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Dishing About Dishes…

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Dishes

As someone with a food blog, it should come as no surprise to anyone that I have a fixation with cooking and everything related to it. Kitchen gadgets, pans, dishes, cookbooks, kitchen tools, dishes, spices, spice racks, dishes… did I mention dishes?

Dishes are a bit of an obsession with me – they always have been. No matter what department store I’m in, I make a beeline for the kitchen section and I always start my ogling with the dishes.

In my opinion, a meal is made even better with bright, beautiful dishes. I go so far as to coordinate the dishes I use with the meal I’m serving.  Mexican meals call for bright, vivid dishes – as do Italian meals. If I’m making a Southern comfort food type meal, I pull out the vintage dishes – I call them my “comfort dishes.”

I often even go so far as to think, “Okay, the red in the meatloaf’s sauce and the yellow in the corn will look beautiful against a white dish…”

Okay, maybe I’ve got a bit of a problem… but I have a big time, does that count for anything?!

I have a huge collection of dishes but haven’t spent a huge amount of money on them. I’ll let you in on a secret – Target has beautiful dishes and they’re often on sale. But I can go even cheaper than that: Consignment shops, Goodwill, and yard sales are also personal favorite spots.  You can find vintage dishes – including many that’ll take you back to sitting at a kitchen table with your grandparents.

Just tell me that isn’t priceless.

I love buying dishes from stores such as Goodwill because I know my money is going back to the community – where it needs it most.  The dishes in this post are some of my favorite Goodwill finds. W

Around the holidays, if I find that I need extra casserole dishes or platters, I usually check one of these places first.  I also grab extra dishes during Thanksgiving and Christmas to send goodies home with my kids. They’re better than disposable dishes because they’re friendlier to the environment.

The next time you want to add to your dish collection and make your meals even more colorful or simply need extra dishes for the holidays, head to your nearest thrift store, consignment shop, or Goodwill.

It’s just a beautiful idea no matter how you look at it.

Dishes

Isaac Mizrahi Dinnerware Sets – I Am Obsessed!

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Isaac Mizrahi Caribbean Color Dinnerware Set (Pomegranate)
I have a serious thing for dishes. I guess, if we’re being honest here, it’s kind of an obsession. The dish fanaticism hit before I even got married, actually.  I was with my mom, in a swanky store working on my “wedding registry.”

She had to physically pull me away from the dishes.

To this day the obsession remains – only difference is it’s my husband or one of my daughters that does the pulling these days.

I was recently browsing Amazon for colorful salad bowls when a small picture of the beauty at the top of the post (the Isaac Mizrahi Caribbean Color 16-Piece Dinnerware Set, Pomegranate) caught my eye. I abandoned my salad bowl search for the moment and went on a “Must find every dinnerware set designed by Isaac Mizrahi” mission.

I knew the world famous designer was one of the best (if not the best) when it came to clothes, but here he is flaunting his creativity in a completely unexpected place.

I’ve linked to a few here but, trust me (as in TRUST ME) there are many more unspeakably gorgeous sets on Amazon. You can find every color imaginable – as well as a few you probably had never even thought of.

Isaac Mizrahi Caribbean Color Dinnerware Set Kiwi Isaac Mizrahi Caribbean Color Dinnerware Set Blueberry
The beautiful dinnerware sets pictured above are from the Isaac Mizrahi Caribbean Color Collection. The colors available are Pomegranate, Kiwi, Blueberry, and (not pictured here) Kumquat.

The equally gorgeous dinnerware sets below (which also register at the top of the MUST HAVE scale) are from the Isaac Mizrahi Dot Luxe Collection. I can’t get over the adorable dots!

Click through any of the available colors (Navy, Orange, Chartreuse, and Teal) for a closer look at each.

Which of all of these sets do I want?

