Summer Soiree

Summer Yard Picnics

Creating the perfect soiree/party doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Here are a few tips to keep things simple yet absolutely stunning.

1. Pick a color palette /theme - Color pallets and themes help you minimize decisions. In this case I chose “Cottage Garden” - There was definitely a feeling I was going for. Comfortable and warm. So I chose natural fabrics for the linens: a striped cotton table cloth I thrifted along with Herb Tea Towels I used as large napkins I found over @Joahnns . I pallet help myself when they went on sale. They are most likely on clearance now so if your obsessed - RUN!

2. Choose your dining wares — I use a Costco brand of plateware that I have really loved along with the perfect glass. (To read more about the glass click here.) The silverware were hand-me-downs however I do plan on finding the ultimate set and sharing it with you all when I do.

3. Add the details. — This usually encompasess candles, florals and some sort of detail either on the napkin or dinnerware. I chose to stick with my outdoor garden cottage vibe and used a basket with a bowl of ice to keep the wine cool all while keeping it out of site and adding texture to the table. I placed a branch that complemented the arrangement on each table and added a few used pillar candles for some interest. Using what you already have in your home instead of going out and purchasing new things is a sure way to keep things simple.

   
   And there you have it. Nothing crazy extensive. Just using what I already had at home to set up a fun girls night that will be full of warmth, beauty and conversation.

The power of the perfect woven basket

Lets talk morning routines:

Gym. Devos. Matcha. Laundry. If those things go according to plan I’d say the rest of my day will be quite successful. I’v created hacks for the first three and until recently I hated doing laundry. It would pile up and then I would never really catch up.

Then I thought “How can I romatisise this to start loving it.”

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For me, the scent or texure of something plays a huge role in how I interact with it. Laundry being no different. Ive always been obsessed with baskets of all kinds and so I decided to go on the hunt for the perfect laundry basket to pull dry clothing into. Instead of a hard boring plastic bin I opted to find a wooden basket large enough for a load and beautiful like the ones women used back in the day when drying their clothing out on lines in the yard.

Low and behold, it took two trips to a thrift shop to find the perfect basket. Simple, woven, stirdy with a sprinkle of romance. Now I can wear a dress, put on an apron and do my laundry like the girls in my period movies do. Yes, Im playing my own version of make believe as a grown 30 year old. You should be too. This is how I choose to find joy in the mundane tasks we ladies are charged with doing on a daily basis.

I don’t know about you but I day dream a lot so when Im folding laundry - I teleport myself elsewhere.

In this case middle of folding my whites I was inspired to create a little creative scene to share where my head really goes. Little Mila graced me with a happy attitude for the most part. :)

What’s one thing you can do in order to take a lothed task and make it more bearable, dare I say, enjoyable?

Think about it, comment and share with a friend.

Monday Spruce - Spring showers bring May flowers

Walks through the neighborhoods of Amador County always end with picked wild flowers in hand and a full heart. On Mondays my usual local coffee shop is closed so I have had to shift the usual morning routine of sitting on a leather couch, journaling, to a cool sunrise walk along the beautiful hills and my favorite Oak tree filled landscapes. I really couldn’t tell you which one I prefer.

Once home I put my apron on and get to work cleaning the home to set myself up for a productive week. Am I Perfect with this? No. But setting myself a weekly schedule up is prepping myself for success. And so far this has worked wonders.

MONDAY SPRUCES — have become a staple in our household and wild flower pickings always make it in to a vase of some sort and are displayed for the week until they wilt away. Yes they don’t last long but they bring me joy and I’ve figured out a how to make them last longer than most.

How to make your wild flowers arrangement

1. Pick 3to 4 varieties of flowers/greenery - think about texture and chose complimentary colors

2. Use filtered water - Most of us have heavily chlorinated or mineral filled water, changing it up to filtered gives them an extra reason to stay alive a bit longer for you to enjoy

3. De-stem/de-leaf your flowers- Leaves touching water will make the water go rancid in a matter of 24 hours. De-leafing your stems will help keep them fresh. Leaving 3/4 inches of a clean stem usually is the way to go.

4. Start with a green base - use it to create your general shape and move on to placing your flowers in one my one. Don’t know where to place them? Think “If I were a flower, where would I grow? Look for an appealing spot and just go for it.

There really is no right way to create a wild flower arrangement. Some florists would disagree. Maybe you do too, but ultimately, they have just gotten a lot more practice in understanding placement. No wild flower ever looks out of place on a hillside so the “Where would I grow?“ has been a simple but effective approach to creating something pleasing to the eyes.

A new arrangement with a pop of color and texture will bring new energy into any space. This week we placed it in the kitchen and Im loving it.

Id love to see what you do for your Monday Spruce this week! Tag me on instagram @jannatenney and use the hashtag #MONDAYSPRUCE