Look at us getting all fancy with our ‘al fresco’ talk today! In fact, I’m typing this post with my pinkies up, dahling! Do people even say ‘al fresco’ in real life?! Maybe not…but it was a better post title than ‘Eating Outside.’ #justsayin
However you prefer to say it, patio dining is a favorite pastime around here, and fortunately, Texas weather offers us plenty of opportunities. Our last outdoor dining set was looking pretty sad after 15 years, and thanks to an unfortunate event involving the glass top and a few clueless teenage boys, we recently got an upgrade. We didn’t waste any time breaking it in, and celebrated our son’s birthday last week with a cookout by the pool.
I looked at countless options before deciding on the Elaine 7-Piece Dining Set from AE Outdoor. Texas Summers can be intense, so durability was my first criteria…followed by design, aesthetics, and size. This table and chairs have a rustproof aluminum frame, and high pressure laminate top…both of which can withstand the harshest outdoor conditions.
From the design standpoint, I love the low-profile, curved-back chairs, and subtleness of the woven herringbone pattern. And once I saw a sample of the Sunbrella cushion fabric, I was sold! The mossy green perfectly compliments the backyard, and my new outdoor palm print pillows.
Entertaining Tip: Let your cutting boards double as serving trays…the wood adds warmth and texture to your table. And, one less dish to wash!
You may remember the umbrella from our last patio…black and white stripes are always a good idea! The woven material of the new dining set coordinates perfectly with our existing patio set…I’m working on a little refresh of that, and will show you soon where they end up in the new backyard.
Entertaining Tip: Recycle vintage-looking soda bottles for serving chilled water.
World Market is my go-to source of outdoor melamine dishes and serving ware, and I pair them with my everyday indoor pieces for a layered feel. I added the monogrammed cups to my collection this year, and completely adore them…even more since they are dishwasher-safe! (Don’t worry, the ‘J’ is for Mr. SP, not the pool boy.) 😉 #MrSPisalsothepoolboy
With Summer really heating up, I’m constantly reaching for this tee. It’s crazy soft and lightweight, yet isn’t sheer and maintains it’s shape. It’s currently on sale, so I’m adding new colors to my collection! And Turkish towels are my latest discovery…they are absorbant, but dry quickly and fold compactly. And unlike typical pool/beach towels, the patterns are subtle and chic.
P.S. Several of you emailed me about how to gain access to the Nordstrom Anniversary Pre-Sale this Thursday…well, that’s easy…it’s open to all credit or debit cardholders! I’m a slave to earning mileage points, so I opted for the Nordstrom debit card. But in fact, I only use it to gain access to the sale, then I pay with my usual credit card. #tricks
Many items sell-out before the sale even opens to the public July 17, so it’s definitely worth looking in to! I’ve been studying the catalog like it’s my job, so I’ll be posting my picks later this week! Who shops the pre-sale with me?