Dining Rooms

While, I would never call myself a decorator or designer, I do consider myself a pretty good mimic. So following yesterday's post of Dream Kitchens, I've moved on to my second favorite room. The Dining Room. I have to say I LOVE a well put together dining room. I'm looking forward to having a separate dining room. It's on my list of requirements for the new house. Along with the dishwasher, but I promise I won't go there again. LOL!!
A "formal" or separate dining room is, in my mind's eye, a must for family gatherings and holidays. I want to set the table in beautiful dishes, cutlery, fabrics, flowers and candles. I want to sit at the end of a long rectangular table and look at the faces of my loved ones enjoying a fabulously delicious meal. It's long been a dream of mine and I'm determined to find just the right room to mimic, in my case. Here's my favorites that I've found so far.

Versailles by Ameri

Rate My Space

I'm not sure where this one came from. It was just in my Dining Room idea folder. I love the textures and coolness of it.

I really don't care for this room overall, it's just too americana country for me. What I love about it is the wall treatment. It's an argyle look. Very interesting, in my opinion.

Pottery Barn

Pier 1 Imports

Fine Dining without Reservations
*It's the 7th room in the studio

Pottery Barn

Pottery Barn

Haverty's

Haverty's

Rate My Space

At least I think that's where it's from.

Now, don't ask me which is my favorite. I really haven't narrowed it down, but I'd love to hear your thoughts on the ones here or post a link of your own.

Family Dinners

I'm an advocate of Family Dinners. I know that in today's busy world, dinner's at the family table are few are far between. As a Suburban Soccer Mom, I'm constantly being pulled in a thousand directions. Prime example was last night. Hunter had football practice at 6pm on one side of town and Emily had soccer practice at 6:30pm on the opposite side of town. On nights like last night I'm lucky that everyone gets fed and I'm a SAHM, so I understand why Wendy's and McDonald's makes the money they do. All I ask is you TRY to use that dining table 1 or 2 nights a week. You really do learn a lot about your kids when you take the time to sit down for dinner.

At our table tonight it was Emily keeping us entertained. We sat down to have a bowl of that absolutely FABULOUS Chicken Noodle soup and some crusty Sourdough bread. It was YUMMY, by the way!! Terry said he loved that I'd accidentally dumped the entire bag of noodles in the pot. (I bought a 12 or 16oz bag.) Hunter said his favorite part was the green things (Celery). Emily piped up and says, "I LOVE THE PURPLE THINGS!" Realizing that there wasn't anything purple on the table I asked, "What purple things, Goo?" "LIFESAVERS!", was the answer. LOL!

Later, Hunter was singing us a song they learned in school about the multiples of 3. Too cute for words. He was using his fingers to keep track and when he got to 30, he had all 10 fingers in the air and Emily says, "That's 10, Hunter!" in the most annoying little sister voice possible. LOL!! I died laughing at her!

Had we been eating on the run or sitting at a restuarant, we'd never had that moment. We'd missed that memory forever. So, while I know that it's supremely hard in today's world and not every Mom is channeling Donna Reed like I get to, try to find sometime for your family at your dining table. You'll never regret it.

Here's my adorable middle child, Emily Paige. Doesn't she look older than 3? She'll be 4 in a couple weeks and I can't for the life of me figure out where the time went.