I hope today’s post inspires you to use just a few pieces in different ways and mix in old traditions with new! Are you hosting or entertaining for the holidays? Chances are, yes. Whether it is family staying for a night; whipping up some apps or popping bubbly for the new year, people are coming over. And your inner Martha Stewart better be on point. Between attending events, hosting events and having a large family, I know how to get the biggest bang for my buck, with not only money but time. Time is money right? So let’s get straight to it!
Did you know oranges, clementines and other citrusy fruits were considered a rare and special treat during World War II? Tradition says it was common to place an orange in the toe of stockings for Christmas as a tasty surprise. (Don’t you want to do that now?!) Incorporating multiple senses (taste, smell and site) when decorating and entertaining, really heightens your guest’s experience. And nothing does it better than fresh fruit, herbs and flowers.
Inspired by this old tradition, I recently integrated clementines, exotic flowers and rosemary in preparation for my parents stay. I love mixing it up from the usual red and green this time of year. So unexpected. I used my absolute favorite floral company, Kalla, for a gorgeous bouquet, artisan chocolates and crisp bubbly. P.S. Save 20% off your purchase right now with code SPARKLE! They smell, look and taste amazing. And I picked up a bag of clementines and rosemary from my local grocer. Below I show you how I used these vivacious pieces for my parents arrival, entertaining, breakfast and a gift!
THE ARRIVAL
There is no better welcome than fresh flowers and a lit candle. And to play up height and dimension, I placed the bouquet on a beautiful white cake plate, which complimented the already stunning vase. You can also use books, a box or flip a pretty bowl upside down.
THE ENTERTAINMENT
It is 5 O’Clock and you know what that means. Cocktails. Champagne + Sprigs of Rosemary are my jam this year. I have been bringing and serving this festive concoction everywhere and it is a huge hit. The combo pairs together so nicely. You can also add a few cranberries or pomegranite seeds to really play up the red and green.
For dinner, I dressed up the table by placing the left over rosemary and clementines on each plate. Then I moved the floral arrangement from the bedroom to the dining room as the centerpiece. Five minutes tops to pull this together.
And remember those chocolates? Hello there easy dessert! I placed them on a silver platter with a rosemary garnish (see how this all works out?). Chocolates involve no baking or cooking. Hooray! Of course petit fours or any chocolates will do, but the complexity of Kalla’s make something so small, so satisfying and luxurious.
THE BREAKFAST
Have you noticed I don’t cook much? I try to keep things easy folks. When we woke up, I poured mimosas with the leftover champagne and sliced up some Corner Bakery Coffee Cake. Again the rosemary and centerpiece. I told you this stuff comes in handy.
THE GIFT
The reason behind my parents visit was to later celebrate my grandmother’s birthday that weekend. So that gorgeous bouquet was actually my grandma’s gift. Thanks for letting me use your flowers granny! There is nothing better than fresh, fragrant florals. Kalla’s arrangements last for weeks, which is why I adore them so much. Their signature ceramic kalla lilly nestles within the flowers and used as a funnel to water the bouquet. And the vase is a another present in itself. If it were me, I would later fill it up with those clementines to make a stunning, citrusy centerpiece. Quite the recycler I am.
And just so you know, you can actually send Kalla arrangements with chocolates and wine! It is the ultimate presentation and packaged beautifully. If you are familiar with Cedar & Rush, I have mentioned Kalla before and even included them in my most recent holiday gift guide. I cannot recommend them enough for yourself or a gift to a loved one.
BONUS, save 20% off your purchase with code SPARKLE!
Do you guys like to host? What are your favorite go-to entertaining tips? If you like what you see, you can find some extra tricks of the trade here!
Oh and one last thing! If you do not have anything to do, you should join me tonight at Lincoln Park’s Shop Hop. It is sort of a shopping bar crawl (at your own pace) and so many of my favorite stores on Armitage and Halsted are participating. Think cocktails, food, giveaways and discounts. And DreamDry is one of them (opened today!). My girl Sara, from Project Soiree, and I will be posted up at Londo Mondo. Hope to see you there!
This post was created as part of the Kalla Holiday Challenge!
