the secondhand table | spring edition

A spring secondhand table.

if you’re just joining us from Aimee Weaver Design, I’m so glad you’re here!

Lately, it seems as if the world has gone mad.  fear is rampant and things that were once steady, even concrete, are now uncertain.  it’s times like these that can make working on a home improvement project or setting a pretty table feel trivial, maybe even vain.  with so much loss and grief and unknown, it feels silly to worry about or even bother creating and finding beauty. but part of me feels like this is all the more reason to find + create beauty.  what if finding joy and beauty in the midst of life’s darkest moments is a part of what will help carry us through?

 When my secondhand table friends invited me to join in on a spring table, it was a welcome distraction.  in case you missed it, we created a thanksgiving tablescape, a table for Christmas, and a fun, little Valentine’s table setting.  this challenge is a great creative exercise that encourages using only secondhand items, hence the name.  whether it’s thrifted, foraged, or new-to-you, the goal is simply to use what you have, purchasing nothing “new.”  due to current events, local businesses being closed, and the stay-at-home order, creating a spring secondhand table inspired even more creativity. this time I didn’t even leave my house, save for walking outside to clip some branches in the backyard.

This table feels especially simple to me and I feel as if that’s fitting. my favorite blue + white floral sheet-turned-tablecloth acts as an anchor.  I filled an oversized jar [from the Target clearance shelf years ago] with a branch from the large fig tree that shades our backyard. I used my rattan chargers and a mix of blue + white dishes as my place setting­–some of my favorite, most-used thrifted finds.  some antique flatware + scalloped linen napkins, a Christmas gift from my husband years back, are a sweet detail.  I used these same seagrass-wrapped high ball glasses in my thanksgiving table, but they feel especially appropriate for this particular table.  so light and springy!

It’s not much, but I think it’s pretty.  I have a feeling that blue + white and touches of rattan will be making an appearance all spring + summer long at my house. thanks for reading!  I hope you leave inspired to create a little something or to find beauty in this crazy world of ours.

be sure to stop by Adored House to see the lovely secondhand table Dana put together!

---

make sure to hop over and check out all the secondhand tables that were put together!

DANA | ADORED HOUSE

RACHEL | CHERRY STREET BLOSSOMS

FABIANA | CIAO NEWPORT BEACH

AIMEE | AIMEE WEAVER DESIGNS

---

be our guest | pt. i

the very first birthday.

---

This post was originally written in early May 2017.  our little boy, Greyson, turned a year old on April 27th.  as is my tendency when it comes to blogging, I composed this post soon after, but never got around to publishing.  when I decided to share some of my favorite hosting tips + tricks, as well as children's birthday party ideas, I thought it may be best to start at the beginning—with the very first birthday party we ever hosted.  the remainder of this post will be written from my point of view nearly three years ago as we gathered to celebrate our first little boy turning one!

---

Our first baby turned a year old at the end of April.  it was the wildest, most bittersweet thing... they always say that time goes by quickly and I knew this to be true from my experience nannying; but even still, it seems like it happened in the blink of an eye.  one day, I was riding home from the hospital in the back seat next to our fresh, seven pound newborn, laughing at my overly-cautious husband.  and the next, we had a spirited one-year-old, waddling through the house, giggling and getting into everything.    

in this post, I want to share a few birthday party ideas.  I want to remind you [and myself] that less is more.  I did stress myself out over this party, but that had less to do with the actual party + preparation and more to do with us trying to install butcher block countertops + a new backsplash in five days leading up to the party.  but that's another post.  I would be lying if I said my hair wasn't still wet when the first guests arrived and the cake had yet to be frosted.  and when my mother arrived and I informed her of this, she responded, "seriously?"  naturally, I burst into tears as I bustled through the house, tweaking last-minute things.  some of the stress was due to my perfectionism.  some of it to realizing that my baby wasn't a baby anymore.  some of it was because I am emotional by nature, and I have to think the pregnancy hormones didn't help much.

