Carving a Friendly Pumpkin

Last night we carved our big pumpkin into a jack-o-lantern, or should I say bat-o-lantern, since the pattern we chose was a bat. This was the first time that we have actually carved a pumpkin in five years. Previously, our kids were too young to appreciate the activity. Well, one is still too young, but he went to sleep early, anyway. Although we have no problem with Halloween, we do concentrate on the friendly and not scary aspects of the celebration. After all, it does have some Christian influences, believe it or not. The Christians, wanting to convert pagans and … Continue reading →

Easy Cornucopias

Believe it or not, it is time to start thinking about Thanksgiving. I’ve been inspired by Sherry’s recent blogs about Thanksgiving and can’t wait to see what great ideas she has for us. As for me, I’m still firmly entrenched in fall minus the holidays, but there is that nagging little feeling that, yes, I need to start planning. The thought of a menu and a guest list is a little overwhelming for me at the moment, so I thought I would start small. I like the idea of cornucopias on the table. They can remind us of how very … Continue reading →

The Autumn Table: Pretty Plates

Fall is one of my favorite times of year, and so I have really been enjoying the Home Blog and all of the fun fall stuff that we can write about, especially when it comes to decorating and the Autumn Table. I have been picking up a lot of great tips from Sherry, such as the one where she explains, “What is a Tablescape?” And you may recall an article I wrote about choosing one of three designs in 3 Natural Autumn Centerpieces. I still don’t know which one to choose, so please leave a comment and help me out. … Continue reading →

3 Fun Fall Leaf Wreaths

Here are three cute ideas to create a fun Fall wreath to decorate a door this season. I got the idea for these fun fall wreaths while visiting my local Michaels craft store. On display was a complete kit for a Martha Stewart fall leaf wreath, complete with all of the basic materials that were needed. This looks like a very easy-to-use kit with all pre-assembled pieces,and I was immediately attracted to the design and the look of the materials. You can purchase the kit at Michaels, of course (Look for the 40% off coupons that are usually carried in … Continue reading →

3 Natural Autumn Centerpieces

Want to create beautiful Autumn centerpieces for your home using natural materials? Here are three different ideas you can use. Help me pick the one that will grace my table. I have to admit that I was really inspired by Sherry’s post, Fall Decorating: Outdoor Décor. In the last section on Autumn accessories, she talks about using natural materials to create outdoor decorations. That got me thinking about decorating indoors. Specifically, I’ve been thinking about centerpieces, lately. We’ll probably host Thanksgiving this year, so I want to make sure that our table looks beautiful. Yes, Thanksgiving is a bit of … Continue reading →

Home Decorating: Get Ready for Easter!

Easter is coming soon. Are you having company? Even if you aren’t entertaining guests for the holiday, you may want to add a few festive touches around the house. I love centerpieces. They are great for holiday decorating. You can whip up something cute in just a few minutes, for very little cost, and it makes a great impact. Being at the center of attention (or at least the center of the table) does make a difference but the impact is also due to the creativity involved. Use your imagination and when possible, use stuff you already have around the … Continue reading →

Last Minute Decorating Ideas for Valentine’s Day

It only takes a few moments to change the mood of any room. So, even if tomorrow’s date sneaked up on you and you still have things to do to get ready, you can squeeze in a few simple, last minute touches to help make any space say Happy Valentine’s Day. Heart Placemats Michele had some cute ideas for decorating and for heart-shaped food, so what better way to serve such items than on Valentines themed plates atop heart-shaped placemats? You’ll need twelve hearts for each placemat. Cut them about 6” high by 6” wide. You can use fabric, lace … Continue reading →

Spending Valentine’s Day At HOME

If you have a spouse who is employed as a truck driver, traveling salesperson, active duty military personnel, firefighter, flight attendant, or pilot then you may find yourself spending Valentine’s Day at home without a date. If you are lucky, you may be spending it at home with extended family or close friends. If you are like me, you will be spending it with your favorite 2-year-old. My daughter and I are each other’s dates this year… and we are already preparing for the big day. As you “Blues Clues” fans well know–“It’s love, love, love day” and my toddler … Continue reading →

Valentine’s Day for the Whole Family

While you may have plans to do something special with or for your spouse on Valentine’s Day, it can also be an event celebrated by the entire family. Your home can become a Valentine’s Day wonderland with just a few quick, special touches. Balloons I love balloons. They are festive and make great decorations for any occasion. Even just a few plain red balloons will change the mood, although you can find a great assortment of styles and colors especially for Valentine’s Day. Streamers You don’t have to reserve streamers for birthday parties. They add color and fun to any … Continue reading →

Decorating Your Home For Kwanzaa

In my previous blog I discussed the holiday of Kwanzaa. We are now just a week away from the start of the seven-day festival, which focuses on heritage, family and community. Kwanzaa is a cultural holiday, not a religious one and is meant to serve as an inspiration to African-American families and the community. And while the celebration begins on December 26th and ends January 1st, neither the observance nor the decorations should be combined with Christmas, Hanukkah or the New Year. People celebrating Kwanzaa deck their homes in black, red and green. That color scheme is carried throughout the … Continue reading →