Becky Horvath from Set the Table with Becky

On today's episode of My Tennessee Table Podcast, we welcome my friend Becky Horvath from Set the Table with Becky. She loves Jesus and is gifted at curating a  welcoming atmosphere around the table. She is a digital creator who creates beautiful tablescapes as inspiration for all of us to do the same for our family, friends. Her passion behind Set the Table with Becky is bringing people together so they can build connections. Meet you at the Table for our conversation with Becky!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/setthetablewithbecky

Chicken Rice Casserole
2 c. uncooked Minute Rice
Mix together: 1 can each creamy celery, creamy mushroom, and creamy chicken soup and 1 can milk  
Pour wet mixture over rice and mix well. Next, pour the rice/soup mixture into a large baking pan.
Salt & pepper 4 -6 chicken breasts and lay on top of rice mixture. 
Bake @ 350 degrees for 1 and 3/4 hrs. 

Email us at:
mytennesseetablepodcast@gmail.com

Transcript

0:01

Welcome back to My Tennessee Table. We have a wonderful guest on today's episode. She is Becky Horvath of Set the Table with Becky. You may have seen her amazing tablescapes on Instagram or Facebook. She's a digital creator and a wonderful friend of mine who sets a table for her family and friends and can help us set our table too for special events or holidays or even just an impromptu moment with family and friends. Her heart behind Set the Table with Becky is bringing people together so they can build connections. There's an art to creating space for connections to just naturally happen, and it begins with hospitality, and Becky is fantastic at it. I know today's episode will inspire you to be intentional about setting your own table. Today on my Tennessee table, I have my friend Becky, my new friend Becky. I look forward to getting to know you better and also getting to know a little bit more about what you do with set the table with Becky, but that's kind of a peek into what's coming, so I don't wanna give that away. So, for right now, thank you for joining me today at my table, literally at my Tennessee table. At your beautiful Tennessee table. Thank you. Thank you very much. uh, thank you for having me. Oh, you are so welcome. You're so welcome. I know a little bit of your story. I know that you have relocated to Tennessee. Mm-Hmm. Um, so tell me a little bit about that. How did you end up in Tennessee, out of somewhere else in the United States that you could be? So actually it's, it's kind of an interesting story. My husband and I have always loved, well, I say always for the past 15 years have loved Franklin. We've okay. Visited a couple times. My husband more than I, and at one point, probably 12 ish years ago, we felt like maybe God was opening the door for us to move back then. But he abruptly shut it. And, you know, fast forward. To 2022. And he, at a time that I thought was not right, opened the door wide and gave my husband a job opportunity here in Franklin and it just became very clear that God was going to move us whether I liked it or not. Mm-hmm. Sometimes he does that. Yes. I do love the area. I just, I love Franklin. But yeah, we came for a job opportunity, so we moved here in October of 2022. So we're just at a little over a year of being here. Mm-Hmm. Okay. So tell me some things that you, particularly love about Tennessee or about Franklin. food, tradition, people, places. So the first thing I absolutely love. Are the seasons? Mm-Hmm. So I moved up from Tampa. My husband and I had been living in Tampa for about 18, 19 years. And. I grew up, well, he grew up as well in having the Four Seasons and being in Florida. There's lots of great things about the Tampa Bay area, of course, but I, for as long as I lived there, always missed fall mm-Hmm. So, being back in an area that has four seasons, I just, I love it. Franklin is an adorable town. I, I love the area, I love the shops, I love all the restaurants. Oh, mm-Hmm. I love how close we are to Nashville. I, I do, I I've just fallen in love with the area. Oh, good. Well, and the weather. And I even said to my husband this morning, we are so blessed to not be in a really cold climate. Mm-Hmm. Because he's from Pittsburgh. I lived in Pittsburgh for seven years, and when I moved from Pittsburgh. I thought I can never go back to that kind of cold weather. Mm-Hmm. So I feel very fortunate to live in a mild winter climate. That is, yes. Yes. I agree with you there. Well I was gonna ask you, is there someone in experience or someone in your family that kind of promoted or inspired your hospitality or creativity, And I would say. Both my parents had a huge, huge heart for hospitality. I