Every last one. That settles it, my husband is going to have to build me a second hutch or a second kitchen…

Isaac Mizrahi Dot Luxe Dinnerware Set Navy
Isaac Mizrahi Dot Luxe Dinnerware Set Orange
Isaac Mizrahi Dot Luxe Dinnerware Set Chartreuse
Isaac Mizrahi Dot Luxe Dinnerware Set Teal

THE Best Drinking Glass is a Drinking Jar

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There’s enjoying a glass of iced tea, and then there’s enjoying a glass of iced tea! My aunt has always had a great little collection of glass jars with handles. For as long as I can remember, when any of us have tea (or Diet Dr. Pepper or.. egads!… water) at her house, it’s in one of these great little jars with handles.  The one pictured here is one of a Libbey Country Fair 16-Ounce Drinking Jar with Handle, Set of 12 (available on Amazon).

My aunt’s tea was (and is) always so good, too. She never sweetens her tea, and even though I usually prefer sweet tea, her’s always tastes great to me.  I’m convinced she has some sort of a little secret that only aunts are privy to.  At any rate, she got me hooked on drinking jars with handles.

For one thing, I prefer drinking out of glass because plastic sometimes tastes like dish washing liquid.

Never a good thing.

I’m also convinced, in my strange little brain, that you’re able to get glass cleaner than plastic.  Does that make perfect sense? No. Do I have any proof of my assessment? Of course not.  But the fact that it “feels” cleaner to me is more than enough reason for me to choose glass over plastic.

The advantage these glass drinking jars have over a lot of other glasses is their thickness. They don’t break as easily, which is a huge advantage to someone as accident prone and clumsy as I am.  Even I can carry one of these babies around the house or yard without the scenario ending in 1, 3, or 26 band aids.

Click through the link above or the image to the right for more information.

Sunflowers, Sunflowers, and More Sunflowers!

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Sunflower PlatterI can’t imagine the world without flowers and I wouldn’t even want to.  To me, flowers are proof that God appreciates beauty. I love His decorating touches!  Sunflowers are a personal favorite of mine as well as millions of other flower lovers.  They’re like an international symbol of happiness.

The gorgeous Clay Art Tuscan Sunflower Shaped Platter, shown above, is just one of the many beauties in the Clay Art Tuscan Sunflower collection on Amazon (more shown below).  As someone who’s doing her best to rush Autumn along, I’m even more in love with these than ever.

Product Features

  • Stonelite Materials
  • Includes Shaped Platter
  • Dishwasher and Microwave Safe
  • Sunny, Golden
  • Perfect for entertaining

Click through the link or image above for more information about the platter, and click through any of the other items in the collection (below) for a closer look.

For even more Sunflowers, see a recent post on our tea blog: Gorgeous Sunflower Pitcher and Matching Mugs

Beautiful Square White Dishes from Target

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Dishes from Target

The beauties in this post are some of the dishes that were given to me on my birthday from my daughter, Stephany, and her boyfriend (and one of the sons I never had) Rusty.  They came from Target – the dishes, not the kids, they came straight from Heaven.

I absolutely love these heavy, gorgeous dishes. They’re perfect for any holiday or special occasion you can imagine. They can just as easily set an Easter table as a Christmas one – a simple changing of napkin colors makes the transition beautiful.  Add Red, White, and Blue napkins and BAM you’re set for Fourth of July.

Dishes from Target

Target has a remarkable selection of dishes, as well as kitchen gadgets, kitchen appliances, pans, etc.  They carry several Food Network chef lines, including Giada De Laurentiis.  Anything you see with her smiling face on the front is beyond excellent and exceptionally made.

The next time you want dishes (or anything else for your kitchen!), head to Target before you go anywhere else.  You can, of course, also shop online at Target.com.  You’ll find things you might not have in your local Target.

Dishes from Target

Adorable Fruit Dessert Plates

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Fruit Dessert Plates from Wal-Mart

I bought a few of the dessert plates, shown above, at Wal-Mart a few days ago – for the whopping price of $1.25 each.  Apparently there’s also a “watermelon” plate as well, but they were already gone.  These are just too cute for their own good, and how could you not love the price?

These adorable plates (which are intended to be used sort of like saucers… but I’m using them as little platters for lemon wedges, strawberries, grapes, etc) are a perfect example that you can have great-looking items in your kitchen without spending a fortune.  You’d never know by looking at these adorable plates that they weren’t from a MUCH more expensive store.  Wal-Mart is just a great place to look for dishes, appliances, kitchen gadgets, etc.  Their dishes are actually gorgeous and you can find outstanding deals on everything else.

