Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Life

Category: Holiday Decorating

  • Have a Blast this July 4th

    Let Your Crafts Soar 

    Whether you’re celebrating with family or a small group of friends, it’s always fun to decorate. Spruce up your home for July 4th with these crafts. 

    • Here is a fun list of patriotic craft ideas from beautiful flower arrangements to festive coloring sheets.
    • Use toilet paper or paper towel tubes to make little rockets! You and the kids can paint the cardboard red, white, and blue and then glue ribbons or tassels onto one end. Paint little stars on the outside to give it a boost! Another option is to cut construction paper and glue it to the outside of the tube. For the top of the rocket make a cone shape out of paper to glue it to the top.
    • Build a rocket out of cardboard boxes so the young ones can fly high. Take a large cardboard box and cut out ½ of one side. Cut out two wings and tape one to each side. For the top of the rocket cut out a triangle and attach it to the top. If you want to take it another level, you can paint the outside or wrap it in fun wrapping paper. Glue painted bottle caps on to look like buttons and use a paper plate as a wheel. Blast off! 

    Recipes for a Good Time 

    July 4th is all about firing up that grill and snacking on some delicious red, white, and blue treats.  

    • For dessert try a yummy berry-topped flag cake recipe. 
    • Cupcakes are always a crowd favorite. An easy way to make them festive is by adding red, white, and blues sprinkles to the icing or using food coloring in the cake mix.
    • Red, white, and blue popsicles are a must–have on a hot summer day. You can even make them yourselves with this tasty recipe. 
    • If you’re looking to bake with the littles ones try this giant cookie pizza recipe. It’s simple and fun to make! 
    • This patriotic red white and blueberry shortcake is perfect for a picnic outside.

    Festive Fun 

    Whether you are together or apart, you can still celebrate July 4th with those you care about. 

    • Create a fun July 4th menu and email it to friends or family before Independence Day.  
    • Get decked out in red, white and blue and schedule a video chat time so you can all eat the same great food together.  
    • Game on. Discover some family fun fourth of July games for kids.   
    • Make a photobooth at home! Hang a sheet up as a backdrop or stand in front of a white wall. Use construction paper to cut out July 4th themed props such as red hats and blue bowties. Take silly photos and share them with loved ones.  
    • Don’t forget the sparklers!

  • Ways to Celebrate Father’s Day

    Get Crafty 

    Here are some great DIY gifts the kiddos can make to put a smile on their father’s face this Father’s Day.   

    • Create fun coupons by cutting rectangles out of paper and writing different things your dad might want in the future. Examples: 2 hours of tv remote time or help in the yard. 
    • Make a keychain using shrink paper or Shrinky Dinks. Color and design anything you want then bake it in the oven to shrink it down to a sturdy piece. Don’t forget to punch a hole in your design before you shrink it. When cool, add a key ring.  
    • It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s Super Dad! Discover how to make a cape for your superhero using an old t-shirt. Paint on the back using fabric paint or use a glue gun to attach fun trinkets. 
    • Take a framed photo and write “You Rock Dad!” in the bottom center of the frame. Then glue pretty rocks or stones around the sides. 
    • Use air dry clay to make a dish for keys and change. When Dad comes home, he’ll have his very own container to keep these important things in. You can use the bottom of a small planter or pot to shape the clay. Paint the dish or even make little fun clay creatures to glue on the side. 

    Spend Time Together 

    Whether it’s virtually or in person, enjoy some time with the special Dad in your life.  

    • Host a movie night in the backyard and watch your dad’s favorite movie. Don’t forget to bring his favorite snacks. Discover how to create a cinema in your backyard and read our top-notch movie suggestions here.  
    • Can’t be together? Watch a movie together with “Netflix Party.” 
    • Share a meal over Zoom or Google Hangouts. It’s important to share some laughs and enjoy each other’s company. 
    • No matter what your father likes, make sure you reserve some time for Dear Ol’ Dad. Whether it’s fishing, painting, board games, golfing, or gardening, set aside some time to do what he enjoys. 
    • For a great list of virtual activities click here. 

