Halloween doesn’t always need to be black, orange and white…why not include other colors that compliment your home? In this case, a little gold was just right for the holiday decor in my work room! Since I spend a lot of time in this room I wanted to add Halloween decor but still keep it fairly neutral…we also do lots of Giggle work in here so it needed to stay whimsical & fun! These are some simple ways to add festive touches to any room…
St. Patrick’s Day is a fun holiday for whimsy! It is also a perfect excuse to have a party! Whether is it a blowout bash for adults or a gathering for kids, you can never go wrong with touches of green to add the Luck ‘O the Irish to your event! Though this “party” was really a simple play-date for kids, the ideas can be altered easily to incorporate a more adult nature. (especially where beverages are concerned!) Either way, a little green goes a long way in making even a simple gathering of little leprechauns seem extra special…
holiday charms sprinkled on a tray add spirit (& they’re darn cute too)…
a simple way to add color to your beverages…
lots of easy treats and modest decorations make this play date a holiday hit…
everything in containers make things (almost) mess free…
“wow” doesn’t always mean “expensive”
hope your weekend is filled with some Irish luck
&
a pot of gold at the end or your rainbow…
A staple for holiday decorating–ribbon! Affordable and practical, it never ceases to amaze me how a single strand of ribbon can transform the simplest thing into a delight! Whether you are traditional, contemporary, romantic or something in between, there is a ribbon out there for you! Choose your favorites and have at it! Once you get started I promise you it will be hard to quit! My latest color infatuation in my home is green–ribbon allows me to transform my colors without blowing my budget on all new decorations. So, I guess you could say that ribbon is a pretty remarkable item! Here, green, grey and silver strands twisted from stocking to stocking add a striking punch of color to an otherwise serene mantelpiece. Tiny trees standing tall on a dessert stand bring a touch of color to the top and silver initial tags add a glittery touch. Such simplicity but such an impact!
The same green ribbon tied around a slipcovered chair successfully pulls the color in to an adjacent room and the bird ornament with a bountiful ribbon tail looks so festive perched upon an urn filled with vintage tinsel. The simple bow attached to a lamp gives an ordinary item some holiday flare! So what are you waiting for? Go get some ribbon and let the festivities begin!
It is finally December! I believe it is safe to now say that the official holiday countdown is underway…At Giggle, we are preparing so far in advance of the season that it is sometimes hard for us to realize that for most, Christmas isn’t in full swing until the calendar reads Dec. 1! Well, here we go…decorating, shopping, cooking, eating, light gazing, celebrating and gathering together. We hope you enjoy it all! Why not get your family excited about the countdown with an advent? Whether you choose to create an advent gift calendar or just a simple representation of the days leading to Christmas Eve., an advent is a sure way to have fun watching the days go by with much anticipation! In Sarah’s home and mine, it is hard to find a holiday without a countdown advent hanging on one of our magnet boards. Simple to do, you can create one for your own holiday enjoyment and display it where ever it works for you. Try attaching tags with glittered number stickers to a large piece of felt or wrapping paper and place it in an old frame, burlap always looks nice and simple, and you could even try hanging cute tags from a chandelier or banister rail–anything to display this holiday tradition that is magical to kids and adults alike!
With the hustle and bustle of the holidays underway we get so busy that we often forget those little things that get our mornings off to a great start. Whether you are hosting house guests or just making a morning special for your family, this idea of a “cereal bar” was one I thought worthy of sharing. A simple way to present an ordinary thing in an extraordinary way, this display of easy serve breakfast food is foolproof! By filling any kitchen containers with your favorite cereals and toppings you are sure to send your family off to work or school with full bellies. Kids can easily help themselves and the nonperishable items can sit out if everyone is eating at different times of the morning. The milk containers have plastic lids so while they look adorable on the breakfast display they look just as cute in the fridge! The shape of the container actually makes it easier for little hands to hold as well. I found these at a local grocery store but I think you can also purchase them a Target (a great excuse to go looking!) An additional way to make everything look special is a Giggle favorite–labeling! This time a vintage, child’s chalkboard was used to display the menu but you could, of course, use any label or place card to title your items. So if your morning breakfast routine is in a rut–give this idea a try. Cereal in a whimsical way just might get your family off to the start of a great day!
