Shop ‘Til You Drop – Prepping for Black Friday

November 16, 2017February 8, 2018 / Alycia Nichols / 8 Comments

Alycia and “Better Kansas City” host Alexis del Cid, playing with dishes

Every tablescape blogger and those who read the blogs have at least one thing in common: WE LOVE TO SHOP!!! We chase after bargains, bright ideas, and innovative styling tips. Shopping can make a person awfully hungry and thirsty, and with Black Friday just over the horizon now, this super high-spirited 4-minute segment from the “Better Kansas City” show has tips on creating a fun and fanciful after-the-hunt tablescape. A few still photos of the tablescapes created on set follow, and at the end stick around for a super silly 60-second bonus clip from the show I think you’ll enjoy!

I created two separate tables for this segment: a colorful dining table for guests and a fun buffet table.

Bright pink/fuchsia 17″ poly napkins from LinenTablecloth.com are neatly stacked at the end of the buffet table. The fun metal figurine in the background depicts a carefree young woman out on a shopping spree and is one of 3 purchased at Hobby Lobby a couple of years ago. The cake…well, you’ll learn more about that cake in the video clip at the end of the post!

When I saw this stainless steel stiletto heel cake server at Burlington a few years ago, I just couldn’t resist! This would be great for showers and wedding events, too. Such a fun, feminine way to serve up dessert!

Here’s another of those metal shopping figurines from Hobby Lobby. This chick is ready to shop ’til she drops come rain or shine! Next to her is a fabulous glittering stiletto heel vase overflowing with an array of colorful flowers and greenery.

This was one of my favorite parts of the whole buffet tablescape! The drink station is set up on a wooden Lazy Susan for easy access. The wine glasses with purses all over them are from the Dollar Tree and complement the shoe wine glasses on the dining table. The stiletto heel bottle stoppers were an impulse buy from a Michaels clearance bin a couple of years back that really add style and a little shimmer. We were really pressed for time, and I asked my genius friend, Barbara, to figure out something to do with the shot glasses on the table. She stacked them pyramid style for a look that is a real winner! A+!!!!! (She’s a retired teacher!)

When setting up a buffet table, I like to have various sizes, shapes, textures and anything else available to give the table “motion.” Setting the spoons on the diagonal seem to do just that. The bowls by Rosanna feature a stiletto heel motif. They were purchased at Tuesday Morning some time back.

A feminine dining tablescape for ladies who have had their fill of shopping for the day. (Wait…what does that actually feel like??!?!) I chose to go with very colorful place settings to complement the buffet table. Each place setting is grounded with a hot pink Bormioli Rocca “Inca” glass charger topped with a solid white plate. The pretty salad/dessert plates by Rosanna each have a fun shopping reference along with the stiletto heel motif. The flatware is J.A. Henckels Bellaserra.

The polyester LinenTablecloth.com napkins in “Caribbean” blue are folded lengthwise and placed with one end beneath the charger. Each napkin is cinched with a colorful beaded napkin ring rescued from the clearance bin at Bed Bath & Beyond 5+ years ago.

The fun stiletto heel glassware from Dollar Tree rounds out the place setting.

Each place setting had its own separate nosegay displayed in a bright pink fluted glass vase from Michaels. I like to do this for ladies luncheons and such. It’s such a personal gesture that guests really appreciate both during and after the event. All flowers for this segment were purchased at Aldi’s!

One of my favorite tricks for bringing color and depth to the table is to layer linens. Here I used a white 85″ square (to let the colors of the accessories on top really pop) over a hot pink/fuchsia 108″ round, both from LinenTablecloth.com. (To see a couple of other examples of linen layering on this site check out Caribbean Queen: One Table, Three Looks, Queen of Hearts Card Party, and Breast Cancer Awareness Luncheon. And if you’d like to see another post-Black Friday tablescape, check out Black Friday Luncheon from back in 2012. )

OK…post over, but here are a few bonus pics and a video you will get a kick out of from later in the show. The pic above is of co-host Rob in the kitchen with famed chef/author/restaurateur Lidia Bastianich who was also on the show that day. Yes…THAT Lidia!!! I was too starstruck to ask for a selfie with her!

Then it just got loopy around there!

Rob and Alexis just had TOO much fun with that fake food!!!

Group hug! Me with co-hosts Hallie, Rob and Alexis with my buddy Barbara on the other end. Another show down!!

I will once again join Susan and the gang over at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday. I’m also joining Sandra at Sweet Sensations for Celebrate Your Story. You can still catch cool ideas for your Thanksgiving tablescaping as well as the upcoming Christmas holidays!

