Dishing it up / with Sharon Insul

Come sit with me for awhile . . .
and see what I’m bringing to the table ®

Summer time and the living is easy. So they have said gazillions of times over the years. They?? Someone just said, who’s they? Um .   .   . hmmmm, I”ll have to get back to you on that!

Now .   .   . on the subject of summer time living being easy .   .   . I say .   .   . as Tonto, American Indian sidekick to The Lone Ranger use to say ‘not so fast kemosabe’. Oh come on people .   .  . classic television/ radio history 101. Geez!

 

We are all challenged in one way or another. Some may find it difficult to switch gears from ho-hum, day-to-day structured entertaining to a more casual, easy-peasy style of Come sit with me for awhile . . . and see what I’m bringing to the table ®. People .   .   . fear not .   .   . I’ve come loaded with simple, yet creative, and fun ideas for that easy-peasy laid back get-together. Whether it’s a weeknight or weekend, for two or the whole crew, make it simple, but inviting.   .   .    No fuss .   .  . no muss.

Have a look at the photo above. Candles in fun shapes such as the cabbage roses bring a playful pop to any summer table. Bright red plastic martini glasses are just the right size to act as candle holders. A stainless steel mixing bowl sits atop a matching inverted bowl which plays host to napkins, silverware, etc.. Not only is the large bowl a great keeper of the supplies, but the outside surface also creates a great reflective razzle-dazzle affect for the table.

The candle in the cage shown below, adds a warm glow that not only tweaks the table with light and height, but also adds a finishing layer to the tablescape. Thirst quenchers chilling on ice are stowed in an extra, extra large stainless steel bowl, giving this casual tablescape that come and get it pop!!!

Are you looking for a new twist on the same-old, ho-hum table setting? Well look no further, help is here .   .   . Now on Amazon / Barnes & Noble /  IndieBound.org             “a collection of… Tableofferings™ from the go-to expert tablescaper” Available in E-book and HARDCOVER  http://getBook.at/Tableofferings.

For the kiddies in your life “I am sooo Lucky!!!”  Books 1, 2, & 3 AVAILABLE on …

Amazon      Barnes & Noble     IndieBound.org

Book1  http://getBook.at/book1Lucky    Book2   http://getBook.at/lucky2

Book3   http://getBook.at/Lucky3

Remember if you’re a Prime Amazon member you can read for free!

Sharon Insul is the former owner of the globally recognized Beverly Hills boutique Candle light and… Beverly Hills, California, as well as an ongoing contributing columnist for the Beverly Hills Courier Newspaper.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dishing it up / with Sharon Insul

Come sit with me for awhile . . .
and see what I’m bringing to the table ®

Let the sunshine in .   .   .

Too hot to handle dining outside? When outside is just not an option .   .   . Need a change of scenery? Looking for a place to have that first course of ice cold gazpacho soup, or maybe you all got ambitious and whipped up fresh cold strawberry/ kiwi soup. Followed by a cold poached pear laced with goat cheese, and honey glazed toasted walnuts. Hmm    .   .   . What was that? Oh please .   .   .  you want the entree as well? Geezzz!!! Is there no end to your give me, get me, do for me? Lol!!! Come on people .   .   . this is supposed to be ‘show and tell’, as in .   .   . I give all of you suggestions, and you, yes you in the back, busy whispering, are supposed to be extrapolating, aka .   .   . embellishing .   .   .! Right???

Below, a sweet and simple table setting has been placed next to a garden window, filled with sunshine, flowers, and hummingbirds. Pops of white, set against circa 1940’s cobalt blue ‘moderne’ glass dinner plates, whimsically patterned salad plates, topped off with hand made individually hand painted bowls.

Not looking for sunlit dining? O k .   .   . so you want more moonlight, roses, romance, and mystery? Got it. Try this. Table set for dusk or later, with candles, country style wine glasses of cut crystal, deep sultry toned hand painted salad plates, and hand thrown pots screaming for cold summer soup. As soon as the sun sets, the shutters will be flung open (well maybe not flung, but opened .   .   . I just think it sounds more dramatic). Well anyway  .   .   . bottom line, the garden has been revealed filled with glistening LED lights dancing among the trees. Time to dine.

Are you looking for a new twist on the same-old, ho-hum table setting? Well look no further, help is here .   .   . Now on Amazon / Barnes & Noble /  IndieBound.org             “a collection of… Tableofferings™ from the go-to expert tablescaper” Available in E-book and HARDCOVER  http://getBook.at/Tableofferings.

For the kiddies in your life “I am sooo Lucky!!!”  Books 1, 2, & 3 AVAILABLE on …

Amazon      Barnes & Noble     IndieBound.org

Book1  http://getBook.at/book1Lucky    Book2   http://getBook.at/lucky2

Book3   http://getBook.at/Lucky3

Remember if you’re a Prime Amazon member you can read for free!

