Tag: decorating

Categories
Crafts Make

Pumpkin Ideas :: Glow In The Dark Pumpkins

Pumpkin Ideas Glow In The Dark Pumpkins

Tis the season for fun and festive pumpkin ideas, fabulous costumes and evenings spent whispering ghost stories around a fire pit.

Pumpkin Ideas Glow In The Dark Pumpkins

Every October my mind begins to swirl with a plethora of festive pumpkin ideas. First of all I adore pumpkins and secondly , since I was a wee little nipper,  I have loved every single moment of the pumpkin carving experience. From sketching out ideas for just the right face, to reaching my hand into the cold stringy goo, to roasting the harvested seeds, I love the tradition of carving pumpkins.

Pumpkin Ideas Glow In The Dark Pumpkins

In fact, I still treasure the experience today with my girls even though their tiny chubby hands that I once held and helped navigate the slippery orange orbs have grown into long beautifully manicured ones that can carve and cutout the most amazing creations.

Pumpkin Ideas Glow In The Dark Pumpkins

The other night as we huddled around the newspaper filled island, brainstorming our pumpkin ideas, I was struck with a glowing idea!! What would happen if I used glow sticks inside the carved pumpkins instead of candles????

Magic would happen, that’s what.

Pumpkin Ideas Glow In The Dark Pumpkins

Red and yellow and green glowing marvelously magical pumpkins that won’t catch on fire or blowout (and can even become your very own night light in your bedroom if you wish).

Pumpkin Ideas Glow In The Dark Pumpkins

And that’s part of what makes Halloween so much fun if you ask me. The marvelous magic that falls over the land for an evening of pure imagination.

More fun & festive Pumpkin Ideas :: 

Wishing you & yours a magical Halloween,

Wenderly

Categories
Decorate Fetching Finds Home Accents Inspire Parties

Fabulous Find Friday ::: Antique Enamel Bowl

IMG_1175

Have you ever fallen in love (whilst antiquing) with something that you don’t necessarily need but just HAVE to have? 

It’s the story of my life. 

But most of the time that something that I don’t necessarily need quickly becomes something that I can’t live without once I get home. 

This antique enamel bowl is one of those things…

antique-enamel-bowl-empty

When I first laid my eyes upon that smooth, perfectly white, flawless surface I just knew that I HAD to have it. 

antique-enamel-bowl-close-up

But once I ran my finger along the perfectly painted forest green edge, well then, I knew that there was no turning back. 

And guess what? 

I’m so very delighted that I acted on my impulse! This dear antique enamel white bowl has served me well.

It makes a positively precious container for all of my herbs that I keep beside my kitchen window. 

antique-enamel-bowl-herbs-horizntal

When entertaining, it makes the most delightful (leak free) beverage tub.

antique-enamel-bowl-ice-waters

After a long day of antiquing, it makes the perfect foot bath in switch to soak my aching feet.

*Not pictured*

And then when I may or may not purchase a plethora of pretty flowers?

antique-enamel-bowl-gerbers-final

It adoringly displays those as well.  

If you don’t already own an antique white enamel bowl, (or twelve) *ahem* well then, I strongly suggest that you do. 

You won’t be sorry.

Happy Friday All!

Love,

Wenderly

 

Categories
Decorate Fetching Finds Inspire Musings

Fabulous Find Friday ::: Antique Measuring cups

I recently enjoyed an afternoon antiquing with a few of my favorite people, Amy, Bridget and Angie. We had a ball. Antiquing is one of my very favorite things to do but antiquing with some of my very favorite people? Well that is just sublime. My last Friday Find helped in tidying up the loo. This week my fabulous find whilst antiquing is something that I can use all around my house.

My find? These darling antique white measuring cups.

And I must admit that I am so very smitten with them.

 

antique-measuring-bowls-sitting-empty

I think that I may have actually squealed *out loud* when I saw them. I’m subtle like that.

I use them for so many different things in the kitchen.

And I have incorporated them into my home decor for Spring.

I mean if that isn’t the sweetest thing you’ve ever seen?

A nest that’s nestled all snug in its own nest of antique measuring cups? Precious.

My coffee table is now happily adorned.

Which makes me happy as well.

I may just try them as jewelry holders next. What would you do with a stack of antique measuring cups?  Do share!

Happy Finding and have a Fabulous Friday friends!

~Wenderly

 

Categories
Decorate Fetching Finds Inspire

Fabulous Find Friday! ::: Towel Ladder

Today is the very first Fabulous Find Friday on Wenderly.

