Posts by Katherine
A Rustic & Refined Orchard Tablescape
Feel inspired by this rustic and refined orchard tablescape. Sometimes you and your significant other just need to escape the everyday bustle and enjoy a party for two. Re-kindle the romance and let the crisp fall air and soft light set the mood. While the afternoons are warm and the evenings have just a hint…
Read MoreImprove Your Seasonal Vignette with This Simple Decorating Tip
Every seasonal vignette needs varied texture. This one addition to your holiday vignette will elevate your decor, making it more visually interesting by adding depth and dimensionality. Texture is one of the simplest ways to improve your seasonal vignette. What do I mean by texture? In most basic terms, texture is how things feel or…
Read MoreA Fizzy Mulled Pear: The Perfect Early Fall Cocktail
I’ve got the perfect early fall cocktail for you – a Fizzy Mulled Pear! I picked up this Williams-Sonoma Cocktail Mixer the other week, and it is supposed to be served hot. Unfortunately, the temperatures are simply too high here in Tennessee to even think of that yet. But I just had to try it,…
Read MoreAn Afternoon Tour at Blount Mansion
As a newcomer to Knoxville and a public historian, I’ve made it my goal to visit all of the 7 historic homes of Knoxville. I like to start learning about a new city by delving into its past! So far I’ve spent a festive evening at the Mabry-Hazen House and a lovely afternoon tour at…
Read MoreFarmhouse Fall Porch Decor
I’m so excited to share my mother’s farmhouse fall porch with you! We decorated it using vintage crates and copper pots as well as loads of pumpkins and gourds that she grew. Her house is in the country on a small farm, so we wanted the porch decor to have a natural, rustic feel that…
Read MoreA Black and White Themed Tablescape for Any Occassion
Need an effortless but elegant tablescape? As a hostess, you know that the look and feel of your table matters. Not only does it set the mood for gatherings, but it is also a prominent place for festive décor. Sometimes though time is short or inspiration low, and every good hostess needs a “go to”…
Read MoreDo You Know these Southernisms?
I just love a good Southern sayin’! There is no denying that we know how to turn a phrase. Even though I was born and raised in the South, there are still Southernisms that catch me by surprise every now and again. Sometimes our colloquialisms are down right poetic. Every so often they are next…
Read MoreSummer Reading: The Girl from the Savoy
This book had all of the right elements: Jazz Age London, the aftermath of World War I, romance, and an aspiring actress with a humble and sweet personality. It had the potential to hit every one of my buttons. But in the end, I am seriously ambivalent about it. The Girl from the Savoy by…
Read MoreEtiquette Guide — The Art of Receiving a Call
I was inspired to write The Art of Paying a Call after accompanying my mother on her round of social visits. Not only did I observe her behavior as the caller, but also how we were greeted and welcomed by our hostess/host. But while writing this etiquette guide, The Art of Receiving a Call, I…
Read MoreThe Blush & Bashful: Champagne Cocktail with Raspberry and St-Germain
“My colors are blush and bashful.” “Her colors are pink and pink.” I know you get this reference! Here is a champagne cocktail Shelby would approve in her two favorite colors of blush and bashful with St-Germain and raspberry jelly — that’s right raspberry jelly. This one is for all you Steel Magnolias out there!…
Read More