I'm back today with the last of our La Crema Farm-to-Table at Home series! I hope you've enjoyed it these past few months. I know I won't be forgetting our incredible trip to California any time soon.

We stayed at an amazing loft in downtown Healdsburg, and while we did go out quite a bit, we also did a ton of cooking--and we started with a gorgeous but simple one-pot chicken and mushroom risotto that I'm still thinking about to this day. We set a beautiful table that took no time at all and enjoyed such a great meal together. Today I'll be sharing some tips with you for setting an elegant table perfect for everyday life and dining.

So without further ado, here are some tips for setting an elegant table everyday--no matter the occasion (or not!):

• Go for white dishes, but add texture.
• Layer plates and bowls on top of each other at each setting to add depth and contrast. (Feel free to add color or patterns if that's more your style!)
• Include some gold accents, like a charger. 
• Don't be afraid to mix metals--gold flatware is super pretty but sometimes can be hard to find. Feel free to combine your everyday silverware with gold chargers and details, like the fun stemless wine glasses we used all week.
• Don't forget the flowers! We love silk ones because they last forever and you can do so much with them. We also incorporated some fresh herb centerpieces that work extra hard as decoration on the table and flavor in the kitchen.
• Have fun with it--experiment with your own personal style and remember that you don't need a special occasion to set a beautiful table. Weeknights with family and/or friends are special enough.

And no meal (or table) is complete without a few glasses of La Crema wines! We paired our risotto with both red and white--the Sonoma Coast Chardonnay is a favorite, but you also can't beat the richness of their Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir. The Monterey Chardonnay is another classic--you might as well include all three, just to be safe! So many dishes pair well with either red or white, so it's always fun to do a little of both.

For more information on this elegant weeknight dinner, make sure to visit all of our Farm-to-Table at Home posts in this series:

Farm-to-Table at Home: Weeknight Dinners

Elegant Everyday Table Setting and Decor

Easy Herb Centerpieces

One Pot Risotto

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of La Crema. The opinions and text are all mine.

This is one of my favorite pieces for fall--it's as cozy as a big over-sized tee shirt, but it clings in great places and is much fancier than my usual leggings and baggy sweaters.

I've been wearing these little booties with everything, and I love them; but now I'm starting to look for a pair that are a little dressier. Anyone have suggestions? I like the neutral color but I think I'd like less material around the the top and a skinnier, higher heel. But until I find my second pair of booties, I'll be wearing these ones with comfy dresses, jeans, and leggings as usual.

(And does anyone else think it might be time for a new bag? I just can't quit this one.)

Dress: ModCloth | Boots (similar): ShoeMint | Necklace (similar): Chloe & Isabel | Bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs

Photos by Andi Perullo for Freckled Italian.

October is a really busy month for us this year--we were in Minneapolis the first weekend of the month and were able to stay put this past weekend, but then we'll be in Roanoke Saturday night and to a wedding near Charlottesville the weekend after that. Then it's Halloween and Rob's brothers are visiting, and the first weekend in November is another wedding, this time in Washington DC. This time in our lives is so fun--lots of weddings and parties and other celebrations, but I always have to remember to take a second and catch my breath every once in a while.

It's that time of year in Charlotte where the mornings are really chilly, but then it reaches almost 80 degrees in the afternoon, which always kind of bums me out. I'm ready for cold days and hats and hot tea at 2PM. We've been leaving the windows open at night, though, which always makes me sleep so well.

One of my best friends, Elena, came through town on Sunday on her way to the airport to catch a flight back to Seattle and we got to hang out for the first time since my wedding, where she was a bridesmaid. Before that we hadn't seen each other in probably two years. It is truly ridiculous how rarely I see some of my closest friends, but I feel so incredibly fortunate to have these relationships that allow us to just pick up where we left off, no matter the distance between us.

I have to admit that I'm really surprised by how hard it's been for me to get back into the swing of things after taking two weeks to go to Roanoke and care for my mom after surgery. I guess I had been feeling burnt out for a long time, and that ended up kind of being the last straw for me. I really did anticipate just jumping back into everything--writing and blogging, working out, eating right, keeping our apartment organized--all the daily things we don't usually have to put too much thought into. But it's been a struggle to stay motivated, to stay inspired. I wish I could stay that I'm doing the best I can, but I'm not sure if that's true. There's still a big part of me that's trying to figure out what's next for me, what I want this blog to be, and what my goals and dreams actually look like.