mean, probably like none other I've seen. Mm-Hmm. I remember growing up, and especially in like middle school and high school, our, they just had an open door policy. So, I, we always had friends at the house. We always had family at the house and, you know, I, they just had really big hearts. And there were, there were times throughout. My, you know, growing up years that they actually took people in and allowed them to live with us. several of them were aging relatives that needed full-time care and I saw my parents do that. Mm-Hmm. So very hospitable and very, just open, having open hearts. So I wanted to ask, when did the love of the table begin for you? And then share as you answer that, would you share a little bit, about what you do, with set the table with Becky?'cause those are linked together. Yeah, absolutely. How that passion started. Well, I think it's funny, you and I were talking earlier off microphone about, you know, do you get to a certain point in your life and you look back at these like common threads that were woven through. Mm-Hmm. so, so much of your life and you know, I have such a passion for setting the table. And all of the decor that comes with it. I'm kind of a go big or go home. Kind of person. but to me, the heart behind setting the table and my, my heart behind it is really bringing people together and having quality time. My love language, my number one love language is quality time. Mm-Hmm. So bringing people together in community, your family, your friends, people that you don't know, that you just feel like. You need to invite or maybe God's calling you to invite. Mm-Hmm. So the heart behind set the table is really that Mm-Hmm. Is just building connection. I just happen to do it in a big way because I love all the, all of the decor side of it. But looking back over my life, you know, my family by far was not perfect. And we definitely had like every family dysfunction. and I think sometimes as you get older you don't see all the sacrifices and all the wonderful things that your parents did until Mm-Hmm. You have children until you're older and maybe a little bit more mature and maybe a little more wiser. But, you know, we did sit around the table quite a bit, as a family, and my mom and my dad both cooked. And even, even I, I just said this to my sister the other day'cause I found my mom's old, chicken and rice recipe. And I snapped a picture of it and sent it to my sister because for every birthday they would make our favorite meal. And we sat around the table and it was a big deal. Mm-Hmm. For me, I loved ice cream cake, so my mom would always make sure I had an ice cream cake. For my sister, she loved this chicken and rice baked dish. I did not like it. Yeah. And I just remember my mom, like every birthday March 19th, she made this chicken and rice dish for my sister, and we sat as a family. And so, you know, you just see those, those kinds of threads. Mm-Hmm. Right. Even as, as being a, a little kid. And then as I got older, I just, I always loved hosting. I always loved entertaining. I was actually an event planner for a couple of years. Okay. So, you know, I worked for a, a corporation as a corporate event planner. And so I was setting the table for large events. And, you know, those, all, all of those things connect over time. And you just realize like, wow, I think God's given me this gift. Maybe I should start really. Mm-hmm. Using it. And go full throttle with it. Yeah. So explain a little bit, because I've seen your social, so I know what the tables look like. And so, for our listeners who may think set the table, which can be. you know, the plate and your silverware and, but we're talking about what you do so beautifully is your tablescape. Mm-Hmm. I like that word. Mm-Hmm. Is that the correct term? I should use that beautiful decor. That's thematic. And so share maybe one of your favorites and then I have one in particular I wanna ask you about. You may mention it, but, Help us visualize what that kind of looks like. Okay, so that's a really hard question to answer because I have so many favorites, but I think my most recent favorite is this year's Thanksgiving table, and it's my favorite because I think for me, it resonated with the vision. part of the vision behind set the table, and that is being very intentional. So both of my parents unfortunately passed away within about a three and a half year a, a period of time. Mm-Hmm. And it, it was a, it was quite traumatic to be honest. Uh, sure. Uh, my dad was diagnosed with, with cancer and things just went, it went very quickly Mm-Hmm. And just took us by complete surprise, quite frankly. But this year, at Thanksgiving. We gathered in my parents' home, for the very last