Spring In My Step

via 1, 2,3,4

Spring is a time for growth and renewal. This year has been very much about growth and renewal for me. It seems I woke up one day to realize my life became completely out of balance. I am correcting that with a lot of  mindful reflection, learning to balance caring for myself and others, creating meaningful work and play, developing fearlessness to take risks, and figuring out how to honor personal freedom and experience deeper relationships.

One of my favorite quotes is from the Disney movie, Mulan.  The quote is, "The most beautiful flower of all is the one that blooms in adversity."  How very true.

Giveaway: Atlanta Bartlett design book, winner's choice

Fashion Meets Decor

BCBG has the most gorgeous lookbooks!  I love the glamorous and seductive feel these images evoke.
 If only I could dine by candlelight at that gorgeous table amongst friends.  The lights, the candles... all that's needed is Carla Bruni's lovely voice in the background, {even music sounds better in French}!!
So do tell... what is your favorite background music for creating ambiance?

Wishing you all a most wonderful weekend. xoxo
photo credits:  clothing: bcbg, interiors: 1) pom pom interiors, 2) this is glamourous, 3) abigail ahern

One Crafty Fox Slumber Party ~ You're Invited!

Diana of One Crafty Fox is such a creative blogger

She is having a virtual slumber party and we are all

invited!  You can visit her blog if you want to link up

and join in all of the fun!

I will be wearing lounge wear from Anthropologie and will bring

along the Black Tea Facial Mask by Fresh so we can hydrate our

skin while trading beauty secrets

I will also be bring a hot spinach artichoke dip ~ we'll

work it off later dancing to our favorite tunes!

And of course, if nobody minds, I will be bringing along

the boys! (Hey, they like a good party too)!

Photo credits: Interior:  nenaghgal blogspot , clothing: Anthropologie

face mask: Sephora, Spinach dip:  Food Network

Summer Entertaining

marthastewart.com

Thought I would take a break from decorating today and mix it up a bit with some links, ideas and a giveaway related to entertaining...

GIVEAWAY

One of the first blogs I found after discovering blogland was Sandy's blog, Reluctant Entertainer, and I've been a follower since. It's a wonderful, down-to-earth blog about real-life hospitality and entertaining. You'll definitely want to check it out AND enter the giveaway for her new book! (she'll be announcing the winner this Friday, Aug 13)

GREAT PARTY IDEAS, IMAGES AND INSPIRATION BOARDS

Another entertainment blog I love visiting is Chris' blog, Celebrations At Home. She always has such great party inspiration and entertaining ideas!

She even offers a custom party inspiration board service. This cute one below is an example of one that she did for a little girl's birthday party...

DIY IDEAS FROM BHG.COM

Make placemats with fiberboard and damask tissue paper...

OR paint your placemats and runners...

Pattern and instructions for this one here

Dress up your dishes for a party with temporary vinyl cutouts and remove them when the party's over...

You can do the same thing for your runner (and add some cute prisms hung from eyelets)
Make placecard holders from finials...

and placecards from baby bracelet beads...

FOOD

BHG.com's Best Summer Salads

Martha Stewart's Summer Menus


Southern Living's Chilled Summer Pies


Happy entertaining...

{Interiors} Rooms For Conversation

Forget the sofa and love seat! These arrangements

are much more conducive to entertaining and

great conversation! Say no to being seated

awkwardly in the middle of the sofa and yes

to facing all of your guests head on!

Let the conversation begin!

photo credits 1 & 2) Home & Design, 3) House Beautiful

Pom Pom/Ball Fringe

THIS POST IS FROM ROOM REMIX - THE BLOG .

Patricia Gray blog

I've been seeing pom pom or ball fringe around a fair amount lately on everything from home decor to clothing (remember this scarf?) If you're a pom pom/ball fringe fan, this post shows you some ideas for incorporating it into your decor.

If you want to add some texture to your window treatment, how about using ball fringe like they did here? My inclination would have been to add the fringe to the inside edge, so the fact that they embellished the outside edge instead makes it more interesting to me.

Homes and Gardens

If you really like ball fringe, you could make this very textural cornice from BHG.com. Complete tutorial here.

If that's a little much for you, how about just using pom poms on your curtain tieback? Perennials Fabrics

Some of the other places you could add this trim are fairly obvious such as pillows, bedskirts, ottomans, towels, lampshades, etc. but a not-so-obvious idea would be to trim your office shelves.

BHG.com

Domestifluff has a complete tutorial on how to make pom pom flowers to put in a vase...
or to add to your gifts...


Raffia pom pom drink stirrers from marthastewart.com. Tutorial here.


Vivaterra has pom pom throws and pillows...


So does Pier 1...


I realize this is a Christmas project, but knowing me I won't remember that I found it by then so I'm posting it now. The tutorial for this snowball pom pom wreath is at marthatstewart.com...

Have an awesome day!

Memorial Day Is Almost Here

Memorial Day is sneaking up on us.

What will you be doing this year?

I need flags, pronto!! (Oh, and

this lovely house would be the ideal

spot to spend the day)!

I am hoping the unpredictable New England

weather behaves. A cookout

would be the perfect way to spend the day.

Time to start thinking about the menu

How precious are these cupcakes displayed

on a lovely cake stand?!

I'm proud to be an American,

where at least I know I'm free.

And I won't forget the men who

died, who gave that right to me.

~Lee Greenwood~

photos via martha stewart & country living