Written on
July 28, 2010 by
Kate
I love fresh flowers, and try to bring them into my house every week. Usually that means cutting them from my rose plants, or begging my mom for a few of her hydrangeas. Flowers make me happy and bring life into our house. Not that we’re in need of adding more life here. The boy and his buddies run in and out daily in the summer, usually only coming into the kitchen to tell the short order chef their orders .And then there’s the Naughty One… anyone want to borrow her for a day? I guarantee more life than you’ve ever dreamed of. I was never much of a believer in reincarnation, but am almost positive that there is a two-year old trapped in her body. She opened my pantry this weekend and carried a box of brownie mix over to my oven. I guess she was craving chocolate??? The girl opens the pantry, the art cabinet, the trash cabinet, and the toy cabinet ~ all in two minutes or less. What the two-year old inside her 
is really say is, “SOMEONE PAY ATTENTION TO ME!”.
Unlike wild boys and wild dachshunds, flowers bring a serene sort of peace to my house. Please take note Prince Charming, if given the choice between cupcakes or flowers, I’ll pick the cupcakes every time. And if you happen to bring flowers in cupcake form, I’ll know you’re what I’ve been waiting for!
These flower cupcakes were simple to put together. I found a great video tutorial by Chef Alison McLoughlin at the Culinary Institute of America . I wanted something cute and easy to make for the My Little Pony party that I also made the 3D rainbow sugar cookie favors for. The cupcakes on the highest tier were made to look like the ponies were in grass with the Wilton tip # 233. Hallie, the birthday girl loved seeing those little ponies and her cupcake flower garden.
If you make cupcakes on a regular basis, I highly recommend this cupcake stand from The Cupcake Tower on Etsy. I have several fancy cupcake stands, but what I love about this is that with just a little double stick tape, you can use different ribbons around the tiers to coordinate with the party color scheme. It also breaks downs and is easy to store, unlike the tall, bulky cupcake stands. If the three-tier cupcake stand is more or less than you need, they offer two other sized stands.
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Written on
March 24, 2010 by
Kate
Oh, you know how I love centerpiece ideas. Here are a few more easy ideas to decorate your table for Easter, all incorporate Easter eggs. The picture on the top left reminds me of the PAAS kits we buy every year. I love the pastel colors you can achieve without keeping the eggs in too long. To make this, insert a smaller container in the center of a vase and add flowers and water. Then fill the outer portion with kid-created eggs.
Sometimes the best materials are right under our sinks. I love the natural look of the nests filled with white eggs pictured on the right. I was surprised to discover they were made using paper bags from the grocery store.
Who else, but Martha, would use lace to decorate and dye eggs? Can’t wait to try this technique out this year. I love how they color coordinate with my blog? The picture in the bottom center is what happens when you put several totally different items inside a bell jar. The result… festive and fun. Finally, the picture on the bottom right is also a Martha idea. Those little chocolate bunnies love taking center stage, and the kids will enjoy eating them afterward. Love how they interspersed a few of the dyed eggs in the grass.
So many great ideas to try. It looks like I’m going to go on a hard-boiled egg diet immediately following Easter Sunday! Good thing the Naughty One loves eggs!
The links to the pictures in the collage are below (plus a ton more examples on these sites).
Better Homes and Garden Slideshow
DIY Nests
Martha’s Egg Slideshow
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Written on
March 3, 2010 by
Kate
I don’t know if spring has officially sprung, but I’m ready for it! Even on a budget, I find ways to fit fresh flowers in. It’s one of the easiest ways to bring life into your home (aside from having a group of eight year olds running throughout your house). I love tulips for their simplicity. I love that you can’t mess these up when arranging them. And what I’m loving right now are tulips in vintage aqua mason jars. I didn’t have to look any farther than Etsy to find them ~ now I just have to make room in the budget!
Submerged Tulips, Tulips with White Eggs, Pink Tulips in a Mason Jar, Tulips & Limes, Tulips with Calla Lilies, Tulip Variety
Want more spring floral inspiration, check out these other posts…
Simple Centerpieces in 60 Seconds
Color, Creative & Cost Friendly
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Written on
November 20, 2009 by
Kate
A few simple Thanksgiving centerpieces… Hope they inspire!
(The first picture is a little hard to see. The vases are filled with water. Cranberries float on top and surround floating candles. I also love the candle placed in an artichoke, with other mixed vegetables, and flowers to create a unique centerpiece. The rest of the centerpieces are a cinch to make, fill vases with cranberries, acorns, or other fall favorites and add candles for warmth.)
Can you believe 45 million turkeys are cooked each Thanksgiving? I am very thankful that I’m not in charge of cooking any of them. My mom has been making Thanksgiving dinner since I was little. The preparation starts the day before and I think the woman literally works two days straight in the kitchen to prepare an amazing meal for the people she loves. This year my sister and her family are coming into town and I’m thrilled to spend time with them and have our kids play together. Deb, one of my best girlfriends, and her family are also joining us. We are their “California” family and I’m so excited that we get to be with them for another Thanksgiving!
