RE-ceiving Guests: Fourth of July Ideas

Happy Independence Day!  I have a few photos of a holiday table I set for my husband and myself a couple 4ths ago that I've been meaning to post forever.  I have also included links to four simple and cute Independence day food ideas to make your holiday extra special.   Whatever you do to celebrate, I hope you have a fun and SAFE holiday. 

Breakfast on the Beach.   My family stays on South Padre Island for summer holidays and so we will periodically pull out the patriotic ware for our meals on the patio.  Above, strawberries in a bowl bring festive flair to a simple breakfast followed by scrambled eggs and bacon.

Reba bought all the patriotic ware.  I especially enjoy using the stars & stripes flatware, place mats, napkins & plastic tumblers near Memorial Day and 4th of July holidays.    I don't know if it is cheesy or not, but both Reba & I religiously bring out lots of red, white & blue decor, clothing & food every 4th of July. 

Sea Shells & Candles. Reba bought a set of galvanized square candle holders with red stars and I placed one on the bistro table I set for breakfast.  I surrounded the candle holder with sea shells as an impromptu focal point to the tablescape.

Simply red, white & blue.  This is the table setting before I added the sea shells. It was fine, but I thought it needed a little something extra.    Someone else might have felt the sea shells cluttered a small table space.  Completely a question of personal preference. 

Americana fruit tray #1.  If I were serving a larger crowd for the 4th of July, I would definitely try out these fruit skewers in the shape of the American flag.  Source: http://chandlerandbrianne.blogspot.com/2010/07/red-white-and-blue.html

Americana fruit tray #2.  This tray also features cheese cubes for stripes. Source: http://www.thebettermom.com/2012/05/18/healthy-delicious-memorial-day-menu/

4th of July Cake.  This requires some time, but the instructions seems pretty easy to follow. Source: http://www.glorioustreats.com/2011/06/4th-of-july-flag-cake.html

White Chocolate Covered Strawberries dipped in blue sugar. Source: http://grinandbakeit.com/all-american-chocolate-covered-strawberries

WRITTEN BY ELDAROSE

You may also be interested in Reba's post about her 4th of July cake and the disaster she had the 1st time she made it HERE

RE-ceiving Guests: A Party Takes Flight

Reba hosted a wedding shower for the daughter of a family friend.  A bird theme for each china pattern was reinforced by the silver partridges as added decor and the silver quail salt and pepper shakers.  She used her Waterford Sheila crystal on this table.

Since it was going to be a nice size shower, Reba had to either use her red or blue toile plates again or mix 3 different sets of china to set all the tables.  Reba chose to try pattern mixing since it would give her a chance to use her formal wedding china (Coalport Hong Kong as seen above) which she still loves but has rarely used. Reba decided the Asian bird and floral design in the Hong Kong plates would set a common motif for the different tables. 

A second table featured Mottahedeh Tobacco Leaf china which she borrowed from our sister, Elsa. I especially like the vibrant colors in the pattern.  Reba lucked out and realized she had napkins with embroidered birds that matched the china pattern exceptionally well. Elsa found these at the Wisteria catalog outlet shop in Dallas.  She bought 12 for Reba and 12 for herself not realizing how well it would coordinate with her Tobacco Leaf china. The Sabino crystal knife rest is also a partridge.

 This china is a set our father bought while serving in Japan during the Korean conflict.  Our father was unattached while in Japan, but all the other servicemen who had wives and sweethearts were buying china sets since they were so inexpensive so our father picked this china to take back to the aunt who raised him.  When he married five years later, his aunt gifted it back to our parents.  The pattern is very simple and features a delicate bamboo and bird design.  The silver and white setting helped the design stand out. Reba borrowed sterling silver goblets from her mother-in-law to complement the silver pattern of the china. 

The common elements among the three tables were the tablecloths, the flower arrangements, the silver chargers, the silverware, and the gift boxes.

The bride-to-be was delighted with the dessert which was a miniature wedding cake with  a rose on top and their bride and grooms initials on the side. Reba ordered the miniature wedding cake tins and asked her favorite cake shop to bake the cakes.  She has used these at the last two showers. The brides-to-be have been delighted with the desserts.

CLOSE UP OF THE MINI CAKES. Reba has used the tins for quite a few bridal showers. The initials on the cakes to personalize them enough to make them special for each honoree.

For continuity among the tables, the white table cloths were topped by sheer square cloths with a silver thread design.  Also each guest received a small box of lemon tarts, brownies and pound cake all heart shaped.  I like the way the wrapping paper and ribbon played off the table square toppers.

White hydrangeas in silver Revere bowls were the centerpieces at each table.


Written by Eldarose. Reviewed by Reba.