if you are seeing this article for the first time; just realize I was writing in 2018. It is fun to step into the past again and review what happened when. Looking back has a way of helping me look forward; so I’m reposting here with that in mind. Just remember…….we are time traveling!
So;
What are all the little flowers about?
I confess. I’ve been up to something!
I’ve been changing the house into the decor I want to use for our Mother’s Day luncheon/get-together/open house on Sunday.
This will be a casual, comfortable little get-together for family and friends.
I’m so looking forward to it.
Come on in and I’ll be happy to share all of my ideas with you.
A SEASON FOR CELEBRATING MOTHERHOOD
Most people know how I love to change-up my home according to the event or the season that we ‘re living through. I hardly ever have to go shopping to do this because I’ve collected one little thing here and there over the years until I have themes and color schemes that I can pull out of boxes that mix and match to fit the seasons that we are living in.
Mother’s Day is one of my favorite times to do this because the designs can be more feminine than usual. I don’t get many chances to show that side of decorating our home and I love the opportunity.
DEEP PURPLE AND YELLOW
I decided to use the colors of deep purple and yellow this year. The idea came to me as I arranged a pretty bouquet of tulips and irises for my Mom’s birthday this year. I began to think of Lydia, the woman who sold purple cloth and followed and supported the teachings of The Apostle Paul. I’ve always admired her story; and that sealed the deal. Purple and yellow were going to be the colors we used for Mother’s Day this year.
The colors also reminded me of beautiful butterflies; and that is when I decided that The IN SEASON Family Tree for May would represent the new life that our Mom’s breathe into the world each and every day.
I thought butterflies would be a wonderful way to make this statement without words. Now I think you will love the tree that resulted from those thoughts.
THE IN SEASON LIFESTYLE FAMILY TREE FOR MAY
We put our tree inside the kitchen window; the same way we usually do for every new season when our family comes together.
My sweet little granddaughter helped me to decorate the tree with butterflies. She absolutely loved them, and I got the chance to tell her how butterflies are born caterpillars and magically turn into butterflies later.
I thought about how Motherhood often does this to women. When you are responsible for more than yourself; you become more creative and artistic. You begin to share more. You open up to new thoughts and ideas that will bring joy to others. It is a lot like going from a caterpillar to a butterfly. Being a Mother brings out our real colors for all the world to see.
Now I want to order the Pinkalicious book for my little granddaughter that seems to be written on that very subject. You can order it too if you check out my products at the end of the page. I know I will enjoy it as much as she will; because growing older makes you grow younger and some of us still love children’s stories. Some of us actually think those little stories seem to make the world go round.
I put my Mom’s gifts and a card signed by the family underneath the tree. I found a treasure chest to serve as a substitute wrapping paper for one of the items I bought for her. At first I was going to give her a basket filled with goodies; then I saw some jewelry that I knew she would enjoy and I changed my mind. It all looks pretty all wrapped up in pink and gold under The IN SEASON Lifestyle Family Tree for May which is all decorated with purple butterflies. Don’t tell her though; okay? She never reads my blog or browses the internet. It will be our little secret until she discovers these little treasures under the tree and opens them.
EARLY MOTHER’S DAY FLOWERS HAVE ARRIVED!
Did you notice the pretty flowers that one of our daughters gave me early? I’ve enjoyed their regal beauty in my kitchen all week as I tended to all of the preparations for this special day. The flowers blended with my decorating scheme so well. I suspect that my granddaughter gave away the plan and the color scheme. I should tell her secrets more often! This daughter and I share a deep appreciation for lovely flowers.
PERFECTION IS A STATE OF MIND
And I find that it is all coming together so well.
How could a decorating scheme like this go wrong?
Well, to be honest…….the best laid plans don’t always completely pan out.
I wanted to offset all the purple colors with a creamy yellow color. My dining room curtains ARE already a creamy yellow and I decided to change (for a while anyway) the aqua blue curtains in the living room that we have loved and enjoyed for so many months to match the yellow ones. The goal was to make them match the curtains in the dining room; but offset all the purple I’m putting in the living room.
When I ordered the curtains I needed they told me the size I wanted would have to be on back-order; so I’m not getting the creamy yellow curtains that I wanted in the living room until the Tuesday AFTER Mother’s Day. Bummer!
NO LIFE IN THE FAST LANE ON MOTHER’S DAY
Oh well; this is how it goes sometimes when you live seasonally. Things change very fast around you and everything can’t always be perfect and match your vision for the day. This is when I stop and say “fine – no sweat.” I say that because there is no use in letting a few little imperfections ruin a lovely plan. I’m leaving up the blues and just decorating around them. It will be okay – the whole world doesn’t have to be perfect all the time! When the other curtains arrive after Mother’s Day; I’ll still have this color scheme going on for Pentecost. That will be just fine and I’ll love them even more when they arrive. Such is life in the fast lane!
My goal is not to let the “fast lane” happen on Sunday. It truly is about the events of the day and NOT about the decor. Mother’s Day here is going to be all about relaxing and enjoying each other’s company; no matter what color the living room curtains turn out to be.
I do love the yellow in the dining room though!
