CasaSugar

Would You Buy a Holiday Rug?

CasaSugar — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 05:30:24 -0800

Holiday doormats are one thing, but investing almost $500 in a holiday-themed rug is quite another. I'm all for holiday decorating, but I'm not sure I'd ever want to go to such lengths for my holiday home. How about you?

Etsy Finds: Talking Turkey

CasaSugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:00:13 -0800

Whether you're eating the classic Thanksgiving bird next Thursday, or just want to add a kitschy reminder of it at your celebration, I've found plenty of ways to talk turkey this Thanksgiving - and all of those ways are handmade, of course!

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Do You Hang a Thanksgiving Banner?

CasaSugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:00:50 -0800

I love the look of this adorable Thanksgiving banner. It would look so festive hung on a porch to greet visitors, or even on a wall by the dinner table. I haven't done one before, but now I'm tempted. How about you?

Source: Flickr User meringuedesigns

Gift Guide: Serving Trays For the Party Girls

CasaSugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:00:24 -0800

Since I'm a design fiend, I think my friends expect to receive decorating gifts from me. But it really can be just as hard to shop for décor gifts as it is for clothes. Year after year, I struggle to find something that appeals to their tastes and lifestyles.

I think I'm onto something, though. A few of my friends are big party girls, in the sense they that they are constantly hosting get-togethers and cocktail parties of all sorts. I've decided that a serving tray would be a great gift for these ladies. It's obviously great for entertaining, but can also be used as wall art or to organize knickknacks day to day. I've rounded up a wide range of serving trays to fit the aesthetic of every party girl you and I know. Take a look!

Does Your Thanksgiving Involve More Than One Table?

CasaSugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:30:42 -0800

Growing up, large family dinners, such as Thanksgiving and Christmas, always involved a grownups' table and a kids' table.

Since most of my adult meals have involved friends, not family, we no longer have a grownups' and kids' table, but we often have to have two or even three tables to accommodate all of the guests. It's fun having everyone pitch in to set up, and I love seeing how the conversations develop with each table.

Source: Flickr User bron*

How-To: 12 Tips to Make You a Calm and Collected Hostess

CasaSugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 06:15:57 -0800

If you're hosting Thanksgiving this year, there are a lot of ways to make the holiday less stressful and more enjoyable for yourself. It's best to be well-prepared though, so after you read these tips, you'll want to get cracking!
Source

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Roundup: Designer Ornaments

CasaSugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:00:22 -0800

It's no wonder that these three Mouthblown Glass Bell Ornaments ($30-45) are drop-dead gorgeous: they were designed this year for the MoMa by none other than world-renowned industrial designer Eva Zeisel - who turned 103 years old last week! I'm absolutely in love with them. I almost feel guilty for owning drugstore variety ornaments. I think there should be a balance though; a few basic ball ornaments mixed with handmade and designer ones sounds like a ideal balance to me. To give your tree that luxury art element, I've rounded up a few more designer ornaments for you.

DIY: Advent Calendars

CasaSugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:00:40 -0800

The anticipation of Christmas facilitated by my mother's advent calendar was always my favorite part of the holiday season growing up. (These days, it's mulled wine.) But I've never been a fan of those store-bought advent calendars where you opened a little paper door each day. They're cute, but certainly not as fun as a calendar filled with treats or activities. The possibilities for making your own advent calendar are endless, but I thought I'd round up a few DIY projects to inspire you (and woo you away from the drugstore variety).

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Gift Guide: Jewelry Stands For Your Girlfriends

CasaSugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:00:07 -0800

Some of my girlfriends are pearl girls, while others favor pairs of bold '80s earrings. Some wear a few wide cuffs at a time, and for others, a delicate tennis bracelet will do. But regardless of what they wear, every girl has a bit of jewelry.

So this year, why not save your pals from the dreaded entanglements of an unorganized jewelry collection, and give them a jewelry stand worthy of display? Not only will a jewelry stand keep earrings in pairs and necklaces out of knots, but I've collected a few that are as elegant as the treasures you drape on them.

DIY: CB2 Ornament Wreath

CasaSugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:00:21 -0800

The super stylists at CB2 DIY'd a stunning, colorful holiday wreath using ornaments from their holiday collection. The wreath can definitely be re-created with any standard ornaments, but I love the nontraditional colors and various shapes on this wreath. To make it, you'll need strong stiff wire to bend into a ring (like aluminum wire gauge 20 or a wire hanger), 30-90 ornaments depending on the size you want, strong tape or pliers, and ribbon. To check out the instructions, read more.

Here are the steps from CB2:

String one ornament at a time onto the wire ring, alternating colors, using smaller ones to fill in the gaps.
When the ring is completely covered in ornaments, fasten the ends together.
Use a ribbon to cover the spot where the ends are fastened together, and hang!

Tip: Best not to go too large in diameter as the wreath could become too heavy and stretch out.

GG Collection - $245.00	Faux Python Skin Trays - $22.00
Red Pagoda Serving Platter - $67.00	Inlaid Bone Flower Tray - New! - $199.00
Bird's Eye View Garden Wall Art - Single Tray - $89.00	Mammy / Punch - $65.00
Barneys New York Large Rectangular Tray- White/Black - $195.00	Rectangular Platter (13x9x1-in.) by Le Souk Ceramique - $28.95
NEW - $59.00	Rioja Platter - $32.95
Atticus - $120.00	BÄrbar Tray - $5.99
Indonesia Wooden Giftware, Galaxy Collection - $40.00	A di Alessi Ba-ball, Round tray - $132.00
notNeutral - Triton Laquer Tray - $117.00	Fornasetti Occhi Wood Tray - $758.00
Medium Rectangle Mariposa Tray by Fringe - $37.50	Horchow Antique Floral Tray - $135.00
Juliska Pewter Small Platter - $48.00

Michael Aram - $39.00	Jonathan Adler Pop Bird Ornament - $28.00
Kimberly Wolcott - $48.00	Jay Strongwater - $125.00
Jonathan Adler Dove Ornament - $24.00	Kimberly Wolcott Amazing Love Christmas Ornament - $45.00
Michael Aram Golden Pear Ornament - $39.00	Arthur Court Christmas Ornament, 2.5" Peace Symbol - $20.00
Jonathan Adler Pop Giraffe Ornament - $28.00	Michael Aram - bellflower ornament by michael aram - $29.00
Michael Aram Pine Cone Ornament - $39.00