State Tokens + China Markers

Did you know our State Tokens can be used as place cards for your dining table? All you need is a China marker (also called a grease pencil) to customize any piece for a fun and unique table setting idea that doubles as a gift for your guests to take home. Furthermore, our State Tokens are now on sale. (All except for the small USA token and large USA tray). Each piece is only $10!

Similarly, our large USA platter makes the perfect cheese board when you can identify your cheese selections in the same way. The China marker will wash off easily with a little soap and water.

Grab them while they last--great as place cards for your Thanksgiving table, as a stocking stuffer, or as a holiday hostess gift!

R O S A N N A I N C . C O M

Mix 'n Match Tablesettings

Mixing and matching plates and patterns is a fun way to change up the dinner table and surprise your guests with an imaginative tabletop. Here we've combined our Rue du Bac dinner plates, Arabesque salad plates, Luxe Moderne appetizer plates, and Portico tidbit dishes along with our pearlized champagne Napoleon flatware. 

You can stick with a color story like we did above with blue-greens, greys and gold, or go with a theme like tropical or floral. Mixing in solid colored pieces and a few neutrals really helps to balance things out as well.

If you like this idea, be sure to take a photo and send it our way! Find more tabletop inspiration on our Pinterest page.

R O S A N N I N C . C O M

Use Your Senses of Taste and Smell

Italy is one of the places in the world where good, fresh food has always played a central part in living a high-quality life. The taste and smell of Italian produce is intoxicating, ensuring dining experiences that frequently border on transcendent.

It's rare to find a fruit or vegetable in a market when the variety is out of season. Tomatoes, for example, are at their best in Italy in the late spring and early summer. Most of the tomatoes in Italian markets come from Sicily, where the hot and sunny climate produces fruits bursting with flavor. When tomatoes are at their peak, Italians make great batches of passato al pomodoro (fresh bottled tomato sauce) to stockpile in their larders during the winter months when tomatoes and other vegetables are no longer in season.

You might think about getting the best tomatoes you can so you too can preserve the bounty of the seasonal produce and create a well-stocked pantry. See below for my tips on canning and preserving.

• Canning in huge quantities can seem like a daunting task. Start with smaller batches - even six or eight pints of sauce will go a long way toward making at least a few of your meals feel fresh and summery in the wintertime.
• Be sure not to use any jars with chips or cracks, as this can lead to bacteria.
• Make sure to sterilize the jars completely. Start by washing the jars, lids, and bands with hot, soapy water. Next, completely submerge the jars in boiling water for 10 minutes. Remove with tongs.
• Do not use any butter or fats when canning, unless specified in a tested recipe. These ingredients don't store well and tend to have a higher rate of spoilage.
• Do not thicken with starches, flour, or add rice, barley, or pasta to canned products. These items will absorb liquid quickly and slow the way the food heats, resulting in under-processed and possibly unsafe food.
• Don't use jars larger than specified in a recipe, as excess air could make the food unsafe.
• For more tips, see Ball's website.

Enjoy!

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Making Guests Feel Welcome

Ensure your guests have a comfortable stay when visiting your home with these tips!

BEDDING MUG ROBE CANDLE SLIPPERS STEAMER UNIVERSAL CHARGER LUGGAGE RACK

• Bedding - Lush bedding (including high thread count sheets, quilts, comforters, and pillows) will be a welcome sign for any visitor, especially after a long trip.
• Mugs - I like to give guests some personalized mugs to take home with them as a souvenir of their trip. It's perfect for morning coffee and tea, too!
• Robe and slippers - Make sure each guest has a soft robe and pair of slippers on hand for cozy nights and after baths. These ones are lovely and machine-washable, too!
• Candles - A wonderful scented candle can do wonders on making a space feel (and smell!) more inviting.
• Steamer - For getting out stubborn wrinkles that suitcases can often cause.
• Universal charger - In case your visitors' tech gadgets need some juice during their stay.
• Luggage rack - I love wooden luggage racks to keep suitcases and knapsacks off the floor.
• Extra toiletries - Have travel-sized shampoos, soaps, toothbrushes, lotions, etc. on hand in case someone forgets or runs out.
• WiFi password - I like keeping a small notebook on the guest room bedside table with the WiFi password inside so the guest doesn't need to ask.

Enjoy your visitors!

R O S A N N I N C . C O M

10 Things To Do With A Compote

One of the most beloved product groups at Rosanna is the compote, and with good reason! They are great for adding something extra to dessert table or displaying your favorite treat in. But the possibilities for this darling vessel don't end there.

