Flag-Flying Etiquette You Need to Know

Kathryn Packard
Courtesy of HGTV Magazine

Happy Labor Day Friends,

Learn the proper way to display the stars and stripes. You'll want to flag these tips for later.

Take inspiration from these star-spangled homes and show your patriotic colors. But first, check out these tips for hanging the American flag properly on the Fourth of July (and every other day of the year).

Flag-Flying Rules

• Flags are meant to be displayed from sunrise to sunset. You can fly one at night, but if you do, it should be illuminated.
• The flag should never touch the ground, the floor or anything that may sit beneath it, including tables, chairs, railings and bushes.
• There’s a difference between half-staff and half-mast. "Half-mast" technically refers to a flag flown on a ship's mast, while "half-staff" describes flags flown on land, though they're commonly used interchangeably. (Flags should be flown at half-staff until noon on Memorial Day.)
• It’s against the official Flag Code to hang a tattered flag. If yours is in bad shape, you can wash, dry-clean and/or sew it.
• Unsalvageable flags should be dropped off at a local American Legion or VFW office for retirement, or burned discreetly.

Ways to Decorate With Stars and Stripes

Make a Bouquet

Karri Perry (@blueribbonfavorites), a blogger in West Chester, Ohio, used floral foam to secure small flags in a hanging basket on her door. “More is definitely better,” she says. Add a few rocks so the basket doesn’t blow in the wind.

Paint Your Own

Blogger Kelly Elko (@kelly.elko) transformed a section of wood fencing into a flag for her Summit, New Jersey, house. She cut it down to 13 pickets, painted the stripes and square, then added a clamshell wreath for the stars.

Go Vertical

“I wish I could go even bigger!” says designer Chrissie Anthony Haim (@chrissiehomeanddesign) of the 4-foot-by-6-foot flag adorning her Locust Valley, New York, home. It stays put from Memorial Day to Veterans Day, and a spotlight shines on it at night. Good to know: When displaying a flag vertically, the blue square (called the Union) must be in the observer’s top left.

Bring on the Bunting

Bunting is an easy and affordable way to get in the spirit, says Spotsylvania County, Virginia, blogger Kathryn Packard (@kathrynpackard), who snagged these online for $25 each. “Be sure it’s outdoor material, so it can get wet and won’t fade,” she says. And look for bunting with grommets so you can easily hang it from hooks or zip ties.

Fly it high with pride...

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Live well,
Yvonne

How to Make a Red, White and Blue Naked Cake

Courtesy of Brandy Brown

Happy Labor Day Friends,

Learn how to bake the perfect layered naked cake just in time for Labor Day with this simple tutorial from Marabou Design.

There is nothing better than serving homemade treats to friends and family. If you are looking for a fuss-free recipe just in time for the holiday, try our red, white and beautiful naked cake. These cakes are still on trend — I’ve created several variations over the years and today, I wanted to share an easy tutorial on making this popular dessert. Once you’re done baking and assembling the cakes, decorate them with your favorite seasonal fruit!

Materials Needed:

• Your Favorite Cake Mix and Any Ingredients it Requires
• Three 9-Inch Round Cake Pans, Buttered and Bottoms Lined With Buttered Parchment or Wax Paper
• Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
• Powdered Sugar
• Fresh Fruit
• Cake Stand
• Piping Bag With Round Piping Tip
• Strainer/Sifter
• Knife

Bake the Cake

Choose your favorite cake mix and bake in pans according to directions. Prepare the cakes as close to the event as possible to retain freshness. Before removing them from their pans, let them cool.

Place and Dust

Place the first cake layer on the cake stand. Using a sifter, lightly dust each cake with powdered sugar. Repeat dusting with each layer.

Frost the Cake

Insert the round piping tip into the pastry bag and fill with vanilla buttercream. Apply firm pressure on the pastry bag to frost an even layer on top of the cake. Work in a circular motion, from the outside edge to the center. Carefully place a second cake layer on top of the frosting, making sure the layers are even. Frost with buttercream and repeat until you have reached your desired cake height.

Finish and Decorate

Save a bottom layer for last, and stack it upside down. Use the naturally flat bottom as the top of your cake to keep things level.

