This SF Company Lets You Rent Picture-Perfect Table Settings For Your Next Dinner Party

Apr 24, 2019

The best part about throwing a dinner party: raising glasses with friends you love. The worst part? Pretty much everything else. We love entertaining as much as the next person, but there’s no overstating how much work and planning it *actually* takes to achieve that breezy, laid-back hostess vibe. Thankfully, a new type of event rental company is changing the game in a big way. How big? Think: no more day-after dishwashing.

Liz Curtis, founder of “rent the table” service Table + Teaspoon, was inspired by a long summer spent homebound in the thick of studying for the California Bar Exam. “Going stir-crazy and craving comfort food, I turned on the Food Network and decided it couldn’t possibly be that hard to roast a chicken,” she tells us. What followed was a slow progression from takeout-lover to foodie, from foodie to food blogger, and finally, from hostess to professional catering and events company founder.

After turning her passion into a business, Curtis wanted to find a way to expand it in a format that could work nationwide, and Table + Teaspoon’s “rent the table” service was born. “This specific idea hit me while I was picking up my zillionth order from an enormous — and very un-glamourous — party rental warehouse in South San Francisco,” Curtis tells us. “I thought to myself, ‘In a city where you can order literally anything on demand — flowers, dresses, tuxes, meals, chefs, groceries, cocktails, servers, sommeliers — why can’t you similarly order your tablescape? Pulling together everything you need to serve your meal can be more daunting than preparing the meal itself.” Curtis pivoted from her original vision to introduce a service where you can rent everything from table linens to silverware, and to focus in on making every hostess’ job ultra-easy from start to finish. (And yes, that includes the cleanup.)

After the last guest is gone, party hosts can simply load all the dishes back into their box and they’re ready to return to Table + Teaspoon — a serious game-changer. “Post-dinner party, doing every single dish for a multiple-course evening can take an entire day,” she says. “No one has time for that! The Table + Teaspoon packaging is crafted to be anti-microbial and entirely sanitizable. These requirements also enabled us to be zero-waste, unlike every other rental company out there. The only component that goes in the trash from our boxes is the shipping label. Thankfully, we have commercial dishwashers that make it much easier for us to handle your dishes once they arrive back at the warehouse.”

Table + Teaspoon‘s custom place settings start at $24 per guest, which include table runners, candlesticks and candles, and place cards in addition to all the dishes and glassware you’ll need to host brilliantly. And, of course, the (priceless) knowledge that you won’t have to wash a single wine glass.

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

(Photos via Table + Teaspoon)

Aldi vs. Trader Joe’s: This 1 Store Will Absolutely Save You More Money

An Aldi fan on Reddit recently compared the cost of their grocery list at Aldi to several major stores, and we’re absolutely floored by the results. One of our favorite places to go even ended up being 71% more expensive than Aldi – yikes!But in this economy, we can believe it.

Of course, if we're talking about grocery stores, we can’t forget to mention Trader Joe’s! Not only do we love TJ’s for their notoriously quirky vibe and fun new finds, we opt to shop there because it’s seemingly affordable (keyword here being seemingly).

We calculated the cost of a similar grocery list at Trader Joe’s to the Aldi’s one on Reddit, and the final tally was a bit… shocking.

Scroll on to see which retailer wins for affordability in the Trader Joe’s vs. Aldi debate!

Aldi

The original poster on Reddit, an Aldi fan for sure, totaled up a basic grocery list consisting of 22 items from Aldi and concluded: “All I can say is, wow. I know I’m preaching to the choir here but these savings are insane.”

Whole Foods

The Redditor also provided grocery list totals for several other popular grocery stores to compare the Aldi list to. They also made sure to note that they get their grocery shopping done in the Chicagoland area, so that could definitely explain why the numbers may be a little different where you live. Knowing that, here’s what they came up with:

Aldi: $60.40
Walmart: $74.80 (24% higher)
Jewel: $83.90 (39% higher)
Whole Foods: $103.51 (71% higher)

Reddit

We did the heavy lifting and concocted a similar grocery list for Trader Joe’s. For reference, see the Aldi bill above, and the TJ’s bill in the bullet points below:

