Hello friends! There is something so special about all the pastels at Easter that I just love. There are so many gorgeous spring flowers to plant, and I love filling my garden with hyacinths, daffodils, and tulips of all colors. I fill my garden with yellow, purple, pink, red, and white spring flowers.  I just can’t get enough flowers in the spring.  One of my favorite places to be in the spring is in a garden store picking out more spring flowers!

How are you greeting your neighbors and family this Easter? It can be difficult getting into the Easter spirit when it is still cold and rainy outside. I’m an inpatient gardener, and I want to see color right away. It can be a very long winter where I live, so I ended up purchasing some artificial flowers to do two flower displays. Yes, you can bring spring to your porch and neighborhood before the flowers bloom! Here is what I tried this spring for my Easter porch decorations.

Easter Porch Display

I want to tell you this is easier than it looks, and you can easily find flowers which are 50 percent off. This will be affordable and fun to do on a rainy day! Hop on over to Hobby Lobby or Michaels when they have their flowers half off, and try this! These are easy porch flower displays that anyone can do. Just grab a pot you already have, fill it with rocks to hold it down, fill it with green foam, and then arrange it with the flowers that you love for a festive spring flower arrangement.  Also, don’t forget to put more rocks on top of the foam after your flowers are placed into the arrangement.  This will keep your flowers stable and give it a more natural look. It will brighten your spirit and those that pass by your home or visit during the early spring months.

I would recommend that you really fill these planters with large rocks so that when your April showers and gusty winds come, they won’t go anywhere! I have never done an artificial flower arrangement on my porch before, but so far they have held up in the high wind with no issues. I haven’t lost any of my flowers yet either!

This is a win, and I will definitely try other flower arrangements on my porch as the seasons change. I also found these foam eggs at Michaels for a garland going around the doorway, and I appreciate how they don’t make a banging noise in the wind since they are made of foam. Whatever garland you choose, make sure it is not going to make too much noise when the wind gusts come. Use foam over plastic or wood!

Easter Bunny Crossing Activity

Next, spread more Easter cheer to your neighbors by trying out this fun Easter bunny crossing activity. I’ll attach the free printables I used  as well as the silly Easter jokes. I put an announcement out to our community so they knew what to expect with the directions as well.

I found my Easter bin at Hobby Lobby then filled it with artificial grass on the bottom, an Easter crossing sign, ladders, carrots, eggs, and the bunny paw prints. I put the directions inside of the bunny bag. The only issue I had was that the paw prints kept blowing away on the porch steps, so I put rocks on top of them. Overall, I think it was a special activity for the kids in the neighborhood and built more community among the families. Enjoy!

You’ve Been Egged Printables

https://simplyloveprintables.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Final-SIMPLY-LOVE-PRINTABLES-Yn-Egged-Door-Hanger-Printables-White-Bunny.pdf

Silly Easter Jokes

https://www.kristendukephotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Easter-Jokes.pdf

“Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things”

-Oscar Hammerstein/Richard Rodgers

What are a few of your favorite things this spring? Some of my favorite things I am trying out this spring are gorgeous spring tablescapes, hanging centerpieces, Easter candy centerpieces, and playful floral drinks.

Try a Hanging Centerpiece

So you want to try a hanging centerpiece? I have no floral background just an open mind for trying new creative ideas, so don’t feel overwhelmed by this concept.  I think the idea of a hanging centerpiece can feel a little strange when not seen in the context of a wedding, but why not make it more common in our homes? If you like to create or host, I think this is something that is worth exploring more and trying out!

This is my first try with these.  I found some flower garlands at Hobby Lobby that I thought would look well with my existing tablescape.  I just wanted to get it up there and make it simple, so I used string to tie them to the bottom of my light. This was a simple one. Definitely try it and let me know how it goes. I use the battery operated candles, so I can create a romantic mood around the flowers without any chance for a fire. I linked the ones I used below in case you are interested in trying those out.

I will continue to experiment with these and share more as time goes on.  Feel free to follow me on Instagram for more tablescape ideas!

Experiment with Easter Candy Centerpieces

What is your favorite Easter candy? I decided I would try out these Easter candy centerpieces. I purchased a larger and smaller hurricane glass vase at Target. They were a lot of fun to do!