Once it is finished, decorate with some fresh fruit, serve and enjoy!

Bon Appétit

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Live well,
Yvonne

Party Patriotically With a Red, White & Blue Backyard Bash

Courtesy of H. Camille Smith
Photography by Sarah Busby, Styling by:H. Camille Smith

Happy Labor Day Friends,

Unfortunately the end of summer is here. Show your true colors with an Americana-themed get-together. These tips will help you festively deck out your deck or patio for your Labor Day celebration.

A New Twist on Tradition

Americana colors & a few nautical nods = a winning setting for any summer soiree. For a traditional look that feels fresh, set your table with a mix of new and old items while keeping the focus on the tried-and-true: red, white and blue.

Viva la Vintage

Give your table a playful touch by mixing in a summery vintage find or family souvenir, like this mini brass boat that’s actually an old sailing trophy.

Bandanas for the Win

Swap disposable paper napkins for reusable and budget-friendly bandanas. Check your local dollar or craft store — they’re typically $1 each — or save even more by buying them in bulk online.

Create a Layered Look

Keep with the red, white and blue theme and stack plates in the patriotic palette for a pitch-perfect look. Complete each place setting with earthy woven grass placemats and chargers.

Centerpieces: More Is More

An umbrella over an outdoor dining table is great for providing shade but it also presents a problem: where to put the centerpiece. Skip a single arrangement and instead surround the pole with an assortment of containers filled with flowers. No need to buy expensive vases; use what you have — like an old blue canning jar — then fill with summer blooms and greenery clipped from your backyard.

Light Up the Night

Lanterns do double-duty to carry the red, white and blue theme while also providing soft mood lighting after the sun sets. Fill with remote-control battery-operated candles for fuss-free flames that you can extinguish with the push of a button.

Bring On the Blooms

Fill an old watering can with an assortment of grocery store or backyard blooms for an easy-to-craft decoration.

Serve Seasonal Sips

Free yourself from mixologist duties by whipping up a big batch of white wine sangria or lemonade before guests arrive. Whether you choose the cocktail or mocktail route, mix in lots of fresh blueberries and strawberry slices for added flavor and to keep with the party’s signature shades.

Enjoy your Labor Day with family, friends, and neighbors.

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Live well,
Yvonne

Plants For Indoors and Outdoors

Courtesy of Davey.com

Hi Friends,

Worried you have way too much dreary shade cover or far too much-beaming sunlight to successfully grow plants in your yard or home? No such thing! No matter the condition, there’s most certainly a plant you can count on to breathe life into your space, inside or out.

Choosing the best indoor and outdoor plants can be daunting. The right lighting can really make or break your plants. Sure, some plants are hardy enough to grow no matter the circumstances, but to grow your plants to their fullest potential, pay particular attention to the amount of sun—or shade—they require.

Best indoor plants for a window sill (or high light)

• Parlor palm: A thin-stemmed tree with wide, showy leaves.
• Rubber plant: A tall indoor tree with round and shiny deep green leaves.
• African violet: A popular indoor plant with delicate purple flowers.
• Jade plant: An oval-leafed succulent that’s said to bring good luck.
• Orchid: An elegant, thin-stemmed plant with flowers ranging from fuchsia pink to canary yellow.
• Pothos: A grassy-green plant that’s known to clean indoor air.
• Cactus: A sun-loving container plant that comes in a variety of shapes and sizes

Houseplants that do well in low light

• Peace lily: A tropical evergreen plant with snowy-white flowers.
• Philodendron vine: A vine with heart-shaped leaves that grows in both bright and low light.
• Snake plant: A Low-maintenance succulent with sturdy, upright leaves. It also goes by another name: mother-in-law's tongue.
• Chinese evergreen: A glossy green-leafed plant that has tropical origins.
• Spider plant: A popular houseplant with mixed green and white leaves.

Full-sun outdoor plants for your garden

• Pentas (zones 9-11): Red, pink or white-flowered plants that have a super high tolerance for heat.
• Catmint (zones 3-8): Sprawling perennials that are rich purple in color.
• Russian sage (zones 5-10): Drought-tolerant shrubs with tall, upright stems.
• Coneflower (zones 5-8): Daisy-like wild flowers that attract birds and butterflies.
• Petunias (zones 10 and 11): Popular annuals with flowers that grow in a variety of shapes and shades.

