Summer Whites

Nothing says summer quite like white. An all white beach cottage sounds pretty good as the solstice rolls in.

My husband and I used to stay in a little cottage in Menemsha on Martha's Vineyard. I spent one summer painting my bedroom chalk white. It took a kazillion coats because I was covering rough pine boards. But when it was done I was one happy camper. I used to lie in my bed and savor the breeze coming through the windows, admiring my work.

These Flirt Compotes by Potluck Studios would have looked great in that cottage. Their ruffles add a soft, feminine touch, and they’re oh so perfectly white.

Great Gift Ideas for Great Moms

There's still time to get your mom something a little different for Mother's Day. Our Shell Salt and Pepper Shakers from stylish Potluck Studios are great for moms who love the beach house look. They're made from cruelty free shells and are just $15 a pair.

Eco-friendly moms will love our Wood Compote. Also from Potluck Studios, this compote is handcrafted from plantation-sourced, renewable mango wood. Just $48.

Garden lovers will appreciate the colorful, fun style of our French Dot Garden Pots. Give her one of each color. Just $14.95 each.

If there's a mom with a sweet tooth then the Sundaes Best Hot Fudge Sauce Gift Trio is the way to go. This hot fudge sauce is insanely good. Made from farm fresh ingredients, it tastes so yummy, most people end up eating it right out of the jar. Just $19.95

Our Damier Red Salad Bowl is perfect for those with a love of vintage-inspired kitchenware. It has a French farmhouse feel and is only $49.95.

There you go! Five great ideas--all under $50.

More Easter Entertaining and Decorating

Easter is my daughter's favorite holiday. Well, one of her top faves. She also loves Christmas, Valentine's Day, Halloween and St. Patrick's Day. (She was born on St.Patty's Day.)

She loves the idea of a magical bunny leaving oodles of fun things crammed into a big basket. (I'm a little embarrassed at how much I indulge her.) Every year I hide her basket and leave bunny footprints as clues. I make the footprints by sprinkling powder on a template of a paw I cut out of cardboard. She’s probably not going to fall for it this year. Even if she suspects there is no Easter Bunny, I have a feeling she wouldn’t let on for fear she’d stop receiving the bounty. (She has her ways of indulging me too.)

After the basket and egg hunt, my family is pretty casual about the day. We spend our time playing with Grandpa’s animals. (The sheep shown in the picture above really needs a haircut.) Then we gather for dinner. Now there’s not a lot of us, and we all know each other, so you may ask why on earth do we need place cards. Well, there’s a very good explanation. You see, some of my chairs are pretty old and rickety, so I have to be careful where I place the adults. I try to give them the most comfortable seats. It’s all very strategic. I love the Farm Animal Place Card Holders (show above). They're very appropriate for our farmhouse gatherings. The Scramble Ice Napkins by Potluck Studios (also shown above) are also a nice, casual touch. The light blue color feels very spring-like for this occassion. They’re so easy to care for that it makes it easy to save some trees and forgo the paper.

Potluck Studios

If you read my blog it's not hard to tell that at Farmhouse Wares we take our coffee drinking pretty seriously. It's not only important to have the best brew Organic, Fair Trade can offer (though ours is pretty tasty), but the mug is very important too. This is why the Trumpet Mug by Potluck Studios is such a big hit. Yes, the colors are gorgeous: fresh and modern (all hand-glazed), but the design sits perfectly in one's hand. The gentle ridges were made for hands to cup in a cozy, "I'm not letting this go" kind-of-way. There's nothing like Sunday mornings, newspapers everywhere, comfy sweats and my Trumpet Mug.

Mood Altering Experience

I'm just going to come right out and say it: I'm seriously sad that the Patriots lost the big game last night. I mean, they won all 18 games they played this season, shouldn't the trophy be theirs? I'm a bit suprised at myself. It's not like I'm a die-hard football fan. But I am a perfectionist, and the idea of the perfect season felt so good to me.

Anyway, I need something to cheer me up. Luckily, there are new studies that indicate if you just look at fresh flowers every morning your mood will improve. People reported feeling more cheerful and energetic throughout the day. That seems a worthy investment. It has the added bonus of supporting local growers, which is also a worthy investment.

So I'm off to fill my Trumpet Vase ,which is by Potluck Studios, with something that I am hopeful will alter my mood. After all, flowers will make me think of spring, and spring will make me think of baseball.