Seasons Archives - Everyday Edits

Mason Jars and Matches

June 13, 2019

Here is a fun, easy idea for your home or a hostess gift. I almost always give candles as hostess gifts for parties during the year. And, I fell in love with the concept of old school matches. There is something about a match striking the strike paper. Let there be light! This simple add on, or the wingman to candles, requires mason jars and matches! That’s it!

So it only made sense that I combined mason jars and matches for this fun gift idea or bathroom accessory.

Scroll to the bottom of this post for the matches printable. No fancy paper or printer required.

I purchased a 3 pack of the small matchstick boxes at the grocery store.The boxed matches are located in the seasonal/holiday aisle at Kroger. I used the small, short mason jars because the matches fit perfectly into the short jar. If the lid doesn’t secure to the jar just remove a few matches to get a tighter fit.

For the striking papers, I cut out the strike paper from the boxed matches and taped it to the bottom of the mason jars. Velcro works too if you have a few of those in a drawer. Don’t we all have miscellaneous pom poms and velcro in our junk drawers?

Click here for a 2″ label printable on a sheet 8 1/2 x11 label or plain paper. And, if you want an easier way to decorate mason jar and matches I used wrapping paper during the holidays.

Coconut Cake Recipe for Mother’s Day

May 8, 2019

Hi Everyone, Mother’s Day is almost here. With high school graduation parties this month I wanted to get a head start for a Mother’s Day dessert. I found the cake when I found this coconut cake recipe for Mother’s Day on Pinterest.

I love coconut and a homemade white cake sounded perfect for Mother’s Day. After the six months of holidays, I need a break from chocolate based desserts. A coconut cake sounds lighter; which means fewer calories, right?

Autumn Mantel for Thanksgiving

November 14, 2018

Quick question: do you say fall or autumn? In a conversation I say fall, but when I write I prefer to use the word autumn.

It makes me sound smarter. I feel like I have not settled into the Thanksgiving season. Why? because I continue to buy pumpkins everytime I run into the store for milk or creamer. It’s ironic my kids’ favorite book was Too Many Pumpkins, written by Linda White. In my little world, there is no such thing as too many pumpkins. Oh, coincidentally the author, Linda White, lives in Colorado.

Too Many Pumpkins was my youngest son’s favorite book during fall… I mean Autumn.

I justify the costs of pumpkins because they are in season from September -Thanksgiving. Pumpkins get way more attention than the Easter Bunny who is precariously squeezed between St. Patrick’s Day and Memorial Weekend.

But with manic pumpkin purchase frenzy, there is one space that is the same year after year. The mantel in our family room. It is the seasonal anchor and sets the tone for the rest of the house.

The family room mantel always offers a proper welcome. It’s the feature wall for the main level of our home. The mantel during Autumn is the one constant, year after year. It is familiar.

The Welcome Home sign is the year-round staple. It’s on the mantel for every season and holiday.

I ordered it online last year and it was love at first sight.

And the rest of the autumn mantel goes like this…

Lights, garland, faux pumpkins, wreath, lantern. Repeat. The last step is crucial because it bulks up the mantel with layers of pumpkins and lanterns and garland and more pumpkins.

May you all find that moment to capture the spirit of Thanksgiving. So before you carve up the turkey, try and carve out a little time for thanks.

Porch & Patio | A Basic Bench Extends the Season

November 13, 2018

With shorter days and cooler nights, the days feel busier. Do you feel it? The calendar is filling up and errands are the bookends to most of my days. This time of year there are more leaves on the ground than on the branches.

This time of year in Denver we can have a 60-degree day and wake up the next morning to snow.

After an early snow in Denver, we had both leaves and branches on our back porch. #ohsnap

But on the days I work from home I love to just look out onto our back patio. And, our bench; a basic bench that eventually found a home outside reminded me to slow down.

And what felt like a moment of buyer’s regret turned into a perfect little space outside on our patio.

