Dinner is served. And deciding what it’s served on may prove more difficult than settling on the meal itself.
 
There have never been more dinnerware options. High-end serving plate not for you? You’re in luck. How about serving your lemon baked cod atop a rainbow fish platter or nestling your freshly basked gingerbread cookies in the comforting arms of the North Pole’s own Santa Claus instead?
 
As I recently perused a friend’s wedding registry I was surprised to find a set of vibrant, multicolor dishes and bowls requested in place of formal china. The set was chic and high-quality, but quite a deviation from the iconic crisp, porcelain china of registries past. Where is the silver gravy boast? The crystal drinkware? I began to wonder: has formal china become passé? 

by Alexa

Okay, I’ll admit it: I love coffee. It’s hard for me to start my day off on the right foot without my morning cup of joe. (Black. No cream. No sugar.) And with coffee being a staple in my morning routine so too are the mugs that transport my precious daily dose of liquid caffeine. I’m a bit of a sucker for a cute and kitschy coffee mug—one that embodies the perfect balance of style and character. I figure, why not inject a little fun and variety into your usual daily routine? I like to keep my living space clean and contemporary, which leaves room for a little bit of fun when it comes to my decorative additions.

Dot and Bo has a particularly great selection of fun mugs. Their College Ruled Mug, decorated with binder paper–esque line patterning, would have proved an appropriately themed go-to cup during my many college all-nighters or early morning prep for a dreaded 8 a.m. class.

An enthusiastic lover of the rustic aesthetic, I’m always down for a splinter-free taste of the great outdoors. I’ve fallen for this ceramic mug set with its cool wood grain-like texturing. This modern woodland-themed Antler Mug also delivers a subtle bout of character with its charming handle design.

Chic and quirky, these designs are also conveniently dishwasher safe—a quality I tend to look out for. And while I enjoy indulging in this useful luxury, I’ll cave in and habitually hand wash a truly special vessel. This Peanuts Flying Ace Spinner Mug from Houzz is one such worthy piece. An avid fan of the iconic comic strip and its associated gang of characters, I couldn’t help but ogle over this themed mug. Decorated with a delightful comic-style landscape and a spinning aviator Snoopy, I know this cup will help start any day off on a happy note.