Christmas Flower Decorations

06 Thursday Dec 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Daisy Hart, Everyday Design, Guest Posts, The Home

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amaryllis, cactus, christmas, christmas tree, cyclamen, daisy hart, decorations, evergreen, holiday, holly, home, ivy, mistletoe, poinsettias, ribbons, sendflowers, tradition

The time for Christmas celebrations are slowly creeping in. What better way to get into the glorious holiday spirit than by decorating? Decorations turn your home into a more joyful one and simply put, makes the home look better.

The choice of decorating materials could be a little difficult, though. Nowadays, the market offers a huge variety of decorating items. Not only that, but you can also get into some DIY projects and make your own decorations. However, nothing works better than having lots of flowers around the house to get you into the Christmas spirit.

Guest Post: Christmas Flower Decorations

It is customary to decorate the interior with flowers and various evergreens. The tradition dates back centuries ago when it was believed that flowers had magical powers. The traditional Christmas flowers are poinsettias, ivy, holly and mistletoe. Equally valued is the Christmas cactus. During the past couple of years, floral arrangements that consist of more ‘unusual’ flowers, such as roses, carnations, etc. have been used as well.

Guest Post: Christmas Flower Decorations

All these floral arrangements and plants are usually woven into garlands, arranged in containers or carried and worn for personal adornment. Christmas flower bouquets include corsages and nosegays.

Guest Post: Christmas Flower Decorations

A very famous and constantly present item in every house is the Christmas wreath. Apart from looking good, it also has a meaning. It is a token of God’s mercy and eternity. When it’s made of evergreen boughs it represents new life and hope and is a symbol of God’s everlasting love. The wreath is the perfect holiday accessory which you can hang at home and at your office. It is most popular as an ornament, hung on the front door as a welcoming sign for all guests. The predominant colors are green and red in order to match the theme of the occasion.

Photo Credit: Pottery Barn

Guest Post: Christmas Flower Decorations

Although there are dozens of options, here are some ideas and tips on how to use flowers in order to create beautiful decoration. Rely on your imagination and experiment in order to create even more:

– Get your florist to create a fun theme. You can ask him/her to use white carnations in order to create snowballs and snowmen.
– Fill the pots in your garden with amaryllis, cyclamen and poinsettias. You can even go as far as to wrap them in festive ribbons and paper.
– If you organize a small Christmas get-together at your place, you can greet all guests at the door by giving them a miniature wreath for them to bring back home and hang wherever they please.
– Flowers can also be used for the purpose of decorating the Christmas tree. You can use either fresh or dried flowers. Both will have an excellent effect on the tree and are way better than the generic plastic and glass toys. You can even fill small vials with fresh (or dried) flowers which are to be hung on the Christmas tree.

Flowers are sure to contribute to a more colorful Christmas by adding a nice touch to your overall decoration. You will be convinced when you see how impressed your guests are.

http://www.sendflowers.org.uk/anniversary-flowers/

Written by Daisy Hart

Pastime Loves

05 Wednesday Dec 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Shopping

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80s, 90s, animals, Anne of Green Gables, Annie, arts, back in the day, bmx, brooklyn, cartoons, children, Christian Slater, christmas, dancing, dolls, eclectic, Gleaming the Cube, growing up, He-man, jem, kids, Liquid Television, Mister Softee, Monchhichis, Pinterest, prince edward island, Puff the Magic Dragon, Ren and Stimpy, she-ra, singing, Smurfs, Strawberry Shortcake, Sylvanian Families, The Legend of Billie Jean, toys

When I think of the good old days, I remember all the toys and games I loved as a kid. Times were different back then. Growing up in the 80s and becoming a teen in the 90s, I can say that stuff back then was so much cooler. Not to mention, designed better. I see all the toys, dolls and games made for kids today and they just don’t compare. Because of this, I promise to share the best with my kids and make sure they know what cool really is.

Because I have so much love for many things in my past, I created a Pinterest board to collect all of these memorable favorites. From toys and dolls to awesome films, I continue to collect the best of the best. Here, I share some of these goodies with you guys and maybe, if you are part of my generation, it will take you back to the good old days too. And since the holidays are knocking at our door, there is no better time than now to share them with your children.

