easy Easter decorations

I had a request for Easter decorating ideas, and these are all so easy, you don't even need directions. Just look at the picture and you'll know what to do.

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Simple dyed eggs and ribbon on this table, even a pink paper plate mixed in maybe? So easy and doable.

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Satin ribbon in pretty spring colors make a elegant and festive garland (ceramic bunny optional).

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How cute would these be for a kids table?  My Easter peeps would love them.

When I see daffodils, I think ah! spring is finally here. Just put a small jar inside the brown paper bag, add the flowers and maybe even put a name on the bag for a cute place card.

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All of these fancy (and complicated) egg decorating techniques are intimidating to me, so these simply dyed eggs with the pastel jelly beans have me at hello.

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And how elegant is this display?  Love it....but it may involve a trip to the craft store.  

Hope your Easter decorating is a cinch so you'll have time left over to eat lots of jelly beans and celebrate with your family and friends.

If you'd like help with decorating your home for Easter or any time of the year, contact me. 

Last minute gift ideas

If you're like me, you're probably entering panic mode about the remaining items that need to be checked off your list this time of year. To lend a hand, here are some of my favorite Etsy ideas. With these affordable and creative gifts, instead of coming across as frazzled and panicky (like me!), your gift reflects your composed, thoughtful and meaningful gesture.

For the Dog Lover

These adorable 5" x 7" cards from TerraDeiFarm come in a package of 6. Perfect for post holiday thank you notes!

For the Griller

We've got the World Tour Grill Master Set here from DenverSpice. 

For your dad

This cool key chain from Cjohannesen commemorates a special location with its longitude and latitude. 

For your mom

This pretty clutch by CreationsbyAngel is the perfect evening bag she never knew she needed.

For your bff

These adorable preppy wine totes from LibbieandWinston are the perfect way to say to your best friend, 

"I love you more than wine!"

Hope this helps! Remember, it's the MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR! ;)

The Christmas Tree Art of Compromise

In our house, the tree is the ultimate symbol of compromise. We all have our issues...meaning our preferences on how the tree is procured, how it is decorated, and how long it hangs around. And then there is the reality of how it shakes out every year.

On the day after Thanksgiving, my kids long to be the family in this car. They want a tree that we chop down in the woods, while drinking hot cocoa and singing carols. Sounds fun, so we tried this approach one year. We headed for the foothills, but got horribly lost on the way to the magical Christmas tree filled forest. By the time we agreed on where to park and set out on our quest for the tree of perfection, the kids were starving and cold as was the hot cocoa we brought along. We soon realized that every tree looked like it had auditioned for a Charlie Brown Christmas. Yes, whining ensued, and a lot of it was coming from me. None of the trees was quite right. Disillusioned and freezing, we left the magical forest, probably the only car leaving without a tree tied to its roof. We drove straight to Big Lots in suburbia, and paid $45 for a tree that met our (my) stringent requirements. We got it home and in the stand. In the light of day a friend remarked on our tree's bluish green color. We soon discovered it had been spray painted! Really? Does the pursuit of the perfect Christmas tree have to be this complicated?

So for the kids, it has less to do with what the tree looks like and more about how soon it goes up (Black Friday preferred), and the seasonal beverages we are enjoying. (Can you relate?) In fact, as long as they can drink egg nog while we're decorating it, they don't really care about the tree's overall vision. Lesson learned: keep the kids happy with hot chocolate and egg nog. Done.

Now for my husband, I do believe he was tortured in some past life during the holiday season. He totally embraces the spirit of the season with charitable acts and a festive demeanor, but when the boxes of decorations are brought up from storage, the complaining begins. He loathes the Christmas decor. I learned early on in our marriage that I can count on him for lighting and for spiking my egg nog on the night we decorate the tree. So it probably comes as no surprise that his preferred Christmas tree comes in a box, is pre-lit, gets set up on December 23rd, and taken down on December 26th.

As you can imagine, I'm a bit more particular. While I'm not eager to jump in the car on the hunt for the perfect tree on Black Friday (I'd rather be eating leftover pie), regarding the tree, I do have issues. They involve height paired with fullness and now, after the Big Lots debacle, I can add natural color to my list of criteria. As for decor, I would love a tree that has an overall style and color palette. Something like the one on this cover...

Or these...

I realize these are depersonalized with more emphasis on matching the decor of the room than imbuing the spirit of the season. Am I that shallow? Well, maybe a little, but don't judge me too harshly because our tree usually ends up looking something like this.

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This tree is live, and it's decorated with love, and that's a happy compromise. I'll post pictures of our tree (when we finally get it up!)

What are your Christmas tree preferences in your family?

If you want to truly love where you live, please contact me about design services.

Happy Thanksgiving

Steve and I have been hosting Thanksgiving at our house almost every year since we got married which makes this the 16th year. It started as an orphan type Thanksgiving and has evolved over the years to include single friends, newlyweds, babies, cousins, grandparents. It's never the same guest list twice, and we always have tons of food (leftovers...yum!). Many guests are wise to the fact that we always have at least 2 turkeys. One in the oven to "smell" like Thanksgiving, and the other in the deep fryer outside. This year, we threw a third in the mix, a smoked bird. Every guest has their preferred flavor of cooked bird, and each style has its fan base. So it's most likely that our smoked style will make a comeback next year alongside the roasted and fried varieties.