I love benches because they are there to carry the weight of the day (literally and figuratively).

When we FINALLY updated our backyard last year we added a fire pit. This season I have a few ideas I found here to pull this space together and enjoy the patio (and the bench) for a few more weeks.

On my list to extend the season:

oversized pillows
wool blankets
lanterns
rug

Yep, a basic bench reminded me to slow down and enjoy the season.

How do you extend the outdoor porch and patio when the temperatures dip?

Last Minute Halloween Donuts

October 27, 2018

The last week of October is packed with work commitments, social events, and school-related deadlines. With a few Halloween parties on the calendar, I pulled out this fun donut treat. Every year, I plan to find some over the top Halloween dessert. And, every year I decide it is not worth $40 + to attempt to make that will have a lifespan of four minutes. And, that’s where these fun donut treats remove the cost and pressure to create Halloween treats.

These Halloween donuts are fun and easy AND guaranteed to get a reaction from the crowd… even a crowd of teenage boys.

I made these last minute Halloween donuts for my sons and their friends.

The best part? All you need are donut holes and a tube of icing or icing gel.

If you buy the donut holes in the plastic containers in the bakery they are $3.49 or you can head towards the English muffins and buy the Hostess bag of cake donuts for $1.99. Halloween cupcake liners served as a plate/napkin for the donuts.

The liners kind of contained the powdered sugar, but the cupcake liners provide one brief layer of protection from sticky hands. I can not stand to have sticky fingers.

So easy. No cleanup. No sticky counters.

Happy Halloween! Hope these Halloween Donuts show up in your kitchen!

Twigs & Branches Centerpiece

October 25, 2018

It was the best (my first) curbside find the day I asked an arborist to help me parallel park my car in Denver. I didn’t actually have him park my car. I just needed some eyes on the curb and hand signals. Once parked I asked the arborist about the stack of twigs and branches next to the curb. Before I could finish my offer to take some of the branches, his crew was loading the twigs and branches into the back of my car. The leaves and bugs were included.

He asked me what I was going to do with them.

I told him I didn’t have a clue…

but, I would figure it out.

Which is basically my motto in life.

With a car full of twigs and branches and bugs I was on a mission to get home and spend time on Pinterest.

Well, the other thing about me is I stink at crafts. I don’t have the patience or the discipline to follow the directions. I take shortcuts. And, with my vision of a twigs and branches centerpiece, I made shortcuts. Get it?

And, then I went with the circle theme and layered the branches on a round cardboard form to form a centerpiece.

It was a glue gun and layers of sliced branches.

My first plan was to layer berries and twigs, but then I remember the stash of preserved boxwood wreaths.

I love to use a small boxwood wreath to layer and stack candles during the holidays.

This twigs and branches centerpiece was taking shape.

I added my favorite mini candle to pull the centerpiece together.

This upcycled centerpiece, made from Denver’s tree branches is ready for the holidays.

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Girly Pumpkins

October 18, 2018

Every year I try something a little different with what I call my stock pumpkins. You know the reusable pumpkins that act as filler around the house. I love my every growing collection of pumpkins and each year I try to add a little twist. This year I decided to play with leftover paint, tulle ribbon and faux fur from this project. And, with leftover scraps, I finally created girly pumpkins for mom.

The tulle ribbon was upcycled from gift wrap bows, stashed in a box in the basement. And, the faux fur scraps were on hold just waiting for a new purpose. I thought about making a Game of Thrones pumpkin dressed in a faux fur vest.

But instead, I upcycled the faux scraps and used them to add a little spunk to my pumpkins.

This one makes me smile every time I walk into my office. It’s cute and unexpected. I mean who puts

faux fur on a faux pumpkin? This mom!

I added paint, tulle and beaded wire for this pumpkin. They are perfect for my office which needs a little more spunk!

Here’s my most recent office update.

And, of course, I have to add a little (Hale) Navy in my house! Upcycle those craft supplies ladies (ande guys) you never know when a faux fur scrap will top off a pumpkin!