For my first Easter candy centerpiece, I used colorful bright jelly beans, yellow peeps, and various shades of pink for my flowers.  My family stared at this centerpiece, hoping they could eat all of these jelly beans!  I quickly took it apart a week later so we could enjoy the jelly beans.  This candy centerpiece makes you hungry! You will have lots of extra Easter candy after doing this centerpiece. For my second one, I will add varying heights of flowers!

The second candy centerpiece I tried out was using pastel jelly beans, birthday cake bird peeps, and marshmallow bunnies.  This time I brought in pastel yellow and sea green flowers to match my island. I also incorporated varying heights of flowers. This candy centerpiece felt more elegant and soft. For the next one, I will try adding in some chocolate bunnies!

For my final Easter candy centerpiece idea, I decided to try out some shades of purple with white blooms. This felt right as I was looking through flowers at Hobby Lobby. I found these chocolate bunnies and purple peeps; however, I discovered that there aren’t many purple jelly beans in those jelly bean packages! I must have went through 6 packages of jelly beans just to get the purple I found here. Next time, I will definitely have to order the Jelly Belly purple jelly beans from Amazon instead of digging through the traditional jelly beans from the store. Lesson learned!

If you are going to try out these candy centerpieces, keep the bunny or bird peeps toward the top since they tend to get squished by the other candy. Also, it may be best to just order the candy you want on Amazon since the Easter candy seems to always be picked over at the stores. I was able to get most of my flowers half off at Hobby Lobby! Definitely keep an eye out for when Michaels or Hobby Lobby are having their sale on flowers.

Try a Floral Drink

These rose molds look beautiful, and they will work great for any hosting you will be doing this spring.  I created a video on how to make these rose molds on my Instagram page in case you need step by step directions.  You will want to make sure that you fill the rose mold completely using a funnel before freezing.  I used strawberry lemonade which my son loved! You can float these rose beauties in Sprite, pineapple juice, or whatever you want! I’ll link them below if you want to try them out.

Create a Beautiful Spring Tablescape

There are so many gorgeous and creative tablescapes, and I appreciate all of them.  Here is my latest spring tablescape that uses white daffodils, candles, some Easter bunnies, and a mix of white, purple, and yellow flowers. I can’t get over these faux flowers which are so breathtaking. I also appreciate how these candles are battery operated and look realistic.

Make Conversations a Priority

Conversations around beautiful tablescapes? Yes, please!

Tablescapes can be so beautiful; however, when setting up our tablescapes, lets not forget about scheduling intentional conversations with those we love. At Getting Creative With Carolyn, we can create beautiful tablescapes, but they won’t mean anything without meaningful conversation around the table.  Unfortunately, it is so easy to overschedule our lives until we don’t have those conversations. We blame it on our activities and schedules. It doesn’t have to be this way. Carve out time to talk to your loved ones around those beautiful tables you decorated.

Let me help you.  These conversation cards have been used for years now around our table.  Sometimes, we just don’t know what to talk about it.  I like how these cards are broken up into 6 colored categories with more than enough questions to last you years and years: Hopes and Dreams, Reflection, Emotional Intelligence, Likes/Dislikes, Self-Expression, and Random. I especially appreciate the emotional intelligence category. You can create this intentional time.  Let it be one of your favorite things.

What new decorating ideas are you trying out this spring in your home? I’d love to hear from you and see your spring decor ideas.  Happy decorating!

At Getting Creative With Carolyn, we are reflecting on the meaning of spring and rebirth.  We are reflecting on new beginnings and fresh starts.

I don’t know about you, but I’m grateful that I live in a world that promises me many springs. I’m grateful for fresh starts and new chapters unfolding. I’m grateful that beauty still grows even in a dark and cold world and that a single flower can still grow up even in concrete.

It Will Be Alright

“Here comes the sun, and I say it’s alright.”

After a long and cold winter, the green leaves will start to emerge, and spring will come again.  What was dead will come back to life.  What lay dormant will emerge.  The ice will slowly melt, the birds will sing again, and those beautiful flowers will come back even brighter and more lovely. It may not be the same, but it will be better. It will be alright, and spring will come again.

