Jinormous Grapevine Wreath Easter Basket

When we lived in Memphis, I took every opportunity to go to all the amazing design show homes that were featured every year. Every room had inventive floral arrangements that often captured my attention more than the rooms themselves. I don't feel like I have "the gift" of floral design, but I certainly love to play. Those show homes further developed my appreciation of floral design. 

At one of the tour of homes, I literally stopped dead in my tracks when I saw a huge grapevine Easter basket with colorful dinosaur-sized eggs. I love me some big ol' arrangements. The bigger the better.

I tracked down the florist that made the Easter basket and asked him where he bought it. I just HAD to have one! The florist with the Pepto-pink tie and jacket said "Oh honey child. You don't buy those Easter baskets. You make them! It's so easy. I'm not telling many people because I know it'll be on every front porch in Germantown." That sweet man led me over and started whispering how to make the basket. The rest is history. Well, except it's taken me 15 years to make it.

I've adapted his version a bit. He used grapevine garland, but I decided to try it with varying sizes of wreaths.  Here's that TOP secret Easter basket. (Hopefully it won't go gangbusters like the infamous hot-glued burlap Christmas tree skirt, but oh well if it does.)

Grapevine Wreath Easter Basket

*Makes (1) 3-3.5 ft basket

Supplies Used:

• Grapevine Wreaths- (2) 14", (3) 18", (5-6) 24". One of your 24" wreaths will be used for the handle.  This number can vary depending on the thickness of the wreaths. I bought my wreaths at Hobby Lobby. I find they have a bigger selection than Michael's. Just get a cart and go to that back corner and plan to camp out a while. Stack from smallest to largest to find the wreaths that fit well together. People will look at you like you're crazy, but it's worth spending the extra time getting the look you want.  *Note: you will make a big mess in the floor. In my mom voice--"Don't leave it for someone to trip on or the employees to clean up." 
• Gloves-You may want to put on an old pair of gloves. The grapevine can scratch your hands and arms pretty badly.
• Wire cutters to cut one of the wreaths for the handle
• Medium gauge wire or zip ties to attach the wreaths together

• Roll of large gauge floral wire-This is used to secure the "handle" to the basket and for any needed internal support for flower pots, etc.

Directions:

• Stack the 2 smallest wreaths. Attach them together on the inside of the wreaths with zip ties or floral wire. I connect them at 3,6,9, and 12 o'clock. Make sure you put the ties or wire through the thick parts of the vine.

• Continue securing the wreaths together. Periodically check to make sure that the wreaths are symmetrical and arranged the way you want. Lift up the "basket" to make sure there aren't any gaps that need to be secured.

• Using wire cutters, cut one of the largest wreaths in one place to form the handle. I tried to find a wreath that was more oval in shape for the handle.

• Carefully tuck one end of the handle between the top 2 wreaths. Once secure, start wiring with heavy gauge wire. Repeat with the other side.

• You may want to "build up" an base inside the basket if you plan on using an arrangement. I used heavy gauge wire and made a spider web design for the potted flowers I used.

• Double check to make sure there aren't any spots that need to be adjusted or secured. Remember-don't pick this up by the handle. Always hold from the bottom. You can't bounce around with this basket like Dorothy heading down the Yellow Brick Road. 

ALL FINISHED! 

This weekend, I'll post pics of how I decorated my basket, along with a few of my Easter decorations.

If you decide to make this, please let me know! I'd love to see the finished results.

Candy Colored Accessories

Welp. Winter has pretty much been non-existent for us. Not that you'll hear me complaining after last winter's blizzard and -7 degree weather.

I'm already looking at spring fashions even though the temps are still somewhat low. I'm not ready for white jeans and pastel tops, but I do like to add a pop of color to my cold weather outfits. My favorite way to bring some life into the endless sea of gray and black in my closet is by adding candy colored accessories.  Here are some pieces that I recently ordered and a few others I want.

Orchids and Poppies Scarf from F21

Snagged this one for $10.80

I love bright colors combined with black. 

Vibrant Southwestern Scarf

Oops. Got this one too.

$8.80 from F21

Vibrant Patterned Scarf

$8.80

Seven Stone Short Necklace from Arden B

I'd wear this with gray jeans and a bright turquoise top.

Kate Spade Julianna Jelly Bow Flats

Helloooooo cutie! 

Love this different take on a skinny belt.

Skinny Mini Green Belt

$19.00

Tory Burch Amanda Clutch

Perfect little bag!

