In this post: Today I’m sharing a coastal tablescape sure to put anyone in the mood for summer. This coastal tablescape was our annual end of school party.
Summer vacation has officially kicked off here on the island. We’ve already been to the beach with friends, and we are scheduled for another “beach play date” today. Last year I set up a whole end of school party with a banner and Hawaiian decorations. You can see the whole post HERE.
This year I decided to do things a little more low-key and hold a family dinner in the evening so hubby could be part of it too.
My sweet mother-in-law gifted me some melamine coastal dinnerware when she was here just a week ago and I was so anxious to set the table with it. I absolutely adore dinnerware that has a different pattern on each of the plates. I guess variety is the spice of life right?
There’s a turtle
And a star fish.
And a crab.
And a sea horse.
In terms of coastal dinnerware, this set knocks it out of the park. It has turquoise, cobalt blue, lime green, and a nice crisp white background. The dinner plate is different than the salad plate and it also comes with matching bowls. The link to the dinnerware can be found below in the sources.
What do you do when you have a five year old who really doesn’t want to make another trip to the grocery store for flowers? You walk the yard.
Clipping branches from the shrubs in the yard has become one of my favorite go-to centerpieces. Don’t get me wrong, I still love a beautiful arrangement of flowers, but the branches tend to be more hardy and can give a relaxed vibe to the table.
We dined on smoked ribs, baked beans, cole slaw, potato salad, and had hot fudge sundaes for dessert. All say summer to me. Each year we plan out our summer talking about everything we want to do. I’m always fighting the “let’s just stay home and play video games, watch TV, and watch the i-Pad” that seems to be my summertime nemesis.
I’d love to say this was a super special dinner and we talked and laughed and became giddy about summer. But let’s get real, there’s three of them against me and as any mom to boys will tell you, just getting some verbal confirmation that isn’t in the form of a grunt is a big win.
I did most of the talking above bar-b-que rib smacking finger licking. I’m chalking it up as a win.
Last year I came up with a regimented schedule of things to do every day that ended up being too stressful. This year, we filled in items on the calendar such as: our vacation to upper Michigan; our trip to a Disney water park; swimming lessons for Luke; band camp for Hayden; movies we want to see etc… The rest we are going to play by ear and just go where the days lead us. Don’t worry, I have a few tricks up my sleeve for battling the summer time lazy nemesis.
Sources:
- Burlap Place mats- Pier 1
- Dinnerware- I couldn’t find the exact 16 piece set but the pattern is Coastal Home, 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea LINK
- Vase- Food storage container in T. J. Maxx
What is on the docket for your summer? Big trips? Fun activities to do with kids? I’d love to hear what is on your “must do” for summer.
Love your coastal, almost farmhouse, decor. This is what I want when I find a home in Florida. What island do you live on? Maybe we could meet up one day.
Thanks Cookie! It took me a little while to finally settle on the perfect mix of French Country and coastal. You can all about island on this post. http://www.adamsandelmhome.com/southern-roadtrip-amelia-island/
Nancy
Love your simple tablescape and end of school celebration meal.As retired teachers the end of the school year was often a bitter sweet time . Yeah for summer but missing those special children that you had developed a close realationship with. Years ago while still teaching school one summer just seemed to evaporate when we returned for pre-planning that year a close teacher friend asked what we had done that summer ? It had flown by but we really couldn’t tell her what we had done! From that day on my husband has kept a daily journal of our activities. He can read his journals and tell you exactly what and where we were ten days ago or ten years ago. You really do more than you think you do. Our two grown girls enjoy looking back and remembering events in our family history. As the saying goes Enjoy the little things,for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things ! Hope you and your family have a blessed and happy SUMMER!!!!!
Thanks Pat,
I feel you. I’m always excited for summer with my kids but I do miss my students. My mother-in-law made a similar suggestion about keeping track of what you did do over the summer. She said on one side of the paper you should write the list of the things you want to do/accomplish over the summer and then on the other side write down the “extra” things you did you weren’t even really planning on. I love your journal idea too!
It does seem like summer goes so fast but we for sure try to pack as much fun in to summer as we can. Although, some of my favorite days have been totally lazy days where we relax in our P.J.’s all morning reading books and watching cartoons. I hope you have an awesome summer too!
Hugs,
Nancy
So beautiful Nancy…your home is just the perfect setting for the summer months!!
Thanks so much Shirley! I would say I’m suited more for summer than winter for sure.
🙂
Nancy
Love the Sea Life Dishes…in fact…I couldn’t resist the same set found at Costco…Summer is Here…Finally!
Oh I bet that is where she bought them! I saw them at Bealls but not the “set” I got. Thanks for the tip!
Nancy
Such a nice way to celebrate the beginning of summer! Your tablescape is beautiful! I have never seen anything like your lovely dishes and the round, ruffled, burlap placemats. I’m definitely going to try to find some of these here! Everything goes together so nicely, Nancy! You are so gifted at everything you do and we always enjoy seeing your gorgeous home!
Hope you and your family have a wonderful summer! You live in such a lovely area! Enjoy!
Love the tablescape! I especially love the cute dishes. The color and texture is amazing. Love them on the burlap ruffled placemat, too. So many great ideas here. But first, I just gotta get me some of those dishes! Thanks so much for the inspiration. Happy Lazy Daz of Summer to you. Susie from The Chelsea Project
As always, Nancy, your tablescapes are really beautiful. I love the relaxed summer vibe of each place setting. They’re so pretty. Hugs, CoCo
I do love a good tablescape. Thanks Coco! I’m so happy summer is here in full swing!
Nancy