My formula for an easy three-step dinner party table starts with a pretty, fresh centerpiece, candles, and cloth napkins. Doing this a day or two before the party makes it stress-free.
It’s Five Faves time with Annie and Cindy and today I’ve got lots to share!
Three Step Easy Dinner Party Table
• Centerpiece
This is the fun part and where I usually start (with fruit or flowers). Using all one shade of flower keeps it simple.
• Candles
I love my new taper hurricanes and of course, always have these votives on hand.
• Cloth Napkins
These floral cotton napkins wash beautifully. I don’t iron them but I do take them out of the washer damp and spread them out on top of the dryer.
These are similar round placemats. That’s my easy three-step dinner party table with a fresh centerpiece, candles, and floral napkins.
Favorite Fall Pillows (or for all year)
Have you read this post about my favorite pillow sources? Here’s what is currently on the sofa…
Stripe Grain Sack Pillow • Terracotta Linen Floral • Black Linen Paisley • Faso Apricot Linen
These are all 22″ squares.
Howard’s Savory Deviled Egg Appetizer
This is a fun/retro appetizer that Howard likes making. I cannot squeeze the exact recipe out of him but basically, boil a dozen eggs. Cool. Cut in half and scoop out the yolks. Mix the yolks with 1/4 cup Mayonaise, 2 tablespoons dijon mustard, 2 tablespoons minced shallot, 1 tablespoon capers, 1 tablespoon minced parsley, salt, and pepper to taste.
Then, he pipes them back into the eggs and sprinkles them with paprika.
Grilled Peaches with Goat Cheese and Proscuitto
It’s so hot in Los Angeles where we are right now! We made this Grilled Peach recipe again with grilled sausages. Too hot to cook inside!
Labor Day Sales
Don’t miss 40% off at J. Crew! And Banana Republic has lots on sale with an extra 20% off. I think I will pull the trigger on this embroidered tunic dress since it’s more than 50% off. Comes in regular and tall in addition to petite.
Louisa Is Already Stealing Hearts
Our granddaughter Louisa was born on Monday and she and our daughter are doing well! Here she is four days old.
And just like that…our hearts melted. I’m loving on her as much as I can.
If you are new here, each Sunday I share my top five favorite things along with my friends, Cindy and Annie. It’s like our weekly “catch-up” phone call. If you would like to receive this series every week, please sign up HERE.
Let’s see what Annie and Cindy’s Five Faves are this week:
Congratulations on your precious gift from God, Louisa! She is beautiful!
Thanks so much, Marion!
Congratulations! Louisa is just beautiful and born on my birthday!!
Congratulations and welcome, Louisa!
Congratulations Mary Ann, Louisa is so sweet. I love that photo of you holding her!
Howards eggs look delicious! As does your salad.
Have a wonderful time with your daughter and sweet granddaughter, stay cool and travel safe.
Congratulations on baby Louisa! She is SOOOO precious – ENJOY! XO
She is precious. I know you are over the moon holding her. I love peaches and marking the recipe.
Congratulations MARY ANN! Louisa is so beautiful! There is nothing to compare with the enduring happiness she will be to all of you!
Your granddaughter is so pretty…love the photo of you holding her. ❤️They grow up so fast…my granddaughter starts kindergarten this week!
It’s so hot in San Diego I can’t believe how humid it is! Trying to stay indoors. The peach salad looks delicious.
Linda
Aww congratulations! Your baby grand daughter is so sweet! How exciting for you and your husband. After two little boys our son and DIL had a little girl last October. I hope little Louisa brings you as much joy as our Rose does for us!! I never had a sister or daughter so it’s a bit strange:) but lovely. Also, you and hubby will have an excuse to return to California and I am sure Louisa will be a frequent visitor to your Florida home.
Congratulations Mary Ann! Louisa is so beautiful. That photo of the two of you is precious! You must be sooooo happy that you are in LA to be there for Alie!
Your table looks gorgeous as always! I love how you mix colors with linens, glassware and flowers! That grilled peach salad looks amazing!
xx
Louisa is the sweetest, most adorable! She looks very alert and happy. And fashionable. How wonderful that you guys are there … what a very special time in your lives!!! Love your pretty table setting … and pillow sources. I could use a few more pillows. I’ll bet Howard’s eggs are even more popular now that you’re living in the South. His grilled peaches look amazing too. We had them as a first course at our nieces wedding last weekend. So delicious and now I know how to make them at home. But speaking of too hot too cook inside. It’s too hot to cook in or out right now. I know its hot in LA too. If we can’t beat the heat we should enjoy it I guess. Oof. xo
I love those peaches, Juliet. And actually, I made them! Not Howard for a change 🙂
Congratulations your granddaughter is beautiful!
Thanks so much, Meg!!