Have a great Sunday!

XOXO

Pecan-Crusted Goat Cheese and Roasted Pear Salad

Through the years, I've played around with different ingredients in salads to suit our tastes. Sometimes I'll try to copy a salad from a restaurant, and other times-I just use what we have on hand in our refrigerator.

This salad is an adaptation of a salad we used to have when we lived in Memphis. Paulette's had the most wonderful mixed greens salad with fried pecan-crusted goat cheese. I'm trying to eat healthier, so I coated the goat cheese in toasted pecans and skipped the frying. The roasted pears in this salad come from a recipe I made up many years ago that has cornbread croutons, bacon, spinach, and roasted pears.

Pecan-Crusted Goat Cheese and Roasted Pear Salad

Ingredients:

• Your choice of greens. I used an organic spinach salad blend.
• Thinly sliced purple onion
• A couple of slices of pan-fried bacon, crumbled
• About a 1/4 cup pecans
• Non-stick cooking spray
• 1 small log of good quality goat cheese
• Girard's Champagne Dressing (available in most grocery stores)
• 1 ripe pear for each salad
• Brown sugar or honey
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Lightly spray a small skillet with cooking spray. Heat skillet over medium heat. Add pecans. Toast the pecans for 3-6 minutes, flipping often to avoid burning.
• Let pecans cool and pulse them finely in a food processor. Set aside.
• Slice the goat cheese log into approximately 1/2 inch slices. If the goat cheese crumbles, don't sweat it. You can easily reshape the slices.

• Lightly salt and pepper one side of the goat cheese. Press the pecan pieces onto each side. Place in refrigerator while you prepare the rest of the salad.
• Place parchment paper or a Silpat pad on a baking sheet. 
• Peel pears and cut into wedges. Place on baking sheet and bake for about 7 minutes.
• Remove from oven and turn over pears with a spatula. 
• Lightly sprinkle pears with brown sugar or drizzle with honey. 
• Return to oven and bake 5-7 minutes or until sugar starts to caramelize a bit. Be careful. These can burn easily once the sugar is on them.

• In individual salad bowls, add spinach mix.
• Add crumbled bacon, purple onion, pears, and 2-3 goat cheese slices.
• Add salt and fresh cracked pepper if desired and drizzle champagne dressing onto finished salad.

Enjoy!

Have a great weekend!

XOXO

Dress Love

I'm so excited to be going to Nashville next month to see my besties. I love going on our girls' trips because it's often my only chance to wear cute dresses and actually fix my hair.

As I was looking online for dresses, I spotted some really cute ones I'd like to share.

Retro Striped Dress from Lulu's

This print sort of reminds me of one that Kate Spade has done.

Diane von Furstenberg Honoka Dress

Love, love, love.

High Points Dress from Francesca's

I would wear this with boots and a denim jacket.

Best part? It's only $44.00

Presley Skye Silk Kimono Sleeve Dress

 Like this style of dress because it's very forgiving for all my trouble spots.

Have a great Wednesday!

XOXO

Parenting With Love and Truth

I'm an '80s child. 

Well, born in the '70s, but remember more of the '80s.

I was raised WITHOUT a silver spoon in my mouth.

My family put things in "lay-a-way" and paid for them with hard-earned cash.

I was taught that just because you're born, the world owes you nothing. 

You work hard for what YOU want.

I was taught that life is not fair.

There are always people that have more than you.

But even more people will have less than you.

My parents were divorced.

I saw at an early age what a fearless woman looked like.

My mother did things for herself.

I saw my mother learn how to do the things my dad typically did.

She learned to change the oil in her car, make house repairs, and pay her own bills. 

With no help.

Whatsoever.

From a man, government, or other family members.

She told me it wasn't another person's fault or the government's problem that 

She and my father got a divorce. 

So why should they "fix" it?

All the while, my mother remained a parent to me.

She didn't rely on me to be a confidante or emotional crutch.

She showed tough love when she needed to....which was often.

I miss the days when parents and children weren't "buds". 

Parents are supposed to nurture, educate, and guide their children.

Parents are supposed to prepare their children for the world out there.

Even if it hurts a little.

I love this episode of "The Cosby Show". 

Cliff (the dad) is offering his son Theo some honest advice about life.

Even if it hurts a little.

*Make sure you watch until the 3:00 mark. 

Theo provides such a convincing argument, but Cliff provides even better parental advice.