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Weekending with the Hallmark Channel & Story Suggestions

October 13, 2018

Happy Weekend! I am actually not weekending with the Hallmark Channel. I am traveling to NYC with my son for our second annual mother son NYC trip. This year we have plans to stay in SoHo and spend time in Brooklyn. We also have tickets to see Dear Evan Hansen. Ironically, the play was in Denver last week.

So I may not be weekending with the Hallmark channel, but I have a few random questions and observations as we head into the holiday marathon schedule!

But first, did you catch this one last weekend?

Like, do the actresses wear wigs? Their hair is always perfect.

Where do you weigh in on the product placements?

And, how do I get the highlights like Annie in Autumn Dreams?

This series‘ main characters are the only main characters who are in close to my ages.

Here are a few story suggestions I would love to see on the Hallmark Channel:

Can we get a story with middle age moms who are close to an empty nest?

Where’s the story of the mom whose youngest child just left for college and now she needs to figure out her life?

Or what if a previously married couple, now divorced, rediscover each other on an online dating site? Coincidence? I think not.

Oh, side note: My husband and I play this game when we go out to dinner. We try and figure out what couples in the restaurant are on an online match date? I like to create their back story but really enjoy figuring out how the date is going. Try it, it’s a fun game!

Or, a grandmother finds love while babysitting her grandchildren next to a single grandpa who resembles the grandpa in the arthritis commercial?

Or an empty nest couple decides to sell their house in the suburbs and move to a new state. And, in the process, they renovate their house and themselves.

Or the cute single, perimenopausal woman who runs a shelter (I love the shelter/rescue stories) and she meets a guy who wants to rescue a dog after his wife’s death.

Or, how about this story idea? Three widowed moms set each other up with their single, fit, guy best friends from childhood.

The men are self employed, with flexible schedules so they can go apple picking or estate sale shopping.

Hallmark could take a hint from Grace & Frankie!

My new favorite show to binge watch while flying to NYC with my son!

Happy Weekending!

Fall is the Season for Candles

October 11, 2018

Do you know what I love most about fall? Besides pumpkins, sweaters and jeans? Candles. Not the battery operated ones; real candles with wax and wicks. Where, when lit, the candles share their scents of apples, pumpkins, cinnamon, sugar cookies, and vanilla. Fall is the season for candles. I think it’s why we have daylight savings? So we can celebrate candles.

I stock up my cabinets year round for the months following August. Candles are one of the must-have purchases at any home goods store (did you see what I just did)?

And, every suitcase can fit at least one candle. When I travel, I love to purchase (at least) one candle from a local gift store. And, does anyone get the candle sale emails from Bath & Body?

Where is your favorite place to buy candles?

I went a little overboard on their glass candles last year. But who can resist a candle called Flipping Awesome?

I shared an easy video on how to clean out glass candle jars here!

I love Anthropologie candles with their shimmery, mercury glass jars that add sparkle to every space.

Doesn’t Anthropologie have an annual candle sale during the holidays? Did I dream this sale?

Candles are the perfect hostess or birthday gift during the fall season.

I like to tuck miscellaneous white candles in my new favorite fall decor.

And, when my new favorite lantern needs to be filled with fall; just fall. Assorted candles are a great way to mix old and new candles.

I can almost smell the pumpkin spice.

Fall Dining Room Tour

October 3, 2018

The dining room table is the center of attention in our house so the Pinterest pressure was on to create something pin worthy.

I know I am a little late to the fall tour parties, but I blame it on tennis balls. I just finished women’s USTA tennis and my son is in the middle of his senior year and co-captain of his Varsity tennis team. You may see a few tennis balls during the fall dining tour.

A week ago, the dining room looked more like the tableware aisles at Homegoods at the end of the weekend. But, today the table is ready to mingle. Please take a peek at my fall dining room tour (before tennis racquets and sweaty uniforms take over the chaise.