My ex-husband, his girlfriend, and their little one will also be coming by for part of the afternoon. Continuing a friendship with Blake’s dad has been one of the greatest blessings in my life. We both have too much love in our hearts and no room for anymosity or hurt feelings, which has enabled us to come together and celebrate all of life’s important moments as a family. When we first divorced, there were definitely tough times, and if you’re going through it right now, know that time will heal. Looking back, what I’ve learned is that out of the challenges we face come blessings that we never imagined.
Need more centerpiece ideas? Check out these previous posts…
Pumpkin Centerpieces
More Pumpkin Centerpieces
Apple Centerpieces
More Simple Centerpieces
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Written on
October 17, 2009 by
Kate
Top row: White eyelet pumpkin, pumpkin candle centerpiece, yellow pumpkins, pink floral pumpkin Bottom Row: white mini pumpkins, white pumpkin arrangement, green eyelet pumpkins
Who would have thought there were so many color options with pumpkins? Last week I shared more pumpkin centerpieces and told you that my beautiful Crown Prince would soon be showing up on my doorstep. Well, he arrived all dressed up and has been living here all week. Our relationship is still going well – the dog hasn’t attacked him (as she usually does to any imposter prince who comes to the door), and the boy doesn’t seem to even notice. My mom put her special touch on this Crown Prince pumpkin by adding white hydrangeas and surrounding it with candles. I absolutely love it! I’m sad to say this relationship isn’t going to last forever, but life is beautiful for the time being!
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Written on
October 9, 2009 by
Kate
Top row: candle in pumpkin, sunflower arrangement, pumpkins with ribbon, Bottom row: glitter pumpkins, orange flower pumpkin, pumpkin arrangement
As promised, more fall centerpiece ideas, and this week it’s all about the pumpkin. From simple to crafty to elegant and practical, here are a few extreme pumpkin makeover ideas. You can hollow out your pumpkin and turn it into a vase or if you’re pumpkin-less, make your own floral pumpkin (which looks gorgeous on the white cake stand). Add a little ambiance by turning your pumpkin into a candle holder. And sometimes simple can make a bold statement. How easy is it to wrap ribbons around mini pumpkins and display them together. You know I’m a sucker for sunflowers. They always scream happiness to me. You can add some height with sunflowers, by keeping the stems long and arranging them in a hollowed out pumpkin. And if you’re all about the bling, try Martha’s glitter pumpkins. She provides detailed instructions on her site.
My new love happens to be at my mom’s, as we speak, getting a makeover. I can’t wait for the big reveal. I fell in love with a Crown Prince pumpkin this week and couldn’t resist it. Okay, it’s not Prince Charming, but it also won’t leave its clothes on the floor or dishes in the sink! Have you seen these pumpkins? They are a beautiful blue gray color. Next week I’ll be sharing a few “not your ordinary” pumpkin centerpieces - and will reveal my Crown Prince pumpkin.
-Anxiously awaiting Prince Charming’s arrival on my doorstep!
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Written on
September 10, 2009 by
Kate
If you read my apple martini post, then you know I have a slight aversion to apples (and it has nothing to do with the taste). As a little girl, in Missouri, I would go apple picking with my family. And as a mom, I’ll never forget taking my son apple picking, not long after he learned to walk. He was the cutest thing I’ve ever seen!
I love this time of year. In California, we usually only have one season – It’s called “sunny”, and when there is a change, like drizzle, or fog, or God forbid hail, our weathermen get absolutely giddy! We’re talking big news! Try teaching kindergarteners here the four seasons. They often just don’t get it because our weather is usually so stable. Since it tends to be hot this time of year, my son and I have a few rituals that we do to make it feel more like fall. He told me just yesterday, “You know mom, it’s not fall until we make our caramel popcorn.” Yikes, he sounds just like his mom!
I also love finding ways to celebrate fall with my decor. Check out these apple centerpiece ideas. In case you’re wondering, the picture in the center is a bowl and canister filled with apple martinis. It was used both as the signature cocktail and the centerpiece for a baby shower. Love that!
Hope you’re inspired! More fall centerpieces to share next week!
apples in basket, apples and gerbers, floating apples, red apples with beads, apples in tall vase, apples in apple martini bowl, apples with branches, apples in twig basket, fruit with candle display,
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Written on
August 12, 2009 by
Kate
Our life is frittered away by detail…Simplify, simplify – Henry Thoreau
(Top row: first and third picture from Julie Mulligan’s floral blog, center picture from Idoweddings Bottom Row: Sunflower centerpiece from Better Home and Gardens, orchid design from Livia Revo Flower Design, flowers in bags by Bride.net)
One of my summer rituals is to go room by room in my house and get rid of what I don’t use. I admit, I can get a bit obsessive. Just the thought of a new school year makes me antsy and a bit overwhelmed. Organization is one of the few things that takes me down a notch.(Kendall Jackson helps too, but you probably already guessed that one!) When my house is decluttered, my life feels less cluttered (if that makes sense). When I’m in this frame of mind, the simpler the better is my motto. Here are a few centerpieces that reflect a simple, beautiful life! Hope they inspire!
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