Tea Tin Centerpieces

A chronic tea drinker, I’ve been collecting tea tins for years. The bright colors on the tins as well as the often-ornate designs completely inspire me. And because many such tea tins are also decorated with foreign lettering (such as those that I occasionally pick up at my local Asian market), they suddenly make me feel as though I’ve embarked on some exotic adventure. Once I’ve finished the actual tea, I usually find small uses for the tins around my house (I especially love displaying them on my white desk as storage for loose pens and pencils). However, used tea tins also double as beautiful vases. Simply wash each tin with warm, soapy water. Then, make a quick liner for each tin by snipping up an old plastic grocery bag. Don’t be too fussy when choosing your flowers. Stick with one type of flower for each bin and embrace the intentional color contrast for a stylish, eclectic feel. 

Photo: Martha Stewart

Bamboo Charcoal Body Bar

About a year ago, my boyfriend and I began purchasing bars of bamboo charcoal soap to keep at our kitchen sink. Because he is a chef, and because we are both constantly experimenting in the kitchen, we found that bamboo soap is a great kitchen staple. The soap is naturally anti-bacterial and because of its naturally occurring negative ionic charge, it eliminates icky food smells from your hands almost immediately. Fast forward to late January. While enjoying my coffee and browsing through the (endless) aisles of the NYC Gift Show, I met some (sincerely friendly) reps from the company EverBamboo who introduced me to their line of deodorizers and skin care products. Next time you are invited to someone’s home and are looking for an interesting spin on a traditional hostess gift, consider a set of the company’s bamboo charcoal face and body bars. The jet-black soaps are the perfect hybrid between classic and edgy with just a hint of masculinity. And since they are created using rapidly growing bamboo (i.e.: growth rates averaging 2+ feet daily), a natural deodorizer, your gift will be eco-friendly, too.

Photo: EverBamboo

Food for Thought

With a father who is a florist and a boyfriend who is a chef, it seems only natural that I am attracted to the idea of using food as a centerpiece. The next time you have guests arriving on short notice, don’t sacrifice a beautiful tabletop simply because of time. Instead, mindfully arrange food items you already plan on serving down the center of your table in lieu of a more “traditional” (and potentially wasteful) centerpiece. For an impromptu summer lunch or brunch, consider arranging small baskets or bowls across your table that are filled with fresh, brightly colored fruits and vegetables (purchased from a local farmers' market) that guests will pick on while enjoying easy conversation. Organizing an evening get-together? Keep things simple yet stylish at your next dinner party by embracing the casual feel of Tuscany. Forgo a formal antipasto plate and instead scatter drinking glasses filled with breadsticks as well as small baskets and plates of fresh, organic olives, tomatoes, Italian meats, etc. to substitute a more structured centerpiece.

Photo: Martha Stewart

We LOVE: DognBird's Beautiful DIY Artichoke Candle Holders!

Check out these BEAUTIFUL DIY artichoke candle holders, compliments of our friends over at DognBird. Be sure to check out their site for more info!

Photo: DognBird

DIY Favors: Mini-Terrariums

With all of the snowy days we’ve been having, I’ve been spending many hours indoors preoccupied with DIY projects that will help spruce up my apartment. This week, I’m working on a terrarium to set on a new console table in my living room. Though the terrarium I’m assembling is going to be in a container that is about 12-inches in diameter, I thought to myself this morning “wouldn’t a mini version of this be an adorable favor or self-standing centerpiece for a wedding or party?” What can I say: no matter how hard I try to avoid it, my mind, regardless of what I’m doing, always drifts towards the idea of a good party! A collection of small terrariums placed in the center of a table, along with perhaps a few soy-based candles, would make for a pretty and unexpected centerpiece for a dining table or for small pub tables during a cocktail hour. Already have your eye on a specific centerpiece style? Why not gather up your team of bridesmaids and spend a weekend afternoon together with a good bottle (or bottles) of wine for a terrarium-assembling get together? Place one mini-terrarium at every place setting as a beautiful living favor that will only add to the style of your tabletop décor.

Photo: Martha Stewart

What You’ll Need:
- A collection of clear glass votive holders and/or small rounded vases

- Sand

- Small river rocks

- A variety of miniature succulents

Steps:

Fill each votive holder/vase with sand. On top of the sand, organize a layer of the river rocks. Then, securely place a selection of the succulents (preferably in varying sizes and colors) throughout the rocks (if needed, use toothpicks or thin needles to secure the plants). Once everything is in place, use a dropper to add a bit of water to your new terrarium (only a few drops are needed). 

A Bit of Inspiration

Appropriately, I came across this beautiful quote while considering some new party favor ideas:

"If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough." -Meister Eckhardt

A Sweet Parting: Organic and All-Natural Candies

Send your guests away from your big event with a little something to help satisfy their sweet tooth. Many candy companies now carry organic and all-natural lines of chocolates, hard candies and gummies that will make inexpensive favors for any special event. One company in particular is Sweet Botanicals. Sweet Botanicals specializes in confections that are free from added preservatives and instead rely on pure plant extracts to give their candies beautiful colors and unique tastes. In addition to their hard candies, which are uniquely shaped thanks to the use of antique candy molds, the company also offers sour jellies, candy canes, lollipops and a sugar-free line – all made using completely conscious ingredients. Set one small container of these delicious candies at each place setting. With eclectic flavors such as fennel, rose, elderberry and (my personal favorite) “hangover”, they’ll serve double duty: a small, extended thank you to each guest as well as an excellent icebreaker. 

Photos: Sweet Botanicals

Spring Favor Idea

Although I love winter, I have officially reached the point in the season when I have begun to spend hours each day dreaming about warmer months. I particularly love springtime, when everything is just coming back into bloom and the air is that perfect mix between cool and almost warm. These recent thoughts have inspired me to begin browsing for favors and decor that would suit spring affairs, which has led me to these: Garden Sprinkles. My mother first introduced me to Potting Shed Creations’ Garden Sprinkles last spring when she included them in a small gift basket, though I was recently reintroduced to them while browsing the company’s booth at the NYC Gift Show in late January. Each tin contains a blend of flower and/or herb seeds, which can be sprinkled through an already established garden or across a neglected patch of yard (I really liked the wildflower mix). Also, the tins, which are magnetized and feature colorful illustrations on their lids, can be reused as magnets. And at roughly $3.00 each, they'd make perfect favors to sprinkle all across your spring table setting. 

Photo: Potting Shed Creations

DIY Favors: Tea Bags

Anyone who knows me knows I have an absolute obsession when it comes to tea. I drink several cups of green tea daily. I’ve been known to take baths infused with green and white tea. I spent way too many hours in college hanging out at this hip little tearoom, sipping as much tea as the staff would serve me. Hence, it’s probably no surprise that I find the idea of homemade tea bags to be an adorable favor option. By using an organic variety of loose tea as well as natural, unbleached tea bags, you and your team of bridesmaids can easily create inexpensive, unexpected, eco-chic offerings for your guests.

Photos: Martha Stewart & Project Wedding 

Reuse, Reuse, Reuse: Birdcage Lights

Here is just another (beautiful and entirely romantic) example of how to reuse common items by repurposing them into something entirely new.

Photo: Dog n Bird