    Gifts for Dad 

    • Make dad a playlist. Gather all of his favorite songs and compile an awesome playlist that mean something to both of you. Here are some feel-good songs he might enjoy. 
    • Order his favorite dessert or food and have it delivered to him. Nothing says “I love you” like a plate full of someone’s favorite meal. 
    • Check out this list of sentimental dad gifts, or this list of dad gifts under $50.  

    Backyard Games  

    Enjoy some time with Dad in the backyard with these games.  

    • Create your own backyard bowling alley. Paint ten 2-liter soda bottles and line them up. Then grab a tennis ball and hope for a strike. If you don’t have plastic bottles you can substitute them for toilet paper rolls. 
    • There are several fun games you can easily order online include cornhole, giant Jenga, or ladder toss.  
    • Create your own version of ring toss. Grab 2-3 different sized buckets and drill or nail them into a fence or wooden post. Then all you need is ping pong balls, pool rings, or anything else you can try to toss into the bucket. The more difficult the bucket the more points you get. 
    • Bean bag ladder toss. Set up a ladder outside and take several steps back. Take your bean bags and try to throw them between the rungs. Each opening can be worth a different amount of points.

    Let There be Dad Jokes 

    Write a bunch of your favorite dad jokes on sticky-notes and post them all over your home. Nothing says I love you like a ton of cheesy jokes. 

    • If you want to go fishing, just let minnow. Fishing you a Happy Father’s Day! 
    • How does a penguin build a house? Igloos it together. 
    • I want to tell you a joke about paper but it’s tearable.  
    • Never buy anything with velcro, it’s a total rip-off. 
    • What happens to an illegally parked frog? It gets toad. 

    Happy Father’s Day! 

     

     

     

     

     

  • Fun Ways to Celebrate Easter at Home

    We might be practicing social distancing, but that doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate Easter. Below are some fun activities and ideas so you can celebrate Easter using things found around your home.

    Eggcellent Craft Ideas

    Paper Eggs
    Create and draw your very own paper eggs as a family. Grab some paper, cut out egg shapes, and get coloring! Want to step it up a notch? Turn on some happy music and look up silly Easter jokes and write them on the back of the eggs. Have someone hide the eggs around the house and host your own Easter egg hunt filled with laughs.

    Toilet Paper Roll Bunnies
    Use toilet paper tubes to create cute little creatures.

    Toilet Paper Bunny Easter Craft

    Cup Bunnies and Baskets
    Use cups to make bunnies or candy baskets. Paint them white and glue on paper ears and eyes. We recommend filling them with jellybeans or yummy chocolates.

    Decorate Easter Eggs
    If you want to decorate Easter eggs and are looking for some unique and new ideas click here.

    Homemade Easter Baskets
    If you don’t have an Easter basket, here are a few great options you can use to create one from everyday items at home.

    • Each member of the house can paint and design their own flowerpot.
    • Take an empty tissue box and cut off the top. Paint the outside of the box or wrap it in bright wrapping paper. For a handle, glue a ribbon to either side of the box or you can use a piece of fabric. Another option would be to glue cotton balls to the outside of box and glue on some paper ears so everybunny is happy.

    Sock Bunnies
    Create sock bunnies. Cute ideas here.

    Spring Into Action

    Dress Up
    Just because you’ve been social distancing doesn’t mean you have to rock your pajamas every day. Take this time to shake up your quarantine and try on some fun spring attire or put on your favorite Easter outfit.

    Connect with Family and Friends
    Schedule a FaceTime or Zoom brunch with your friends and family. Maintaining a connection is important and what’s better than seeing the faces of your loved ones?

    Home Photo Booth
    Set up a photo booth in your home! Hang a fun sheet as the backdrop and dig through old Halloween costumes for silly hats and props. You can also create your own photo booth props out of paper and glue them to the ends of popsicle sticks. Take silly pictures with your family that you will remember fondly for years to come.

    Easter Cocktails
    Stir up some Easter-themed cocktails. Try some of these incredible recipes.

    New Traditions
    See this as an opportunity to start something new. You can make bunny shaped pancakes to start your day or decorate the living room with homemade Easter crafts.

