Kitchen Table Two Ways Plus Bargain Report

When I was putting away the dishes from the last couple of tables, I had in mind to use the blue and white plates again. However, I was trying to think of something a little different than just blue and white, and I remembered how much I like the blue, white, and yellow table from a while back. The Homer Laughlin plates from last week have yellow, so I decided that I would try them together and do a variation on blue, white, and yellow. This time I would add touches of black, since the HL plates have a black rim and black stems on the flowers.

I started with white placemats and the Old Staffordshire plates. I have since decided that I “need” some yellow placemats. Alas, I have overspent my tablescaping budget once again, and it will awhile before I purchase anything for my tables. Oh, well, it happens….

Then I placed the HL plates on top. I do like the blue and yellow together, but I still thought that it needed a little something. [This is probably about the time that I decided that I needed some yellow placemats!]

The little fruit bowls seemed to do the trick. I liked it much better with some blue on top.

Although I usually like to use silver with the blue, I chose the San Remo flatware since the HL plates have the black in them.

I used some of my favorite napkins from the Napkin Lady. I love the blue and yellow paisley pattern. I used my round acrylic napkin rings, once again thinking to myself that I “need” some black napkin rings and maybe even some yellow ones. Oh, well….

I know that you can guess that the Dollar Tree goblets showed up again. Do you think that I “need” some yellow ones?

Once again, to bring out the black accent colors in the place setting, I chose the wine goblets with black stems. I purchased these at a thrift store a long time ago.

Because I do a vignette on the kitchen table rather than a centerpiece, I planned to use my favorite Spode blue and white pitchers in some configuration again.

When I opened the buffet drawer to find the napkin rings, I spied the bees that I purchased a while back. They are yellow and black, so I thought that they were a good choice to help carry out my color scheme. I also haven’t used them in a while. Sorry they don’t really show up on my dark table. They really do look cute.

I liked the final look, and I got to thinking that I have liked blue and yellow for a very long time.

My wedding china, the Lenox Fancy Free, actually has blue and yellow as two of the main colors. I used to almost always bring out the green in the plates and only occasionally the blue, never the yellow. After I started tablescaping, I began to look at these plates with a new eye.

That is really one of the things that I love about tablescaping. I really like using my normal things in new and different ways. Although I might have thought of these green placemats a long time ago, I don’t think that I ever would have thought of using these great brocade napkins{also from the Napkin Lady} in shades of brown.

Nor would I have ever used a pretty beaded napkin ring with a tassel. I love this look!

Of course, the Dollar Tree goblets made another appearance, this time the green ones. I decided to keep my vignette simple and use my three pillar candles.

I liked the simple, final look. I still love my Fancy Free china after all of these years. I have never tired of it.

As for my bargain report, the first one I have is not very good. I did find the cups I needed to go with the Summer Garden dishes that I purchased at a thrift store. I got a good price on eBay, and the package came in the mail this weekend.

However, when I picked up the box, I heard it-the rattle. I very carefully opened the package, and it was even worse that I feared.

Completely shattered to pieces. What a disappointment!

What’s even crazier, the other cup was perfect. I emailed the seller, and told him that I was fine with keeping the good cup and accepting a half refund. I received confirmation email from him today, and that was agreeable to him. I did find another one (but it was a higher price) and made a bid, but I am really unhappy about it. Having to spend money again is further cutting into my profit margin.

As for my personal bargain report, I have done really well with my Exxon customer reward card lately. In the past few weeks, I have saved 8 cents on a tank of gas, 5 cents on a tank, and 11 cents on another tank.

I have also done very well at CVS in past couple of weeks. I got Bumble Bee tuna for 77 cents, and I used some Extra Care bucks on a couple of trips. I was able to get great deals on 2 liter drinks, lotion, and some over the counter meds by using the Extra Care bucks. I am really a big fan of the sales at CVS. Their sales usually beat the dollar and discount stores. You just have to really watch their ads and make sure that you don’t get taken in by some of the marketing ploys.

So all in all, I’ve had a good week or two of bargain hunting {with the exception of the cups} and tablescaping. Hope all of you have a good week of bargain hunting as well!

I am joining: A Stroll Thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday (vignettes, tabletops, tablescapes), Home and Garden Thursday at A Delightsome Life (decorating, gardening, recipes, collecting), Vintage Thingie Thursday at Colorado Lady,   Sunny Simple Life (decorating, projects), Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday (tablescapes) and Metamorphosis Monday, Masterpiece Monday at Boogieboard Cottage (crafts, home decor, thrifty finds),  Cozy Little House for Tweak it Tuesday (deocrating, garden, projects),  Under the Table and Dreaming for Sunday Showcase (any project or idea made by you this week),  The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home (home & garden), Cuisine Kathleen for Let’s Dish (tablescapes), Treasure Hunt Thursday at From My Front Porch to Yours,  Make the Scene Monday at Alderberry Hill (home decor, projects, recipes), Cottage Style at Lavender Garden,   The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday (tablescapes),The Thrifty Groove for Thrifty Things Friday (thrifty decorating, tablescapes), What’s It Wednesday at Ivy and Elephants; Weekend Bloggy Reading at Serenity Now (recipes, crafts, home décor), Meet Me Monday at You Are Talking Too Much (projects, decorating, recipes),  Spotlight Saturday at Classy Clutter (recipes, crafts, home décor), Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage (decorating, crafts), Efforts and Assets at Hickory Trail, Pink Saturday at How Sweet the Sound (anything pink),You’re Gonna Love It Tuesdays at Kathe with an E (recipes, crafts, home décor), Mop it Up Monday at I Should Be Mopping the Floor (projects, decor, recipes), Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style (recipes, crafts, home décor),  Make it Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House (decor, projects),Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style,  Create It Thursday at Lamberts Lately,   Flaunt it Friday at Chic on a Shoestring (decor, projects, recipes),  Tuesday’s Treasures at Uncommon Suburbia (projects, decorating, recipes),  Return to Loveliness at A Delightsome Life (home decor, projects), Centerpiece Wednesday at The Style Sisters (centerpieces),Open House Party at No Minimalist Here (crafts, home décor), Time Travel Thursday at The Brambleberry Cottage (memories, projects), Tips and Tidbits at The Stone Gable(projects, home décor, recipes),Thursday Favorite Things at Katherine’s Corner (projects, home décor, recipes), Sizzle into Summer at DIY by Design (home décor, projects)