by Melissa @ The Inspired Room
Ilove simple party ideas. Every time I host an event or holiday gathering, there are certain recipes everyone asks for. And I usually say something like, “Oh, sure, I’ll get you that recipe.” Having the best intentions, of course. And then I usually forget and never send it.
Why not prepare ahead of time some really cute seasonally themed recipe cards for all of the best dishes you are serving? For Thanksgiving you could use little leaf borders on rust colored paper, and Christmas you could use holly or stars on red or green paper. Or whatever is appropriate for the event you are hosting. You could make them out of pre-printed paper or get all fancy and embellish them any way you want to.
You could make this a tradition, having themed recipe cards to hand out after parties. Ok, it could be risky or embarrassing if you are a bad cook and no one wants your recipes.
So clever to use clothes pins to clip the cards to a pretty ribbon! You could hang them by the door and people could take the ones they want as they leave. You could also expand this idea if you are having a potluck. You could ask guests to bring a stack of recipe cards with their dish!
I’m always a fan of easy, creative and simple and this idea is one I will definitely be using.
photo: Country Living
Related post: Most Simple Party Decorating Idea Ever
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Support moms this holiday!
by Melissa @ The Inspired Room
As much as I love all the decorating ideas, and look forward to the food and gifts, I am always trying to keep a balance in my home on what is truly important. Focusing on a season of gratitude and giving, and because we are a Christian family, I want my kids to celebrate the birth of Jesus during Christmas and all that means to our faith. Both Thanksgiving next week and Christmas next month are great opportunities to teach our kids or grandkids the deeper lessons and meaning of the holidays.
But, how do we do that creatively and effectively? It is really hard to keep the reasons for the season in focus for kids, especially as children start making their gift lists based on what they saw on TV, in the mall or what their friends are talking about. The season starts to look more like the season of greed rather than gratitude, love for others or an observance of religious beliefs.
I’m curious to gather up some ideas in the comments for how YOU all engage and inspire your children in the meaning of the holidays. I know some of you have addressed this issue in your blogs, but if you don’t mind sharing an idea or two here for what your family has done through the holidays with your family, I’d love the inspiration!
In fact, I’m going to put a Mr. Linky here so if you write a post on ideas for making the holidays meaningful for your family, beyond decorating or gift giving (or how you handle gifts so they don’t get out of control), feel free to link up the posts here over the next few weeks. We will still do the Friday Holiday Linky, but this specific Mr. Linky is for “the reason for the season” kind of posts related to the holidays. Please link only to those kinds of posts. If anyone needs some inspiration they can check through the links.
Meanwhile, if you want to read about my crazy method for holiday shopping (and let me know if I am the only one who shops like that!) and get some gift ideas, you are invited to head on over to HomeGoods for today’s post!
DaySpring is a great resource for inspirational gifts and products. They recently sent me a wonderful box of gifts and I can tell you without hesitation that they are high quality, beautiful items. I encourage you to take advantage of their discount offer and find gifts or items for yourself! Both of the images in this post are from DaySpring. Click the button and use the discount code if you want to do some shopping!
Please specific posts (even if they are in your archives) sharing your ideas for keeping your family focused on the meaning of the holiday season! Or, simply share them in the comments!
by Melissa @ The Inspired Room
Country Living
Pottery Barn
Country Living
Do you all have cute Christmas stockings? I really want to get or make new ones. We’ve had the same ones since our early years as a family of four. Our son, family member number five, never did have one that matched the others!
Now that our daughter is married and we will be starting our life in a new state, I’m thinking by next Christmas we’ll get all new holiday stockings to go with our new home! I hope we’ll have a mantel to hang them from, but if not, stockings can look cute hanging just about anywhere.
Here are a few inspiration photos, and then if you want to see some great mantel ideas, click on over to HomeGoods via the link at the bottom of the post!
Country Living
Don’t have a fireplace? Hang your stockings with care anyways! Why not on the piano?
Country Home
Or, hang stockings from a ladder!
Country Home
Stockings even look cute hanging from the stair railing!
Country Living
Or, why not? Go ahead and hang Christmas stockings along your bed frame!
For inspiring photos of creative displays for holiday mantels,
I’d be honored if you would head over to HomeGoods
for my Creative Holiday Mantels article!
Thanks again to all of you for your support, it means so much.
*In addition to the HomeGoods inspiration, you can find tons of great holiday ideas in the Friday Holiday Linky! I will be reading through all the posts this week myself! Be sure to mention that you are participating in the fun here if you do holiday posts this week so your readers might get inspired to join us this Friday! The more the merrier!
Blog of the week this week: Four Angels Momma!
Love this blogging friend’s bright way of looking at life.
by Melissa @ The Inspired Room
Hey friends! Wow, it has been a busy week for me! In addition to starting my two weeks at HomeGoods (thanks to ALL of you who went and left me a comment on my first post!!) and getting going on my new position as Editor of the Home and Garden channel of Blissfully Domestic, I am out of town as I am writing to you! Yes, we are in our new city checking things out and starting our house hunt.
Phew, I haven’t had much time for holiday post hunting so my list is short and sweet. But that is where you come in, dear friends…I am adding Mr. Linky to this post so if you have a holiday post you’d like to share, link on up!
I’ve included a link to my second HomeGoods post and I hope you will all come on over today and share your ideas in the comments! You can see the new chargers and holiday napkins I found! You guys are the best!
Traditions: Telling your family story
Balancing Beauty and Bedlam
Frugal & Festive Holiday Tips
We are THAT Family
I Can Make That!
Just a Girl
Festive Tables
The Inspired Room @ HomeGoods
Blissfully Domestic
Creative ideas for Wreaths
Decorating Naturally
Now, it is your turn!
What holiday ideas have you shared lately?
Rules for Mr. Linky:
- Please link up HOLIDAY posts only. It doesn’t matter if they are decorating related or not, as long as they are holiday related.
- Link up to a specific post, all links to home pages will be deleted. Sorry!
- Please link back here from your post to this Link Love post, so others can find inspiration too.
Photo: Country Living
