PS. Make It Your Own and Fancy That hosted a Designer’s
Challenge last week, the first in a series of 6
where the winner will go on to compete in a final Winner Take All
Challenge! Participants were challenged to choose three items from a list of 5
(Lemon, Chocolate, Rice, Toilet Paper and Candles) and create a Date Night at
Home tablescape. I have been thinking about taking one of these types of
challenges and decided that now was the perfect time! My Husband and I just
celebrated our Anniversary (Mid January) and with Valentines coming I loved the
idea of planning a “Date Night”
Ever since we were married and had children we always knew
that no matter what was going on we had to make time for us just to be with
each other. Whether a splurge for a dinner and a movie out or a quiet night at
home, even a midnight snack after one of
his hockey games, the important thing is always taking time for us to be US. So
with that in mind I sat down with my notebook and started the way I normally do
– listing the reasons for the party, the mood that I wanted to set and how I
wanted the guests (in this case my husband and I) to feel before, during, and
after. I knew I wanted to celebrate our anniversary and I knew very likely that
at this time of the year it was going to be held late in the evening. I also
knew I wanted it to be very relaxed, quiet and romantic. While Hubby doesn’t
need a lot of “Fru-Fru” I wanted it to sparkle at least a little bit!
So once I had all of that figured out I started
brainstorming idea’s for a theme; including Movie night, games night, hockey
night - and while we both enjoy all of
that they didn’t seem to fit this particular Date. So on I went, “Because
You’re Special”, You + Me = LOVE!”, “A Trip Down Memory Lane” – Then I was hit
with a thought and BAM ideas for how I would use the mystery items, what I had
in my stock of supplies, what would be great to find, and how much I LOVE THIS!
So what was the idea, I hear you asking...
Do You Remember
When...
I wanted to create a fun way that we could share favorite
moments in the History of Us. I wanted to make sure it was more of conversation
starters rather then a test. So I came up with the idea of having little Heart
tags for the table, dishes, etc and with paper and pen I made a list of memories and with some
carefully worded questions managed to get a few to add to the list from my
sweetheart! Hearts made me think Red, Pink and Purple to work with as a colour
scheme.
Then I looked at what items from the Mystery Components list
I would definitely use. I was drawn to the T.P. – what an unusual, everyday
item, and one that would definitely need some creative focus to make work! Rice
and Chocolate rounded out my list of using at least 3 items.
So with elements chosen I began sketching out my table
design. I knew we were going to sit at our coffee table which is low and round.
I began by setting cushions on the floor and against the couch, as well as a
BIG fluffy blanket. When I thought about incorporating the T.P., my mind went
to a wedding my Mom helped with when I was a little girl – She, along with my
sisters made thousands (it seemed) of tissue flowers for decorations; the kind
where you accordion fold, tie, separate, and fluff a piece of tissue. I decided
I would do something similar with the T.P. and use them to hang over the table
along with some paper lanterns and ribbon. I love how this element turned out
and that I was able to share that memory with Kevin, I think for the first
time. I also used the toilet paper in a heart from cardstock and squares of
tissue in my colour scheme, placed in a small bud vase to sit on the table.
While out and about one day I found some beautiful rolls of
sheer fabric and immediately thought that they would look perfect on the table
over top a simple white table cloth + another project I had in mind for my
niece’s birthday - I just wish I had
noted the size, because I would have picked up a few extra rolls (next time!),
when I started to lay the fabric I soon realized I did not have enough to do
what I had thought of first, so I decided to try something I have been wanting
to practice and pin a “skirt” around the table – LOVE the result! And am now on
the hunt for the proper pins to do this again!
I knew that candles were going to be HUGE in providing the
right ambiance and wanted to use a variety of tealights, votives and pillars, I
had trouble finding good votives to use so went with as many tealights as I
could safely scattered along with a “Centerpiece” that incorporated both the Rice
and the candle items. Filling a vase with rice and red and clear “gems” before
setting in the Pillar then placing on a square mirror tile, with tealights and
more gems (which I found on another scouting mission to the Dollar store!)
provided a quiet and romantic feel to the table. I loved how the candle light
sparkled on the gems and in the room!
Next I wanted to set my menu so I would know what kind of
dishes I was going to need to have on the table. Because I knew that more than
likely we would be enjoy this date after Hubby would get home from his 2nd
“job” as a Referee I didn’t want to be rolling off the couch from being stuffed
with a big meal.
To start the night off I was serving Whiskey Sour (My newest
kick) which included a garnish of lemon and cherry.
For appetizers I decided to serve Roasted Squash soup in
shot-type glasses, Bacon-wrapped Maraschino Cherries and Water Chestnuts and
Tomato Cheese Ravioli Bites in Marinara sauce (last minute substitution due to
the lack of good scallops for a Citrus Scallop dish that I had planned).
After appetizers we went with a Caesar salad. This was
served in a beautifully shaped bowl, also found at the Dollar Store! The main
was Roasted Veg, Risotto (gotta get more of that Rice element in!) and Whiskey
Maple Lamb Chops – YUM!
To set the table I decided to stick with basic white dishes,
simple crystal for water and regular silverware. I have a set of rose wine
glasses, passed down from my Mom, and they fit the colour scheme so well they
were on the table too!
I also went with white napkins to go under the silver
chargers, I used to anchor each place setting - I found some adorable dish
towels with pink, red and purple hearts embroidered that fit perfectly.
I scattered the oversized “Rubies” and “Diamonds” around the
table and on some of the dishes. I also incorporated a GREAT printable from Eye
Candy Events (Love Like Crazy), which I printed and coloured in my own colours
and displayed in a white frame, which I had attached mini-clips to hold more of
my “Do You Remember When” tags.
Dessert featured 2 of the Mystery Components
-Chocolate -Lemon
Each displayed with the cute little tags. I had recently
found a recipe using lemon angel cake and whipping cream and yogurt. I added a
little Kick to the whip cream with a little more whiskey. The chocolate covered
strawberries (what’s a romantic dinner for 2 without chocolate covered
strawberries?!)
I had planned to have one of my pretty “ruffled” candy dish
with Lemon Heads candy and Valentine mix of Hershey Kisses – which just happen
to incorporated my colours! However I could not get my hands on the Lemon Heads
so I had to settle for Lemon Beans. I tucked more heart tags in the candy.
We enjoyed the evening so much and the only draw back is now
the bar is set very high for our next Date night, maybe I’ll just let him plan
it ;)
Don’t forget to check out the winning submission here, and
the other submissions here. Good luck to Melinda! Good luck in the final round!
