My Best Idea...for Today!

My dinner party went off without too many crazy issues...well, if you don't count me setting the main table for 6 instead of 8. What was I thinking? Obviously, I wasn't!

We had a total of 12 guests. I had split the guests between the small kitchen eat-in area and the formal dining room. Somehow, I set the table for two less in the stress of last minute setup. I had worked in the retail store during the day and didn't get started cooking the main course until about 5:00pm.

All went well and all seemed to enjoy a good evening. I had the help of a darling and creative friend, Shannon. (We probably were too busy having fun catching up to count the seating arrangements!)

As promised, here is my best idea of the day! Since quick centerpiece ideas follows closely in line with the merchandising I do daily at the store, I didn't give too much thought ahead of time. At the store in the afternoon, I came up with a vision that I thought would be seasonal and fast. It turned out to be a big hit. You could easily try this for your next party!

I borrowed this three tiered wire basket from the store. I knew that my hydrangea bushes were fully loaded with beautiful green/white blooms. I stopped by the grocery store on the way home and picked up 5 heads of leaf lettuce-some green and some red. Then I headed for the produce department and selected some very firm red pears, stems in tact.



I cut a generous supply of hydrangeas from the yard and positioned them with the leaf lettuce and fresh pears in such a way to balance out the tiered stand, and to be appealing from all sides of the centerpiece. Voila! With this selection of all fresh goods, all readily available, I created this centerpiece in a matter of minutes!


Another angle for inspection. I thought later, it would have been cool to add some of the fresh cilantro we were cooking with! Ahhh...the scent would have been fabulous with the mix.

Yet another closeup of the hydrangea, leaf lettuce and pears. Of course, those who knew of my store inventory of absolutely real looking artificial fruit, thought they were from Black-eyed Susan! You could always purchase my fake ones and have them ready at all times without making the quick trip to the grocery store!

I hope you try it for your next "quick fix"!