[in five]: Favorite Easter Ideas

Don't worry…you do have a little more time before Easter, but I just wanted to give you plenty of time to prepare. I'm not going to lie: these are all adorable.  I mean really, that bunny cake (that I am pretty sure I won't be attempting); the bunny tails (more my speed); the place setting (adorbs); the Easter tablescape (you know I can't resist sticks); and the bunny tail drink stirrers (perfect for stirring my Crystal Light and Sprite); they are all super cute. If you are hosting Easter dinner, you need these things in your life.  This year, my family is going to Texas. I'm super excited to go visit my favorite sister, but I'll be honest, I'm not excited to drive there. And back. For fourteen hours. Each way.  She better have a coconut bunny cake waiting for me there.

image from Jenny Steffens

image from eighteen25 via The Idea Room

image from Matthew Mead via Miss Mustard Seed

image from Centsational Girl

image from Pizzazzerie

[in five]: Thanksgiving Place Settings

Are you hosting Thanksgiving on Thursday? I'm not, but I'll sure be stuffing my face with complex carbohydrates at my in-laws' house. The rolls are my favorite part about Thanksgiving…the turkey and pies? Meh. Anyway, nothing adds a great finishing touch like a personalized place setting. Here are some that are simple and chic.  Which one is your fave?

image from Classic Casual Home

image from Country Living

image from Julie Song Ink

image from Life is a Dance

image from Martha Stewart

Dressing Your House for Fall via Living Savvy

In case you missed my tips for dressing your house for fall, here they are. Check out the rest of Tiffany's series over at Living Savvy -- lots of great bloggers, lots of great tips, and lots of fall goodness.

one | Bring elements of the outside in. I love implementing nature into my decor, and fall provides tons of (free) resources. Try using leaves, pinecones, pumpkins, or branches into your home decor or table settings.  

two | Personalize items to add sophistication and a sense of individuality. I love a good monogram or a personalized place card any time of year!

three | Add layers. Layers provide personality and warmth to a space (or table setting in this case).  Layers are a good way to add color, texture, and character.

four | Light some candles. Candlelight not only adds dramatic lighting, but also makes a space feel intimate and warm. 

five | Don't be afraid of color.  Any color. Don't feel like you have to stick to a certain color palette for fall or the holidays. 

Guest Blogger at Living Savvy

Today I'm over at Living Savvy participating in Tiffany's series, "Dressing Your Home for Fall." Click on over and check out my easy fall tablescape and tips for fall decorating.

Tablescapes...Some day

These. These are what I would like my table to look like when I have dinner guests. I love to entertain, and someday, maybe I'll splurge on fresh flowers, and great chandies (or marshmallows), and well, a table that seats more than four. Oh, and maybe I'll actually invite people other than the missionaries (who will eat anything) over to my house for dinner parties. Yes, someday you'll be invited to a dinner party. Just let me know what meal you'll be bringing, so I can decorate accordingly...unless you want cold cereal. Or the marshmallows hanging from the ceiling.  I can do pretty, but I can't always do yummy. Trust me. You don't want my food.

image from Wednesday Custom Designs

image from Dreamy Whites

image from Kohler Jones

Tablescapes & Toddler Games: As Random as it Sounds

During nap time today, I decided to clean out some files on my computer. Of course I should be spending my time doing such a thing.  It's not like I'm moving in three months and should be doing something productive. Actually, I'm moving in LESS than three months--79 days to be exact. (I'm surprisingly calm...weird.) Anywho, I came across these super cute (and cheap)ideas and thought I'd share, because we like to share around here. Unless it's chocolate. I like to hide that.

image from Full House

image from We Heart It

image from Frugal Family Fun

image from Inchmark

All About the Food (And the Table, Of Course)

What are your Christmas food traditions? We don't really have any besides to eat a lot of it. Perhaps we should come up with something better than that. Perhaps not, because eating yummy food is pretty awesome. And here's an even more important question: Why am I just learning about H&M Home? And why do I have to live in the UK to partake of its goodness. So not fair. Whatever, Christmas is in one week. ONE WEEK!!

image from Beech Tree Photography 

image from H&M Home

image from Vintage House

Pottery Barn Tablescapes

I love these Thanksgiving tablescapes by Pottery Barn. Don't you just wish you lived in these rooms? They are so beautiful. The people who live in these spaces obviously don't eat Thanksgiving dinner, but I'm sure they have some good conversations sitting at the festively decorated tables discussing their lovely view of the mountains. A little unconventional, but, really, who wants to do dishes, anyway? 