time because we're selling it in December. So our family gathered around a very large table that. Sits on their patio deck and we set the table to honor them and both my mom and my dad, and just really took a moment to pause and recognize that for 30 some years we sat around a table, not that specific table, November, but some type of table there on that patio pool deck. And there were lots of conversations and you know, lots of experiences and that. Thanksgiving was really going to be our last time to do that. Mm-Hmm. In my parents' home. So I set the table very intentionally with things that just celebrated my parents and reminded us of, of my parents. It was anything but the traditional Thanksgiving table. Mm-Hmm. We had a big frog in the center of the table. And I personally don't like frogs, but I love this frog because it was a, a special gift when my dad passed. and it, it's connected to a story with him. Mm-Hmm. So that's. That's probably one of my favorites. Um, most recently Mm-Hmm. Just because of the intentionality and the meaning behind it and just being able to honor and celebrate them. That was the one I was gonna ask you about. I thought when I saw your eyes light up, I thought, oh, she's probably gonna ask me about that one. That's the one. Yes. And I, and I've seen many of your tables and they're beautiful and they are thematic and not necessarily connected to a holiday. Mm-Hmm. You know, it could be a Tuesday. And, you're gonna set the table. Mm-Hmm. You for the neighbor, for your own family. you had mentioned the frog. Mm-Hmm. you know, in honor of your dad and then blue flowers. Mm-Hmm. I think you mentioned for new mama. Yes. My mom loved blue and pink flowers. Yes. Loved'em. Yes. And so I thought that was just, For family. for, everyone to be able to have a memory, and to honor them. Mm-Hmm. So, thank you for sharing that one. Oh, sure. So a little bit about the, business side of it. Tell us how that works for you. Like I'm gonna go ahead and put, you know, in show notes how to connect with you and I was gonna add the chicken and rice recipe, but if, if you don't like it, I dunno, we'll see about that. Well, I didn't like it as a kid. I was just recently going through an old recipe box of my mom's and I found her. Actual handwritten recipe. Yes. And but as an adult I do like it. Okay. I did not care for it as a kid, but it's a really simple recipe. Yes. Okay. Well maybe we'll do that too. I'll, I'll have you send that to me, but, so a little bit if people wanted help. Set the table, could they reach out to you? How would that work? They link with you in socials? Yeah, they can. I, I mean, I'm on Instagram and, and really right now my, my number one focus is really growing, followers and, and an audience on Instagram. And here's why my heart is, is not for. You someone to copy my table setting. Right. It's really not like my table setting's gonna be mine because of who I am. Mm-Hmm. And I like, you know, lots of decor and I like fun and I do themes and I set it last minute. I mean, uh, probably two months ago I decided just on a whim to set the table really cute and order Chinese food. And we all sat together as a family and my son and my daughter love it. Even, even just this morning, grace Grayson, my little guy said, mom,'cause my table is set like in a really fun, whimsical theme right now. And we've sat and eaten at that table. But he said, mom, you know, I just love your table settings. They're so amazing. Aw, you're so good. And he's eight. He's eight. And he's, he's, he's growing accustomed to my table settings and I'm getting a little bit off track, but I'm gonna share this other quick little story. Mm-Hmm. Around that same time that I set the table and we ordered Chinese. It was just on a whim. We had a little friend come over and ask if they could sit at our table. Mm-Hmm. And we said, of course. And Grayson came up to me and said, mom, we only have a table settings for four. You have to make a special table setting for her too. I said, no problem bud. Mm-Hmm. We got this. But just his heart and, and his, just him watching me and wanting her, wanting his little heart, wanting a special table setting for our little guest. Was just precious. So, anyway, my point in all of this is My heart behind set the table is to inspire people to set the table. Mm-Hmm. It doesn't have to look like mine. If you want it to look like mine, great. I will help you with that. But really the heart is for me to inspire you. To set the table to take that five minutes, take that deep breath, set the table for your family, set the table for your friends, set the table for your neighbors. Gather around the table and connect. And take in all the blessings and