Setting the Table | Recap Week 1

Marking milestones, savoring rituals, and starting with gingham.

This first week of the Tabletop Challenge has been extra sweet in our home—we celebrated Ginny’s very first birthday. We leaned into a cherry theme for her “cherry first birthday,” which made the table feel especially joyful and festive. It was such a reminder that the table isn’t just where we eat—it’s where milestones and memories gather too.

I kicked off the challenge using my favorite green gingham tablecloth. It feels like the perfect foundation piece for summer-to-fall, fresh but grounding, and it makes everything else on the table pop. (If you’ve been eyeing it, now’s the time—it’s almost sold out!)

This week I noticed that consistency really does make a ritual feel easier and more natural. At the same time, I gave myself permission to let go of expectations—I skipped two nights of setting the table while focusing on party prep. It was a good reminder that rituals can bend with life, and the practice still holds its meaning even when it isn’t perfect.

It’s been a joy seeing some of you join in with #SetTheTableChallenge and #EverydayAtTheTable. Each table looks different, but the spirit is the same: slowing down and creating something special, even on an ordinary day.

Here’s to another week of simple, beautiful tables together.