Thankfully, the fall season comforts me with its familiarity and cozy spirit. And, apple and pumpkin scented candles help too.

Our dining room table is a member of our family. I shared the table’s history here. It carries the load when some of us don’t have the energy to drop our keys or lunch bags on the kitchen counter- four feet away.

The dining room is the one room that feels complete. Well, unless I look at the rug or the lack of lighting along the hutch.

When I found this hutch last fall I felt like the room matured overnight. I found it at Pottery Barn and shared the details here.

.I purchased the mirrors this past spring here; one at a time over the course of a few weeks.

Cash flow was one reason, but I also wanted to make sure I liked them before I ordered a 2nd.

I love these mirrors. Homegoods has a great selection of mirrors too. But, if you see one, it’s best to snag it.

After spending a few weeks pinning fall tablescapes and front porches I could no longer remember what I owned.

I love white pumpkins against the wood grain table. Oh and concrete.

And, is it just me or did Homegoods have a ton of fun pumpkins this season? Just when I didn’t think I needed (wanted) more pumpkins, Homegoods brings in shades of large green pumpkins and raffia pumpkins?

You all know what pumpkins I am talking about, right?

It’s scary that I remember the price of the large, solid shades of green pumpkins ($24.99), but I can’t remember the book title I am reading.

When in doubt; add a candle. Candles make everything look better when the lights are dimmed.

And simple fall stems mixed with branches are a great way to add a little vertical next to the large windows that overlook the backyard.

I loved this look so much I duplicated this look a few times around the house. When my accessories are all the same height this is a good way to take the eye up.

And, guess where I grabbed these dried grasses? Found them in the line to check out at Homegoods.

I wrapped a glass vase (from my own version of a Homegoods stock room) with twinkle lights.

Are they called twinkle or fairy lights?

Anyway, I wrapped a strand around the glass vase to add a little lighting to the dining room hutch.

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Yesterday on Tuesday

Move Over Pumpkins it’s the Apple Harvest Season

September 28, 2018

Do you know what I love most about the Hallmark movies? They make every season the star of the movie. With seasonal porches and aerial views of the town, the season is the main character. The cast becomes the backdrop to the setting and season. This time of year, at least one Hallmark storyline takes place in an apple orchard.

Because fall is all about the apple harvest.

Source: Stemilt

With a crispness in the air and the first sightings of sweaters, the apple harvest has officially begun. On a (daily) run to Kroger, I noticed their apple bins were loaded with apples, with shades of reds, yellows, and greens from the Northwest and central Washington orchards.

Apple Harvest Season

Source: Stemilt

I think I want to start my own apple orchard. Maybe Hallmark could write a movie about an empty nester couple who decide to quit their city jobs and move to the Northwest and take over retired couples apple orchard. I bet this apple orchard would let Hallmark film a movie.

In this movie in my head, I would play the lady who owns the bakery next to the orchard.

Or, maybe I will just buy a few pounds of SweeTango® apples.

These apples are the successor to the popular Honey Crisp apple variety. I did not know apples had successors.

With hints of fall spices, the SweeTango® apples smell like a pot of simmering apple cider. Kind of like the cider references in every Hallmark Autumn movie. Does anyone bake while watching Hallmark movies? I will inevitably gain five pounds during Hallmark’s fall premiere movie schedule.

Source: Stemilt

But, SweeTango® apples are sweet enough, with a little cinnamon, they could be a low cal substitute for the urge to bake during the Hallmark Saturday movie marathons.

SweeTango® apples have beautiful shades of blush, deep reds and a soft yellow backdrop on every apple.

I should know these colors because I photographed a crate of apples to practice my photography skills. Unlike my Bernese mountain dog, apples don’t get in my face when trying to photograph them; Photography is therapy and a hobby wrapped up into an hour when the house is still on a Saturday. Last weekend, I had my own apple harvest in my kitchen.

