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How to Create a Memorable Party

If the rumors and endless news reports are true, then former First Daughter Chelsea Clinton, will be whooping it up at the party of the century in just a few hours. The 30-year-old only child of power couple Bill and Hillary Clinton is set to marry her longtime beau during an elegant and allegedly expensive ceremony in Rhinebeck, New York this evening. In the meantime, the rest of us (meaning me) non-wedding guests will be toasting the end of July with our well-worn Crate and Barrel glass tumblers—-gifts from our own wedding—-and wishing the happy young couple a life of … Continue reading →

Ways to Have Fun While Decorating for an Outdoor Party

If a tight budget has put the kibosh on your plans to host an outdoor party this summer, then I have good news for you. There are many simple ways to liven up your outdoor entertaining space without going broke and without making it look like a kiddie party ala balloons and paper streamers. One very inexpensive way to brighten up your party area is to use fresh fruit as part of your decor. Lemons, limes, apples, oranges, pomegranates and kumquats placed in a glass bowl or cylinder make an easy and vibrant centerpiece. Another way to add splashes of … Continue reading →

Make Camping Easy: The Camping Box

I’d like to share a brilliant idea that I got from a friend. I’m implementing it in my own home over the next couple of months. It’s the idea of the camping box. You see, I can’t stand packing. It is one of the things that I despise most in the world. Before every vacation, I spend at least a week dreading the packing and a day foully irritable while I’m actually doing it. It’s not that I’m not organized. I have packing lists. I have most of the things that we need. However, my lists simply serve to remind … Continue reading →

Cleaning Outdoor Furniture 2

No matter what your outdoor furniture is made out of, it could probably use a bit of cleaning right about now. Personally, we have a mix of different types of furniture, depending on use: oiled wood, painted wood, fabric and even plastic. All of these types require different methods of cleaning. The first steps as outlined in my last post was to do a visual inspection and determine if anything needs repair. Now let’s continue. Take a look and see if there is anything that can be machine washed. Perhaps you have washable slip covers, pillows or even rugs. Shake … Continue reading →

Cleaning Outdoor Furniture

Is your outdoor furniture ready for spring? The weather is getting warmer here, and we have had a few nice days. I have to tell you, though, that it is pretty strange to have a warm spring day where I can wear just a light jacket and yet see snow on the ground. You see, we’ve had a lot of snow: tons and tons of snow. So, while it is melting, it takes a while for those warmer days to whittle down at the many feet of snow and ice that was laying on the ground. Still, I am about … Continue reading →

A New Trend in Dining Room Tables

My husband and I have been looking at dining room tables lately. We have a round table from IKEA that is really meant to be a game table but is currently being used as our dining room table. It is serviceable, and I don’t have to worry too much about the kids scratching it or causing any damage to the table, since it is sturdy and inexpensive. The main problem with our current table is that it is too small to be used much longer for dining. There are now five of us in t he family, and things get … Continue reading →

Create Easy Outdoor Dining

Outdoor dining is a lot of fun. It is especially great for entertaining and can really set a mood. While you can go formal when dining outside, it is a lot more fun when things are casual and easy. Here are some tips that you can use to create an easy outdoor table. Create a fun and easy centerpiece with natural and found objects for a personal tough with a lot of impact. Some ideas for this type of centerpiece include shells, pretty pebbles, driftwood, pine cones, seed pods, etc. Place the objects under a glass dome or in a … Continue reading →

Personalizing Your Outdoor Living Space

Do you have an outdoor porch or patio space that you love to enjoy in the spring, summer and fall? What does it look like? This outdoor space often functions as another room of your home, but is it rather plain and generic? Why not personalize it with your own sense of style and make it a welcoming and comfortable space? Here are some ideas. One of the great assets of our current home, is the large screened porch in the back. On that porch, we can enjoy fragrant spring breezes, cool off in the summer and enjoy fall’s bounty … Continue reading →

Create a Custom Herb Garden

Are you itching to begin your spring planting? Why not start with an easy herb garden? You’ll get very quick results; you can use the herbs in your cooking; and with a little style, you’ll have a nice decorative element for your home. For this project, you’ll have custom-made pots that are just right for your new herbs. Chalkboard paint is so versatile and easy to use. We will create canvases on the pots with the paint. Then, using standard blackboard chalk, we can label the pots with the names of the herbs we are growing. Because of the chalkboard … Continue reading →

How to Take an Outdoor Party Indoors in a Hurry

If the weather simply won’t cooperate with your outdoor party plans, there’s no reason to reschedule. You can bring the party indoors without a problem, if you’re prepared. This time of year, the weather is still quite nice in my area (85 degrees yesterday) so I usually have outdoor parties for our October birthdays. Unfortunately, you just can’t be sure of the weather as it may quickly become chilly or begin to rain or even storm. So, it pays to be prepared. I use plastic storage baskets and bins to carry everything outside. If necessary, I can throw everything back … Continue reading →