but as I rushed around, getting things ready, I couldn't help but think that the old adage is true: less is more.  the party came and went.  it was such a sweet time and I forgot all about the things I didn't finish.  and that's one of the best parts and secrets—no one knows what you didn't do or finish or what didn't go according to plan unless you tell them. what mattered most was that all our family and friends were there to celebrate with us and the little boy who has brought us so much joy.

the theme

I am not exactly sure what one would describe the theme of this party.  it had a bit of a farm feeling to it, with the animals and pops of red. the only thing I actually knew when I started brainstorming party ideas was that I wanted baby animals on the cake. I shared this idea with my incredibly gifted artist-sister and she created an [absolutely precious] original watercolor that I then had printed onto the invitations.

the menu

The party began at 10 o'clock, so naturally the menu was light.  it included a fruit + cheese spread, a vegetable tray, a bowl of mixed nuts, in addition to the tried-and-true party favorites: cake and ice-cream. preparing a charcuterie board has become one of my favorite things to do when playing hostess. one thing I love about it is how beautiful and fresh it looks, but the other thing I love is how easy it is. this is a great thing to put on your party menu as it is both budget friendly and easy to assemble. I highly recommend!

For my beverage station, I served lemonade, sweet tea, and water in carafes from the Target dollar spot.  two silver teacups held fresh sliced strawberries and lemons for those wanting to add a little something extra to their drink.  this great beverage dispenser from Walmart held ice water and played well into the farm-party feeling.  red + white paper straws have been a favorite of mine ever since our wedding reception.  the ice bucket is from TJ Maxx and the old wooden box is a treasure I've gathered along the way.

And now for the details on the cake! it may sound like it was homemade since I frosted it myself, but it is actually a simple round cake from a local grocery store bakery. I asked for three plain round cakes. if I remember correctly, they cost about $9ish a layer. the lady in the bakery was hesitant to sell this to me for whatever reason; but after I assured her it was really what I wanted, she reluctantly pulled three out of the freezer and sold them to me. I let them thaw overnight in the refrigerator and then, as I mentioned earlier, frosted them as the guests were arriving. and yes, I suppose you could say poor time management has always been my thing.

my favorite little party detail is what I used to top the cake. I ordered a few Schleich animals from amazon and used them as my cake toppers. I made a miniature pennant banner and miniature party hats for the animals the night before the party. the miniature cake came from Hobby Lobby in the dollhouse section. I had just planned on the animals + banner at first, but it seemed odd for them to be sitting atop the cake with no dessert themselves. can you tell I overthink—I mean—put a lot of thought into this stuff?

another little tip I’d like to share is my source for paper products + napkins. this is by no means groundbreaking and I cannot be the only person who takes advantage of this, but I always get all my disposable serveware—plates, cups, napkins, cutlery [if I’m using plastic]—from Dollar Tree. while I do love pretty party plates and napkins, I am fairly practical [a nice change for me] when it comes to this aspect of hosting, as far as birthday parties go. for dinner parties, by all means, break out your finest [in my case: thrift store] china!

since I know all of the little plates filled with cake and ice cream remnants will be thrown away in a matter of minutes, I can’t bring myself to pay more than a couple bucks for a pack of plates or napkins. I typically buy simple white plates, but I’ve also bought red and yellow before. if you just can’t bear the thought of solid plates or napkins from Dollar Tree, TJ Maxx and HomeGoods have some great, reasonably priced options. I’d check there before going to a party supply store as they tend to be a bit pricier, in my experience.

and that about wraps up this sweet little first birthday party! I don’t have a photograph, but I parked the little red wagon Greyson had gotten for Christmas in front of our fireplace and the gifts were placed there.

---

and now I’m writing from the year 2020…

it’s funny [and by funny, I mean humbling] to look back and see how far we [I] have come. strictly aesthetically speaking, I’m pleased with this party overall. however, I can tell my skills as a hostess have improved, as well as my time management. all my teachers in high school would be so proud, if only they knew. I hope you enjoyed this post! maybe it will inspire you as you plan a party or serve as a reminder to have the cake put together well before your guests arrive.

stay tuned for a post about Grey’s second birthday celebration. here’s a little hint regarding the theme: it was a ball.

