Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Day 30: Final thoughts

Even though this is day thirty, it's not my final post.  I'm planning on continuing this blog, but there will be some changes.  Each month with be a different 30 day quest theme.  There won't necessarily be 30 posts on that specific topic, but for example the month of October might be "30 day quest to becoming closer to your spouse" and November might be "30 day quest to organize your life".  I'm not professing to be an expert in any of these areas, but I hope you will be able to take something from each month's topic. I will also be adding in another blog author, my good friend Jennifer Reynolds.  She is a mother of two and a wonderful Christian woman with some great insight. We will be taking turns posting on this blog. I'm super excited about the changes, so stay tuned.

Now onto my final blog post. I pondered what to write about for my 30th day.  I decided to simply write some closing thoughts on what it means to be elegant.  Elegance is a state of mind.  It's a decision to make your life and your home pleasant.  Elegance is not the quest of getting and acquiring things, it's the quest of being content with the things you have.  It's a quest to make your home a beautiful and comfortable place without spending too much.  Simple changes in your everyday routine and finding beauty in commonplace items add elegance.  Iron your pillowcases, organize a closet, put fresh flowers in a mason jar, be positive, serve others, shine your kitchen sink and you will be well on your way to an elegant life. Elegance can be manifested in your home, but it starts in your heart.

Remember, strive for elegance, not luxury.

Friday, September 2, 2011

Day 29: Elegant Centerpieces

Ok, this title leaves nothing to the imagination.  I wanted to come up with something more clever, but ya' get what ya' get.  Yes, this blog is about centerpieces.  I don't know about you, but I feel like my dining room looks a little more polished and elegant if I have a centerpiece on the table.  Lately, I'm a little over my daily "fruit in a bowl" centerpiece.  It makes for a great still life painting, but it gets boring as my everyday centerpiece. There's nothing special, creative, or personal about it.  It's fruit and a bowl.

 That has spurred me on to repurpose items in my house (most of which you probably have in your own house) to create centerpieces that are a little more whimsical and creative.  I bought nothing extra for these pictures.  They are simply items I had in my home that I put together to create a more personalized look on my table. They aren't earth shattering or designer-worthy, but hey, they're cheap and cute.  What more could you ask for?  Here are my creations....

 Display a pretty plate in the center of your table.
 Use those mason jars on a table runner.  During the holidays you could fill them with cranberries, or acorns, or cinnamon sticks to create a holiday themed centerpiece.
 Simple candle and holder with little succulent plants.
 Pile up some cute cookbooks and place a darling little teapot on top.
 I know, I know, still fruit in a bowl, but I layered a placemat on top of a tablecloth to give some more color and I put the fruit in a trifle bowl on a stand, rather than in a short bowl.
 I grabbed this piece out of my living room.  It gives it a more formal architectural feel.
 Open up a cookbook to a cute recipe page and set in a holder.
Grab a basket and fill it with fruit, cookbooks, or rolled up tea towels.  

I hope you've been inspired to look around your house for items that would spruce up your dining room table.  It's just a simply elegant way to add more interest in your dining room.