Make it Preppy...Make it Personal

I haven't joined in on the fun with Susan over at BetweenNapsOnThePorch in awhile, so I'm sharing a casual tablescape I created recently for a summer lunch on the porch. Most of the tableware was purchased at Target in the $1-ish section.

Here's the tablescape...

The pink plaid melamine plates and coordinating placemats are from Target. I found the lime green charger plates on Ebay.

The solid white napkins are adorned with a lime green dotted ribbon and I love the little flip flop placecard holders, which I found at Claire's in the mall.

I also used monogrammed decals, all from 2PreppyGirls to help to make it a little more preppy and a little more personal. I love 2PreppyGirls...Margaret has the cutest products y'all. The decals are easy to use and add personalization to everything! She carries the cutest monogrammed clogs, checkbook covers, caps & visors, laptop bags, and all sorts of cute, preppy items. Please stop over and visit her store and also check out her blogsite here.

I love the acrylic wine goblets, personalized...

After spraying a yucky, silver-colored bucket a preppy lime green color and adding a monogrammed decal, I think it made a nice wine bucket to hold the Trader Joe's famous Two- Buck Chuck Chardonnay. The darling pink and green wine bottle stopper was a gift to me from SouthernAndPreppy for a recent swap.

I love this pink plaid melamine tray and coordinating beverage pitcher, which also came from the $1-ish section at Target. I also love the plastic tumblers, holding the cool summer Peach Tea Coolers and labeled "Drinks Well With Others"--yes ma'am, I do!

PREPPY LUNCHEON MENU
Peach Tea Coolers*
Seafood Salad with Lime Vinaigrette**
French Baguette
Two-Buck Chuck Chardonnay
Orange Creamsicles***

SEAFOOD SALAD & BAGUETTE...

ORANGE CREAMSICLES...
A little Monogramming Etiquette:
Mongramming is a personal expression that adds an extra touch to anything! Make sure that you follow monogramming etiquette--don't commit a monogramming faux pas.

Your initials are your monogram. For an example, I will use my name and my husband's name. My maiden name was Janice Kay Sessums. I married Kenneth Craig Gibson. Following Southern tradition, my name is now Janice Sessums Gibson. Here are the guidelines for our monograms:

~For single lady--Janice Kay Sessums--jSk
~For a married lady--Janice Sessums Gibson--jGs
~For a gentleman--Kenneth Craig Gibson--KCG
~For a married couple--Janice and Ken Gibson--jGk (The ladies initial always comes first in the monogram; never separate a gentleman's first name from his last name)
~If you want to use only one inital, use your first name initial for pocketbooks and accessories--J. Use your last name initial for home products--G.
~Using your married monogram before you are married is an etiquette faux pas; it's okay to use your married monogram at your wedding on napkins, favors, runners, cake, etc.
~Using "His/Hers" as a monogram is tacky y'all!

So, "What Did I Wear?"...Pink and Green, and monogrammed, of course. This is the fuschia pink linen Lilly shift and I wore my darling Jack Rogers fuschia and lime green sandals. The colors appear off here, but they were perfect together!

Here's the recipes from this summer luncheon, I hope that you try them, they are simply delish!

Recipe for Peach Tea Coolers
9 oz. iced tea
3 oz. peach schnapps

Mix and serve over ice

**Recipe for Seafood Salad with Lime Vinaigrette

1/4 tsp. dried thyme
1 1/2 cup olive oil
3/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 lb. shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 lb. crabmeat
2 avocados, pitted, peeled, and cut into small cubes
1 pint grape tomatoes, sliced
2 tblsp. green onions, chopped
Herb lettuce

Sautee shrimp in 1/4 cup olive oil and 1/4 tsp. dried thyme for about 3 minutes. Cover and refrigerate the shrimp until chilled.

Combine crabmeat, avocados, tomatoes, green onions. Drizzle with 1/3 cup Lime Vinaigrette, and mix gently.

Place desired amount of herb salad on plate and drizzle a few tablespoons of Lime Vinaigrette over lettuce. Top with the seafood mixture and enjoy!

Lime Vinaigrette:
In a medium bowl, whisk together 6 tablespoons fresh lime juice and 1 garlic clove, and 2 tblsp. chopped green onions. Slowly whisk in 1 1/4 cups extra-virgin olive oil.

***Recipe for Orange Creamsicles
1 cup vanilla-flavored yogurt
1/2 cup frozen orange-juice concentrate, thawed
1/4 cup water
1/8 tsp. ground ginger
In a medium bowl, combine yogurt, orange juice, water, and ginger, stirring well. Fill ice-pop molds. Freeze for at least 4 hours or overnight.

Well that's it...a Pink, Preppy, and Personalized Luncheon Tablescape! Thank you for stopping by today.