---

the secondhand table | 2.14.20

the secondhand table | valentine’s edition

if you’re just hopping over from Annie’s, welcome! I am so glad you’re here!

---

With valentine’s day around the corner, some friends + I thought it would be fun to create a little secondhand tablescape for the 14th of February.  the concept behind the secondhand table is to use only secondhand items or items you already own.  this fun, little challenge is not only pocket-friendly; it also encourages creativity and sustainability.  if you’re new around here or you missed it, we also created a thanksgiving table, as well as a table for Christmas.

I realize valentine’s day can be controversial—some people love it, some people hate it.  I’ve always been a middle-of-the-road girl in regard to this.  save for the pale pink nail polish I occasionally wear [red is my go-to; no surprise there], I don’t typically use a lot of pink—in my wardrobe or décor.  so this “holiday” is fun to me, if only to embrace a little more blush hues than normal.  my husband and I don’t exchange gifts or cards or much of anything like that, though I am never one to turn down flowers. we do something better.  our valentine’s date tradition includes a dinner out [or in] dining on crawfish.  if you’re from the south, especially Louisiana, you know this is a delicacy.  I look forward to February 14th every year as it marks our first crawfish tasting of the season.

Last September, I joined a book club. at the risk of sounding dramatic, it is quite possibly one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.  it has been such a delight, in every sense of the word.  as if the sweet, new friendships I’ve gained were not enough, it has stretched me in other positive ways.  I’ve always loved to read, but this has helped me to truly appreciate literature once again.  let’s be real: as idyllic as curling up with a good book is, it’s much easier to curl up with hulu or netflix.  it’s also been an opportunity to show hospitality, as we all take a turn to host each month.  all that to say, I have the pleasure of hosting this month so I created this table specifically with my book club girls in mind!  this is also the reason it’s especially feminine.

My floral “tablecloth” is just a flat sheet—one of my favorite tricks in the book.  I found it at a little thrift store in Farmersville, Texas when we were visiting family there a few days ago.  it was actually sold as a set: one flat sheet, one fitted sheet, and two pillow cases for $6.  so now I’ll have an extra set for future reference!  some may think secondhand linens are gross, but as long as they pass the sniff test and get a nice, hot washing upon purchasing, I personally don’t mind them.

For my centerpiece, a thrifted champagne bucket holds a bottle of Pellegrino that I had in the pantry. I found the rattan wrapped votive a few weeks ago at Goodwill for a couple bucks. the glass pitcher belonged to my grandmother. I filled it with drift roses from the rose bushes that line our front porch and snippets of boxwood from the hedge near the friends’ entry of our home. I almost bought flowers from the grocery store to replace the tulips that my boys cut to pieces on Monday [I wish I was kidding about this], but I decided against it. I’m so glad I followed “the rules” and used what I had.

I found the antique monogrammed napkins at an estate sale last month.  I had already stopped by the sale the day it opened and grabbed a few goodies, but I decided to pop by on the the last day [aka half price day] to see if any of the other items I had my eye on were still there.  I don’t know that this has ever happened before, but they ALL were.  I could not believe it!  before I went to pay, I passed a table of linens and spotted these napkins.  I’ve always loved antique linens, especially monogrammed ones.  it was just icing on the cake that they actually had our initial on it.  I got twelve linen napkins for $12.00.

Everything else I already owned…  the rattan chargers, the ironstone dishes, the doily-like dessert plates. I topped each place setting with a rose bud + boxwood sprig. for our actual book club meeting, I’ll make a little place card with each of my guests’ names. it’s very pink + girly, which isn’t typically my style; but I think it’s fitting considering the occasion. this is a sweet little table if I do say so myself. I can’t wait to gather around it with friends to discuss our latest read, Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine.