You see, I love to find things. Sometimes I go out on a search to find something, and other times certain objects just tend to find me. Have you ever had that happen to you? You know what I mean don’t you? When you’re innocently walking along in a store and POOF something just jumps out and finds you, grabs ahold of your heart and soul, convincing you that you simply MUST buy it and take it home with you?

Please tell me that happens to you.

Well in an attempt to justify I mean share some of the fabulous finds that I come across on my ventures, I have decided to start a Fabulous Find Friday here on my blog. I figure that it will be both helpful (in explaining to my husband why I must keep up my quest in finding things) and fun and for you!

This is a bathroom at our cabin that tends to be rather sweet, yet very small.

Storage is at a minimum and therefore we needed to find a solution for the plethora of towels needed to accommodate our family. I set out to a favorite antique mall one Saturday morning and stumbled across that darling ladder. I knew the moment I laid eyes on it that I had found the perfect fit! Rustic and simple, not too big nor too small and just the right color.

Need a quaint, tidy and inexpensive storage solution for towels? Try a ladder!

Happy Finding and have a Fabulous Friday friends!

Wenderly

 

Categories
Decorate Inspire

Autumn Splendor

I love sharing decorating ideas full of autumn splendor and delight!

Autumn.

Deep sigh.

Autumn just seems to transform the land into a real-life fairytale, doesn’t it? The blistering summer heat cools into a comforting chill that refreshes the heart and invigorates the soul.

I love the way the days become shorter as the air becomes crisp…

the way the plants slowly stop growing before curling up for a long winter’s nap…

the spectacular splendor of leaves as they burst into color making the world a marvelous spectacle to behold…

wrapping my hands around that first hot cup of coffee for warmth as the frosty night air turns into a blazing Autumn sunrise…

nestling up to that first crackling fire in the fireplace…

relishing in that first bite of a delicious honey crisp apple…

inhaling the intoxicating aroma of pumpkin muffins baking…

listening to the cheering of a crowd from a far-off  football game echoing through the dark night…

wrapping myself up in a cozy warm sweater…

wearing my very favorite pair of jeans with my oldest very favorite pair of soft leather boots.

And I especially love hunting for pumpkins…

and finding just the right one…or twelve…but who’s counting?

You may already know this about me but I have a pumpkin problem. I love pumpkins and everything about them. Each Autumn I make a quiet promise myself to have some self control and curtail my pumpkin hunting to a minimum. But alas, my pumpkin-loving heart always seems to win out.

I think that pumpkins are magical.

And mystical and perfectly wonderful.

A pumpkin was Cinderella’s ride to the ball after-all.

Pumpkins adorn my every room as Autumn ushers in its fairytale spell…

they linger on tables tucked within candles.

They are perched upon pedestals dressed in satin ribbons,

placed upon antique white compotes on coffee tables to become part of an afternoon conversation,

and nestled into urns sprinkled throughout the house.

Aren’t you in love with pumpkins too?

Take a moment today, to enjoy the splendor and majesty of this most splendid season.

Happy Autumn!

~Wenderly

Categories
Decorate

Nesting – Decorating for Spring

Nesting | Wenderly.com

I love nesting for spring with fabulous finds I have to fluff my home.

This Spring I’ve been busy nesting. And by nesting I don’t mean getting ready to give birth to a bouncing baby.

Oh heavens no. 

I mean that I’ve been doing what I do when life gets tough and I need a distraction from stress and certain realities that occur in my life when I’m not quite ready to embrace them. Realities like my first born baby will be finishing her middle school career in a mere five weeks and my second born baby will be finishing her elementary school career on the very same day.

It reminds me of how very soon my little baby birdies will be leaving the nest. Snifffffffffff. Sob.

I so love the merry month of May. However, it usually entails a mad rush of social and school activities that requires a color coded calendar to help navigate the chaotic schedules of four people. So it makes perfect sense that in between meetings, emails, choir concerts, lacrosse games, soccer games, dance classes, shopping for 8th grade class D.C trip, deciding on decorations for the 5th grade party and reminding myself to breathe in and out, I clean and set up little displays, vignettes if you will, around my house for all to enjoy.

Don’t you do that when you don’t have the time to do anything else?

You don’t?

Well maybe you should. I find that I get lost in the creativity and the stress just seems to melt away. Until my phone rings and I find myself talking and vignetting and looking for the very phone I am talking on, so that I can snap a photo of the vignette that I am making. 

Cough, cough.

This is my life.

Anyhoo, back to the nests. I love to decorate with nests. They are so simple and so endearing. These are some of the sweet ideas that swirled into my cluttered head as I as nested and de-stressed the other day.

