Set Your Table With Flair--A Whimsical Late Autumn Brunch or Tea

Hello, dear friends!!  For my American friends, how did you enjoy the holiday this past week?  Ours was lovely!  We had a bit of extended family over and I prepared a large meal, a throwback to what used to be our tradition pre-pandemic.  It really gives me such joy to cook for family and friends!  

When you have guests, planning a simple brunch day-after or weekend-following a holiday is a relaxing way to enjoy one another's company.  Light and simple fare after the larger eating is a great way to redeem yourself (lol)!  

Today I am sharing a fun setting that is great for a day-after-a-holiday tea, or a brunch anytime in the Autumn.  This is also a perfect setting for the final one of the Fall Season.

If you have been here before, you will know that sometimes I truly adore a masculine aesthetic.  That I am an ardent Anglophile by nature, and thus I love tweeds, houndstooths, and herringbones, preppy plaids, and the classicism of smartly-dressed individuals.  As a homage to all these things I love  obsessions, lol, I am using them as an inspiration today.  I hope you enjoy the post!

The table began with a simple topper of herringbone tweed.  Off-white plates circle the table with a mini pumpkin at each setting.  Adore these patterns!!

Each pumpkin was then joined by a birdie buddy such as this darling fella, each so smartly dressed!!

Aren't they dapper??

So. Stinking. Cute!

A centerpiece was created using a corresponding extra-large chap and a little buddy surrounded by handmade burlap acorns and mini pumpkins.

Hello, friend!

Doesn't he look studious??

A platter of biscuits is just perfect for teatime.

Mugs and matching saucers were placed at each setting.

To serve hot water for brewing a fresh cuppa, a corresponding pitcher is added to a simple creamer and a jaunty teapot (which will be used for coffee in this case), completing the trio.

I just adore, adore, adore Spode Woodlands for Autumn!  It is my favorite pattern, second only to Gien Solonge.  Sigh!!  One day.  You can view this collection here.

A goddess watches over the scene to assure everyone minds their manners.  :)

Antique gold flatware completes the setting, and it's time for tea!

Simple Centerpiece:

If tomfoolery isn't your cup of tea, you may prefer this centerpiece as a gracious alternative.  Plaid and sisal pumpkins combined with darling acorns made of burlap perfectly compliment the natutal Autumnal backdrop.

I can't wait for Christmas, can you??

Until next time, --Y

  

From my Collection:

Plaid pumpkin, Sisal pumpkins, mini pumpkins, jaunty teapot, and smartly dressed chappies, all, Target

Burlap handmade arcorns, found at a local thrift years ago

Off-white plates, Ralph Lauren Whipstitch Collection

Pitcher, mugs and saucers, all, Spode Woodland Collection, TJ Maxx, Marshall's, and HomeGoods

Cake Platter, Spode Woodland Collection, Tuesday Morning

Flatware, Vintage, American Stainless International American Flair Collection Local Antique

Simple creamer, Origin Unknown  

If you enjoy this post, please visit the archives!  You may also visit my full profile to view my other blogs. Connect with me on my Facebook Page, Parsimonious Décor Darling.   You might like to visit my other blog hubs,

The Marvelous Maison, a lifestyle blog hub and 

Frugal Fab Fashionista, my fashion blog hub. 

Thank you for stopping by! ❤

Quick Entertaining Idea for the Holiday Season, Enjoying the Fruits of My Labor

Happy Sunday, Friends!  Although we have not gathered here with my extended family for a while now, and I didn't cook a huge feast for the Thanksgiving holiday like I typically do (much smaller in scale this year), I still am a voracious foodie at heart, whether entertaining for large gatherings or not.  

A charcuterie board is a perfect crowd pleaser, especially for entertaining guests.  Even though gatherings may be sparse if you are following health officials' guidelines, you may enjoy this super-easy entertaining idea this holiday season.  

At the tail-end of the summertime, my grapevines were abundant with fruit and we had a small get-together with the immediate family to enjoy that bounty. 

Fruits of my labor:

Grapes are still available in the grocery stores, so you can definitely put together an epic charcuterie board using those or simply edit to include other fruits that are still in season.  A charcuterie board full of different types of food offers guests a plethora of choices, and can be enjoyed any time of year!  With Christmas and New Year's soon to be upon us, I thought, why not still share this idea?  

Several weeks ago in this post, I showed you how to make your own large-scale charcuterie board.  These boards are perfect for entertaining year-round!

