Early Spring Into Easter

Early spring into Easter color awakenings through spring color palette choices are upon us.

multi-color-tulips-spring

Colors of the season shake off the last of winter’s remnants with the help of warm mid-afternoon breezes, hints of pastel petals, the yellow dusting of pollen (you want pretty flowers, don’t you?), the hum of lawnmowers, and seasonal treats featuring fresh strawberries.

strawberries-in-season

Photo by Anna Tukhfatullina Food Photographer/Stylist on Unsplash

Color wakes up a space in the same manner that spring wakes up color from its winter hibernation.

Farmers' Market Herb Live Wreath & Garland

Farmers’ Market Herb Live Wreath & Garland

Spring moves the clock forward, presents the perfect time to organize and clean, and wakes up the color all around us.

green-velvet-sofa-fringe

Amal Kapen Interiors

Easy and affordable ways to incorporate the best of the season into your home and garden is to update and refresh through accents and accessories.

Accents and accessories in fresh, lively, and warm colors of spring renews our interiors and exteriors, elevates our moods, and brushes away the heaviness of winter.

spring-2024-home-decor

Machine Washable Indoor/ Outdoor Chantille Floral Rug

Charlotte Moss Flowers Book

3d Floral Ceramic Table Lamp

Seria Hand Embroidered Pillow

Botanic Garden Sweetpea Boxed Ceramic Candle

Embroidered Daisy Pillow

More Monet Framed Wall Art

Modern Ceramic Temple Jar With Lid

Fairy Statue Collection Leaf Angel Girls Resin Home Decor

putting flowers in vase

 

 

 

 

 

 

de-gournay-Bayville-Chinoiserie

de Gournay Bayville Chinoiserie

Wallpaper or paint?

In certain situations, coupled with certain tastes, here’s where I stand on the matter.

Why not both?

paint-color-samples-display

Photo by Clay Banks

Touches of color, texture, and pattern can automatically pack a space with immediate focal point potential.

green-pendant-light-breakfast-room-Cameron-Ruppert-Interiors

Cameron Ruppert Interiors

“Only those who love color are admitted to its beauty
and immanent presence. It affords utility to all,
but unveils its deeper mysteries only to its devotees.”

— Johannes Itten

baton-rouge-laundry-flower-cutting-room-pink

Flower Magazine – Photography by Paul Costello

Subtle in nature and brilliant in execution, the color white does indeed make a strong and complementing canvas for the space to show its true colors.

nordic-ware-honey-hive-loaf-pan

Nordic Ware Honey Hive Loaf Pan

Uncomplicated updates translate into simply elevated elegant selections ready for the spring into summer season.

Easter Basket Flower Cake

Easter Basket Flower Cake

Jadeite Footed Loop Design Cake Stand

Jadeite Footed Loop Design Cake Stand

spring-vase-faux-flowers

7″ Spring Yellow Glass Urn Vase by Place & Time

Nature’s timing doesn’t always cooperate with early spring into Easter plans for fresh stems and bouquets, so to that I say pick a few faux fabulous stand-ins and let the spring preview begin!

rabbit-in-spring

Flickr

Running Rabbit Garden Statue

Running Rabbit Garden Statue

You say planter, I say perfect serving piece for the Easter dinner table.

rabbit-statue-salad-bowl-serveware

Color breathes life into the space to freshen and renew the look.

pastels-in-nature

Photo by James Wheeler

“The day the Lord created hope was
probably the same day he created Spring.”

– Bernard Williams

Darleen-signature-love

Easter Decor, Dishes and Desserts

Easter decor, dishes and desserts hops to mind at this time of year.

Easter-decor-dishes-and-desserts

Vintage Etched Tumblers
Jadeite Footed Loop Design Cake Stand
The Pioneer Woman Jade Dinner Plate
Famille Rose Dinner Plates
Easter Yellow Glass Candy Dish by Place & Time
Cabbage Mug by Place & Time
Faux White Tulips
Martha Stewart Stoneware Sculpted Bunny Covered Oval Baker, 9”, Cream
Place & Time Easter 1/5″ x 12′ Green Bunnies Printed Linen Ribbon
24pk Tealight Candle Mint & Eucalyptus/Soft Cotton/Peony & Cherry Blossom
Linden Street Easter Bunny Wood Serving Tray

Carrot Art Giclee Still Life Print

Carrot Art Giclee Still Life Print

To look upon beautiful Easter decor as a work of art is no over eggaggeration of the term.

