Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Textural Pairings


Courtesy of Chelsey Bowen

Hi Friends,

White needn't fade into the background. Combine white accents in varying textures to create a crisp and clean vignette; this design is compliments of Erinn Valencich. But don't stop here; accessorize your entire home for Spring by creating fresh and open spaces with cheery spring accessories.

Have fun...

Check back for more great Spring ideas from your friends at Interior Design!

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Live well,
Yvonne

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Happy Administrative Professionals' Day!


Courtesy of TimeAndDate.com

Hi Friends,

Below is a little information on what has become one of the largest workplace observances outside of employee birthdays and major holidays. Hope you enjoy the read...

About Administrative Professionals Day
During World War II, there was an increased need for skilled administrative personnel, particularly in the United States. The National Secretaries Association was formed to recognize the contributions of secretaries and other administrative personnel to the economy, to support their personal development and to help attract people to administrative careers in the field. The association's name was changed to Professional Secretaries International in 1981 and, finally, the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) in 1998.

These changes in name reflected the changing nature of the tasks, qualifications and responsibilities of the members of the organization. IAAP now has an international orientation and continues to provide education and training and set standards of excellence recognized by the business community on a global perspective. The organization's vision is "to inspire and equip all administrative professionals to attain excellence".

The first National Secretaries Week was organized in 1952 in conjunction with the United States Department of Commerce and various office supply and equipment manufacturers. The Wednesday of that week became known as National Secretaries Day. As the organization gained international recognition, the events became known as Professional Secretaries Week® and Professional Secretaries Day®. In 2000, IAAP announced that names of the week and the day were changed to Administrative Professionals Week and Administrative Professionals Day to keep pace with changing job titles and expanding responsibilities of the modern administrative workforce. Many work environments across the world observe this event.

For all our hard workers; enjoy your week...

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Live well,
Yvonne

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Earth Day!


Courtesy of National Geographic

Hi Friends,

In 1970 smog choked major U.S. cities and toxic waste flooded rivers. That same year nearly 20 million Americans participated in events on April 22, spearheaded by Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson, to draw attention to the environmental issues plaguing the planet and human health. Named Earth Day, April 22 has remained a time to celebrate restoration and stand up for the planet. Today we wanted to share with our friends...

It's Earth Day and we thank each and every person for doing your part.

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Live well,
Yvonne

Sunday, April 20, 2014

Happy Easter!

Courtesy of Sassy Cats

Happy Easter Friends!

May the simple joys fill your day, hope light your path, the many blessings of Easter stay forever in your heart, and the Origin of The Easter Bunny make your day.

Origin of The Easter Bunny

The Easter Bunny is a symbol that originated with the pagan festival of Easter. The goddess, Easter, was worshiped by the Anglo-Saxons
through her earthly symbol,
the hare or rabbit.

The date of Easter is determined by the moon whose symbolism is strongly tied to that of the hare. In fact, the hare is the symbol for the moon. Ever since the Council of Nicea in 325 A.D., Easter has been celebrated on the first Sunday following the first full moon after March 21st.

The Easter bunny was introduced to American folklore by the German settlers who arrived in the Pennsylvania Dutch country during the 1700s. The arrival of the "Oschter Haws" was considered "childhood's greatest pleasure" next to a visit from Christ-Kindel on Christmas Eve. The children believed that if they were good the "Oschter Haws" would lay a nest of colored eggs.

The children would build their nest in a secluded place in the home, the barn or the
garden. Boys would use their caps and girls their bonnets to make the nests . The use of elaborate Easter baskets came later as the tradition of the Easter bunny spread through out the country.

Happy Easter from your friends at Interior Design!

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Live well,
Yvonne

Friday, April 18, 2014

How to Make an Egg and Moss Wreath for Spring

Courtesy of Marian Parsons

Hi Friends,

Create natural and classic-looking faux eggs by applying a splatter effect to paper-mache eggs. Use an artist's brush to apply beige acrylic paint to paper-mache eggs. Mix dark brown acrylic paint with a water-based faux glaze. While wearing gloves, dip a toothbrush into the mixture and run your thumb through the bristles to splatter the dark glaze onto the eggs.

Create a moss and egg wreath with paper mache eggs and light green Spanish moss for a simple and natural spring look.