  

For me, a great charcuterie board is the perfect balance of sweet and savory.  I also like to include something outside the box.  Consider cheeses that are not typical such as those flavored with fruit, or meats that are a little more upscale such as a great aged proscuitto.  Chilled grapes compliment cheese and meat perfectly, but you may also consider berries like strawberries and blueberries which are also still available in stores currently.  

On my board, I also included homemade dolmas (stuffed grape leaves).  This Mediterranean classic is a perfect addition to a great charcuterie board.  I made mine from scratch using self-preserved grape leaves right off of my grapevines.  To view the recipe, you may see the post here on my blog Parsimonious Pabulum.  There is also a video.

  

Add all the yummy elements and add a garnish such as a grapevine as I’ve done, or even flowers!!

There you have it!

A simple entertaining idea anyone can put together in about ten minutes' time, and an absolute no-brainer.

You can see me put it all together here.  Please be sure to be in full website viewing mode rather than mobile or you may not see the link:

I hope you have had a wonderful and restful weekend!

If you enjoy this post, please visit the archives!  You may also visit my full profile to view my other blogs. Connect with me on my Facebook Page, Parsimonious Décor Darling.   You might like to visit my other blog hubs,

The Marvelous Maison, a lifestyle blog hub and 

Frugal Fab Fashionista, my fashion blog hub. 

Follow me on Pinterest!!  Please be sure to kindly follow the board guidelines!  Thank you!  

Thank you for stopping by! ❤

Easy DIY Charcuterie Board/Pizza Peel

Hello, Dear Friends!!

How are you all acclimating to a Summertime pandemic-wrought?  I hope you are faring well.  We have been trying to play it safe here, especially because Mr. Parsimonious works in the medical field.


I don't know why, but the Summer months often make me think of the Mediterranean countryside.  Perhaps it has to do with the fervent weather.  My palate also craves a lighter menu this time of year.  Two of my favorite things to eat this time of year are wood-fired pizzas and beautiful nibbles presented on a charcuterie board.

Charcuterie is the French art of preparing different types of meats that are often sold in a delicatessen.  A huge board for presenting these delightful noshes is a perfect addition any entertainer, epicurist, or chef-aspirant's paraphernalia, but the board can also be utilized as a board to slide pizzas into a fire-brick oven.

In today's post, I am sharing a simple tutorial of how I made an extra-large presentation board perfect for the dual uses of charcuterie presentation and as a pizza peel (paddle).  I hope you enjoy the post!


You will need a large plank of wood.  I chose a beautiful African Mahogany.  I really loved the gorgeous grain of the wood.  I bought my plank from the Home Depot.

I began by roughly sketching (very rough, lol!!) a drawing of my handle.  I wanted my board to be quite large, so I kept the wood at the 3-foot size as purchased and didn't cut any away, save for the handle.

I cut the template using a jigsaw, carefully following the lines.



Next, I cut out a hole that will be used for hanging the completed piece on a wall.  To cut out the hole, I drew an approximate area where I wanted it to land, and then


cut it out using a drill fitted with a Forstner wood-boring drill bit.



A closer look.



Next, I used an oscillating spindle sander to smooth out all those edges.  An oscillating sander works very well for sanding out curves.



Finally, I used a sheet (finishing) sander fitted with sandpaper of varying grits to complete the board, removing any flaws and/or remaining pencil marks.  I began with papers of coarser grits, continuing to decrease the roughness of the paper with each sanding succession until the final sanding, for which I used a very fine grit paper.  As you sand, be sure to sand in the same direction of the wood grain.

To seal the wood, I used a mineral oil I found at Ikea.  You can likely find cutting board wood oil at any hardware store, or even on Amazon.  Just be sure that it is a food-grade or food-safe oil.  You may also opt to add a layer of all-natural bees wax to the wood as well as an additional sealant.  The same rule applies; be sure it is food-safe!!

Just use a very clean, soft dry cloth and wipe the mineral oil on the board until all of the wood is covered.  The mineral oil will absorb into the wood and act as a barrier between the raw wood and your food.  It will also protect the wood.  Be sure to repeat this process after every few uses.

Completed board.

Handle Detail.

I can't wait to use it!!  Please stay tuned, I will be sharing some special treats soon!

If you have enjoyed this tutorial, you may pin it here:

Or, if you prefer, here:

Until next we meet,

-Y

If you enjoy this post, please visit the archives!  You may also visit my full profile to view my other blogs. Connect with me on my Facebook Page, Parsimonious Décor Darling.   You might like to visit my other blog hubs,

The Marvelous Maison, a lifestyle blog hub and 

Frugal Fab Fashionista, my fashion blog hub. 