Images from Pottery Barn

Fall Faves

Ummm, how did it become September, let alone September 24th? What the what? I love the fall! I love having windows open and enjoying the crisp weather. I love the colorful leaves. I love wearing layers and being a little bit chilly. And, speaking of chili, I like that, too. And soup. Here are some of my other fall faves...what are yours?

Cute little Cookie Monsters - tutorial here

Spooky Tablescapes - image from Urban Comfort

Fall activities with the fam - pumpkins, hayrides, and picking apples

Funky pumpkins...love funky pumpkins - image from Faith, Trust, & Pixie Dust

[so cheap, so easy]: Mason & Epsom Votives

I have been loving this project for quite some time.  I can't believe that A) I forgot to post it, and 2) that I haven't made it myself. It's never too late, that's what I say. Plus, I have GOT to get my hands on some Epsom salt.  There are lots of great projects just waiting for that magic, salty sparkle to be applied!  You can find the full tutorial and other fabulous projects at The Inspired Room. 

image from The Inspired Room

[color kreyv]: White Christmas

I love all of these beautiful, white Christmas decorations; I love the movie White Christmas that two of my best besties Joan and Haley introduced to me by singing the sister song all day at work even if it wasn't December; and I love seeing snow in the Utah mountains. BUT, I'll be perfectly honest:  I don't like snow on the ground, and I'm not at all disappointed that we won't be having a white Christmas here in St. Louis. Not. One. Single. Bit. Living in Wisconsin for five years will give you all of the white Christmases (New Years, Valentines, St. Patrick Days, Easters, and sometimes even Mother's Days) that you'll ever want (and more). So, just so we're straight, if I ever say I'm dreaming of a white Christmas, I'm most likely talking about decor. 

image from Eastern Accents Holiday

image from Fashion in My Eyes

image from Home Re-Design Kaleidoscope

image from Squidoo

Just Call Me Nature Girl

Since I forgot to post pictures of our Thanksgiving tablescape, here they are. I  gathered the leaves from our front yard and strategically placed them on the table. When we sat down to eat, Jeremy said, "Ok, can we get rid of the leaves, now?" I gave him "the look," and he carefully placed every single one of them back where they belonged.  The woman look comes in handy sometimes.

On Monday, Jeremy, Stella, and I went and gathered sticks for the Christmas tablescape.  My cute husband had no idea what I had in mind and brought some type of power saw.  Don't get me wrong, I might need that sometime, but I opted for the smaller, lighter branches this time.  Poor Jeremy, he never knows what decorating shenanigans I will throw at him next. I'm so lucky that he plays along with me...even if he is rolling his eyes along the way!

Tags by Sass & Peril

[color kreyv]: Red & White

Last day of November today...do you have your Christmas decorations up?  If not, here are some pictures that will get you in the Christmas spirit.  Don't you just wish you could paint your walls red for the month of December? Yeah.  Probably not a good idea.  I'm not even going to mention that one out loud.  I can tell you right now that the hubs would not even think that was one bit funny.  Not even a little bit.  Maybe I'll go for a red couch instead.

image from Christmas Decoration Ideas

image from Carimpreza

image from House to Home

Oh Yeah...Thanksgiving

I think someone forgot to tell me that Thanksgiving is next week. NEXT WEEK! Wow. How did that happen? Man, I was really hoping to savor the month of November--reflect, reminisce, you know, all that good stuff. Life just gets away from me sometimes. Good thing it's not too late, but I should really start thinking about a grocery list for Thanksgiving.

Now for a bit of reflection. November is such a wonderful month to remind us to give thanks for all of our blessings that we have been given. I, for one, am one of the luckiest people I know. I have SO many things to be grateful for. About two years ago, one of our greatest blessings came into our life. Read about our our adoption story here. And lucky for me, my list of blessings just goes on and on...

image from Brown Paper Packages

image from Martha Stewart

image from Midwest Living

image from Jenny Steffens Hobick