Happy Friday! I’m taking you to the tropics via the table to dream of white sandy beaches, tiki bars and umbrella drinks!
My table inspiration came from *Beach Cocktails: Favorite Surfside Sips and Bar Snacks (Oxmoor House, May 2017) by the Editors of Coastal Living, is a full-color book packed with 125 thirst-quenching cocktails that will transport you to the world’s most tropical locales – with or without a plane ticket.
Even though I’m lakeside instead of surfside, I was hoping to offer you some blue water views (if not palm trees except on the tablecloth ;) but Mother Nature had other plans with our overcast skies and rainy weather lately.
Additional table inspiration came from flamingos I spied at Target, and a collection of plastic tableware, fun for outdoor and carefree entertaining this summer, ideal by the pool, for boating or picnicking.
Flamingo straws and cocktail stirrers from the Dollar Spot fill pineapple tumblers also at Target, to whisk you away to the tropical locale of your choice. . .if only by your libation!
A galvanized three-tier stand from Pottery Barn makes an easy centerpiece to celebrate the red, white & boom, for a self-serve breakfast station, or to set sail for summer fun.
The centerpiece stand is filled with a layer of sand, shells, fruit and straws for sipping cocktails, along with drink umbrellas.
I had so much fun reading everyone’s favorite cocktail and beach destination in the comments . . .sipping a Painkiller at Soggy Dollar Bar in White Bay-BVI, Pina Coladas in Costa Rica, and a Perdido Martini in Perdido Key, Florida, to name a few.
Among the 125 cocktails in the book was a Sea Breeze, a mix of vodka, cranberry juice and grapefruit juice, or the Bay Breeze variation, substituting fresh pineapple juice for grapefruit juice.
I concocted a Lake Breeze, mixed and named for the breezes usually stirring around the shores of Lake Norman~ I encourage you to mix one for a refreshing cocktail and summertime sipping!
Lake Breeze Cocktail
1 1/2 ounce citron vodka
4 ounces cranberry juice
Splash of grapefruit juice
1 ounce limoncello (or more to taste)
Sparkling water or lemon-lime seltzer
Combine limoncello, vodka and juices in an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously and strain into an ice-filled highball glass. Top with sparkling water or flavored seltzer. Garnish with lemon, lime or grapefruit slices if desired (flamingo stirrer and drink umbrella optional ;). Substitute lemonade or sparkling water/seltzer for a non-alcoholic version.
The winner of a copy of Beach Cocktails is Vicky!
I’ll be in touch with you by email and have your book on its way.
*Thank you to Time Inc. Books for providing a copy of Beach Cocktails.
Tropical Table Details:
Flamingo and Pineapple Plates and Tumblers / Target
Flatware / World Market, several years ago
Galvanized Metal Stand / Pottery Barn
Shell Chargers / HomeGoods, several years ago
Tablecloth and Napkins, Tommy Bahama/ HomeGoods
Shell Napkin Rings / Pottery Barn, several years ago
Bubble Goblets / HomeGoods, several years ago
Straws, Drink Umbrellas, Flamingo Cocktail Stirrers / Dollar Spot, Target
Thank you for your visit, sharing with:
Tablescape Thursday
What a color blast sensation – I love it! Just think if those skies had been blue, and the sun gleaming on the water. If you use that tablescape again, be sure to capture that. Those colors just sing to me!
Love your photos and ideas…I thought at first you created the chargers by embellishing them with shells yourself, but then saw they were a previous Home Goods purchase — one of my favorite stores to browse, for sure. You must have a lot of storage space to be able to have this extensive and lovely of an inventory of dishes and related wares as we see across the seasons! Thanks so much for sharing – have to try your Lake Breeze cocktail soon.
Congratulations Vicky! Enjoy the book! 😎🌴
Thank you! I know I’ll enjoy each and every sip!🍹
What a wonderful surprise this AM to find out I’m the lucky winner of Beach Cocktails!! I’m beyond thrilled – thank you so much! I can tell my summer is going to be filled with delicious libations and snacks. . . I’ll have to try them all. Do you think I’ll put on some weight? Probably, but it’ll be worth it!
Thank you also, for your delightful posts and photos. I always enjoy them!
Have a lovely Mother’s Day weekend and again, thank you!
You’ve taken us straight to the islands with this table full of flamingo fun! I love the galvanized tier stand full of shells and tropical fruits and all the luscious details. I made a shell charger several years ago, but it was pretty labor intensive so I stopped at 1. All those cocktails look good to me, congrats Vicki!
Jenna
Spectacular tablescape!! The perfect setting for any summer occasion. I really am taken with the flatware, so unusual and fun. Loving the Pottery Barn galvanized tiered stand and especially how you have presented it. Thank-you for this delightful post and your always beautiful photos.