Sharon Insul is the former owner of the globally recognized Beverly Hills boutique Candle light and… Beverly Hills, California, as well as an ongoing contributing columnist for the Beverly Hills Courier Newspaper.

Dishing it up / Sharon Insul

Come sit with me for awhile . . .
and see what I’m bringing to the table ®

When it rains it pours… Yet another happening in my author’s corner!

One of my blogging friends Katherine, from Katherines Corner, and Katherines Corner Shop has cleverly created a Summer Tablescape Challenge,  using my hardcover book “a collection of … Tableofferings™ from the go to expert tablescaper” as the prize. I am honored and pleased. Thank you Katie.

EXTRA, EXTRA … read all about it below.

How it works- as created by Katie@Katherines Corner. You create a new tablescape and blog post (please do not publish) then you send to http://katherinescorner.com/feed  the url and she will add it to tablescape challenge blog tour linky list. Hoping some of you, my followers will sign up.

We ALL post our tablescape challenge blog posts in unison at 7am (MST) on July 28th. I do need your blog post url prior to the 25th Then I will send the linky code to add to your blog post. If you are not a blogger I can host your tablescape, just let me know, I’m happy to do it. On July 29th two randomly picked participants will receive a prize. The first winner will receive a signed copy of Sharon Insul’s book, ”a collection of… Tableofferings™ from the go to expert tablescaper” . The second winner will receive a $15 gift code for the Katherines Corner Shop. We need a minimum of 10 part.

 

You may recognize Sharon Insul’s  name from her popular children’s book series, “I Am So Lucky”.

I invite you to follow her blog and follow her on twitter!

You can find articles written by Sharon for the Beverly Hills Courier HERE 

Please sign up below and I will send you all of the information.

If you are not a blogger please put Katherines Corner in the website url area of the form
Please follow Katie … I do

 

Dishing it up / with Sharon Insul

Come sit with me for awhile . . .
and see what I’m bringing to the table ®

EXTRA     EXTRA .   .   . read all about it !!!

Sharon Insul gets BIG newspaper write-up.

 

Dishing it up / with Sharon Insul

Come sit with me for awhile . . .
and see what I’m bringing to the table ®

It’s true ‘what they say’ .   .   . that sometimes less is better. Wait! Come back! Before you all go running off to clear out your cupboards in an all out purge toward minimalism .   .   . remember yet another ‘what they say’ .   .   . variety is the spice of life.  So now that I have touted both schools of thought, let me throw in a betwixt and between argument as to why minimalism does not exist solely on its own. Without a dusting of variety, minimalism tends to become ho hum. As I say on my website no more same old, same old, ho hum. To me, table settings are as important as the food that fills the plates. A table setting is an invitation to “come sit with me for awhile . . . and see what I’m bringing to the table” ®

White, with a sprinkling of red flowers from the garden, are the perfect blend of colors to pair with a trio of cobalt blue vases. ‘Moderne’ glass cobalt blue dinner plates, serve as back drop for salad plates hand painted in a mélange of summer floral. Bright white vintage napkins softened by many past evenings of  laughter, conversation, and morsels of lovingly created dishes of food. Vintage sparkling glass holders with white candles softly radiate the most flattering of looks.

The photo below is a close up of the beginnings of this table settings, including a muted grey ceramic bowl perfect for cold soup. For refreshments, a peach colored short stem glass paired with a cut crystal country-like glass.

Are you looking for a new twist on the same-old, ho-hum table setting? Well look no further, help is here .   .   . Now on Amazon / Barnes & Noble /  IndieBound.org             “a collection of… Tableofferings™ from the go-to expert tablescaper” Available in E-book and HARDCOVER  http://getBook.at/Tableofferings.

For the kiddies in your life “I am sooo Lucky!!!”  Books 1, 2, & 3 AVAILABLE on …

Amazon      Barnes & Noble     IndieBound.org

Book1  http://getBook.at/book1Lucky    Book2   http://getBook.at/lucky2

Book3   http://getBook.at/Lucky3

Remember if you’re a Prime Amazon member you can read for free!

Sharon Insul is the former owner of the globally recognized  Beverly Hills boutique Candle light and… Beverly Hills, California, as well as an ongoing contributing columnist for the Beverly Hills Courier Newspaper.

