Blogs

May is one of the craziest months of the year at my home. Two birthdays, Mother's Day, baseball practices, games in full swing, school open houses, Memorial Day weekend... busy doesn't even begin to describe it! And with all of those events, there are parties and the entertaining opportunities that come with them.

So as I try to assemble some kind of a budget for it all, there's little room (or money) for decorating. So how do I pull off table decorations, themed motifs, and a party-like atmosphere without decorations? I start rummaging around. My jewelry box is a great place to start. It's amazing how a few strands of pearls can wrap around pillar candles and take them from blah to beautiful.

Next stop: the scarf drawer. Colorful and drapey, they're great to use as table runners—or try tying them around the top of a basket filled with utensils and napkins. How about an old cowboy hat? Turn it upside down, and nestle a bowl of chips on the inside. We spend so much of our money on things like jewelry and accessories, it can be a lot of fun finding new ways to enjoy them. After all, you bought that bold ring or soft pashmina because you loved it...I'm hoping you'll realize that by using and enjoying it in a non-traditional way, you'll find yourself falling in love with it all over again. Be sure to check out my video blog below to see one of my favorite ways to reinvent things to create a festive tablescape for entertaining. And I'll look forward to seeing you on Thursday morning at 10am ET for You're Home with Jill when we feature creative and colorful accents for your outdoor spaces. I'm serving up raspberry lemonade, and I have a glass with your name on it!

 

See you soon!
—Jill Bauer