Yes, I will be using your Lake Breeze cocktail for our upcoming “Patriot’s Day” celebration. Can’t do Memorial Day because so many of our friends are gone. Don’t like to do July 4th because the Temps are usually around 100, so we renamed and moved to the second weekend in June. I love, love, love your photos. Are you a professional photographer and what kind of camera do you use? Have a great day.
Thanks Kathy, I’m just an amateur and photo enthusiast! Here’s a link to my camera info: https://homeiswheretheboatis.net/2014/11/21/feasting-on-apple-honey-galette-with-pomegranate-seeds/
Mary,
When I saw your first photo of the gray skies and tropical table I immediately was taken back to two experiences in the islands when we had to escape from incoming hurricanes. The sky does indeed turn dark and scary and there is a strange smell and feeling which almost takes your breath away, with winds seeming to be more powerful and terrifying than the hurricanes when they make it all the way up here, maybe because of the swaying palms and the expectations of brilliant blue skies. Your bright dishes and tropical tablecloth make me want to sway in the breeze and I think the yummy cocktail will certainly help! Yum — it sounds so delicious! And little paper umbrellas instantly say “party” to me! Delightful!
Linda
Hi – I will be in the Atlanta area next week visiting my son – I know of the Pottery Barn outlet – any other places like that that you would suggest I go to?
Thank you – I enjoy your posts greatly ☺
Molly Lydon
Hi Molly, I’m in North Carolina not Georgia but I’m sure you can find plenty to tempt you during your visit to Atlanta :)
How fun, that book looks like it would come in handy for summertime get togethers here in Florida! Love your table with all of the flamingoes and the tropical fun!
Mary, oh how I love this tropical table especially the pineapple and flamingo plates and of course your perfect centerpiece. Your setting brought back fun memories of September 2015 when we were visiting our friends at their beautiful condo in St. Maarten. Congrats to your winner…Happy Weekend!
I love it!!!! I am on a Flamingo kick. I bought two pink plastic flamingos yesterday to make a centerpiece out of. I know they sound tacky – but just looking at them makes me smile. THANK YOU for the inspiration.
THe tablescape gave me a mini tropical trip. Needed it with the cool temps and rain. Thank you for the lift.
Very, very tropical!!!! Love it!!! ❤️❤️❤️ CONGRATULATIONS VICKY!!! Happy sipping!! 🍹🍓🍑🥝🍍🌺🌸🌺🌸
Thanks, Ellen! Winning the book has made my Mother’s Day weekend extra special!😁
Fun and colorful…a great way to welcome summer!
Oh, what a colorful delight! Your tropical table makes me think of an escape to Hawaii. I love the idea of red, white, and bloom!
Yesterday afternoon I had the table out on the terrace all set and ready to take photos when raindrops began to fall. I scurried to get everything inside just in time because a surprise thunderstorm was upon us. I had no idea! Best laid plans…..our day here is glorious. I just completed taking photos of a table setting out on the terrace. Perfect light this morning!
Happy Weekend!
So cute and I’m not a flamingo person nor a plastic plate person. Also, if I was at Home Goods, I wouldn’t of liked the tablecloth, but you always have a way of pulling things together. However, the table looks so fun, I wanted to rush out and purchase everything! Your table seats four and mine seats 6 and 8 with the leaf in, which really adds up compared to four place settings. Love that book also…I might just have to purchase it on my own! I’ve had my eye on that galvanized centerpiece and I keep talking myself out of it, but there are so many ways to decorate it. You’re very talented!
Absolutely wonderful. I have a thing for Flamingos and was lucky to score some at Burke’s for next to nothing. Now headed to Target for the glasses.
Your tropical table would definitely take me away, Mary! Aren’t those plates darling, and the tumblers and all the other accessories? I’d love to try your Lake Breeze, and click a “cheers” to you, Mary, with my drink! 🍹🌺🌴
What a happy table! Love the tiered centerpiece and the plates too. I will have to look closer at the dollar spot next time I’m in Target. Thanks Mary :)
Nothing better than a nice tropical get-away and not having to get on a plane Mary! This is a really fun setting, love the colors and pretty napkins:@)
Congrats to Vicky and love the sounds of the “Lake Breeze” especially as it has Limoncello! I shall add more to taste :) Beautiful table by the lake!!!
I love your colorful table and that book is a must have!
Oh Mary, thanks for taking me to the beach today. We just planned our cruise down to Belize and it’s cold outside, so this really helped me get into the mood for your trip in March. Beautiful table and I LOVE Flamingos.
I don’t know how I missed this so am very happy you posted at Susan’s today! I love this table, have always longed to live somewhere warmer and on a body of water. The tropics just speak to my heart. Love the dinnerware and the beautiful centerpiece.