What to Do With an Apothecary Jar

I filled my apothecary jars with mini pumpkins, moss and dried berries in the fall.

One of the least expensive and most versatile decorative accessories available is the humble apothecary jar. The possibilities for filling these glass vessels are limitless.


You don't have to be a pastry chef to dazzle your guests at your next party. Instead, create a dessert buffet complete with apothecary jars filled with various sweets.

Image via Project Wedding




In the bathroom, fill your jars with bath salts, soaps, Q-tips, cotton balls or potpourri.

Image from Pottery Barn

Displaying a collection of wine corks from special occasions in the kitchen or dining room.

Courtesy of Roeshel from DIY Show Off

Holidays are the perfect excuse to pull out your apothecary jars.


Fill with candy corn for Halloween or get creative and spell out a word using several jars in a row.

Image via All Hallow's Design



Filled with ferns and dyed eggs, they are ideal for an Easter display.

Image via Everyday House Blend




What could be more simple than tucking colorful Christmas ornaments into a jar. Display these in any corner that needs a little holiday cheer.


Image from Centsational Girl



Pasta, flour or sugar would work in the kitchen. Colorful dried beans look great too.

Other ideas for filling your apothecary jars include:

• Fill several jars in various sizes and shapes with water and add a few drops of food coloring to each-an inexpensive way to add color to your room.
• Laundry rooms can be pretty dull. Store clothespins or laundry detergent in your jars.
• In the summer months, fill with sand and add a few seashells.
• Add natural elements to your jars and change out seasonally. Acorns, pinecones, sticks, dried leaves, or small pebbles would all work.
• For your home office, fill a tall jar with pencils and smaller jars with rubber bands and paper clips.
• Create a tiny vignette inside a jar.
• Use several to create a centerpiece for the dining room table. Filled with water and sliced citrus fruits, they make a beautiful statement at a summer dinner party.

Courtesty of The DIY Show Off

Apothecary jars are available at all price levels, but why spend a lot. Try craft supply stores like Michaels or Hobby Lobby. Check the bed and bath section at Home Goods and TJ Maxx stores. They often carry apothecary jars pre-filled with bath salts for under $20. The possibilities are infinite.

How do you fill your apothecary jar?

Do You Want to Break-up With Your Bedroom?

Are you having relationship issues with your bedroom? The Big Bad Bedroom Break-Up contest might be the answer to your prayers.

The winner will receive a bedroom prize package worth $10,000 from CSN Stores, including help from interior designer and host of HGTV's Designing for the Sexes, Michael Payne.




The contest ends April 15 so if you and your bedroom need to call it quits, don't waste time, click on the link above.

Happy Birthday to Me!

Yesterday was my birthday and a great one it was. The weekend started with a surprise party Friday night arranged by my husband at one of our favorite Italian restaurants. After dinner the evening continued at a local comedy club. On my actual birthday, my husband make me breakfast in bed then took me shopping where I was allowed to pick out my own gift.

Being the thrifty girl I am I chose to go to Home Goods. (Can you still call yourself a girl when you just turned 45?) Look what I got:




Besides the shade , there isn't much difference between this lamp and one from Restoration Hardware that I have had my eye on for months.



Wait, there is one huge difference, the lamp from Restoration Hardware costs $344. Mine? $99! Nothing makes me happier than a bargain.

We ended the night with dinner out and a double chocolate cake baked and decorated by my 15 year old while we were out shopping. There is nothing I'd rather have than a homemade present from one of my kids. It was the perfect end to a perfect weekend.

Should It Stay or Should It Go: Floral Edition

It has been quite a while since I did an edition of Should It Stay or Should it Go? With spring's arrival, it seemed fitting to have this installment of SIS/SIG focus on florals. Let's not waste anytime getting started.

Floral Fabrics on high ticket furniture pieces

Image from House to Home

I vote no. Florals limit decorating options. I'm a throw pillow junkie and don't want to stick with solid color pillows on my sofa. It is better to stick with a solid color fabric and go for a floral patterned pillows instead. What say you?

Floral Art & Accessories

Image via Style Hive

Image via Outblush
Original watercolor painting found at Etsy, $20.



Lotus Flower Plaque from Z Gallerie, $29.95

Stay, stay, stay and stay! Floral art and accessories done right are a great way to bring spring to your home. Caution please, not all floral accessories are created equal.




See what I mean?

Your turn. Should they stay or should they go?

