In my opinion, this is one of the best stainless steel flatware sets I have ever found for everyday entertaining use. I picked up the basic 45-piece Ginko International Lafayette flatware set at Bloomingdale’s about 6 years ago. I have been using it everyday every since, and it still has its original luster…and I put my kitchen tools, including my flatware, to Xtreme use!

I love the modern hammered look! This flatware won’t get lost on the table, it feels good in the hand, and it goes with every style–traditional, modern, bistro…

One of the best things about the Ginkgo International Lafayette line is that you can keep adding to your collection. I now have a complete setting for 12, a few dozen demitasse spoons for party menus involving lots of sauces, a dozen or so butter spreader knives for cheese tasting platters, a few cocktail forks for the olive tray, and now I just placed my order for ice tea spoons and sauce ladles!

If you’ve taken a look at Issue 3, perhaps Lea’s innovative Jarfaits, portable parfaits for a take home treat, caught your attention. Well, Lisa Moore’s picnic in a jar caught our attention! Lisa is a fan of Nesting Newbies and she’s a twenty-something mother of three who enjoys entertaining, parties and decorating…sounds like our favorite kind of newbie : ) Lisa writes Moore Minutes, sharing the beauty she finds in everyday life {sweet!}

Lisa recently did a post we’d like to share…The Charms of a Summertime Picnic. In it she says, “Jars are an excellent way to hold picnic food! They transport easily and look much prettier than tupperware. It’s a simple way to add beauty to the table and still keep it functional {what a cool idea}.” Take a look at a few examples:

Tapioca pudding with fresh blackberries and whip cream

Layered green salad with homemade dressing

Check out the rest of the story on her blog.

Images courtesy of Lisa Moore.

Pinkies Nail Salons was one of the girls-day-out sites featured in Chill, Making Time for a Time Out, in the third issue of Nesting Newbies Magazine.  Connie and Derik, Pinkies’ owners, have more to say regarding the “tootsies” topic:

Why is a pedicure important?

Healthy feet are vital to overall health.  According to Foot Care Direct, the average person walks approximately four miles every day or 115,000 miles in a lifetime.  Strenuous activity increases the miles.

Pedicures are an excellent way to help keep your feet looking and feeling great.  A pedicure cleans feet, provides nail care, and promotes circulation.  A good pedicure can be very relaxing and therapeutic.

Not only does it feel luxurious to pamper you and your toes, getting pedicures on a regular schedule also offers physical benefits.  Your nail technician helps improve the appearance of your feet as well as your overall comfort by removing dead skin and calluses with pumice or other implements.  Having calluses on your feet can cause uneven pressure when you walk or stand, causing pain when on your feet all day.

The massage in a pedicure or manicure is one of the most important parts. Many technicians use foot reflexology.  This helps stimulate the blood flow to the feet and legs and provides the relaxation you feel when someone is massaging.

Using certain scents in pedicures provides additional benefits above and beyond the physical.  Certain scents and oils may improve circulation, focus, memory, and mood.  The smell of citrus invigorates the mind, while sugar excites, and lavender relaxes.  Leaving the salon with pretty toes may seem like the only reward you get, but you are also gaining a good mood and better health.

How You Can Give Yourself a Pedicure at Home:

This is something that couples can do together. Light a scented candle to create a relaxed atmosphere.

• First remove old and chipped nail polish from toenails using nail polish remover.
• Next soak your feet for a few minutes in warm soapy water, and then pat them dry.
• Cut the nails of the toe using a nail cutter, and file them straight across.  Filing is a must to smooth rough edges.
• Then apply a cuticle cream and massage it into the cuticles with a tipped orange stick.  Do not attempt to trim cuticles with a metal nipper unless you are a professional and have experience with this tool.
• Clean and exfoliate feet using a pumice stone. Some hard rubbing may be needed on thick heels and ball of foot calluses.  This removes dirt, grease, and dead skin.
• Soak your feet in water again.
• Apply a nourishing cream to the foot, ankle, and lower leg to moisturize the skin.  Give the foot, ankle and lower leg a very long, luxurious massage.  This is best if your partner does it!
• Clean the nail beds well with alcohol to remove any of the oil from the lotion.  Apply a base coat, two coats of polish, such as OPI or Essie, and finish with a good quality top coat such as Seche Vite.
• For men or women who do not prefer polish, a “shiny buffer” gives a beautiful long lasting shine to a natural nail.

Pinkies Nail Salons is a collection of locally owned and operated salons across the Bay Area—Los Altos, Lafayette, Burlingame, San Ramon, Danville, and San Francisco. Owners Connie Kulberg and Derik Landry ensure each salon provides clients a relaxing and indulgent experience at an affordable price. Our exfoliating scrubs, private label lotions, and polish give your feet, hands, and nails all the love and care they deserve.