    Easter Games
    Play some games! Download 6 free printable games for the entire family 

    Easter Brunch or Dinner
    Try some of our favorite Easter recipes here. Or if you aren’t in the mood to cook, order from a local restaurant’s Easter menu.

    Happy Easter!

  • How to Decorate for Halloween Without Being Kitschy with Interior Design Pro Jennifer Adams

    Instead of the usual kitschy Halloween decorations you’ve done over and over again, try something new and chic this year. These classy yet playful DIY home décor ideas will inspire and create just the right Halloween ambiance.

    Go With a Spooky Wreath

    The entryway or porch is where most of the action happens when trick-or-treaters and guests come knocking at your front door. Adorn your door with a spooky wreath, like one made out of dried twigs, vines or dark-colored flowers. Add black bats or spiders hanging from their webs to create an eerie vibe.

    Decorate with Lights

    String up seasonal lights around your porch or front and backyard trees. You can also have carved, miniature gourds or pumpkins with tea lights inside lighting up your outdoor walkways and stairways.

    Scary Black Cutouts

    For a creepy front yard, use cutouts or decals for your windows. For a stylish look, don’t overdo them. Instead, keep the look simple and minimal—for instance, a couple of well-placed ravens, bats, or a ghastly ghoul or witch.

    Create a Gothic-Inspired Table

    Hosting a Halloween dinner party? Decorate your dining table with a gothic flair. Create a color palette of deep reds, blacks and purples, as well as gold; use textiles like velvet and silk. You can arrange your table with a gorgeous velvet table runner, vintage candlesticks, and a bouquet of dark red roses. For additional drama, play with black or red glassware and plates with accents of gold.

    Black and White Pumpkins

    Instead of the standard orange and black, go with white and black. Rather than carving your pumpkins, you can paint them!  Create spooky faces or whimsical patterns in contrasting colors to make them really stand out. 

    Monochromatic Décor

    If you want to go simple, then decorate your home with only one color, like white, black or orange. You can create a fun yet classy monochromatic ensemble for your entryway or around a fireplace and mantel.

    Haunting Floral Arrangements

    Experiment with unconventional arrangements by using feathers, dried and fresh plants and flowers, twigs and vines. Keep the color palette dark and rich with pops of bright color. Look for unique vases or containers.

    Dia de los Muertos

     For a twist, celebrate Halloween by using the Mexican Day of the Dead as your décor and party theme. Display vibrant and colorful sugar skulls, candles and folk art, like a paper cutout string banner called a papel picado. Have skull masks for your guests to wear, or even better, turn it into a party activity by letting them decorate their own masks. And don’t forget to serve up traditional Mexican foods and drinks!

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  • 6 Ideas for a Sensational Easter Table Setting

    What do food, fancy plates and flowers have in common? They’re all sensational for an Easter table setting!

    If you’re coming up short on ideas for your Easter table, or need inspiration for that final touch, there are many ways to set a showstopper.

    Create a design that will make loved ones feel welcomed and delighted. Feel free to incorporate appetizers or desserts into your design. Pull out your spring-colored china or hit the vintage shop for new treasures. Display a complete set or pieces that are mismatched and marvelous. Bring some of the season’s best blossoms into the setting as well.

     

     

    1. Design your own garden centerpiece

    Gather a medium-sized wood or metal tray, some wheatgrass (available at many nurseries), a handful of your favorite cut blooms and floral selections filled with water. Trim the wheatgrass with gardening tools or scissors so it fits perfectly on your tray. Place the flower stems inside of the floral selections and then press the picks down into the grass. Arrange a monochromatic garden centerpiece or one that bursts with color.

     

     

    2. Fill perfume bottles with flowers

    Raid your bathroom or your nearest flea market to come up with statement perfume bottles for an Easter table flower display. These vessels, while always beautiful, take on new life when paired with spring’s botanical bounty.

     

  • St. Patrick’s Day Desserts with a Little Luck of the Irish

    St. Patrick’s Day is fast approaching, and there’s no more festive way to celebrate the holiday than with a crowd-pleasing, Irish-themed treat. To help you get into the spirit, we’ve put together a list of some of our favorite St. Patrick’s Day desserts. There’s something here to satisfy every palate. Many of the recipes can be customized, depending on your audience or the amount of time you have.