Architechural Details

Image from Dream Home Designs

When I posted Neutral But Nice, Beth from Eye of the Beholder, left this comment related to my love of neutral spaces:

"I think you are drawn to architectural detail perhaps more than color. What made all of those gorgeous rooms you showed really pop was the interesting architecture painted a gorgeous soft white that really stood out against the neutral backdrop."

I had never really thought of it that way before, but Beth was right. I am always more attracted to rooms with beautiful architectural details rather than boxy rooms, regardless of how well executed the design. When a room possesses interesting architectural elements, I find that the furnishings and accessories become secondary.

When you look at the images below, notice where you eye stops first.

Previous Images from House Beautiful

If these spaces had included a great deal of color, the magnificent architecture may be overlooked.

Lately I have been drawn to rooms with light furnishings and walls, but lots of detail in the architecture.

Image from Restoration Hardware

Newer homes tend to be boxy in design, furnishings and accessories can mimic the feel of architectural elements. The mirror in this advertisement from Restoration Hardware is a good example.

The intricate carving on the mirrors has the same feeling as carved architectural details.

Image from Kate's Place

Salvaged pieces, like the corbels seen here, give the feel of architectural details.

Image via Tracery Interiors

I plan to purchase a set of these corbels, $27.77 each, from The Architectural Depot to use as book ends.

If you love this style as much as I do, you may want to check out one of my new favorite blogs, Architect Design.

Giveaway at Kitchen Belleicious

Don't waste a second, there is a great giveaway from Red Letter Words at Kitchen Belleicious.



The giveaway ends tomorrow so be sure to stop over today!

Good Riddance!

Gone at last, gone at last! Thank God Almighty, it is gone at last! My behemoth television set, that is. Let me refresh your memory:

Hideous!

Yes, the dated, over-sized monster has been removed from my great room forever! I couldn't be happier. It is amazing how much more spacious the room looks without the enormous eyesore taking up the far corner of the space.

BEFORE

AFTER

My next move is to tackle the fireplace wall. As I mentioned in previous posts, the existing fireplace is too small in scale for the two story room. My blogging buddy, Dayka from Life + Style gave me a great suggestion that I am seriously considering. Dayka suggested that I buy some freestanding bookshelves or cabinets and have a carpenter frame them out to give the look of built-ins. Isn't she a genius?

Here are a few inspiration pictures:

Image via Jay Miller Designs

Image from Homebuilding.TheFunTimesGuide.com

Image from Stigler's Woodworks

What do you think about this solution for filling in my fireplace wall? Have you tackled a similar project?

Inspiration for Easter Decorating

Image via Fleur De-Licious

The weather in the Midwest has been beautiful for the last couple of days. When the cold winter weather starts to break, my mind begins to drift to thoughts of lightening up my decor for spring and Easter. With Easter Sunday just a couple of weeks off, I have been looking for inspiration for my Easter brunch table.

Unlike the Christmas season when I spend days decorating every room in the house, I usually restrict Easter decor to the dining room. I do, however, want to make the room special for Easter Sunday brunch. I did a little online searching to come up with some inexpensive ideas that will add style to my table, but won't cost much to put the look together.

A square paper plate is the base of this Easter basket, perfect for a favor at each place setting. Find complete instructions here.

These decoupage Easter eggs from Good Housekeeping were made with tissue paper.

This look from Martha Stewart could be recreated on the cheap with branches from your own yard.

Try stacking a pretty plate atop a crystal wine glass to make your own pedestal similar to this one from Martha Stewart. If you don't own egg cups, use small juice glasses instead.

Pottery Barn is a great source for ideas for styling your table for a holiday. Instead of purchasing the ceramic bunnies like those used here, buy paper mache ones and spray paint them the color of your choice.

A few more ideas for your Easter table.

Decoupage Easter eggs from Martha Stewart

Tissue Paper Cherry Blossoms from Good Housekeeping

Stay tuned to see how these ideas inspired my Easter brunch table.

Do you have any ideas up your sleeve to add a touch of spring to your home this Easter?

Free Artwork for Spring

Vintage Printable, a site for free, downloadable, printable images, is my favorite source for no-cost artwork. With spring on the horizon, it's the perfect time to refresh your home with new artwork. Vintage Printable features plenty of images perfect for every season. Here are a few that would be perfect for spring.



















To achieve a higher-end look, print your images on white, ivory or cream cardstock. Cardstock is available in packs or can be purchased by the sheet for under $1/sheet at art and craft supply stores.

Happy printing!