When I got engaged one of the first things I did was pick out my china. My Mom has a beautiful antique china cabinet displaying her heirloom dishes. It was always SO special to get to eat on those plates with the fancy gold-rimmed goblets and the gorgeous silver, and all of the accompanying trinkets that only got pulled out on major holidays like Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, etc. We sat on upholstered white chairs which sat on top of white carpet (seriously, she’s a mother of four- what was she thinking?!) in the fancy dining room where we only ate on those occasions. In fact, when we go home for major holidays we still do this, and I love it. I love that it causes people to be just a little more polite, and maybe take just a few more minutes to chew their food and sit around the table to chat. It reminds me that there’s something special about that day.
Now…next week I will be celebrating my 7th wedding anniversary. Ask me how many times I’ve had a fancy dinner on my fancy China. Zero. It’s wrapped up safely in boxes in my garage like it has been since it was given to us at our wedding reception. My husband reminds regularly that he thinks the whole idea of fancy china is lame. I DO intend to use it. In fact, I’m super excited for when I have room in my house for a beautiful hutch to display it in, and kids old enough to appreciate it. I really look forward to those days. But that’s going to have to wait until I don’t have 3 boys under the age of 5. Or the age of 10. Or who knows when really. For now, we stick to adorable paper paper plates from Target- because if I’m going to slave away on food all day, the dishes should at least be easy, right? When my boys are old enough for me to trust them to wash my china, maybe we’ll eat on it 🙂
So in the spirit of cute and easy holiday table decor- you’ve got to know how to make carrot napkins. They’re a classic! And they seem to be everywhere these days. I love how a lot of these cute old-time classic crafts are popping up again on blogs. If you’re having a casual pot-luck type meal, these are perfect- AND I’ve even done them on a formal table with real silverware and they look super cute sitting on each plate. Even better- the kids can put them together!
Here’s what you’ll need:
– Orange napkins (the large sized napkins)
– Green plastic cutlery
– Ties: ribbon, twine, twist ties, pipe cleaners, etc.
Hit a party supply store for a good selection of colored cutlery and napkins, or the Walmart party supply section is usually well stocked as well.
Open up your napkin and lay it flat on the table with the fold opening at the top
Take the bottom right hand corner and fold it up to the middle of the napkin
Place your cutlery on the opposite side. I always put the knife in back, and the fork on top of the spoon. Partially because the fork sits in the spoon nicely, and partly because I like that the fork looks the most like a carrot top 🙂
Start rolling from the left-hand side and roll the cutlery right up to the middle
Then grab the other side of the triangle and roll it the rest of the way around so you have a nice little carrot shaped bundle:
I like to tie them with a little green ribbon
But twine looks cute too, or if you want to go the super quick and easy route you can use pipe cleaners or even twist ties! That last option is definitely the best if kids are putting these together. I’ve used all 3 and they all look cute.
Lay them together in a basket and it doubles as adorable Easter decor on the table!
I’ve also used these as place cards before and they look great on both formal dinnerware (with real silverware) and disposable plates. If you are doing something formal, I love these cute bunny napkins from Martha Stewart.
Isn’t it cool that target designed this whole line of dinnerware to match our blog?? They’re so nice.
Lastly, I’m going to leave you with this video.
You’ll have to tell us if it’s any good because Kate and I are both too weirded out watching ourselves to make it all the way through! I do know you can hear lots of fun stuff like when I stabbed my own foot with a huge knife.
Good times people, good times!
Questions & Reviews
Sara- we have the SAME china!!! Here’s an idea. Since I have a ton of it, you start using yours and if any break, I’ll give you a replacement of whatever breaks. Give the china a try. By the way, it’s supposed to be dishwasher safe, but my husband would rather wash it by hand himself than let me put it in the dishwasher.
Your interview was terrific. However, if you both love cilantro so much that you could eat it everyday, I don’t stand a chance of your second book being cilantro-free, do I?!!! It’s at the TOP of my list of hated food. See you next week at Women’s Conference!
I put my Wedgewood china in the dishwasher. Their website encouraged me to do it! Now it is fancy dish day a lot! 🙂 (I still handwash my silver, though, even though I understand that it is fine in the dishwasher, too- with no other metal)
Good job on the interview! I would have been a nervous wreck, but you both look calm and cool. Love the knife in the foot story!
What a cute, and even easy Easter idea! I love it!
I love that you guys are real especially when you said “we’re not against fast food”. I had been following another food blog of a mother that I thought tried to cook healthy – little did I know how obsessive it was. It’s good to be healthy and teach your kids that way, but the way some moms are, they think that one bad food is going to kill their child. One mother commented a post and said that when she saw her daughter pick up a cupcake at a birthday party she sprinted across the room before her kid could lick the icing and told the other parents that eating those things isn’t worth diabetes. In my opinion, those people will have more than diabetes to worry about if they put their kids in a box and control every bite they take. If they don’t practice moderation now, how will they later? Anyways, enough of my rant but just wanted to comment on that haha
That is nutty. And a misinformed person, to boot. Eating sugar won’t give you diabetes… sigh.
Just so you know, it never really happens. (kids getting old enough). My six range in age from 13-23 and I STILL USE PAPER!! Plus, you have so many more options for color and theme, and clean up is a breeze!! I will definitely be making the carrot silverware cuties this weekend. Thanks for the idea!
What a fun idea! I hosted a little Easter picnic & egg hunt a few yrs ago for my kids and their friends using paper bag lunches packed with sandwiches, a bag of mini carrots, chips, and the chick and rabbit cupcakes from brightideas.com. We also made bunny ears for them to wear and we did the “bunny hop”. Even the parents had a great time! I could have totally used this idea for the napkin and utensils! That just gives me an excuse to do another party & picnic this weekend! I’m gonna have to hit Joann’s or Target for a cute spring tablecloth too, those are soo cute! Now I just hope its WARM on Saturday here in Utah!
Years ago Sister Holland spoke to the CES (seminary/institute teacher) spouses. She made the comment how she only pulled out her china for special guests and special occasions. Then one day, the thought occurred to her, who is more special than her own family? She then started using her china for Sunday dinners – even though her kids were young. My mom started doing the same thing. We used to only use it the holidays you mentioned, but now, 25 years later, she still pulls it out every Sunday. I love that she thinks we were/are special enough to use it.
I have a China Hutch full of beautiful china and I’m real concerned about whats going to happen to it when my little boy starts walking. Keeping it boxes sounds like a great idea about now.
you two are absolutely adorable. i loved watching that interview. every wednesday me and my girl friends get together with our kids and make something our of your cookbook! we love everything that we’ve made. my favorite so far is the brazilian lemonade. it was so delicious. thanks for all you do and all the inspiration! 🙂