We had a fun, relaxing Easter weekend! We went to my mom’s for Easter this year, and that’s always a special treat! She has taught me so much about entertaining, making pretty tablescapes and adding a little extra pizazz to any meal. It has become a tradition that she makes cupcakes that resemble bird’s nests! It’s such a pretty spring inspired dessert and it looks great at the table.

They are so whimsical and sweet. And even the unfrosted cupcakes look beautiful when displayed in cloches and cake stands. My mom has really inspired me when it comes to displaying food in pretty ways. I adore the idea of cake stands and baskets as opposed to using regular plates. It makes the food look that much more delicious! This year, my mom used shaved chocolate pieces for the nest and chocolate eggs for the topping. In the past, she has used chinese noodles for the nest, but the chocolate really went so well with the cupcake. It made the perfect bite!

Today is the day to splurge on candy, cupcakes and the like…. so why not call it Happy Sweets Day! I made some cute cupcakes (the simple Betty Crocker kind) and added a little heart topper for a festive touch!

Today is the last day for the 14 Days of Blogosphere Love party. Latoya is hosting a link party on her blog. So head on over and link up your Valentine’s inspired post! (Click on button!)

And Happy Valentine’s Day to my sweet hubby!!

Happy Thursday! Today is my turn for the 14 Days of Blogosphere Love post. Latoya from The Scott’s Crib, came up with a great idea to ask some bloggers to count down to the sweet holiday with some festive inspiration. So my idea is dressing up the table for Valentine’s Day!

I wanted to give the table a mix of styles… blending fancy with rustic and pretty with simple. Let’s start with the table setting- all of the china is from our wedding collection. I balanced all of the fancy with simple napkins and placemats that are actually just paper napkins! I love opening up the large paper napkins and using them for a pop of color…  (it’s also a simple solution that’s easy on the wallet!) I wanted to do something that was fun to look at when you first sit down, and these candy canes left over from Christmas make a nice heart shape! I was inspired by this idea from pinterest:

I altered it a bit for Valentine’s Day and made little hearts instead! The centerpiece was also fun to make and so inexpensive! I took some grilling skewers that I already had, purchased some large marshmallows and shredded paper- and voila- a simple and rustic centerpiece! The marshmallow skewers can easily be taken out for dessert and dipped in melted chocolate for a delicious treat! The 3 jelly jars on the table can be filled with white votives, making the table glow at night.

Thanks to Latoya for asking me to participate in the Valentine’s series! Make sure you also check out the other wonderful bloggers and their crafty ideas and link up to Latoya’s blog on the 14th for a Valentine’s Link Party for everyone!

I am so excited to be a part of Latoya’s 14 Days of Blogosphere Love. She has asked several bloggers to create a Valentine’s inspired post and help count down to the holiday! First up, is Emily from Nap Time is My Time. She completed a beautiful wreath and has the tutorial here!

Stop by here on the 9th for my Valentine’s Tablescape and check out the other amazing bloggers along the way!

Valentine’s Day is around the corner, and it’s always fun to let the people in your life know how much they are appreciated and loved! There are so many sweet, creative ideas out there for homemade gifts, decor and pretty things! Here are some images from pinterest to get your creativity flowing!

Soon, I will be sharing some of my ideas for Valentine’s Day, including some table setting ideas! I will be doing a variation of this idea:

And for a painting update…. most of the walls are complete in the family room! Once that is finished, on to the kitchen! After photos coming soon!!

Holidays are all about the sparkle… it’s the perfect time to go crazy and add some glitter and shine to your home’s decor! So here are some great sparkley images, all via pinterest:

I love all of these ideas! What great ways to add some holiday sparkle to your home!