Seasons for All at Home

Inspiration ~ Decorating with Egg Cups

 

Spring holidays and gatherings are often timed for brunch.  And what is breakfast without eggs?  Eggs are served in a variety of ways; while soft boiled eggs are not commonly offered in group settings, they were commonplace in the days of yore.  And those hard boiled eggs were always served in egg cups.  Egg cups are a delightful collectible, not only for their stand-alone beauty, but also for their versatility. 

In the photograph above, egg cups are used as vases for tiny flowers which are placed in part ially whole egg shells.  The egg cup in the photograph below holds a small bouquet and doubles as a placecard holder.

In the photographs below, several egg cups are gathered and filled with spring's blossoms.  What a cheerful centerpiece either would make! 

 

 

Egg cups can also be accented with botanical decor as rendered in the photograph below.

 

Using egg cups as votives, or birthday candles if the occasion is timely, is a creative use for egg cups, too.

Egg cups can be used for their original purpose, too, to serve eggs . . . or small portions of salads.

 

 

The use of egg cups in spring decor is a great way to celebrate and decorate the season of new beginnings.

 

 

Photo credits:  Martha Stewart and Southern Living.

Originally published April 5, 2009.

Inspiration ~ More Decorating with Pink and Green

I'm still loving the idea of decorating with pink and green!  I've already explained how my plan to decorate my "daughter's" bedroom in cabbage roses, chintz, and a daybed was changed due to the unexpected.  But I'm still drawn to this fresh combination of colors.

Decorating with pink and green is certainly not limited to a girl's bedroom.  Formal rooms in our homes can be stunning in rich shades, just as they appear in the photograph of the dining room above.  Traditional furniture in a room wallpapered in a striped pattern and crowned by a beautiful chandelier.  Note, too, the solid upholstery fabric on the back of the dining room chairs.

Below is another wall in the same room.  Imagine how lovely an arrangement of romantic pink flowers would look on the tabletops in this room.

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Adding more white to the composition, a pastel palette of pink and green is perfect for the breakfast room, as well as for a guest room.

 

 

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And for those who love vibrant shades of pink and green, consider making a bold statement in color and fabric patterns.

 

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This urge of self-expression in shades of pink and green may surface again.  For now, I'm enjoying the broad realm of ideas inspired by these beautiful rooms.

 

Originally posted on March 17, 2009.

Photo credits (from top to bottom): Traditional Home, BHG, House Beautiful, and My Home Ideas.

Macy's BELIEVE Campaign & Two Giveaways

The weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day mark the season of thanks and giving.  And while it's fun to receive treasures from dear ones on special occasions, the old adage of "it's better to give than to receive" is especially true this time of year. 

I was contacted by the online public relations company M80  on behalf of Macy's.  I was asked if I would be interested in participating in this year's BELIEVE campaign.  I didn't hesitate for a moment before I said yes.  It just so happens that "believe" has been my favorite word in the English language for many, many years.  Here's part of a poem I wrote five years ago as the holiday season was beginning.  It includes my favorite word; Annie is my niece and Sherryl is my sister.

 

For it’s all about family and friends who are dear

And about choosing behaviors from love and not fear.

It’s now the holiday season, my time to thrive

And to relish the thrill of being alive.

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I’ll spend time with Annie to teach her the ropes

How to make Christmas so special and to inspire her hopes.

Hope is Annie’s favorite word as we learned recently

You see Sherryl is collecting favorite words from family.

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So Annie’s is Hope, Sherryl’s is Imagine

Mine is Believe as in all that can happen

To people we love and to ourselves if we’re true

To generosity and integrity in all that we do.

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Mom and Dad’s legacy of love will live on

In my sisters and me and we’ll pass the baton

To each of our children and their children, too

The lesson of Giving – because you want to.

 

 

So, the campaign caught my attention the moment I saw it, and I made a mental note that I will indeed donate to this cause.  Macy's nostalgic BELIEVE holiday campaign was inspired by the New York Sun’s famous “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus” editorial from 1897 and includes letter-writing “Believe Stations” in Macy’s stores across the country.  For each letter received, Macy’s will donate $1 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, up to $1 million.

Macy's has generously offered two $25 gift cards for me to give to two of you!  So, please consider sending a letter to Macy's so the Make-A-Wish Foundation benefits.  And for a chance to win one of the two gift certificates, please leave a comment.  It would be great to hear brief descriptions of either a favorite letter to Santa or a favorite story about the importance of giving during the holiday season, but that's optional.

The deadline to post a comment in this post is Monday, December 21, 2009 at 5:00 p.m.  EST.  Two winners will be selected randomly.  Good luck, thank you for all you do to give, and Happy Holidays!