My Enchanting Silk Garden

I’ve reached that age where I’m suddenly attending weddings every other weekend. I know that this won’t last more than a couple of years, but it has turned me into a bit of a wedding critic. For instance, I’m tired of useless wedding favors. At 27-years-old I can do without a thimble full of bubble solution.

If you’re going to give out wedding favors – which are completely unnecessary, but sometimes a nice gesture – then why not give people something they can use in their home? Candle gifts are a nice because they’re relatively inexpensive and easy to incorporate into home décor. Flower bulbs or small grow-your-own potted herbs are off-beat, fun, and inexpensive, too.

This year the girls in my crafting group went all out for Easter this year. Our main focus was on Easter springtime artificial wreaths to hang on our front doors. Some of the ladies came up with some pretty wild wreaths. One was made entirely of yellow peeps (coated in clear paint, of course, for bug and animal prevention).

Another design I really liked featured colored eggs wrapped in branches and wire. It looked like a precious bird nest. For my own wreath, I connected two circle wreaths, added two oblong wreaths at the top, and wrapped a giant yellow bow around the middle section. The result was a wreath in the shape of an Easter rabbit!

Jenny, a good friend of mine, likes to host lavish dinner parties at her home. Each dinner features a theme that Jenny uses to inspire the décor and dishes. For instance, last May she hosted a ‘Midsummer Night’s Dream’ theme dinner in honor of the start of summer.

My favorite part of the décor from that evening was the unique centerpieces. To create the feel of an enchanted forest, Jenny purchased miniature artificial trees for all the tables. She strung twinkling lights and crystals from the branches to help further the illusion. It was simply breathtaking and an idea I’d love to borrow if I ever become a hostess extraordinaire like Jenny.

Spring has finally sprung! The daffodils and crocuses are poking their colorful heads out of the dirt. The birds are busy building their nests and school children are starting to itch for summer vacation.

It’s my favorite time of year, but unfortunately, the start of spring often brings on terrible allergy attacks. Once my medicine kicks in and the pollen count drops a bit I can breathe a lot easier. Until then, I’ll avoid cultivating my outdoor garden and focus on the colorful artificial plants I keep indoors.

With fuel prices sky high, more and more Americans are opting to take “staycations” instead of traditional vacations. Our family was no exception. This past summer, we saved money by relaxing at home in our budget friendly, homemade tropical oasis.

We planned a luau for a few of our close friends to kick off our week of relaxation. We decorated the backyard with artificial palm trees, oversized pink flamingos, and tons of inflatables from the dollar store. With plenty of sangria and good music, everyone seemed to have a great time.

Bring the colors of nature indoors with artificial flowers and plants. I’m partial to artificial ficus trees. The one that I have in my living room is so lifelike that you cannot tell it is fake unless you go up and actually feel the leaves. The other way to tell a plant is fake is if there is a lot of dust and dirt build-up.

To maintain the illusion, I dust my artificial ficus plant once a week using a feather duster from top to bottom. I pay special attention to the often forgotten undersides of leaves and to the areas where the branches meet the trunk. I also have a system to clean off the river rocks and sphagnum moss that cover the base of the tree.

George, my husband of 20 years, is severely allergic to pollen. As a result, we do not keep any live plants in our home. This used to be disappointing to me as I have a bit of a green thumb.

I know that George hasn’t taken my plant sacrifice for granted. For example, he can’t bring home a traditional bouquet of roses because they will cause him to sneeze. Instead, he surprises me every now and then with liquid illusion artificial flower bouquets. They’re just as stunning and they don’t irritate his allergies. I think it’s a very loving gesture on his part.

Anthurium w/Fluted Glass Bowl Silk Flower Arrangement (clipped to polyvore.com)