Beauty and Hope Will Grow Again

“Sun…sun…sun…here it comes…”

So we hold on to hope.  We hold on to beauty.  We hold on to the promise of spring and new life. We hold on to the idea of rebirth.  We see chapters ending in our life, but we also see that there is something even better waiting for us.

It’s fascinating to see the world coming alive with the colors of spring. Everything that was dormant comes to life again. We can feel this rebirth in our spirits as we anticipate spring. I’ve been drawn to wildflowers more and more over the years. It is the way they spring up even in a messy environment that inspires me to see how beauty and hope will grow despite a chaotic world surrounding it.

Here Comes the Sun

At Getting Creative With Carolyn, we are grateful for the warmth of new dreams and loved ones.  We reflect with gratitude on the promise of spring in our own life. We smile at the promise of new life, fresh starts, and new chapters waiting to unfold in our life.

We are coloring our home with the promise of spring with energizing pops of yellow.

Let Your Heart Smile Again

We don’t always get our happily ever after the way we think it will happen.  Life doesn’t always turn out the way we expect it to, but we can let our heart smile again. Just when we think the winter will never end, we see a host of golden daffodils—the first splash of color after a gray winter.

Let some sunshine into your home with some flowers that make your heart happy.  Don’t wait for someone to bring you flowers.  Go out and fill your home with flowers that make your heart smile.

Appreciate the Little Things

We are grateful for the promise of spring especially after many cold, dark, and rainy days. We look forward to the flowers blossoming, the first butterflies, the warmth of the sunshine, and the orchestra of birds.  We appreciate the little things, and we anticipate the cherry blossom emerging.

Reenergize With Loved Ones

I am grateful that when we have a death of a dream in our life that beauty is still whispering our name, calling us to take its hand, get up, and find that there may be a better dream that we were not expecting in the next chapter of our life.

Those tables and couches that you beautifully decorated—use them each week to connect and reconnect with loved ones.

Recharge. Refresh. Your new beginning is waiting.

Before daylight savings arrives, bring your own sunshine into your home. Let the promise of spring bring you a renewed sense of purpose and hope.

It’s time to take charge of your alone time and make it a priority to rest in your home. In order to give your best, you need to have that peaceful retreat in your primary bedroom away from it all where you can truly rest, relax, and recharge. There is nothing wrong with having a, “Do Not Wake Mommy” sign on your door. Rest is so important in our lives.

What does a peaceful retreat look like to you?  Take a minute and think about it. If you need to, make a list of things that bring you peace. You can create more of a comforting oasis in your primary bedroom with just a few small changes. I want to show you some ideas for how you can make this happen this month in your home.

For some reason, the primary bedroom is often the room we neglect and don’t prioritize. Regardless of what life season you are in right now, honor your alone time and make this space in your home a sanctuary for yourself where you can reflect, practice gratitude, and decompress after a long day. Your primary bedroom can feel more like a comforting oasis to you with just a few changes.

Note: Before you start with decorating this space, you must first declutter.  If you don’t love it, then give it away to someone who will.  If it is broken, then throw it out.  If everything is all over the place and you need it in this space, find furniture pieces to contain it.  After you are done removing the clutter from your bedroom, think carefully about each item you are adding back into it.  Ask yourself if it brings you relaxation. If it does, keep it. Remember, the goal is to create a peaceful retreat for yourself.

Here are a few changes I did to my primary bedroom to help me create more of a peaceful retreat.

1. Calming Color Palette

Often, people make their bedrooms darker and more moodier.  If that’s more your style, then go for it.  For us, we enjoy more of a light and airy look to our primary bedroom.  We have done a coastal palette of paint colors in our home reflecting our love for the beach. We needed to pull in some contrast, so we decided to have the tray ceiling painted a lighter blue-gray color. This airy, serene, and peaceful tradewind paint color by Sherwin Williams brings the ocean breeze home. At night, the candles flicker on the ceiling making it feel more like water.

BEFORE

AFTER

2. Feature Wall

We decided to not do a feature wall in our primary bedroom due to our tray ceiling. If you don’t have a tray ceiling, try a feature wall. There are so many creative ideas with these. Check out my Pinterest board for more feature wall ideas.

3. Inspiring Books

If you have been wanting to read more, pull in some of those books you haven’t finished yet into this space. I enjoy having a few inspiring books to read in my bedroom. You can pull a few from your bookshelves, and make it more of a priority each evening.