Easter-decorated-sideboard

Selecting items for show and tell comes with thought.

gold-dragonfly

Sure, a rabbit here and a bunny there is called for, but mostly my choices play to pastels, themes and dishes appropriate for the entire spring into summer season.

Easter-fabric-eggs-grapevine-carrot

Faux picks and bushes in ever lovely shades of pink were recently purchased with the Easter decor centerpiece in mind.

faux-pink-stems-variety

On the Saturday afternoon before Easter Sunday I’ll stroll around the yard gathering assorted fresh greenery stems to fill in the spring bouquet.

Easter decor

Transpac Resin 11.5″ White Easter Floral Bunny Figurines Set of 2

Easter company will love this fresh with full on color and nibbles spring vegetable board from My Moonstone Kitchen.

spring vegetable board

Spring Vegetable Board

 Click on the link below the photo for recipe information.

Sevres Serving Platter

Sevres Serving Platter

roast-pork-loin

Country Living – Photography by John Kernick

Roast Pork Loin with Herb Stuffing

Ingredients

1⁄3 cup kosher salt

1⁄3 cup sugar

2 teaspoon juniper berries

2 teaspoon cardamom pods

2 teaspoon whole peppercorns

1 teaspoon allspice berries

2 bay leaves, lightly crushed

1 (3 ¾ to 4 pound) pork loin roast, trimmed, butterflied, and tied

3 tbsp. butter

3  stalks celery, finely diced

1  small onion, finely diced

3  garlic cloves, finely chopped

2 cups panko breadcrumbs

1 cup chopped fresh parsley

1 tbsp. chopped fresh sage

2 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves

¼  cup chicken stock

Directions

In a medium pot, bring 2 cups water, salt, sugar, juniper, cardamom, peppercorns, allspice, and bay leaves to a boil.  Stir to dissolve sugar and salt.  Remove from heat and stir in 4 cups cold water.  Set brining liquid aside and let cool to room temperature, 20 to 30 minutes.

Place pork loin in a 2-gallon resealable plastic bag and carefully pour in cooled brining liquid. Seal and refrigerate, 8 to 12 hours.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter until sizzling. Add celery, onion, and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes.  Add breadcrumbs, parsley, sage, and thyme, stirring to combine, and cook 1 minute more.  Add chicken stock and toss until breadcrumbs have absorbed all of the liquid.

Remove stuffing from heat and let cool to room temperature, 30 minutes. (Stuffing can be made up to 1 day ahead and refrigerated.  Bring to room temperature before using.)

Preheat oven to 500°F.  Remove pork loin from bag and discard brine; pat meat dry with a paper towel.  On a work surface, untie pork loin so that it lies flat, fat side down.  Spread stuffing mixture atop meat in an even layer. Starting from one of the long sides, roll the pork loin into a tight spiral.  Tie at 1 ½-inch intervals with 12-inch lengths of kitchen twine.

In a roasting pan fitted with a rack, place pork loin fat side up.  Roast 15 minutes, then reduce oven temperature to 250°F.  Continue to cook for about 1 hour and 35 minutes, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the pork loin reaches 145°F.

Transfer pork loin to a wire rack to rest for 15 minutes before serving.

-Country Living Magazine

southern-lima-beans

Country Living – Photography by Becky Luigart-Stayner

Instant Pot Lima Beans

Ingredients

1 lb. smoked pork neckbones

1 lb. fresh or frozen lima beans

2  cloves garlic, chopped

1  sprig thyme, plus more leaves for garnish

2 tsp. onion powder

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Add neckbones and 4 cups water to an electric pressure cooker.  Set to meat/stew setting and cook until meat is fork- tender and bones easily separate from meat, 30 minutes.  Release pressure.

Add lima beans, garlic, thyme, and onion powder to pot.  Season with salt and pepper. Replace lid, switch to soup/broth setting, and cook until beans are tender, 20 minutes.  Release pressure.