The Trader Joe's List

Tiny Fruity Cuties Cereal (like Fruit Loops) $3.99
Everything but the Bagel Seasoned Crackers (This was the most similar TJ’s product to Aldi’s cheese crackers we could find, plus most of TJ’s crackers average around $2.99 anyways.) $2.99
Saltines (TJ’s no longer sells their version of saltines, but according to one Redditor, they were $1.99.) $1.99
Avocado oil$7.99 (Two more dollars than Aldi!)
Organic black beans $1.19
Unscented deodorant $4.99
Brownie Truffle Baking Mix $3.97 (Two more dollars than Aldi!)
Romaine hearts (We weren't able to find an organic option listed on TJ’s site.) $2.99
Large eggs $4.99
Multicolor peppers (Only organic is listed on TJ’s site.) $2.99
Green peppers (Only red organic peppers are listed on TJ’s site.) $3.99
Seedless cucumber (The only comparable option TJ’s has for the Aldi’s list above is the Persian cucumbers.) $2.49
Mild cheddar cheese (The only comparable option TJ’s has for the Aldi list above is the Shredded Unexpected Cheddar Cheese.) $4.99
Cilantro (This isn’t listed on TJ’s site, but they do sell it in-store. Various sources report different prices for cilantro. Abillion forums say it’s $1.29, but Taste of Home reports $1.99. We're averaging the two for a final item price.) $1.64
Tuna pouch $1.79
Hummus (Only organic is listed on TJ’s site.) $2.99
Yellow onion (Assuming 1 since the quantity isn't clear in the Aldi list above.) $0.99
Red onion (Assuming 1 since the quantity isn't clear in the Aldi list above. TJ’s doesn’t have red onion listed on their site, so we're also assuming it’s a similar price to their yellow onion.) $0.99
Carrots (Assuming 1 since the quantity isn't clear in the Aldi list above. Only organic is listed on TJ’s site.) $2.49
Avocados(Pack of 4, like Aldi.) $5.99
Celery (TJ’s doesn't have celery listed on their site, but they do sell it in-store. For this comparison, we're assuming it’s the same price as Aldi’s celery.) $1.69
Potato chips (TJ’s doesn't have baked chips like Aldi does, so we went with the most basic potato chip option to compare, the Ridge Cut Potato Chips with Sea Salt.) $3.99

Aldi vs. Trader Joe's: The Price Comparison

Trader Joe's

Aldi’s total came to $58.75 without tax, while the Trader Joe’s total ended up clocking in at $68.14 without tax for (mostly) similar items on the Aldi list. That means that TJ’s only came to cost $9.39 more than Aldi for a very comparable haul. 🤔

Aldi

So, who really wins the Aldi vs. Trader Joe’s debate? If you were to measure it solely by the numbers, it’d be Aldi – though the margins aren’t as big as they are at, say, Whole Foods (71% more, remember?!) or drastically big in general.

Aldi vs. Trader Joe's: Who's The Winner?

Trader Joe's

Both Aldi and Trader Joe's definitely have their respective charms. While Aldi boasts a fan-favorite ‘aisle of shame’ and a streamlined store design, Trader Joe’s never stops the flow of fun, new products that keep fans in a chokehold. If you’re set on choosing a clear winner, we say go with your heart – going off of this basic comparison, you’ll honestly end up spending a similar amount of money shopping at Aldi vs. Trader Joe’s.

Do you have a favorite grocery store? Let us know in the comments and make sure to subscribe to our newsletter for more news from your go-to grocery stores!

Everyone's Losing It Over Spencer & Alex's "Heartbreaking" '1923' Plot: "I'm Broken"

We knew when 1923 ended that Alex and Spencer would have to fight their way back to each other in season 2. After I interviewed Alex herself, actress Julia Schlaepfer, and learned that she "barely" spent timewith Brandon Sklenar on set, I realized they wouldn't share many scenes — but I didn't realize that apparently, their separation would last the entire season. It's pretty heartbreaking TBH! Plus, based on the very passionate comments Brit + Co's interview has gotten, no one else realized they'd be separated this long either.

Here's what 1923 fans are saying about Spencer and Alex in season 2 of the show, currently airing on Paramount+ every Sunday.

Do Spencer and Alex get back together in 1923 season 2?

Alex and Spencer are still apart as of season 2 episode 5, and Julia Schlaepfer told Brit + Co in her 1923 interview that her and Brandon Sklenar's filming schedules were "very separate."

"I mean, we block shot as well, so we were all kind of coming in at different times to film, but no, we did not [see each other a lot," she says. "Season one we spent all our time together, this season we barely spent any time together. It was very much like, suddenly we were ripped apart. But that's what the characters are going through."

And now that we're approaching episode 6 and they still aren't together, some passionate fans are starting to lose their cool. (Same, TBH).

"Them together was the only thing that made 1923 good," one user said in the comments of our TikTok video, while another adds, "Well this is not ok. I need major Spencer and Alex love story episodes."

"I'm broken," a third user adds. "If only we could have a Spencer and Alex spinoff show."

