Red, White and Blue Craft Ideas and Tablescapes These 3 red, white and blue flags are easy to make and the beginning of several possible tablescapes It’s the week before 4th of July and I wanted to make sure I gave you a quick and easy red, white and blue craft idea. It’s not too late because I’m going to show you one that is easy to make and doesn’t require a bunch of materials that you won’t be able to find. You will also be able to use these decorative mason jars on your table to create some beautiful looking tablescapes.  Most people who craft will probably have some red, white and ..read more

The finished product; a slice of the delicious cake and some homemade whipped cream.. JUMP TO UNION HOTEL CHOCOLATE CAKE RECIPE I know that when you look up recipes on the internet, everything advertises itself to be “the best”, “the most delicious”, “my favorite”. But listen to me, you guys. THIS is the most amazing chocolate cake! I like a good chocolate cake, but when you taste this one, you’ll see it goes beyond your average chocolate cake. It’s special. I can’t even remember where I originally saw this recipe and tried it. I do remember that I made it early on in my marriage, and my husb ..read more

Ingredients used to make vanilla paste. A lot of people have never heard about vanilla bean paste, and up until just a few years ago, I hadn’t either. I’m including a tutorial for homemade vanilla bean paste, as well as vanilla extract and vanilla sugar. Before we get started, I am going to tell you the difference between the three items, and I’ll give you my recommendations as to which form of vanilla works best in which recipes. JUMP TO VANILLA EXTRACT RECIPE JUMP TO VANILLA BEAN PASTE RECIPE JUMP TO VANILLA SUGAR RECIPE What is the Difference Between the Extract, the Paste and the Sugar ..read more

I will start with my own admission that I’m creating this procrastinator’s guide to Father’s Day gifts, because this year I admittedly dropped the ball. I figured I’m not the only one out there who feels like Father’s Day crept up on us when we weren’t paying attention. I’d like to say that I forgot Father’s Day was in June, but since it’s always in the same week as my birthday, I should have known better than to put off my shopping this year.   Do not panic! (I’m actually speaking to myself, as much as I am to you, the reader.) Father’s Day is less than a week away, but there is still t ..read more

This terracotta flower pot looks like it’s been outside for ages, but it’s all smoke and mirrors! When you look at the title of this post, I guess you could interpret it to mean that I’m talking about terracotta pots that have retired and may be nearing the end of their lives. But, don’t fret. This post is all about how to make new terracotta pots look old, so I’m going to teach you one method for aging your terracotta pots by using some simple acrylic paint, water and a natural sponge. Before I get into this easy tutorial, I want to share some thoughts I have on the subject of making new th ..read more

@megangoetzphoto The head table can include some flowers and candles and simple Mr & Mrs wooden signs  When you think about planning a backyard wedding, what first comes to mind? Hopefully you will think about all of the potential decorations you can use and how beautiful it will all look.   In my last post, I talked a lot about making the decision about whether a backyard wedding is feasible for you and the information you need to gather when making the decision.   In this post, I want to give you some options and ideas for some of the decorations you can use and the areas ..read more

photo by @megangoetzphoto This photo was taken of the wedding party at my son’s wedding; this was an area very close to where we had the ceremony With the price of wedding venues being what they are, have you ever thought about having a backyard wedding and what that would entail? Have you wondered if a backyard wedding is something you should even consider or if it’s just too much to take on? Some Questions to Ask & Answer: ·       How many guests will you invite, and do you have room for that number of people? ·       Consideri ..read more

You are going to be excited when you see the project I’m going to show you in this blog post. I guess I shouldn’t make presumptions, but I am definitely loving this project.   I love several things about this project, but one of the best parts is you can really customize the look, color scheme, pattern. And the materials list is quite short.  Disclosure: “I only recommend products I would use myself, and all opinions expressed here are my own. As an Amazon Associate I may earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain other affiliate links that, at no additional cost to you ..read more

Image of the easiest piñata ever! Why Make a Piñata? If you are thinking about making decorations for Cinco de Mayo (or any celebration), you will be shocked at how easy it is to make a piñata. I only knew about the paper Mache method, which is admittedly a messy way to go. When you find out how easy it is to make a piñata, you may be making them for lots of occasions! Disclosure: “I only recommend products I would use myself, and all opinions expressed here are my own. As an Amazon Associate I may earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain other affiliate links that, at no additi ..read more

Eggs Decorated in Each of the Three Methods How would you like to learn how to make some pretty Easter eggs this year without using the usual PAAS decorating tablets that you drop into a bowl with vinegar? I mean, am I the only one bored with that method?   This post will show you how to decorate some pretty Easter eggs using three different processes that “ain’t yo mama’s Easter eggs”! The Shaving Cream Method Easter egg colored with shaving cream and food coloring This way of decorating the eggs is messy, I’m not gonna lie. But if you’re willing to tolerate that, this would probably ..read more