Elegant and Easy Easter Centerpieces

In a few days, you’ll be sitting down to a fabulous Easter brunch, or perhaps you’ll be hosting a family dinner after the egg hunt outside.  How does your table look?  If you're feeling at a loss and want to try something different from the standard Easter bouquet, we have several easy and beautiful ideas that you can try this year! 

One quick and unique table centerpiece idea is to find several small baskets or, if you’re lucky, a few “nests.  Gather up your decorated eggs and fill each basket or nest with dyed Easter eggs.  A good decorating tip:  if you fill each nest with the same color, it will really pack an elegant punch!  

Next, scatter votives or candlesticks throughout (in coordinating colors if you have them), and you have a simple and elegant Easter table!  Want to take it one step further?  Tie the napkins with raffia in coordinating colors.

Another modern but stylish idea is to take a pair of clear glass hurricanes and fill with a few inches of water in the bottom.  Next, add pure white hard-boiled eggs.  

You can then accessorize with your favorite white blooms using the eggs below to secure the stems.  Even in the most sophisticated home this modern arrangement will look amazing!

Our last idea is just plain simple and really easy.   Use your dessert as your centerpiece!  If you are having cake, why not frost it in pure white and decorate it with edible flowers (be sure they are edible, and not from a nursery where they might have been sprayed with something less than safe).  Place the cake on a snazzy, footed cake plate, toss a few petals on the table surrounding the cake plate, and your table will look luscious!

Enjoy trying something new this Easter!

Contributed by Heather Martinez

Nature Inspired St. Patrick's Day Decorations

It’s a known fact that I LOVE to decorate for each and every holiday.  However, each year when St. Patrick’s Day rolls around I’m always stumped as to how to decorate.  Of course it’s easy to cut out shamrocks and color leprechauns with my five year-old son, but I always yearn for something a step above – decorations a bit more, dare I say as a Mommy,  “sophisticated”?

This year I have decided to try something different (though I’m keeping with the shamrocks and leprechauns for my son’s playroom).

In pondering what to do, I decided to go with the master herself and use Mother Nature for my inspiration! For easy table or mantle decorations, I’m starting with my ample supply of clear or white vases, glasses or water pitchers that are about the house.  First, I will fill 2 or 3 of them with water (if you are using clear add clear or green marbles if you have them).  Next, tuck some outdoor greens and white accent flowers gently into each of the clear/white containers.  

If you want, center the vases on  a few Shamrock cutouts and Voila!  You have an instant, nature inspired AND St. Patrick’s Day friendly centerpiece.  Side note:  For those of you lucky enough to live in a warmer climate, take an early spring stroll outside to gather greens – fern fronds are always a favorite if you can get them!

For other around-the-house decorations, fresh fruit (or fake) is always an easy way to accent any décor with needed luck-o-the-Irish color.  Fill white cereal bowls or remaining clear containers with fresh, green apples and green limes.  By accenting again with a few of my son’s Shamrock cutouts my mantle turns from boring to an emerald inspired focal point. 

Lastly, if you are entertaining and “mood” lighting is needed, you can hollow-out the centers of a few of the apples.  Insert votives and scatter them around your table, mantle or bar.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

Contributed by Heather Dietrich, Co-Founder, Sterling Pear