Remove lid, switch to sauté, and cook, stirring occasionally, until liquid is reduced, 8 to 10 minutes.  Serve garnished with thyme leaves.

-Country Living Magazine

HONEY ROASTED CARROTS INFUSED WITH HONEY AND GARLIC

Honey Roasted Carrots Infused with Honey and Garlic

Carrots and Easter – a classic pairing if there ever was one.

floral compound butter

Edible-Flower Compound Butter

Ingredients

2 teaspoons green peppercorns

2 teaspoons white peppercorns

2 teaspoons black peppercorns

1 teaspoon pink peppercorns

1 pound butter, softened

2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh chives

1 tablespoon minced shallot

2 teaspoons minced garlic

2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh oregano

Radish flowers

Society garlic flowers

Oyster leaf flowers

Directions

In a coffee grinder or using a mortar and pestle, grind green, white, black, and pink peppercorns until crushed.

Using a medium bowl, beat butter with a mixer at medium-high speed until smooth.  Add peppercorns, chives, shallot, garlic, and oregano.  Beat at medium speed until combined.

Transfer from mixer to parchment paper. Form butter into a log.  Press radish flowers, garlic flowers, and oyster leaf flowers onto log.  Roll in parchment, and twist at both ends. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

Store in refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Victoria Magazine

speckled-malted-coconut-cake

Speckled Malted Coconut Cake

red knockout roses

Knock out roses coming into spring view serve vase and creations.

fresh-roses-cake-topper (1) (2)

Not all who decorate cake tops are cake bakers (and not all decoristas are pro photographers).

coconut-cake-speckled-malt-balls-topping

Be it from the supermarket bakery or cake mix box, decorating the top of a  spring or Easter dessert cake with flowers or candies is an easy way to take  desserts to visually pleasing heights.

File this for Mother’s Day brunch ideas.

raspberry-cloud-cake-recipe

Raspberry Cloud Cake

In the style of vintage is my go-to choice of serveware, and this house favorite cake stand in Jadeite fits beautifully with your Easter decor and spring motif.

Jadeite Footed Loop Design Cake Stand

Jadeite Footed Loop Design Cake Stand

Buttercream frosting tinted to a soft yellow topped with edible flowers delivers a simply elegant result.

When decorating dishes and desserts and garnishing beverages with edible flowers you’ll want to pick the flowers early in the morning.

Gently rinse off your gathered flowers with cool water allowing to dry on a paper towel.  Add garnish immediately before serving. If using flowers at a later time you can place them in the refrigerator where they will keep for 2-3 days.

buttermilk-cupcakes-with-swiss-meringue-buttercream

Buttermilk Cupcakes with Swiss Meringue Buttercream

pansies-in-garden

Pansies offer loads of color, plant and prosper rather easily, and make a fantastic visual and flavorful splash when added to salads and spring desserts.

White Chocolate Easter Egg Cupcakes

White Chocolate Easter Egg Cupcakes

Cadbury mini eggs, chocolate almond bark shavings, and an egg carton display elevate these vanilla cupcakes to an Easter dessert eggstravaganza.

fresh eggs

Farm fresh eggs ready to go for Easter decor, dishes and desserts.

Cadbury Bunny Cocktail Napkins

Cadbury Bunny Cocktail Napkins

Super cute cocktail napkins rock the spring into Easter into summer cocktail hour all season long.

Claro Pitcher

Claro Pitcher

Elderflower-Champagne Cocktail

Southern Living – Photography by Hector Manuel Sanchez

Elderflower-Champagne Cocktail

Ingredients

1 bottle chilled brut rosé Champagne or dry sparkling wine

2 cans chilled club soda or sparkling water (such as Pure LaCroix)

1 cup elderflower liqueur (such as St-Germain)

Ice

Directions

Pour chilled brut rosé Champagne or dry sparkling wine, chilled club soda or sparkling water, and elderflower liqueur into a large pitcher.  Stir until well combined.  Pour into wine glasses filled with ice.

