A quick run through Hobby Lobby …

Over the weekend, I was returning from a trip to see my dad when I decided I'd make a quick run through Hobby Lobby. The first thing I noticed was that the July Fourth items were sixty-six percent off. The second thing I noticed was that the new fall décor was thirty percent off.

So I grabbed some cute straws and cupcake papers for future patriotic entertaining. At that price, why not?

Then I began to meander up and down the aisles of the new fall offerings, and since I love fall, these are always quite tempting. That's when I saw this pumpkin-shaped butter dish. I collect amber glassware for fall entertaining, and I saw this butter dish online and meant to immediately go get one. I'd forgotten all about it—am I the only one who exists in a constant state of information overload these days?—so when I saw it right there in front of me, it went in my cart. It looked too short and stout to actually hold a full stick of butter, but just as I thought, when you cut a stick of butter in half, the two halves fit inside the dish quite nicely. I think this piece is so cute that I'm trying to come up with a reason it could be used at teatime. To hold a small pile of tiny macarons, maybe? Some thick whipped cream? Small jars of jam? Feel free to share any inspiration you may have.

The other glassware I got was this set of four pink coupes. Champagne coupes began to show up in the food magazines a few years ago, and I wasn't willing to drop any significant money on them, but I've seen them used for elegantly serving cold soups and even desserts, and I knew I wanted some for teatime. Alas, the only one I came across was $9.99 at T. J. Maxx—and had a candle in it. Would I pay $40 for four of them? Maybe. But a) I never came across four at a time and b) I knew that getting the candles out would be messy. So I was quite delighted when I found this set of four coupes for fifty percent off, just $13 for the four glasses. So my "quick run" through Hobby Lobby took a little longer than planned, but considering the goodies I found, it was time well-spent!