DVF has a fab home collection!

Have you seen the new DVF home decor line?  Well - if not, check out the Bloomingdales link (HERE) for the gorgeous spread on this new home line.  

The new housewares line is BANANAS  (to the say the least) and if you have a few moments - I would definitely take a peak!

Here's a few of my favorite pieces:

On my radar... Gold Flatware

I have a set of Fire King dishes... similar to the ones below.

BUT - I always feel funny using them since my flatware is stainless steel (silver) and it throws me off with the gold rim.   I have been seeing a ton of gold flatware lately and I think its so pretty.

What do you think of gold flatware?  

Here are some of my faves:

Carlton Varney for HSN (love these!)

Crate & Barrel

Neiman Marcus

Neiman Marcus  LOVE these!!!

Oneida via Bed Bath & Beyond

Target

Bon Ton

On my radar.... a fantastic bar cart

Isn't this fab?

A rich splindled bar cart. The perfect piece for entertaining (or an end table)!

The Toreen's Serving Cart - Available at Overstock.com

Vintage inspired glassware

I love beautiful glasswares, especially high-balls and tumblers in vintage inspired colors.  

There really are some great options to choose from. 

16 oz Bangle Tumblers from Pier 1.  My glasses are from Pier 1 and I love them (different style though) .  If you are looking for glasses I'd hit up Pier 1 first, they have great options.

Anthropologie - $8

Hobnail glasses - Anthropologie $10

7 pc set Macys.com $24.99

World Market $11.96 for set of 4

Pier1.com 

Villeroy & Boch @ Macys.com $14.50 each

Villeroy & Boch @ Macys.com 

EASY Entertaining: Putting together a cheese board

I am known for the impromptu little get togethers at my house... it may be two friends, it could be six...

BUT - whom ever it is, or for what.... it's a celebration to me!

So, last week was Hanukkah and on the short notice, two of my best friends came over and here's what I whipped up real quick!

An easy cheese board

- I like a variety of cheeses with different flavors and textures: sharp cheddar, brie, smokey gouda, and Jarlesburg (the Jarlesburg was the favorite of the evening)

- I also like to mix in fruit, so 1 package of blackberries, two apples cut, and a bunch of grapes.

-The entire plate cost $27 at the market, which for fast entertaining I think is great!

(For 3 girls, this was pretty much dinner, and some cupcakes but that's not the point!)

I then laid out a vintage table cloth, brought out the Vera linen napkins and wooden block napkin rings and a simple little party was made.

** The plate used for serving is vintage Fire King.

Get the look: Setting your table

I think it is so fun to set a beautiful table for guests and friends for any occasion. I recently was in a Pier 1 and came across some beautiful turquoise with gold trim cloth napkins, and then I saw them used in the image below, and thought they looked even more spectacular! Here's where to get the look:

image via Dear Designers

Napkins from Pier 1 $4.95 each

Available at Etsy.com/ohmygoods $25 for set of 4

Napkin rings available at Elements Chicago $15 each

Setting your holiday table... budget friendly.

Whenever I have my girlfriends over for drinks, cheese board night, dinner... I always set my table.  It's silly, but I have a drawer in my living room with table linens and vintage fabrics that I feel its a waste if I don't bring it out!

For holiday entertaining, I am not the biggest fan of specific "Christmas" or "Hanukkah" wares as that means you only get to use it once throughout the year.  A great idea is to buy table linens that will work for other occasions, that you can jazz up according to the festivity.  For instance, you can make something feel more wintery by the floral arrangements or the place setting you use.  It's really all about how you accessorize it!

Here are my favorites from World Market.

2 great holiday decor ideas

I love this time of year!  Holiday decor is so fabulous!  

Here are two super easy ideas to dress up your holiday table and your home.

 I'd love to hear the creative home decorating you are doing this holiday season!

 This is too cute and super easy.  Don't have fancy napkin rings - make some!  I definitely don't like cheesy-craft-it-yourself projects, but this is darling.  Just string 2 small ornaments on a thread and tie around a napkin.  Easy!!

image via Deliciously Organized

 I love this simple idea.  

Take multiple strands of ribbon and string a few ornament bells onto it and then hang on your doors.  

It's such a fab idea and every time you open and close the door you will hear sweet chimes. 

image via Real Simple

Vintage Gift Giving and a helpful little guide!

Going vintage can be a great gift idea, but can also be a challenge.  

So many things that we see at Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters, Jonathan Adler, Burke Decor, even Home Goods are inspired by vintage finds. 

I think its way cool to give someone the original instead of the copy. 

Here are a few tips when gift giving vintage:

1. Know your recipient - If they aren't going to appreciate it, pass on the vintage idea all together and just head over to Anthro.  Or if you know someone who loves chess and you come across an amazing vintage chess set - this could be a "WOW" gift! Find out someone's passion and go from there! Ya never know what you will come across.

2. Whatever you do purchase - make sure that it is in pristine condition - Chipped glass or ripped linens are not good gift ideas. Ever. (Unless your recipient is into the shabby chic look or its signed by Elvis or The Temptations... pass!)

3.  Know a little something about what you're giving (if possible).  It would be so nice to include a notecard with a small description about the item.  If its Vera linens, Culver Glass, a fabulous find at your favorite vintage shop... etc. 

4. Get creative with your Ebay/Etsy search words - here are a few of my favorites: Culver glass, Imperial glass, Fenton, vintage linens, vera, vintage tray, Candlewick, gold bamboo, vintage glasses, vintage owl (yep! that's what it says).

5. Wrap it carefully and beautifully. - If you are shipping your item, make sure to wrap it properly either in bubble wrap or acid free paper (for linens). Also - vintage pieces are special items - so I'd definitely wrap them with neat paper and a beautiful bow (black and white newspaper print and a red grosgrain ribbon always looks sharp!).  

Grouping of 12 vintage linen tea towels.  A fabulous hostess gift.  Find it Here on Ebay.

Vintage gold bamboo magazine rack via Ebay

Amazing Culver vintage glasses (set of 4) from Ebay 

Turquoise Imperial Glass votive holders. Get it here: Ebay
Urban Outfitters has copies of these candle holders in stock all the time. 

Pink and gold serving piece set.  Would be great for a girly-girl - jewelry holder... From here on Ebay

Vintage set of 8 napkins Get it Here on Ebay Another fab hostess gift!

For the home decor enthusiast these are unreal. Available at Etsy - Here.

A great thing about vintage is that many of times, the prices are incredible.  For instance, this bracelet is  $10, where you can by brand new copies of this for $88 at Henri Bendel.   So its not always the amount you spend, but what you search for. Available here at Etsy

Awesome vintage pair of gold bamboo picture frames. Available here @ Etsy.  

Set of 6 Culver glasses (can you tell I like Culver....) available at Etsy - here

Be careful when buying framed art for someone - but if you absolutely know they will love it - then go for it.
Available at Etsy - here

Set of 8 vintage Vera coasters get it here on ebay I absolutely love these.  Vera has a new coffee table book that looks awesome.  Check it out HERE.

Vintage Costume Jewelry Bracelet from Ebay here.

Another set of vintage Culver glasses from ebay, here

Set of 6 glass grape cluster dishes.  Really cute for entertaining. From Etsy - HERE