-Southern Living Magazine

colored-wine-goblets (1)

Whole Housewares Colored Vintage, Mosaic Goblet Drinking Glasses Set of 6
Archie Wine Glasses (Set of 6)

Wild Rose Petal Sangria

Wild Rose Petal Sangria

Thoughtful touches and delicious treats dressed with visually impressive details invite charm to spring get-togethers and Easter celebrations.

Darleen-signature-love

Easter at the Table: Easter Decor Tablescaping

Easter décor tablescaping can rival fashion’s finery for the spotlight in the Easter parade.

bhg centerpieceBetter Homes & Gardens

To look upon a beautiful Easter décor tablescaping as a work of art is no over eggaggeration of the term.

bird-garden-statue (1)

Central to a lovely tablescape, creating a centerpiece of fresh flowers and/or greenery from nature’s floral department aka our own yards broadens the field for artistic interpretation.

flower-frogs-collections

Martha Stewart

Begin with a vase, jar, tureen, pitcher, decorative coffee can- any type container that floats your boat or flower frog will do.

pink-azaleas-in-white-vase

Fern and magnolia leaves, camellias, hydrangea, knock out roses, palm fronds, daffodils, dogwood branches, bridal wreath spirea, azaleas and  lilies- all eggscellent centerpiece options.

yellow-roses-in-vase

Inspiration lives in the great and colorful outdoors.

Easter decor tablescaping

I like a good word within a word moment.

Take the word tablescape for example.

The word escape is within the word tablescape, and that discovery became the subject of the blog post, Seasonal Update: Turn Your Tablescape Into A Table Escape.

When we tablescape we escape through creativity, and right in the middle of the word creativity is the word that is the reason for tablescaping in the first place- eat.

Now that I think about it, when we tablescape we decorate, and the last three letters in decorate spell ate.

I’m on a roll, and speaking of roll, the GO Home Rabbit Butter Dish (great price at Lowes) is a butter get this one for your Easter tablescape.

GO Home Rabbit Butter Dish

GO Home Rabbit Butter Dish

As many of you know from reading my blog and social media posts, I’m big on selecting and purchasing items capable of many uses.

Getting more bang for your decorating buck is just the smart and savvy way to go.

Several Easter tablescapes ago I started a serveware tradition using this rabbit statue as a salad bowl.

Butter lettuce, sliced fresh Louisiana strawberries, chopped walnuts, red onion rings, and honey-apple cider vinaigrette springs to mind.

rabbit-statue-salad-bowl-serveware

Honey-Apple Cider Vinaigrette

¼ cup vegetable oil

½ cup sugar

2  tablespoons apple cider vinegar

2  tablespoons corn syrup

2  tablespoons honey

½ teaspoon honey mustard

generous squeeze fresh lime juice

½ teaspoon celery seed

¼ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon paprika

Directions

In mixing bowl or glass jar with lid, combine vegetable oil, sugar, and apple cider vinegar.

Whisk or shake, blending all together.  Add remaining ingredients, stirring or shaking well.

Place salad greens in mixing bowl.

Top with sliced strawberries, red onion slices, and chopped walnuts.

Drizzle vinaigrette over mix in small amounts until you reach the desired amount.

Toss together and serve.

three-vintage-creamers

Vintage China Pitchers – Set of Three

Consider using a vintage creamer or pitcher for a salad dressing/condiment server.

Oval Debossed Floral Stoneware Platter with Reactive Crackle Glaze Finish

Oval Debossed Floral Stoneware Platter with Reactive Crackle Glaze Finish

First comes Easter, then comes Mother’s Day, then comes summer soiree entertaining at play.

Gingham Plaid Salad Plates - Set of 4

Gingham Plaid Salad Plates – Set of 4

One purchase, infinite occasions to set an impressive table.

crochet-flower-doilies-placemats-cottagecore

Cottagecore is presently having a moment in the décor style world, and it comes to the table ready to impress through color, texture, and pattern.

Set of 4 Flower Salad Plates

Set of 4 Flower Salad Plates

10 4pk Stoneware Rockwood Dinner Plates - Threshold™ 10″ 4pk Stoneware Rockwood Dinner Plates – Threshold™

Dollar store deal of the day glassware grants a great look at a great price.

Our local Dollar Tree lacked these in their inventory, so Dave the Builder picked up a dozen of them on his way home from a remodel project.

