• About GH&P
  • Contact Us

Garden, Home & Party

~ My love of gardening, making home comfortable and entertaining friends and family.

Garden, Home & Party

Category Archives: Halloween

Autumn flora in the home

19 Wednesday Oct 2016

Posted by Karen B. in Autumn, Fall Entertaining and Decorations, Flowers, Halloween, House and Home, Thanksgiving

≈ 19 Comments

Good morning, my friends!  So much for getting back to regular posting, right?!

Garden, Home and Party: Autumn Flora

I am an avid fan of fresh flowers and plants in my house year round.  I’ve used branches from shrubs and trees in the yard, and flowers from the market for our home most of my married life.  I also have several living plants in my home.  Ivy topiary, Peace Lily ‘spathiphyllum’ and a large pothos live in various rooms of the house.  When Christmas rolls around I’m happy to use faux garland, embellished with live cedar and pine.

Garden, Home and Party: Autumn flora

Garden, Home and Party: Autumn Flora

Garden, Home and Party: Autumn Flora

So it was with some hesitancy that I returned the kind email I received from Silk Plants Direct.  They were offering me a shopping visit of their site, where they would ship a product of my choice (with a generous pricing limit) for my honest review.  Still doubtful, I visited the link and found many of their plants to look very believable.  The item I selected reminds me of bittersweet, something that is sold live per stem by florists this time of year in our area.  I’ve always loved the look of bittersweet in autumn arrangements and wreaths, but couldn’t always find fresh stems.

I emailed my contact with Silk Plants Direct and was thrilled with the speedy delivery and the quality of the stems.  The flowers filled the large porcelain blue and white vases and finished the mantle decor for the season for me.  Thank you Silk Plants Direct!

Garden, Home and Party: Autumn Flora

img_3002

Garden, Home and Party: Autumn Flora

Silk Plants Direct, a Silk flowers and plants retailer, has a user-friendly site and provides a column on their home page that allows shoppers to narrow their search by topics such as category, size, price, color, variety and season.

If you’re a die hard fan of real live plants and flowers, as I consider myself to be, you may be in for a surprise. I urge you to take a look at Silk Plants Direct.

Disclosure:  I received a free product sample in order to do this review. There was no compensation. The honest opinions expressed are my own and not influenced in any way. 

 

Garden, Home and Party wishes you a Happy Halloween

29 Wednesday Oct 2014

Posted by Karen B. in Fall Entertaining and Decorations, Food, Halloween, Holiday/Seasonal cooking

≈ 39 Comments

Tags

Halloween 2014

This might be cheating, but today I’m simply sharing some Halloween images from Pinterest, blogland, and Martha.  Those of you that adore this holiday probably already have your parties planned and decorations ready.  It’s not my holiday…I enjoy the overall season, and I do like seeing the little trick-or-treaters at our door, but dressing up has never been my thing, so without further alienating the Halloween enthusiasts (many of them my friends)…

Leave it to Martha to pull off the good fairy costume with flair.

Garden, Home and Party: Happy Halloween

{via}

If I hosted a party, I’d definitely want to copy this cheerful vignette.  Truthfully, we have these black birds (American Crow) in our neighborhood, what are the odds of training a few of them to sit around and look slightly menacing for an evening?

Garden, Home and Party: Happy Halloween

{Country Living – photograph by Matthew Benson}

There is something so welcoming about light radiating from all of the windows in this charming home.

Garden, Home and Party: Happy Halloween

{Country Living – photograph by John Kernick}

This is more my speed, white mums, a white lantern and a bushel of white pumpkins!

Garden, Home and Party: Happy Halloween

{via}

Mark D. Sikes…simply festive and elegant, as always.

Garden, Home and Party:  Happy Halloween 2014

{via}

Kim, at Tidbits and Twine creates a beautiful autumn table as well…

Garden, Home and Party: Happy Halloween

Craftberry Bush, in addition to this fabulous table arrangement, is the place to visit if you’re interested in good ideas for recipes/food for any autumn event.

Garden, Home and Party: Happy Halloween

So while we’re on the topic of a party, here are some really yummy looking sweets for a Halloween party:

Jenny over at Everyday Occasions has a ton of great recipes.  Her iced sugar cookies are my favorite.

Garden, Home and Party: Happy Halloween

{Everyday Occassions – Jenny Steffens Hobick}

Garden, Home and Party: Happy Halloween

{Martha Stewart}

Garden, Home and Party: Happy Halloween

{Martha Stewart – Halloween Whoopie Pies}

and, what Halloween party would be complete without apple bobbing?

Garden, Home and Party: Happy Halloween

Garden, Home and Party: Happy Halloween

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

What’s on your schedule for this Friday night holiday?