4. Candlelight

Reading in your bedroom by candlelight can be very calming, so get those flameless flickering candles that wave back and forth. Just put batteries in them and relax by candlelight each evening before bed. I currently have 4 candles in my bedroom. This makes a huge difference in our bedroom.  I thought they wouldn’t last very long with the batteries, but so far they have lasted months without it needing to be changed out!

5. Plants/Greenery

I like to add in faux palm leaf plants for that coastal feel.  I usually get faux ones from Home Goods.

6. Natural Elements

Think of bamboo, wood, and other natural elements to bring into the room. We are enjoying these lights and bamboo candle holders from Home Goods.

7. Extra Pillows/Soft Throw Blanket

It really makes your bed feel more special when you layer in additional pillows and a soft throw blanket on your bed. Of course, you could also update those sheets, mattress pad, and comforter if it’s time for an updated look and feel. Make this a priority if you haven’t lately.  You will sleep better!

8. Inspirational Wall Art Sayings

What inspires you? Bring those sayings into your primary bedroom.  Reflect on them each day when you wake up and before you go to bed.

9. Peaceful Artwork

What brings you calm? Is it a waterfall, a beach, the mountains, a stream, or a sunrise? Look for artwork that gives you a sense of calm for this space. You could bring this into your space in the form of a canvas, tapestry, mural, or photograph.

I hope some of these ideas are helpful to you as you finish planning your primary bedroom.  Whatever you choose to do in your primary bedroom, I hope that it helps to bring you more of a peaceful retreat where you can relax, unwind, and rest.

There is nothing quite like sitting around the fire during the winter and reading an inspiring book or going to the spa for a refreshing spa day.

When you are home though, do you feel refreshed or stressed out? Our homes often stress us out with laundry to do, dishes to wash, and undone projects to complete. Our kids and work often demand all of our energy we have, and we often miss the nostalgia of the holidays.

This is right when you can choose to do a quick winter refresh in your home.

Refresh Your Coffee Area

When was the last time you sipped your coffee? I know we are often running here or there, and we don’t always have the time to sit down and enjoy our coffee.  I don’t know about you, but I think it is time we all enjoy our coffee area more. Also, sip your coffee and slow down. Enjoy your home more.  I added an Aura photo frame to this area, some small decor touches, and some pops of dusty pink.

Whatever season you are right now in life whether your kids are home or gone to college, you can stay at home and feel more inspired in your space.

Make It Personal

I think your winter refresh should be personal to you. If there is a color right now that is inspiring you, a quote that speaks to you, or a canvas that you are drawn to, then that may be your winter refresh idea.

For me, I want to remind myself during these remaining winter months of what love is, so I decided to reflect that also in my home decor. It is easy to feel uninspired during the winter, so make your home your resting place where you can feel inspired.

Choose a Pop of Color

I decided after taking down all of the Christmas lights and decorations to just put up small pops of light dusty pink in our living room, dining room, and kitchen. My husband and I used this light dusty pink color in our wedding as well so it has more sentimental value. It also brings me calm and rest. Choose a color that helps you to relax and feel inspired.

Leave Some Lights Up

None of us want to take down our Christmas lights. They bring a sense of warmth and a cozy feel to our homes during winter. Don’t take all of them down. Leave up the small sparkly lights around your lamps and/or fireplace. Also, leave up battery operated candles with the flames that go back and forth. This brings warmth to your home.

Refresh With Throw Pillows

You can easily find a few pillows that match the color you choose. They will give your space a new feel for less. I got my throw pillows at Home Goods. I especially appreciate the pillows that say, “above all else, love” and “love never fails”.

Don’t Forget the Flowers

Fresh flowers are always nice, but you can also do ones in the color choice you decide. I found these rose decorations at Home Goods and thought they looked so sweet. I also found heart plates with flowers on them.

I also hung a flower wreath on our barn door for another pop of color.

Make It Simple

I didn’t spend much on my winter refresh. I used mostly gift cards I received, so it was a very affordable winter refresh!

What are you thinking of doing for your winter refresh? I’d love to hear your winter refresh idea!

Remember, you don’t have to always leave your home to be inspired and refreshed. You can be refreshed right where you are in your home.

Let’s stay home more.