When I got engaged one of the first things I did was pick out my china. My Mom has a beautiful antique china cabinet displaying her heirloom dishes. It was always SO special to get to eat on those plates with the fancy gold-rimmed goblets and the gorgeous silver, and all of the accompanying trinkets that only got pulled out on major holidays like Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, etc. We sat on upholstered white chairs which sat on top of white carpet (seriously, she’s a mother of four- what was she thinking?!) in the fancy dining room where we only ate on those occasions. In fact, when we go home for major holidays we still do this, and I love it. I love that it causes people to be just a little more polite, and maybe take just a few more minutes to chew their food and sit around the table to chat. It reminds me that there’s something special about that day.
Now…next week I will be celebrating my 7th wedding anniversary. Ask me how many times I’ve had a fancy dinner on my fancy China. Zero. It’s wrapped up safely in boxes in my garage like it has been since it was given to us at our wedding reception. My husband reminds regularly that he thinks the whole idea of fancy china is lame. I DO intend to use it. In fact, I’m super excited for when I have room in my house for a beautiful hutch to display it in, and kids old enough to appreciate it. I really look forward to those days. But that’s going to have to wait until I don’t have 3 boys under the age of 5. Or the age of 10. Or who knows when really. For now, we stick to adorable paper paper plates from Target- because if I’m going to slave away on food all day, the dishes should at least be easy, right? When my boys are old enough for me to trust them to wash my china, maybe we’ll eat on it 🙂
So in the spirit of cute and easy holiday table decor- you’ve got to know how to make carrot napkins. They’re a classic! And they seem to be everywhere these days. I love how a lot of these cute old-time classic crafts are popping up again on blogs. If you’re having a casual pot-luck type meal, these are perfect- AND I’ve even done them on a formal table with real silverware and they look super cute sitting on each plate. Even better- the kids can put them together!
Here’s what you’ll need:
– Orange napkins (the large sized napkins)
– Green plastic cutlery
– Ties: ribbon, twine, twist ties, pipe cleaners, etc.
Hit a party supply store for a good selection of colored cutlery and napkins, or the Walmart party supply section is usually well stocked as well.
Open up your napkin and lay it flat on the table with the fold opening at the top
Take the bottom right hand corner and fold it up to the middle of the napkin
Place your cutlery on the opposite side. I always put the knife in back, and the fork on top of the spoon. Partially because the fork sits in the spoon nicely, and partly because I like that the fork looks the most like a carrot top 🙂
Start rolling from the left-hand side and roll the cutlery right up to the middle
Then grab the other side of the triangle and roll it the rest of the way around so you have a nice little carrot shaped bundle:
I like to tie them with a little green ribbon
But twine looks cute too, or if you want to go the super quick and easy route you can use pipe cleaners or even twist ties! That last option is definitely the best if kids are putting these together. I’ve used all 3 and they all look cute.
Lay them together in a basket and it doubles as adorable Easter decor on the table!
I’ve also used these as place cards before and they look great on both formal dinnerware (with real silverware) and disposable plates. If you are doing something formal, I love these cute bunny napkins from Martha Stewart.
Isn’t it cool that target designed this whole line of dinnerware to match our blog?? They’re so nice.
Lastly, I’m going to leave you with this video.
You’ll have to tell us if it’s any good because Kate and I are both too weirded out watching ourselves to make it all the way through! I do know you can hear lots of fun stuff like when I stabbed my own foot with a huge knife.
Good times people, good times!
Questions & Reviews
Sara- we have the SAME china!!! Here’s an idea. Since I have a ton of it, you start using yours and if any break, I’ll give you a replacement of whatever breaks. Give the china a try. By the way, it’s supposed to be dishwasher safe, but my husband would rather wash it by hand himself than let me put it in the dishwasher.
Your interview was terrific. However, if you both love cilantro so much that you could eat it everyday, I don’t stand a chance of your second book being cilantro-free, do I?!!! It’s at the TOP of my list of hated food. See you next week at Women’s Conference!
I put my Wedgewood china in the dishwasher. Their website encouraged me to do it! Now it is fancy dish day a lot! 🙂 (I still handwash my silver, though, even though I understand that it is fine in the dishwasher, too- with no other metal)
Good job on the interview! I would have been a nervous wreck, but you both look calm and cool. Love the knife in the foot story!
What a cute, and even easy Easter idea! I love it!
I love that you guys are real especially when you said “we’re not against fast food”. I had been following another food blog of a mother that I thought tried to cook healthy – little did I know how obsessive it was. It’s good to be healthy and teach your kids that way, but the way some moms are, they think that one bad food is going to kill their child. One mother commented a post and said that when she saw her daughter pick up a cupcake at a birthday party she sprinted across the room before her kid could lick the icing and told the other parents that eating those things isn’t worth diabetes. In my opinion, those people will have more than diabetes to worry about if they put their kids in a box and control every bite they take. If they don’t practice moderation now, how will they later? Anyways, enough of my rant but just wanted to comment on that haha
That is nutty. And a misinformed person, to boot. Eating sugar won’t give you diabetes… sigh.
Just so you know, it never really happens. (kids getting old enough). My six range in age from 13-23 and I STILL USE PAPER!! Plus, you have so many more options for color and theme, and clean up is a breeze!! I will definitely be making the carrot silverware cuties this weekend. Thanks for the idea!
What a fun idea! I hosted a little Easter picnic & egg hunt a few yrs ago for my kids and their friends using paper bag lunches packed with sandwiches, a bag of mini carrots, chips, and the chick and rabbit cupcakes from brightideas.com. We also made bunny ears for them to wear and we did the “bunny hop”. Even the parents had a great time! I could have totally used this idea for the napkin and utensils! That just gives me an excuse to do another party & picnic this weekend! I’m gonna have to hit Joann’s or Target for a cute spring tablecloth too, those are soo cute! Now I just hope its WARM on Saturday here in Utah!