A tiny egg holder is the perfect place to rest a tiny nest filled with tiny speckled eggs.

Milk glass urns make a gorgeous specimen in which the nestle a larger nest filled with aqua speckled eggs. I have two of these urns flagging my kitchen sink.

Nesting | Wenderly.com

I love gazing at them while I wash my hands throughout the day or while I’m preparing a meal. So soothing and relaxing.

My family room mantel is lined with black metal urns with nests filled with pale blue speckled eggs in between.

But my very favorite has to be a nest daintily placed in my antique silver compote.

I love the way the nest filled with my favorite colored eggs is set off by the multicolored tarnished silver.

So simple and elegant. A sweet sophistication. I have this displayed in my family room on my beloved magazine tray. It may become a permanent inhabiter of this most cherished spot.

I love my magazines. My little magazine tray represents a slice of self indulgence that usually involves putting my feet up with a piping hot cup of coffee or a relaxing glass of wine.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Just gazing at it this very minute makes me instantly relax.

So relaxed in fact that I almost forgot that in a mere five weeks my little birdies will be moving on to middle and high school.

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah.

At least I’ll still have my sweet Oakley by my side.

Happy nesting and de-stressing.

Wenderly

Categories
Decorate Inspire Parties

Setting a Black & White Scene for Halloween

I decided to do something different for Halloween. I made it a black & white affair.

But don’t worry.  No ball gowns or black ties necessary unless of couse it’s part of your costume.

This year I’ve decided to go black and white for an upscale look without all the fuss.

I’ve got a few simple tricks up my sleeve for a beautiful table in no time flat.

My inspiration came from the plethora of pumpkins that I’ve collected throughout the house during the fall season.

I have a pumpkin problem, what can I say? I adore pumpkins.

My table uses white pumpkins with polka dot holes drilled through them as the centerpiece. Years ago I saw Martha Stewart talk about using a drill to carve holes in pumpkins and I have found it to be my very favorite way to “carve” the magical orbs that I seem to collect every year. What I really love about this centerpiece is that they end up giving off a most lovely glow of orange, a subtle accent of the traditional color of the holiday.

Look how easy it is to make this beautiful centerpiece.

Begin with a white pumpkin or pumpkins.

I cut the hole in the bottom of my pumpkin to keep the sweet integrity and character of the pumpkin.

Scoop out the seeds and toast them if you like. My dear friend Amy of She Wears Many Hats has a wonderful recipe for toasting pumpkin seeds click here to get it.

Once you’ve cleaned out all of the seeds, you’ll need an electric drill and a one inch drill bit.

Now it’s time for the fun part. Mwahahahhahahahaha.

Simply drill as many holes as you like all over the surface of your pumpkin. (But don’t drill too many or you’ll be able to see the candle inside.)

It’s easy and slightly messy, the slower you drill the less pumpkin you’ll have flying all over your kitchen.

Or if you were in a mad dash like me, you’ll have pumpkin flying all over your kitchen, in your hair, on your shirt, up your nose…

Next grab a glass votive and a candle,

put it on a small plate (to protect your tablecloth) light the candle and place the pumpkin over the top. Nothing tricky there, right?

Aren’t they just precious?

Next I wanted the table to have a subtle Halloween feel. I found this fabulous black web tablecloth that I found at my grocery store but you could even use a black tulle to give a similar effect.

I placed it over a soft grey tablecloth to accent the webs.

Next I set the table with some festive black & white dishes.

I used chipboard letters painted in black glitter paint as the place cards.

I found some black & white glasses to add into the mix for some blood red kiddie cocktails with black plastic spider ice cubes. Or an adult version.

A black boa wreath with a crow perched in the middle makes for a spooky decoration that can hang on a door in a window

I just hot glued the black boa to a styrofoam wreath and wired the crow in the center.

 

Doesn’t get an easier than that does it?

In no time at all, my dining room has been transformed into a festive, sophisticated, black & white Halloween treat.

 

Elegant meets easy.

Dinner anyone?

Wishing you a spooky but splendid Halloween!

~Wenderly

 

Categories
Decorate Inspire Sponsored Post

Gameday Tailgate Tips

Fall and football make the perfect combination, don’t they?

The brillant blue skies and the crisp Autumn air make a stunning backdrop for tailgating and game watching.

All of my senses come alive. The colors just seem to pop, the celebratory cheering of the crowds seems to cut through the cool air for miles and the food smells exceptionally fabulous as it sizzles away on the grill.

Oh yeah…and then there’s the football part…

Ahem.