Your new granddaughter is beautiful. What a blessing for your family! Thank you for sharing.
The flower arrangement of tulips and alstroemeria is gorgeous. The color combo at the table of the purple and green seems unusual (to me) but looks fresh.
The picture of you and Louisa is something you will cherish. She is looking right into your face like she already knows who you are! She will bring you so much joy but I won’t lie, also new worries about growing up in this world.
That’s true…I guess another person to love and worry about!
I’ve always considered the birth of a child a true miracle and a gift from God. Baby Louisa is absolutely precious and is a blessed addition to your beautiful family. Now the fun begins, Gramma Mary Ann, I’m sure all of your hearts are bursting with adoring love. Congratulations to you all!
Love,
Gail
Beautiful! What holds the taper upright in the bottom of the hurricane? I clicked on link and it shows pillar candles in the hurricane.
there is a little border for the taper.
Congratulations on your little angle!
Thanks, Loya!!!
Hearty congratulations to you and your family! Proof that magic happens every day.
What a precious baby! Congrats!
Congratulations to all the family! Louisa is beautiful, and she will forever steal your heart! Enjoy your precious moments with her, Mary Ann. Xo
Love Louisa!Congrats to you all. You are going to have so much fun with her. This salad looks delicious and a good plan. We are finally getting our summer weather. It’s going to be hot all week and we’ve has a mild summer. max and I have to make this salad and the sausages. I also love the Banana white dress! Enjoy your time in LA. Big hugs to you all. xo
Louisa is a beauty! Congratulations to you all.💗
Congratulations ! 🎈🎉🍾 and a very big welcome to Louisa!
The photo of you both is adorable & definitely one to be framed!
Best wishes💕
Good idea to frame the photo and keep it on my desk…for when I am back on the other coast 🙁
Oh my Louisa is beautiful! Congratulations..the picture of you
holding her and the look she has on her face says it all”I already
love my grandma” Enjoy there is nothing more special than
grandparents,
That brought a giant smile to my face, Char!
Loved everything in this post , but of course the picture of you and your
first grandchild stole my heart.
Can you hear your mom clapping from heaven?
Years from now you can tell Louisa “ this is a picture of me falling in love with you”
Congratulations to your family
Alexis
Thanks for that image of my mom clapping in heaven, Alexis!
Your comment choked me up!!
Hi Mary Ann,
Oh my goodness, I can see why your hearts just melted when Louisa was born. She is a precious Angel,
the picture of you both is a treasure. I’m glad to hear that Mama and Louisa are doing well. Congratulations to you both.
Your table setting is stunning, the colors are so pretty.
Thanks so much, Katherine.
OMG! What a precious little girl! Love love love the photo of you holding her. I am so happy for you Mary Ann. I love my little granddaughters and have had so much fun with them. All the best, Kathy
I bet you are the best grandma, Kathy!
Oh my gosh that baby is adorable and that pic of you two is gorgeous! It is hotter than a firecracker here too. Thank god for the pool. Those grilled peaches sound yummy!!
I’d love to jump in your pool, Cindy…if I was just in better shape! Oh well.
Congratulations to you and your family Mary Ann !!! And welcome beautiful Louisa 🙂
Thanks so much, Francesca.
Loved Howard’s Deviled Eggs, loved the Peach Salad, loved your table and flowers, etc., etc., etc., but if there was a contest, you and Louisa win!!! The picture of you holding her is absolutely, totally beautiful.
I want to hold her all the time, Judie.
Mazel Tov! She is so beautiful…congratulations to you and your family!
Thanks so much, Cheryl.
Congratulations! Such a beautiful baby! Enjoy all the snuggles!
She is such a gift. Cheryl!
Congratulations to everyone on the birth of Louisa!!!
She is beautiful!!!
Blessings to everyone!!
Thanks, Sandra. We do feel blessed.
Congratulations on the birth of your first grandchild! So happy for all of you. Love the picture of you holding her.
Thanks, Deanna!!!
Congratulations to all on beautiful Louisa’s arrival. Grand children are the absolute BEST. I’ve always said…If I knew how fun grandkids were, I would have had them first…haha! Enjoy your time with her.
HAHAHA! I am just learning how great they are.
What a beautiful photo of yourself and Louisa. Being a Nana is the best, have fun!
I’m impressed you tore yourself away to do a post:)
Thanks, Linda!!
Mary Ann,
First and foremost, congratulations to your family on the new addition. Louisa is adorable and it’s no wonder she has stolen all your hearts. Enjoy!
Your table setting is simple and beautiful. I’ve bookmarked the napkin source. Those really add a pop of color to the table.
I’m looking forward to cooler temperatures sometime next week in sunny CA.
Enjoy your sweet granddaughter.
Karen B.
Yes…SO hot and today is supposed to be even hotter.