Follow me on Pinterest!!  Please be sure to kindly follow the board guidelines!  Thank you!  

Thank you for stopping by! ❤

Adding the Final Touches for Independence Day

Hello, Friends out there in the Bloggersphere and beyond! 

During these uncertain and contentious times, I truly like to reflect and remember what is important.  Even though our country is rife with dissension, social and civic unrest, and an ever-growing pandemic, I still love this land.  I still care greatly for our country and my fellow countrymen; I am by definition, a patriot who holds on to the belief that we are evolving closer to the tenets upon which this great nation was founded.  It will take work, for certain, but I truly believe (not naïvely) that we will eventually get there.  Independence Day is just a short time away, so I thought I would share a few last-minute ideas that can be incorporated into your celebration with ease.  I hope you enjoy the post!

Decorating the Front Doors

Nothing for me screams Summertime like nautical flair.  I made these adorable door hangers, and they took no time at all.  They combine the whimsy of Summer fun, and of course, proudly display the red, white, and blue!

To make these you will need:

Red faux flowers

Nautical-style oversized beach tote(s)

Miniature versions of "Old Glory"

Paper towels

Red Ribbon

I began by wadding up the paper towels

and placing them inside the beach totes

until the tote is able to stand up on its own.

I then added the red flowers and the mini flags.

Shown here.

Each tote was attached to the iron on my doors by adding a bit of red ribbon.

I originally placed the flags inside the bags, but I found that threading them through the grommets of the tote held them in place much better.

The completed look.

Left.

Right.

So fun, and so SIMPLE!





Sweet Nuances

I wanted to continue with the nautical theme, so at the backyard cottage,

right next to the flowerbox, a new flag is displayed.  I usually change the flags to match the season, and when I saw this one at Lowe's, I knew it was perfect for this year's theme.




Isn't Mr. Schnauzer too cute snappily outfitted in red, white, and blue sailing regalia!?  Love him!





Setting the Table with Flair

No celebration for me is complete unless it includes delicious treats and a lovely setting to eat them on.  This Independence Day will be no exception.


A no-fuss, no-muss setting in the garden is perfect for a lazy Summer afternoon.





I began the setting with vibrant crimson charger plates placed on a background of crisp white linen


followed by simple white plates.

Cobalt blue stemware for summery sips

are complimented by crimson teacups

and a grand blue bowl full of patriotic charm.

Close up.

Charming little saucers dance merrily

with crisp blue-and-white linens, completing the table setting.

Completed tablescape.




The napkins are easily set aside to place dainty mini Charlotte Russes for guests...strawberry adorned with red ribbon,

and blueberry adorned with blue, of course!

The pièce de résistance??  Blueberry and Strawberry Charlotte.  A Charlotte Russe makes the perfect Summertime dessert.  So light yet so decadent...

and such a pretty presentation adorned with patriotic ribbon!  View of the reverse side.

I hope all is well with each of you and your families.  Please let us remember to be kind and to treat others with respect.  I love the golden rule, it never loses its meaning.  Treat others as you wish to be treated, and God Bless the United States of America!


Until next we meet,


Y



Door Hangers
Totes, Ribbon, and Flags, The 99¢ Store
Red Carnations, The Dollar Tree

Tablescape Elements

Crimson Chargers, generic
White Plates, Ralph Lauren Club Collection
Striped saucers, Kate Spade for Lenox
Crimson teacups, antique

Blue goblets, Libbey Teardrop Cobalt
Bowl for centerpiece, Ralph Lauren Somerset Island Collection
Navy and white napkins, Tai-Pan Trading
White French linen tablecloth, Amazon
Silver plated cake plate, Godinger
Faux white roses, Tai Pan Trading
Faux red carnations, The Dollar Tree
Mini flags, The 99¢ Store

If you enjoy this post, please visit the archives!  You may also visit my full profile to view my other blogs. Connect with me on my Facebook Page, Parsimonious Décor Darling.   You might like to visit my other blog hubs,  

The Marvelous Maison, a lifestyle blog hub and 

Frugal Fab Fashionista, my fashion blog hub. 

Follow me on Pinterest!!  Please be sure to kindly follow the board guidelines, as it takes time and effort to find fabulous pins across the Internet and Pinterest!  Thank you!  

Thank you for stopping by! ❤