I hope you enjoyed our fun little challenge.  don’t forget to visit the Adored House to see the beautiful secondhand table Dana created! and thanks so much for reading! it means so much to me to have you here. whether you’re a fan of February 14th or not, I hope you know how loved you are each and every day.

---

make sure to hop over and check out all the secondhand tables that were put together!

Dana | Adored House

Rachel | Cherry Street Blossoms

Fabiana | Ciao Newport Beach

Annie | Most Lovely Things

---

the secondhand table | christmas

A TOUR OF THRIFTED CHRISTMAS TABLESCAPES.

if you’re just joining us from Aimee Weaver Design, I’m so glad you’re here!

Last month, I collaborated with a few talented home bloggers to create a thanksgiving table using only secondhand items. if you missed it, you can read more about it here. it was such a fun creative challenge that when Rachel asked if I’d be interested in doing it again for Christmas, of course I said yes! the rule of this challenge is simple: use only thrifted, foraged, or secondhand items, as well as items you already own. or perhaps what’s simple is that there is only one rule…

My thanksgiving table could be described as traditional, using the warm tones one expects to see in fall decor. for my Christmas table, I wanted to kick it up a notch and make things a tad more formal. I only bought a few new [to me] items for my table; everything else I already had on hand. I’ll include a list of “new” items and price breakdown below!

green is my favorite color. I find that I am never finished with a room, picture, table, project—whatever it may be—until there’s a touch of green. that’s why when I came across this dark green tablecloth with a ruffle detail, I snagged it. it was $2.99 and I’m pretty sure it is straight from the 90s, but I kind of like it. it makes for a lovely canvas, anchoring the entire tablescape, and allowing the other items on the table to pop.

For my centerpiece, I used a champagne bucket filled with greenery, brass candlesticks, and a Blue Willow platter filled with pomegranates, clementines, cranberries, nuts, and sprigs of boxwood—all things I already had on hand. I found the champagne bucket that holds the boxwood cone topiary sometime in the last year or two on Goodwill’s website. you read that right. you can shop at Goodwill online, auction-style. I believe this bucket was about $8 or $9. not too shabby! but with the shipping and handling, it ended up being around $20-$30. I’m old-fashioned and prefer a brick-and-mortar store [and frankly, not paying extra for shipping + handling], so I haven’t really “shopped” their website since. however, some may not mind that!

I suppose the glassware is what elevates this from a casual tablescape to a more formal setting. I had been wanting some crystal stemware, or something similar. while I love shopping secondhand, one of the challenges of doing so is finding multiples of a certain item. for instance, I had seen a few different pieces of crystal at various thrift stores, but never more than two that matched. I suppose I could have gone for a collected look and used mismatched stemware, but I really wanted a set of matching crystal stemware. when I had just about given up, I happened upon a set of six crystal goblets! for $1.99 a piece, I couldn’t pass that up!

I used the same thrifted rattan chargers that I featured on my thanksgiving table. the dishes are a collection of thrift store finds. the Federalist Ironstone dinner plates were found at Goodwill in a set of 8 place settings—dinner plate, salad plate, bowl, and saucer. 36 pieces of ironstone for just $8! the teacups were missing, but I figured it was still worth it. I found the black + white toile plates at another thrift store a few towns over for 50¢ a piece. and the buffalo china dessert plates with red scroll detail were 49¢ a piece at one of my favorite local thrift shops.

The vintage scalloped linen napkins were a gift from my husband a few Christmases ago. I couldn’t decide how to fold or place them, when I got the idea to simply tie a piece of tartan ribbon in the center, creating a giant bow. then I placed them front + center on the stack of collected dishes, like a bow on top of a gift. it seemed fitting considering the occasion! I also used some old mint julep cups that I found at the thrift store this past summer. I have a growing collection of [secondhand] silver and love to feature it in our home wherever I can.

Towards the end of the shoot, I filled the crystal glasses with sprite, a cranberry or two, and a sprig of rosemary. it made for lovely photos and the boys were all too excited to help me empty the glasses… into their bellies.

