Meet Antoinette Arrington of Sup & Dine in View Park

Today we’d like to introduce you to Antoinette Arrington.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Antoinette. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I remember going out to lunch with woman that I really wanted to get to know. This was a huge deal for two reasons. First, I have dealt with social anxiety since I was a kid and that makes it SUPER difficult for me to go places on my own…especially if there will be a large group of people I’m not familiar with. Secondly, this was the first time I had actually made a friend (as an adult) outside of those general socializing deals that come with marriage & motherhood. I was a bundle of nerves sitting there waiting for my lunch guest….already forming the witty quips in my mind to distract her from my tired eyes, double chin, and lack of leisure time. I jumped at the chance to meet over brunch because I have always felt most grounded + connected when I’m at the table surrounded by friends and family.

In she breezed, and the FIRST thing she asked me was, “What can you tell me about yourself?”

I fumbled over some weirdly anxious compilation of the things I could DO…..but never really answered the question. I felt defeated as she gushed over my “perfect” life and talked about how much she wished she had one just like it. I sat there numb and filled with paralyzing guilt that I didn’t see my life through the same bright lens she did…..maybe, I thought, I don’t deserve any of it. The whole deal was awkward, scary, and made me feel like tearing out of there like my life depended on it.

The table didn’t feel quite so safe in that moment.

I am a nurturer by nature and a creative by choice. My ability to compose items and create something beautiful from nothing has always manifested itself through my interests in floral arranging, exploring recipes & their history, and orchestrating gatherings in my home to spend time with the people I care about the most. I grabbed on tight to the one thing I knew to be true about myself and forced myself to do ONE thing every day that spoke to that part of my spirit. I set beautiful tables just for myself. I spent three days teaching myself to make croissants from scratch, I asked friends to let me come design and decorate their homes.

I tried. I failed. I learned. I grew.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Once I got home, I realized that I had to let go of the idea of what I shouldn’t be…and start the work of figuring out who I wanted to be. There were tears…..SO many tears…and I wrestled a lot with worrying what people would think of me if I told them that my life in its current state wasn’t my dream. Would they think I was selfish? Entitled? Unappreciative? I started to journal to try to make sense of what was going on in my head and heart and I finally settled on asking myself, “When was the last time you spoke your dreams without fear? What were they?”

The answer: I was seven and I told the class that I wanted to be a lunch lady when I grew up.

After I penned that line, I sat there for a while and stared at the page. I waited for the tears….sure of the impending shame. It never came. Instead, I smiled. Small and timid at first…then bigger and warmer…until my whole soul felt light and my head felt free. This has been my truth my entire life and I’d just spent all of my time trying to be impressive…instead of intentional.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with SUP & DINE – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
SUP & DINE was born from my firm belief that life begins at the table. I started blogging as a way to share my self-care + discovery journey with others. I was sure there were other women out there that needed someone that looked and sounded like me to say all of the things I knew to be true so they didn’t have to feel those emotions in shame and silence.

Whether I’m serving a meal to my family or debating political issues with friends…the dining table is neutral territory where I have always found the courage to be honest, call myself higher, and dream bigger.

These days those dreams are all my own and include a growing lifestyle brand for the homebody hostess, a collection of luxe candles that add a subtle layer of fragrance to your space with natural oils that complement your life…instead of covering it up, and a boutique interior design business that specializes in dining rooms & communal spaces in the home. Each scent was inspired by some of my life’s most pivotal moments….a first love….my aunt, my hero…..and even the first time I found joy jumping in puddles of water during a heavy winter rainfall. Being able to take a moment and reflect on those people & places has always given me a chance at clarity and propels me forward towards the possibility of what’s next.

I am most proud of how my work + words transform women’s spaces…..and their minds. It’s always nice to see their faces light up when a design project is done or when they send a sweet email updating me on how the new space has impacted their life and inspired them towards their intentions. As a black woman, I’m very sensitive to the fact that we come from a long painful history of slavery and domestic and we often deny ourselves forms of self-care in the home decor arena as a display of evolution, strength and loyalty to our peers, partners, and children. I’m just out here showing up to say that we are worthy of carefully thought out spaces, good food, and great company…and we owe it to ourselves to GIVE it to OURSELVES. You don’t have to be a wife, mother, or maid for your interests to be acceptable and I’ll never make fun of you for asking questions about how to get it done.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
This year, I am focused on growing a community of like-minded women who enjoy what SUP & DINE has to offer by the way of recipes, dinner party ideas, and curating + caring for your home as a means of self-care. My dream is to collaborate with brands like Williams Sonoma, Sur la Table, Target, and West Elm to create capsule collections of premium quality kitchen, tabletop, and home decor items. I want to create an array of items that make it easy to swap a few pieces around from time to time + refresh your space, keep things cozy for guests, and bring a new vibe to the room when you need a change.

I’ve always said no when asked to host public brunch + live workshops because….homebody with anxiety here…..but I did agree to this article (and a few other things outside my comfort zone!) so there’s hope for that yet!

I definitely see SUP & DINE coffee table books in the future and have been working to gather useful tips & tricks …as well as beautiful content….to fill them up!

Contact Info:

• Website: supanddine.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/supxdine
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SUPxDINE/
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/SUPxDINE/

Image Credit:
Kaye McCoy

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