Valentines Craft Time

At a loss for what to get your sweetheart? With the economy being as it is, why not make something special? Martha Stewart has some great ideas to get you started! Below are a few of my favorites. Click the links below each image to get instructions. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!


Paper Flowers


Vintage Valentines


Paper Heart Wrappings


Personalized Chocolates


Knitted Catnip Delight

Planning A... Christmas Celebration

Whether you are planning a holiday party, or a Christmas Day celebration, these tips and pictures will help inspire you as you plan your affair.

Set the Tone. The invitation will definitely set the tone, but you also want to set the tone for the party before your guests enter the house. Decorating outside for Christmas is pretty easy, considering all the available options. Hang lights, trim the door with some garland and a wreath, line your walkways with luminaries. Here are some images to help fuel your creativity.


Photo credits Martha Stewart, Martha Stewart, Martha Stewart

The Decor. If you are like me, you'll have your house decked out for Christmas already. Some of my favorite ways to decorate are of course, your Christmas tree. I also love the idea of hanging a wreath inside in front of a window or a mirror. Another favorite holiday decor tip of mine is candles. I love candles and think they create such a wonderful mood!


Photo Credits Martha Stewart, Martha Stewart


Photo Credits by author, Martha Stewart

The Food and Table Decorations. If you are throwing a holiday party, simple food will be just fine for your guests, as opposed to a full on meal. I just helped my parents throw a Christmas Party this last weekend, and they served all the fixings for yummy sandwiches, plus a sumptuous dessert bar. Below are some ideas for table decorations and food presentation.


Images by author


Image by author


Images by author

Food. A dessert bar is always a popular and well loved addition to any party. See the images below for more simple and tasty snacks.


Hot Spinach Dip, White-Bean Dip with Toasted Pita Chips


Creamy Deviled Eggs, Parmesan Spirals

Good luck planning your holiday party and Christmas celebrations!!

Dessert Bars

Sweet and irresistible, dessert bars are as popular as ever at weddings and special events. Use these tasty stops as favors for your guests by having them fill a bag with goodies to enjoy on the way home. Chocolate fountains are sometimes a fun addition to dessert bars. Dip fresh fruit and all kinds of yummy things in chocolate!


Image via Brides.com

There are countless options of sweet treats to have at your dessert bar. Here are just a few ideas:
- your favorite candy, of course
- miniature snickers, or other popular candy bar
- caramel apples
- cookies
- marshmallows dipped in chocolate or plain marshmallows
- graham crackers in chocolate
- lollipops
- caramel corn or popcorn
- rock candy
- licorice
- any type of hard candy is nice
- gummy bears
- chocolate covered almonds

My all time favorite dessert bar has to be this one by Lisa Vorce, via Style Me Pretty. I could stare at it for days its just SO beautiful!




Image via Rebecca Thuss.

Another take on the dessert bar:
Since cold weather is upon us, consider having a fire pit outside and have a smore bar. Stock it with graham crackers, marshmallows, chocolate and any other sweet treat you think would compliment a smore. Your guests will love making something yummy while keeping warm!












Images 1-3 via Style Me Pretty, 4-6 via Brides.com and 7-11 via Rebecca Thuss.

Planning A...Thanksgiving Celebration, Part II

We pretty much all associate Thanksgiving with yummy food. Besides all the turkey and delicious gravy, amazing desserts abound at almost every table. Below are some sumptuous desserts, as well as other Thanksgiving staples to make your celebration its yummiest.


Cornbread And Sausage Stuffing


Roast Turkey with Quince Glaze


Perfect Turkey Gravy


Olive-Oil Mashed Potatoes


Cranberry Relish


Pumpkin-Chocolate Tart

I don't know about you, but I'm ready for Thanksgiving!!
All images from Martha Stewart.

Planning A...Thanksgiving Celebration, Part I

In honor of Thanksgiving this week, we are devoting all our blog posts to ways you can make your Thanksgiving super special! Up first are some fun DIY decorations to get you in that Holiday spirit! For directions, simply click the name under each picture. Most projects will take less than an hour. Part II will be featured on Wednesday.


Display your house number in style with these Gourd House Numbers. Besides numbers, you could put virtually any design on these gourds.


Light the way to your home in style, with these beautiful Autumn Luminarias.


Greet your guests at the door with these stunning Outdoor Bouquets. If you don't have an urn, consider sprucing up an ordinary terracotta pot.


This Feather Wreath could be crafted in virtually any color!


These Cornhusk Votives cast a beautiful glow on any table arrangement.


The traditional symbol of fall's abundance, this Oak-Leaf Cornucopia receives a beautiful makeover with a wreath of gold-leafed oak leaves and acorns.


Perfect for a centerpiece, this Pumpkin Vase is a great way to make use of an ordinary pumpkin.

All images from Martha Stewart. For more great DIY ideas for fall, visit this link.

Farmer's Market Flowers

Your local Farmer's Market is a great place to shop for flowers. Whether for your home, or a special occasion like your wedding, nothing beats the freshness and price of farmer's market. Most farmers are more than happy to comply with large order requests, as long as they have enough notice in advance. Some even give discounts for large orders which is always nice.
I shop my local Farmer's Market every week and always come home with a basket of our weeks produce and every once in a while, a flower arrangement.
Check your local newspapers or online listing for a farmers market near you.


Lovely mixed organic arrangements.


Beautiful yellow sunflowers, fresh picked this morning.


Perfect roses. $12.00 a dozen, however large orders (10 dozen or more) are $10.00 a dozen.


My findings for the week at Farmer's Market. The bouquet is from the organic flower vendor as seen above. Using a basket to shop saves plastic bags, which in turn, help out the environment.
All photos by myself.