Mister Softee takes me back to Brooklyn, where I as born. I lived there till I was about 5 or so and one thing I remember so well is hearing Mister Softee down the block. It would get me so excited! I would jump up and down and run out to his truck for ice cream. And it always was the same, soft vanilla with rainbow sprinkles. To this day, I still get excited to hear his tune and its still the best ice cream out there. I love you Mister Softee!

As a child, I was always into the arts. Dancing, singing and drawing were major loves and entertaining everyone with my talents was so much fun. It was no surprise I would love Jem. What girl didn’t? She rocked!

The toys and dolls for girls back in the day were so rad. However, I will always have a place in my heart for Strawberry Shortcake. From all the characters to the beautiful little world they all lived in, this was one I couldn’t resist. I hate how the company recreated their look because it just isnt the same. The original is always better.

Oh, how I loved Sylvanian Families. Since I have always adored animals, how can I not want to play with all these wonderful and sweet characters. All kinds of animals were introduced from dogs and cats to bunnies and lambs. I used to have the little log house and various dolls. It was so much fun to play in animals heavan.

Monchhichis! That’s all I have to say about that.

Was there anyone who didn’t like the Smurfs? I had the toys, I watched the cartoon and even ate the cereal. Smurf’s rule!

When my mother got remarried, I moved to Elizabeth, NJ. My father in law had 3 sons so you can imagine how happy I was to have brothers. Although I played with girl toys, I did love the boy toys as well. They always have cool shit! The one thing my brothers and I could play with together was He-Man and She-Ra. I loved this so much. I always thought She-Ra was a bad ass.

The first time I saw Puff the Magic Dragon, I was in love. What a unique and awesome story. I guess it’s no surprise I grew up into a pot head, haha. I will always have love for Puff. I can’t wait to show my kids this film. Just the music alone is incredible.

Oh my God, did I love Annie. I even had the Annie mansion with all the dolls and little details. The movie just made me want to sing more!

As I got older, I appreciated the eclectic, weird and unique. Nothing says this more than Ren and Stimpy. It explored a different dimension of comedy and animation and I loved every minute of it. You can bet I was a big fan of Liquid Television as well.

And how could I forgot about Anne of Green Gables. Anne will always have a place in my heart. I used to watch it with my cousin Diana and we will both never forget sitting in front of the tv watching Anne’s stories unfold. I was so lucky to have visited Prince Edward Island this past October for our honeymoon. I saw everything Anne I could see!

I am sure many people out there loved Christian Slater. Not only did I love him, I bowed down to one of his best films ever, Gleaming the Cube. I was in awe of the art of skating and bmxing after watching it. So much that I even asked for a bmx bike for Christmas that year so I could start practicing my tricks. Well, I still have that wish. It turns out I never got the bike and so didn’t get the chance to be a famous bmx rider. Instead, my mother bought me a Sea Princess bike that was pink and purple with seashells painted all over it, haha. I just couldn’t win.

Another film that really inspired me was The Legend of Billie Jean. I loved how she took a stand and didn’t give up. The story of my teen years for sure.

There are many more things I adore from my past and you can check some of them out on my Pinterest board, which I am always updating with more faves.

Pantry Perfect

04 Tuesday Dec 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Everyday Design, The Home

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design, interior, kitchen, organization tips, organize pantry, pantry, shelves

Having a pantry in your kitchen is such a great thing. It’s just nice to have everything in one place. Even though mine is quite small, I appreciate being able to keep all our food in one area and you can bet its nice and tidy. However, its also one place that can get messy and out of hand.

My husband and I converted a small coat closet to create our pantry. I knew there wouldn’t be enough space in the cabinets so it was a given. Although I always keep it organized, about two to three times a year I take everything out, clean it and reorganize. Since the door was always in the way, we took it off and hung a cute curtain that matched the country feel of our space. Much better.

There are plenty of ways to keep your pantry looking neat. Here are some great design ideas I found to help you create a useful space in your home.

If you have to create your own pantry, purchase a small cabinet with shelving, drawers and enough room to house all your perishables. In some cases, you can even make it look like it was always there.

Photo Credit: Better Homes and Gardens

Or you can build a recessed pantry where you have an open wall space.

Photo Credit: Better Homes and Gardens

Using frosted glass to cover the pantry is a modern way to keep it hidden while still being able to see what it’s inside.

