FOCAL POINT STYLING: alfresco dining

After a long harsh winter, filled with bitter cold, snow drifts and cabin fever, everyone is just bursting to get outside for Spring to enjoy some outdoor living! One way to kick off the upcoming outdoor living season is by dining alfresco, which can be a beautiful & casual setting for your family's Easter brunch. Although when we lived in Arizona, we didn't have family, the hubs and I still enjoyed heading outside for our Easter dinner. Arizona was a place I started collecting baskets, and one fun basket I came across while thrifting was a tall picnic basket. I may not have used it for picnics, but the basket became a great textured container to create a simple Spring centerpiece, which can be used indoors or out. Here is what I did...

It all started with a picnic basket I scored at the thrift store...

After adding the cylinder risers and daisies, I used the textiles, and a few spare leaves to tuck into the back of the basket, making it appear as if Spring is just bursting to come out! The simple green and white color scheme is just refreshing after seeing a season of winter greys...

Since this home was a rental, we really couldn't do much to the unfinished divider wall, so I used another collected basket for a simple outdoor wall decor...

The green & white gingham table topper was another thrift find, I layered over linen fabric I had used as a table cover. Since we didn't have an outdoor dining set, I used a folding table (the one I'd frequently use inside for 'table for two settings), but to make it larger, I put a 42" MDF framed mirror on top of the 36" folded table - The backside of the mirror was flat, and you'd never know it was there after the table was dressed (simple small space solution!)

The weathered X back chairs were another amazing thrift find I had scored in Phoenix, (you can read about here, but have since sold!) and they worked great to create outdoor seating. If there is one good thing to say about being in a dessert state, it has to be that I was able to set this outdoor setting, without having to worry about rain -- just sun!

No trees either, so having an outdoor umbrella was a must - plus it gave me another place to layer in a shot of green color, to pick up on the centerpiece...

Before & After Spring Spruce-Up in our small (drought tolerant) backyard in Phoenix - you can read in a previous post at: Rental ReStyle: Budget-Friendly Backyard Spring Spruce-Up

And if it's still too cold, or worse, snowing, where you live this Easter, you can still create a Springtime Alfresco setting indoors too, creating the same picnic basket centerpiece, plus layering woven chargers or placematts with gingham, checks, or plaid... and for Easter, don't forget the bunnies! (Remember these? A Florida thrift find & DIY fix, you can read about at: Hoppy Spring Bargain Bunnies)

Although I like to change things up, some holiday decor traditionally makes it's way to the table every year - like these birds nests from HomeGoods, but this year, they were filled with golden chocolate eggs... A great little compliment to the vintage Greek Key border table set I also scored thrifting, but up in Scottsdale... The vintage brass coupes (yes - another Phoenix thrift find!) made an elegant riser for the nests...

I hope you're inspired to create a simple Spring Centerpiece of your own to set on your Easter table, whether you dine inside or out! Afterwards, use this centerpiece on a buffet or entry table if it's still winter by you, for a taste of Spring indoors -- if not, layer it into your front entry or Spring patio decor!

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Monday! Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! I took a break from project working and spent some time with the hubs for our anniversary. To save on the expense of going away (like we usually do for our anniversary) we did a staycation. Although we were home, we did get out to two nearby areas, which made it feel like we were away. Rather than do an expensive dinner in a crowded resturant Friday night, we did a delicious late lunch at a cool hotel resturant in Ft. Lauderdale called Steak954. We both did light fish dishes: I had an amazing Mahi-Mahi fish sandwich, which wasn't at all what I was expecting - from presentation to taste! It was cut into thirds, and served with freshly made potato chips, seasoned with sea salt. Jeff had two fish tacos, and we shared a well chilled Caesar salad with an amazing dressing and fresh parm shavings. We toasted our anniversary date with refreshing margaritas served in stemless glasses - they too were dee-lish - and so was the view...

Steak954 is located right on the beach at the sleek & modern W Hotel in Ft. Lauderdale. After our meal, we took a little tour of the hotel...

I think Lady Gaga would really like these chairs!

Jellyfish wall featured at the inside dining area...

Lounge upstairs, just next to the lobby area.

That overhang suspended over the bar was made of all chain links...

In the Lobby...

Outside lounge area featured cool blue stripes...

a modern take on the ocean view, just around the corner.

Then we took a stroll down the Ft. Lauderdale Strip. We stopped at a place for more margaritas that were served in these HUGE glasses... so huge, we probably could have shared one...

Woops!

For our walk back up to the car, we walked along the shore. I don't know if it was the salty sea air or the Caribbean blues of the ocean, but before heading home, we pulled into an OLD movie theatre to see Pirates of the Caribbean. We're both Pirates fans, but not too much a fan of this version - we missed the rest of the cast.

Jeff doing his thing at the table...

For the "rapture" on Saturday evening, we spent it at the Hollywood Hardrock Hotel & Casino where Jeff got to hit the tables (to try and win us our millions ya know) and we laughed ourselves silly from the comedy performance of Lewis Black. When they dimmed the lights, the announcer said (in a deep voice) "Welcome to the Rapture!!"

Not wanting to go home right after the show, we walked around the Hardrock shops, pubs and clubs, sat at an outside bar, had a drink and did some people watching. Oh the sites we saw - including many girls wearing thi-high mini's or winter boots (and we're going into Summer??), while others seemed to scream "Yup. I'm a tourist!"

Sunday we just did some grilling & chillaxing - Jeff read the paper, & napped, while I was clipping & organizing coupons - but to NO EXTREME! lol We also watched some on-demand shows, like Extreme Couponing, Dresscue Me, What Not To Wear and American Pickers... but that's a whole other post...

So even though we didn't pack-up and go to any destination, we made the best of what was around us and each other ;-)