It finally stopped raining and we pulled out all the furniture from the shed. Can I tell you how excited I am to start eating out here every night? Instead of my normal Friday Favorites post I joined Melaine from My Sweet Savannah and 6 other bloggers to share some outdoor dining ideas today. We really love using our deck- it feels like our 1100 square foot home doubles in size when the weather warms up!
We keep it casual around here for dinner and when we have people over to eat. You will really never see me set a fancy table- only at Thanksgiving and even then it is REALLY casual. I used to stress before people came over to eat at our home. Maybe I just learned to relax? Or living on the East has taught me a thing or two…
People on the East do dinner different. Or maybe it is just the people I am friends with. After going to eat at different friends homes a couple times I caught on. Dinner was never even started at the time they told us to come over. The first couple of times I was starving and ended up eating way too many of the appetizers they had out and by 9:00 when the grill got fired up and the side dishes brought out I was full and ready for bed.
But I soon learned that it was about the experience and enjoying the entire night together. Connecting and cooking! So we were in it for the long haul and I learned to pace myself on the eating:) and I really have enjoyed every time we have been invited to friends houses for dinner!
So along the note of keeping outside entertaining casual- I like to use what I have! I get creative with pots to plant flowers and buckets to fill with ice for our Seltzer Water.
Another thing I had never eaten until moving to the Connecticut was Salad Pizza! Seriously it is the BEST creation ever. I order mine with a gluten-free crust, no sauce, no cheese, just salad. It is the best. Every pizza place around us offers this type of pizza. And I don’t know a single friend who does not love this pizza. I guess if they don’t like it they are not my friend:)
So we made our own Salad Pizza. I have tried making paleo pizza with almond flour and tapioca flour and it jut gets too chewy and weird, I would rather go without. And I have tried cauliflower pizza and I am not a fan. So I bought THIS gluten-free pizza dough and thought I would give it a go and it was really good!
I like to bring out a lot of my white pictures that I collect and plant simple flowers in them. It makes for an inexpensive way to decorate your outdoor table.
Remember it is about enjoying each others company and not about the fancy things you serve dinner on or if everything is perfect before your guests arrive. Let them help you pull it all together! It is more fun that way. I heard something along the lines of-
“You only get invited into another women’s kitchen to help if she likes you”
and that is SO true- remember that as you start to entertain this wonderful season!
You can find all the pieces I used on our outdoor deck HERE (my sectional is on sale right now!) and read all the DIY details of how we painted our deck there too!
Make sure to stop by the rest of the bloggers on the tour today for some major Outdoor Dining Inspiration-
Love your deck. So pretty and inviting.
Thank you so much Marty, I appreciate that!
Oh I love it all… the colors are perfect. My girls had so much fun playing on our porch about yours ages. Make it comfy and they will play all summer there. ♥♥♥ Come visit my new blog…. http://suddenly-southern.blogspot.com
Thank you!
hey girl- love the post! The deck looks so pretty! Y’all have a great weekend! and that pizza looks so yummy!
Thanks Shawnna! You too:)
Your space is so pretty! The stripes on the deck are absolute perfection!
Happy day friend!
karianne
Thank you so much KariAnne- means a lot coming from you!
Love it! The deck is so fun and the cart too. Everything looks so inviting and fresh. I have NEVER heard of salad pizza but what an awesome idea. My daughter is gluten intolerant and I look forward to making this for her. There are so few tasty recipes out there. Happy Friday
Thank you so much! Yes, she will love that pizza! There is something about it that hits the spot!
I love your striped deck Brooke! Every detail is perfect! Comfortable and casual. Don’t you adore those Montecito pillows?
Thanks Annie! Yes- I want those pillows in every room in my home!
We’ve got some remodeling to do on our deck. Can’t wait to paint it like yours and get the striped umbrella. Where did you find the little blue and white dishes shown and the blue tea towel on the cart? Love that cart! Everything looks so inviting!
Thanks Donna! The dishes and towel are from Home Goods:)
Exciting for you to work on your deck!
Beautiful deck, I would love to paint mine! But worried about peeling?
What materials did you use to paint it? Love your style!
Thank you! No it has not peeled at all (lasted two years now) I shared details on this post- http://nestingwithgrace.com/diybackyardpainteddeck/