Don’t you love that you can almost smell it? Sure, I know that September is arguably the hottest month of the year here in Central Florida but there’s a reason that Neil Diamond titled his 1972 album “Hot August Night” (a little something for my fellow music lovers). Yes, the heat and humidity still hit you in the face like the opening of a hot oven but you can see that the cake is almost done. For me, September is the light at the end of a very hot tunnel.
Already, I’m wiping the dust off my boots and doing a thorough inventory of which scarves will make the cut this season. More importantly, I’m starting to think about dinner parties again! I love dining Al fresco and how lucky are we, living here, that we can do that for so many months?! This year, don’t just go to dinner parties...throw one yourself. It doesn’t have to be fancy to be fabulous. Just because it’s casual doesn’t mean it can’t be elegant. And, when it comes to setting the table, don’t be afraid to break the rules. I love place-settings...so much so that they have taken over my cupboards and china cabinets. (I’d like to think I’m not alone in that regard.) No more does everything on your table have to match, contrary to what our mothers taught us. If there’s a chip on a bread plate, don’t rush to sell the entire 92 piece place-setting at your next garage sale for $3. (If you decide to however, then let me know and I’ll be right over.) Instead, mix it up!...there’s no shame in the plates not matching the bowls.
If you’re just not excited about the dinnerware that you currently have then maybe it’s time to take stock in that too just like those scarves. Here at Black Swan Mercantile we sell both new and vintage dinnerware. Because sometimes we just need change. We have a beautiful line of Bizzirri dinnerware (handmade and hand painted in Italy), like pictured above, just waiting to grace your table this fall as well as vintage pieces looking for a second chance. Either way, don’t just spice up your dinner...add a little spice to your dinnerware!
While change is a good thing, there are some things you should keep...keep it casual, keep it colorful and keep it fun!