{GHP} Braised Short Ribs recipe and Happy Halloween

30 Wednesday Oct 2013

Posted by Karen B. in Halloween, Holiday/Seasonal cooking, Recipes

≈ 16 Comments

Garden, Home and Party: Braised Short Ribs and Happy Halloween

Since Halloween is on a Thursday night this year, I thought I would make Mr. B. and I a comforting meal to fortify us between the doorbell and goblins.  I’m trying Braised Short Ribs from Jenny Steffens Hobick of Everyday Occasions.  Doesn’t this look delicious?  Jenny comes up with fabulous recipes and I’ve provided the link (above).

Garden, Home and Party: Braised Short Ribs and Happy Halloween

{source}

Since it needs to cook some time in the oven, I’ll prepare them this evening and we’ll eat them tomorrow.  That often enhances the flavors and makes everything taste even better.

I’m also including a few images I’ve gathered that might offer some ideas for last minute decorations…

Garden, Home and Party: Braised Short Ribs recipe and Happy Halloween

{source}

Garden, Home and Party: Braised Short Ribs and Happy Halloween

{source}

Garden, Home and Party: Braised Short Ribs recipe and Happy Halloween

{unknown}

Garden, Home and Party: Braised short rib recipe and Happy Halloween

{source}

Garden, Home and Party: Braised Short Ribs recipe and Happy Halloween

{source}

Garden, Home and Party: Braised short rib recipe and Happy Halloween

{source}

Garden, Home and Party: Braised Short Ribs recipe and Happy Halloween

{source}

Garden, Home and Party: Braised Short Ribs recipe and Happy Halloween

{source}

Do you get a lot of trick-or-treat goblins and princesses in your neighborhood?

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

♥

I’m linking to Savvy Southern Style’s Wow us Wednesday

{GHP} Autumn favorites, II

25 Wednesday Sep 2013

Posted by Karen B. in Fall Entertaining and Decorations, Halloween, Holidays, House and Home

≈ 30 Comments

Tags

Autumn

Garden, Home and Party: Fall Favorites

Note of Appreciation:  Some time ago my blog friend Leslie of Around the Table had a giveaway.  Winner would receive one of the fabulous candle holders called Glassybaby.  These beauties are made in Seattle and come in nearly every color under the sun.  Well, imagine my delight and surprise, I won.  {Thank you Leslie}  If you’ve not already discovered Around the Table blog site, stop by.  Leslie shares fabulous design ideas, great (and healthy) recipes and skin care information. Did I mention she has a degree in nutrition and is a licensed medical aesthetician.  Most importantly, her posts are always useful and fun!

Garden, Home and Party: Fall Favorites, II Glassybaby as displayed in Leslie’s kitchen.

→Hi Everyone.  I feel so much better.  Seriously, to those readers that host a blog, don’t you sometimes feel like you’ve run out of ideas for a new post…in fact, I sometimes think, “what frivolous topics I gab on about, what am I thinking?”  That’s what vacations are for.  The break brought home that the fun of this is the blog friends and readers that check in, even if they don’t comment, and the creative wheels that turn each time I work on a post.  So, thank you for your interest, friendship (of an internet variety) and support.  I so appreciate it.

Are we there yet…has autumn arrived?  I don’t care if it is still warmer than ideal fall weather should be, I’m sharing my annual autumn favorites.  [It reminds me of back-to-school, when the new sweater was worn that first week back because you loved it and didn’t care if it was 90 degrees outside]

If you missed my fall favorites last year, have a look.  You’ll see I haven’t changed much of what appeals to me about the season, other than to add additional images. 10 photographs just wouldn’t allow me all that I love about this time of year.

I always pause before stating this is my favorite season because when spring comes around, I think this is my favorite season!  But it’s September 25th and I’m looking forward to the short weeks from now when I can expect to wear turtleneck sweaters, put a fire in the fireplace, have a casserole in the oven and a hot beverage in my hand.

Enjoy!

Have you visited this shop yet?  Check it out ~ terrain

Garden, Home and Party: Fall Favorites 2013

Garden, Home and Party: Fall Favorites 2013

{source}

Garden, Home and Party: Fall Favorites 2013

Garden, Home and Party: Fall Favorites 2013

{source}

Garden, Home and Party: Fall Favorites 2013

Garden, Home and Party: Fall Favorites 2013

Garden, Home and Party: Fall Favorites 2013

{source}

Garden, Home and Party: Fall Favorites 2013

Garden, Home and Party: Fall Favorites 2013

{source}

Garden, Home and Party: Fall Favorites 2013

{tumblr}

Sitting by a fire, what could be more cozy?  Having reason to stay indoors and read a book or two, one more reason to love cooler weather.

