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Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Lovely, Fragrant, Lavender

I have always loved the smell of lavender.  I can remember as a little girl going to the State Fair every year and there was a booth manned by a lavender farmer.  I thought it was the most divine thing I had ever seen, or smelled.


Don't you love this simple centerpiece made with vintage bottles, a vintage bottle crate and simple lavender sprigs, lovely!


Lavender can grow almost anywhere in the United States.  Think about it, Lavender has grown in England and France for Centuries, yet the climates are quite different.  Give lavender plenty of well drained loamy soil and it's a happy plant.  
Check which varieties are hardy in your growing zone.  This is what the lavender fields looked like when I was in the south of France.  It was breathtaking to see lavender fields next to centuries old farmhouses.
If you are entertaining overnight guests, think about putting a few sprigs of lavender on the bedside table, it will make the room smell so good.  Here you see it with bottles of Hydrangea and delphinium.
What a simple and beautiful way to add the fragrance of lavender to any room. Tiny sprigs of lavender are wrapped around a votive and held on with twine and raffia,  genius!
Consider a small organic sprig for garnishing lemonade or Iced Tea. Your guest will feel extra special.  If you think lavender is an odd garnish, remember it is in "Herbs de Provence" and used regularly in France and Italy.
So if your looking for something beautiful & fragrant next time your entertaining, consider lavender.  It's been making our senses smile for centuries :)

Monday, April 09, 2012

Spring Fling Give-Away

I recently went shopping at Simply Home Boutique here in Windsor, CO www.simplyhomeflorals.com  and couldn't resist getting a few things for a Spring give-away:)
  The crown Jewel in this give-away is the Gianna Rose French Milled Soaps and soap-dish. I have a couple of Gianna Rose Soaps, and it was more than tempting to keep this set for myself :) This set includes the cutest little hen and 3 of her little eggs.  She sits in a porcelain soap dish that is so dainty.
I'm also including two willow nests with greenery, moss and lichen that makes them look like you plucked them right out of the garden.  To set in these nests I found 2 adorable bird ornaments made of wood and other natural materials.  These adorable birds can be hung as well as sit in the nest.
I also love the little hen and her eggs in one of the nests.  I think this would be so pretty in a guest bath or powder room :)
The finishing touch in this give-away is a cute little Spring Lamb Candle by Tag.  I think he's just adorable, and I confess, I got one for myself :)
To Enter this give-away just leave a comment telling me what your favorite item in the give-away is


For extra entries you can 
1) post this give-away on Facebook
2) Tweet about this give-away
3) Tell me how you would like to use any of the items in the give-away
Make sure you leave me comments telling me what you've done so I know to give you the entries.
I will be drawing for this give-away on April 15th
Happy Spring.
The Winner of This Give-Away Is Suzanne Clark, Congratulations Suzanne :)

Friday, April 06, 2012

Vintage Easter Cards

I wanted to wish you all a Happy and Blessed Easter.  We've having such a beautiful Spring here in N. Colorado.  Everything is leafing and blooming about a month ahead of schedule.
I'm hoping you enjoy these vintage Easter cards.  There is so much you can do with them. Use them as gift tags on Easter Baskets.  As place setting cards for Easter Dinner or Brunch.
Easter and Spring is such a time of promise and re-birth.  I just couldn't let it go by without wishing you and yours the Happiest of Easters.
 I would love to hear from my readers how you enjoy celebrating Easter.  My son's Birthday is around Easter time. As a matter of fact, he's had 2 birthdays on Easter.  

 We've had plenty of Easter egg hunts at his birthday parties :)  His first birthday was on Easter and I couldn't resist having a big "Peter Rabbit" themed party.
I would also love to hear any fun ideas you might have for these vintage Easter Cards. I love hearing from my readers <3
I have a confession, somewhere in me is an advice columnist :) I would love to have a radio show where people call in with their entertaining, cooking, decorating, etc... problems and I help them solve their dilemmas.  Well a girl can dream can't she?
From my home to yours, I wish you Happy Easter :)