Dishing it up / with Sharon Insul

Come sit with me for awhile . . .
and see what I’m bringing to the table ®

I just can’t wait!!! I am telling you .   .   . the waiting is killing me! I hope that I’m not disappointed. I have crossed my fingers in hopes that July 4th fireworks will live up to last years. To give this years event a little bit of an edgy upscale vibe, I have decided to go with ‘4th in a box’. People easy .   .   . hang on, let me explain.  Sheesh!!! Rather than do the tried and true 4th of July bar-b-que.   .   . no, no, no .   .   . wait a second .   .  . I just heard someone say OMG .   .  . no old fashioned  bar-b-que ? Whoa .   .   .  it’s not the end of the world. So now that you all have lived through my crushing news of no bar-b-que, let’s move on. As you know, I am constantly trying to stretch my creativity, and in the process also tweak my friends’ anticipation of my new creations!!! This year is going to be a blanket celebration, as in picnic. Yes, yes,  you read it correctly. Sorry (giggling).   .   . I needed a moment to compose myself, because I just imagined the look on a few of your faces, and I think I heard one, or two of you gasp when the word blanket came out. To bring all the fixings to the table/blanket I am going to copy the wonderful art of Furoshiki. Someone just said, the what? Oh ye of little faith, please read on…

Furoshiki is the wonderful art of gift wrapping with fabric. Anything and everything can be bundled into a square piece of cloth. From cotton to the most elegant of silks used for ceremonial kimonos, can be used. I am going to bundle each guest’s goodie bag of food into extra large square scarves. For the women each scarf will have a different pattern, and large enough to use as a shawl while watching the fireworks, and as a party favor. And for the men .   .  . hmm .   .   .  how about a cap embroidered with our American flag? A big ice chest will hold the ‘ice cold pauses that refresh’.  The diagram below is pretty simple to follow. To close the opening (#4), slip one knotted end thru the other knotted opening, using the knotted one that you slipped thru much like a strap on a purse.  Have a SUPER, and SAFE  4th of July!!!

Are you looking for a new twist on the same-old, ho-hum table setting? Well look no further, help is here .   .   . Now on Amazon / Barnes & Noble /  IndieBound.org             “a collection of… Tableofferings™ from the go-to expert tablescaper” Available in E-book and HARDCOVER  http://getBook.at/Tableofferings.

For the kiddies in your life “I am sooo Lucky!!!”  Books 1, 2, & 3 AVAILABLE on …

Amazon      Barnes & Noble     IndieBound.org

Book1  http://getBook.at/book1Lucky    Book2   http://getBook.at/lucky2

Book3   http://getBook.at/Lucky3

Remember if you’re a Prime Amazon member you can read for free!

Sharon Insul is the former owner of the globally recognized  Beverly Hills boutique Candle light and… Beverly Hills, California, as well as an ongoing contributing columnist for the Beverly Hills Courier Newspaper.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dishing it up / with Sharon Insul

Come sit with me for awhile . . .
and see what I’m bringing to the table ®

Busy, busy .   .   . busssssy June. Did I mention that June is a busy month? In case you missed some of this month’s highlights .    .   . how about national doughnut day ?

Hang on, I’m not done yet. There was national cheese day, chocolate ice cream day, strawberry rhubarb pie day, corn on the cob day, jerky day, and peanut butter cookie day. If you think you missed some good stuff, wait until you hear what’s on tap for the rest of the month! People pay attention .   .   . because the next upcoming date is a triple header. Not only is this Sunday Father’s Day, and national go fishing day .   .   . it’s also international picnic day. OMG!!! Now if you really want to wow dad, grandpa, poppi, or even Uncle Charlie, throw in an early celebration of national ice cream soda day (June 20th), and chocolate eclair day (June 22nd). So take back the shirt, tie, or whatever, and find a picnic spot next to a fishing hole.

Sooo .   .   . for the sake of dear dad, who has been debating about the color of ‘this years’ striped tie a favor, and take back the shirt, tie, or whatever, and find a picnic spot next to a fishing hole, spread a blanket and .   .   . just enjoy! Then when it’s time for dessert, head to the ice cream shoppe.

June 21st is Summer solstice .   .   . I told you June is a bussssssy month. Sheesh!!!

Are you looking for a new twist on the same-old, ho-hum table setting? Well look no further, help is here .   .   . Now on Amazon / Barnes & Noble /  IndieBound.org             “a collection of… Tableofferings™ from the go-to expert tablescaper” Available in E-book and HARDCOVER  http://getBook.at/Tableofferings.

For the kiddies in your life “I am sooo Lucky!!!”  Books 1, 2, & 3 AVAILABLE on …

Amazon      Barnes & Noble     IndieBound.org

Book1  http://getBook.at/book1Lucky    Book2   http://getBook.at/lucky2

Book3   http://getBook.at/Lucky3

Remember if you’re a Prime Amazon member you can read for free!

Sharon Insul is the former owner of the globally recognized  Beverly Hills boutique Candle light and… Beverly Hills, California, as well as an ongoing contributing columnist for the Beverly Hills Courier Newspaper.