Garden, Home and Party: Fall Favorites 2013

Garden, Home and Party: Fall Favorites

Garden, Home and Party: Fall Favorites

{above 3 images :: tumblr}

I love turtleneck sweaters…this is definitely a reason to love autumn/winter.

Garden, Home and Party: Fall Favorites 2013

Garden, Home and Party: Fall Favorites

Fall/Winter means comfort food for me.  I use portion control to avoid winter waist expansion, but here are a couple of recipes that you might enjoy when it cools down…

Garden, Home and Party: Fall Favorites 2013

{source}

Garden, Home and Party: Fall Favorites 2013

{source}

Maybe a ride in the convertible (that I don’t own) with Madison…

Garden, Home and Party: Fall Favorites 2013

Finally, the promise of Christmas and…

Garden, Home and Party: Fall Favorites

{source}

…on January 5th in the U.S, the return of Downton Abbey

Garden, Home and Party: Fall Favorites 2013

Do you have a favorite season or a favorite thing about each season?

HAPPY AUTUMN

I’m joining in the fun:  Savvy Southern Style, Wow us Wednesday and Stone Gable Tips and Tidbits

 

{Party} Autumn entertaining ideas and an easy recipe

09 Tuesday Oct 2012

Posted by Karen B. in Dessert, Entertaining, Halloween, Holiday/Seasonal cooking, House and Home, Recipes, Simple Meals for the Avid Cook

≈ 12 Comments

Tags

Apple Tart

Garden, Home and Party, 10.9.12

I may have mentioned that I like to entertain, and cook.  {I guess it wouldn’t be a very fun party if food wasn’t involved}  The problem is this, I really, really like simple recipes and preferably recipes that can be made in advance when I entertain.

Garden, Home and Party, 10.9.12{Jenny Steffens Hobick}

Fall entertaining is especially fun and I enjoy some of the ideas I have stolen borrowed from very creative people across blog land. Jenny Steffens Hobick is one of my favorite sites for entertaining menus and table settings.  She and her family recently moved, and with a baby, her recipes are practical and simple but her presentation is always beautiful and many can be made ahead of time.  As you can see from the table setting above, simple but stylish tablescapes are the standard with her.  If you’re interested in cooking, visit Jenny.

Another favorite site for delicious and healthy recipes is Marina over at Yummy Mummy Kitchen.  Marina makes every dish she serves look appetizing and pretty on the plate, and her recipes are almost always lean towards healthy, although you’d never suspect it by the fabulous flavors each recipe provides.  One more creative blog site to visit and borrow from when planning a menu for family and friends.  I’ve you’ve never visited Yummy Mummy Kitchen I urge you to have a look.

{Yummy Mummy Kitchen}

Autumn table settings appeal to me partly because you can use natures bounty from the farm, {wish I lived on one}, the surrounding outdoors, or your market.  Pomegranates, apples, leaves, acorns, nuts, gourds, mums and the ever-traditional pumpkin can all be arranged in any combination to create a beautiful and festive table.

~ Recipes from Yummy Mummy Kitchen and Jenny Steffens Hobick will be featured in an upcoming post ~

Garden Home and Party, October 2012If you are planning a party that requires an invitation there are a variety of papers you can purchase that can be printed on a home laser jet printer.  We have the good fortune of living near a Paper Source store, where there are more options than I can think of ideas for, but it’s sure fun to mix and match the various papers with inserts and envelopes.Garden, Home and Party, 10.2012This is an invitation I made when a few years back I hosted my friend, Cayley’s birthday luncheon.  She enjoys an autumn birthday, so brown tones seemed fitting.

Garden, Home and Party, October 2012{Victoria Magazine}

Garden, Home and Party{via}

If you are planning a Halloween extravaganza, wouldn’t it be fun to have Hubby or a friend dress up like a butler and serve beverages for guests?

Garden, Home and Party, 10.9.12{via}

Garden, Home and Party, 10.9.12{via}

The table setting below is interesting and doesn’t follow the typical fall standards, bust out and try some of the new colored vegetables with your flowers and candles the next time you entertain.  It’s fun to think outside the box sometimes (the rule-follower, ‘fraidy cat said).

Garden, Home and Party, 10.9.12{via}

So, on to a great recipe…

Pioneer Woman posted a recipe for a “Quick Easy and Yummy Apple Tart”  What’s not to love about this, right?  But since I insist usually test recipes that I offer, I tried it.  It is beyond really simple and it turns out {and tastes} as good as Ree’s picture looks, without stress or strain in the making.  Rather than make you copy and paste the recipe, since I can’t figure out how to create a “printable copy” on my blog, I’ve given you the link, PW not only makes printing this recipe easy, she gives you a step by step pictorial tutorial on how to make this yummy dessert.

