Decorating for Easter, Inside and Out

We celebrate big holidays in my home. OK, let me rephrase that. We celebrate holidays in a big way in my home. Easter is one of my favorites. This is the holiday that heralds in Spring time. Yes, this year Spring is already a month old before Easter arrives. But, doesn't mean we can't still enjoy Spring and Easter as a great combination.

One of the first things I do is switch to an Easter garden flag. The bright colors and charming look are so welcome as the brown grass is just beginning to turn green. Some years, the perennial Spring flowers are blooming for Easter. Some years they aren't there yet. But the Easter garden flags show off plenty of those flowers. Tulips, crocus and daffodils all grace our flower beds, or garden flags.

Then it's time to move indoors. The Easter decorations for the house are also bright and colorful. They make such a welcome change from the dullness of Winter. I always include several decorative throw pillows for Easter.

But my favorite Easter indoor decoration is a teapot or pitcher as the focal point of my table centerpiece. If I can get a bouquet of daffodils, they go in the teapot or pitcher. Otherwise, it's something like brightly colored ribbons pouring out. Of course, with plastic Easter eggs laid around the centerpiece.

There are plenty more ideas to decorate your home for this holiday. Hopefully, my suggestions of Easter garden flags, table centerpieces and decorative throw pillows have gotten you started on your own ideas.

Baby's First Easter Celebrations

When my first granddaughter was born, she was 800 miles away from me. Although I was able to celebrate her first Christmas with her, I couldn't make the trip for Easter. I wanted to be there. I wanted to share with her.

What worked great was to be able to send her a Baby's First Easter greeting card. I found some darling ones. Actually I found a enough that I had to narrow it down to just one. That wasn't easy. I wanted to send her all of them.

There are plenty of options for those who can't share baby's first Easter in person. But, I loved the idea of a physical greeting card. It was something that was included in her memory book. It was something her parents could easily share with others. That's why I took the time to pick out the perfect Baby's First Easter greeting card.

Oh sure, I know it's old-fashioned in some circles. But, I don't care. Sharing with my granddaughter for her first Easter was important to me. Sending physical greeting cards is one of those family holiday traditions that I love to share. It wasn't a text, it wasn't an e-card. Instead, it was a wonderful part of her first Easter celebration. I have and will send plenty more physical greeting cards. Those 800 miles can be bridged easily.

Valentine Designs for Candy Jars and Tins

Valentine's Day is definitely about love and romance, but it's also about candy. For me, it's plenty about candy. Oh, yes, chocolate. But all those cute candy hearts, jelly beans and more. That's where a charming Valentine designed candy jar or sweets tin will come in very handy.

And talk about a perfect gift. A Valentine's candy jar makes a great gift for someone you love. But, also think about the kids and grandkids. Around Valentine's Day, you typically have some candy to enjoy with them, give to them, or just nibble for yourself.

Let us not forget party favors, too. When celebrating all sorts of things around Valentine's Day, like bridal showers, school parties, engagement parties, even baby showers, we are looking for favor ideas. Valentine candy tins are perfect. Inexpensive enough to be great party favors, yet designed just for the romantic holiday.

The Valentine's candy jars and candy tins come pre-filled with your choice of a number of different options. So they are ready to go as party favors or gifts. But, then you get the fun of having a container that can be used over and over again.

The candy tins are great for pockets or purse. An easy way to carry around mints or other candies. The candy jars can be used for more than just candy. I put Valentine cookies in them for my darling granddaughters. When the cookies were finished the jar held all the sweet love notes that our family shared with each other. Perfect gift idea!

Decorating for Valentine's Day

Ah, yes, that wonderful romantic day is just about upon us. That means it's time to get our home ready for Valentine's Day. We don't need to be crazy with decor. Well, unless you are like me that is.

OK, I am crazy about decorating my home for every holiday. Of course, Valentine's Day is no different. We all know how drab the house can look when the Christmas decorations are put away. Valentine's Day sure helps to bring the home decor back into fun.

If you aren't quite so crazy about wild decorating for the holidays, you can still add a few well-chosen accessories to add that little extra. One of my favorites is vintage pillows for Valentine's Day.