While Steve is busy preparing his birds, my mind is wandering to table setting. This year, we had a mix of cousins, grandparents and aunts and uncles, so we decided to bring some whimsy to the table with this little turkey pinecone craft which was the brainchild of Steve's sister.

We had ladylike turkeys...

Turkeys with goatees and Saturday bed head...

And turkeys at the kids' table...

We have lots to be thankful for, and are happy to celebrate with family, friends, delicious food and a cranberry mojito.  

Cheers, and hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving too!

easy Thanksgiving centerpieces

It's a Chicago weather day here in Denver. The freezing rain is keeping everyone indoors and cozy which is a novelty in this town. So my mind is wandering to Thanksgiving and how I will "decorate" the table this year.

You'd think I'd be all over this project with elaborate displays and hours of crafting prep, but I am too busy (and impatient) for this type of work. I'm in search of EASY centerpiece ideas that are creative, cheap and doable. Here are a few images I found. You can find the links on my Pinterest page if you want more information on a particular idea and even directions on what to do. Now for the eye candy. :)

I love the beauty and simplicity of this greenery in the canning jars over a chocolate brown tablecloth.

Source: bhg.com via Lisa on Pinterest

Running mini pumpkins and ribbon down the center of the table seems pretty easy.

Source: bhg.com via Lisa on Pinterest

How cute is this simple pear placecard?

Source: countryliving.com via Lisa on Pinterest

These stacked pumpkins seem easy to accomplish with a cakeplate or pedestal bowl that I already own.

Source: diylife.com via Lisa on Pinterest

I love the collected look of this display. The varying heights and autumnal colors are simple and elegant.

Source: midwestliving.com via Lisa on Pinterest

It's time to take stock of what I have and give one of these a try. I'll take pictures and let you know what I come up with.  Hope this gives you some holiday inspiration. Stay warm.

If you want to truly love where you live, please contact me about design services.

Easy Easter Eggs

I don’t have a lot of patience for crafting, yet admire and covet the end result, so if I'm willing to give a go, you know it has to be easy.

Photo Credit: Philip Friedman/Studio D

I bet you already have the needed supplies on hand to create these beauties. Use masking tape sliced and positioned to make stripes or plaids. The wavy stripes are cut with craft scissors. To step it up a notch, use paper punch-outs (available at craft stores) on your masking tape to make letters or shapes. Apply the tape to raw eggs making sure to eliminate any air bubbles. Then simply drop your eggs in a standard egg tint (like Paas). Once the eggs are dry, blow out the yolks (use a pin or wooden skewer to make a hole at the bottom and the gooeyness should slide right out). Then remove the tape to reveal your design. Snazzy!

drop this valentine hint

Some florists just do more. That’s the reaction I had when these beauties arrived on my doorstep today. From my sweet neighbor, NOT husband.

I mean, honestly, I have never even seen those yellow spiky flowers before. Anyone know what they are? The bouquet is from More Flowers in Denver. Look what they did with the container…so cool.

Drop the More Flowers hint to your sweetie. Valentine’s Day is just around the corner!

the holiday mullet

Do you secretly wish you were married to Clark Griswold (of “Christmas Vacation” fame) when it comes to Christmas decorations but you’re worried about what your neighbors (or family!) would think? We’ve got the solution for you: the Holiday Mullet. You can have the best of both worlds with Business in the Front and PARTY (or tacky) in the back!

We LOVE cheesy holiday decorations (preferably the retro classic plastic Santa and reindeer) but fear the leers of friends and neighbors who fail to appreciate our tacky holiday fun. Thus, we came up with the Holiday Mullet where you can have a front yard with delicate white twinkle lights and fresh garland and a back yard with all the flash and bling that you really love!

Are you on board? Send us some pics of your Holiday Mullet!

If you want to truly love where you live, please contact me about design services.

reuse your holiday scraps

{Image courtesy of Kelly Wilkinson}

About this time of the holiday season I find myself surrounded by piles, rolls, and heaps of discarded wrapping paper. I save the cast offs in the hopes that the perfect little bauble box might find it’s way into my to-be-wrapped pile–a pile which seems to multiply at night while the sugarplums are dancing merrily in my slumber. Somehow that little box never materializes, and I’m left to ponder whether to fetch the recycling bin or shove the scraps back into the holiday wrapping storage bin. But today, right here in my inbox, is a nifty little craft project that uses recycled holiday paper, or any paper for that matter, for a simple, stylish and festive decor idea. It comes from Kelly Wilkinson who is a contributor at The Washington Post (which publishes one of my favorite regional home and garden sections). Check out Kelly’s clever crafty blog at makegrowgather.com, and read on to learn how to make this holiday garland step-by-step.

Easter Craft Ideas

Yikes, where has March gone? And with Easter falling in early April this year, it’s likely to bite us in our big chocolate booty.

