D.I.Y – Parisian Spring Picnic

We aren’t wine experts, but we do know that if you are looking to reuse some of your prettier wine bottles, then you might find them of value as centerpieces.  In the pictures above, we delicately arranged flowers in wine bottles for Julie’s wedding.  It was unobtrusive, yet subtly sophisticated and familiar.  The centerpieces that you create don’t have to be for a wedding, but used in your own home.

If you are entertaining guests, you may decide to pick a “Parisian Spring Picnic” theme. Placing a lovely floral arrangement in your (empty) wine bottles can bring your picnic to life, even with eighteen inches of snow outside!

You should briefly consult with your florists if you really want to find the prefect flowers to compliment your glass bottles. It might be important to have lush yellow flowers with a blue wine bottle, but white orchids for you black wine bottles. If you are truly dedicated, then you can even use flowers that evoke feelings of Paris in the spring, such as yellow Tulips and Hyacinth flowers. Oo-la-la!

Reusing Party Favors

It seems that when you have one wedding to attend, three others follow and after awhile you may acquire your fair share of party favors. Some party favors will last a lifetime, but others are meant to be consumed or used within a short period of time. If you have a bit of party favor overflow that is now in a drawer or gathering dust on a shelf, then you may benefit from the following tips:

• Bag of Almonds. If you don’t eat the almonds, make sure to still keep the bag! These bags can be used as candy bags to give trick-or-treaters for Halloween and the almonds can serve as garnish around your Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzza, etc. dishes!
  
  
• Potpourri. The fragrance may have dissipated, but you may be able to convert the fragrant contents into a compost pile. Make sure to check with a gardener or lawn care specialist to make sure that you are applying the correct compost techniques for your lawn.
  
  
• Topiaries. Topiary is the art of designing shrubs and small trees. In the context of the wedding, people can use miniature topiaries not only to hold name cards and photos, but as decorative party favors. If you want to make a simple dinner at home a bit more formal, then placing topiaries on the table with your family member’s names can help to set a special mood.
  

Photo by broo, sxc.hu