November 29, 2011

A Secret Weapon…

IMG_1836

Last night we said goodbye to some amazing friends.  We fed them dinner and laughed and reminisced. Now they are headed to Michigan where they will bless the lives of other lucky people.

I was excited to fix a homemade meal for them since they’ve been living like gypsies for the past few weeks.  I pulled out all the stops.  A family favorite pasta dish. A gourmet salad. Piping hot bread.  A bowl of sweet mixed berries. Texas sheet cake {have mercy}. And I even put on a fancy white lace tablecloth fully knowing that there would be eight children spreading their filth all over it.

You might think that’s crazy, but this tablecloth is my secret weapon.

It’s dainty and ladylike.

It has such a beautiful, delicate pattern.

It fits my ugly kitchen table when both leaves are in it.

It takes a normal dinner affair from chaos to classy.

IMG_1837

And, it is totally, one hundred percent made of plastic.

Yep, I just said plastic.

I got this tablecloth ten years ago at Kmart. It’s from the Martha Stewart line.  Do they even have that anymore? I don’t know. But I do know that bright red spaghetti stains have been scrubbed off of this tablecloth with Clorox Clean-up and it is still just as white as they day I bought it. 

My kids can eat on this tablecloth, spill whatever and I don’t care. The great thing is that it really doesn’t look or feel like plastic. It drapes nicely on the sides and is thin unlike many plastic tablecloths.  I fool everyone with it. 

Now you know my secret. Do you have a secret weapon for when dinner guests come over?

5 comments:

Apis Melliflora said...

I have a summer Provence tablecloth that's got some kind of plastic/rubber coating that provides the same protection.

In the fall & winter, we roll out the brown paper to cover the table, with a centerpiece of crayons.

MelancholySmile said...

Ohmygoodness, that is brilliant! I don't think I've been to K Mart in years, but I may have to see if they still have the Martha Stewart line...

The Queen Vee said...

It's a shame that that Secret Weapon is no longer available. I bet your dinner was yummy and also a bit sad....always hard to say goodbye to good friends.

Aiketa said...

You totally fooled me!!! Such a great deal this tablecloth!

Laura Waltz said...

Michigan is my state! Sad you are losing your friends, but if they are coming to live here for a while I hope they like it. I've lived here my entire life, so I really don't have much to compare it with, but it's got some great things to do/places to visit.