Materials Needed:
  • 12" grapevine wreath
  • light green Spanish moss
  • 12 paper mache eggs
  • beige acrylic paint
  • dark brown acrylic paint
  • water-based glaze medium
  • 1" artist brush
  • empty egg crate
  • toothbrush
  • hot glue and glue sticks
  • latex gloves

Paint Eggs
On a protected surface, apply two coats of beige acrylic paint to each egg with a one-inch artist brush. Tip: Acrylic paint dries in about 10 minutes; paint one side and allow to dry, then turn the egg over and paint the other side.



Speckle Eggs
Mix dark brown acrylic paint with water-based faux glaze in a 1:3 (paint:glaze) ratio. Don gloves; dip a clean toothbrush into glaze mixture, then run your thumb through the bristles to splatter glaze onto the painted eggs. Turn the egg to splatter all sides and place it in an egg carton to allow the glaze to dry. Tip: For a realistic look, splatters should vary in shape and size. To achieve this effect, vary the amount of pressure you place on the bristles.



Apply Moss to Wreath
Preheat hot glue gun. Apply hot glue to the wreath in small sections (Image 1). Pull Spanish moss apart into loose handfuls. Immediately push moss into hot glue and hold it in place until glue cools (Image 2). Repeat the process till front of wreath is covered.



Glue Eggs to Wreath
Decide placement of eggs on wreath (Image 1). Gently create a hole in moss to nestle eggs into. Apply hot glue to wreath and attach eggs where desired. Tip: Eggs will look best when placed individually or clustered together in groups of three (Image 2). To display, hang wreath on the wall, front door or over a mirror. It will also add a cheery spring touch propped on a bookcase, foyer table or buffet.



Enjoy your Spring wreath and make it a family project, quality time with a beautiful wreath at the end...

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Live well,
Yvonne

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Glittered Eggs


Courtesy of Kayla Kitts

Hi Friends,

To cover your Easter eggs in a layer of glitter, simply coat the entire surface of painted or unpainted eggs with all-purpose white glue. Place the eggs in a bowl of glitter and spoon glitter over wet glue until fully covered. Once dry, sit back and admire.

Enjoy a little gilts and glam this Easter...

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Live well,
Yvonne

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Bejeweled Eggs


Courtesy of Kayla Kitts

Hi Friends,

Add some glitz and glam to your Easter eggs with sparkling rhinestones. First, if you want, paint your eggs with acrylic paint and let dry. Then place stick-on rhinestones in various colors and sizes to create the pattern of your choice.

Enjoy, your family and friends deserve a little Glam...

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Live well,
Yvonne

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Taste of Spring


Courtesy of Charity Curley Mathews
Credit Williams-Sonoma for the Key Lime Trees

Hi Friends,

Looking for a way to bring a taste of spring inside? Try this delectable Key lime tree for a countertop orchard of your own. Use your freshly harvested limes as a cocktail garnish or for a delicious, homemade Key lime pie. To get you started, Oxmoor House has been kind enough to share their delicious Key Lime Pie Recipe below:

KEY LIME PIE RECIPE

Yield: Makes 1 (9-inch) pie

Ingredients
1 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted
2 (14-ounce) cans sweetened condensed milk
1 cup fresh Key lime juice*
2 egg whites
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
2 tablespoons granulated sugar

Preparation
  • Combine first 3 ingredients. Press into a 9-inch pieplate.
  • Bake piecrust at 350° for 10 minutes or until lightly browned; cool.
  • Stir together sweetened condensed milk and lime juice until blended. Pour into prepared crust. Set aside.
  • Beat egg whites and cream of tartar at high speed with an electric mixer just until foamy.
  • Add granulated sugar gradually, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating until soft peaks form and sugar dissolves (2 to 4 minutes).
  • Spread meringue over filling.
  • Bake at 325° for 25 to 28 minutes. Chill 8 hours.
  • *Bottled Key lime juice may be substituted for fresh juice.

Courtesy of The Coastal Living Cookbook, Oxmoor House 2004

Enjoy the decor and Bon Appétit...

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Live well,
Yvonne

Monday, April 14, 2014

Growing Gooseberries in a Container!


