Chalkcloth Tabletop

I am so done with rectangular placemats on my round kitchen table.  It drives me nuts.  Just NUTS.  But a standard issue round tablecloth is a no-go either with my two jumping bean boys who would most certainly rip the thing off, dinner plates included, the first minute I put in on. But a chalkcloth tabletop?  I could get behind that.

Spotted two weeks ago on one of my daily reads -- Sweet Sweet Life -- I haven't been able to get the image out of my head.  Amy just bought some yardage from a local Etsy seller and cut it to size. 

Voila!  Table covering and kid distraction all rolled into one. 

Image credits: Amy Hanson of Sweet Sweet Life

I heart Fred.

We gave these to my stepmom for Christmas.  Aren't they great?  I almost kept them for myself, but decided that would be so un-Christmasy.

I've seen the clever products from Fred&Friends for many years, but this was the first time I bought.  I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Image credit: M-Cups from Fred&Friends (I got mine -- er, my stepmom's -- locally at Paper Source)

iittala Taika Dinnerware

Last year I was out with three of my best girlfriends, cruising Beacon Hill, pretending to be Ladies Who Lunch instead of Ladies Who Make Lunch, when I spotted this gorgeous iittala pattern, Taika, at one of my favorite shops.  I scooped up a mug immediately and have fantasized since then about owning service for four.  Maybe for my birthday?  Just a few weeks away...

Image credits: iittala Taika Mug in white; also in red, black and blue from iittala.com; iittala Taika dinnerware from allmodern.com

Five Ideas: Holiday Tabletops

When hosting a party, I enjoy cooking (sort of), but my favorite part is creating fun, interesting and unexpected tabletops (elegant is great too, but they've gone the way of the Dodo since kids...too much pressure).  If you're hosting Thanksgiving this year, click over to Boston Mamas for some last-minute easy ideas to make your tabletop shine.  (Yep, it's true...two Boston Mamas columns in two weeks!)

What easy tabletop ideas do you have?  Share them here!

Image credit: Randy Weiner, Flickr (cool pic, don't you think?)

Putting it all in one basket

Although I try to eat veggies and fruit as much as possible, all too often our weekly produce ends up withering away in our ancient fridge "crisper" drawer.  I spotted a better way to store those fresh peaches and get a summery design kick to the countertop at my stylish friend Marianne's house this weekend.  Placing produce in a pretty basket (she got hers here) keeps it at room temperature and moving faster from kitchen to table.  How can you resist fresh strawberries staring you down?