He’s a good egg.

clear-glassware

Ions ago I hit a super sale on a boxed set of 12 Godinger Dublin iced beverage glasses for a ridiculously low price of $30.00 + tax.

Dublin Set of 4 Iced Beverage Glasses

Dublin Set of 4 Iced Beverage Glasses

Twelve glasses this lovely for $30.00 qualify as a gotta have it find!

For the look, weight, and quality, the today’s $5.00 each price point still comes in as a steal.

fresh eggs

Who needs Easter egg dye when nature lends a hand.

blue-white-tulle-net-pink-easter-grass

Pink Easter grass paired with blue and white tulle and net saved from last year will fill the Easter basket I made in 2019.

tulle-Easter-basket-pastel-colors

In the words of a famous rabbit, that’s all folks.

love signature

Pretty Spring Pictures All In A Scroll

Pretty spring pictures all in a scroll exemplify the beauty and wonder of Easter week.

Pretty Spring PicturesDuring this time I like to step back from the keyboard to stop and smell the roses.

spring-flowers-House & Garden

House & Garden

Garden roses in a simple vase placed atop a crochet doily, a stemmed compote dish waiting to be filled with the pear preserves, and family recipes handwritten on timeworn index cards and scratch pieces of paper spring to mind memories of Easter week travels over to Texas to visit my great-grandparents.

blue-white-table-flower-magazine-house-garden-lifestyle

Flower Magazine – House / Garden / Lifestyle

My mother came across a handwritten letter from my great-grandmother while spring cleaning.

I’ve asked my mother many times if she remembered the address of their house, but she couldn’t recall what it was.

calm-collected-kitchen

Country Living

When she found the letter, there it was in the top left hand corner of the envelope.

One Google search later and we were home again on 8th Avenue.

Texas-bluebonnets

They say you can’t go back, but for a minute it was Easter in Texas at Mama and Papas.

Mackinac Island

Mackinac Island – Midwest Living

Beautiful-Waterfall-Gif

blooming-bedsPinterest

rooster-spring

Pinterest

“The beautiful spring came; and when Nature
resumes her loveliness,
the human soul is apt to revive also.”

-Harriet Ann Jacobs

painting-roses

Scottsdale Fine Art

Spring’s arrival boasts a reawakening of colors on Easter parade and inspires a renewal of spirit.

Darleen-signature-love

 

DIY Easter Basket Project 

Rainy days and Mondays blues took on a whole new meaning with this DIY  Easter basket project.

Rainy day are made for indoor activities.  Good thing I love thunder and lightening and find them intensely beautiful ’cause we’ve seen a boatload of beauty over the last few days.

Ceraunophilia

Today’s blogging soundtrack is courtesy of the Spotify Discover Weekly  playlist which changes every Monday.

First in line on this week’s list is Laughter in the Rain by Neil Sedaka.

Serendipity plays here.

rainy day

The DIY projects I do tackle are born out of necessity more than enjoyment.

When my antiques shop was open, I didn’t think twice about upholstering, repairing, or refinishing DIY projects.  Bottom line profit played a huge role in those decisions.

A fond memory of a beloved Easter basket and the futile search for one like it accounts for this DIY Easter basket project.

moving day

Flickr

When the big move of 2010 took place, I left the packing and moving from the old house to the new to us house to Dave the Builder while I packed up my parent’s house for their move.

Three houses.

Two moves.

One colossal undertaking I do not recommend to the faint of heart.

In the moving mayhem, Dave made the executive decision to part ways with soooo many things I would have kept.

Whatnots and doodads can easily be replaced, but certain items qualify as irreplaceable.   One such item is the handmade Easter basket my mother bought me in 1974.

A group of ladies residing at a local care facility made the most beautiful  Easter baskets from plastic dry cleaning bags.

The plastic was pulled through a simple green berry basket, knotted on the inside, and trimmed.  An undone wire hanger shaped to fit and tightly wrapped with plastic dry cleaning bags became the basket handle.

I loved the basket, and kept it all these years.

The more I thought about it, the more I knew I wanted an Easter basket like it.

Ebay, Etsy, and the local treasure shops did not have anything even remotely close.  I saw several tutu baskets, but that’s not what I want.