1. Keep your soap off the sink counters.

Les Petite Sweets Large Compote and Farm Belle Soap

2. Use as a bud vase to arrange small flowers.
3. Keep condiments tidy.

Les Petite Sweets Medium Compote

4. Use to store small living room accessories such as matches.
5. Display fresh fruit and veggies stylishly.

Decor Bon Bon Footed Square Bowl and La Patisserie Footed Bowl

6. Keep on the counter and use as salt and pepper cellars when cooking.
7. Use to set out hot bread and biscuits for family meals.

Decor Bon Bon Footed Round Bowl

8. Organize jewelry.

Les Petite Sweets Small Compote

9. Keep rubber bands, staples, pins, and other small office items organized.

10. Coral your beauty items.

La Patisserie Footed Bowl

How do you use your compotes? Let me know in the comments!

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Summer Safety Tips for the Whole Family

Summer is almost here and with that comes plenty of fun outdoor activities like hiking, swimming, and bike rides. Be sure your adventures don't end with scrapes, bug bites, and tears with my summer safety tips:

1. Apply sunscreen at least 15 minutes before heading outside, and try to avoid direct sunlight between the hours of 10 AM and 2 PM - it's when the sun's rays are strongest.

2. The sun doesn't need to be out to get burned. Be sure to apply sunscreen on cloudy days, too.

3. Be aware of the symptoms of heat stroke - fatigue, confusion, cramping, dizziness, nausea, and extreme thirst.

4. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. Limit intense physical outdoor activity on especially hot days. This goes for Fido, too!

5. Never leave children or pets in the car on a warm day.

6. If your pets play outdoors on a hot day, make sure they have a shady spot to rest and plenty of water.

7. Try to avoid combination sunscreen/insect repellent lotions and sprays. Whereas sunscreen should be reapplied every few hours, repellent need not be applied more than once.

8. Use insect repellent containing DEET to keep mosquitoes, ticks, and other insects away.

9. Make sure everyone in your family knows what poison ivy looks like so they'll be sure to avoid it. But just in case, when in the forest, wear long pants, long sleeves, good shoes, and gloves.

10. Always supervise your children on play equipment at parks and clubs.

11. Inspect your own backyard play structures carefully before letting children play. Be sure everything is anchored safely in the ground, and all pieces are in good shape.

12. Make sure your child wears a helmet when riding their bike or roller-skating. Be a good example and wear one yourself when you go out on family rides.

14. Never let your children swim alone. Always be sure they are with an adult or responsible teen chaperone.

15. Empty shallow wading pools after children are done playing.

16. When boating, make sure everyone - not just the kids - wear life preservers.

17. Keep grills and barbecues at least ten feet from bushes, houses, and other structures.

18. Be sure to keep a fire extinguisher on hand when grilling.

19. When grilling, be aware of cross-contamination and use different plates and utensils to handle cooked food.

20. Any grilling leftovers should be refrigerated within an hour of use.

And make sure to always have a great time!

Have a wonderful summer!

R O S A N N I N C . C O M

Go on a Picnic!

Now that Spring has officially sprung, why not enjoy it? Pack a lunch, gather your friends and family, and head out on a lazy, sunny afternoon for a relaxed, rejuvenating picnic.

Picnics are great for groups of all sizes. They feel romantic and intimate with your beloved, and fun and exciting with children. Even the occasional solo picnic with a good book leaves one feeling relaxed and invigorated.

If you're lucky enough to live near a beautiful beach or park, take your picnic there. If not, set up a blanket and plates in your very own backyard! The beautiful thing about picnics is that they're casual with no needs for rules.

Read on for more picnic tips and tricks...

• Plan a menu that's easy to pack. Think sandwiches, bags of cut up fruit and veggies, cheeses and charcuterie - simple no-muss, no-fuss foods that you enjoy.
• Don't forget the libations! If the parks permit it, bring a good bottle of vino and some disposable cups. If you're going for a dry picnic, try sparkling water.
• Remember to pack the heaviest items at the bottom of your picnic basket - no one wants to eat a smashed sandwich!
• Keep one or two cold packs in your picnic basket to keep drinks and other chilled items cool.
• Don't forget the non-food essentials such as a good, heavy blanket (those with a waterproof bottom work best), flatware, napkins, plates, cups, and corkscrews. Fun items such as books, frisbees, horseshoes, playing cards, etc. And don't forget the sunglasses and SPF!
• Make sure to take trash bags - you don't want to leave a mess behind!
• Have a fabulous time!

Warmly,

www.rosannainc.com

How to Build a Community

One of the things I hold dearest is a sense of community. Building community starts at home. Setting a table encourages you and your family to gather around the dinner table and discuss the day's events while enjoying a delicious meal. When I was a child I remember playing with the neighbor children while our mothers sat and chatted over tea. We always felt safe because everyone knew and looked out for one another. Sadly, that feeling of community is getting lost in today's fast-paced world.

