Author: Meredith Blair

  • Hidden Home Office Designs

    Hidden Home Office Designs


    In most families, the home office plays a wide variety of roles. If you work from home, it is an ideal 9-5 place for business. For others, it’s a place to pay bills and store important documents. For other family members, it’s a place to do homework and play video games.

    Sometimes when a space is limited, we need to work with what we have. Creating a cozy little office that can be used when needed is all we need. These ideas leave a nice option to close the doors at the end of the day when it is no longer needed. Sometimes, all we need is a little space of our own. Here we decorate the space as desired and not have to worry about another’s thoughts on what we did. There are many options, so determine what works best for you.

     

    Contemporary Home Office Eclectic Cool Small Home Office Design Ideas Home Office Design Ideas Modern Industrial Home Office Design Idea Modern and Chic Home Office Design Ideas Modern and Elegant Home Office Design Idea Modern Home Office Design Traditional Small Home Office Design

  • Easy Valentine’s Day Garland

    Easy Valentine’s Day Garland

    One thing I love about winter holidays starting with Thanksgiving is that it is just one holiday after another.  With everyone hibernating inside during the colder months, it makes sense to decorate the house and get into the holiday spirit.  With Christmas ending over a week ago and New Year’s Eve/Day done, Valentine’s decorations are going up.  In all honestly, I get a little sad taking down Christmas decorations as it leaves a big, empty space in the house open.  Maybe this is why I get started on Valentine’s Day early.  Here is a kid friendly craft to get the kids started on early.  Simple heart cutouts strung on tread to create a beautiful banner.

    Easy Valentine's Day Garland for a kid friendly craft!
    Easy Valentine’s Day Garland for a kid friendly craft!

    What you need:
    Assorted Paper
    Needle and Thread
    2” Scalloped Shaped Hole Punch

    1. Fold 3” to 6” paper squares in half and cut a half heart from the fold.
    2. Thread needle and string hearts together through the top center of the folded paper hearts.
    3. Using scalloped hole punch, make shapes from paper. Thread needle and string through the opposite sides of each scalloped paper.
    4. Add as many hearts and scallops as it takes to reach your desired length.

    from Real Simple, see other great ideas for Real Simply

     

     

     

     

  • Chocolate Dipped Shortbread Cookie Sticks

    Chocolate Dipped Shortbread Cookie Sticks

    Welcome to 2014!  This past year has been an exciting year.  We started 2 new websites and have had great success.  To find really great delicious recipes, head over to Swanky Recipes  

    We will have a new layout coming soon to Swanky Decors.  In the meantime, make some crafts and bake these chocolate dipped shortbread cookie sticks!

    Chocolate Dipped Shortbread Cookie Sticks

    Chocolate Dipped Shortbread Cookie Sticks

  • Hosting A New Year’s Party

    Hosting A New Year’s Party

    Host a New Year’s Party that is unforgettable.  Add some sparkle, glamour and pizzazz to wow your friends!  Happy 2014!!

     

    Celebrate New Year's 2014
    New Year’s chic Tablescape

     

    Host a New Year's Eve Party
    Cute and fun girly ruffles New Year’s Decor

     

     

    Party Bags
    Party favors and gift bags.

     

     

    New Years Party Hosting
    Dessert Table Decor

     

    New Year's Day Tablescape
    Party Tablescape chic decor

     

     

    For more inspiration visit HGTV

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Washi Tape Inspired Tea Light Candles

    Washi Tape Inspired Tea Light Candles

    Ever notice how many different prints and patterns washi tape comes in?  This idea was inspired to match decorating styles or holiday tablescapes.

    Come check out how it is done here by Lauren Conrad

    Washi Tape Inspired Tea Light Candles

  • Tinsel Party Stirrers

    Tinsel Party Stirrers

    Get.inspired

    Bring a little sparkle, pizzazz and glam to the party! An easy and affordable way to make any party shabby chic!

    Christmas will be here and gone and before you know it, New Year’s Eve will be here.  Ring in the 2014 by saving money and designing your own New Year’s Eve/Day party.  Get inspired here.

    Tinsel Party Stirrers

     

    Materials:
    Bamboo skewers
    Silver Tinsel garland
    Scissors
    Hot glue gun

    Instructions:
    Cut a short piece of tinself from garland.  When hot glue is ready, use it to attach tinsel to the end of bamboo skewer.
    Cut skewer to desired high (match to glass)
    Use in beverage as stir stick decor.  Hand wash for maintenance.