Every year, the designers continue to surprise and delight the guests with their whimsical, romantic, or over-the-top creations.  Time to share:

Bet you can guess what Tiffany & Co did their first year at Hollywood Hosts…of course, it just had to be Breakfast at Tiffany’s!  Holly Golightly awaits the arrival of Paul in a table set with Tiffany & Co china, crystal, flatware…and oh yes, that little blue box!  Most interesting to me is how the stylist used palm leaves as the floral arrangement she cut from the surrounding foliage, and really, with a Tiffany vase, who needs a fancier arrangement?

Our very own Lea McIntosh created this Pride and Prejudice table…a perfect scene so Mr. Darcy can finally propose to Lizzie. The table glitters with diamond shaped napkin rings, tea lights, and silk pillows offered by Beau-coup Wedding Favors. The champagne flows! She collaborated with Bloomster’s for the perfect white flower arrangement and Wildflower Linen provided the tablecloth – a gorgeous piece in sumptuous layers that resemble the English skirts from the early 1800’s.

A close-up look at the flowers!  Notice in the previous photo that it starts with a wreath at the base, then Lea added the silver trumpet vase and Bloomster’s filled it with the same luscious roses, peonies, pepper berries, and lilies.  Then Lea added the white manzanita branch with dangling crystals for over-the-top drama and sparkle.  What’s so clever is that you can get two distinct looks from one arrangement…go for the drama for an evening affaire and then remove the trumpet vase and you have a beautiful wreath of flowers for a morning brunch.  Just add a candle in the centerpiece…done!

Another view!

Susan Davis set a charming tea party for Anastasia, the daughter of the last Tsar of Russia. The Faberge egg china is a memento of happier days in Russia. She found the Russian samovar on Ebay.

The stylists at Neiman Marcus Stanford envisioned a cool, classic table set poolside for Grace Kelly to host a between-scenes luncheon on the set of High Society. The table setting of choice is Haviland “Serengeti” china in gold and aqua tones.

It’s a beautiful night in Paris and romance is in the air. Fred and Audrey meet at a charming bistro with friends for dinner but Ooh la la! They only have eyes for each other. Designer Victoria Thorne created a chic tableau using vintage tableware, fresh flowers by Nicole Hitchcock of Blooms, a bottle of Cuvee Dom Perignon 1995, a Restoration Hardware wine bucket, and custom linens created from vintage French fabric.

This year, the event was held in January so the event moved from the outdoor garden court at the Stanford Park Hotel to the indoor ballroom at Kimpton’s Cypress Hotel.

Kathy Goodman of Well Rehearsed presented Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.  The centerpiece is a chocolate fountain and the room smelled scrumdiddlyumptious! This could make a fun spring or Easter setting…just change the signage!

Aren’t the edible oompa loompas by Studio Cake adorable? Studio Cake is the winner of the Food Network Challenge for Simpson Cakes.

Kathy thought of every detail.  She worked with Beau-Coup Favors to create Wonka Bars, and she handed them out throughout the eventing.  Five had golden tickets inside and the winners took home a basket of goodies!  Very clever.

The design team at Brick Monkey selected Slumdog Millionaire, not for its rags to riches story, nor its energetic Bollywood music–but because they fell in love with the colors and textures of India.

Magenta.  Citron.  Chartreuse.  Brown.  They used these colors to create a high-style look mixing luxurious, opulent fabrics, papers and objects with more rustic, simple metals and pottery.  Jai Ho!

I couldn’t end this post without sharing Lady & the Tramp from year one…Tramp found a home that night!  At Hollywood Hosts, everyone has a Bella Notte…

Read Full Feature in Nesting Newbies Magazine, Winter ‘10

One of the easiest menus to pull together for a party is a wine and cheese tasting. Or is it? Grab your keys, head off to your local market, and find your way to the cheese counter. Now, choose.

“With over 1000 varieties available, it can be overwhelming to navigate through all the choices,” says Chef Lea McIntosh. “Selecting cheese can be as intimidating and complicated as choosing a fine wine.” It’s no wonder we all end up with the same old wedges of cheddar and Monterey Jack in our shopping bags.

Getting to know cheese could become a new hobby or life’s passion, but for those of us who just want to throw a good party, Chef Lea has developed two selections—one using American artisanal cheeses and one with international choices. Each selection offers your guests a wonderful tasting experience. “I want you to have a stress-free introduction to the world of cheese, and you’ll see how the cheese stands alone as the only course you’ll need to serve for entertaining.”

Photography By: Natali Wi

Read Full Feature in Nesting Newbies Magazine, Winter ‘10

“Most families have some old china, flatware, or linens lying forgotten in a dusty cabinet,” says interior designer Jennifer Rowland Clapp. “A lone teapot from grandma? Perhaps a mishmash of tarnished, silver-plated serving pieces? A rogue set of teacups emblazoned with roses? It doesn’t matter if they’re valuable or pure kitsch—unearth them and be merry! If you pair your vintage pieces with modern pieces, you’ll have a setting that conveys your sense of personal history.”