As Patsy Cline said to Loretta Lynn in Coal Miner’s Daughter, “anything we can’t buy, we’ll make.”

Hello, DIY Easter basket project.

basket-tulle

Begin with a bamboo Easter basket from the dollar store.

I figure if I mess it up I’m only in for a dollar.

bamboo-Easter-basket

A few pieces of scrap tulle left over from Christmas allowed for me to practice.

Once I mastered the cut and feed, it was on to the fabric department at Walmart for four yards of white net and eight yards of light blue tulle.

The texture of the white net makes it easier to fill in gaps and when fluffed out give a nice full coverage of the area you are working with.

blue-white-tulle

Supply list:

Bamboo Easter basket
8 yards light blue tulle
4 yards white net
1 roll 1½” wide white grosgrain ribbon
Easter grass
Speckled Easter eggs
Scissors
Hot glue gun
Glue stick
Binder clips

pink-Easter-grass

 

I worked with two lengths of fabric and multiple layers.

layers

I cut the tulle and the net into 12″ strips for layers 3, 4, and 5, and  8″ inch strips for the layers 1 and 2.

More layers make for a fuller look, and shorter layers around the basket rim beautifully cover and conceal the bamboo.

blue-white-tulle-net

Feed a strip of tulle or net through the spaces in the basket with half the strip on the outside and the other half of the strip on the inside of the basket.

After an exhaustive and empty-handed search for my crochet hook, I just used my fingers to feed the fabric through the basket.

Yes, I made a couple of larger than need be holes in the basket.

You may notice the blue and white ribbon in the image below.

If you make the same uh-oh simply cut a piece of ribbon, feed it through, bring it up catching the layer above, and tie with a knot.  Trim the excess ribbon and problem fixed.

Tulle and net are forgiving, and when fluffed and fanned out cover a multitude of DIY sins.

tulle-net-through-basket

Work with a two blue tulle strips to one white net strip repeat all the way around each layer of the basket.

fluffed-tulle-net

Fluff and fan out each side of the fabric to desired fullness.

Trim each layer of tulle and net down to the desired lengths to create extra fullness.

tulle-net-speckled-eggsFire up the hot glue gun.

Use caution when using a hot glue gun so you don’t burn your fingers.

glue gun

Use a binder clip, clothespin, or hair clip (you get the idea) to hold the ribbon in place.

clipped-ribbon

Wrap the basket handle with the ribbon.  Secure the ribbon to the base of the basket handle with several drops of hot glue.

Tulle-Easter-Basket

Trim each layer of the tulle and net to desired lengths to create extra fullness and correct any unevenness.

speckled-eggs-collection

Complete the look by filling the basket with Easter grass and decorative Easter eggs.

tulle-Easter-basket-pastel-colors

I’m very pleased with the finished product.

Dave swears it’s prettier than the original one I had, and I think he may be right.

Isn’t it funny how a memory of a beloved Easter basket became such a source of inspiration.

It really is everywhere.

love your style

 

 

 

 

 

A Beautiful Good Friday

Beauty is a gift to be appreciated, admired, marveled at, and shared with friends and family.

pink-hydrangeas-gardenCountry Living Magazine ~ Kathryn Kleinman/Jupiter Images

With spring’s arrival, colors on Easter parade, and a holiday weekend of reflection to enjoy, I wish you a beautiful and Good Friday.

Dr. SuessGood Housekeeping

carolyne-flowers-craving-casualStyle at Home

pink-roses-hydrangeaSave On Crafts

lemon-layer-cake-blueberry-lavender-buttercreamLemon Layer Cake with Blueberry Lavender Buttercream

 good Friday

Easter 2015 Plans, Prep and Pastels

Recently I was interviewed for an interior design and decorating publication.  One of the questions asked was how would I describe my design style.

Traditional with a classic twist answers the question.

Confused?

Allow me to clarify with a visual explanation starring the Easter egg.

Featured in our Easter 2015 plans, prep and pastels is a selection of the traditional plastic pastel Easter egg.