Photo Credit: Better Homes and Gardens

Keep it cool with unique style and get creative with the doors.

Photo Credit: Shelterness

I love the idea of a cubby style pantry. You can have so much with materials and labels with this one.

Photo Credit: Better Homes and Gardens

If you have a modern or contemporary kitchen and don’t mind having stuff out in the open, a simple bakers rack or metal shelving would work wonders. Even if have a rustic kitchen this would work. Just use wood or another natural element for more warmth.

Photo Credit: Better Homes and Gardens

Or just leave your walk in pantry all open. Just make sure its neat!

Photo Credit: Quaker Rose

If you’re handy, try repurposing another piece of furniture to use. Items like an armoire would work perfect.

Photo Credit: Better Homes and Gardens

Creative Stencil Art Ideas

04 Tuesday Dec 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Crafty Ideas, Eric Bowden, Everyday Design, Guest Posts, The Home

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acrylic, architectural scrolls, archways, bedroom, couture look, designers, distressed furniture, elegant, Elle Decoration, entrances, Kristen F. Davis Designs, Lombardi Manuela Decorazioni, Miss Mustard Seeds Milk Paint, nature-inspired patterns, Stencil Art, stenciled animals, stenciled border, stenciling, technique, The Decorative Paintbrush, vintage, WroughtIronLodge.com

As someone with an eye for detail, and an appreciation for going the extra mile to make something look “just right”, I often find myself looking for ways to add just the right touch. Today I want to talk about using stencils to add a bit of variety to your home and to help take your next project to the next level!

Although the technique has been around for centuries, stenciling has recently found a new popularity among today’s homeowners and designers. If you want to make a generic-looking wall pop out and be noticed, apply an elegant stenciled border in a color that complements the wall’s base coat. For those who are artistically inclined, stenciling can be done freehand, but for most people the easiest way to achieve a fabulous stenciled effect is to purchase a stencil pattern or template which you can then apply to your wall and fill in with colors, using either permanent markers or acrylic stenciling paints.

Designers agree: Your stencil pattern will help set the mood in your room, so you’ll want to choose carefully. If you want to add a calming effect, use nature-inspired patterns such as leaf shapes and floral designs. If you have a large formal living room, architectural scrolls will give your walls an instant designer look. For bedrooms, sunrooms and bathrooms, try ivy leaf and climbing vine patterns; for a child’s bedroom, indulge your whimsical side with a pattern of exotic animals such as elephants, teddy bears or pink pigs.

To achieve the maximum effect, stenciling should be subtle, so choose paints that complement your wall background. In a large room with a high ceiling, however, it’s perfectly fine to go over the top and apply a huge stencil pattern in vibrant colors if you want a big, dramatic look.

This oversized stencil pattern makes the small corner space really pop out. If you decide to use large stencils in bright colors, be sure to choose your space wisely. Otherwise, it will overpower the room.

Photo Credit: Kristen F. Davis Designs

A menagerie of stenciled animals adds a touch of whimsy to your child’s bedroom wall. For maximum effect, choose bright colors and oversize stencil patterns.

Photo Credit: Elle Decoration

It may look like delft tile, but this staircase is actually layered in stenciling, replicating the cozy, colorful look of blue and white tiles. You can also achieve the same effect and replicate Southwest tiles, using themed stencils and colors such as cobalt blue, salmon pink, apricot, sage green and gold.

Photo Credit: The Decorative Paintbrush

You can dress up your vintage, distressed furniture by adding bold stenciling on the front and sides. For a spectacular effect, apply a base coat of bright blue, yellow, green or pink, and then apply a large stencil pattern in white.

Photo Credit: Miss Mustard Seeds Milk Paint

This elegant stencil detailing works itself in a continuous pattern along the doorframe. Stenciling can be used effectively on corners, archways and entrances, and is also a marvelous way to dress up window treatments.

Photo Credit: Lombardi Manuela Decorazioni

A stenciled border adds a custom-designed, couture look to any room, no matter what your current design scheme may be. The key is to choose appropriate colors and patterns, and work as neatly as you can while applying your color. Just be warned: Stenciling is addictive, so once you’ve finished your first project, you may end up stenciling every room in the house.

Written by Eric Bowden