobs and love him. It’s such a gift to watch, and I love that we got a chance to give a little of that love back.

Did you host this year? I’d love to hear about it!

xo, Amanda

Custom China Plate Christmas Ornaments

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Welcome back to another DIY Christmas post! Handmade Christmas decor just seems so much more special, don’t you think?

I saw these ornaments on Instagram and knew I had to make my own with my Old Havana dishes from Anthropologie. I decided to have two trees downstairs, since I wanted to be able to see the lights from outside. I bought another 7′ pencil tree from Michaels to put in our dining room since the space is not big enough for a slim or full sized tree.

For this project you will need:

  • 3″ Acrylic Disks (with holes makes things much easier, like these)
  • Cardstock
  • Elmer’s Clear Glue
  • Water
  • Paintbrush
  • Ornament hooks or thin metal wire
  • Ribbon, optional (3/8″ is a good width)
  • Small hole punch (optional)

Now, I tried two other ways to make these: regular paper, clear round stickers, and Mod Podge. The method I’m using for this post gets the better results. Regular paper crinkles too much. The clear stickers would only work if 1) you have a printer that can print white; or 2) you are okay with semi-transparent and also a matte finish (even on glossy stickers). Mod Podge left streaks under the acrylic, where the diluted glue did not.

Choose photos of your favorite dishes. I chose options from Anthropologie, Dillard’s, Ginori, Fortnum & Mason, Famille Rose, and Halcyon Days. I selected the images, then pasted them into a Canva document using the template for PLS819. These are the 3″ round labels, but we just want the correct sizing. Remove the background of your image, then resize to just inside the circle for the template. Follow the instructions on the first two sheets to remove the cut lines for printing, otherwise your plates will have a black outline.

Let’s get started!

Here are my plates in the template:

China Ornament CanvaDownload

Print onto cardstock and then cut out each plate. Do I wish I owned a Creative Memories Circle Cutting System? Yes, yes I do. But scissors had to suffice.

At this point, you’ll have wished you removed the plastic coating on all of the disks. If you didn’t, go ahead and do that before getting your glue ready.

Now, dilute your clear Elmer’s glue with a little water – just enough to make it easily spreadable. I used a foam paintbrush to apply the glue to the face of the plate cut out, then stuck it to the back of the acrylic disk so the image shines through the disk. Turn it over and work out any air bubbles, then set aside to dry.

After they’ve dried, poke holes in the paper through the acrylic, attach your ornament hook, then tie your ribbon in a bow at the top. Voila!

Check out how adorable these are! I love that you can customize however you want to your home. Your holiday decor should reflect you!

What other crafts are you guys making this year? Let me know in the comments!

xo, Amanda

2025 Green and Pink Thanksgiving

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The magical Dining Room Makeover has culminated into this beautiful day! You know I love to host Thanksgiving, so what better way to show her off than with a spatchcocked turkey and all the trimmings.

I scoured the internet for the perfect (and affordable, let’s be reasonable here), tablecloth to set the stage but not overshadow. When I stumble into blue and green, something comes over me. I’ve decided that this year calls for Dopamine Dressing – wearing things that make you happy! Blue and green and pink. Always. Forever.

I love a patterned tablecloth! I try, oh how I try, to love a solid. I add table runners, placemats, flowers, and still? It feels so sad. Patterned it must be. I decided on this block print beauty from Amazon. I was torn between this and the purple (more fuchsia-ish), but this felt right.

I wanted sparkle, I wanted glam! This is a debut, after all. Champagne beaded placemats. Is that a question? Not here!

I’ve been drooling over this Ikat print from Pottery Barn since it came out and was able to snag the napkins on clearance! I love the burgundy and pink as well.

Last minute, I decided to make place cards since our group grew overnight! Using Canva, I found this turkey graphic and adjusted the colors to coordinate with my table. They are such a cute, unique touch.

I wanted to use my new ivory basketweave dishes, but it was feeling flat. The moment my Old Havana plate hit the table, all hopes for restraint were lost. I immediately grabbed some pink gross grain ribbon to tie off the napkins and leapt with delight! Restraint? I don’t know her.

Was it relief? Was it a flood of dopamine? Was it all a dream? I don’t really care what it was, I’m just thrilled to step back and see the fruit of so much work. And I can’t wait to share it with the people I love.