     

    Craveable Cakes, Cookies and Brownies

    From light and airy cupcakes to fudgy brownies (as well as options for folks with a little less of a sweet tooth), these baked desserts are sure to delight your friends and family come March 17th.

    • Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies: Who doesn’t enjoy a perfectly prepared sugar cookie? This recipe takes it up a notch by incorporating cream cheese to create an incredibly chewy concoction. Roll out the dough and cut it into shamrock shapes, or keep it simple and scoop it into small balls. However, be sure to let it chill in the fridge beforehand so it’s easier to handle. Coat the cookies with a green-tinted powdered sugar glaze, then watch them get devoured.
    •  Luck o’ the Irish Brownies: Chocolate and mint tops many people’s list of favorite flavor combinations. These supremely rich, triple-layer brownies offer both in abundance. They involve a little mid-prep refrigeration to ensure that the center peppermint layer sets properly. Be sure to factor that into your timing.
    • Irish Coffee Cupcakes: If you like Irish coffee, you’ll love this tasty cupcake version of the popular beverage. The delicate texture of the frosting provides the perfect counterbalance to the bolder flavor of the cupcake. This recipe is best suited to adults, given its ingredients, although you can use caffeine-free espresso powder and omit the whiskey to make it a little more family-friendly.
    • Pot of Gold Rainbow Cake: Want to create a real show-stopper? This stunning cake looks like it should take hours to create but is relatively simple. It involves baking four separate cake layers using a boxed mix (hello, time-saver!), and then cutting a circle in the two inner layers and filling the resulting “well” with candy-coated chocolate balls. Perhaps the most complicated aspect of this recipe is the multi-colored frosting, but dividing the different colors into plastic bags and then piping them onto the cake one by one simplifies the process. (And if you want, you could always skip the rainbow and simply frost the entire cake green.)
    • Irish Soda Bread Cookies: Not everyone is a fan of super-sweet desserts. For those who prefer a something slightly subtler this St. Patrick’s Day, these Irish soda bread cookies fit the bill. After all, what could be more authentically Irish than soda bread? The unique flavor of these cookies comes from the addition of dried currant – as well as caraway seed, which lends just a hint of anise to the overall taste. If you don’t like licorice, you can easily omit this ingredient.

  • Holiday Outdoor Décor Ideas for a Beautiful and Cozy Winter

    Spruce up your outdoor space to bring the merriment of the holidays to your home.

    There are plenty of décor ideas you can adapt to turn the exterior of your house into a festive destination. Even if you live where it snows and don’t spend much time on a porch or patio, decking the outside of your halls is fun and satisfying.

    Create a warm welcome for friends’ arrival and a beautiful scene to admire from the cozy indoors with these ideas for holiday outdoor décor.

    Hang a simple wreath

    Hanging just one wreath on your front door creates a beautifully minimalistic look. Depending on your wreath’s adornments, you can pull off a chic aesthetic or something gorgeously traditional.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Go all out with double wreaths

    Have double doors? Hang two wreaths for twice the joy. Magnolia wreaths look stunning in a pair.

     

     

  • A Few Festive Fall Decorating Ideas for the Home

    Fall is the perfect season to bring colorful elements from the great outdoors into your home. From quick do-it-yourself projects to seasonal home improvements, we’ve got you covered with a few of our favorite fall decorating ideas.

    Colorful autumnal crafts

    Arts and crafts don’t need to be time and labor intensive. It’s easy to transform a plain pillow into an autumn masterpiece. Collect a handful of fallen leaves from outside and trace their shapes over pieces of felt. Cut out the shapes and use fabric glue or another adhesive to attach them to the pillow.

    Another simple craft idea is a fall wreath. Pick up an inexpensive grapevine wreath from your local craft store and then decorate it with foliage, berries, mums and other fall flowers from your garden. When you’re done, hang the wreath over the mantle, on your front door or in another central space in your home.