Although I agree with another user who theorizes that we'll see Spencer finally return home in the finale. "You just know all of season 2 will be him getting to Montana and showing up in the last episode," they say.

What happened to Spencer and Alex on 1923?

Emerson Miller/Paramount+

At the end of 1923 season 1, Alex and Spencer got separated on their ship to America; after a duel with Alex's ex-fiancé Arthur led to Arthur's death, Spencer got kicked off the boat and Alex got locked in her room. Now with no supplies and barely any money to their name, both Alex and Spencer are trying to get to Montana — and hoping they find the other one there.

Check out The Only Guide You Need To Watching 1923 Season 2 Before The Epic Finale so you don't miss a single moment — and you can see Alex and Spencer reunite (hopefully sooner rather than later)!

pop culture entertainment 1923 tv

8 Ways I’m Changing My Grocery Budget Just in Time for Tax Season

There have been many years when I really had to scrimp to pay my taxes, but I’ve found that casseroles, frozen veggies, and meatless meals are a great way to help make ends meet. Admittedly, you should be frugal about your grocery expenditures at any point during the year. But during tax season, it can be especially crucial to pinch pennies (at least until you get that tax refund, that is!).

Not long ago, I was that person who went to the grocery story list-free and haphazardly selected items for my cart as I passed by. Then I realized that as tax season was approaching I should consider a more frugal approach to feeding myself. Intrigued by the idea, but skeptical about my ability to execute on it, I dove in and decided to pare down my grocery bill. Originally, I was worried that scrimping on price would mean lowering my standards for quality, but it turns out that with a little careful planning, you can make some really delicious meals on a dime. Scroll on to see what I discovered.

Photo by Katya Wolf

Use a Grocery List

The number one tenet of saving on your grocery bill is to make a list and stick to it. This goes hand in hand with meal planning and makes everything from budgeting to cooking a more streamlined process. Although it seems like a lot of upfront effort, think about it like this: Even if it took you one hour a week to plan — which, according to Investopedia, could help you save about $640 or more a year on food waste and other costs — that would save you about $12 an hour. For those who make $12-$15 an hour, the savings are like taking a paid week off of work!

Photo by Pixabay

Buy In Bulk On Sale Items

So many things freeze beautifully. When items that you use regularly are on sale, from bread to butter to meat, snap them up in bulk. Although the savings seems minimal, when you add it up over a year’s worth of purchases, the amount of money you keep in your pocket will be significant. Plus, if you buy in bulk, you’re always guaranteed to have your favorite ingredients on hand.

Shutterstock

Stockpile In The Freezer Section

If you’re doing things right and stockpiling, then you’re going to make good use of your freezer. Although we want to eat our favorite fruits and vegetables year-round, buying things in season is significantly cheaper, which means that when these items are affordable and available you’re going to want to stock up. Even if you’re buying pre-frozen fruits and vegetables, you’re saving money, and the research shows that you’re not losing any nutrients by doing so.

Photo by Thomas Le on Unsplash

Shop In Season

While you can most likely find your favorite items at your grocery store year-round, prices (and not to mention taste) will fluctuate greatly based on the season. In particular, if you’re buying tomatoes, berries, grapes, peaches, or asparagus out of season, you could really be hurting your grocery budget. Instead, opt for their frozen counterparts or wait until they are *naturally* back in the store.

Photo by Megan Bucknall on Unsplash

Enjoy More Casseroles

Casseroles do not belong in the 1950s. In fact, they are every bit as valuable today as they were 70 years ago. Why? Because they’re a healthy and delicious way to stretch out pricier ingredients and feed more mouths. You could feed each person one chicken breast or you could use two in an entire casserole which will feed you both for dinner and leave you with leftovers for lunch the next day. If you’re not sure where to begin, find tons of Brit + Co casserole recipe inspiration.

Photo by Andy Holmes on Unsplash

Use Herbs and Spices

Scenting your meals with a handful of herbs and spices is a good way to add a lot of flavor with little extra cost. Bonus points if you grow your own herbs. Also, you should definitely be buying spices in the international section of the store. I recently noticed that an ounce of cloves costs $3.79 in the spice aisle but 99 cents in the international section.

Photo by Nature Zen on Unsplash

Go Meatless Most Days

Meatless Mondays are all fine and dandy, but if you really want to save a few extra dollars, you need to make more than one day of the week meat-free. Not to mention, it’s better for your overall health to eat less meat. Studies show that people who eat less meat have a lower risk of dying from cancer, heart disease, and other chronic illnesses. So you’ll be doing something good for your wallet, and your well-being to boot.