Dinner Party – Fresh florals + creative napkins folds

Well… as you probably guessed… I LOVE dinner parties! Hosting them, attending them… you name it! I love them extra if they’re themed!

A few weekends ago, we had the pleasure of having Chef Drake Leonards of Eunice, (a chic Cajun restaurant in Houston, Texas) in our home. He prepared a 5-course meal that was to die for.

The appetizer course included chilled champagne, pate with pepper jelly spread on biscuits, local boiled shrimp, and bacon wrapped duck bites.

The salad course was similar to a caprese salad with country ham and heirloom tomatoes! Next up, sautéed Drum over cauliflower mash with a special cream sauce, topped with lump crab meat! This was my favorite!

The main course was seared filet over potatoes with a side of broccolini, served with fresh rolls. Lastly…. DESSERT! We were so full we weren’t sure if we would be able to fit it… I was able to fit it! He served chocolate mousse topped with nuts, shaved coconut and chocolate pearls, that’s right… pearls that are chocolate! Two of my favorite things! In fact, he left a small bowl of leftover mousse in my fridge. I skimmed off the top for 5 days until it was gone! I could live on that stuff!

Ok enough of the mouth watering talk… what I really wanted to share was how I created beauty and kept the atmosphere simple! I decided to focus on a couple of things and just use what I had! I chose to add fresh flowers (something I am so passionate about in my home) and a unique cloth napkin design (something else I love doing to add a little fun!).

Fresh flowers… a MUST! Using fresh flowers when people are going to be in your home is non-negotiable. Notice I said “people” not guests! Yep, that’s right… YOUR people deserve fresh flowers too! Fresh flowers don’t have to be fancy or expensive. I’m talking grocery store florals! For $5, less than a Chick-fil-A salad, you can get a seasonal mixed bouquet at your local grocer. Most will last over a week and once they’re in a vase… set and forget! You literally don’t have to do anything to them for over a week! I do recommend using the little “flower food” pack that they include in the bouquet when you buy them. That stuff works, I’m not sure what kind of voodoo magic they put in there, but it works!

$10 grocery store bouquet – subtle Fall look

$5 bunch of palm branches for Easter brunch

$10 mixed bouquet & $10 hydrangea bouquet

FREE! Daisies from my mother-in-law’s yard! These kinds are the most special!

$5 mixed bouquet & $10 hydrangea bouquet

Fun cloth napkin creations! Ok these are fun… I don’t care who ya are! For our most recent dinner party I chose these rosettes. Unique napkin folds are an easy (yes it’s easy I promise), way to add a personal touch to your guest’s place setting. For all of these ideas (and more) plus step-by-step instructions, follow my Pinterest account here.