I was visiting my friend, Lila, touring her new home in Dallas when I learned this “Gilt-Free” Indulgency.

In conversation over recipes and gardens, Lila shared with me an easy, yet pampering “quick trick”. She advised me to use Fresh Lavender sprigs in the Dryer! She just plucks a sprig (stem an all) from the Lavender Plant potted at her back door by the laundry room, throws it in whole with the damp clean clothes, and lets the Drying Machine do the rest!

I was worried about having to pick off all the little bud pieces after the cycle, but because the Lavender is picked fresh it is playable enough to stay intact.

Oh! Can you just imagine the luxurious aroma brought out by the warm clean clothes hinted with fresh Lavender?! It’s like you are living in a five star hotel!

Thanks for sharing Lila!

Enjoy,

Palmer

In honor of Mosettee’s “Debutante” season, her Godmother threw a cocktail party based off of Mosettee’s theme: The Garden’s of Versailles…Peacocks, Butterflies, Flowers…Decadence!

Though this was a very elegant affair, our hostess shared with me a surprising secret to the source of her decor… THE DOLLAR STORE!!!! All of the Net Butterflies came from said store.

The unexpected application of hanging her decor from the rafters, so to speak, mixed with elegant Silver Candelabras, Champagne, and a Cake that is truly a work of art made the whole affair seem as priceless as Versailles, itself.

It just goes to show, it’s not what you have, but how you use it!

My Sangria and Calamari Party was a slightly short noticed, last-minute affair… and making real and good Sangria from scratch is not typically conducive to such situations. Not to mention having to buy so many ingredients does add up.

One option to the solution is buying pre-made sangria from the grocery store ; however, I find the taste of it alone to be bothersome and lacking. So, I like to use it as a base. By adding both frozen and fresh fruit juices, slices, and wedges along with an extra bottle of a more preferred wine, and served for display fills any voids in flavor, appearance and down right fun.

4 for 2″Lips”~Place your Fresh Flower Arrangement in front of a Mirror!~

So basic, I didn’t even realize what I had done until my mother pointed it out. I bought two beautiful White Tulips to enjoy in my bedroom, and the perfect place just happened on my dresser in front of the mirror. Instantly, my two stems became a bouquet of four!….How far can you stretch your stems?….six for three, or even make a full dozen from a half?! Haha!

Rosemary Bud Vase~Garden Herbs in place of Blossomed Buds!~

Yet, another excuse for an Herb Garden. When surprised with little notice, or no budget to fluff your guests’ quarters, simply step to the bushes and snip a branch! Fresh Herbs work great as they decant the air with their flavorful scents, but even twigs collected or turned leaves, if in the Fall, can also set a thought-filled stage.

Regardless of “how many” or even “what is” on display, it is the simple show of extra effort in your hospitality that your guests will appreciate and will make their stay feel special.

Have Fun!

-Palmer

Easy to make and fun to serve, use cut PVC Pipe for the base of a festive napkin ring!

It’s a little on the DIY side of projects, but The Junior League of Houston implemented this idea for their recent Charity Ball and I just thought I would pass it along. It seemed like a unique idea to bring some pizazz to plain ole’ black or white napkins… Here, they simply painted cut pieces of painted PVC Pipe and glued on Feathers and Stones to match the look of the surrounding decor.

You can have your local Hardware Store, Lowe’s or Home Depot cut the pipe for you there, on site. Or, for an even more quick fix and less permanent use, you could simply cut Paper Towel or T.P. Tubes with an exact-o knife (Scissors might distort shape).

Cover it in Moss with a flower on top for a Ladies Spring Luncheon… Glue it inside torn strips of bandanna and tie the ends in a knot for a B-B-Q…  or simply wrapped with an array of ribbon…How creative can you be with this concept?

Just because it’s doing the dirty work, doesn’t mean your liquid dish soap has to look the part?! Take out that manufactured plastic bottle of soap from under your kitchen sink, and dress up the dispenser to let your kitchen style shine!… Spotlessly, Effortlessly and virtually Cost Free!

Re-dispense your soap into that previously enjoyed, funky, now empty bottle from your favorite Wine? …Salad Dressing?…Liquor?!…  Whatever?! Pop on a spout top (found in most home bars, olive oil bottles, or at The Container Store) and dress your kitchen counter to make your cleaning work look like play.

