Valentine’s day is the last holiday that I get to spend with my husband for a while, so I want to make this [overrated] holiday as fun and special for us i.e. decorating the house and making lots of sweets. Here are a few ideas that I’m loving:
Heart Shaped Cupcake Liners
Via Zoe Power
Heart Shaped Teacup & Saucer
Lighted Paper Doily Garland
Via Pretty Light
More to come soon… Hope you are having a blessed weekend!
I haven’t been much of a blogger lately, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been crafting…
I love this banner idea for weddings, welcome homes, congratulations, babies, birthdays, gift tags, and in my most recent case: to celebrate my husband’s promotion. I love the versatility and vintage look of these letters. I placed my banner along our long mirror in the dining room, but it would look great on a wall or mantel. [ I’ll post a photo via Twitter soon.]
I love these letters so much that each wrapped present has the first initial of each recipient’s name.
Want to create your own personalized banner? All you need is some ribbon and a small hole puncher and to download the letter template here at Martha Stewart Weddings website.
Photo credit: Martha Stewart Weddings
Let the crafting madness begin!
I love the birch tree candles every time I see them in stores, and now Martha has supplied me with a somewhat comprehensive “how-to” guide, so I can create them at home. I’ll be honest, it seems a little out of my comfort zone, but I’m excited to make a mess and add more personal touches to my holiday decorating. If this project turns into a disaster, I’ll be heading to the craft store to purchase a pre-existing pine cone mold. Wish me luck!
Photo Credit: Martha Stewart’s Encyclopedia of Crafts, p91
UPDATE 1/16/2011: I ended up purchasing these candles on sale at Pottery Barn.
The countdown for Christmas has begun for my husband and I as we finish up our shopping list and plan our trip home to Nevada. Shopping was easy this year, so I plan to invest my time into the presentation of the gifts. December’s issue of Better Homes and Gardens magazine has the cutest ideas to garnish your gifts.
“Paper garnishes— from shapely flowers to ornate stamped medallions—give any gift extra impact. Nontraditional containers, such as tubes and wooden boxes wrapped with coordinating papers and trimmings, make gifts more special.”
“Prep Cut three circles, each 1/2 inch larger than the previous, from decorative paper. Fold each circle in half four times; snip the tip of each to make a small hole. Unfold to reveal the “pleated” circle. Assembly Thread the circles, largest one first, onto a wooden skewer; glue the undersides in place if needed, and leave space for a topper. Finish For the topper, glue two small shapes back-to-back over the top of the skewer. Cut the skewer even with the bottom circle so the tree stands up, or leave some length to poke through a wrapped box. Or use an adhesive dot or double sided tape to adhere to a package.”
“Flower Toppers Looped flowers are fun package toppers that double as ornaments. Cut same-size strips of decorative paper. Tape ends of individual strips together, creating looped “petals.” Adhere petals, side by side, with double-sided tape near the taped end, forming a circle. Tape or glue punched shapes to the flower’s center.”
“Stamped Medallions Create a variety of ornament-shape gift tags with one rubber stamp, two colors of ink, and a decorative punch. For a layered snowflake, left, stamp red and tan designs onto white cardstock. Cut out along different lines, and layer the pieces with glue dots. For a gift topper, right, stamp designs onto cardstock, cut out ornament shape, and layer smaller stamped cutouts on top.”
Here’s your sweet treat for the week: Butterfinger Cupcakes.
Photo: Annie’s Eats
My mom was kind enough to tell me about these cupcakes and other amazing recipes from Annie’s Eats, one of her and now my favorite blogs to follow.
If you love banana and peanut butter [and don’t mind all the calories], you will love this recipe. I made half the batch [yields 24 but half only made 9], because I didn’t want to be tempted to eat more than one.
I am looking forward to trying many more of Annie’s sinful, highly reviewed recipes on my husband, my favorite taste tester. Enjoy!
It’s time to give your iPhone background a makeover. I heart Poolga [a must have app on your iPhone] and its not hard to when the downloads are free and there are over 20 pages to browse online. These backgrounds will definitely make a statement on your phone. Here are a few of my many favorites from online:
Here are a few from the Poolga iPhone app:
Which one’s your favorite?
Thank you postal service for delivering the Anthropologie catalog today. You’ve really outdone yourself, my dear friend. So much so that I’ve spent the last 30 minutes lost in the pages of a mystical, fairy tale world and had to share a few of my favorites with you.
Does this catalog make you as happy as it makes me?
They are offering 10% when you use HOLIDAYCHEER at the checkout.
I just received my November issue of Better Homes and Gardens [a free subscription thanks to the Better Homes and Gardens Celebrating the Promise Cookbook] and had to share these simple ideas on how to make your guests feel like they are at a four-star hotel.
While we do not have a designated guest room, I am going to try a few of these ideas to be welcoming and accommodating [and hopefully convince them to come back] to our future house guests.
“Outfit your guests’ quarters with a tray of niceties: an alarm clock, novels and guidebooks, and a carafe of water. [If guests sleep on the sofa, park the tray on the coffee table at bedtime, then whisk it away come morning.”
