Set the Table: Easter Brunch

set the table: easter brunch | life in yellow

I’m excited to start a new little series of posts here on the blog –> “Set The Table”. I love studying tablescapes from the cleanest and simplest to the most glamorous and elaborate. There really is an art to a well set table that doesn’t feel too cluttered nor too bare for the occasion. No matter the level of complexity, I am all about using items I have on hand, mixing and matching to get the most mileage out of my stuff, and coming up with something fresh each time.

set the table: easter brunch | life in yellow

After my bestie picked up a couple of these aqua Ikea runners I’d been eyeing, I wanted to pull an Easter brunch scheme together around them! I feel like brunches can get a little stuff and overdone, when really, it should be about being relaxed, enjoying a leisurely weekend morning chatting and eating with friends and family.

set the table: easter brunch | life in yellow

I tried to keep the vibe casual by not using a tablecloth, and keeping silverware only to a single fork, which I laid IN the bowls for something different and less formal. I like using these shorter (55″) runners horizontally to double as place mats for each setting. I mixed some chargers I’ve had forever with our everyday dishes and some acrylic glasses I’d spied at TJ Maxx earlier this month (in the color of the year, no less!) and some cloth napkins from Target that I bought solely because they had all the colors of my new scheme for this main area of our house and I couldn’t walk away from them. A vase I had on hand and some sticks from the yard make a very simple centerpiece. The only new item for this setting was the $1 package of Peeps that I stuck on coffee stirrers and popped into each glass. The lemons were in the fridge anyway. Groceries serving double duty as decor – love it. :)

set the table: easter brunch | life in yellow

Ironically after creating a table set for four, it will be just the two of us this year for Easter – but I’m so looking forward to a relaxing morning to ourselves. Hope you enjoy your Sunday, wherever you’re spending it!

 

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Ten weeks to swimsuit season.

It’s March 25. And there is fresh snow on the ground. Oh yes, and it’s overcast. AGAIN.

Swim Season | life in yellow

Glitter Flip Flops: Victoria’s Secret  |  Cover Up Skirt: Nordstrom
Swimsuit: Everything But Water  |  Sunglasses: Dolce & Gabbana
Tote: Tory Burch

So I’m thinking ahead to warmer, sunnier days and planning a look to go with the better weather. Hard to believe the pool opens in ten weeks!

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happy weekend.

tulips

While it’s officially Spring now, it feels like anything but here in Iowa. Channeling some warmer, sunnier days soon to come….

Happy weekend.

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fresh paint for Spring.

Spring is on its way, and I was itching to get some fresh color in our living room, where we’ve been spending more time than usual lately while Page heals his knee. I’ll do a later post with the whole room’s mini-makeover once it’s finished, but for today, here’s the re-do on the room’s artwork.

red canvases

I started with the formerly red canvases. (Yes, the last photo of them is pre-bookcase finishing era! Time for some updated photos of this room!)

I coated them with a couple layers of SW “Decisive Yellow” but it seemed a little more lemon-y than I had envisioned. So I mixed in some of my leftover Valspar “Chickadee” (from the kitchen stools) to warm it up a little. I purposely didn’t blend it SUPER well so there would be a little color variation as I brushed on a third and final coat. I’m also more than okay that you can still see a little texture from the previous design’s paint through the new color.

painting

I knew I wanted a more angular, graphic pattern than the previous blooms. I’ve already done a little chevron in other parts of the house and don’t want to overdose, but I still liked the idea of some angles and lines. This “arrow” effect was the end result.

updated canvases

I need the temperatures to cooperate with me soon so I can finish up some spray painting I  to bring this room together for Spring. Back soon with a reveal of the whole room!

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Gift Ideas for Babies

A handful of our friends are expecting this spring and we can’t wait to meet four awesome new little people (so far, we know two are boys and two are question marks!). Is there anything better than cuddling a brand new baby? And it’s pretty amazing to watch your friends step into the role of “mom” and “dad”, whether it’s for the first or second time (we have both first and second-borns on the way already! Where does the time go?!).

baby gifts | life in yellow

Beatles Lullabys: Amazon  |  Kido Go Car: Amazon  |  ItzBeen Timer: Amazon
Top Gun Onesie: Etsy  |  Goodnight iPad: Paper Source  |  Giraffe Teether: Amazon
Wooden State Teether: Little Sapling Toys  |  Custom Photo Board Book: Pinhole Press

I’m all for buying the wanted items off registries (for those who use them), but it’s fun to add a personally chosen item to the gift as well. Here are some of my favorite items (many recommended by moms!) for gifting new little ones (and their parents!).

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lately…

chillin

Lately, I haven’t been tackling projects at the crazy pace I usually prefer to…and I’m embracing more chill out time with my moving-slower-lately hubby. :) I made a resolution to myself this year that I would learn to slow down a little and chill out more…like, REALLY chill out, not pretend to watch a movie with Page while making my next to-do list.

living room palette

That said, I haven’t abandoned my to-do list altogether, just attacking it a bit more slowly right now. Starting with playing with some new colors in the living room…

camera pillow

…and loving my new camera pillow as part of the new colors! And speaking of cameras, this black beauty showed up at my door this week. Spending a lot of quality time together learning the new bells and whistles that came with upgrading a bit!

new camera t3i

Page and I have both been feeling the urge to get back to some healthy habits now that holidays and then his surgery are behind us. While he’s phasing back into some workouts mixed with physical therapy, I’ve been getting back to running at the gym. It’s a love hate relationship right now, but I know it will get better! We are also tackling our eating habits and for me the key is to PLAN AHEAD so I’m not starving without a healthy option, or eating out for lunch because I forgot to pack something to take to the office. One of my favorite dishes right now is a veggie-heavy frittata, that I can cook ahead of time, cut into wedges, and reheat for breakfasts on the go.

veggie frittata

So that’s what’s been going on around here lately, in a nutshell. Call it mellow March. It’s been a nice change of pace…but I could really use some time outside soon. Come onnnn, Spring. We have trees to plant! :)

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