Spring Entertaining

March 29, 2013 julie

One of the things I’m most excited about having a beautifully remodeled home is being able to have friends and family over for holidays, random parties, game nights, etc. Between Passover and Easter, it seems like everyone in the office is entertaining this week. Between all the workplace chatter and the overwhelming number of blogs about spring tablescapes- I thought I’d put together a quick rundown of my favorite ideas for entertaining this month…

Yeah, I’m a sucker for burlap. OK, any relatives reading this I’m going to let you in on my plan for this Sunday. I’m planning a coup! That’s right! It’s time to pass the torch to future generations. (I hope you read that last sentence in an awesome JFK accent!) I want a holiday and I want Easter! I’m planning on bribing my Aunt this weekend with a hostess gift and letting her know- her time is up! In so many words of course. Here’s my Easter brunch ideas for 2014.

A beautiful natural & rustic tablescape.

Yummy pastel macaroons.

Colorful Cocktails!

Now, I love the idea of tradition but can’t we retire the damn Honey Baked Ham? Martha Stewart wrote in her book Martha’s Entertaining, that she never cooks the same meal just because it’s the same holiday. Granted the turkey is unavoidable on Thanksgiving and in our family Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without Harry & David red pepper relish, but I do love the idea of trying new dishes. Here are some fantastic looking brunch recipes.

1. Mini Mushroom & Sausage (I’d use SOY-sage) Quiches | 2. Asparagus with Creamy Mustard Sauce | 3. Roasted Potatoes with Oregano & Lemon

And lastly, the best tip I ever learned for entertaining. When hosting a large dinner party or a formal meal like a Passover Seder and paper plates won’t due- save yourself (and your dishwasher!) and rent your china from a party rental supply service. They deliver clean plates, flatware, whatever you need. When your guests have left, they pick up the dirty plates. No need to even flick off the old food! I became real familiar with these party rental places when I planned events for a radio station and coordinated company parties but they’re available to anyone and have so much to offer. So trust me- take advantage!

High Hopes with Higher Temps

March 28, 2013 julie

It sure is warming up here! Like total heatwave – high 40s and mid 50s – wooo hooo! Break out the cutoffs and tube tops party people!

But seriously- I needed this dose of Spring. It’s given me renewed hope that we’re so close to getting in the house and starting construction and therefore so close to getting Jared and I back in our own home with our own routine.

This past weekend brought us visitors from Richmond. Our friends Jon and Alexis took us to lunch and a lovely little winery in New Hampshire. On Sunday, we drove them by our new home and took them to dinner at our local seafood stop.

It’s a very odd adjustment for me being in my childhood hometown but in my adult life with my husband. It’s a much more difficult transition than I imagined it would be. But luckily I have an understanding hubby that always gets me through. Plus every time I glance up from wherever I am in town and see the ocean stretching out in front of me- I know I’m where I am supposed to be.

Catalogs Taking Over my Nightstand

March 27, 2013 julie

I subscribe to a considerable amount of magazines. Maybe over twenty? Don’t judge me- this is my business! I have to know the ins and outs of the publishing world! Plus… they’re prreeetty!

So lately I’m progressing from reading magazines to catalogs because – wait for it, wait for it – it’s almost time to buy stuff! That’s right! No more inspiration, it’s time to make decisions, and get to work. This will also be known as: the period of time where Julie and Jared just start bleeding money. Hooray!

Like the good Yuppy I am, I would love to buy everything for the house from Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware and Crate & Barrel. But alas, we’re on a budget. So instead, I’ve compiled a lovely collection of bargain catalogs and websites.

It’s hard not to mention IKEA as my numero uno since we’re dropping an amble load of dough with them for our kitchen. And I do love those crazy Scandinavians dearly but I am trying to weed out all the college/first apartment furniture and upgrade a bit. However, I still love my IKEA leather sofa and I have made up my mind on those upholstered dining chairs. Other than that, we won’t be purchasing any new pieces of furniture for a while.

One thing we do need – and we need a lot of – is lighting fixtures. Enter Shades of Light. This catalog should basically be called “Lights for Julie!” Although it probably wouldn’t be as marketable. Make a nice gift for me though, right? Anyways, there are several options we’re looking at for the kitchen, dining room, entry way, half bath, and outdoor. Take a look at two of my favorites…

Then there’s rugs, drapes, and other small decor items. Ballard Designs is another lovely catalog. I’d say a lot of it is out of the price range I’m willing to spend but there’s a lot that’s very reasonable. Plus, there’s a lot of gorgeous room ideas where the smaller decor items I’ve already found at HomeGoods! Check out these rooms…

I love these drapes from Ballard. I’m kinda anti-window treatments. I think the words themselves- “drapes” and “window treatments” just scream “old lady” but Jared refuses to let the neighbors get a sneak peak so curtains it is! I’m thinking of fabric covered shades or roman shades but these panels are simple and lovely and would complement them nicely.

These stools are just what I’ve been looking for for the kitchen peninsula but I’m hoping to find some industrial ones from a salvage shop for less. The rugs are a definite purchase from Ballard though. They are very reasonably priced and come in beautifully understated designs.

Love is Love

March 26, 2013 julie

Just wanted to break from all the serious home decor talk to make a quick statement that I can’t believe 50 years after the march for Civil Rights we still aren’t all equal.

It’s Not Easy Being Green…

March 25, 2013 julie

Occasionally there is a real clusterf#%ck of traffic on and just after the Longfellow Bridge. While I was sitting there the other day, I realized that if the city of Boston had a color scheme it would most definitely be green.

That’s not just because last weekend was St. Patrick’s day- it just that green is everywhere! It’s on all of our bridges and tunnels, the highway street signs, the weathered copper on the old brownstones, and don’t get me started on our sports teams- hello green monster! Even the modern buildings have a hint of green in their glass windows.

So here’s my little homage to my favorite color in my favorite city.