So, you may have guessed from other posts that I’m a little bit obsessed with these Clare V. SaladΒ PlatesΒ from Anthropologie. I know, it’s weird. I generallyΒ steerΒ clear of anythingΒ cute or candyΒ pink.Β Β As an only child and grandchild, I feel as though I have officially satisfied my ruffle-filled, isn’tshesweet, pretty princess obligations.Β Β Β 

ButΒ this past year hasΒ been rough.Β MaybeΒ it’s time to reclaim some of thatΒ unrelenting optimismΒ littleΒ Jennifer had while pirouetting around the back yard in a tutu. Or maybe I’ve just finally lost whatever was left of myΒ f’ingΒ mindΒ and in a few months, you’ll find me twirling through the halls of a local psych ward.Β Either way, I’m not ashamed to sayΒ that IΒ LOVE these platesΒ and the joy they bring me.Β 

PINK IS NOT THEΒ PRIMARYΒ POINT OF THIS PALETTEΒ 

Since pink is not one of my go-to colors, IΒ focused insteadΒ on thoseΒ lusciousΒ red lips.Β Β This tableΒ setting wasΒ going to beΒ funΒ damn it, soΒ I addedΒ bright primary colorsΒ to complete my happy-go-luckyΒ summer vibe.Β Β 

IΒ added blue to each place setting by incorporating theΒ Lina Striped DinnerΒ Plates from Crate and BarrelΒ andΒ popped some bright yellow into the mix with my go-to CottonΒ SlubΒ Napkins from World Market.Β Β 

Then,Β to keep things grounded, IΒ anchored everything with these great Bali Round Placemats.Β Seriously,Β I needed some neutrals. Any more color and thisΒ place settingΒ might have started shooting rainbows out of its glass.Β (Sorry,Β I just couldn’t help myself.)Β 

TONE IT DOWNΒ 

Speaking of neutrals, when you go this heavy handed with bright colors, it’s wise to mix in a few neutrals and softer tones. Obviously, the placemats brought in a bit ofΒ naturalΒ brown, as did myΒ vintageΒ wood candlesticks.Β The pink plates and soft aqua tablecloth bridged the stark contrast between all my primary colors, and I chose clear glasswareΒ to keep things simple.

TheseΒ Impressions Cooler Glasses and Link Wine GlassesΒ literally came out of my own kitchen. You can buy a box ofΒ 12 ImpressionsΒ GlassesΒ at Crate and Barrel forΒ a whopping $24, which is a big deal to someone like me who talks with her handsΒ and tends to break thingsΒ a lot.Β I say for $2 a glass, break as many as you like.Β Opa!Β 

FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS FROM AROUND THE BENDΒ 

In keeping with my fun summer theme, I opted for wildflowerΒ arrangements. I wanted something that looked like it came straight from the side of a country road, soΒ I usedΒ yellowΒ Yarrow,Β GoldenΒ RodΒ andΒ Ammobium,Β akaΒ β€œtheΒ cutestΒ littleΒ daises you’ll ever come across.”

You can often find these varieties at your local grocery store or florist in the summer months. I picked these up at Trader Joe’s, but ifΒ you’reΒ up for aΒ walk, you can probably pluck similar stems along your favoriteΒ path orΒ trail. JustΒ beware of Poison Ivy,Β PoisonΒ Oak, and an unrelenting urge to skip down the lane and drink lemonade on a wideΒ coveredΒ porch.

As for food, one of my all-time favoriteΒ summer recipesΒ is this CurriedΒ  Cauliflower Egg Salad.Β ServeΒ itΒ on its own or with crackers, biscuits or bread.Β Seriously, this is not your mom’s egg salad!Β The curryΒ reallyΒ takesΒ thisΒ lowliest of mayo-based salads and turnsΒ it into aΒ stunningΒ main or side.Β I dare you not to get addicted to it.Β 

Shrimp is also a crowd pleaser during hotter months and this Lemony Shrimp with Capers doesn’t disappoint. Plus, it tastes great at room temperature and stands up to hot summer days. Serve some Lemon Rosemary No-Knead BreadΒ so that guests can sop up the sauce from their shrimp.

Last but not least, how can you have a summertime bash without aΒ decadentΒ summertime dessert.Β These Mini Blackberry Ricotta Cakes are as darling as they are delicious – just be sure to make extra. This dessert has a tendency to disappear quickly. I’m not proud to say it, but I ate 6 over the course of Liz’s last birthday party. Zero f**ksΒ given.Β 

CheersΒ toΒ hotΒ summerΒ decadence!Β 

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