Monday, Monday + Porches
{Image c/o Country Living}
I spent the weekend finishing up the porch project I alluded to last week. It doesn’t look quite like the darling spot above, but it does the job. What did you do?
{Image c/o Country Living}
I spent the weekend finishing up the porch project I alluded to last week. It doesn’t look quite like the darling spot above, but it does the job. What did you do?
After Michigan it was on to a small island in Maine, where I had the privilege of attending a lovely double baby shower. Two cousins-in-law were due in the same month and so their mothers-in-law (who are sisters – figured that out yet?) decided to throw a joint party in their honor. The hosts suggested bringing a favorite childhood book as a gift, and it was really fun to see what everyone loved. If I had been consulted on my family’s gift, I would have chosen to bring this one, this one, and this one.
We were inside for most of the morning, but this was the view off the back deck (or front deck, as my grandmother would say: “No one has waterBACK property”). Dreamy, right?
There were gifts, and some of them were exquisitely wrapped. I was especially impressed that several guests used parts of the shower invitation in their packaging.
There were delicious brunch nibbles served on mix-and-match blue and white crockery.
And there were the most beautiful, loose arrangements plucked from around the yard. I loved all the greenery they used.
P.S. Don’t you love those smooth stones? They were all over the house. I fell in love with them and may have spent the next few days scouring the beach for something similar to take back to my apartment…
P.P.S. Clearly the food was delicious.
One of the purchases we’ve made for our new apartment is a set of 6 TEKLA tea towels from Ikea {not available online}. At .49 cents a pop, I was giddy about what a great deal they were, and how cute they would be as casual cloth napkins.
J was not convinced. In truth, I think he thought I was a little nuts.
But we brought them home with us, only $3 poorer. Infinitely richer in style, I might add.
And then I saw this backyard bridal shower on 100 Layer Cake {photos above}. Lo and behold, they used the TEKLA towels as napkins, too! You better believe I immediately emailed the link to J.
In subsequent Googling, I found this feature of the humble TEKLA on Apartment Therapy, as well. The Kitchn folks praise it effusively, saying:
“Like we said the other day, IKEA is best used in moderation. But there are some good buys there and we have a few favorites that have done very well for us. Here’s another IKEA pick: the all-cotton TEKLA towel! Now, these don’t actually come in napkin form, but we bought an extra dozen to use as folded cloth napkins for more informal dinner parties! We love their delicate yet strong cotton fabric, and the French-inspired red stripe. We find that the thin fabric doesn’t wrinkle as badly as our heavier-weight fabric napkins.”
Victory.
Lovely reader Marget {sister of J; remember her?} sent in photos from a friend’s recent shower she helped plan. It was held at a park on a bright and sunny June day. Lawn games were supplied for guests to enjoy, and the food was set up in a pavilion transformed for the occasion.
A homemade sign directed guests to the festivities.
Wildflowers in mason jars lined the tables, and at the end of the afternoon, the bridesmaids tied the flowers into bunches for guests to take home.
Nibbles included cupcakes and rice krispie treats baked by the bride’s mother, sister, and cousin, with the bride’s and groom’s last initials decking the tops. Cake stands were used to add height and visual interest to the displays.
For favors, guests took home bags of the couple’s favorite candy at the end of the night. The packages were tied with MOO cards bearing Matt + Kris’s initials and, on the reverse, “play celebrate eat repeat 06.06.09 best wishes to kris & matt”
Thanks for sharing, Marget!
This is where I share the marvelous people, places, and things I love.