summer, summer, summertime…

time to sit back and unwind.
~ lyrics courtesy of Will Smith’s Summertime song…you knew it, huh? 

As I was creating my lust-list for Damsel in Dior’s Follow Fridays last week, I found myself lusting over and over again for summer entertaining items. Since I wasn’t able to share all of them with you then, I’m sharing them with you now.

Take a look…don’t you just love and want them too? I know they would look perfect on my antique wood picnic bench on the back porch.

Happy Memorial Weekend everyone. Hope you entertain in style this weekend. And, most importantly let us all take the time to remember loved ones we’ve lost, and particularly honor and remember those in the military service who have died serving our great country. We are forever grateful.

Blue Striped Table Cloth, Terrain {$98}
Galvanized Metal Rectangular Tray, Pottery Barn {$39.50} 
Wildflower Collection in Burlap Bags {for favors}, Terrain {$25}
Mason Jar Shakers, Terrain {$16}
RÅSKOG Kitchen Cart, Ikea {$49.99}
Smith and Hawken Metal Cage String Lights, Target
Striped Sea Grass Carafe, Terrain {$24}
Marimekko Unikko Green and Blue Melamine Plate, Crate and Barrel {$4.95}
Andros Blue Melamine Dinner Plate, Crate and Barrel {$4.95}
Wire Utility Basket, Terrain {$16}
Mason Jar Drink Dispenser, Pottery Barn, {$69}
Hammered Acrylic Drinkware Lime, Pier1 {$4.60}

 {images via Terrain, Party-Tales, Pottery Barn, Crate and Barrel, Target, Pier1, Ikea}

How to Create DIY Tissue Paper Flowers

Spring showers bring May flowers … so it also brings tissue paper and tape 🙂

These DIY paper flowers are such a unique {and cheap!} diy project that brightens up your window display. We used for our window display at Fleur de Lis, a paperie, but these would be adorable decorations for a spring garden party, backdrop to a dessert table or for your home.

Visit Design Sponge for detailed ‘how to’ instructions.

 
 {images via Tutto Bella}

pinterest picks of the week: ribbon

This week, we loved many things on Pinterest {STANDARD}, but we found a lot of DIY ribbon inspiration we wanted to tie in a bow and package for you.

Ribbon Vase, Country Living

No Sew Lamp Shade, Midwest Living

Hoop and Ribbon Wedding Decor, Style Me Pretty

DIY Lace and Frame Accessory Holder, The White Library

No Sew DIY Curtains, Better Homes and Gardens

Grosgrain Ribbon Napkin Ring, Social Couture
{Social Couture has wonderful colors to choose from if you want to buy these napkin rings. If you are in the DIY  mood, these can be made easily with grosgrain ribbon and the hooks via hardware store…how cute would a blue and white striped ribbon be for 4th of July or a nautical party?!}

{images via Pinterest, Style Me Pretty, The White Library, Country Living, Better Homes and Gardens and Social Couture}

italian terra cotta love

I have always loved terra-cotta {or baked earth translated in Italian} pots because they remind me of being in Italy, and they remind me of summer and beautiful flowers.

I’m heading to Home Depot this week to make this for my son’s teachers, and might have to buy a couple more terra-cotta pots to make the projects below. It’s the time of year for planting, so it’s the perfect time to start these easy, affordable DIY’s.

Chalkboard Pots, Martha Stewart
{These would make for great gifts, escort cards, favors, place cards and home garden}
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Terra Cotta Gift
, Martha Stewart
{fill the terra-cotta pot with seed packets, top the pot with the saucer and tie a bow on top with twine for a lovely, affordable gift}
terra cotta diy gift

ImageDIY Potted Banana Bread, Style Me Pretty
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Thank You for Helping Me Grow Teacher Gift
, Giggles Galore
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DIY Cupcake Stand, Once Wed
{This idea can be used for a wedding, a birthday party or a shower. It’s an affordable way to make a cupcake stand the color and design of your choice.}

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Graphic Pots for any Celebration, Chicago Home and Garden

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Favors and Wedding Decor, Snippet and Ink
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DIY Terra Cotta Pot Coasters, Joy is at Home

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Pretty Pots, Christine Chitnis
{click here for her tutorial}
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{images via Once Wed, Martha Stewart, Giggles Galore, Style Me Pretty, Chicago Home and Garden, Joy is at Home, Snippet and Ink and Christine Chitnis}

when life give you lemons…

make lemonade…or at least something sweet with the lemons!

Last week I was into bright yellow sunshine and this week, it’s lemons. Apparently I’m into yellow right now. The cheerful hue has me day-dreaming about lemons, sunflowers and spring all day.

My grocery cart will be filled with lemons at my next trip to the grocery store {the lemon loaf looks too delicious not to make right now} and the next time I throw a party, I’m keeping lemons in mind. They make such sweet favors…no one will leave with a sour taste in their mouths.

Lemony Lemon Bread, Glorious Treats
{You can find the recipe here, yellowdrop twine at The Twinery and print the FREE printable labels here, courtesy of Glorious Treats and The Twinery}

 Homemade Limoncello, Matt Bites
We served Limencello at my wedding because 1. I’m Italian and 2. it was a fresh welcome to the party mini-drink. Although is was a hit, we should have more clearly expressed its potency or limited 1 per person…preventing some from passing out on a rock at 9 p.m. {wink, wink Nicole} :).
I love the idea of making homemade Limencello and sending it with guests as a favor…and with packaging as cute at Matt Bite’s who can resist? Giada DeLaurentis shares her homemade Limoncello recipe here. Salute!

DIY Lemon Drop Favors via Style Me Pretty
{created by Posh-Paperie}

Lemon drop candy, vintage bottle caps, small containers, ribbon and parchment paper make this DIY doable and adorable.

Homemade Lemonade Favors, Style Me Pretty
These homemade lemonade favors are so clever and make beautiful gifts in the vintage bottles.

{images via Glorious TreatsMatt Bites and Style Me Pretty}