Ohio State football has been an important part of my family for as long as I can remember. And for as long as I can remember I have, well, um, to be honest, gravitated more towards the tailgating and entertaining side of the sport.

That is kind of a sport, right?

The funny part is, my dad actually played football for Ohio State under Woody Hayes. First string linebacker #60 to be exact.

Now I did try to embrace the sport when I was younger. I came up with the idea to be a water girl for my high school football team as a way to show hommage to the sport. While it was exciting and had it’s obvious perks, it was just too stinky and sweaty and I soon found myself back in the stands with my friends putting lip gloss on waiting eagerly for the social that would follow. What can I say? I tried.

A few weeks ago my dad was invited, with other alumni football players, to come back and form the tunnel at the beginning of the first OSU game. He was actually able to get tickets for the whole family and I’ve got to say it was a spectacular experience.

(My daddy is the one in the middle, between 2 legendary fellow teammates.)

We had front row seats and I must admit that I was totally enthralled in the game, caught up in the cheering and screaming and jumping out of my seat like all of the other hardcore fans.

Especially when they made a homerun…I mean touchdown.

Snort. I couldn’t resist. *Hi Daddy*

 

All joking aside, it was truly a magical day as we watched the Buckeyes beat Akron, one that we will all cherish for years to come.

This past weekend I had the pleasure of hosting a tailgate party, sponsored by Bush’s® Beans, in the comforts of my own home as we watched the Buckeyes beat Illinois. I had so much fun getting ready for friends to come over to share a relaxing afternoon of eating and fun. Oh, and football too.

Here are a few entertaining tips for a stress-free tailgating experience that can be used at home or in the parking lot.

Decorations need to be simple & festive.

I’m a big fan of paper napkin banners. I use them for everything! They are perfect for game day as they are easy and inexpensive to make. It’s an instant darling decoration.

My next tip…organization is key. I like to use a condiment caddy. I put one together using an antique milk carrier but you could use anything- a basket or even a deep tray.

The condiment caddy holds all of the essentials in one handy place. Napkins, utensils, condiments and cups are all easily carried and contained.

I find it handy to tie a sharpie marker onto the side of my caddy so that guests can claim their cup by writing their name on it!

And speaking of drinks, check out this handy tip that My Yanni enlightened me with! Mix about 1/4 cup iodized salt with about a of cup of water and pour it into your tub filled with ice to chill your drinks in about  half the time! I kid you not. My Yanni saw this on Myth Busters episode #29.

Our Root Beer, Cola and waters were frosty in no time flat.

Another simple time saver tip is to tie a bottle opener onto the handle of the drink tub.

That way nobody ever has to go looking for it and I always know that it won’t get lost. It’s a win, win.

See how easy it can be to entertain without stress and fuss?

And guess what? The food was as easy as the entertaining! We served Spicy Italian Brat-Kabobs and Greek Fetish Burgers alongside tasty Bush’s Baked Beans.

I’d like to say a big thank you to the kind folks at Bush’s Baked Beans for sponsoring our tailgate!

It was a perfect day. I was relaxed which meant My Yanni was relaxed and in turn we got to enjoy our guests, the food and the game. Hope you’ll stop back for the delicious recipes and a fabulous Bush’s Beans giveaway!

~Wenderly

Disclamer: The tailgate and giveaway are in partnership with Bush’s Beans. However my opinions, thoughts and photos are 100% my own.

Categories
Decorate Inspire Parties

Trash to Treasure

 

I love to go antiquing.

There is something so magical and medicinal about rising early with the sun, grabbing a cup of coffee and forging out in search of treasures just waiting patiently to be found.

It’s all about the hunt.

The anticipation…mixed with imagination that just sets my soul on fire.

I LOVE it.

I also love to piddle around in my flower beds. When I stumble upon a treasure that I can enjoy outside amongst my flowers beds I am filled with glee!

Last summer I found this chandelabra while antiquing and I shared how easy it is to make when talking about Dining Al Fresco in Style.

Today I’d like to share another cherished find.

A flower cart. A rusty…metal…flower cart.

But it’s not just any ordinary flower cart.

With a little imagination, a simple sanding,

and some spray primer and paint, you, my friends, can have this…

a darling, charming entertaining cart. It’s got wheels for easy transportation, two shelves to fill with all sorts of goodies and can be enjoyed for entertaining inside or out!

I even found that enamel bowl while out treasure hunting…

Oh and that sweet vintage glass holder too! I switch out the glasses to match whatever color palette I may be using!

Antiquing and treasure hunting has become a hobby of mine.