     

     20 Holiday Beverage Recipes featured by Jessica @ Swanky Recipes

    Holiday Cranberry Margaritas

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    See more at MarthaStewart.com

  • New Year’s Party Printables

    New Year’s Party Printables

    Party Planning 101

    Considering New Year’s is right around the corner, it’s time to get the ball rolling in planning your house party.  Invite a few close friends to ring in the New Year with an easy, intimate party at home.

    Lauren Conrad has the free party printable to make party planning that much easier.
    New Years Party Printables:
    Food Tent Cards
    Favor Tags
    Invitations
    Mini Champagne Favor Labels
    Wine Cooler/soda/beer Lables
    Champagne Labels
    Happy New Year Banner

    New Year's Party Printables

  • Coconut Lime Body Scrub

    Coconut Lime Body Scrub

    Sugar scrub is perfect to use to exfoliate and repair dry skin.  It works wonders in the winter when the air is dry.  It works wonders in summer to hydrate hands and feet.  Sugar scrubs are popular among women.  They smell so delicious and leave the skin smooth as silk after use in a hot shower.

    Why buy a sugar scrub or salt scrub when you make a homemade body scrub out of basic ingredients with little time and effort.  Here is a recipe for a popular DIY body sugar scrub.

     

    Coconut Lime Body Sugar Scrub

     

    Coconut Lime Body Sugar Scrub
    Makes about 1 cup
    Ingredients:
    1 cup white sugar
    ¼ cup coconut oil (melted)
    1 tablespoon shredded coconut
    6-8 drops of lime essential oil

    Directions:
    1) Melt coconut oil in microwave safe dish.
    2) Mix in with the sugar, until fully incorporated.
    3) Add the coconut and the lime oil
    4) Mix together and store in an air tight container until ready to use

    Visit The Idea Room for more

  • 20 Creative Gift Wrapping Ideas

    20 Creative Gift Wrapping Ideas

    Happy Holidays2

    With holiday shopping in full swing across most of the United States, there is nothing more I’d like to do on my weekends than create creative gift wrapping paper.  Sometimes, wrapping presents is just as much fun as receiving a present.  Here are some DIY ideas to help you get started.

     

    DIY Wrapping Paper Glam

    Monogrammed Coasters Gift Tags

     

    DIY Newprint Names

    images 1-3 by Spoonful – Disney

     

    DIY Gift Wrapping Ideas

    Peonies and Brass gift wrapping

     

    Brown Bag Wrapping Paper 2

     

    Snowflake Gift Wrapping

    Giochi de carta blog – snowflake gift wrapping

    Color Holiday Gift Wrapping

    Holiday Gift Wrapping 1

    Music Gift Wrapping paper

    Small Gift Box wrapping idea

     

    Holiday Wrapping Paper

     

    Monogrammed Doily gift wrapping idea

    Holiday Gift Wrapping 1

    Holiday Gift Wrapping

    Brown Bag Wrapping Paper

    Stamp Names - Gift wrapping

    Brown Wrapping Paper Idea

    Wrapping Holiday Boxes

     

    Decorative Hearts wrapping ideas

     

    Holiday Wrapping gift ideas

  • Old Fashioned Candy Cane Cookies

    Old Fashioned Candy Cane Cookies

    Happy Holidays

     

    When I was a little girl, I remember making this recipe with my grandma every year.  It wasn’t until I was in college and on my own that I started baking cookies to bring home for the holidays. This was one of my first go to recipes that I would bake.  This recipe is not like the updated version of these cookies that contain milk and just don’t taste like the very popular cookies from the 1980′s and 1990′s.  This is the classic candy cane sugar cookies recipe that my grandma uses and that is hard to find now days.  Candy cane sugar cookies are a very fitting dessert for the holidays.  They make a beautiful presentations at the dessert table and are sure to bring back old memories!

     

     

    Candy Cane Cookies

     

    Head over to Swanky Recipes, our sister site for the full recipe and more decedent holiday food!

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Modern Upcycled Button Covered Globe

    Modern Upcycled Button Covered Globe

    What other great way to add a touch of international flair or schoolroom nostalgia to your home or office space than with an upcycled modern globe?  In their original form, globes offer unique artwork, color, and pattern. Over the years, when country and name places change, globes are then updated and older versions are discarded.

