January 10, 2014
Sweetest Pin - Metallic Vase Fillers, easy DIY
I am introducing my latest blog series- Sweetest Pin.
There are so many amazing inspirations out there, and I love how Pinterest helps me keep them all organized!
Here is my first inspirational pin! I just found this idea today, and just love how Landee See, Landee Do created these vase fillers with thumbtacks.
I am so into metallic colors right now and I love the simplicity and creative use of simple materials - thumbtacks! Wonderful drama from a simple material.
What do you think?
Kari
Labels:
decor,
inspiration,
simple diy,
sweetest pin,
thumbtacks
I am an interior designer, wife and mother and I enjoy making children's decor, home decor and gifts. I love working with patterned paper, pairing colorful papers together, coordinating ribbon and embellishments.
This blog is to share fun and useful tips and hopefully bring joy in your day.
January 5, 2014
Countdown to Downton Abbey
Countdown to Downton Abbey, Season 4!!
If you didn't know, I am a HUGE Downton Abbey fan! I have been watching from the very first episode, and I am hooked. It is a long wait between series, so I am ecstatic to finally have the LONG wait over!
This Sunday night airs the 4th season. I thought it would be fun to show the images of the group photos of each season. One of my favorite parts about Downton Abbey, is its fashion. Each season responds with the changing time and fashion.
Downton Abbey, Season 1
Downton Abbey, Season 2
Downton Abbey, Season 3
Downton Abbey, Season 4
Season 4 - Babies are here.
How will Mary cope without Matthew?
Will Lady Edith finally find true love?
What is new with Daisy?
Season 4 - Babies are here.
How will Mary cope without Matthew?
Will Lady Edith finally find true love?
What drama will Rose bring to the show?
What advice will Violet offer?
Will Robert and Cora's love endure?
Will Robert and Carson embrace change?
What is new with Daisy?
And the gentleman downstairs?
What will happen? I can't wait to find out!
Please let me know what you are waiting to find out??
Labels:
Carson,
Cora,
Downton Abbey,
Downton Abbey Season 4,
Lady Edith,
Lady Mary,
PBS fan,
Robert,
Rose,
Violet
I am an interior designer, wife and mother and I enjoy making children's decor, home decor and gifts. I love working with patterned paper, pairing colorful papers together, coordinating ribbon and embellishments.
This blog is to share fun and useful tips and hopefully bring joy in your day.
December 31, 2013
My Winter Mantle
I have been wanting to share my winter mantle, but got caught up with all of the Christmas duties and festivities and haven't had a chance to share. This is my first fireplace, and I have had such fun coming up with how to dress it up with each season.
My five year old added the pine cones from the back yard. It has been a family affair! The sugared garland and clear beaded sprays with the branches, were the only new items I added to this mantle. All other items I have had for a couple of years, and never put them together. It is fun to use what you have in new ways!
The silver bowl, was my husband's grandmothers. I debated cleaning it, but liked the oxidized look. It gave a nice backdrop to my nativity scene.
I hope you enjoyed, and I would love to hear your comments!
Happy New Year! I hope you stop by again soon in 2014!
Labels:
Christmas decor,
fireplace mantle,
gold silver,
silver décor,
simple fireplace decor,
winter décor,
winter fireplace mantle
I am an interior designer, wife and mother and I enjoy making children's decor, home decor and gifts. I love working with patterned paper, pairing colorful papers together, coordinating ribbon and embellishments.
This blog is to share fun and useful tips and hopefully bring joy in your day.
December 15, 2013
Stocking Stuffer Giveaway! Polar Express Believe Bells
Stocking Stuffer Giveaway!
Win four of my Polar Express Bells for
last minute stocking stuffers!
Perfect for filling those stockings. They look just like the bell Santa gives as the first gift of Christmas in the Polar Express!
The tags read:
"Believe Bells
The bell rings for those who truly believe."
The tags read:
"Believe Bells
The bell rings for those who truly believe."
Just 2 simple steps to win!
1. Favorite your favorite item listed in my Etsy shop.
2. Follow me on this blog.
CONGRATS TO KELLY ROLLINS!!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
***These will arrive by Christmas!***
CONGRATS TO KELLY ROLLINS!!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
***These will arrive by Christmas!***
Labels:
Believe bells,
child's stocking stuffer,
Christmas giveaway,
etsy giveaway,
Polar Express,
stocking stuffer giveaway
I am an interior designer, wife and mother and I enjoy making children's decor, home decor and gifts. I love working with patterned paper, pairing colorful papers together, coordinating ribbon and embellishments.
