Simple festive table decor

It's so easy to create great table setting and simple centerpiece ideas on a budget and with what you already have!

Here are some ideas that I came up with today while having a little fun dressing my table up for a holiday dinner party ~


Idea # 1 -
Layer your plates! Purchase inexpensive accent plates for a splash of color! You'll only need 6-8 of them & it can give your table a nice POP of color!

Idea # 2 - 
Use existing Christmas Ornaments on a pedestal cake platter or your favorite simple white serving dish. Its all about a simple pop of sparkle & color to create a holiday look on your everyday neutral set table! 




















Idea # 3 -
Grab some pine cones from that pine tree outside, treat them to a little metallic spray paint & place on your guests napkins - this will surely impress! :)



Oh And!!
Most often a great centerpiece is made up of 1 container + a bunch of the same item.

Examples of this... 
a glass jar of lemons, a basket of tiny wrapped gifts, or just a simple row of votive candles the full length of your table.

No matter what you come up with, just remember to KEEP IT SIMPLE & have fun!

Drab candlesticks? Holiday look for $1.99!

Grab a can of Metallic Spray paint at your local craft or hardware store and get searching for some home accessories that are longing to be festive holiday accents at your upcoming holiday party!

What you'll need:
1) Silver or Gold Metallic Spray Paint.
2) Dingy Accessories that need some sprucing up!
(Picture frame, candlesticks, or even a small tray for your coffee table.)

Find accessories that you already have laying around!

SPRAY AWAY...
For a nice even coat of spray paint - give yourself enough time to apply 3 or 4 light coats of spray paint & let dry overnight for a full cure before using!

Enjoy your new holiday accents for a pretty cheap penny! :)

Love me some Holiday Decorating- DIY ribbon hung wreaths!

  

There are so many wreaths out there for sale around the holidays & yet you can make one yourself that looks SO much better!! Do it yourself - they are so easy!

This is what you'll need to make your own 

RIBBON HUNG WREATH....

1) Twig Wreath (or the wreath of your choice)

2) Fresh Juniper (or holly)

3) 2" Wide Wire Ribbon (color of your choice)

4) Small Ornaments (the "non-shattering" type preferably)

5) Acorns

6) Metal Wire

7) Wire cutters

White Birch Twigs

Juniper

Step 1 -
Add the white birch twigs into the Twig Wreath to start. Then, break the Juniper apart into smaller sections and attach them (with your wire) scattered around the wreath how ever much looks pleasing to the eye. Next tie on the acorns (you may choose to use a metallic spray paint to paint the acorns for even more of festive style - although I left them brown for more of a rustic look).

Step 2 - 
Cut a nice long piece of ribbon. I would tie your wreath up before adding ornaments onto it (so you can spread your colorful ornaments away from your colorful ribbon with a little needed space).

Wrap your ribbon under the top of your wreath and lay it on the ground to get your bow tied (keeping the bow's knot a little loose until you hang it).
Once you get your bow looking good, go ahead and cut your long strands of ribbon on an angle & hang your wreath!


Step 3 - 
Add 3 or 4 clusters of small ornaments to your wreath in a coordinating color to your ribbon. If you can find the "non shattering" ornaments - those will be great for a wreath that will hang outside.

Step 4 -
Hang & Enjoy how pretty your door is now!

What is your DREAM JOB?

I've spent a LOT of time thinking about what I really would want my business to be.....
and I've come to the conclusion that nothing is worth doing unless it's my DREAM job!

If you could do exactly what you wanted to for work, what would it be???

I've always said...
I'd have a little shop (where I could keep the doors open in the summer and bring my dog to work with me) and I would repurpose, and fix up old furniture & accessories. I'd have a comfortable salary & enjoy my life - but try my best NOT to be a work-a-holic. 

Well, after quite some thought - guess what I've decided to do!

Hunt & Gather, LLC. will be my new venture!

I plan to hunt for great pieces of furniture & accesories that need a lift, coat of paint, or just a new purpose in their life and fix them up & sell them!!
Recycled & Repurposed furniture & accessories if you will!

Figuring this simple idea out was more than 1/2 the battle for me! But now I'm ready to see where I can go with my business plan!
I started by registering my business name as an LLC with the State of Connecticut and now its time to keep moving forward onto the next steps....
1) Obtaining a Tax ID number or Resale Certificate
2) Creating a business Plan
3) Starting to hunt & gather for some great pieces.
4) Researching any other legal documents that I should have in order.
5) Thinking about locations.
6) Seeing whats available for financial backing for my business.

This blog is going to show case some of my DIY projects of recycled furniture & accesories, and anything else that tickles my fancy along the way in the start of my business!
I mean how hard can this really be???

Starting an LLC & Registering your business name!

Well for the average small business entrepreneur... it appears that an LLC (Limited Liability Company) is what you want to open.  These are the steps I found to getting an LLC registered for my new business...

1.) Name your LLC. The secretary of the state has a free online database where you can search to see if anyone else in your state is already using the business name that you want. If not, you are good to go!

2.) Choose a Statutory Agent. More than likely this is yourself. Its basically the person who will be speaking for the business, and signing your forms to open the business, you must be a resident of the state you are opening the LLC in.

3.) Go to the Commercial Recording Division of the Secretary of the State's website to download your "Articles of Organization" form.

4.) File your Articles of Organization form by paying the State's fee (in Connecticut it is $120) and mailing your form & check in to the Commercial Recording Division.

So to register your new business, that's it!! :)

I will blog about what comes next once I hear back from my request to register my business .... Hunt & Gather, LLC.

Doing what you love

What do I want to do with my life?

This is a big question that many of us think about.  I guess we all want to do what we love, but if you do it every day doesn't it then become work?

So I suppose for me, I want a job that would challenge me creatively, and give me the satisfaction of feeling successful. Most of the years in my 20's I have thought "successful" was that corporate job, with a good title, and a decent paid salary. I'm only now beginning to be honest with myself - I've never wanted that, it just seemed like the correct path to take.

What I really I want to be is an entrepreneur... I want the big challenge to succeed at something that I thought of, created, attempted, figured out, and accomplished all by myself. I want to prove to myself that I can be one of those small business owners that I've always envied.  So, enough is enough... I'm finally doing it. If I fail, at least I can say that I tried! I just want to at least attempt to do what I love.

So here we go!  :)