With the last few days of August here, everyone seems to be talking about the end of summer. Yes, school is starting and a few leaves have started to drop off the trees in our yard. The weather is still warm though, and I’m determined to stretch out our summer days for long as we can. I keep reminding people that the official first day of Fall isn’t until the end of September; let September have it’s summer days too! One way I’m keeping the season alive is with a bit more al fresco dining — I’ll do it every chance I can get until the temperatures drop — and pulling together festive summer tabletops with my favorite color scheme: blue and white.One of the things I love about using the color blue is that you can mix and match so many different tones of the same color and still get a really cohesive look. For this table, I started with one my favorite entertaining hacks — using a striped Turkish towel as an inexpensive alternative to a tablecloth. They come in so many colors, and can be layered on a bigger table. I brought in more blue tones with color-blocked plates, chinoiserie inspired napkins (I love this pattern!),  blue-stemmed glassware, and tons of blue and white striped outdoor pillows for seating. I always finish off a table with some natural elements, and few stems of blue hydrangeas were the perfect fit. For some color I added in a few sprigs of greenery and bowls of lemons — I love how they pop! All that’s left is to add some cocktails and dinner straight off the grill — we’re ready to party.

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