This blog is to share fun and useful tips and hopefully bring joy in your day.
December 4, 2013
5 Outdoorsy Gift Ideas for Dad - Guest Post
5 Outdoorsy Gift Ideas for Dad
Dads can be
notoriously difficult to shop for. Many require only a few simple pleasures to
be content, which they probably already own. So how do you choose a gift you
know he’ll use? If your dad enjoys being outside, whether to garden, camp or do
woodwork, here are a few suggestions for outdoorsy gifts to get your shopping
started this holiday season.
1.
Camping equipment – If
the dad in your family likes to escape to the wilderness now and then – whether
in a tent, RV or cabin – find outdoorsy gifts he can use while communing with
nature. Even if he’s a camping pro, there are probably a few useful items he
doesn’t own yet. Hint about things like camping stoves, high-power flashlights,
cast iron cooking equipment or even a simple flint and steel kit. Camping is a gear-heavy
hobby, which makes it a great place to start brainstorming gift ideas for dad.
2.
Lawn and garden equipment – Whether
he’s into gardening, landscaping, or just wants to make chores easier, yard
tools can be a great gift idea for dad. If he turns over the soil in the
vegetable garden by hand every year, maybe he’d like a garden
tiller to help the job go faster. Or perhaps a weed eater is
just the ticket to trim the edges of the yard and cut in close around trees and
walkways for a manicured lawn he’ll be proud of.
3.
Tools – While the dad in
your family may already own “must-have” tools, like a power drill, circular saw
and a trusty hammer, there may be a more specialized tool that he hasn’t yet gotten
around to picking up. For woodworking, consider a lathe, planer or nice set of
chisels. If he likes working on cars, look into a new set of wrenches or
pneumatic tools. Whatever makes his job easier or lets him improve his hobbies
will be the perfect gift idea for dad.
4.
Fishing and hunting equipment – If
your dad comes home from weekend trips with a few trout or a deer, find out
what kind of gear he’d like to have for his next excursion. The right outdoorsy
gift might be a new fly-fishing reel, proper tools to prepare the meat he
brings home or a sturdy pair of boots for tromping through the woods.
5.
Travel – What
do you get the man who truly has everything? How about a camping trip in the
Adirondack Mountains, a fly-fishing trip in Montana or road trip to the nearest
National Park? Pick your dad’s favorite outdoor destination, or one he’s always
wanted to visit, and plan a trip together. It’ll be much more memorable than
another tie or pack of socks.
Keep in mind that
very few of the items listed above last forever. So even if your dad seems to
have everything he needs, maybe an upgrade of his current equipment or
replacement parts to make his tools run more smoothly is in order. Carefully
poke around the garage to see what may be missing or outdated, or ask what he
wishes he could replace. Sure, his old push mower will usually start after about 15 tugs on the pull cord, but maybe it’s
time to upgrade to a new zero-turn riding mower. Always remember to give gift receipts in case he
has a preferred brand of tool, fishing rod or mower. And if something’s a
little out of your price range, talk to your siblings to see if you can pitch
in and get it for him together.
Guest Poster: Alex Kelly is a content specialist with a knack for providing practical home and garden advice. Kelly received an M.A. in Communication from The University of Dayton and has five years of experience in writing.
Guest Poster: Alex Kelly is a content specialist with a knack for providing practical home and garden advice. Kelly received an M.A. in Communication from The University of Dayton and has five years of experience in writing.
I am an interior designer, wife and mother and I enjoy making children's decor, home decor and gifts. I love working with patterned paper, pairing colorful papers together, coordinating ribbon and embellishments.
This blog is to share fun and useful tips and hopefully bring joy in your day.
November 28, 2013
Happy Thanksgiving!
Wishing you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving! This is my favorite holiday of the year! It is a perfect time to get together with family, but without the added pressure of buying gifts. Truly just a time to gather and be thankful for our loved ones!
How do you celebrate!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Kari
I am an interior designer, wife and mother and I enjoy making children's decor, home decor and gifts. I love working with patterned paper, pairing colorful papers together, coordinating ribbon and embellishments.
This blog is to share fun and useful tips and hopefully bring joy in your day.
