Classing It Up with Cloth Napkins...and an Upcoming Giveaway!

This is a pretty personal question, but honest with me: 

Do you use cloth napkins or paper napkins with your nightly meals? 

I have to fess up: I use paper napkins, specifically these recycled napkins from Marcal.

But, on the cusp of my twenty-eighth birthday (which is tomorrow, ahem), I'm resolving to grow up/class up my life through simple changes--and I'm starting is by retiring my paper napkins for their cloth cousins.

Sure, the convenience of paper napkins can't be beat, but there's just something special about sitting down to a table where pretty cloth napkins have been set out, am I right? Suddenly even the most standard grilled cheese-and-tomato soup dinner is classed up.

Not convinced that there are cloth napkins chic enough to compliment your next dinner?

Let me prove you wrong with a few of my favorites:

1. Peony pink napkins from High Street Market

2. Green ikat-print napkins from Sur la Table

3. Check linen napkins from Fog Linen

4. Snow printed napkins from West Elm

5. Amanda blue napkins from Roberta Roller Rabbit

6. Check, please napkins from Luru Home

7. Sister Parish Burma napkins from Alicia's Table

8. Liberty London cotton club napkins from Sue Fisher King

Aside from the premade cloth napkins that abound online and in stores, why not try your hand at sewing your own cloth napkins? There are several tutorials for napkins with mitered corners that are easy to follow and will guarantee a professional looking result (try Design*Sponge and Skip to My Lou)

(via Design*Sponge)

All this talk of handmade cloth napkins brings me to my upcoming giveaway!
On Wednesday, March 1, you'll have a chance to win a set of 4 linen napkins hand-sewn by moi!
The giveaway is sponsored by Online Fabric Store, where you'll find lots of supplies for your next sewing or decorating project.

So, do you use cloth napkins or paper napkins?
I hope you'll consider making the switch and, certainly, checking back on Wednesday and entering the cloth napkin giveaway!

My Imaginary Thanksgiving Table

I'm not hosting Thanksgiving this year (nor have I ever); but if I was, my table might look something like this...

1. Fleur-de-lys juice glasses in dark yellow, $6

2. Coupe place setting in french gray, starting at $17

3. Birch napkin rings set in silver, $54

4. Hemstitch napkins in copper, $12

5. Thankful forest place cards, $8

6. Set of pinecone candles, $29

I'm not crazy about cooking, honestly. 
So, if I were hosting Thanksgiving, I'd devote most of my time on the decor.
Still need more Thanksgiving spread inspiration?

(via Country Living)

(via Elle Decor)

(via Eddie Ross)

(via Martha Stewart)

(via Styelist)

I'm sure you've all got a beautiful and scrumptious Thanksgiving holiday feast planned for Thursday!

*If you haven't already entered, be sure to throw your hat in the ring for the Martha Stewart Living subscription I'm giving away as a "thank-you" to my lovely readers*

My Boyfriend's Back

Blog friends, I didn't share that my beloved Adam was away from me for nearly the entire time I have been blogging (since late February). He was on work assignment in Spain and, needless to say, I was thrilled when he came home to me on Thursday evening. On our first weekend together in awhile, we spent the morning eating homemade muffins and strawberries and perusing Adam's new book, dreaming of the cuisine we could create.

We spent Saturday afternoon walking around in the abundant sunshine flooding Philadelphia. We stopped by The Garces Trading Company, a new market/restaurant by Iron Chef Jose Garces. We picked up some cherry fig marmalade, cheese, jamon serrano, and some delightful raspberry lime macaroons (my choice!). I highly recommend any of the Garces restaurants for any fellow Philadelphians or those of you thinking of visiting--you won't be disappointed.

This was a perfect day spent with the perfect person in a great city.