the goodness. That God has given us. And I think, you know, I was having this conversation with a friend of mine recently. It's really interesting to me. I'd never thought about this before that one of the last things that Jesus did before he went to the cross, and I'm gonna try not to Mm-Hmm. Lose it here with my tears. Mm-Hmm. Is he sat around the table? Yes, you're right. He sat I had never thought about that. I mean, I thought about it, but not in the, the sense that when they shared his most important, not most important, but his parting words, it was gathered at the table. He sat around the table with his friends, with his disciples. Mm-Hmm. Right before he was gonna head to the cross. And so I believe that there's really si significance and special meaning behind that. Yeah. Him doing that. And what does that mean for us? Mm-Hmm. And so I wanna inspire you to set the table. I don't want you to feel like your table has to look like mine, or you say, well, my table will never look like that. Good. I'm glad because you should set the table and make it look like what's right for your family, what fits with your family. Most of the time mine is gonna have a lot of decor and, and sometimes it'll be simple, but I just want you to set the table. I want you to take that night. Or that morning or that afternoon or whenever it works for you. And set the table for your family and friends. And like I shared earlier, it doesn't have to be a kitchen table or a dining room table. I shared on my Instagram post one morning, I just set our coffee table and the four of us sat around our coffee table and our Christmas jammies and, and ate brunch and watched a Christmas movie. So the table is a symbol. Right, and, and we talked about that as you had said before, you know, off mic, that it's not just setting the table, the physical, excuse me, tangible act of it. It is. But your heart is to encourage people to figuratively set the table because it's an invitation. Like you said, families or strangers who will soon be friends. Mm-Hmm. It's an inspiration. It's not just an, act of, and so I, I'm so thankful I I to hear that part of your heart. You explained it much better than what I'm doing, my next question is what would you say to help people maybe take that first step? Like, do you have, a best trick or what would you tell them I think I would tell people to use what you have. Okay, so sometimes there's the, the angst, right? And I post a lot of pictures and a lot of inspirational pictures and. Yes. Is am, am I gifted with the ability to, to pull to together a table? Yes. That's the, the gift God has given me. But, I think sometimes, and I find, I find I found myself doing this, you know, looking at pictures on Instagram of people's homes, so my home doesn't look like that. And you, you know, you might struggle with some comparison or maybe some envy or, and or maybe not, but sometimes I see other people's homes and how beautiful they're, and I'm like, wow. Like I don't. Wow. I don't know if I could ever do that to my home. Sure. It kind of paralyzes you a little bit. It can sometimes It can. Yeah. Yeah, it definitely can. But I think if you go back again to my heart of just inspiring you to set your table, what I would say is use what you have because you'd be shocked. If you just got a little creative, one of the things I, I do a lot is I just go out in the yard and I'll cut, even if it's just some green leaves. Because just bringing in nature Okay. And the elements of nature to the table can be simple and so beautiful. Okay. Lay some fresh greenery, especially in the fall in Franklin. The, the leaves are gorgeous. Yeah. And just, you know, put. Some leaves through, you know, in the table and use some candles. start with what you have. Don't feel like you have to go buy a bunch of stuff or spend a lot of money. I think if you just get a little creative and take inventory of what you have Mm-Hmm. You can probably set a really nice table that fits for your family and your style. Okay. Very good. That's a great hack. Okay. what are you most excited about? Hmm. Coming up in the future, do you have a project that's upcoming a table you're setting that you're, excited about? Do you have a next best? I do have some things coming up, but I think bigger than probably just like a set the table event. I'm really excited to. To see where God's going to take my, set the table business. Mm-Hmm And part of that ex excitement is about meeting the people that I feel like he wants me to invite or he wants to, to have sit around my table. Mm-Hmm. That's, that's what I'm excited about and I'm excited about inspiring people to do that recently. A friend of mine from Tampa sent me a, a message, uh, I