“Top Drawer: Think like a four-star hotel and anticipate your guests; every need. Stock a dresser drawer with necessities and fun extras that will make them feel pampered.
1. Label the drawer with a hangtag so over-nighters know they can help themselves.
2. Shop your drugstore’s travel aisle or online [try minimus.biz] for itty-bitty versions of favorite toiletries]
3. Use a drawer organizer to brind order to a jumble of small items.
4. Store washcloths and hand towels here, too, a different color for each guest to avoid bathroom mixups.
5. Provide a one-time-use camera so spent batteries or full memory cards don’t spoil the fun. [Recycle the camera at your local print shop.]
6. Make your own mini-bar, top. Fill a basket with chocolate bars, bags of nuts or dried fruit, and other packaged treats for guests who need a snack. “
“Get wet towels up off the floor with a handy towel rack that fits over the door, above left. When the guests go, store it under the bed.
Keep an extra sheet set and blanket under the bed so guests can help themselves if needed. A lidded or zippered box, above, keeps them fresh and dust-free. Tuck it in a lavender sachet; it’;; scent the sheets and also repels moths.
Give guests a spot to hang clothes without having to rearrange a closes. Hang an over-the-door hook, left, and stock it with several slim hangers plus a lightweight robe.”
Courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens; November 2010
I’ve replaced my backyard of sweet smelling pine with oceanside palm trees. I am loving the beach, sun and overcast days but can’t help but miss the seasons back home. That’s why I adore these pine cone ideas from Good Housekeeping, Twig & Thistle and Sweet Paul and can’t wait for my next trip home, so I can bring some back with me.
From Good Housekeeping: Easy ways to dress up a window or create a tabletop centerpiece. Photo credit: Ngoc Minh Ngo
DIY garland with how-to instructions at Twig and Thistle.
Sweet Paul’s alternative to the traditional door wreath. Photo Credit: Addie Juell
I’ve been playing with the idea of painting my dining room chairs [yes, I finally made the purchase] red, but I can’t seem to make the commitment.
I came across these ideas from Country Living and can’t help but love the simplicity of the color and how well it compliments each room. If I don’t use any of these ideas now, I know one thing is for sure: When I own a home, it will have a red door.
What are your thoughts on using red as an accent color?
My bedtime routine is non-existent when my husband’s away, and since I am lacking sleep, I felt this was an appropriate post.
It was love at first sight when I saw this mantel in the Pottery Barn catalog. I even tore out the page to show my husband and surprisingly, he liked the idea- He just won’t pay that much for something that looks like it was found in the salvage yard. [not even worth p.b. gift card money, he says.]
So, I’m hoping that I will: a. find a similar mantel at the P.B. Outlet store, b. find one at a salvage yard or c. wait for this one to go on sale and then paint it to look brand new.
And finally, take time out of your busy schedule and spend a few extra minutes in bed with the person/creature you love the most. <font color=white>?
Thank you Instant Netflix for recommending ”Edge of Love”. Now, all I want to do is wear chunky cardigans, floral print dresses, knee socks and rain boots.
Go rent the movie and while you’re at it, go get yourself a copy of “The Poems of Dylan Thomas”.
It’s official: I am in the spirit of Halloween and it seems to be all I blog about. But can you blame me? I love these ideas from Good Housekeeping’s website. The best part: they give you step-by-step instructions on how to create these in your own home. 
Image Source: GoodHousekeeping.com
Pumpkin cupcake with cream cheese frosting? Sign me up [along with a 10k to burn the calories]. I like to eat healthy, but my sweet tooth is looking forward to trying at least one of the 12 recipes posted on Real Simple’s website.
Image Source: RealSimple.com- John Kernick.
I couldn’t resist. There are just too many that I love. Really, go check out Martha’s pumpkin gallery here.
Images: MarthaStewart.com
I have to admit it, I want to be like Martha. ALL her [especially Halloween] ideas are so inspiring. So much that I would rather spend money on decorating for the holiday than focus on everyday decor for the house. All these pumpkin ideas and how-tos can be found here.
Images: MarthaStewart.com
It may sound silly, but I have yet to buy dining room chairs. This coming weekend will mark the big purchase and with it comes the excitement to host a dinner party or two.
When I was looking for wedding inspiration earlier this year, I came across Happy Mundane and fell in love with the clear glass bottles used as candle holders. So easy and so chic, I couldn’t help posting it [I’m sure I won’t be the last]. I am looking forward to using this idea as my table centerpiece for my first of many get-togethers.
Image: Elle Decor photo via Happy Mundane.
I love this blog so much, that I almost want to keep it a secret. :]
You can download templates [paper-doll cutouts, calendars, note pads, gift tags, patterns, etc.] for free- as long as you use it for your personal use, of course. The month of October is hanging on my refrigerator with all my necessary to-dos. Download your own carnivorous plant calendar here.
There is nothing I love more than decorating for fall. I’m loving Pottery Barn’s website for giving me most of my inspiration for my favorite season.