For example, I just went to their website to see if I could find a picture of the watermelon plates to add to this post. No luck, BUT I did see that they have the Black & Decker Fruit and Vegetable Juice Extractor (pictured below) for only $29.88!!  If your local Wal-Mart doesn’t have them in stock, you can go to their website and order one.

I know I want one in the worst way and I’m seriously considering grabbing one or two extras at this price for Christmas gifts.  $29.88, seriously?  I’m all over it.

Black and Decker Fruit and Vegetable Juice Extractor

Back to the adorable fruit plates, you can find them in the area where they sell plastic pitchers, cups, and picnic-friendly dishes.  They also have a killer selection of red, white, and blue plates and glasses for the Fourth of July.  I have my eye on each of them, and fellow shoppers, you know what that means: Where the eye goes, the hand will follow.

The hand with the money {insert maniacal laughter}.

Beautiful Lenox Butterfly Meadow Mugs and Dishes

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Butterfly Mugs

I’ve madly loved butterflies for as long as I can remember.  I can’t explain it, and I have no idea where it stems from, but whenever I see a butterfly, I think, “Somewhere right now, a miracle is happening.”

I honestly don’t know when this association came about but I do know it was alive and well when I was in high school.  I loved butterfly earrings, necklaces, bracelets, notebooks, and so on.  Like now, I loved seeing so many “miracles” around me.  Who wouldn’t?

Truth be told, I don’t even care WHERE it came from, I just care where I can find my next butterfly.

The Lenox Butterfly Meadow Mugs, Set of 4 shown at the top of the post has provided me with the beautiful answer.

These mugs are just gorgeous and, for me, they’re a can’t miss – not only do I collect butterflies, I collect coffee mugs. Something else I love is how much they make you think of spring and summer – I’m more than a little ready for both, so that’s right up my alley.

Product Features

  • Set of 4 mugs measuring 3-5/8 inches tall each
  • Lenox fine porcelain construction with scalloped rims
  • Nature-inspired patterns depict assorted butterflies and pastel bands
  • Safe for use in the microwave, dishwasher, and oven
  • Satisfaction-guarantee full-refund/replacement policy

These aren’t the only butterfly beauties fluttering about on Amazon.  Look at the other gorgeous dishes in the collection below. Hmmm, wonder if my family would be interested in shopping early (very early) for Mother’s Day?

Lenox Butterfly dessert plates

Lenox Butterfly Meadow Dessert Plates, Set of 4

Product Features

  • Set of 4 Butterfly Meadow dessert plates; 8-inch diameter
  • Crafted of Lenox white porcelain with 4 different pastel borders
  • Petal-like scalloped edges create a pretty effect
  • Each features a different realistic butterfly in a white center
  • Safe for use in the dishwasher, microwave, and oven; lifetime breakage warranty

Lenox Butterfly Meadow Dessert Bowls

Lenox Butterfly Meadow 8-Ounce Dessert Bowls Set of 4

Product Features

  • 4- 8-Ounce dessert bowls
  • Crafted of Lenox fine porcelain
  • Part of the number one quality casual pattern by Lenox. Based on the artistry of Louise Le Luyer
  • Microwave, dishwasher and oven-to-table-safe
  • 4-3/4-Inch in diameter ; 8-Ounce in capacity

Lenox Butterfly Meadow fruit dishes

Lenox Butterfly Meadow Colors Fruit Dishes, Set of 4

Product Features

  • 4-piece set of Butterfly Meadow Colors fruit dishes; 5-1/4-inch diameter
  • Crafted from fine porcelain with delicate motifs and a summery palette
  • Design includes a different border color and central butterfly on each piece
  • Coordinates with extensive Butterfly Meadow dinnerware and décor collection
  • Safe in microwave and dishwasher; matching plates and mugs also available

Whether you collect butterflies or you simply love to surround yourself with beautiful things, the Lenox Butterfly Meadow dishes are something you’ll definitely want to invest in. Click through any of the links or gorgeous images.