Having breakfast with someone special.

 Me.

Yup, it's all about living a charmed life on a shoestring, and actually using the good stuff. Feeling special. Everyday.

I was reading my sweet friend Carol's blog last week, (I love her style, her photography, and the fact that she is such a real and genuinely nice person, don't you?) and I absolutely fell in love with a table scape she had created  for a luncheon for some friends. I especially loved her wicker trays she used as chargers under her plates. Oh, how I coveted them!

Not in my budget, (Around $5 each, and you had to buy 8 of them, plus there would be a shipping charge...) but I couldn't quit thinking about them. Then, while out thrifting, (at the Vancouver Goodwill...) I ran across some very similar basket trays, priced at just 99 cents each!...okay, so hers are square and dark and mine are round and light, but still....the very same concept. I grabbed 'em up, and I'm breaking one of them in today at breakfast. Look how great the handle works as a napkin ring....
I usually have the same thing each morning....vanilla yogurt, (with almond vanilla granola) a banana and a hot cocoa. (which I usually eat standing over the sink while Moose peers around the corner into the kitchen hoping for some crumb to fall to the floor.) Not today. Today I am going to enjoy a leisurely breakfast with myself, sitting at my charming little table, listening to Norah Jones latest CD, watching the rain fall, and thinking about all of my lil' grandbabies. (Pictures coming of sweet, sweet brand new Bronson Cole...gosh, it's hard when they live in another state!)

*sigh* I think I could get used to doing breakfast this way.

(I've added this post to Tablescape Thursdays...)

Comments

[Privet and Holly]

A lovely reminder to take ourselves out {or IN} for breakfast! Seeing those chargers reminded me: I have the same ones! Have to dig them out for these glorious summer months. Congrats on the newest baby! xx Suzanne

[Kathleen Grace]

Just gorgeous Tracey! I decided a long time ago that using the good stuff for every day was the way to go. I thought about all the vintage linens and china, that had already been through a generation of women who were too afraid to use and enjoy them, that I had picked up for pennies. Of what use is something beautiful that cannot be used and enjoyed? We, and our loved ones, are worthy of our best. It's just stuff anyways. If it gets used up, it was enjoyed.

[tina]

Too funny. I saw the same blog post and also loved the chargers. Ordered some right up!

Love your pretty table setting.

tina

[Lisa]

How nice to treat yourself so special! We should all take time to do that for ourselves occasionally. I do love the wicker chargers though....great napkin rings!

[Nevadanne]

I actually like your round ones better than the square ones. I don't think I would have ever thought to use the handle as a napkin ring but now that I see it, I sure can copy it! :o) Did you buy them new or find them used somewhere? I'll have to be on the look out! ♥

[Sandy]

Congrats, Grandma! Love your tray but I LOVE that Repousse silver! I have always wanted some of it but no matter how much it still is out of my budget!
Relax and enjoy your beautiful place setting.

Sandy

[Tracey Buxton]

Sandy, its not Repousse silver! Its a silver-plate look alike that I got several years back from Horchows online sale.....I love it too!!!
Tracey

[kaye thornton]

I have a question. How do you paint with all the rain you get in the Pacific Northwest? Isn't it always damp there?

I'm in Michigan and I find the summer days can be too humid to paint.

Just wondering. Love your blog and your projects!

Thanks,
Kaye

[Tracey Buxton]

I havent had trouble painting...I paint in my garage (or my dining room!) and things seem to dry okay.
Tracey

[Raised In Cotton~Carol]

Hey Doll:)) Oh My, DO I LOVE your basket trays! Beautiful and what a steal~of course you can make anything look fabulous:))) Thank You for the love too:))

xoxo,
Carol

[thepaper-rose]

too too cute! where did you find the wicker trays? hoping you will say like dollar store????

[Dawn]

So lovely....

[Yankee Doodle]

I really like the round ones too with the handles. I can see them in your cottage white shabby paint color too. Great find and for less than a dollar each I'm green with envy.

[Farmlady]

If we all made the effort to eat this way we probably would'nt have to take Zantac and Prilosec and Tums. The art of beautiful settings at the table is being slowly lost.
Please keep showing us how to eat our food. Save America, one meal at a time....
Just beautiful.

[The Sewing Queen]

Yeah for you. I read an article many, many years ago on the subject of single people (actually women) "NOT" eating over the sink. The article stressed how "treating yourself to a delightful table setting at the table" can make you feel like a Queen for the Day. It works. I even do it at dinner time. Thought about some candles, but that seemed a bit much for me - still I just might do that in the future.

[My Life Under the Bus]

I saw that post on Raisedincotton ( and have the bowls to match her plates! They were $1.00 each at a discounter !!) Your table came out LOVELY and I am sure your friend felt VERY special !!! My husband is a chronic sink eater ! LOL I think we started eating standing upwhen the kids were little so we would actually GET some food ! : )

[Barb]

I agree that I like the round basket trays better and I love the idea of the handle as a napkin ring! Your blog is so beautiful and inspirational - and makes me feel quite lazy as you have so much energy. I'm always amazed at how much you get done in a day! Congratulations on your new grandchild.

[Lynn@HappierThanAPigInMud]

Looks great, I do a lot of table for one posts, treat yourself well-enjoy!

[Barbara]

Your basket trays are so pretty and I love how you used them as a napking ring. Beautiful table.

[Bettsi]

Adorable! You could always stain them darker if you would like (but you probably already thought of that!)