Author:Lori

Holiday Place Card DIY…

November 16
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Whether you’re entertaining a crowd or just enjoying the togetherness of a family meal…any gathering around the table is truly a special event!  And since it seems harder to do than in generations before us, I really love the times that I can make a meal shared together look as wonderful as it really is!  With Thanksgiving on its way, many of us will have just this opportunity to fancy-up a table to celebrate all our blessings and those we hold dear!  My inspiration for this year’s place cards I’ll be making for my holiday table came when I was cleaning out my cupboards a while back.  You might remember I found all sorts of little containers buried behind closed doors.  I also had duplicate, and sometimes triplicate containers of spices…clearly I don’t double check when I construct a grocery list!  And as I was getting ready to trash some of the extra spice containers it came to me…the inspiration to create something special for the gals who will be seated at my table!  Don’t worry, I’ve got a plan for the guys too!  And during a season to be giving thanks…I’m thankful I didn’t throw these supplies away!

 say “hello” to holiday recycling!

Favorite Things

November 13
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Even though the brisk winds were blowing last night…they weren’t strong enough to keep the holiday shoppers from missing the joy!  At least it wasn’t snowing!  But if you missed the Downtown Perrysburg Holiday Open House yesterday, not to worry!  It’s only mid November so plenty of the goodies offered last night will still be in the shops throughout the season!  Today I’d like to share some of my favorite things from Alice-Louise Press!  We still have plenty of time to gather all our Christmas supplies and find the perfect gifts or stocking stuffers…but I’ll make it even easier for you to get your treasures early by sharing some goods from one of my most favorite shops!

these are a few of my favorite things…

Holiday Open House

November 11
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Even though it’s only mid-November you know the time has come to start thinking about Christmas!  I never like to bypass Thanksgiving…in fact, you might remember that my extended family is coming to my house this year so I’m very excited about all the feasting preparations!  But you’ve got to admit, many of us start dreaming about the enchantment of Christmas the second the Halloween decorations come down!  So that said, my Giggle Holiday Show will take place at Alice-Louise Press this year as part of the Perrysburg Holiday Open House!  I’m so excited to be included and have been busy working to get my Giggle holiday goodies done in time!  It’s really been fun to crank up the Christmas tunes while I’m working away…even though I’ve noticed some raised eyebrows from my boys!  So even though I’m a bit focused on holly and candy canes right now, I promise to spend the remainder of the month on Thanksgiving tabletops, favors, and festive ideas for gathering together to celebrate all our blessings!  But this week it’s about Christmas…

a little holiday preview!

Autumn Outing…

November 9
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Fall is one of my favorite times to do a little window shopping!  It’s still warm enough to comfortably stroll the streets but crisp enough to get me in the mood for the first thoughts of Christmas!  So yesterday some friends and I squeezed in a trip to a nearby city that I REALLY need to visit more frequently…Ann Arbor, Michigan.  Home to The University of Michigan, this place is filled with excitement everywhere you go!  Such a fun place to shop, eat–and shop and eat some more!  And even though we were limited on time…we definitely weren’t limited on fun!   AND I’m happy to say I even got a jump-start on my holiday shopping!  If you’ve never had a chance to explore this wonderfully vibrant town I would definitely encourage you to check it out…whether with friends, family, or go it alone–it’s a trip worth taking!

an afternoon of awesome…

Inspirational Gathering!

November 6
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About a month ago a couple of my friends and I were toying around with a thought.  While talking about supper groups, book clubs, and card nights–all fabulous ways to meet with family and friends to enjoy favorite activities–the light bulb went off and a wonderful idea came to mind!  Why not have a group of gals get together on a regular basis to hash out creative ideas?  Whether it be to discuss a new business venture, a celebration, or just to gain guidance on what style of curtains to hang…a fresh perspective from friends might be just what’s needed to get the ball rolling!  In my opinion, the most inspiring ideas are always developed from more than one noggin!  So I had the originators of the group over for a first-time meeting to figure out the logistics before we get this thing into full swing.  It’s really just an excuse for us to spend time together…but who cares?  Any opportunity to gather with friends who are inspiring and encouraging is OK by me!  And even though we don’t want the hosts to go to any trouble when we begin to meet…I couldn’t resist throwing a simple tray of goodies together for this preliminary gathering…it is all about inspiration after all!