Decorative pillows are part of my every day decor. So it's easy to switch a pillow or two. From the couch or a chair, just put away the daily one and add a Valentine's Day one. That's what I call easy decorating for Valentine's Day.

Maybe add a few heart wall decals, too. Along with your decorative pillows, you have some great, yet simple, decorations for the holiday. If you are planning that romantic dinner for two, these little extra decor touches could be just right.

Certainly, I love easy holiday decorating. And making use of a few little accessories is perfect. But, like I always say, don't be afraid to go bolder with your decor. It really is easy with the Valentine's Day decorations that are available.

Planning a Romantic Valentine's Dinner for 2

With Valentine's Day comes thoughts of romance. And what a fun way to celebrate that romance. Plan a romantic dinner for two for Valentine's Day. There are certainly plenty of ideas. You may have lots yourself. But, if you're looking for fun ways to do those little extras, I've got you covered.

A romantic dinner for two just works great with candles to set the mood. Personally, I like using LED candles. I just prefer not to have those open flames around. Little tea light style candles set at each place setting is something a little different.

Of course, my table is set with red and white. Either a solid red table cloth and white napkins or vice versa works. But then I like to use the placemats or Valentine's day plates to add the sparkle of decor for the occasion.

The menu typically includes my loved one's favorite foods. And yes, pizza qualifies! In fact, pizza is one of those favorites that tends to show up at lots of special meals. The menu can be as simple or as elaborate as have the time and inclination to cook.

Even the simplest meals can become a romantic Valentine's dinner. It's the little extras that will make the difference. So be sure to get your own dinner planned this year. After all, Valentine's Day comes around only once a year.

Valentine's Day Desserts: Heart Shaped Cakes

Yummy desserts and perfect for Valentine's Day. That's what heart-shaped cakes, and cupcakes, are. I'm a huge fan of cupcakes, but I love those bigger cakes and the fun decorating options they offer. So it made perfect sense for me to get a set of heart shaped cake pans and cupcake pans.

Those darling Valentine cupcakes work great for kids school parties, but also for the family dinner. Maybe for a Valentine's tea party, too. Perhaps you have a romantic Valentine's dinner planned. Then a beautiful heart-shaped cake is ideal for dessert.

One of the things I love best about heart-shaped cakes, or cupcakes, is that you can have any flavor cake you like and just use the frosting and decorations to make them more Valentine's Day appropriate.

Well, I have a hard time not doing something chocolate. Ooo, a chocolate-raspberry cake with white chocolate frosting, I'm in heaven. As far as I'm concerned, you just can't be too decadent for Valentine's Day desserts. There are just sometimes when you need to toss out the diet and enjoy the moment.

That's one of the best things about Valentine's Day desserts. Rich, delicious and lovely made into heart-shaped cakes or cupcakes.

Do You Know the Origin of Valentine's Day?

We all love Valentine's Day. Yes, pun was intended. It's just flat out the most romantic day of the year. And, no big surprise here, it's also the single day when the most proposals of marriage are made.

But where did Valentine's Day start? Sure, it happens to be the feast day of St. Valentine. But that turns out to be not the reason we celebrate love on February 14th. We celebrate love for a different reason.

Valentine was the name of a martyr who choose to marry people when marriage was illegal. He even did that from prison. Now that is someone who loves marriage.

But the idea of sending cards and gifts to your loved one came about much later in history. That started in the Middle Ages in English royal courts. Then the mid-1800s brought us more fun by way of mass producing greeting cards.

Nice to know that Valentine's Day didn't start as a marketing idea from Hallmark, isn't it?

Giving gifts was a marketing idea though. The diamond industry started promoting jewelry for Valentine's Day gifts. Of course, I think the chocolate makers were flat out thrilled by that!

Did you know that February 14th is not the only Valentine's Day around the world? Yep, there are others. It entirely depends on which saint or special person feast day is associated with love. That determines what the day actually is. But, the whole world does get the chance to celebrate love.

So do your part this year to continue the Valentine's Day tradition. Maybe even put together a fabulous romantic dinner for your loved one.