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15 of the Best Mother’s Day Gifts for Mom

It’s the most wonderful time, of the year… 😉 well, if you’re a mom that is! 🙂 Finally, for one day you are doted on, somebody else cleans up the messes, and you are showered with love and appreciation, all while the kids get along peacefully…at least until about 7:30am. 😉  I have learned over … Read more

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Cute Mother’s Day Gift Ideas and Delicious Whipped Frosting Recipe

As the weather heats up, so does entertaining season.  With fun days ahead celebrating Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and graduations, guests are on their way!  If you’re anything like me, you are always on the hunt for new recipes and ideas for spring entertaining so that your guests always have something new to look forward … Read more

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Ready for Take-off: Airplane Themed Party

Cute Jane from Lendingham Paper and Party Supplies submitted this darling Red, White and Blue Airplane themed party.  I am in love with the bold colors and you know I love the travel theme!  So many cute details…here’s a look at Jane’s beautiful styling:   Isn’t that adorable?  Thanks Jane for sharing your talents with us!  … Read more

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The Moody Blues… a Blue Mantel Re-do with Chinese Urns

Lately, I’ve been seeing all of these gorgeous blue Chinese urns all over in fabulous room designs.  I have been dying to get my hands on one, and last week, I had narrowed it down to three.  I loved the shape of these, the size of this one, and just the overall look of this one.   What to do?!  … Read more

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French Bread… Fast and Delicious!

Who loves fresh homemade bread? Only everyone! Have I got the best recipe for you! This is seriously the yummiest and easiest bread recipe… and it gets even better…. you can make it in less than hour from start to finish! What? Yup… it’s true! Now hot, fresh bread is so doable for your weeknight … Read more

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Sweets: Nutella Cinnamon Palmiers

Palmiers are a sweet little french treat you can make at home! Start with defrosted puff pastry (found in most grocery store freezer sections), Nutella and cinnamon sugar. Spread the Nutella across the pastry with a rubber spatula or butter knife. Next, sprinkle generously with the cinnamon sugar mixture and begin to roll one side … Read more

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Interior Design: Bold Spring Table Top

Move over pastels…this spring is all about going bold!  While pastels are pretty, lately I’ve been feeling like I want something that will carry me past Easter, into the later spring.  One of my favorite things about spring (and I’m sure yours too) are the beautiful blooms popping up all over.  Most of these flowers … Read more

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Traveling: Things to do: Granville Island Vancouver, Canada

Granville Island Vancouver was a fun spot to visit last time we were in Canada.  It reminded a little of Seaport Village in San Diego and Pike’s Place Market in Seattle.  You know I love a good market! 😉  We lucked out and it was a beautiful day, so we had incredible views of the … Read more

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My Favorite Spring Sandals

Recently something very dangerous happened in our house.  Amazon sent me a postcard, alerting me to the fact that they have now gone full blown into fashion with a killer addition to their website.  I have a few friends that know my addiction to Amazon…especially their prime service.  The fact that they now have one … Read more

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Interior Design: Home Tour

Our house has gone through so many changes over the last bit, I realized I had never documented it’s progress here on the blog. While this isn’t entirely what we started with years ago, this is a little “before” from the images you have been seeing lately. Much more traditional than things look now. It’s … Read more

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Chalk Paint Dresser Make-Over

A few months ago I took a class at Peinture Studios here in Orange County.  I had been reading about and seeing chalk paint ALL over the place and I wanted to see what it was all about.  There were a couple of pieces in my house that I thought would be fun to change … Read more

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Bunny bag blog

DIY Easter Round-Up

Are you prepping to host Easter this weekend?  Whether you’re hosting an egg hunt or dinner…or maybe both, here are a few of my favorite Easter DIYs from the past couple of years to help you out. 🙂  Lots of free printables and ideas for everything from hostess gifts to Easter favors in this DIY … Read more

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Visit Beautiful Canada: Stay at the Fairmont Empress Hotel

Victoria, BC: This beautiful, sleepy island is home to a true Canadian landmark, The Fairmont Empress Hotel.  I visited here when I was a child, and had memories of walking into the grand building and eating at its fancy restaurant.  When we planned a tour of British Colombia for a family vacation, I couldn’t imagine … Read more

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Make these in Minutes: A Cute Little Easter Chick Dessert

I’m back this week with a simple idea to dress up your Easter dessert table! It’s a completely edible treat, including wafer paper grass from World Market! Simply make your favorite frosted cupcakes (or grab some from your local bakery) and surround them with edible grass. Top with your favorite foil-wrapped holiday chocolate. Imagine how … Read more

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Make this Easy Bunny Tails Easter Treat with Free Tag

