Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Spring Decorating Ideas


Spring Decorating Ideas



Spring is a wonderful time of year - a time of renewal. It is in the Spring when people across the country begin shaking off the final dregs of winter, opening their windows, and hanging clothes on the lines to dry. It is also the time of year that most people associate with cleaning; however, few people associate Spring with home decorating. Interestingly, there are very few times of year when it is more appropriate to decorate your home. Let's face it, for most of us, this is one of the few times of year that we are actually happy about cleaning.



Most likely, during the summer months we clean because the kids (young and old alike) are constantly tracking dirt, mud, grass, and goodness knows what else into the house. Cleaning in these days tends to be a chore and yet we still manage to bring out the patriotic colors and celebrate America in style for July 4th. Goodness knows how we find the time with all the extra cleaning and nearly double amounts of lemonade and iced tea being consumed daily. Still we manage to decorate for the summer holidays and take great joy in doing so as if some right of passage has been achieved by our home decorating efforts.




During the Thanksgiving and Winter months we clean house because we just have no other choice. Friends and family will be visiting and they expect our homes to be well decorated and clean for the holidays. This I must tell you is quite an accomplishment with the rush of the holidays and yet somehow we manage to muster up some Christmas cheer when others are around while playing Mr. Scrooge when it comes to running the mop and the broom around our rooms.




Spring is the one season of the year in which our cleaning efforts are nothing short of inspired. Yet it is also the spring that often eludes us when it comes to inspiration for decorating our homes. Perhaps we are over tired from all of our cleaning efforts to seek the inspiration to decorate. If this is the case with you, then my hope is that some of the ideas mentioned below will help bring some serious decoration inspiration your way:







  1. Flowers. Spring is the time when flowers start blooming. Flowers are all around us. You can use fresh cut flowers and candles to create beautiful arrangement and centerpieces throughout your home. Find beautiful colored vases to use in all of your rooms.



  2. Candles. While briefly mentioned above candles deserve their own spot among the top five decorating ideas, to say the least. Candles and small oil lamps can be soothing, relaxing, invigorating, inspiring, beautiful, elegant, and simply smell good. Candles are great no matter what time of the year it is however, if you select candles in bright spring colors and fragrances you might be amazed at exactly how uplifting these candles can be.



  3. Linens. Use towels and other linens to brighten up your spaces. In your kitchen and your bathrooms use bright, bold colors that signify spring, birth, and renewal. These little touches can make a huge difference in not only your attitude about cleaning and decorating but also your attitude about cooking.



  4. Fragrance. Although most people do not realize it, the fragrances we use around our homes is a type of decoration. It makes our noses happy to some degree but also the potpourri and candles are often beautiful decorations in and of themselves. Put out bowls filled with brightly colored and lightly scented fragrance balls, dried fruit, and other delights. Gourmet potpourri can be found in all kinds of gift and fragrance shops and is a rather inexpensive way to add a fragrant touch to your home decorating as well as the fragrance of your home.



  5. Fruit. Place bowls throughout your home filled with fresh fragrant fruit. Not only does this add yet another layer of fragrance to your home but it is also visually appealing and edible. There are three checks in the 'pro' column for this simple decorative step and I have yet to find one in the 'con' column unless you consider the fact that it must be eaten before it gets too ripe.



For those needing springtime home decorating ideas and inspiration I hope this has helped. If you haven't found some outstanding suggestions above I at least hope that you will have been inspired to find your own fabulous finds for spring decorating.




Tuesday, March 18, 2008

A Japanese Nomikai

Asian, Birthday, Private Party, japanesse girlHappy Birthday
Japanese Girl

A Japanese themed party was the perfect excuse for this birthday girl to wear a kimono, a gift given to her by her twin brother after returning from a trip to Japan.


Asian, Birthday, Private PartyThe main concept was to surround the space with colorful lanterns and painted parasols to evoke an Asian feel. Guests complemented the party by wearing Asian inspired outfits distinguished by shiny robes and bold colored prints.

Asian, Birthday, Private Party
We created a beautiful round arrangement of green cymbidium orchids which sat atop a bamboo mat, in a low, glass vase encircled by smooth, gray stones and green banana leaves, adding a decorative element to the buffet table.


Asian, Birthday, Private PartyParasols adorned different corners of the event space. Small, brightly painted parasols surrounded the fortune cookie favors which were all placed inside small, white take-out boxes whose tops where affixed with Japanese coins for good luck.

Asian, Birthday, Private Party
Asian, Birthday, Private Party

Sunday, March 2, 2008

Gifts for your bridesmaids

Thanking your bridesmaids for their support, encouragement, and help before the wedding and during the ceremony and reception is a welcome part of the bride's responsibility. There are lots of ways you can do that from the tried and true necklaces, bracelets, and photo frames holding a photo of who else - you and your groom. But why not try something a little different?

Put together a basket of bath supplies such as bubble bath, bath oil, luxurious soaps, lotions and creams. Include a gift certificate for a massage or manicure.

A night out is always welcome. Obtain certificates from local restaurants, movie theaters, fast food franchises, or Chinese take out place and movie rentals. Wrap each certificate in a cellophane bag tied with a pretty bow and place all the bags in a gift box.

Looking for something really different and a gift that your bridesmaids will use nearly every day? Consider a replica handbag. High quality look alikes are very difficult to tell from the real thing. Provide a different replica for each bridesmaid or give each one the same handbag. Match their handbag to their bridesmaid dress.

After all the running around a pedicure would be welcomed. Set up a pre wedding pedi-party at your favorite spa. Some spas will serve wine and light snacks as party of the festivities or ask to bring your own.

Dee
 

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