Cinco de Mayo 2013 – Livin’ la Vida Loca

April 29, 2013June 21, 2017 / Alycia Nichols / 55 Comments

INSPIRATION: Gorgeous “Serape” dishes in so many brilliant colors from Tuesday Morning

I can’t believe Cinco de Mayo is less than a week away!!! Where did January – April go??!?!?! If you’re planning a Cinco de Mayo party and want to create a table that has a lot of color, here’s your inspiration! This is one that would look great indoors or out!
(Click on any photo, then click again to enhance it and see all the little details!)

Whenever I want brilliant color to really stand out, black is a good choice. It’s very much like when you visit the jeweler. He or she presents to you jewelry on a black velvet cloth or tray. Why? Black is the best color to show off the true color, depth and shine. The same applies to brightly colored tables. A black linen, like this full-length one from LinenTablecloth.com, showcases the brilliant melange of color at its best. Look at the photo on the right…how the linen so gracefully drapes like the train of an evening gown. THIS, ladies and gentlemen, is the way color is shown!

I bought these multi-colored “Serape” dishes at Tuesday Morning many years ago. They have traveled with me from house to house and (knock on wood!) have all survived. The rims are all the same and trimmed in black, but the faces boast different colors borrowed from the rim design. The ruffly acrylic chargers from Crate & Barrel are seen here in fun fuchsia pink, brilliant turquoise, and a delicious margarita lime green. TIP: When working with lots of bright color, don’t be afraid to showcase them all through other table elements!

When it comes to flatware, I’m more of a metal girl. For a fun table like this, though, I really like this fun hot pink flatware from Burlington. It really stands out against that fabulous black background and looks great alongside all three charger colors!

Juicy orange is the mouth-watering napkin color. I specifically chose this color to not only pick up on the orange in the dishes, but to provide a color bond between the dining table and the florals on the buffet behind it. Clear glass stemware from Old Time Pottery holds its own against all the color on the table. TIP: Always place a water glass on the table, even if you’re serving another beverage like margaritas. Many guests – especially when eating spicy food – appreciate the opportunity to take a sip between spicy bites!

The centerpiece here is relatively simple and includes a variety of dessert succulents in various colored pots and vases that complement the colors in the dishes. Sticking with the good ol’ Rule of 3, I placed one high and 2 low to form a trinity of non-prickly cacti.

When all else fails, food makes a glorious centerpiece! A colorful bowl of key limes flanked by 2 black bowls for salsa on a coordinating “Serape” serving tray are the nucleus of this centerpiece. The tray adds color AND corrals the 3 separate pieces to bring a sense of cohesiveness to the centerpiece.

A couple of huge stems of shocking orange (faux) medinilla is all it takes to make a grand statement in this fabulous oversized aquamarine vase from Z Gallerie. If you live in a climate where this gorgeous bloom is a natural and plentiful grower, go for the real stuff, baby!!!

Some folks like to do tequila shots. Why not set up a “shot bar” on a tray that looks as pretty as it is fun! The tiny shot glasses in turquoise, hot pink, and yellow are from Old Time Pottery. (They were VERY reasonably priced at just 15¢ apiece.) The flowers on the cart are an array of colorful ranunculus mixed with a few stemmed succulents. TIP: Rim the shot glasses in a bit of lime juice and margarita salt as you set them up. Saves all that unsavory hand licking stuff!

Across the room on top of the china cabinet is a lone “Serape” pitcher filled with the same floral design as that of the shot bar. A couple of years ago I wrapped a length of twine around this pitcher for my post “Serape High Style”, and I liked the look so much I decided to keep it that way!

Other posts on this site great for/adaptable to a Cinco de Mayo celebration:
“Serape High Style”
“Sunflower Simple”
“Brilliant Italian” (SUMMER page w/9 other posts – scroll down ’til you see it)
“Summer Breeze” (SUMMER page w/9 other posts – scroll down ’til you see it)
“Cinco de Mayo Simply Done“

Many thanks to all who visited my blog last week via The Home Girl’s “Festive Friday Fiesta” upon which I was once again a featured blogger for my “French Poodle” post. It’s always so nice to feel that sense of recognition!

I’m joining The Home Girl again this week as she and many other bloggers will no doubt have lots of tips and photos for the celebration of Cinco de Mayo. On Wednesday I’ll be joining Cuisine Kathleen for “Let’s Dish!”, and on Thursday I’ll link up with Susan’s “Tablescape Thursday”. I hope you’ll join me at these fun blog parties! Check me out over at BeBetsy.com, too!