Hunting for the perfect Easter treat or Egg Hunt party favor?  Look no further!  These are super easy, totally cute, and there’s a free printable! 🙂 I put my donut holes in mini paint pails, but you can put them in anything. 🙂  Attach a bow and one of the Bunny Tail free printable tags … Read more

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Add Beautiful Green Accessories to Your Design and Celebrate Spring

  I have always loved blue, but particularly navy.  As a matter of fact, my bedroom when I was a tween had beautiful navy wallpaper with the prettiest white flowers on it.  It was gorgeous!  I had a crisp white eyelet bedspread on my canopy bed with a matching canopy…every little girl’s dream. 🙂  A … Read more

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Sweets: Easter Bunny Cookies, Two Ways

From St. Patrick’s Day treats to Easter treats… it’s a quick turn around between holidays, so let’s get you ready to dazzle, create and amaze this spring! We’re talking easter bunny cookies, two ways. You could say level 1 difficulty and level 2; we’re going to focus on level 1 today, but here’s a quick … Read more

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Make these Easy Chocolate Covered Peeps with Marshmallow Tails

Easter is just around the corner and that means it’s time for cute bunny crafts and candy!  Here is a cute and relatively easy DIY to spruce up those peeps and make them even cuter than they already are. 😉 What you’ll need: Lollipop Sticks Chocolate Chips (I used milk chocolate) Shortening Bunny Peeps Parchment … Read more

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Cute and Easy Felt and Canvas Shamrock Pennant Banner

St. Patty’s Day is around the corner and today we’re making a super simple DIY Felt and Canvas Shamrock pennant banner that is SO easy you’ll be making one for every occasion. 🙂 Have you seen these pre-made and cut canvas banner pieces? They make this banner take all of about 15 minutes. 🙂 Here’s … Read more

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Shopping: Perfect Spring Dresses for Girls

The weather is warming up, the days are getting longer, and I’m sure wherever you’re located, you are starting to see signs of spring on the horizon.  It’s hard to believe that Easter is only a couple of weeks away.  I think that Andy will probably draw the line this year when I try to … Read more

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Sweets: Rainbow Cake, a Second Way!

Remember last week we made a gloriously tall rainbow cake for St. Patrick’s Day? Well why not kill two rainbows with one stone? If you’re going to all the trouble of coloring your cake batter six ways, let’s use that leftover goodness to make a whole new treat! It’s simple as can be. Fill cupcake … Read more

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Garlic and Herb, Cheesy Pepperoni Pizza Rolls!

What?! Yup… Pizza Rolls! Because everyone loves pizza! And they are as good if not even better than they look and sound. Pizza in a roll form…. come on! These may become a staple in your home… good thing they are easy to put together! Make them tonight and see the smiles of joy come … Read more

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Wedding Trends: Save the Dates

Spring is in the air and that means wedding season is right around the corner!  Woohoo!  I get emails frequently from soon to be brides, looking for advice on planning and designing their big day.  One of my favorite things to tell them is that it’s not difficult to personalize this most personal of occasions.  With … Read more

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Easy to Make Magically Delicious Rainbow Cake

I’m just an Irish girl at heart, and with St. Patrick’s Day just around the corner, it’s time to celebrate by making the magically delicious rainbow cake. Turn up the volume on your celebration this year! Add simple chocolate coin candy detail for that extra festive sparkle! Next, it’s time to play with food coloring. … Read more

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4 of the Prettiest Books to Decorate With

I frequently get asked about the books around my house and what my favorite books to decorate with are.  If you’ve been following me for a while, you have probably noticed stacks of books everywhere…antique books, design books, photography books, cookbooks…you name it.  Yes, I love pretty picture books to look at, but more importantly … Read more

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Create a Family Room Office Nook in a small space

I don’t know about in your house, but in ours, the computer is front and center in the middle of all the action.  I’ve shown you our office nook up in our bedroom, but this one is where the computer is and where most of the “real” work happens.  When we moved into our house … Read more

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DIY: How to Make a Felt Circle Garland

As you’ve probably noticed, I’m slightly obsessed with garlands. 😉  Anything hanging from the ceiling or on the walls really makes it look like a celebration.  Whether you’re throwing an actual party, or just celebrating life and wanting to bring color into your space, you can’t go wrong with a garland!  Here’s a quick and … Read more

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Design Update: The Avendale House Kitchen Remodel

It’s been a while since I gave an update on the design project over at the Avendale house, and exciting thins are happening!  We started with the twin’s rooms, the blue room and the pink, green and navy room, but things have also been busy in the family room, dining room, living room, nook and … Read more

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