MAKING LIFE EASY AND SIMPLE FOR MOTHER’S DAY
Yellow and purple are a good marriage. They always cheer me up. Not having to wash dishes also cheers me up; and I think I’ve managed a way to get around that this year.
My table is flanked with throw-away dishes that look like china.
Did you even know they made such things?
No washing dishes on Mother’s Day! I’ve got that covered. I hesitated to use them though because you KNOW how much I love real dishes. I love playing with the patterns and the colors and the different shapes that are so readily available; but these worked just perfect for this special day. I loved the look and they will be good and sturdy. I will simply have to toss them to the trash can in the end and wipe out the REAL chargers that I added to protect the table; not to mention that the chargers are just pretty to look at and they go perfect with the fake china plates.
IT IS ALL ABOUT THE BUTTERFLIES
Don’t you love the butterflies that I found at Old Time Pottery in sheets of four for under $1.25?
They were perfect for the effect I was after.
I alternated the yellow and the purple butterflies on each plate around the table. I also pulled out my silver candlesticks and some pretty lavender candles and added a lovely bowl of lavender flowers in the middle.
The table pleased me.
The only thing that could make it better would be the smiles of our guest as they enjoy the Mother’s Day meal. I can’t wait to see that happen.
Yes, I’ll probably use my real silverware; but it is so easy just to put in the dishwasher and wash after everyone has gone home. As for glasses, we will have plastic tea glasses and wine glasses with our tea, lemonade and wine. It’s about the drink; not the glass; right? At least this day it will be. I’m so excited to have more time for visiting.
I’m also getting excited about how pretty the kitchen table will turn out to be. I’ve ordered a white sheet cake that has deep purple roses and yellow piping around the borders. The cake says HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY. There will be three choices of ice cream for my dear uncle who loves ice cream. I found some clear plastic plates shaped just like the dinner plates that I’ll use for cake and ice cream. The bright purple and yellow solid colored napkins make everything you put up to them stand up and pay attention.
MIXING IN A LITTLE PINK AND GREEN
I veered a bit from the purple and yellow in the kitchen and added a little pink into my serving dishes which have BUTTERFLIES printed into them along with pretty flowers that also contain purple and green and yellow. I love these serving dishes that just seem to fit the occasion because they look so feminine; like a garden party tea-room. I’ll use these to display my nibbling food – veggies, chips and dips and fruit. I have a large round tray that will hold the chicken salad sandwiches I’m ordering on croissants. You know how bunches of women only nibble at their food on special occasions – there won’t be a need for a feast this day – just a simple, elegant table full of finger foods. I’ll probably add a bowl of potato salad too with a few crackers and humus and we are good. Not too much cooking at all! I’m loving this plan.
I found the cutest little butterfly trays for dips and crackers and cheeses. Don’t you just love them?
I’ll scatter some more little butterflies over the food on the table when I display it all. We will feel like we are being served from a butterfly garden. I’ve even placed a few butterflies on my breadbox and they are guarding my yellow dish towels that I will use on that day.
So now we just need to get everyone inside the front door! I’ve ordered a pitcher full of fresh purple and yellow tulips to pick up and put on the portable bar that everyone sees as they enter the house. These flowers will be a highlight of the room and in the end I’ll let my Mom take them home with her.
The yellow wreath was already positioned on the front door; and I’ve left a lot of the blue and yellow mix in our entrance way. The other highlight in the entry is the couch table that I’ve flanked with a beaded yellow butterfly holding one of my favorite Ann Voskamp books (Be the Gift.) On each side of the yellow butterfly I’ve placed three mason jars of baby’s breath flowers flanked with irises that are just going to be opening up on THE day.
I’m hoping to find some purple and yellow ribbons to tie around each of these jars. I used the same jars in the same way on a purple charger in the middle of the coffee table in the living room.
We have our antique white chair in the entrance filled with a solid purple pillow in the back and showing off a very colorful pillow that contains purple and yellow in the front.
I think this entrance just looks happy!
As you step into the living room you might notice I’ve kept the yellow candles from Passover and added some purple and a few flowers to the coffee table focal point. On the mantle we added a slight contrast of pink lilies to each side. We’ve placed a butterfly on the side table on the couch and a pretty silver lamp. We’ve flanked both sofas with purple, pink and silver pillows.
My mom has a scrapbook where she keeps family photos in her office; so I’ve filled an envelope up of candid shots of the family for that to give to her. I’ll put those on the coffee table so I don’t forget! You can look from the living room right into the dining area; and see more purple and yellow and butterflies!
I can’t wait to see this room fill up with those that I love and cherish.
It is looking to be a perfect day full of people coming and going and hopefully staying and sharing.
I love the open house feeling we have given to Mother’s Day here. I’m so delighted to be able to share all of the blessings of motherhood with so many other wonderful mothers.
I’m hoping my grand-daughter gets the full effect of what it is like to have a house full of intelligent, artistic, creative, loving, caring, sharing and giving Moms in the family.
Maybe one day into the future she will be doing the same in her own home. For now; I’m very content to watch her playing in the walk-in closet playhouse we set up for her whenever she gets bored with all the adult conversations. She will show back up just in time for cake and ice cream though – no doubt about that. We are so alike in so many ways!
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY EVERYONE