Category: Celebrate

Spring Inspired…

March 7
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One of the things I love most is impromptu gatherings!  It seems like as the kids grow it actually gets harder and harder to spend time with people we love…so when a spur-of-the-moment get together actually works for everyone involved–it feels like a great accomplishment!  It seems as though the phrase “we should get together soon” is said WAY too often to WAY too many of our friends.  No fault of anyone…it just happens to be the way of life right now for so many of us juggling busy schedules!  But this weekend was fabulously different when a last minute suggestion turned into an actuality!  We spent a casual evening of catching up with friends on all the goings on of family, work, school and everything else we could remember to talk about!  And the great thing about this kind of gathering was that everyone brought food or beverage making it simple for all!  AND not only was I lucky to be able to see my friends but to have them in our home…allowing me to throw together some last-minute decorations which you know I love to do!  I’ve been wishing for springtime for several weeks now…and even though it was snowing that day, I decided to go for an Easter inspired theme!  I had also been working on some holiday crafts recently…so I decided to use some of those whimsical creations on my appetizer table!  I love to share how easy it is to scour the house for things that can make a fabulous display without spending a penny…or maybe only a few pennies!  But the point is that many times you can come up with plenty of goodies to make a pretty appetizer table…even if it is at the last-minute!  Let me share with you how I dressed up the tabletop

on my springtime buffet…

Shot Through the Heart!

February 10
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While wandering around in Target…(I swear you can get as much inspiration there as you can by scrolling through Pinterest boards!)…I stumbled upon these adorable Arrow & Heart Kits for kids to to craft with.  They consisted of simplistic foam shapes, intended for small hands, but I LOVED the idea!  And after purchasing some of the sweetest paper hearts at one of my other favorite places (Alice-Louise Press), I knew right then exactly what I was going to do with them!  Have a look at these fun and whimsical arrows, shot through the pretty paper hearts that will crown some dinner plates for a Valentine’s Day Meal!

DIY holiday place cards…

Monkey Around!

February 8
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Today is officially the beginning of the Chinese New Year…the year of the Monkey!  If you’re feeling festive, it really is easy to pull off a quick party theme…especially since you can order takeout from your local Chinese restaurant and add thematic touches with store-bought items like fortune cookies and chopsticks!  So we pulled off a fun celebration with several family friends over the weekend…a semi-new tradition started by my youngest son a couple years ago!  I’d like to share some of the simple ideas for a Chinese New Year or even a casual, Chinese takeout dinner party…it’s easy to make a simple meal simply festive!

2016…the year of the monkey!

Gettin’ Ready to Monkey Around!

February 5
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Life seems to throw tons at us all at the same time!  The next few days are about as packed full of celebrations as you can get…Super Bowl Sunday is followed by the Chinese New Year on Monday followed again by Mardi Gras on Tuesday!  Not to mention that Valentine’s Day is right on the heels of all those potential parties!  I think it’s fair to say there’s NO way I can pull multiple celebrations from my sleeve…so now it’s just which one to choose?  For my family, the Super Bowl is out of the question since it happens to be on a school night!  And even though we don’t have guests, we still fix up a big platter of spicy wings and stay up to watch the game…or most of it anyway!  So out of the remaining two,  we decided to celebrate the Chinese New Year…and will be doing so a couple days early so we can have our holiday fun over the weekend!  It seemed natural to pick this celebration since our oldest just took a school trip to China this past summer…and bonus, he brought back some fun souvenirs we can decorate with!  Monday will be the beginning of the Chinese New Year and according to the 12-year Chinese animal zodiac, it’s the year of the monkey!  And even though this animal year is considered to be the most unlucky, there will be plenty of good fortune abounding around here!  As I prepare for our weekend fun, I’ll share a sneak peek at what’s to come…you’ll have to wait ’til Monday for the rest!

a new year celebration in the works…

DIY Poms…

January 11
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So I promised to show the EASY step-by-step instructions for tissue poms!  It really is such a simple thing to do, and when you make them yourself you’ll save a load of money!  The great thing about poms is that they look so festive and can make any occasion look extra special…even everyday celebrations can feel like a party when you hang a cluster of poms!  And since they cost so little to create you can make plenty for ANY area of your home!  I sometimes even hang them outside on my covered patio…if they get a little tattered from the elements I can just toss them out and make new!  Take a look at these simple instructions…even minor mishaps can be covered up with ease!  Grab your favorite tissue colors and patters and…

get your festive on with poms…

White Elephant Fun!

December 21
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I know I’ve mentioned Breakfast Club in the past…a morning every other week where moms (who no longer have little ones at home all day any more) meet for some coffee, nibbles, and always good company!  Right after school drop-off the host opens her doors for all to stop by for a quick cup of joe or to linger into the late morning!  It’s really a lot of fun and a great way to catch up with old friends AND meet some new ones!  I decided to volunteer to host the last gathering before Christmas break…and lucky for me it just happened to be the annual White Elephant Gift Exchange!  And even better–one of my friends offered to co-host it with me!  Needless to say, I had SO much fun preparing for this final Breakfast Club of the year!  And when the morning arrived it was filled with plenty of laughter and joy–a fabulous way to start the festivities of the holiday!

jolly, holiday fun!

Candy Creation!

December 2
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I love DIY projects…especially when they involve candy!  Today I want to share an adorable craft that the whole family can take part in…and if you wish, actually eat afterward!  I can’t take credit for the idea…this was something that my mom and I discovered while rummaging through the endless yard sales this past summer.  I don’t even know who to give credit since this sweet little creation was purchased from one of the many, many vendors along the Ohio stretch of Highway 127!  But it’s adorable, creative, fun, and would be a tasty treat to top any gift or just give as a favor for all the younger humans in your life!  And even though my boys might have outgrown the excitement of receiving this treat, they’ll still have fun making them to hand out to all the littler kiddos who visit our home this holiday season!  Take a peek and…

get creative with candy!

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…

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…

Holiday Sips & Spirits!

October 21
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I don’t really know much about stocking a bar cart…but ever since I found mine at a garage sale I love keeping it ready for cocktails, hot cocoa, summer refreshers–and even sweets!  Mine most likely doesn’t follow bar-cart etiquette…but I love to use it to display my glasses and decanters along with a few libation accessories!  If we have guests coming, I can roll it where we need it and add whatever drinks we decide to serve.  Until we have company, it’s fun to use seasonal touches to perk it up while it serves as storage for some of my barware and paper products.  If you don’t have a traditional bar cart, not to worry…you can make a “sips” station just about anywhere!  A small dresser, kitchen cart, side table…whatever goes!  Even a tray works double duty for serving up some liquid refreshments…and is even easier to transport!  A few holiday additions to whatever you choose and you have the perfect spot for sips & spirits!  See some simple ways to dress up your drink station!

add some “spooky” to your sips…