Rachael Adele

Autumnal Dinner Party Styled Shoot

A few months back, Sarah Sweeney and I styled and hosted a simple dinner party in the backyard of a family member of Sarah’s home. We invited friends that hadn’t all necessarily met yet, but knew would enjoy each others company.

Emily of Emmy-Ray Florals made a stunning garland of deep greens and ivories for the table that was offset by seasonal fruit and the incredible work of Convivial Production in the form of votives and dinnerware.

We served cocktails on the prettiest marble and brass tray from Coveted Home. It was hard for me not to want to bring that beauty home with me at the end of the night.

Gram & Dun provided us with several dishes from their killer menu, including burrata, asparagus, fingerlings, and rustic bread – so good!

We’re really luck to have access to so many talented and generous local businesses in the Kansas City area when it comes to entertaining. The holidays are such a great opportunity to take advantage of local businesses, whether it be for buying gifts for friends and family or setting the table with a little something special.

Take advantage of the unique opportunities in your area and make an impact on your guests this season that they’ll always remember!

See the full feature on Cottage Hill’s journal.

Rugs and gold-tipped spoons via Coveted Home | Gourmet Salts via Season + Square | Cocktail glasses via Sur La Table

A Simple Thanksgiving Table

Thanksgiving Table Styling | Rachael Adele
There are few things I love more than the holiday season. And while I may already be thoroughly enjoying the company of my Christmas tree, I’ve learned to appreciate Thanksgiving a little more as I grow older each year.

Thanksgiving Table Styling | Rachael Adele

There really isn’t anything better than having down time to spend with friends and family over good food, good conversation, and lots of wine.

Thanksgiving Table Styling | Rachael Adele

One of my favorite parts of this season is entertaining and making the table where everyone gathers feel welcoming and special. My family tends to keep things uber traditional during the holidays, but I try to get away with a bit of modern flair and few new dishes each year if they’ll let me.

Whether you’re hosting a Thanksgiving feast for your entire extended family or a small friendsgiving meal, the key is to keep it simple. Consider adding affordable, unexpected touches like seasonal fruit and use what you already have around your home so that you’re able to focus on your company.

Thanksgiving Table Styling | Rachael Adele

I’m excited to share another holiday gathering + tablescape with you next week that I collaborated on with some insanely talented souls, so stay tuned! I hope your Thanksgiving is full of indulgence and quality time with the ones you’re most grateful for.

Strawberry Basil Crostini

I’ve had several people ask over the past week if I was planning to share the crostini recipe that made an appearance on this post last week. The simple truth is that I wasn’t going to because I feel weird even calling it a recipe.

But they are insanely delicious, so easy to make, and would make anyone look fancy showing up with them to this weekend’s holiday festivities.

And I’ve officially hit food-posts-with-strawberries quota for the month. I’m done for now, promise.

Strawberry Basil Crostini

INGREDIENTS:
Whole wheat baguette
Olive oil
Strawberries, thinly sliced
Basil, chiffonaded
Fresh goat cheese

DIRECTIONS:
Slice the baguette into 1/2 inch slices, drizzle with olive oil and grill or toast in the oven on a baking sheet until golden brown
Spread a generous amount of goat cheese onto each slice of bread
Top with sliced strawberries and basil ribbons
Optional: You could drizzle a little honey or balsamic over the top if you wish!

Photography by One Sparrow Creative

This Home: Factory to Loft

Today’s our second day on the west coast and I’m completely in love with this place. I’ll most likely never come back to Missouri. Just kidding, what I was really going to say is that I’ll most likely do a little detailed recap later.

My lack of sleep the past few days has left me with negative amounts of wit and interesting things to say, so for now, a few completely unrelated pictures of a stunning loft will have to do.

Images via Casa Sugar | Photos by Chellis Michael Photography