Faux or No

I feel like I touch on this topic once a year...fake flowers. In general, I agree with the school of Say No to Faux.

But every once in a while, I spot a fake arrangement that makes me think twice. And if put in just the right spot where no one is examining it too closely, it can really look beautiful.

Like these:

Both I found on Overstock here and here.

Getting a real arrangement like these would be lots of dollar bills. And keeping it alive is trouble. And then it dies. So your ROI is pretty low.

I do have a tall spray of fake forsythia tucked into the corner of my living room and I've never thought twice about it. It's great. But those are more like "stems" than flowers.

But these arrangements here are pretty on point. Enough to make me want to use them.

What are your thoughts on this controversial topic??

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Friday Crush

My Thanksgiving centerpiece! With all my babbling about Mason's nursery this week, I didn't get to show you scenes from my Thanksgiving table. Our dining table is small, so I like to keep my centerpieces low and compact. I found these beautiful yellow gourds at the grocery store, so I picked up an inexpensive bouquet with yellow and plum tones and split it up among my collection of mint julep cups of various sizes. Paired with my favorite crystal candlesticks (thanks, Kat!) and orchid colored tapers, it was quite lovely.

I'm crazy for Christmas, so December weekends are my favorite! Hope you enjoy yours...see you Monday!

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Julep, anyone?

Photo by Charles Walton IV via November 2009 Southern Living Magazine

Welcome to the inspiration for my holiday table. I've been wanting some mint julep cups...the perfect nod to the South. They were on my Christmas list. But then I saw this picture on page 12 of November's Southern Living, and it was done and done. Mint julep cups ordered.

Ideally, I would love to collect rare mint juleps cups with history...and some beautiful heirloom monogrammed ones...but, I'm impatient. And this inspiration photo was oh-so perfect for my Thanksgiving table all decked out in purple and green.

So, I went on the hunt. Naturally, I came across many a beautiful mint julep cup, but most did not work with my meager budget - especially since I wanted several.

Well my dears, I hit the jackpot. I found a collection of various sized cups on a site called Save on Crafts. I snapped up two tall-ish one for $15 each, and two smaller ones for $7 and $5...so I only paid about $10/cup and they are silverplate! I received them in the mail today and they are perfection...a nice weight and will be perfect on the holiday table and around my house once the holiday has passed (kind of like below).

Photo: Rick Szczechowski, Styled by Michelle Zuniga, via Zuniga Interiors blog

Granted, they are not heirloom, but they will do...and I can still slowly grow a collection of more meaningful pieces over time.

Not sure if I'll do the mums as shown in SL, but I will definitely do a monochromatic grouping of flowers in a green/lavender color scheme. And for Christmas, I'm thinking I'll use the two taller ones perhaps with a boxwood ball like this one.

p.s. The Save on Crafts site appears to be amazing for all sorts of supplies for home decorating - like apothecary jars, vases, branches, etc. - at great prices. And if you are planning a wedding (with lots of DIY crafts) this site is heaven-sent.

Welcome Back, October

Welcome back, October.  I missed you.

I missed your crisp weather that gives way to my best hair days all year. I missed your pumpkins, caramel apples and cider. I missed the joy of being outside on one of your glorious days (assuming there is no physical activity involved - at least that I am participating in).

Oh, and the fact that my birthday falls within your 31 days also makes me love you.

Do YOU love October as much as I do? By October we are enjoying Fall and all the loveliness that it brings. We crave warmth and coziness. I pulled out my chocolate brown velvet throw pillows and fell in love with them all over again.

So as an ode to my favorite month, I bring you a collection of beautiful autumnal floral arrangements.

Like this one from blog decor8. Simple, but a warm little touch to a desk or side table:

(image: holly becker for decor8)

Or this front door arrangement.  I LOVE feathers in floral arrangements. Click here to read how Rhoda from Southern Hospitality made it:

And I couldn't bring you fab floral arrangements without calling on Martha. View the full slideshow with details here:

All images from marthastewart.com

 

 

 

 

If the high cost of real arrangements keeps you from displaying them, go faux (and reuse it next year)!