July 2011

  • Deadheading Spent Summer Blooms Encourages Growth

    Nothing compares to the simple joy of blooming flowers in the summer, especially when they're close at hand in pots, and in a spot where you can enjoy them. Besides of course remembering to water your flowers, and to check them for infestation, there is one important tip that will help insure blooms for months…

  • Hasselback Potatoes Simply Elegant Party Fare

    At long last I prepared hasselback potatoes, a simple and elegant way to serve baked potatoes that adds that certain special touch to any meal. Last Friday night I served these delicious potatoes together with a main course of Moroccan Yellow Chicken with carrots. I'm always looking for attractive and simple side dishes, and this…

  • Wine Bottle Vases Embellished

    Remember those wine and liquor and olive oil bottles that I spray painted white for the family wedding festivities and shared with you here? Well, there are so many white bottles hanging around our home now that I just had to start using them as canvases for a little creativity. After all, white bottles are…

  • DIY Drink Charms For Summer Entertaining

    These festive DIY drink or wine charms are an example of one of the those projects that are so simple and yet add so much. And they are practical I might add, especially if you’re entertaining informally where guests might be prone to walk around with wine glasses, or any glass that has either a…

  • Welcome To Craft Schooling Sunday!

    Welcome to Craft Schooling Sunday! So great to be back here with you all, and I've got some fun summer projects to share with you right here! So thanks so much for stopping by, and if you have something to share, please don't be shy to step up and introduce yourself, you can never have…

  • Slice Of Life: The Cardinal That Loved Kugel

    What can I tell you? Aren't the colors in this photo amazing? Ever seen a cardinal (namely the bird, silly) up close? Me neither until that Friday afternoon in New York in late May when a neighbor ran over to my animal loving nephew and frantically asked for help in removing this lovely bird from…

  • Gladiola Centerpieces For Tall Spaces

    You may or may not appreciate gladiolas but you can't deny one fact about them: they're perfect for making simple and dramatic floral arrangements where height is required. You know, like in a modern venue like this one, (where I enjoyed a lovely family wedding recently) or even outdoors. I love the trend in crafty…

  • Painted Wine Bottle Vases

    Collect a bunch of bottles and jars in all shapes and sizes and you can make lovely DIY centerpieces for any occassion! I sprayed a ton of bottles of all kinds (wine, olive oil, whiskey etc.) that I'd been saving for centerpieces and used them for a shabbat sheva brachas (festive meals for the seven days…

  • Window Sill Gardening Pleasure

    This photo of the window sill right outside my kitchen window was taken looking down at my lovely little garden. No regular garden, but rather a window sill garden, that's easy to care for and gives me non-stop pleasure all day long. You don't need a garden or even a patio to enjoy growing some simple…

  • Paper Accordion Rosette Flowers

    Paper accordion rosettes, and paper accordion flowers are all the rage in DIY wedding and party decor, and for good reason! They're so simple to make and look amazing in groups. I've shared these accordion flowers with you before, as a fun accordion medallion bouquet centerpiece, and as festive  Succah decorations, and as elegant golden…

  • Welcome To Craft Schooling Sunday!

    Welcome to Craft Schooling Sunday! As always, I'm so proud of all the wonderful crafters from around the world that stopped by to share here, and there were some more fabulous projects to inspire from last week's party. Enjoy! I just love this adorable and practical "boo boo box" from run with glitter, which stores…

  • Sailboat Themed Number Six Birthday Cake

    Here's a fun sail boat birthday cake idea for any age, and I can tell you the kids in my son's class went wild over this one! And not to brag, but the teachers and the principal were pretty excited too, especially since the cake was big enough to share a slice with everyone.