a little creative sustenance…

Simple Changes

November 4
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I feel like once October arrives the holiday train begins barreling down the track, barely stopping at each station!  Three celebrations before the New Year (so actually four!) squeezed into a short amount of time!  And even though I love Christmas decorating as much as Halloween, it makes me sad that Thanksgiving sort of gets sidelined!  Sandwiched between the others it just seems like it gets a little less glory and attention…but I still love to add some simple decor to my home that lets me hang on to fall a little bit longer!  But since Thanksgiving is so close to the big hoopla of Christmas preparations I really try to keep it minimal and, if at all possible, try to re-purpose some of my Halloween pumpkins and gourds.  I’m not yet ready to put out the jingle bells…however I have to admit I’ve already played my Christmas instrumental playlist (I’ll hold off on Bing Crosby until closer to December!)  So until it’s an acceptable time to really get Christmas on, I want to share my simple transition from Halloween to Thanksgiving…using little more than paper and string!

simple, natural…fall!

Shadows of Halloween…

November 2
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So another Halloween has come and gone…but before we move on, I’d like to reflect on some of the fun!  One thing I love about entertaining & decorating is that you can take ideas from one holiday and make them work for another!  So whenever I’m checking out other blogs or Pinterest boards, I try to think how I might be inspired for future celebrations…like trading orange and black banners for red and green, or chips served in a cauldron might find themselves spilling from a cornucopia!   For me, this past weekend was full of future inspiration potential!  With Halloween falling on Saturday we had the entire weekend planned with festivities…one of which was a Friday night bonfire at our home!  A chilling evening for sure…not just with the “spooky” treats but the weather tried to trick us with spine chilling breezes!  But the kids weren’t phased by the temperatures and the evening was filled with fun and Halloween whimsy for all!  Have a look at the holiday joy and I hope you can find your own inspiration…for celebrations on the horizon or tricks and treats for next year!

a glimpse of Halloween past…

No Tricks…Halloween Hacks & Treats!

October 30
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I love to surprise my boys with simple Halloween treats…whether it’s an after school snack or a holiday breakfast I’m always looking for fun ways to celebrate–especially if it’s easy to pull off!  Today I want to share two simple treats…one waiting for them when they get home from school today, and the other they’ll receive tomorrow on the actual holiday.  Even though I’m making these Halloween goodies for my family only, they would be fabulous for guest too…or even wonderful party favors for all those special ghosts and goblins that may come calling!  So have a peek at how I cut some corners but ended up with some Halloween sweets and treats…fit for the Great Pumpkin himself!

easy holiday treats for your ghouls…

Happy Hostess!

October 28
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At our little soup soiree one of my fabulous guests brought me the most lovely hostess gift!  It was such a cute idea…and with all the holidays speeding toward us I thought I would share this sweet offering for all those hosts and hostesses you may be encountering!  A really nice idea for favors as well…this little gift will bring big smiles to anyone receiving it!  The holidays can get a little overwhelming and I don’t know about you but I can be stumped sometimes trying to find new ideas for tokens of appreciation to present to hosts, teachers, or anyone I’d like to thank or that might be in need of a little joy!  Have a look at this wonderful DIY gift idea…I’m sure you will love it as much as I did!

give a little happiness…

“Souper” Spooky!

October 25
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My family loves soup!  And I’m so happy they do since it’s an easy meal that’s perfect for taking the chill off when autumn arrives…not to mention the kitchen smells heavenly while it’s simmering on the stove!  We used to host soup parties, often times with other couples helping to brew up some tasty varieties for guests to sample!  And as fun as those large gatherings were, we decided this year to forgo the big bash–keeping it small and simple.   Since my husband and I both love to host AND cook we decided to have several little gatherings throughout the season so we can reconnect with all our friends in smaller settings!  Autumn is here and Halloween is around the corner so this first of hopefully many soup soirees needed to fit the season…we just had to serve up some PUMPKIN CHILI!  Such a yummy recipe (and yes, I will share)…easy to make and so perfect for fall!  It would go great with leftover turkey so keep it in mind for your Thanksgiving festivities too!  Today I’d like to share our simple gathering to celebrate friends, the season, and Halloween!

warm your bones with steamy soup!