Image from cafepress.com

With the kids home for spring break this week, we’re looking for some easy and fun projects to do. Luckily, these just landed in my inbox. With a quick jaunt to our local crafts store, we’ll be able to knock some of these crafties out AND keep the little fingers busy for a few hours, bonus!

But first, a key point. Instead of hard boiling our eggs to decorate (which always results in broken shells and bizarrely veined eggs that no one wants to eat anyway), this year we’re going to follow this advice from Debra Steilen, Senior Holidays Editor at Better Homes & Gardens: “Eggs are easier to decorate if the shells are empty, so start by blowing out the contents. Use a long needle to prick a small hole on both ends of the egg. (Break the yolk with the needle to make it easier to extract.) Blow through one of the holes until the contents come out the other end.” My kids will LOVE this last part.

To make this lovely Easter Egg Garland, click here.

A trip to your backyard could be all you need for your own variation of this project.

Finally, something to do with all those outgrown baby socks! For materials and instructions, click here.

Hope these family-friendly Easter projects keep you and your crew inspired this week.

hanging on to the holidays

It’s true that I’ve been accused of being rather Grinch-like in the days that follow Christmas. I can only take so many showers of dried pine needles raining down on my floors with every gentle nudge of the tree. So it is, that usually prior to New Years Day, the tree has been kicked to the curb. Of course, that’s just the beginning of the “pack it up, the holidays are over” frenzy that ensues. Call me, “The mean one, Mr. Grinch,” but even I, purveyor and appreciator of all things decorative, get sick of the holiday tchotchke crapiola all over the house.

However, here it is, post New Year’s, and there is one holiday decoration I’ve allowed to hang around. The mini-wreath that I hung right on the mirror in my entryway still sparkles. Because it is not festooned with red, green and gold, it doesn’t scream “I’m a Christmas decoration!” Rather, it’s silvery ribbon and icy glazed fruit seem to fit right in with the snow outside. So for now, it’s staying. For how long? Stay tuned.

is it an "heirloom" or a "hairloom"

In my family, we have a joke about hand-me-downs from days of yore. If it’s a keeper, then it’s earned the “heirloom” moniker. If it’s a doozy, but must be retained due to some type of familial guilt, then it’s dubbed a “hairloom”. We’re sure you have a few hairloom gems in your holiday storage bins. Here are some of our favorite heirloom/hairlooms on display this season, but really, the distinction is all in the eye of the beholder.

This collection of musical angel ornaments was from my maternal grandmother. Apparently they moved over to make room for our elf on the shelf, Jingley, this morning. I dub the angels an heirloom for sure. Jingley, not so much, but my kids would beg to differ. He sits at the right hand of Santa after all — translation: ROCK STAR!

This trio of crystal trees belonged to my dad's mom. I scored them at Granbe’s Great Giveaway a few years back. It was the ultimate heirloom/hairloom festival, and Granbe’s five grandchildren (and subsequent great grandchildren) were the lucky recipients.

My aunts made these disco balls long before Studio 54 even opened with styrofoam balls, sequins, pearl pushpins and pipe cleaner hooks. I nabbed four of them at Granbe’s Great Giveaway, and they’re heirlooms to me for sure.

Here’s an heirloom that starts with our generation. It was a gift from my oh, so generous sister-in-law as we spent Christmas at home for the first time after our big renovation. I have to put it up high on the top of the china cabinet so little fingers don’t try to make the reindeer really fly.

This collection has become a modern-day heirloom for our family. We drink egg nog served in these mugs on the night we decorate the tree. My lame illustrations inspired Lucy (7) to upstage me on the cabinet door nearby.

Last but not least, our new favorite heirloom. Santa brought Holly two weeks ago (yes, a bit early…long story), and we are in love.

Got any heirlooms or hairlooms that your family favors?  Do share.

a peacock wreath for the holidays

From the LA Times Home Blog today…love the whimsy and color!

Why wait until turkey day to hang the holiday wreath? And why spend a small fortune on greenery when you can quickly and easily create something equally dramatic that will last for years?

These questions were on my mind on a recent craft supply run to Michaels, where I found a $19.99 peacock feather wreath that spoke to me. What it said: Peacock motifs are everywhere these days, why shouldn’t they replace Thanksgiving turkeys and Christmas cardinals? (The wreath was a fierce name-dropper too, whispering Auntie Mame, Tony Duquette and Bob Mackie in one breath.)

Naturally, I had to have it. With one push of a pushpin it quickly adorned my front door, which happens to be a pale shade of peacock blue. Stylish as it looked, it needed a little something extra.

That’s when I remembered the stuffed peacock I recently found at Mercado in Silver Lake for $23. Made from hand-spun wool by women in the central highlands of Chiapas, Mexico, it was the perfect folk art counterpart to the drag queen glamour of the wreath. And with a pushpin through its feathery tail, it is now happily perched on the wreath.

Not bad for $42.99. (Tax and pushpins not included.)

– David A. Keeps

Photo credit: David A. Keeps