June 23, 2026

Yes, the blog I posted yesterday was practically 2 months old lol I forgot all about it and had been putting my blog on the back burner for weeks. Furthermore, since I have a few upcoming collabs, I wanted to get all the old stuff out in preparation for the new posts. So I went ahead and posted the early May entry anyway, since it had been sitting finished for 8 weeks. Anyways, here’s this weeks post!

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Hosting & Homemaking!

I was recently offered the chance to collaborate with Aynsley China and could not pass up on the opportunity! They sent me their Pembroke Oban 7 Piece Bone China Tea Set. As stated via the website, this collection was first introduced in 1895 and features Asian influence, life-like bids, foliage and the beauty of a serene landscape painting.

Pembroke Oban 7 Piece Bone China Tea Set

I already own a few vintage china sets, but unfortunately, I have no room for another china cabinet. The current china cabinet I have stores most of the china my mom collected or was gifted over the years, which she then gifted to me. It includes holiday-focused designs and some crystal dinnerware. But, there's no room for me to add anything else, so most of the vintage china I've sourced is being stored in the cupboard or is boxed away in storage, not very chic at all, lmao.

This collaboration has thankfully forced my hand into the hobby or the art, lost art if you will, of hosting and homemaking. I do feel like the idea and overall existence of a formal dining room has died over the past 10-15 years, but let's face it, even then, it was hanging on by a thread. The disappearance of these rooms led to the act of hosting to pretty much die right along with it. The physical presence of that overzealous room, which was always decorated and kept together while accommodating every season throughout the year.

You can blame a few things on the disappearance of these rooms, primarily the economy, but also the erasure of a designated area for a formal dining room in most new construction homes. It was standard for homes to have a formal dining room that was completely separate from the casual dining area, where you ate mundane meals. Typically, the dining room sat across from a parlour or home office, and these two rooms were separated by a foyer.

To get back to the point of this blog post, I am in the process of redoing my back patio so I can have a designated sitting area specifically for reading in the mornings and for afternoon tea! The idea came to me a few months ago after I purchased a new vintage patio dining set back in December, but like most of my plans, I dragged my feet on actually conceptualizing the idea once the new set was delivered. But, this new china set is offering me the perfect opportunity to apply myself and actually finish something I started 6 months ago lol.

We can think of this as part 1 in this new mini-series. Until next time!

Much Love,

Cocoa G <3