Not only are you sprucing up your household chores, but you will also be sprucing up your contributions to today’s recycling efforts! (that is assuming you toss your old  “Reggie Miller” dispenser in the “Blue Bucket”)

Hope you Enjoy!… your way to the Happy Plate Club haha

-Palmer

My Birthday is the day before Halloween, so I never knew if everyone was celebrating me, or just the occasion with such “pizazz”. Regardless, it has always made for a “drop in the bucket” when it comes to throwing entertaining and creative B-day Parties!

In my recent years, I have come to rather enjoy hosting pumpkin carving parties, especially for those who don’t have children (myself included) and tend to get excluded from or simply let the more juvenile  traditions of this season go by the wayside.

This year, back in July, we planted our own Pumpkin Patch with the intention to invite my B-day guests to come pick their own pumpkin from our own patch and carve their Jack-O-Lantern over Cocktails and Popcorn. Unfortunately, due to just barely surviving our most detrimental Drought here in Austin since the 1950′s, I don’t have enjough pumpkins to serve all of my guests…actually… I don’t have any, that will be ready, that is.

I do have two beautiful healthy baby pumpkins that are steadily taking their turn (from Green in color, to Orange). Though they wont be ready to carve by Halloween, we have had so much fun tracking their growth: from a buried seed in the ground, to the first sprout of leaf peaking through the dirt, to the monster it has become of giant leaves, strangling vines and blossomed flowers… Even more entertaining?!… Hunting for the pumpkins amidst the vines and actually finding out that one has grown!… and being able to say I have my own pumpkin patch! haha

I could very much see this becoming a fun and memorable tradition for children and adults alike! Though it did take some time to clear out the area, planting and tending to my pumpkin patch has been quite effortless, timelessly entertaining, and costing no more than the 10 cents I paid for my packet of seeds.

Next year you should try it! They say the best day to plant for the perfect Halloween Pumpkin is July 4th. I was a few weeks late on that deadline this year (we had a party to attend), but next year I will remind you all ahead of time so you may enjoy a patch of your own, as well!

I was collection samples of AstroTurf for an art project at Home Depot… Who knew there even existed so many styles from which to choose?! Samples are offered as 4″x4″ Squares pre-cut cut for you to take home. Once I did, not only did I find that the samples worked well in material choosing for my project, but the samples themselves ended up working for me in turn… As Coasters!

Slightly quirky in action, they make everyone stop and chuckle at second thought, and even more so when balanced in an elegant application. These “Cost Free Coasters” make for great last minute or resourceful gifts, as well as fun table decorations.

Supper Bowl Party, or Host’s Thank You Gift for the Sporting Season?! Ladies Luncheon in the Spring?! Just for Fun?! To further accessorize, hot-glue on a small silk flower in one corner for the “Ladies”, or a Miniature Golf Ball for the “Gents”? You may also take this theme to the next step and buy a larger piece of AstroTurf  in order to cut impromptu place mats or even a table runner?! The look is lovely over a white linen table cloth.

Regardless, whatever you do… Enjoy!…Haha!

-Palmer

P.S. Some AstroTurf Styles will frey after several uses. To prolong the life of your Cost Free Coaster, simply run a line of supper glue around the edges on the underneath side.

…for a fun last minute baby birthday vase. Our flowers were ideal for the occasion, pink and white daises for a little girls 2nd Birthday Dolly Party. But, when our host realized her vase supply was out of stock, we had to find something else that would pleasantly display her blossomed bouquet.

With the party colored in pink and green, it just so happens that her drinking glasses matched just right. We simply cut a string of ribbon around the width of the glass and taped it in back, over lapping the ends and rolling the tape the width of the ribbon to tack it under neath, so that it appeared seamless… costing no more than what was already in the cabinet and taking no more time than a snip here and a tac there.

It worked great for us, and if you find the need, it can work great for you too!

Enjoy!

-Palmer

Here is an extremely simple, no expense, yet festive spin on a time saver idea in preparing to host a weekend long event.

If you do not already know, it is helpful to pre- set and stash away the different “condiments” involved before party time for the various needs throughout an event. For example, when organizing the different meals, don’t just plan ahead the meal to be served, but take one more step and organize ahead of time the dishes and utensils to be used in serving.

At our recent Birthday Beach Bash, we counted out ahead of time which plates, napkins and utensils we would need per meal per person. As usual, we bundled them into groups per meal and labeled each group with a sticky note. That way, when it was time to use them, anyone could just reach in the bucket and know what goes where and when! In honor of celebration, Brooke took one extra step further in preparation and tied each bundle with a birthday bow! The act was so simple, but transformed a strategic necessity into a birthday festive decoration all its own!

Good idea, Brooke, and thanks for your help!