With cooler temps in the Denver forecast, I plan to make an Apple Crisp. Or maybe I’ll check out There’s an Apple for That for fun SweeTango® apple recipe ideas. And, after I bake an apple crisp I will search how to buy my own apple orchard and create my own version of a Hallmark movie.

disclosure: Product was provided to me by Stemilt’s SweeTango® in exchange for this post.

All opinions are my own. Please see my disclosure page for more information.

Week-Ending Fall Television Season

September 15, 2018

It’s the weekend! Thoughts and prayers are with residents and first responders in North and South Carolina. We were in Charleston last spring for a college tour. It is a beautiful part of the country.

So let’s lighten the mood with a few thoughts and finds around the internet. This week-ending is all about the fall television season. Yes, I am taking a short break from pumpkins to talk about the fall television season- the fifth season in the year.

Here’s the list of all the new television shows debuting this fall.

CBS shared their fall preview here.

I have my eye on this NBC show by Amy Poehler.

Here is an interview with one of the cast members. You may recognize him from other shows. Fun fact: at one point he was married to Rory Gilmore’s best friend, Paris.

Another Gilmore Girls’ alum has his show renewed for a second season. Here is the fall television schedule for ABC.

Speaking of the Gilmore Girls…is there talk of another season? My daughter and I binged watched the most recent one over Thanksgiving two years ago. I loved Lorelai’s coat in the winter season.

Oh, and then I found this fun article of filming mistakes that may want you to rewatch it one more time.

Source: Dayton.com

First, what new shows do you have your eye on this fall? Please share in the comments so we can all binge on the fall television shows.

ps. What do we all get with the new television season? Commercials! Here’s a fun Subaru commercial series my sister texted me about earlier this week.

A Weekend in Charleston

March 31, 2018

We took a college road trip to South Carolina. We met our older son (my lefty) in Hilton Head and planned to watch a few of his tennis matches during a college tennis tournament. But with rain delays, we decided to leave early and head to Charleston. Let me say; it’s always hard to say goodbye to my kids (at any age). But it helped that we were driving up to check out the historical town and tour the College of Charleston. Our older son’s teammates snapped this photo before we left Hilton Head.

South Carolina

Do you know who is a famous graduate of the College of Charleston? Here’s a clue; he was one of Rory Gilmore’s boyfriends on Gilmore Girls. And, you may be wondering how I know the answer to this clue? Google. My son Googled famous historians (celebrities) who attended the College of Charleston.

The answer: Rory Gilmore’s boyfriend, Logan Huntzberger.

And, the flowers were everywhere in Charleston.

and I got a little sidetracked with …

the doors.

And these carriage entry doors…

Speaking of doors… I am obsessed with Stacey’s front door.

And, here is a fun read all about Instagram’s Guide to Charleston’s doors.

Budget-Friendly Bunny Prints

March 14, 2018

It’s bunny time! Both in our yard and house! When I found these cute animal prints at (one of my) favorite online decor stores, I knew I could make inexpensive spring decor. Of all the animal prints available, the bunny prints were hands down my favorite! A side bonus was I got more mileage out of bunnies than let’s say, Easter eggs. Do you know what I mean? I picked two versions of the bunnies and created two budget-friendly framed bunny prints for some much-needed spring decor.

Wait until you see this cute bunny face.

How can you not smile when you see this face?

When I ordered these prints I knew I wanted the shadow boxes to give a little depth to these framed bunnies.

I purchased two 9×9 gray finish shadow boxes at Michael’s. Framed prints are budget friendly because the frames can be reused for seasonal prints. An added bonus is they stack nicely in a closet.

I didn’t want both bunnies centered in the frame. I wanted to offset images in a frame or a photo. What is it called? The rule of 1/3rds?

This little bunny bum looks so cute.

I positioned him under the floral arrangement so he has some shade. wink

I have not figured out where to put this bunny. Right now he is chilling on the mantel in the family room and he is the first face family and friends see when they walk into the family room. Makes me smile.

Apple Harvest Season

South Carolina

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