    Whether partially preserved or completely refinished with a new look, these old globes certainly deserve a second chance.

    Take a look at this revamped version and I’ll bet you will agree that it is out of this world!

    We found a project to do with all the buttons that were saved up!

     Using an old globe, a little paint, plenty of pretty buttons and lots of glue, this project can be duplicated!

    Modern Upcycled Button Covered Globe

    Button Globe featured on Weheartit

  • DIY Fancy Filled Ornaments

    DIY Fancy Filled Ornaments

    Some of the best holiday decor is homemade.  Nothing beats making your own holiday ornaments while sipping hot cocoa and eating Christmas cookies!  Modern DIY ornaments for festive decorating during the holidays

    DIY Ornaments

    Sweet Paul’s Fancy Filled Ornaments

    Fancy Filled Ornaments

  • Gingerbread Garland

    Gingerbread Garland

    With the holiday right around the corner, I am always looking for new posh decorating ideas.  In case you missed the adorable gingerbread men decor, we have the link here for you.    What I absolutely love about these recipes is that they can be used to create other shapes such as stars, snowflakes and hearts to be used during different seasons throughout the year.

    Gingerbread Man Ornaments

    Here is a recipe to make gingerbread men garland for winter decor.

    Gingerbread Garland

    Gingerbread Garland

  • 25 Best Christmas Cookie Recipes

    25 Best Christmas Cookie Recipes

    Snowman Cookies
    Swanky Recipes 25 Best Christmas Cookie Recipes

    OVER 54,000 pins in 3 weeks

    25 Days of Cookies

    Baking Christmas cookies is a family tradition after Thanksgiving.  After all the holiday shopping and planning, there is nothing better than coming home to homemade Christmas cookies.  When I was little, my mother would bake a dozen cookies each night.  A new recipe every night.  Holidays around my house consisted of half a dozen Christmas parties.  After baking the cookies they would be frozen.  Cookie dough was rolled into logs and frozen as well.  Swanky Recipes has compiled 25 best Christmas cookie recipes.  Make family memories for years to come and bake a recipe a night starting at the end of November.  Happy Holidays and best wishes from my family to yours!

    Swanky Recipes is heading down south to New Orleans, Louisiana where we will be making plenty of comfort food just in time for the holiday season.  Join me on this journey as I blog about this adventure and bake southern comfort food through the holiday season!

    25 Christmas Inspired Cookie Recipes

    Swanky Decors is bringing you the 25 best Christmas inspired cookies via Swanky Recipes.

    Swanky Recipes 25 Best Christmas Cookie Recipes

  • Recharge Towels

    Recharge Towels

    Recharge towels using baking soda and vinegar.

    Washing Towels 1

    Recharge dingy towels

    I am constantly getting great reviews and comments about the use of vinegar and baking soda to freshen funky towels.

    Bathroom towels that were once fluffy and absorbed water are now looking dingy.  They have seen better days and could smell better too.  When towels have been washed with wash products like fabric softener, the product leaves a waxy film behind on the towels.  Freshen towels by following this secret recipe.

    Wash If:
    Mildew smell
    less absorbent
    dingy
    waxy to touch
    harsh feeling

    Materials:
    Vinegar
    Baking soda
    hot water

    Washing Towels .

    Directions:
    Throw towels into a hot wash load. Run towels through wash cycle with 1 cup vinegar and cycle on hot water (that’s it – no laundry detergent). Run towels through a second hot wash cycle with 1/2 cup baking soda (that’s it).

    Thoroughly dry towels in dryer or towel line.  Repeat as necessary or when towels become less absorbent and/or a funky smell.  Do not use detergent/softener while doing this cycle.

  • Candle Decor

    Candle Decor

    Candles are such a versatile decorative item to feature in a home.  They are beautiful and yet elegant.  They can be styled to match any atmosphere and bring warmth to rooms.

