Valentine’s Day comes and goes so quickly…why not set out some decorations early this year? January is a great month to start perking things up around the house and one of the best ways to do that is by adding some happy hearts to your decor! With simple supplies you can create some heart-warming displays to brighten any dreary winter day! Take a peek at how easy it is to capture hearts for some early valentine cheer…
If you follow college ball you know what’s on tonight’s TV schedule! Though my family isn’t native to the buckeye state, we’ve resided here for many years and are hopeful for an Ohio win! No matter who you’re rooting for, we’d like to share a cute snack idea for the big game! The downside to the broadcast is that it’s on a school night…but if you’re a die-hard fan, simply love the game, or just plan to watch the first half–here’s a quick & simple way to make it special! I recently saw this adorable idea for individual seven-layer-dip cups for a Superbowl party…and it got me thinking! I love the idea of individual snacks…it helps with portion control, makes clean-up a breeze, and looks darn cute too! Go ahead and create a special treat–easily customized for your family or guests. So get ready to snack and cheer…
The beginning of the new year is a great time to get organized! On a big scale or small, putting some order to your spaces always feels great, looks great, and can really help you function more efficiently in your home! Gathering items in containers that allow you to see what’s in them is a wonderful way to organize…especially things that you think are worthy of displaying! Luckily, even the most common and utilitarian items look great when grouped together & set out for show! Lucite & glass containers and trays are perfect for organizing these things so that you can clearly see what you’ve got on hand! Fabulous for arranging supplies in an office, keeping jewelry or makeup at your fingertips, holding recipes & kitchen utensils–anything goes! These simple and functional pieces did wonders for creating some order in my Giggle workspace in a fresh, new way! Try some transparent containers for your ready-to-use items and begin your year…seeing clearly!
Today is New Year’s Eve! A most festive night for celebrating the past year–reflecting on all the wonderful events that have passed and looking forward to the days ahead with excitement & optimism! Whether spending the evening with good friends or enjoying a quieter night at home with family, it’s not too late for some last minute ideas to ring in the New Year! Let’s celebrate 2014 and begin 2015 on a festive note! Here’s some easy ways to add some cheer…
We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas holiday! This morning we’re sharing a fun gathering…a holiday tradition for my family that would be a fun, casual event for any time of year! Each Christmas Eve we put on a large pot of Gumbo and open our doors for some of our friends and neighbors who are without family here in town! This tradition began when we began celebrating the evening with our dear friends and neighbors who were native to the Netherlands! It was such a lovely way to share the holiday with extended “family” and bring more joy into our home for this special occasion! Though our friends have since moved back to their homeland we’ve kept the tradition going–adding names to the guest list as we continue to find more friends without family nearby! Lucky for me my parents can travel to be with us for Christmas–and this night of celebrating is a much anticipated event for us all! A wonderful way to come together and fill the house with good conversation, great food, and the laughter of children! (And since Sarah’s family is often here too, we have plenty of children running around making spirits bright!) Putting on a big pot of soup is an easy way to serve up guests and gather friends and family for any occasion! New Year’s Eve is just a few days away…a soup party may be a fun way to celebrate with families to ring in the New Year! As a matter of fact, winter is a wonderful time to ladle up some fun…so don’t let the fact that the holidays are almost over stop you from serving up a good time for all! Check out the fun…
It’s Christmas Eve! We wish you all much joy and happiness during this festive and wonderful holiday! As we all hustle & bustle getting ready for our Christmas traditions it is our wish that everyone has moments to sit back and take it all in…like looking in the windows of your home and seeing all the blessings inside! May each of us allow all the wonder to shadow life’s imperfections…so all we see is joy! So have a very merry and peaceful Christmas this year and enjoy…
One of my favorite Christmas traditions is creating a gingerbread house with my boys! We never build anything spectacular…in fact, some years the sweet little dwellings must have looked pretty pathetic to the untrained eye! But the eyes of a mother see nothing less than a grand castle perched high on a cake plate–representing more than just a traditional craft but an evening of family fun and cherished memories for years to come! No matter how you go about it…bake your own or purchase a kit…making a gingerbread house is a lovely way to bring the family together for a night of merriment! (a little mess making too…but it’s not the holiday without some sprinkles on the floor!) Gather up a selection of candies and tie on the aprons…it’s time to craft a home
The holiday season is a perfect time to add festive touches all around the house! Unfortunately, what you put up must eventually come down! But put that thought out of your mind…there’s some cheerful alternatives that can dress up your home without the stress of too much work afterward. The kitchen is a perfect example…and one of my favorite rooms during Christmas! It smells so good from all the holiday baking and seems to be where everyone gathers…so why not add to the festivity with some easy decorations just right for the room! A hutch–that came from my son’s room after he out-grew its creative storage for tiny clothing & stuffed animals–made its way back to the kitchen where it now holds baking supplies & snacks (and many other things in a room without much storage!). Why not dress it up for the holidays with nothing more than items that will get used up throughout the season? Containers hold lunch snacks, holiday treats, and supplies all in Christmas colors…an easy way to decorate without extra fuss! Nothing to pack up later…once the decor is eaten or used up the hutch goes back to normal! Go ahead and dress your kitchen cabinets, shelves, or counters with usable decor…no clean up required!
Tther’s something about plaid…it’s such a familiar Christmas pattern that has stood the test of time! Just the sight of it evokes thoughts of holiday cheer, coziness, traditional elegance and charm! I’ve had a soft spot for plaid for as long as I can remember…and though I experiment with my holiday decor from year to year I keep coming back to tartan to deck my halls for the season! Unfortunately, it can be difficult to find wide varieties of plaid ribbon in the stores…but it’s plentiful online where you can locate shops that have multiple designs of true tartan patterns to suit just about any color scheme! The great thing about plaid…a little goes a long way! Take a peek at some simple Christmas displays with
With cold weather upon us it seems fitting to break out the hot cocoa to warm hearts, tummies, and frozen fingers as they hug the toasty mugs filled with fudgy goodness! (is “fudgy” a word?) So many varieties of the chocolate treat are available in stores and coffee shops…and you can simply melt the real stuff in hot milk for a decadent indulgence! A deserved reward for shoveling the walk, building the best-ever snowman, or a hard day of chilly play…whatever the reason hot cocoa is a winter tradition and delight–an easy way to bring smiles to the faces of those you love! Grab some favorite containers and fill them with the makings for this sweet, warm treat…have a cocoa station at the ready for anytime guests arrive or kids come in from the cold! This year a bar cart holds all the mugs & fixins…but a space on the counter will always do and looks so festive during the holiday season! A treat that will be well received all winter long–so celebrate hot cocoa…