As a Southern girl, I love pretty dishes and tableware, as I’m sure most of you do too. There’s just something so nice about sitting down to a beautiful table all set with dishes, flatware, glasses, and colorful napkins. Oh, don’t forget the fresh flowers. I cut these hydrangeas from my yard, which was a treat this year.
Today, I’m joining a few other bloggers and sharing a fun book and dish set giveaway with Mikasa. I love Mikasa and have so enjoyed my Italian Countryside dishes that I use everyday. 
Setting a pretty table on my porch is so fun this time of year. I enjoyed using this beautiful white set of Loria dishes with their pretty beaded edge.
With chunky bowls and mugs, the set has 4 of all of these. Those little bunny leaf plates are from Bordallo and I’ve had them for years.
I pulled out some of my yardsale and thriftstore finds to go on the table, using a scrap piece of green outdoor fabric I made into a tablecloth. You know how I love green!
These napkins were a yardsale fine and I love their white edge. My newly covered chairs look great with this tables cape.
Dear Carolina is a brand new book by Kristy Woodson Harvey. She and her mother, Beth, write the design blog, Design Chic and Kristy has been on a book tour recently promoting her new book. Southern fiction always has a little drama and Dear Carolina does as well. From main character, Khaki Mason, who has a thriving interior design business to Jodi, her husband’s 19-year old cousin, fresh out of rehab, pregnant and alone, this story weaves together 2 strong Southern women and one baby girl in the most difficult decision they’ll ever make. Written to baby Carolina by both her birth mother and her adoptive one, it’s a story of life circumstances shaping, but not defining and that families aren’t always born, but made.
So all of us are setting a pretty table today, in honor of Khaki and her love of interior design and Southern tables.
Mikasa is joining us for a fun giveaway for ONE of you too. Who doesn’t love a pretty table? I know all of you do!
An antiques store urn that I found a few months ago holds freshly clipped hydrangea blooms from my yard.
The flatware and glasses are also from Mikasa.
Doesn’t this bone china look lovely with green.
I really am totally sold on white dishes for the last few years. I’ve always heard that food looks more appetizing on a white plate and I’m convinced of that.
Mikasa has some new dinnerware, glassware, and flatware which is part of what they call their “every day sets.” All of these are what you’d normally see in a formal set of dishes, but they are meant to be used every day. Bone china is the best quality dinnerware you will find. The bone component makes this dinnerware extremely chip resistant and also gives it that beautiful, pure white color. The glassware and flatware have a similar philosophy – highest quality but for everyday use.
Click here for Mikasa Loria dinnerware, Mikasa Laura glasses and Kelby flatware.
This is a new program for Mikasa and they use the highest quality bone china and lead-free crystal, but these sets are meant to be used every day, not just for special occasions. These plates have a great feel to them and I love the beaded edge.
You can visit Mikasa on Facebook and Pinterest.
Mikasa is also offering ONE of my readers your very own set of Mikasa Loria dinnerware (service for 4). Please leave a comment telling me your favorite special occasion for setting a pretty table. Get out the good dishes and use them! Please click the Rafflecopter widget and click the box that you have left a comment and then leave a comment here on my blog. ONE winner will be chosen for a set of 4 Mikasa Loria dinnerware. US entries only. Be sure and add your email to the Rafflecopter widget, that is how I choose a winner!
And the winner will also receive a copy of Dear Carolina, the new book by Kristy Woodson Harvey.
Here’s to Summer entertaining!
Note: Mikasa gave me this set of Loria dishes, flatware and glasses.
I’m joining these other creative bloggers, so go over and see their tables too. They are all giving away different sets of Mikasa dishes as well:
I love to set my table for each holiday!
I love to set a pretty table for special occasions. Its also fun to make ordinary,everyday table settings special. Christmas is my favorite. Thanks for a great give away!
As our 4 daughters have grown, I decided to put our ‘fancy dishes’ to use anytime, and not wait for special holidays. I found that set at a thrift store and they still make us feel a little bit special when we sit down to a meal when the table is all pretty with china and our ‘king cups’ (simple stemmed goblets from the dollar store). So, memories are made, and every ordinary day can feel special with china on the table!
Easter is my favorite time to set a pretty table.
I enjoy setting a pretty table for an ordinary meal with my family – but my favorite is at holidays or on special occasions! White dishes are awesome because they’re so versatile!
Oh my gosh! The green is gorgeous. The seaside touches are utter perfection. There’s nothing I don’t love about this fabulous setting! And the bunnies are just the sweetest. Thank you so, so much for displaying this in such an amazing way!!
My family sets the table for dinner everyday. Nothing fancy, but it’s a memory I hope my children will cherish.
What a gorgeous table, Rhoda! Just love the pops of green with the beautiful hydrangeas and of course the Mikasa china. Your participation is wonderful and thank you for the kind words about Dear Carolina!!
My daughter has Mikasa Italian Countryside, which I really enjoy when we’re at her house. Would love to have the Mikasa Loria. I looks so pretty with your greens and the blue hydrangea.
I currently use a yard sale find of white Gibson dishes. Sadly, they chip quite easily. I would love to have the Mikasa dishes for everyday and especially at Christmas-I’d love to serve cinamon rolls on them and drink coffee from the generous cups!
Also, southern fiction is my favorite and would enjoy finding a cool spot to curl up and read “Dear Carolina”!
Absolutely beautiful china!!! Love the pattern and the simplicity of it.
I especially like dressing a table up for bridal luncheons and with five nieces, five nephews, and seven grandchildren I should have plenty more opportunities!
Simply stunning.
Wow. Love the table and love Mikasa!
I want my Christmas dinner table to be the most beautiful of all special occasions.
Birthdays and a summer porch are my favorite times for a pretty table setting.
Birthdays and Christmas are the peak times right now! With three little ones, I’m hesitant to do it more frequently!
I pull out the good dishes for every occasion. I love Mikasa and it’s probably time to retire my french blue and yellow dishes from 1999!
Every evening is a special occasion to set a pretty table. After a busy day of work and school nothing is better than a nice dinner with your family. Sitting around the table and hearing how everyone’s day went and sharing a good laugh or two is the most wonderful time. Having a beautiful table shows your family you care and makes it easier to linger after the meal is finished.
Any time I have company I like to set a pretty table. Life is too short to save your “good stuff”!! I need some white dishes as now I have heard Ina Garten and Rhoda say that they are the best for serving up nice meals.