---

I don’t typically enjoy numbers, but I do love the “guess how little this cost!” game. plus, I thought this may be a helpful guide in that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to create something you love.

COST BREAKDOWN:

GREEN TABLECLOTH | $2.99

CHAMPAGNE BUCKET | $8-$9* plus shipping + handling

RATTAN CHARGERS | $8.00 [$1.99/CHARGER]*

FEDERALIST IRONSTONE DINNER PLATES | $8.00 [36 piece set]*

BLACK + WHITE TOILE SALAD PLATES | $1.50 [50¢ for three plates]

RED SCROLL DESSERT PLATE | $1.47 [49¢ for three plates]

CRYSTAL STEMWARE | $11.94 [$1.99/GLASS]

MINT JULEP CUPS | $8.00 [$2/PIECE]*

GRAND TOTAL: $50.90

however, I feel it is worth mentioning that since I had most of these things on hand, I only spent $17.90 on the “new to me” items!

* items I already owned

---

To be completely candid, I was a little worried and not really feeling confident in my vision or what I had gathered. but as I begin to set the table, the ideas began to flow; and overall, I am really pleased with the finished product. maybe I’m biased, but if I saw this table somewhere, I would be surprised to learn that nearly everything is secondhand. it just goes to show the wonderful treasures you can find if you’re willing to dig a little!

I hope you enjoyed this post and leave feeling inspired! don’t forget to visit Annie at Most Lovely Things to see the beautiful secondhand table she created! thanks so much for reading!

and merry, merry Christmas to you + yours!

---

make sure to hop over and check out all the secondhand tables that were put together!

Rachel | Cherry Street Blossoms

Aimee | Aimee Weaver Designs

Annie | Most Lovely Things

Dana | Adored House

---

the secondhand table | thanksgiving

a tour of thrifted thanksgiving tablescapes

if you’re just joining us from Adored House, I’m so glad you’re here!

When Rachel of Cherry Street Blossoms reached out and asked if I’d be interested in sharing inspiration for a fall table using only secondhand items, I couldn’t say yes quickly enough! I am a big fan of Rachel and her work, so I was both humbled + flattered by her invitation. if you know me personally or have followed the tiny white house for any length of time, you know one of my favorite pastimes is shopping secondhand, specifically thrifting. so any opportunity to essentially create something from nothing [or using/spending very little] is right up my alley!

the challenge was to create a thanksgiving tablescape using only thrifted or secondhand items. when the majority of your household belongings are secondhand to begin with, this isn’t hard to do. but to not use anything new? well, that calls for a little creativity. per usual, my vision was a simple, timeless table. less is more and all that.

Most everything I used I already had on hand, with the exception of the “tablecloth” [which is actually a throw blanket] and the produce. this is one of the benefits of thrifting, but can be a downside as well. with patience, you can curate a lovely collection of unique, quality goods. but patience is the tricky part. while it may be easier and more convenient to purchase things new, I have found that in buying secondhand, I not only spend less [always a bonus], but what I come away with is original and often times better quality than buying brand new. you know what they say: they just don’t make ‘em like they used to.

if patience is an ingredient to successful thrifting, then preparation is a tasty reward. when I say that I had the other things on hand, I mean, though it may have taken time to gather, when such an occasion arose, I was prepared [a rarity in most other areas of my life] and already had what I “needed.” I found the rattan chargers earlier this year, the brown + white dishes this summer and knew they’d be perfect for fall. the seagrass glasses were my souvenir from our visit to the beach in September. while my family relaxed on the beach one day, I relaxed by visiting every thrift store in Destin and the surrounding areas. time well spent, if you ask me.

The only new [to me] item is the tablecloth, or throw blanket rather. a couple weeks ago, I saw a brown + cream floral sheet at a local thrift store. I didn’t grab it when I saw it—rookie mistake; and when I went back for it, it was gone. I was pretty bummed about it since I had kind of planned the table around it and was counting on some type of table covering. then on a fast + furious trip to Georgia for the funeral of an old friend, I popped in Value Village [my first time to visit one] before the nearly 500 mile trek home. it was a quick thrift haul, I was probably in and out in ten minutes. but I’m so happy I stopped by because I found the beautiful plaid throw that serves as a tablecloth… and a blue + white flat sheet [that I’ll use as a tablecloth] and a rattan basket and a lamp and a book and a mug—all for $12!