Years ago Sister Holland spoke to the CES (seminary/institute teacher) spouses. She made the comment how she only pulled out her china for special guests and special occasions. Then one day, the thought occurred to her, who is more special than her own family? She then started using her china for Sunday dinners – even though her kids were young. My mom started doing the same thing. We used to only use it the holidays you mentioned, but now, 25 years later, she still pulls it out every Sunday. I love that she thinks we were/are special enough to use it.
I have a China Hutch full of beautiful china and I’m real concerned about whats going to happen to it when my little boy starts walking. Keeping it boxes sounds like a great idea about now.
you two are absolutely adorable. i loved watching that interview. every wednesday me and my girl friends get together with our kids and make something our of your cookbook! we love everything that we’ve made. my favorite so far is the brazilian lemonade. it was so delicious. thanks for all you do and all the inspiration! 🙂
Yay, someone else who has never eaten off their China and who also eats on paper plates!! Sometimes I wonder, when my boys grow up, are they going to mind that they ate off paper plates so much of their lives?? Are they even going to remember? ha! As for our China, out it goes to our garage sale next week. I’d much rather have some nice everyday dishes that can at least sit in the cabinet and get looked at once in a while, even if we usually eat off paper plates. The China sits all wrapped up in my pantry and never even sees the light of day.
1st – Loved the video. We have those memories of using my Mom’s china once a year as well. When she passed away I was blessed to receive her china. It now sits in it’s place of honor in a china cabinet. I try to bring it out at least two or three times a year. Despite it’s out of date pattern, my mother’s china is a treat for me to use maybe because it makes me think of her.
Why not use the china for just a special couples dinner? late night dinner some night after the hooligans are in bed 🙂
Good idea Vickie!
Don’t be too scared to start using that fancy china; we began when our kids were toddlers and they surprised us by being very careful. They were too small to handle crystal stemware (and let’s be honest–crystal is fragile even for grown-ups)so we substituted jam jars or other heavy glasses. As adults they have wonderful memories of holiday dinners and only 1 plate ever got broken in 35+ years!
VERY cute! And I love that it doesn’t involve a hot glue gun!!
This idea is TOO cute! Thanks for sharing.
I’d really like to make these, but I’m certain my regular grocery store doesn’t carry colored utensils or napkins. Did you say you bought these at Target? Or were you referring to the colorful linens in the background? Thanks for the idea!
I just went to our local party supply store (Zurchers) and they carry every color imaginable! Walmart has a great selection too, in their party supply section.
What a great video! You both looked great and it was fun to watch! And the carrots are way cute!
My grandma is very much the special china and silverware kinda gal. Several years ago, we all had Thanksgiving at her house. I brought huge plastic disposable plates to use and she was APPALLED but let us talk her into it. Later when the dishwasher was loaded and all of us girls were sitting around peacefully enjoying each other’s company instead of slaving to clean up the giant mess we had made, she admitted how much she loved it and she’s been a disposable plate convert ever since. 🙂 I love the beauty of china and silver but I’d much rather enjoy the beauty of the holiday and being with my family than be sentenced to the kitchen.
Your video was great! You guys are beautiful and talented and I love every recipe of yours I have made so far. I don’t have your cookbook yet (secretly hoping to get it for my birthday in 2 weeks) but my favorite recipe from the blog is the San Diego style fish tacos with the mango pico and and cilantro lime dressing. Seriously- I crave it!!
This is so cute!!!
So stinkin’ cute! Love these. And love how much easier it is to leave a comment. 😀
Children will never know the same good feelings you had about special dinners on the good china if you don’t use it. It isn’t as fragile as you think. When my 3 boys brought home girls for dinner the girls always said something about what beautiful table manners the boys have. If you want them to appreciate it, you have to take it out of the box and use it. If you want them to learn to eat like gentlemen, you have to train them on th real thing. I’m just sayin’. Kids do appreciate special dinners, special china, special everything at a tablecloth-clad table, and more than you know.
That’s a great point Barbara! Maybe I will pull it out one of these days. I *am* a huge stickler for manners though- even with our paper plates I’m training my little gentlemen!
I actually made these last weekend with the “help” of my 3-year old. He thought it was soooooooo much fun and kept telling me how “cute” they were. 🙂 This is a great idea to jazz up your table without breaking out the china (we’re using paper plates as well). Thanks, gals!
So fun to see you on the video! Looking good ladies! 😉 You did a great job!
LOVE the video! So cute! It makes me want to meet you both….you’re welcome to dinner at my house anytime….I’d be cooking from your cookbook!
I absolutely adore the whole carrot crafting trend. These are absolutely perfect! Happy Easter to you!
These are just adorable. I especially like the one with the tag added.
Way too cute!! I know I’m slow but I just ordered my own early Mother’s Day gift, a certain cookbook that I’m so excited to get. Now ya’ll just need to come the the Deseret Book in Henderson, NV so I can get it signed and my life will be complete 🙂 Loved the video btw. Is it somewhat disturbing that I feel like I know ya? The knife in the foot story was crazy!! I think you potentially need to get yourself some steel toed boots to cook in, just sayin’!!
Cari, I *almost* went to Henderson last weekend! I am sure to get down there at some point because I have family there (know any Cox’s? lol) And yes- you can totally feel like you know us because we feel like we know all of you!
So stinkin’ cute!! I just might do this at my parents house for Easter dinner. 🙂