Courtesy of Dorling Kindersley Limited

Hi Friends,

You can grow a mini-orchard of fruit in patio containers if you're willing to water and feed regularly. Choose from soft fruits, such as currants and gooseberries, or tree fruits like apples, pears and cherries. This week we are growing Gooseberries, yum...

The sharp sweetness of gooseberries is perfect for summer desserts and pies. Planting and feeding requirements are the same as for currants, and if the crop is heavy, thin the fruits in late spring. Every winter, cut back the main stems by half to an outward-facing bud, and prune the side shoots to one bud from the main stems (beware of the spines). Keep the plants well watered and harvest ripe fruit in summer.

Impress friends and family with your freshly grown Gooseberries...

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Live well,
Yvonne

Marbleized Eggs


Courtesy of Kayla Kitts
Photography by H. Camille Smith

Hi Friends,

Add a fun, multicolor twist to plain eggs with a marbleized effect. Simply add olive oil to the dye solution to create an unpredictable, mottled look to your eggs. Here are the instructions...

How to Dye Marbleized Easter Eggs

Dyeing Easter eggs is a favorite holiday tradition for kids and grownups alike. Give your plain dyed eggs a kicky, multicolored twist this year: Add olive oil to the dye solution to create a swirling, mottled effect.

Materials Needed:
  • eggs
  • liquid food colors (red, yellow, blue and green)
  • olive oil
  • distilled white vinegar
  • mugs or small bowls (one for each color)
  • paper towels
  • fork (one for each color)
  • teaspoon
  • tablespoon
  • 1/2 cup measuring cup
  • large pot with lid
  • tongs or a slotted spoon

Hard-Boil Eggs
Place eggs in a single layer in a deep pot. Fill the pot with cold water — the eggs should be completely covered by one to two inches of water (Image 1). Bring the pot, uncovered, to a rolling boil then remove the pot from heat and add the lid. Allow the eggs to continue to cook for another 12 minutes. Using tongs or a slotted spoon, carefully remove the eggs from the pot and place on a towel to cool (Image 2).



Mix Oil, Water and Dye Solutions
Add 1/2 cup water to mugs or small bowls (one for each color), then microwave until water boils. Remove from microwave. To each mug add 1 teaspoon white vinegar, 1 tablespoon olive oil and at least 20 drops of food coloring. Stir to mix. Because oil and water don't mix, the olive oil will float on the surface.



Roll Eggs in Oil
Use a fork to break up the floating olive oil then carefully roll an egg in the oil before submerging it (Images 1 and 2). Tip: The olive oil will form globules on the surface of the egg which prevent the dye from penetrating the shell. This creates a mottled effect.



Remove Dyed Eggs and Allow to Dry
Leave eggs in the dye solution a short time for pastel colors or longer for more saturated shades. Use a fork to remove eggs from dye; place them in a paper towel and gently wipe excess olive oil off the eggs' shells (Image 1). Set dyed eggs aside to dry (Image 2).



Double-Dip Eggs for a Multicolor Effect
If you're happy with the single-dyed eggs' appearance, you're done. For an interesting two-tone effect, repeat the dying process in a second color. Tip: If eggs aren't achieving the same mottled effect they did with the first color, add another tablespoon of olive oil to the dye solution.



Proudly Display
Display your marbleized eggs in a shallow dish or basket. Note: The FDA recommends that cooked eggs be refrigerated or consumed after only two hours at room temperature. When properly refrigerated, hard-boiled eggs can safely be eaten up to one week after cooking.



Enjoy these works of art with family and good friends this Easter...

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Live well,
Yvonne

Friday, April 11, 2014

Temporary Tattooed Eggs


Courtesy of Kayla Kitts

Hi Friends,

Using pre-bought rub-on transfers or temporary tattoo paper, cover eggs in edgy graphics or words of your choice. To get the look pictured, cut out various rub-on transfers and overlap on the eggs. It's OK if certain images don't transfer perfectly; it will provide a more distressed look. Perfect for the edgier group...

Organize an egg decorating party and use some of our daily ideas for this Easter. Enjoy the quality time with your friends and family while getting your egg dying chores completed. Have fun...