     

    Prepare your home for fall decorations

    Just as spring cleaning is a must, so is preparing your home for fall and winter. Before decorating, hire people to clean the chimney and check the heating and furnace systems. Doing these things before cold weather comes means you can prevent any problems down the road. Making sure to prepare your home means that it will not only be prepped to keep you warm, but the fireplace and other areas will be ready to decorate. Hang the wreath you made above the mantle and artfully scatter a handful of leaves and small pumpkins.

    Paint your home

    Painting is a great way to update your home for fall. Although summer might seem like the best time to paint the exterior of your home, it’s better to do it in fall when temperatures are moderate. Painting exteriors when it’s too hot causes the paint to dry too fast, leaving marks. Painting when it’s too cold results in cracking.

    Of course, painting indoors can happen any time of the year. Fall is a great season for many reasons. First, it lets you apply a fresh new coat of paint right before you redecorate your home for fall. Second, the walls in your home are probably the perfect temperature for painting. They should be above 60 degrees, but under 85 degrees. Choose a soft, neutral color such as driftwood grey or creamy latte as the perfect backdrop for fall decorations.

  • Top Easter Treats and Crafts

    April is finally here! Time for Spring and our favorite holiday bunny to remind us that Winter is not forever!

    Peanut Butter Eggs by the Minimalist Baker


    What’s better than chocolate and peanut butter? Roll them into an egg shape and you have a perfect Easter treat! This fantastic recipe from the Minimalist Baker will have you and your family satisfying your sweet addictions in no time.

    Coconut Milk Hot Cross Buns by Betty Liu


    These delicious buns will bring you back to the good old days when your whole family gathered around the fireplace on Easter eve, listening to grandpa play his favorite classic tune “Hot Cross Buns” on his trusty recorder… No? Maybe that was just me but either way Betty Liu’s beautifully depicted recipe for Coconut Milk Hot Cross Buns will have everyone in the house wondering where that irresistible fragrance is coming from this Easter.

    Shaving Cream Marbled Paper Easter Eggs by Typically Simple


    Looking for something fun to do with the kids this Easter? Look no further as Typically Simple has inspired us to use that old shaving cream dad’s got hidden under the sink and make some super simple, fun and messy ‘eggy’ decorations!

    Totoro Cream Puffs by Anna The Red


    Cute and delicious! These Totoro Cream Puffs are perfect for you and the kids to bake and decorate on a lovely Easter weekend. Anna really nailed it with this fun and creative cream-filled pastry!  Easy to make and a great idea for the whole family to enjoy!

    Crème Egg Anti-Gravity Easter Brownie Nest by Giraffes Can Bake


    Didn’t know Giraffes Can Bake? Well, you do now! They’ve come up with a recipe that will blow your Easter socks off this year! This beautiful chocolate sculpture will be the star of the dessert table so put your socks back on and try out this gravity-defying Easter recipe!

    DIY Easter Paper Basket Craft by Easy Peasy and Fun


    There’s no better basket than the one you make yourself, especially when your goal is to put little chocolate eggs you’ve found hidden all over the house in it! From Easy Peasy and Fun, comes this wonderfully creative paper basket that’s sure to keep the kids occupied all Easter!

  • How to Decorate Using Winter Whites to Brighten Up Your Home

    Although the weather outside may be frightful, your interior doesn’t have to be. While the days certainly get darker as the winter season rolls in, there is plenty of beauty and light to be found; one of the best things about the winter season for some areas is being able to watch the flakes of snow turn your town into a winter wonderland—and the same appeal can be implemented in your home. So, take advantage of those winter whites, because they’re one surefire way to fight off the winter blues this season. Here are some excellent decorating ideas you can use to take advantage of the beauty that only comes around once a year.

    bhgrelife.com - How to Decorate Using Winter Whites to Brighten Up Your HomeLight Up Your Life

    Good use of ample light is one of the most important decorating tips. Now, with the winter season bringing more dark than usual, it’s never been more crucial. Having light within your home can be the perfect way to brighten your spirits when the winter blues begin to settle in. Grab some candles and line your mantel, purchase the new chandelier you always wanted, and install light dimmers to set the mood. You’ll be amazed at how chic your interior will look with a combination of winter white and light.