Here are some ideas to help you feel less isolated and foster a sense of community where you live:

• Use your library

• Turn off your TV
• Leave your house
• Know your neighbors
• Greet people
• Look up when you're walking

• Sit on your stoop
• Plant flowers
• Play together

• Buy from local merchants
• Share what you have
• Help a lost dog
• Take children to the park
• Honor elders

• Support neighborhood schools
• Talk to the mail carrier
• Help someone carry something heavy
• Have potlucks

• Hire young people in your neighborhood for odd jobs
• Organize a block party
• Start a tradition
• Bake extra and share

With these and other small steps, you can help to recapture your community.

With love,

www.rosannainc.com

Easter Egg Dyeing 101

Eggs have long been a symbol for rebirth and fertility. What better way to celebrate Spring than with dyeing beautiful Easter eggs to share with friends and family? Read on for my simple egg dyeing tips to ensure your Easter festivities go off without a hitch!

Instead of hard-boiling the eggs, I like to blow them out before dyeing. You can save the eggs after the holiday and use them next year for decorations to hang from branches or displayed together in a bowl.

1. Blow out the eggs. To empty the raw egg, use a small, sharp knife to pierce both ends of the egg with small holes. Next, poke a pin through the larger of the holes and stir the yolk. Hold the egg, larger hole down, over a bowl, and blow the contents out. This can be done using a rubber ear syringe to make things easier.

2. Prep your dyeing area. Put down newspaper on your counter or table to protect the surface from dyes. Mix 1 teaspoon of vinegar and about 20 drops food coloring in 1 cup of hot water. Make sure to use bowls deep enough to completely submerge your eggs.

3. Begin dyeing! Using metal tongs, carefully dip each egg into the bowl of dye. For deeper colors, leave the eggs in longer. To make two-color eggs, dye the entire egg first, let dry, and then dip half the egg into a darker color.

4. Let the eggs dry.

Once you have the basics of egg dyeing down, you can try different techniques to make some unique eggs.

• Before dyeing the eggs, draw patterns or shapes on the shell with crayons or a small candle. The dye won't adhere to the wax and your patterns and shapes will shine through!
• Cut a sponge into small cubes and sponge paint the dye onto the egg shells.
• Create ombre eggs by letting the eggs submerge in dye for different periods of time, from a few minutes to longer.
• Make speckled eggs by dipping a clean, dry toothbrush in acrylic paint and dotting the paint onto already dyed eggs.

Use your creativity and make sure to have fun! This is an excellent afternoon activity for children, as well. If you decide to use hard-boiled eggs, remember to throw them out after a few days or eat them as a protein-packed snack!

Have a lovely Easter everyone!

Warmly,

www.rosannainc.com

Staying close to home for Memorial Day and summer break

With the economy the way it is now, expensive vacations can seem like unnecessary luxuries. There's no need to sacrifice a fun break, though! My favorite vacations growing up were the ones where we stayed close to home and spent a week at the Oregon coast. The weather wasn't always great, but we made up for it by cooking and eating fresh fish from the Pacific, playing board games, and catching up on our pleasure reading. For us, Memorial Day and summer break was a special time - a time to be together as a family. We took long walks along the vast shoreline, hunted for shells, and had hot dog roasts on the beach, with s'mores for dessert. Simplifying a family holiday by stripping away the glitz associated with an exotic destination can allow you to focus on being together in the moment. Here are some of my favorite ideas for break activities that are low in cost and high in fun:

• Find a place to go that's close to home. Locate state parks, historic landmarks, and places of great beauty that are nearby.
• If you do decide to go away, find a house to rent, if possible. It will be more comfortable than a hotel and may end up being less expensive!
• If the weather isn't great, look for inexpensive matinees at local theatres.
• Wander through local museums and learn about your city's culture.
• Go to some local tourist spots or on a tour and see what all the fuss is about! Many times we ignore our town's tourist activities and hotspots - these are gems waiting to be explored.
• Host a potluck or outdoor BBQ at your home.
• Weather permitting, have a campout in your backyard with the kids.
• Be on the look out for local festivals and fairs.
• Attend an outdoor concert and bring a picnic.
• Invite grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins along for the fun, too!

To make your "staycations" feel more like the real thing, try sipping your tea or coffee out of one of my Travel mugs! I also offer matching plates. The Travel mugs and dishes celebrate some of the most intriguing cultures the world over and are reasonably priced. They're great for gifts, too!

Have a safe and fun-filled break!

www.rosannainc.com