Category Archives: Table Setting Ideas

Some Egg-cellent Choices for Your Easter Centerpieces

 

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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Kid-Friendly DIY Sweet Treat Favors…Snowman Soup, Rudolf Spares, Holiday Candy Wrappers & More!

Just when I thought I was done… I swear, every December around this time when I think I’m done (or almost done) Christmas shopping, it seems I’m always adding more – the neighbors, co-workers, or my son’s classmates get added to my never-ending list. If you’re in need of some simple and inexpensive favor-type gifts, check out all of these adorable do-it-yourself ideas from a group of very talented bloggers!

Rudolf’s Spares, Reindeer Food & Reindeer Poop!

These three are cute and simple to put together. I’ve even seen these for sale at Hallmark for about five times the cost of what you could make them for. You just need red hots or Fireballs for Rudolf noses, oatmeal and glitter for reindeer food, and Whoppers or a chocolate-covered candy for Reindeer Poop (which, by the way is such an 8-year old boy thing to give out!). Each treat has a poem that goes with it and printables all over the web. I love the beautiful packaging by, Miriam, a Stampin’ Up consultant. She posted the three poems on her site.

 

 

  

 

 A Little Snowman Inspiration

Snowman Soup (see collage below) is another popular favor to put together, and there are a ton of examples if you search the web. Quick and inexpensive to put together, you include a packet of hot chocolate, marshmallows, chocolate chips, and a candy cane. They sell these small tin buckets at Target in the dollar section, or you can put the contents in a cellophane bag. The top right corner of the collage is called “Snowman Kisses” (which are white Tic Tacs). Check out Kristen’s step-by-step tutorial on how to make these cute packages. The bottom right printable is from a talented blogger and graphic designer at Happy Bird’s Crafting Haven. I love graphic artists who are willing to share their work with those of us graphically challenged people! She made these printables to fit perfectly over the Ghiradelli Chocolate Squares. If you haven’t bought the limited edition peppermint bark by Ghiradelli, they are an amazing treat. Go through all of Happy Bird’s seasonal posts for more great ideas and printables that she generously shares with her readers!

Still want more ideas?

Betty Crocker shows you how to make a candy sleigh. Candy trains are also fun for kids to make for friends, or can be a great craft to keep them busy over winter break.

Finally two more great printables!

Caramel popcorn and chocolate-covered pretzels are two of my favorite recipes to make with my son. Neighbor kids always come over asking when we’re going to make more. Emeril’s caramel popcorn recipe is my go-to recipe for cooking with kids. It is all done in the microwave and tastes great! I love the popcorn bag printable pdf file by Monita at her Mushy blog. The lunch bag goes right into your printer. The Merry & Bright tags from Giver’s Log (one of my favorite blogs!) can be used for any ho;iday favor you come up with!

Hope you’re inspired! I know I am!

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Thanksgiving Centerpieces…Thankful for Simple Things!

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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Cupcake Stands and Cake Stands…Simply Beautiful!

I knew the day was coming, I just didn’t realize how soon it would happen. I’m not prepared. What do I say? Is honesty always the best policy? Are there exceptions when you consider the fact that we’re only young once? I have absolutely no clue! What I am certain of, is that being a parent is, by far, the hardest job on Earth!

My son came home a few days ago and reported in his very matter-of-fact way that a few of the other third graders were saying that there was no such thing as Santa. So I said what I was always told, Santa comes to those who believe. I’m not sure that satisfied him (or me for that matter), but it at least bought me a little time.

My son is very intellectual. I’m sure if he thought about it, he’d question the physics of a sleigh in flight, and the improbability of it soaring all over the earth in the span of one evening. I’m sure he’d argue that all of the world’s presents could not fit in such a small space, and certainly he could look at my chimney and realize that you’d have to be a size double zero to fit down it. I guess, the truth is, that we believe in it because we want to believe. It is only when peer pressure kicks in and forces us out of this magical state that we, sadly, come to the realization that it isn’t real. 