Best half-sun outdoor plants

• Hostas (zones 3-9): Dependable perennials that come in multiple shades of green.
• Diascia (zones 8-10): A flowering plant perfect for gardens or hanging baskets.
• Hydrangeas (zones 3-10): A large family of flowers that bloom in white, baby blue, lavender and more.
• Impatiens (zones 8-10): A popular annual that blooms nonstop from spring to late fall.
• Forget-me-nots (zones 3-8): A plant with distinctly blue flowers and tall, fuzzy stems.

No-sun outdoor plants to try

• Lady fern (zones 3-9): Like many plants in the fern family, lady ferns can grow well without any sunlight.
• Fuchsia (zones 8-10): A versatile group of plants that grow as small shrubs or drape delicately from hanging baskets.
• Deadnettle (zones 4-10): A fast-growing ground cover plant with an assortment of flower colors.

Best dual indoor and outdoor plants

• Geranium (zones 9-11): An outdoor groundcover or indoor hanging plant.
• Boxwood (zones 4-9): Outside, they’re shrubs that like full shade, but inside they prefer partial sunlight.
• Calla lily (Zones 3-10): In zones 3-7, they’re OK outside up until winter and can become houseplants before the frost. In warmer zones, they’re year-round outdoor plants.
• Begonias (zones 3-11): Outside they crave shade and inside they need filtered light.
• Vegetable plants (multiple zones): Veggies like carrots, tomatoes, scallions and more sprout both inside and outside.

Enjoy your new plants...

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Live well,
Yvonne

Best Plants For Bathrooms

Courtesy of VictoriaPlum.com and Adam Chard in Inspiration

Hi Friends,

Bringing the outdoors indoors with house plants is a great way to incorpoate these living beauties into your space. In this post, we’ll be getting all green-fingered, with some blooming marvellous bathroom plant ideas. The great thing about bathrooms is that the often damp and humid atmosphere can work in your favor when picking plants.

Which plants are best for bathrooms?

Aloe Vera
A plant you’ve probably heard of due to its medicinal properties (it can be used to help heal cuts and soothe dry skin), Aloe Vera doesn’t need much in the way of water—the humidity in your bathroom may simply be enough. This plant likes sunlight, so keep near a window.

Bamboo
One of the most sustainable natural resources on the planet and a material from which we make many of our bathroom accessories, bamboo is a great choice of plant for bathrooms. It doesn’t need much light or water, nor does it require soil, thriving on water and pebbles alone. It grows very quickly, so it will need to be pruned on a regular basis and it can be easily reshaped if you wish.

Boston Fern
A very popular plant, which you’ll find in most garden centres or large supermarkets. It’s great for hanging as it has frilly leaves that can grow quite long and drape. Keep the soil moist, but don’t over water. It needs a good amount of sunlight, making it ideal for hanging on a window frame. Why not find out how to create your own macramé hanging planter?

Cast Iron Plant
Known for its low maintenance, the Cast Iron Plant can survive in low light and with infrequent watering—it’s also great in extreme heat! Allow this plant to dry out before watering.

Chinese Evergreen
Growing in popularity, due to its attractive streaked leaves, this house plant does prefer warmer temperatures but is suitable for general bathroom conditions. A real all-rounder, the Chinese Evergreen can tolerate other environments if necessary.

Ivy
Everyone knows and recognises classic English Ivy, usually spotted trailing down the side of a picturesque country cottage. One of the top air purifying plants, it is great for use indoors as well as out. Ideal for hanging or sitting on a ledge, the leaves will grow and trail down. This plant does need moderate sunlight and enjoys high humidity levels. If it’s not getting enough sunlight in your bathroom, move it around the house on sunny days, to give it that much-needed light boost.

Orchid
This flowering plant is very well known and can help give the feel of a home spa. It needs indirect sunlight, so as not to burn the leaves.

Enjoy green-thumbers...

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Live well,
Yvonne