Garden, Home and Party, 10.9.12{Pioneer Woman Cooks}

If your weather hasn’t changed yet, or  like a few of my blog friends, you live where it is just changing seasons to spring, you may want to move your party outdoors.

{tumblr}

Even the birds are into the season!

I hope Autumn will bring you plenty of fun meals with family and friends. 

♥ Karen

Recent Posts: Garden, Home & Party

Homes that welcome the season

A little this and that

The color of autumn

Wall Art Inspiration for our bungalow

Project Design: Outdoor Living Spaces

Enter your email address to subscribe to GH&P and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Instagram




Follow gardenhomeparty on Twitter

Follow on Tumblr

Google Plus

Recent Posts

  • Homes that welcome the season
  • A little this and that
  • The color of autumn
  • Wall Art Inspiration for our bungalow
  • Project Design: Outdoor Living Spaces

Categories

  • Accessories; details
  • Annual WP Report Card
  • Antiques
  • Architects & Builders
  • Architectural elements
  • Autumn
  • Bastille Day
  • Bathroom
  • Bedrooms
  • Christmas
  • Collections & Accessories
  • Cottages
  • Decorating
  • Designer
  • Dessert
  • Dining Room
  • DIY (do it yourself)
  • Drink
  • Easter
  • Entertaining
  • Fall Entertaining and Decorations
  • Family
  • Flowers
  • Food
  • Gardening
  • Gardens
  • Halloween
  • Holiday/Seasonal cooking
  • Holidays
  • House and Home
  • Independence Day
  • Kitchen
  • Maintenance
  • Misc
  • Outdoor living
  • Paint Color
  • Party Planning
  • Personal Information
  • Recipes
  • Renovating
  • Seasons
  • Simple Meals for the Avid Cook
  • Spring
  • St. Patrick's Day
  • Storage/Closets/Pantry
  • Study/Office
  • Summer
  • Thanksgiving
  • Traditions
  • Travel
  • Trends
  • Uncategorized
  • Valentine's Day

Recommended

  • Bastion & Lark
  • Content in a Cottage
  • Cote de Texas
  • French Essence
  • French Kissed
  • Garden, Home and Party
  • Greige Design
  • Heirloom Philosophy
  • Henhurst Interiors
  • In the Fields
  • Jennings & Gates
  • Making Magique
  • Miss Mustard Seed
  • paper{whites}
  • Polished Pebble
  • Providence Ltd Design
  • Restoring our 1890 Victorian
  • Slim Paley
  • Splendid Willow
  • Talk of the House
  • TG Interiors
  • The Adventures of Tartanscot
  • The Enchanted Home
  • The House of Edward
  • The Lady's Life
  • The Pioneer Woman
  • The Polohouse
  • Tone on Tone
  • Trouvais
  • Velvet & Linen

Archives

  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • October 2009
  • August 2009
  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • October 2007
  • August 2007
  • July 2007
  • June 2007

Top Posts & Pages

  • {Home} Cozy and other adjectives that describe home
  • Living with what you love; age and decorating
  • {Home} Adieu Pierre Deux
  • {Garden} A porch, atrium, courtyard, or outdoor room---a delight
  • The color of autumn
  • {Home} Mirror, mirror on the wall...
  • Knock, knock, who's there?
  • {Home}Another cottage to love by Bill Ingram Architect
  • {Home and Party} Trays, a versatile obsession
  • {Home} Be careful what you wish for...refinishing wood floors

Subscribe via RSS

  • RSS - Posts
  • RSS - Comments

Topics

4th of July accessories antiques Architects & Builders Austin Autumn Barefoot Contessa bathroom bedrooms birthdays blog favorites Blogging blue & white decor books centerpieces chairs Christmas collections cooking cottage cupboards decorating for fall decorating styles designer details of a home do-it-yourself Dogs dream house Easter easy recipe easy recipes Engagement Party English gardens Entertaining fall Family Father's Day Flowers foyer furniture Garden Gardening Halloween hardwood floors holiday home home accessorizing House Beautiful magazine how-to Independence Day interiors Irish Stew kitchens Kooboo chairs library mirrors Mother's Day neutral color palate New Years Eve Organizing Outdoor living paint color Pets in the home plaid recipe recipes Rogers Gardens Spring summer living Table Settings television Texas Thanksgiving Valentine's Day weddings

Blog at WordPress.com.

  • Follow Following
    • Garden, Home & Party
    • Join 749 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • Garden, Home & Party
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...