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Live well,
Yvonne

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Natural Elements


Courtesy of Marian Parsons

Hi Friends,

When creating your centerpiece, be sure to tuck in a few surprises, like this tiny bird's nest complete with artificial robin's eggs. Also appropriate for the season: mushroom birds, silk butterflies and hand-blown glass bees or other insects. Craft stores are a great resource for small spring elements like these.

Enjoy your Easter decorating and have fun, fun, fun...

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Live well,
Yvonne

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Washi-Taped Eggs


Courtesy of Kayla Kitts

Hi Friends,

Take your Easter egg decorating to the next level by adding jewels, washi tape, colorful dip-dyed designs and more. Your spring tablescape will never be the same. Take your Easter egg decorating to the next level by adding jewels, washi tape, colorful dip-dyed designs and more. Your spring tablescape will never be the same...

Washi tape can be used for both decorative and everyday uses, but now, it's being used on Easter eggs, too. To get the look pictured, simply use a standard roll of washi tape in the color or pattern of your choice and begin cutting small pieces at a diagonal. Adhere the pieces to form a mosaic effect. You can also use strips of washi tape and overlap them vertically at the top and bottom.

Check back for more fun and easy Easter egg decorating ideas from your friends at Interior Design!

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Live well,
Yvonne

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Winter White Mantel Perfect for Spring


Courtesy of Layla Palmer
Photo courtesy of Dana Miller

Hi Friends,

Here, a limited array of understated, cool-toned elements blends perfectly with a simple, contemporary-looking fireplace. What a great idea; a Winter White Mantel that's simply perfect for Spring...

Check back for more great ideas from your friends at Interior Design!

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Live well,
Yvonne

Monday, April 7, 2014

Thread-Wrapped Eggs


Courtesy of Kayla Kitts

Hi Friends,

Take your Easter egg decorating to the next level by adding jewels, washi tape, colorful dip-dyed designs and more. Your spring tablescape will never be the same.

Use baker's twine to add a trendy look to your eggs. First, dab a fast-grab tacky glue to the bottom of a paper mache egg and coil the string around. To change colors, trim the first color and glue the end of the second color. For a seamless finish, coil the string around the top, trim and dab on some glue.

Happy wrapping...

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Live well,
Yvonne

Friday, April 4, 2014

Glue-Strip Dyed Eggs


Courtesy of Kayla Kitts

Hi Friends,

Use plain hard-boiled eggs and stick on glue strips where desired. You can create a planned pattern or stick them in unexpected places for a surprising finish. Dye your eggs, then peel off strips when cool and dry to reveal overlapping white lines. Customize your eggs with the favorite colors of your friends and family for their special Easter baskets; they will truly appreciate the time and thoughtfulness of your efforts...

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Live well,
Yvonne

Thursday, April 3, 2014

A Tisket, a Tasket


Courtesy of Marian Parsons

Hi Friends,

Welcome spring or Easter guests with a playful yet chic table setting featuring happy shades of pink and green, oversized tissue pom-poms and fresh flowers. Fill miniature baskets with Spanish moss and speckled candy eggs as a sweet treat for guests. Finish each basket with a small tag cut from iridescent scrapbook paper. Label each tag with a guest's name, then attach with twine or ribbon. Place one at each place setting so the favors can also function as place markers.

Enjoy making this colorful Spring table setting for your special friends and family this Easter...

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Live well,
Yvonne

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Neon Dip-Dyed Eggs


Courtesy of Kayla Kitts

Hi Friends,

Match your eggs to top design trends. Dip eggs in your favorite color dyes, leaving part of the shell exposed. Use strips of washi tape to help keep lines clean and straight. Allow colors to overlap to vary looks and styles.

Have fun with the different designs and share your ideas with friends and family...

Check back for more great ideas from your friends at Interior Design!

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Live well,
Yvonne

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

An Easter Egg-stravaganza


Courtesy of Layla Palmer
Photo courtesy of Kerri-Lynn Roche

Hi Friends,

Blogger Kerri-Lynn Roche uses vintage bunny figurines, a boxwood wreath, painted eggs and potted grass to create a soft and subtle Easter look on her mantel. A large mirror and glass candleholders add shimmer and are a great contrast to all the natural elements.

Easter is only a couple weeks away; what a beautiful mantel to greet and welcome Spring...

Check back for more great ideas from your friends at Interior Design!

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Live well,
Yvonne