Photography By: Natali Wi

Read Full Feature in Nesting Newbies Magazine, Fall ‘09 >>

“Design shouldn’t be taken so seriously,” says Kirsten McKay, “and it doesn’t have to be expensive, either.” Kirsten co-owns Brick Monkey, a home interiors store she and her two partners opened under these guiding principles. We challenged her to set a harvest table that wasn’t just another cliché—something fresh, affordable and easy to interpret. Eager and excited, she delivered above and beyond our expectations—a flexible fall table that will carry through the Christmas holidays with only a few sparkly changes.

Setting a Romantic Table for Two. In the classic “Lady and the Tramp” cartoon, Tramp treats Lady to a romantic spaghetti and meatball dinner while the Italian chefs sing:

“Oh this is the night, it’s a beautiful night
And we call it bella notte
Look at the skies, they have stars in their eyes
On this lovely bella notte.
Side by side with your loved one,
You’ll find enchantment here.
The night will weave its magic spell,
When the one you love is near!
Oh this is the night, and the heavens are right!
On this lovely bella notte!”

This is the inspiration for the tablescape in Episode #1 of Nesting Newbies.  Pick an evening to surprise your partner with a chic Italian bistro setting for serving your Nesting Newbies’ Italian Sausage Ragu.

David Braddy and Jodi Murphy created a romantic table for two using affordable tableware from Bloomingdale’s Stanford.   It’s a modern interpretation of classic bistro style using bold geometric patterns grounded by black dinner plates and popped with rich amber stemware and deep coral red bowls.  The flatware has a hammered edge that’s interesting and edgy.

David Braddy weaves curly willow for a romantic arch over the table.

There is no need to spend a lot of money for a centerpiece as a graphic can of organic tomatoes can serve as the basis for your spaghetti sauce and a saucy vase. Cut and clip blooms from the garden or pick up a bouquet while you are at the grocery store. Add a dose of Vine-agra, an eco-friendly floral stimulator to keep your arrangement fresh for days.

Tableware from Bloomingdale's Stanford is mixed with every day items for a chic and easy tabletop.

Dine alfresco or create the feeling of a starry night inside to up the romance factor. Use two urns or pots as a sturdy base.  Intertwine curly willow branches until you have an arch – it’s really quite easy and they hold together without any wire.  Hang a lantern so that it is suspended over the table.  Pull in some knick knacks from around the house to complete the scene. By doing something special and unexpected the night will weave its magical spell.  Enchant the one you love at your very own Bella Notte Bistro.

An alfresco experience whether indoors or out.

Resources:
David Braddy
Vine-agra, Inc – Custom Florals

Jodi Murphy
Gentry Magazine

Bloomingdale’s Stanford
1 Stanford Shopping Center
Palo Alto, CA 94304

You’ll find these in Tabletop:
Joseph Abboud Amber Martini Glasses, $10 ea.
Joseph Abboud Rust Bowls, $10 ea.
BIA Fiji Black Dinner Plates, $15 ea.
Cambridge “Reese Mirror” Flatware, $150 service for 4

Napkins: Dwell from Target (No longer available)

Coral Napkin Holders: Williams Sonoma Home (No longer available)

Lantern: Pottery Barn

Photos By Allure West Studios

David Braddy and Jodi Murphy set a modern Mediterranean table anyone can recreate using an affordable mix of ceramic plates and beachy pieces from Bloomingdale’s Stanford. Start with a shimmery blue table runner layered with white placemats that look like the bubbling foam of a breaking wave. Choose plates with interesting textures or designs in bright sunny colors – here David and Jodi used a citrus orange plate as a charger with a deeper orange napkin folded in thirds. It’s draped casually off the charger and table’s edge. Add a square blue striped plate topped with a crisp white salad plate featuring a bold starfish graphic. A collection of glassware adds interest and small rectangular dishes allow the salt to seem like a fine sandy beach.

Have fun with a centerpiece filling a white container with orange, white and bluish flowers mixed with fresh lemons and seashells. Let the shells spill out casually across the entire table as though they’ve been washed ashore. Add lots of beach glass and votives for just the right amount of sparkle.

Don’t be afraid to make a statement. Feel free to mix and match china, pull in pieces of nature and tie everything together by choosing a consistent color scheme. In this seaside tablescape, blue and white are the base colors with a splash of orange for vibrancy. It’s fresh…fantastic…and one that will totally WOW your guests!

Resources:
David Braddy
Vine-agra, Inc – Custom Florals
www.vine-agra.com

Jodi Murphy
Gentry Magazine
www.gentrymagazine.com

Bloomingdale’s Stanford
1 Stanford Shopping Center
Palo Alto, CA 94304

You’ll find these in Tabletop:
Block Starfish Dessert Plates – $11.50 ea.
Bloomingdale’s Orange Plates – $15 ea.
Bloomingdale’s Blue Striped Plates – $12 ea.
Bloomingdale’s Fish Tumblers – $13.99 ea.
Speckled Goblet – $8 ea.
Martini Glass – $9.99 ea.
White Placemats – $8.50 ea.
Fontessa Mini White Trays (for salt) – $3.75 ea.
Cambridge Stainless – Service for Eight – $150
Napkins: Cost Plus (No longer available)
Shells: Cost Plus
Beach Glass: Target
Votives: IKEA