Paper Curl Wreath

A Couple weeks ago I found This tutorial on a cute Website. I had been looking for a wreath, and thought it would be a great way to go (and cute for September) What I didnt realize..was how LONG IT WOULD TAKE!

First...I had to cut up 2 full books, a couple pages at a time in spirals.  Then, roll them into flower curls and glue them on to the form...and if you cant tell by the picture, there are a lot of them!

after a couple very bad glue burns, I am proud to say I am done! 
Just in time to take it down and put up my Halloween Wreath!

Time to plan your Easter Table

Well here it is one week to the day...so its time to plan your table. 

 I found a couple great ideas here and step by step instructions here. 

I just love to do the same things over and over, so my table might look something like this again! 

here is a fun one from gather and nest

A new use for the birthday banner...

I was putting this banner away in a ziploc bag, carefully storing if for the next time I throw a tea party for elle (what?) when I realized...It might be okay to hang it in her room! I wouldnt have thought that the cardstock would loo cute, but guess what...I LOVE IT! I dont think her room would look right without it anymore!

I think it is cute to characterize a corner of a room. Especially in this case, because as soon as she grows out of tea parties (which she never will if she is like me) I can take it down and replace it with hannah montana posters. jk

Displaying my collection

I keep collecting these baby shoes from around the world and sticking them in a drawer...so finally I tried to display them.
It is fun to have them to look at...but I feel like Im doing something wrong. Does anyone have any advice?

Leif Flowers

Girls are doing the coolest things these days. My cute friends Chelsea & Amanda (twins) just started the most fabulous flower shop in SL. I love how people are taking their creativity to the next level. Inspiring. Check them out here

Saturday Luncheon

I hosted a little luncheon on saturday for a friend and her family. Nothing big, just yummy food and friends.


For this kind of occasion, you cant go wrong with chicken salad croissants.
(lite mayo, LOTS of chicken, grape halves, celery, green onions, whole cashews & salt & pepper)


Do you know how much I love fruit in the bottom of flower arrangements. I dont know how to do it very well...but I love when people do. Im going to study up on it a little, and then Ill let you know.

The favors were brownie bites (she is famous for brownies) in jewelry bags. How cool those little jewelry zip-locs were the perfect size.

Easter Adult Table

My friend Kathy always decorated the table with a big bowl of strawberries...I had to continue the tradition this year.

I fretted and fretted over "favors" or something cute for each place setting...and in the end decided to really keep it simple.

My new trick to make a quick bowl stand is to turn one bowl upside down and set the other bowl on top of it. I have been doing that more and more lately and it worked perfectly for the sour cream in the strawberry bowl.

and, this year I lined up my strawberries and bananas in the trifle! It is so much cooler looking this way! (and probably takes 2 minutes longer!)

Easter Kids table

When you make the kids table fun, they stay there longer so YOU can relax at the adult table.

decorating...its worth it!

I am so glad Kathy and I made all of those blocks last year...I have found places for most of them!

Even just to hide a mess!

I have not figured out my "dream ornaments" yet...so this year we did the costco special. And guess what, they are SHATTERPROOF!

I found a place for a kid tree. Robbie had SO much fun decorating it. Unwrapping the ornaments was like a little Christmas in itself.

It's nice because Rob loves coming home to "Christmas Land." With a little music and mulling spices, we enjoy the Christmas Spirit right from the living room.

It took an entire day to put up and will take an entire day to take down...but in the meantime, I will love it love it love it!

Decorating...its worth it!

Since we are always gone for Christmas, we never decorate...but this year since I have to stay home...I pulled out ALL of the bins!

I love this ornament tree from Urban Outfitters. It is my first time using it and all the russian ornaments on it!

What is the use of collecting nativity sets when you dont put them out, I got out all 20 of them (but not my Russian one cause I would cry to have one of the kids break it...give me a couple more years) Here are the foreign ones. The "replaceable" ones are in the other room!

So Im starting to collect stockings too...not so smart. I only put out 2 sets this year and I think i am just going to have to hold back on buying more until I can figure out what you do with them!

Some favorite cheap decor!

Of course I love my Halloween blocks. The vinyl cost me 5.00 and the wood/paint about 2.00!
If you want to make some, I'll hook you up with Kathy for the vinyl.


I saw this at Potterybarn 4 years ago and I put one together every year. I used to find the sticks outside, but now I use the same ones each year. NOTE: put the sticks in the vase first, cause you cant shove them down in the candy corn.

I usually have a bowl of pears, but during Oct and Nov I change them out for pumpkins. Sometimes I do them the Martha Stewart way with modge podge and glitter, but most years they are just pumpkins.

OK, I love fall candy...It is kind of hard to do this with kids nowadays, but I still keep a couple jars around. I stuffed the middle of these jars with newspaper or paper towells so I didnt have to use so many bags!

Spring Table Setting

Easter at Kathy's was just as beautiful as last year! She made made simple flower arrangements with white mums and bright paper sacks. Look closely because the ribbon is strung through the bag...very clever!

Beside the beautiful table cloth, I loved how she tied in the yellow napkins with the ribbon and the lemon slices.

She bought the colored take out boxes at Michaels. They were filled with crinkle paper and easter goodies! Yum!

The best use of Brussel Sprouts!

If you are like me, you have never ever had a use for Brussel Sprouts...until now that is! How beautiful are these topiaries? All you need to do is start with a styrofoam cone, a pretty container and moss...and start pinning them in! Just try it for easter, or a spring shower. I cant wait to try!

Cupcakes!

Ok, cupcakes are the new HOT thing....EVERYWHERE! After seeing the new So Cupcake on Stephmodo I had to do some searching, and found a cupcake bakery right here in Philly...along with MANY (including Magnolia) in New York. Here in PA, try the Velvet Sky Bakery.

BUT, I think one of them most famous is SPRINKLES and if you cant fly to LA to pick some up, you can buy the mix at William Sonoma and make them yourself. The mix even comes with their signature Modern Dots! (Jane sent me the red velvet flavor...thank jane!) I made them last night...and I think they turned out like the real Sprinkles cupcakes!

Our Valentines table...with kids! We had waffles with strawberries, because I knew the kids would eat them!