This leads me to these beautiful, milky-white cupcake stands, pictured above, that I’ve been pining over for quite some time. Does the same logic apply…if I believe in the Cupcake Fairy, is there a chance that she will leave these in my kitchen one night while I’m fast asleep? These have been out of stock for a long time and are finally available again. And if the Cupcake Fairy doesn’t come soon (or Santa – hint, hint Mom!) , I may have to break down and buy them.

These custom fairy cake toppers, from Wee Cute Treasures, are handmade in Ireland, and available on Etsy.  How cute would these be on top of a birthday girl’s cake? Cupcake Fairy, can you add one of these to my wish list?

I do have a bit of an obsession with cake stands. I think the simple ones make the biggest statement and are the most versatile. Here are a few of my current favorites.

(Left: Pottery Barn White Top Right: Farmhouse Wares Scalloped Bottom Right: Rosanna Rococo Black)

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HALLOWEEN COCKTAIL PARTY… Candy Corn Martinis, Creepy Crawlin’ Shrimp with Mushrooms Plus Pumpkin Shaped Pate

Planning on having a Halloween Cocktail Party?  My friends got together for a girls night out last night.  We were asked by the hostess to bring an appetizer and a drink.  I purchased a small loaf of sourdough bread and cut it on the diagonal to create a larger surface.  I cut into each bread slice with a pumpkin cookie cutter.   Surprisingly it was quite easy!  I dyed olive oil orange by adding  yellow and red food coloring and whisking it until it turned orange, then brushed the pumpkin cutouts with the orange olive oil, and sprinkled them with small amount of garlic salt.  I toasted the bread at 400 degrees for about 5 minutes until the edges a slightly browned.  I cut a 4″ X 6″ piece of pate with mini Halloween cookie cutters.  For the eyes on the ghost, the cat and the bat I used black sesame seeds.  When the toast cooled I placed the pate on top. 

For the second appetizer I tried to create a spider.  I used 8 toothpicks and placed 3 pieces of shrimp on each toothpick.  For the head I used baby bella mushrooms and stuffed them with crab (see my recipe for crab cakes).  I baked the stuffed mushrooms at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.  To assemble I placed two toothpicks of shrimp together to form the body (six legs).  The stuffed mushrooms attach to the toothpicks and become the head.  My simple recipe for shrimp sauce is catsup (1 cup) + horseradish (1 tablespoon) to taste.

Candy Corn Martini - 1 part Rose’s Mango + 2 parts candy corn infused vodka* 

*1 cup candy corn + 2 cups vodka  – mix and refrigerate for one day and up to 3 weeks.

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Fall Centerpieces Part 2…Pumpkin Makeovers!

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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Clever & Creative Do-it-Yourself Place Cards for Fall

Place cards are not just for weddings and formal affairs. Using them at your dinner parties and family gatherings can add a personal touch and show your guests how much you care that they’re part of the festivities. Of course, the cynic in me will add that place cards are also a way for the hostess to take control over where the guests are seated.

In our family, we’ve had an unspoken place card tradition since I was little. To this day, when my mom hosts a party, she sets her table the night before. This always gave the rest of us plenty of time to decide who we were and weren’t going to get stuck by (I mean sit by!). When the Queen of Entertaining was busy in the kitchen, one of us would sneak in and move the place cards around. If I remember correctly, my dad was the one who started it, but my sis and I caught on quick. By the time guests arrived, there were always multiple seating arrangements.

Do you remember making these origami fortune tellers during recess when you were a kid? My best girlfriend and I were recently reminiscing about these. We used to write the names of who we might marry, how many kids we’d have, and what we’d drive. Isn’t this a fun idea to use them as place cards? They can also double as your party menu.

Another clever idea that won’t cost you very much is to put together these spice jar favors. They can be used as both a name card and a unique party favor. They’re perfect for a shower or a tea.

Check out the other ideas below. Hope you’re inspired! I know I am!

Votive With Tag, Eucalyptus Leaf, Lamb’s Ear Leaf, Cupcake Name Cards, Maple Leaf With Favor Pouch

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Fall Centerpiece Ideas – Part One… Apples of My Eye!

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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