As for the centerpiece, I knew I wanted to use a flat-bottom basket I had thrifted a few months ago filled with fruits + vegetables. I thought it would make for a simple, yet colorful display, and would also be significant, considering the holiday we are about to celebrate. how fitting for the centerpiece to be a reflection of the very thing that brings us together—delicious food + the Lord’s provision! it also reminds me of the fresh markets in Paris. I had the incredible opportunity to spend a few days there this past spring with my mother + sisters. creating a table with things fresh from the garden [or grocery, in my case] is certainly a nod to the French.

the little linen napkins were a gift from my husband a few Christmases ago and the mismatched antique flatware is one of my many collections. after the pretty silverware from our wedding registry disappeared in the flood, I began to slowly replace it with these beautiful, antique pieces. the engraved pieces are my favorite.

I had a miniature ginger jar full of pheasant tail feathers on our mantle, so I snagged a few to tuck into the folds of the napkins. last month, I hosted our monthly book club meeting, where we discussed Where the Crawdads Sing. I used these feathers for the place cards [if you’ve read it, you understand], so the idea of incorporating feathers was fresh on my mind. besides, I thought it would be a nice touch and add a little masculinity to the mix.

even the cotton sprigs are secondhand! some of our dear friends who farm gifted me some to decorate with.

from now on, I think I’ll only buy carrots with the leafy tops still attached. and maybe leave them on the dining room table as decor year-round...

a little corner of our dining room… everything photographed is secondhand [thrift store, flea market, facebook marketplace], except the pears + pumpkin. those came from Walmart.

I don’t typically enjoy numbers, but I do love the “guess how little this cost!” game. plus, I thought this may be a helpful guide in that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to create something you love.

cost breakdown:

brown + white dishes | $4.50 [$1.50/plate]
rattan chargers | $8.00 [$1.99/charger]
glasses | $12.00 [$3/glass]
plaid throw | $1.24
turkey platter | $8.00
flat basket | $1.00
produce | approximately $15.00

GRAND TOTAL: $49.74

I’m really tickled with the way this turned out! with the exception of the produce and throw, I already owned every piece used. it’s especially amusing to me that the artichoke I used in the centerpiece cost more than the plaid blanket I used as a tablecloth. we have yet to host thanksgiving dinner and are usually making the rounds during the holidays, but I plan to recreate some of this when we host friendsgiving in a few weeks.

I hope you enjoyed this and that it inspires you to create something beautiful as you gather with those you love—whether it’s in the form of a table setting, a delicious meal, or a meaningful conversation!

and thanks again to Rachel — such an honor to be included in this fun challenge! head over to Fabiana’s to see the beautiful secondhand table she created! I think this is the first time in the history of the tiny white house that I have ever shared any kind of holiday decor before the actual holiday. so this is what the real bloggers feel like!

---

make sure to hop over and check out all the secondhand tables that were put together!
so much beauty + creativity!

Rachel | Cherry Street Blossoms

Fabiana | Ciao Newport Beach

Annie | Most Lovely Things

Dana | Adored House

---

full disclosure: I am not the biggest fan of thanksgiving, or should I say, the typical foods served. let the record show I am all about gratitude and think it’s one of the greatest lessons we could ever learn and one of the most important things we could ever practice. I just don’t love turkey [unless it’s cold + thinly sliced and on a sub sandwich with all the fixins’] or ham or cranberries or dressing or stuffing or pecan pie or even sweet tea. I know, I know–how am I even from the south? when it’s my turn to host thanksgiving 30+ years from now, we’ll be having fried chicken and spicy parmesan shrimp pasta and whatever else I want because I’ll be the grandmother and I get to say. isn’t that how it works?