Centerpiece Idea: Mirror Magic

January 23, 2014 by Leave a Comment

JWF_5441Mother of the Bride, one of the quickest ways to dress up a centerpiece or take it to a whole new level is to set it on a mirror. That’s right, build on a mirror, and you’ll double the size and beauty of whatever centerpiece idea your bride-to-be daughter has chosen.

Using a mirror is especially effective if candles are part of the centerpiece. Candlelight adds beauty wherever it’s used, but reflect it in a mirror and you create magic.

Flower petals scattered around the centerpiece also add delight as well as depth. The mirror multiplies the scattered petals into a host of curves and color.

Brainstorm these and other ideas with your daughter—let your creativity and imagination run wild. Start with the magic of a mirror and go from there. A beautiful centerpiece is just around the corner!

*Bonus tip: Check with your venue’s event coordinator to see if they happen to have mirrors for use on the tables. Save money every chance you get! :)

*What other centerpiece idea would work well on a mirror?

*Photo by Will Flowers

*The next issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter, will come out in early February. Sign-up is free and to the right!

Filed Under: beauty, candles, decorate, flowers, Mother of the Bride, table

Centerpiece Idea: Flower Ring and Candle

September 12, 2013 by 4 Comments

centerpiece

Are you and your daughter thinking about table décor yet, Mother of the Bride? Fresh flowers make gorgeous centerpieces for any wedding reception, but they can also be rather costly since you’ll need so many. If you’re trying to keep expenses down, you might like to try an alternative.

For my oldest daughter Kristin’s wedding, my good friend Teri came to the rescue and helped us craft beautiful centerpieces using silk flowers (see photo above). If you’ve priced silk flowers, you know they can be pricey as well, but Teri helped us make the most of the flowers we purchased. By the way, I would have been lost without her help. You see, I am severely craft-challenged :)

Since Kristin’s colors were blue and yellow, we bought beautiful blue hydrangeas and tiny yellow roses. Teri pulled the hydrangeas apart and fashioned full-bodied candle rings out of them with her trusty glue gun. To add the yellow accent, she then did the same with the yellow roses, making a smaller and more delicate ring to place on top of the hydrangea ring. The result was perfect.

To complete the centerpiece, we used blue pillar candles and inexpensive hurricanes and crystal-like glass candle holders. We then set the centerpieces on little clouds of shimmering blue tulle. Candlelight added the crowning touch to our table décor, making our tables—and the entire room—look absolutely stunning. All of this for $10 or under per centerpiece, thanks to coupons, sales, and the help of a devoted friend—which, of course, was priceless.

Maybe something like this can work for your daughter’s wedding, MOB. I just hope you have a friend as artistic and helpful as Teri!

*Do you know what your daughter has in mind for centerpieces yet? If not, maybe you can start the conversation by showing her this post.

Filed Under: beauty, candles, creation/creative/creator, flowers, Friend, help, Mother of the Bride, preparation, table

Celebrating Birthdays

August 17, 2008 by 9 Comments

Okay, I’ll fess up. I had a birthday yesterday. I won’t get into specific numbers or anything, but since I did turn another year older, I thought I would celebrate by taking it easy and keeping this post short. Besides, I need plenty of time to savor each delicious bite of the fancy chocolate truffles Don gave me :)

I actually have another kind of birthday I can celebrate, too. A spiritual birthday. One summer Sunday 46 years ago, I gave my heart to Jesus and was born into the family of God. Yes, I was young. Just seven years old. But even then, I knew I did wrong things and had sin in my life. Romans 3:23 says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”. I knew I was part of the “all” who were sinners and needed a Savior. I wanted to ask Jesus to forgive me. I wanted to give my life to Him. So I did.

My life has been forever changed by that one simple act of faith. Not only did I receive God’s free gift of eternal life (“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23), but my relationship to Christ since that time has meant more to me than anything else in the world.

The Lord is my source of joy, peace, strength, encouragement, and guidance as I face my daily life. I don’t have to experience that feeling of emptiness that so many feel because He fills that empty spot. He’s always ready to forgive when I mess up and sin again (and I do!). He loves me just the way I am — weaknesses and all. I can’t imagine facing life without Him. He is my stability. I’ve had my share of spiritual struggles over the years, but I just try to stay close to Jesus and keep my eyes on Him.

So instead of thinking about all the candles it takes now on a birthday cake of mine, I’ll just think about how long I’ve been in God’s family. Now that’s a birthday I don’t mind celebrating!

How about you? Do you have a spiritual birthday? How old are you in the Lord? If you don’t have one yet, it can be today — just talk to Him about it. Ask Him to forgive you of your sins and to come into your life and be your Savior. “…’Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'” (Romans 10:13 NIV).

Let’s praise God for loving us and giving us eternal life. “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so…” (Psalm 107:2 KJV).

*Flickr photo by dichohecho, Creative Commons License

p.s. I think it’s impossible for me to keep a post short!! :)

Filed Under: candles, change, family, Gift, joy, rest, salvation, sin, trust

Comforting Candlelight

October 21, 2007 by 3 Comments

Autumn has been dragging its heels in coming to our corner of the Midwest. Usually by this time in October the leaves have transformed our communities and countryside into a brilliant display of red, gold, and orange. This year we’re still waiting. Above normal temperatures have certainly played havoc with our thirst for fall. It hasn’t even been cool enough yet for me to make my first pot of chili.

On Monday this past week, however, it was dark and rainy and actually stayed cool all day. I decided to celebrate and light a couple of candles — another fall treat that has been delayed by the warm temps. First I lit the tealight candle in my little jack-o-lantern in the dining room and then hurried with excitement to place a pumpkin-scented candle in the perfect spot in the living room. I felt very pleased with myself as I placed it in front of our 25th anniversary Precious Moments figurine and watched it illuminate not only the figurine but some favorite family photos on either side. Talk about pure contentment.

Candles are amazing. Just like colorful fall leaves, they too can transform our surroundings. When they have been lit, they add such beauty to every room they grace. The warm glow they create attracts us. The flame draws us in and holds our eyes as long as we’ll allow ourselves to linger. Candles give soft light to their surroundings, helping us slow down and see things in a different way, from a calmer and more peaceful perspective. Their fragrance welcomes us and comforts us with contentment. They provide warmth for those who will come close enough to experience it. Candlelight is a wonder really. It has the power to change not only our surroundings but our attitudes as well.

Do you know people who display the characteristics of candles? Some who just seem to add beauty, light, warmth, and peace wherever they go? We find ourselves naturally attracted to them, don’t we? We find comfort in their welcoming presence and feel encouraged as we go on our way. They bring positive change to the lives they touch. Are you a person like that?

The greatest Light in our world, of course, is Jesus. He is the One who perfectly embodies these characteristics. And as His followers, people should see Him in us — they should be attracted to the Jesus in us. How is this possible? By the power of God. “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.” 2 Corinthians 2:14 NIV

*Note: If you’d like to know when I’ve posted something new, add Google Reader to your Google homepage. It alerts you to new posts on sites you like to visit. Go to www.google.com/reader .

Filed Under: autumn, beauty, candles, change
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