     Hanging Candle Jar

    Hanging Candle Jar

    Small Modern Candles

    Small Modern Candles

    Tree Bark Candle Decor

    Bark Heart Candle Holders

    Candle Styling

    Candle Styling

    Bird Cage Candle Decor

    Bird House Candle Decor

    Simple Burlap Candles

    Simple Burlap Candles

    Modern Candle Display Decor

    Modern Candle Display Decor

    Styling Candles in Jars

    Styling Candles in Jars

    Simple Candle Stick Decor

    Candle Stick Decor

    Vintage Candle Display Decor

    Vintage Candle Display Decor

    Rustic Tin Candle Holder Decor

    Tin Can Candle Holder Decor

    Sand and Candle Mason Jars

    Sand and Candle Mason Jars

    Autumn Tea light Candles

    Apple Candle Holders

    Glass Jar Candles

    Glass Jar Candles

    Cheese Grater Candle

    Cheese Grater Candle

    Wooden Candle Holder Decor

    Small Candle Holder Decor

    Mason Jar Floating Candles

    Mason Jar Candles

  • Thanksgiving Tablescape Decor

    Thanksgiving Tablescape Decor

    Thanksgiving Decor Table

    As fall approaches and the weather starts to cool, entertaining will head inside homes.  Pick our your next holiday decor inspired by the fall harvest.

    Where ever you are for the holidays, you want it to make it festive.  We have compiled a list of fabulous Thanksgiving decor to help you get started.  Here we will showcase both traditional Thanksgiving decor and give more modern and elegant decor inspiration.

     

    Rustic Elegant Table Decor for Thanksgiving

    Rustic Elegant Table Decor

    Thanksgiving Table Decor

    Thanksgiving Decor

    Thanksgiving Decor shelf

    Simply Fall Themed Table Decor

    Fall themed Table Decor

    White Thanksgiving Tablescape Decor

    White Thanksgiving Table Decor

    Fall Harvest Table Decor

    Fall Harvest Table Decor

    Rustic Country Thanksgiving Table Decor

    Rustic Country Thanksgiving Table Decor

    Thanksgiving Tree Decor Center Table

    Thanksgiving Tree Center Decor

    Elegant Thanksgiving Table Decor

    Elegant Thanksgiving Table Decor

    Modern Thanksgiving Decor

    Simple Tablescape Thanksgiving Decor

    Simple Thanksgiving Tablescape

    Thanksgiving Pumpkin Table Decor

    Mini pumpkins carved out with fresh flowers placed inside.  Clay pots with blue plates to accent the table.

    Thanksgiving Pumpkin Table Decor

    Pumpkin Flower Fall Tablescape Decor

    Pumpkin Flower Tablescape for Thanksgiving

    Thanksgiving Holiday Table Decor

    Thanksgiving holiday Table Decor

    Thanksgiving Table Setting Menu Decor

    Thanksgiving Table Setting Menu

    Fall Harvest Center Piece 

    Pumpkin Harvest Center piece

    Fall Wall Decor

    Fall Wall Decor

    Thanksgiving Table Decor 1 by Martha Stewart

    Thanksgiving Table Decor

    Thanksgiving Table Decor 2 by Martha Stewart

    Thanksgiving Table Decor 2

     Thanksgiving Center Piece Basket

    Thanksgiving Center Piece Basket

  • DIY Creative Edibles for Holiday Drinks

    DIY Creative Edibles for Holiday Drinks

    Decorative and Festive Holiday Decor for Drinks

    Creative edibles that are all the rave this holiday season.  Find step-by-step guides to make party entertaining easier this year.

    Mulled Cider with Apple Stars – Make hot apple cider then peel an apple and thinly slice it.  Using a Star Cookie Cutter Set, apply pressure to apple slice.  Add to hot cider as a decorative and festive display with cinnamon sticks.

    Stars in Apple Cider

    Hot Chocolate Spoons – Fancy edible addition to drinks that will make entertaining unforgettable.  Hot chocolate spoons are all the rave this holiday season!

    Hot Chocolate Spoons

    Snowflake Marshmallows – add to hot cocoa and other hot drinks.  Here is a recipe for the marshmallows.  Find snowflake cookie cutters here: Snowflake Cookie Cutter      Snowflake Plunger Cutter

    Snowflake Marshmallows

    Frozen Whipped Cream Dollops for hot drinks – Find the recipe here  – Make fun and creative shapes using these cookie cutters: Snowflake Plunger Cutter     Heart Cookie Cutter      Holiday Grippy Cookie Cutters Set

    Frozen Whipped Cream Dollops

    Marshmallow Candy Cane Stir Sticks – Add these to hot cocoa drinks by adding flavor with these adorable and creative holiday dippers.  Find the recipe here.  Use Mini Candy Canes and hang the dippers on the rim of your drink.

    Marshmallow Candy Cane Stir Sticks

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Hot Cocoa Stir Sticks