Go ahead…venture out with an open mind and a full imagination!

The possibilities are endless!

Happy Hunting!

Wenderly

Categories
Decorate Desserts Inspire Parties

Scarily Easy Tips for a Halloween Party!

It’s scary how much I love Halloween!

However, Halloween always seems like such a hectic time of year. We’ve finally adjusted to the back-to-school routine and then *BAM* it’s time to make costumes, carve pumpkins and get ready for trick-or-treat! The next thing you know I’m watching the Macy’s day parade while baking a turkey and then turn around to find that Christmas carols are playing and my kids are married and have kids of their own! O.k. perhaps it’s not that hectic but it seems like it is especially when my oldest is actually turning 13 years old this weekend.

Sniff.

A TEENAGER?

How can this be?

It was only yesterday that I was looking into the sweet, pink, wrinkled little face of my first born child wasn’t it?

<gulp, sniff, sob>

See my point?

Time flies in the blink of an eye.

And this is precisely why I am so happy to have these quick and easy little ditties to turn to while I’m trying to forget, I mean, celebrate my first born turning into a teenager.

Wait until you see how easy it is to pull together a last minute Halloween soiree in about 30 minutes flat.

First I’m going to show you how to make cute little spider cookies with oreo cookies!

I made these for her Birthday Halloween themed party about 6 years ago, when I was allowed to do cute little things for her party. I believe that I got the idea from Martha herself, but I can’t be certain.

These are the ingredients: double stuff Oreo® cookies, mini M&M®‘s, rope black licorice and white icing.

First thing you’ll want to do is make the icing. Just mix 1/2 cup of confectioner’s sugar with 2 tablespoons of water. Easy peasy.

Pour the icing into a sandwich baggie.

By the way my tween soon to be TEEN helped me with this fun little treat.

I have to milk every opportunity to share time with her and I’m not above enticing her to assist me in photos.

Squeeze excess air out of the baggie and twist to keep icing in the tip of the baggie.

This will be your glue for the spider eyes.

Now it’s time for the spider legs. Just snip off pairs of 2 inch pieces and badda boom badda bing…spider legs!

Gently insert licorice into the sides of the double stuff oreo. This is why I like to use double stuff oreos, you’ll have plenty of room to fit the licorice!

Cut the tip off of the plastic baggie filled with icing and gently squeeze out 2 cute little dollops of icing where the eyes should be…

and place 2 mini m&m’s on top of the icing.

Aren’t they just the cutest little spiders that you ever did see?

Now it’s time for some fun decorations…all you need are a few paper napkins!

Now if you’re like me you have a drawer (o.k. a few drawers) of festive paper napkins. And if you don’t, well, do yourself a favor and go buy some. Now be sure to buy 2 sets like I do so that you’ll always have some on hand and I won’t be the only crazy person with drawers full of paper napkins! This summer I was reading one of my 432 magazines, I think that it was Country Living, anyway I saw some darling tablecloths made out of paper napkins and thought “great scott! now I can use up some of my napkin stash!” I decided to take it a step further and came up with the idea to make banners with the paper napkins as well! I mean everyone needs celebratory banners hanging about don’t they?

Here’s all that you’ll need to make some darling banners to hang around the house.

Napkins and ribbon.

Fold the napkin in 1/2 leaving fold of the napkin at the top then cut on a diagonal upward leaving the fold in tact at the widest part.

This is the easy way to cut out a perfect triangle.

Next lay out your napkins in the pattern that you want them to hang. I personally like to use 4 different napkins with one being a smaller size and alternate that smaller one between the larger ones.

Oh, and you’ll want glue too. Forgot to mention that earlier. Sorry. I’m overworked and underpaid.

Open up the triangles and lay the ribbon in the crease of the napkin and then dab a dot of glue at the crease and tip.

Gently smooth out any wrinkles and repeat until you’ve used desired amount of napkin triangles. I like to use this banner idea for any occasion – birthdays, Christmas, Valentine’s Day – truly you could go on and on…see why I need drawers of paper napkins?

I like to hang my banners along my fireplaces.

It’s festive dontcha think?

Now for the tablecloth, actually I decided to make a table runner at the last moment to save time.

Here’s what you’ll need: paper napkins and scotch tape.

Lay the napkins out in a pattern that makes you swoon…

turn them over and tape the seems together. That’s it.

And then my friend, you’ve got a party!

Decorating and entertaining really don’t have to be expensive and difficult!

Just let you’re imagination run wild.

Wishing you a spooktacular stress-free Halloween!

Wenderly