Dinner Parties

My friend Diane had us over dinner this past weekend.  She is very creative and has a knack for creating beautiful spaces.  I’m inspired every time I’m at her house.  She puts patterns together that I would have never imagined and mixes and matches things to make things look more interesting.  She has just recently simplified her style a bit for a more cleaner look.  This was her table setting for our dinner.  Not too fussy, but full of Fall color and a bit of whimsy.  I love her rustic hardwood table with the contrast of her elegant and beautiful chandelier.  If you know Diane it totally looks like her.  She loves pops of color and her walls are a pumpkin color which shows her confidence in decorating.

We had dinner catered in from the restaurant Bravo.  I know she wouldn’t mind me sharing this because she has few secrets.  She doesn’t portray something she’s not.  Although she is a good cook, she would rather fluff things up that are store bought.  The dinner was stress free and delicious.  For two pans of lasagna, salad and breadsticks the cost was roughly $100 for 6 people.  There was even a full pan of lasanga left over.  The amount of food provided could have easily feed 8-10 people.  It would have cost almost as much or more to make everything from scratch by the time you bought the ingredients.   I think as women we feel we have to make everything from scratch when we invite people to dinner.  Some people enjoy cooking, but it can be very stressful trying to get everything out on the table and keep it warm.  I like to make appetizers and desserts, but so often they can be more work than a meal.  By the time I clean my house and perhaps prepare a cute table I’m already exhausted before the cooking begins.  Because of the amount of work involved I then forgo entertaining at all.  Don’t be surprised if you get Bravo’s lasagna at my house.