Thanksgivings celebrations usually include the “kids’ table”…but as they get a bit older the idea of being separated from the grown-ups isn’t always as appealing. However, logistics still takes precedence and the kids’ table is usually a space saving necessity. That said, you can separate the children but still make their space feel just as important as the grand display the adults get to enjoy! Here are a couple ideas for special touches that can be easily added. Fun plates topped with a favor are sure to please a guest of any age. Small cardboard boxes lined with parchment have over-sized gummy candy corns tucked down inside. A simple initial sticker is an easy way for each child to locate their seat. A water glass holding a napkin or two is donned with an orange straw–nothing hard or spectacular but it sure looks cute–and what kid doesn’t like drinking out of a straw? Maybe the adults will trickle over to the kids’ table this year!
It is hard to believe that Thanksgiving is only 4 days away! Every year the time goes faster and faster making it difficult to take the opportunity to prepare and enjoy the festivities. Over the next couple of days I would like to share with you some ideas for your Holiday table…remembering that the season is for gathering together and being thankful! Table décor does not need to stress us out and spoil the good cheer–a few simple touches can offer such pleasure without a lot of fussing. Here, brown craft paper is a great alternative to a table cloth or runner. I’m sure you have seen this done many times before but I can’t stress enough what a joy it is to rip it off the table and throw it away after dinner–no laundry required! Paper doesn’t need to be exclusively at the kid’s table, pair it with your china and some flowers and you have instant glam! I love the look of simple or utilitarian mixed with elegant–it always presents something unique! Strips of bark laid through the center of the table brings in the outdoors and is topped off with a line up of candles and small juice glasses filled with flowers. If you don’t have access to bark (and I wouldn’t advise stripping it off your trees!) you could use moss or burlap ribbon to lay down the center. Let your imagination go! Other easy ideas include brown paper leaf tags to stand in for wine charms (I found these at Target in the $1 bins) and super simple (and useful later) brown paper sandwich sacks to hold the napkin and silverware. I also happen to be using paper napkins–they are disposable and can always be easily spruced up! Not that I have anything against cloth linens–especially for special occasions–but never think you can’t make disposable look good!
Even though I previously mentioned that Halloween is not all about craft paper and google eyes–if you have kids it is a staple in holiday decorating. This is such a fun time for getting crafty no matter your age! Why not spruce up your children’s creative space with super simple Halloween containers to hold their supplies. It doesn’t need to be fancy to make the space dressed up for the season. Here, cute trick-or-treat buckets hold pens, scissors and glue but you could also use little cauldrons or any containers adorned in Halloween colors. When you are decorating with kids it is all about the fun of transforming a little space into something special and the ability to do so. By finding projects that are easy to do they will enjoy the excitement and sense of accomplishment that decorating can bring! Here are couple more simple ideas for kids and adults alike… Creating a paper banner is an easy project that looks as cute as it is simple. Placed around the house wherever you prefer is a great way to highlight the holiday without re-arranging your entire space! And if crafting is just not your thing or takes too much time, you can simply purchase die cut shapes at most craft stores. These cardboard mice from Martha Stewart Crafts at Michaels have been around awhile but they are still adorable set in the corners of these frames leading up a stairway. Easy and quick for a pleasing Halloween display. So whether you are 3, 13 or 33 and counting…you can always find simple ways to make your spaces special for the holiday!
This morning when I woke up it felt more like mid December than early October! The first frost always gets us ready to snuggle by the fire and hunker down for the winter–why not start with a toasty cup of cocoa! Most of us associate hot chocolate with tailgating and Christmas but how about dressing it up for Halloween? A simple treat can always be spruced up with seasonal toppings that you may already have in your cupboard or in a candy jar. How about this idea for an after school treat that is just a fun to create as it is to consume!
If there is one area of decorating in my house that always stumps me it is my fireplace mantle! I have learned over time that the best way to tackle it is to just go for it–especially at Halloween. Halloween decorating never has to be perfect–in fact, the less perfect it is, the better the outcome! This holds true with the mantle–no pulling your hair out–just gather some of your favorite holiday items and start playing. I came across this frame that just so happened to be ideal for my holiday mantle! It was lucky that the photo was in such good condition but even far from perfect would be proper for Halloween. A couple of empty frames or mirrors stacked crookedly would also be just as fitting! So, a spooky photo flanked by some candlesticks, gourds, crows and presto!–a bewitching display! (That didn’t break the bank–added bonus!) Halloween is a perfect opportunity to experiment with your decor. Always make use of the thrift shops for this season–you never know what kind of crazy items you might find! One person’s trash could complete your ultimate display…
