everyday dining combos...

When we moved into our house a few months ago, I did A LOT of purging. After 10 years in our apartment, I was ready to upgrade many of the things that were ready to go. One of the areas that felt so nice and fresh to pare down and then add back to was our everyday dining pieces. I had mixes of old plates I loved and couldn't let go of and a single newer set that was never really enough to feed everyone because I had never taken the time to invest in enough pieces. 

Now, we have enough pieces of a few different styles that all mix and match well together which feels so great and so grown-up. Keep in mind...getting dinner plates is not the wedding registry expensive stuff from decades ago. Now, it's all about modern pieces that work for everyday. And, they should feel nice enough that you can use when friends are over for casual gatherings, too. Also, since our kids are bigger now, I cleared through a ton of plastic kid plates, and we have the kids use the same plates and glasses that we use most of the time. Sounds crazy but it honestly simplifies things a ton.

Here are a few combinations I love if you're looking to streamline and update your everyday dining, too...

Summer Meadow. I love this versatile mix of mint with dark blue for a collection that feels fun but not overly feminine. By using pale green as a base and navy as accents, it offers a fun contrast and pops of color. Then add in a couple bright pieces as dessert plates!

(clockwise from top left) Urban Outfitters green speckle dinnerware set ($69 for 12 pieces), West Elm rose gold flatware (from $40), Ikea green glasses ($3 for 4), Year & Day midnight bowls ($44 for set of 4), Year and Day midnight mugs ($48 for set of 4), Articture Picasso plates (from $35), and Clare V for Anthro Oui side plate ($18).

Pretty in Pink. While I love all shades of pink, having JUST pink dinnerware might be too intense for some. So mix and match by having your base dinnerware in pink with accent pieces in white or speckles or vice versa! I currently have pale pink glasses which are the prettiest shade that makes even drinking water feel luxurious.

(clockwise from top left) Year & Day pink serving platter ($50), Tiny Badger ceramic cups ($35), Urban Outfitters white speckle dinnerware set ($69 for 12 pieces), Anthropologie grain bowl ($18), Bormioli Rocco peach glasses (6 for $20), Clare V for Anthro side plate with lips ($18), and West Elm gold flatware (from $40).

Summer Splash. As we head into the outdoor dining season, I love plates that feel durable for outdoors that could be used indoors, too. We use melamine or bamboo plates when dining outside, but they also make great option to use as kid-friendly plates year-round. I love mixing those with regular utensils and glasses so it still feels adult and doesn't require you to buy another full set of exclusively outdoor tabletop.

(clockwise from top left) Xenia Taler bamboo plates ($48 for set of 4), Articture utensils ($139 for set), luster coupe glasses from Anthropologie ($56 for set of 4), West Elm acrylic glasses (from $5.50), and West Elm confetti glasses ($42 for a set of 4).

(Top photo has Articture utensils, Xenia Taler bamboo plates, and Concrete Collaborative countertop)

a thanksgiving gourd-a-copia...

It's hard to believe Thanksgiving is exactly ONE WEEK from today! No matter how far along you are in your holiday prepping and planning, this DIY is a super fun update on the cornucopia that you can easily make before the big day. We're calling it the gourd-a-copia! (Who remembers our cone-a-copia from a few years back?!) Here's how to make it, plus, some inspiration for a non-traditional Thanksgiving table...

a perfectly pink party table...

For that perfectly pink party that you know you want to throw, here's a pretty-in-pink set-up that will make any guest swoon... 

a pink & yellow bird-themed table setting...

We're loving this month's Color Adventures combo of pink and yellow! Today, we have a bird-themed table setting to bring a super springy vibe into any special occasion or meal. Here are some tips on how to pull this look together...

1. Color block the wall. Yellow can tend to skew a little young and bright, so we color blocked the wall with white to add a touch of color without it being too overbearing. If you keep the top half in white, it helps the room feel fresh and clean.

2. Add a subtle base to complement the brighter pieces. For the table cloth, we went with a light blush pink color so the other  table top pieces pop while grounding the table. The bright pink chairs give the room that extra bit of whimsy and really ties the table together. 

3. Add contrast and pattern with plates and napkins. For the plates and the table linens, you know we had to bring in the pattern here. We choose a dotty paint splatter plate and a striped napkin. The patterns mix-and-match well because they have different scales and contrast enough while both still having yellow to unite them. 

4. Add the centerpiece. The best part is the centerpiece! We started with a faux green garland and some faux wildflowers. We found these fun tropical birds at the craft store to add extra color and fun to the table. The base colors of the birds were pink and yellow but we added some others in bright green and white to complement. 

And there you go! It's so fun and happy and would make for an amazing Mother's Day table!

Items shown: Benjamin Moore Banana Yellow paint, eSale Rugs rug, The Animal Print Shop flamingo print with Framebridge frame, Modernica chairs, Blu Dot table, Ikea tablecloth, Pehr Designs napkins (past season), Target flatware, Hawkins New York plates, vintage mini pink glasses, Anthropologie yellow glasses (past season), Moskatel's faux birds (similar).

{Photos by Casey Brodley, styling by Julia Wester, and crafting by Jess Hong.}

i love pie...

{1. crinkled mini bakers from Anthropologie, 2. Momofuku's grasshopper pie, 3. polka dot cake/pie server from Fish's Eddy, 4. pie funnel from Sur la Table, 5. A Year of Pies from Amazon, 6. Dean & Deluca's petite tart assortment. — Joanna}

a farewell to summer picnic...

{1. lavash crackers from New York Mouth, 2. painted wooden forks from Petit Moulin, 3. summerberry sangria mix from Terrain, 4. Gordy's sweet chips, 5. neon bowls from Wind and Willow Home, 6. beverage napkin from Target. — Joanna}

a jolt...

{1. Truffle Truffle mocha s'more, 2. hazelnut & coffee liqueur chocolate tumbles from Dufflet, 3. Stumptown coffee chocolate bar from Old Faithful Shop, 4. Grady's cold brew from New York Mouth, 5. Flying Donkey Espresso from Dean & Deluca, 6. Colombian coffee macarons from 'Lette. — Joanna}

summer shindig...

{1. batik cheese slab set from Leif, 2. lasercut placeholder from Skinny laMinx, 3. Jonathan Adler block printed napkin, 4. caprice ice bucket from Trina Turk, 5. striped biergarten dining set from Terrain, 6. pink candyfloss paper plate from Shop Sweet Lulu. — Joanna}

just a drizzle...

{1. bee honey dipper from Graham and Green, 2. honeycomb candy from Liddabit Sweets, 3. honey dispenser from Target, 4. buttermilk & honey pancake mix from Dean & Deluca, 5. bee happy taster from New York Mouth, 6. Bonnie's Jams nuts in honey from Old Faithful Shop. — Joanna}

in the morning...

I'm a sucker for vessels, bowls, and containers of pretty much any kind. So I'm loving these slightly rustic and handmade pieces that seem perfect for breakfast time by Just Potters and Canvas... — Joy

{left to right, top to bottom: juicer by Just Potters, Honey Pot by Just Potters, ceramic creamer by Canvas, bowls by Canvas, rimmed creamer by Canvas}