Easter-egg-hunt-centerpiece

The following two impressive examples of interior design, decorating, home decor and home furnishings illustrate the new traditional with a classic twist Easter egg point.

pink-green-dining-roomHouse Beautiful

Pretty makes the perfect dinner guest.

Horchow-dining-room

Our Easter Sunday dinner menu is almost finalized.

Numerous do you/will you eat ________  phone calls have been made to the picky eaters collective.

Dave the Builder submits his requests early in the menu planning stages, our son specifies his desire for his favorite dishes to at least make one plated appearance during his visit home, and the youngest nephew wants only one thing- my Vanilla Bread Pudding with Vanilla Sauce.

It’s almost a side dish at this point, and I no longer regard it as the star of the dessert table.

contest

vanilla bread pudding with vanilla sauce

I guess I should be more selective with the way I frame the topic of dessert with The Places In The Home gang.

The look Dave the Builder and my mother had on their faces when I informed them we will be going naked for dessert was priceless.

Naked cake, silly.

This naked cake recipe from Just Destiny is right up my alley.

It’s easy, made from the box and the can, and a delicious excuse to feature fresh flowers.

Destiny advises bakers and cake decorators not to get caught up in perfection.

I like her style.

naked-cake

Smart and savvy diy projects always catch me eye.

These terracotta pot napkin rings from Cottage at the Crossroads will set a stylishly spring is here table.  The tutorial for this project is easy to follow and the materials list is not expensive.

Click here for all the how-to information.

terracotta-napkin-rings

I’m contemplating making up a few how does your garden grow themed favor baskets.

A quick trip to the dollar store will provide the essentials- individual packets of assorted seeds, garden gloves, gardening tools and couple of packs of mini terracotta pots.

A cute print out of the terracotta pot napkin ring tutorial will complete the baskets.

Easter 2015 Plans, Prep and Pastels

All colors are fair game for Easter decorating.

I love using pastel colors in my Easter decorating color scheme, and a soft and serene shade of pale blue is simply one of the best.

Eggshell-blue-paint-colorsBetter Homes and Gardens

Speaking of an Easter decorating and tablescaping dollar store run and the color blue…

We need another set of plates in our kitchen cupboard like we need a another set of plates in our kitchen cupboard.

Can you say obsessed?

Simple and understated dinner plates have their place on our Easter dinner table.  I prefer to let the crystal, linens, flatware and centerpiece live out loud.

I am one of the last Southern hostess holdouts when it comes to monogramming the vintage linen dinner napkins my mother brought me back from her last trip to Tennessee.

I’m still on the fence about committing this particular set of napkins to a permanent applique and color choice.

Thank goodness for hemstitch cocktail napkins.

Easter-2015

The jury is still out on Martha Stewart’s getting bunny with it napkin fold decision for Easter 2015 plans, prep and pastels tablescape.

bunny-fold-napkinMartha Stewart

It’s got the look, and the men of our family, including our adult son and two nephews, have absolutely no qualms voicing their wishes and requests for traditional holiday menus and decorations.

I kid you not, these men like the details.

I’m in the memories business, and far be it from me to buck with the traditional practices of all things house that make a home.

Be it ever so humble…

Love your style!

Setting The Tone and The Table: Easter Tablescape Ideas Part 1

Dressed to impress not only applies to the fashions, but to Easter baskets and Easter tablescape ideas part 1.

craft-tipNever underestimate the decorative power of paint.  Hobby Lobby makes a great point!

We see oodles of pictures showing lovely kitchen and dining rooms with dining tables polished and pristine.

You won’t see one of our kitchen tabletop.

It’s a working tabletop- one big catchall for house plans, design boards, material lists and shelter magazines.

Now you know my little secret and why I am in total support of the statement, “the kitchen is the heart of the home.”

Tablescapes usually take place on the dining room tabletop, but not this year.

Why?

The dining room chandelier is still sitting in the box waiting to be rewired…for the second time.

crystal-chandelier1

Dave the Builder stripped the new wiring as he was threading it through the center tube.

He didn’t discover this very important development until he was in the process of hanging the chandelier and the wires sparked in Katy Perry style.

You’re probably thinking it, so I’ll address it.

What’s the point of a tablescape post?

Because I absolutely love sourcing and creating tablescape ideas.

Love your style!

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