In this time where everyone (or just Fox News) is telling old people to buy gold, and telling everyone else to sell their gold, gold has become passe.  Which is a real shame because gold is a fabulous statement.  Gold is classic, like Coco Channel, if you pick the right pieces it will look amazing forever.  Anyone who doesn’t like gold just has never owned the right piece of gold.

But let’s face it when it comes to dining you just can’t afford the gold or sterling silverware that used to be customary in yesteryear, and it is so pricey you feel bad even putting it on a registry.  But with many of the beautiful china styles, with amazing colors and warm hues out there you really do need a classy set of gold settings.

The solution: Seletti Midas Cutlery.

Normally available on Yoox.com or Bloomsburystore.com, it is all sold out right now because it is fabulous, but don’t despair  because The Conran Shop Online has a full 24 piece set for $225.00.

This is gold plated steel cutlery with a matte finish.  Allowing it to blend with modern and classic china sets.  I think it would even look particularly stunning with mixed plates or plain white casual china, as well.  And it comes nicely packed in a china box, small enough to actually fit in all those places you would want to store your china.  I am really quite smitten with this set of silverware, actually less smitten more absolutely covetous.  So get it while it isn’t sold out.  And if you are looking for a nice wedding present for those brides out there who aren’t registering (ahem bad idea) I think this would make a really nice present that any modern couple would find quite pleasing.

*Sigh* If only I had seen this BEFORE Christmas.

So I am covetting this set of china that I saw at Bloomingdales.

It is the Flora pattern by Villeroy and Bach.  My favorite are the pink plates below.

The major problem though is that they do not match with the decor of my current house.  (Well the blue would, but I love the pink)  Well Hubby would also  claim that the other problem is that I just got new china and I have rather recent new casual dinnerware and I just put in all the cabinets we can and it now just fits all my current china, as well, details, details.  But if these match your house please register for them or buy them and take good care of them and then pass them on to me, ok? (Ahem, I know of a few certain brides who NEED to register, at least for china)

What makes them so appealing is that they look very similar to the rhododendron china that is used at the Greenbrier which is just stunning china.  They have stood the test of time there looking so classic.  The rhododendron china was used at my wedding, and is used during regular tea and dinner service their and just looks amazing.  They would be perfect for my Aunt who has beautiful pinks and greens in her home and her dining room.

They are on sale, as well.  So girls that need china and have a beautiful classic apartment or house, really think about these, yes they are bold colors, but Dorthy Draper never feared color and look how great her creations turned out.

Have any of you ever heard of a snack set?  If you are about my age you probably haven’t, so let me introduce you.

Girls this is snack set:

Snack set meet the girls.

I recently happened upon snack sets at my wedding shower.  The person throwing my shower was having a tea, and borrowed glass snack sets from her church for the event.  I also then noticed that my MIL to be in 17 days had snack sets in her glass cupboard.

Snack sets are small serving plates, a little bit bigger than a dessert plate, not as big as a dinner plate, with either an indentation for a cup to rest, like the snack set above, or a walled off section for a cup to sit.  This completely solves the problem of carrying a drink and plate, and not being able to snack on either.

I think a snack set would be perfect for a cocktail party where you are serving hor d’oeuvres, a tea with sandwiches and cookies or even to start a dinner party before the food is served.

The one hang up is that most drinks you serve at a cocktail party are not meant to be served in a tea cup.  The solution would be to find some stemless glasses that would sit in the indentation or walled off part of the snack set.

This picture shows you a good view of one that has dividers.  I think a stemless glass would sit in there.  This set also comes with a small serving bowl for fruit, trifle, pudding or even a small salad.

Some other snack sets I thought were super cute:

This one from Replacements, LTD.com.  I know normally this site is to replace broken items, but you can order multiples and make yourself a full set.

This china one with gold rim from Granny’s Treasure Box.

This blue one from Tias.com.

And this vintage milk glass from Robin’s Nest.

They have all sorts of patterns in glass and china, you can even get high end Fenton art glass snack sets, or Federal snack sets.

Once my new china cabinet is built, and I have a home for a snack set, I will be acquiring one, with some stemless glasses.

This time of year you can’t help but get excited about cherry blossoms.  No you won’t go visit them down at the memorials because it will be swamped with tourists, but you could admire their beauty from afar at one of the many restaurants making cherry blossom cocktails, the Spring in Bloom at Firefly looks particularly good, or admire their beauty with this set of pottery.  I recently discovered Franz pottery and have been secretly coveting it.  It is absolutely beautiful in its detail.  I would rate getting a piece of it like getting a piece of Moorcroft pottery.  They have a cherry blossom set that is very sweet.  So while it is dreary outside, I will keep looking at the rising daffodils and the budding trees and just think how beautiful it will be in a few weeks.