think it was on Facebook, and she sent me a picture of her Thanksgiving table and her dad had recently passed. Mm-Hmm. So she had put a, a picture of him on their Thanksgiving table. Mm-Hmm. They have a big family. And she sent me a picture of the table and she said, you inspired me to set my table. And I started crying. And I thought that's, that's. That's why I do what I do. That's your heart behind it. That was so meaningful. Mm-Hmm. And, and that she just took the time to tell me that. So I, I'm just excited to see where God's going to, going to take this. I have an idea for, a monthly Sunday supper club. And. I'm kind of toying with what that looks like and where that's gonna go. Yeah. but you know, I moved here a little over a year ago. The move was not easy. It's really hard to make new connections and new places. It's not like when you were in high school or school or college and you just had like a lot of on-ramps to meet people. Sure. I've had to learn to be really intentional about reaching out, about making connections and not sitting around waiting to be invited, but instead invite people. Mm-Hmm. And so I think that's what I'm most excited about, is watching God make connections, having people sit around my table and watching other people connect because. We're setting the table. Mm-Hmm mm-Hmm. Yeah. Okay. I want you to share before we end, you shared one story about just community, that you have had for quite some time in your life. Some girlfriends of yours Mm-Hmm. From childhood, but you all got away for a little bit. and you set the table and share a little bit about that because I am. I, I, this is an example of how connections have been built, but how they're continued to be fostered and nurtured around the table and that, we're seen and we're heard and we're loved and community happens. So tell a little bit about, that get together and kind of what it, what transpired. So, so I have a group of girls that, some of them I went to school with, so there's four of us, and we have all been. In school, well, not in school together, but we've known each other right around that seventh, some of them seventh grade, eighth grade, or ninth grade. So a very long time. Mm-Hmm. And our birthdays all fall between like Sep, no, I guess August and January. So we decided that this past fall we would do a weekend getaway in the mountains in Boone, North Carolina. It was amazing. Mm-Hmm. And. It was such a fun weekend. It was such a fun time planning that weekend. But of course, I wanted to set the table For my friends. So I had pictures of the cabin, so I knew what the table looked like. So I packed up a basket, kind of a, like a celebration in a box to go Mm-hmm, everything that I would need. And on our last night in the cabin. I set the table for all, all the girls, and it was such a beautiful experience. I had lots of fresh flowers and candles, and I made these really large charcuterie boards, and I guess what was most meaningful is that I was able to bring my gift. Share it and just create a beautiful environment for the four of us to sit around this beautiful table in a beautiful mountain cabin in Boone, North Carolina and just create an environment for conversation and connection. And my one girlfriend, she saw the table and she literally started crying. And she said, Becky, this is so beautiful. No one has ever set such a beautiful table for me. Mm-Hmm. And I started crying. Because that I wanted her to feel that, that this was an act of love. For all of us to join in and just have a sweet time around the table. And we did. Mm-Hmm. And well, I think what was so interesting is those ladies, my friends, they all brought their gift to the table. My gift was setting the table and creating the atmosphere and the environment. But each one brought their gift in such a different way. And we sat around that table that night for hours, and it was, it was just, it was just an amazing time and an amazing connection. And we all opened up, we were vulnerable, and it was just beautiful. It was just a beautiful evening. Thank you so much for sharing that with me prior and now. Yeah. and I, I do hope that. We've all been inspired. I think we have been, just to be intentional for those meaningful experiences like we talked about, that if you set the table literally and figuratively, and watch, how we all crave relationship, we all crave connection. And if we will set the environment. it's inexplainable what happens, in people's lives. So thank you so much. Thank you for your heart. And thanks for being at my tendency table today. Thank you for having, I've had such a wonderful time and I'm hoping you'll come back. Of course. Okay, I would love to. Thank you, Becky.