August 30, 2013
My Summer (and first) Mantle - Beach Inspired
My Summer and (first) Mantle
I have been absent for some time...we moved, went on vacation, and both my girls are now in school and we are all getting settled. We moved from our first home built in 2000 to one built in 1957. I love the character of our "new" home. I can't wait to share it with you!
I am so excited to have my first fireplace! Here in Phoenix, they are more for show than function. I would drool with all the fabulous mantle styling I would see on link parties and Pinterest. I am so excited to share my first MANTLE - My Summer Mantle, with you!
My mantle is beach inspired. A wish to get away from the ever present heat.
We took the girls to the beach this summer. It was my youngest daughter's first trip to the ocean, and my oldest was a baby so it was a first time again for her. While there, I picked up another faux coral. If you saw my Succulent and Shell centerpiece, it was my backdrop.
My shell picture used to be in my living room of my old house, and the mirror in our bedroom.
The blue vase was my great grandmother's.
If you saw my bathroom in my old house, you would recognize my white coral. And my favorite books make another debut. First bought for my Grandma's 80th birthday party (for $2.00) I have found they go with any theme! Here they are at my Easter Décor.
We went to Hunnington Beach and Newport Beach, California this summer. I collected the drift wood in the jar. The barnacle was purchased at my favorite store in Laguna Beach. The gold "coined" plate was used in my St. Patrick's Day Decor Entryway
Now time to get ready for Fall!
What do you think about the fireplace color? it was painted white when we moved in. I can't decide if it should be a color or not. My husband likes it white. It is neutral, but is it too plain?
I would love to hear your thoughts!
Linking Up:
Linking Up:


I am an interior designer, wife and mother and I enjoy making children's decor, home decor and gifts. I love working with patterned paper, pairing colorful papers together, coordinating ribbon and embellishments.
This blog is to share fun and useful tips and hopefully bring joy in your day.
July 10, 2013
The Very Hungry Caterpillar, the cutest birthday theme!
Happy Summer! I was pinning on Pinterest and got distracted with the cutest party ideas for "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" party theme!
I love this gender neutral theme and would be great for a kid's birthday party or a baby shower.
I just love the bright colors, and the story always brings a smile to my face with all of the beautiful illustrations!

I love this gender neutral theme and would be great for a kid's birthday party or a baby shower.
I just love the bright colors, and the story always brings a smile to my face with all of the beautiful illustrations!
Love this tablescape from Project Nursery
Food!! from Cotton Bottom Mama
Bright and Fun Favors - Catch My Party - Brooklyn's Party
What's your favorite?
I am an interior designer, wife and mother and I enjoy making children's decor, home decor and gifts. I love working with patterned paper, pairing colorful papers together, coordinating ribbon and embellishments.
This blog is to share fun and useful tips and hopefully bring joy in your day.
May 4, 2013
The Style of the Kentucky Derby - HATS!
Today is the Kentucky Derby, and with it are a lot of fun traditions.
When I was about 14, I went with my family to Churchill Downs where they run the Kentucky Derby. It wasn't the day of the big race, but we still got to take in the experience of horse racing, mint juleps (I had the non-alcoholic version) and the HATS!
I love hats, but sadly this day and age people don't wear hats everyday. I wish there were more reasons to wear hats. Today I celebrate the amazing hats and style of the derby!


Which hat is your favorite?
To get in the spirit, here is the original Mint Julep recipe from the Kentucky Derby Website!
ENJOY!
I love hats, but sadly this day and age people don't wear hats everyday. I wish there were more reasons to wear hats. Today I celebrate the amazing hats and style of the derby!

Which hat is your favorite?
To get in the spirit, here is the original Mint Julep recipe from the Kentucky Derby Website!
The Early Times Mint Julep Recipe
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 cups water
- Sprigs of fresh mint
- Crushed ice
- Early Times Kentucky Whisky
- Silver Julep Cups
ENJOY!
Labels:
Churchill downs,
fashion,
hats,
Kentucky derby,
mint julep recipe,
recipe,
style
I am an interior designer, wife and mother and I enjoy making children's decor, home decor and gifts. I love working with patterned paper, pairing colorful papers together, coordinating ribbon and embellishments.
This blog is to share fun and useful tips and hopefully bring joy in your day.



