In addition to smoked turkey and my usual casseroles (sweet potato and sinful potato), I added a Maple Dijon salad with butternut squash and candied pecans, homemade cultured butter, and did a punch in coupe glasses to dress up the table. It was a hit! We made a sample glass the night before to be sure it was a good choice, and Austin raved all night. Safe to say, we’ll be making more!

I hope you and yours had a blessed and happy Thanksgiving, wherever you are.

xo, Amanda

P.S. Tutorial for these custom china plate ornaments coming soon!

Dining Room Makeover: The Reveal!

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We have finally crossed the finish line! Months of dreaming and working and creating are finally paying off. That being said, is a room every truly finished? According to Austin, yes. According to the rest of the world? We’ll see.

You know Mr. Darcy had to have a cameo in this reveal. I love the extra something the velvet ribbon added to this lampshade. It was missing something pink in this corner, and this was an easy project to finish it all off.

I love Alexis Walter Art, and was finally able to snag some prints. I took them to Hobby Lobby to be framed in these gorgeous burl wood frames.

Such a fun project. Hope you enjoyed following along!

xo, Amanda

Dining Room Makeover: Soft Furnishings

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Finally! The wait for fabric and drapes is over.

First up, the drapes! I bought them from Neutral, an online shop that makes custom sized curtains. I was searching all over for affordable (but not cheap or requiring hemming), aqua-ish, silk drapes. Preferably pinch pleated and 50ish inches wide.

I found the perfect hue in the Rina Premium Silk Drapes in Cyan. I was torn between Cyan and Light Blue, so I ordered samples of both. What arrived was two sample books: one of all the Rina Silk options and one of all their lining options. That made the decisions so much easier! Thanks, Neutral! (Not sponsored, a girl can dream.)

I ordered them on 10/14 and they arrived 10/24. I was concerned due to recent customs issues, but they had no issue making the leap from China to me. They even came with adjustable hangers to hang them on the curtain rings.

Of course, I had to dress them up with this trim from Etsy. Even Austin agrees that the trim was a necessary addition to tie everything together. I sewed them on with just a straight stitch. So far, so good! Then I left them to train after steaming out the creases.

Next up, I ended up ordering the chevron fabric after all, much to Austin’s chagrin… he’s coming around, I promise :).

My original plan was slipcovers, but after several attempts and making 10 yards of piping, I gave up and grabbed my staple gun. All was well until I got to the back and had to reckon with my decisions. Thankfully, I was going to reupholster a different set of chairs once upon a time, and had bought this metal tack strip that saved the day. Thanks, past self. I love when that happens.

I attempted scallops. Did not go well.
Made an absolute ton of piping. Did not use.

When Austin got home, we worked on the back, and wouldn’t you believe that it actually worked?! I wish I could say I was less surprised but wow, could it all really be so easy? Ask me again in a year for how they’ve held up.

Whew, y’all. I can see the finish line. It’s still past five chairs, but it’s there. With three week until Thanksgiving. Tender mercies.

I’ll keep you posted!

xo, Amanda

Viral Hobby Lobby Advent Calendar

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Yes, I was influenced. But how cute are these tiny little houses?? Hurry and grab yours before they’re sold out again!

Do you celebrate Advent? We did our first advent devotional together last year and it was such a sweet time. We paired our devotion time with Fortnum & Mason’s Tea & Biscuits Sharing Advent Calendar. And while it was fun, and tasty, about halfway through we Americans were a little tired of tea… However, it left a lasting impression.

We decided to divide the 25 days between us, and plan little dates, activities or treats for each day. I’m so excited for some Christmas dates!

Naturally, this advent calendar would have to be done in blue, pink and green. Last year, I painted laser cut village scenes to put on top of the cabinets in our living room. This was a fun project!

You can kind of see them here, apparently I didn’t get any good photos of them on display!

I love a checkered moment, and these turned out a little Mackenzie Childs-esque.

I painted the base of each layer white, and added these number stickers to each house. Then I updated the roofs with glitter sheets from Hobby Lobby. They are on the aisle with felt sheets, not the paper section. They need to have more strength than the paper.

And then, because I didn’t appreciate my fingerprints enough, I decided to glue beads to the edges of the roofs. At first, I wanted them to be less uniform, but decided that lining them up like icicles looked the best.

I added a few more miniature brush trees and a little package for more festivity.

As others who have done this project have experienced, mine does not turn when the lights are turned on. I’ll be purchasing a rechargeable turntable from Amazon (when this hack (!) is over).

Have you made an advent calendar? I’d love to hear!

xo, Amanda