Flower Art in Bloom: Inspiration From the 2015 Macy’s Flower Show

Taking inspiration from some of history’s most prominent artists and movements, the 2015 Macy’s Flower Show was one for the (art) history books. A walk through the center of the world’s largest Macy’s store (fun fact: it has its own zip code), takes visitors on a tour through time; starting from Ancient Greece with stops in the Renaissance movement, surrealism, pop art and more!

Here are four of our favorite flower works from the 2015 Macy’s Flower Show and the artists that inspired them.

Floral Art Inspiration: Roy Lichtenstein

Known for his comic strip-inspired works of Pop Art, American artist Roy Lichtenstein’s unique style can be automatically recognized in the words “bloom” pictured above.

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Floral Art Inspiration: Monet

As one of the founders of the Impressionist movement, Claude Monet was known for his depiction of nature and landscapes. Just look at how the vibrant blooms bring his famous lily pads to life!

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Floral Art Inspiration: Mondrian

Dutch artist Piet Mondrian, one of the founding fathers of the Neo-Plasticism movement, was known famously for his abstract paintings of colored squares. The flower show used a blend of colored vases and flowers to create a vision similar to his most famous works of art.

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Floral Art Inspiration: Myron of Eleutherae

Although the name of Ancient Grecian artist Myron of Eleutherae may not be as familiar as his iconic sculpture of the Discus Thrower, this work of art was one of the oldest represented at the Flower Show.

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DIY Manischewitz Passover Centerpiece with Purple Flowers

Set the scene for your Passover seder and celebrations with a creative twist on your décor! Taking inspiration from Passover’s most popular wine — Manischewitz — we came up with this creative Passover centerpiece that will add a fun and festive touch to your spread.

passover centerpiece

To celebrate the vino’s robust purple color, we paired a stunning bouquet of purple flowers with an empty bottle of the wine and some juicy dark purple grapes. This centerpiece is simple to make and takes little to no time at all. Throw these together about an hour or two before guests arrive — that way, you can empty the bottles by filling their wine glasses. Or, pour the wine into mason jars and place them in the fridge to chill.

Tip: Make several of these creative arrangements and spread them around the table for a “pop” of fun!

passover centerpiece supplies

Supplies for Manischewitz Passover centerpiece

  • 1 bottle of Manischewitz
  • Purple flowers
  • Purple grapes
  • Matzo
  • Scissors and ruler (optional)

Directions for Manischewitz Passover centerpiece

  1. Prepare your Manischewitz bottle vase by washing out any wine residue from the inside.
  2. Fill the bottle with water and arrange the flowers to your liking. You may need to trim the stems to fit your vessel.
  3. Place your bottle with flowers on top of a stack of matzo, and then arrange the grapes around it for a finishing touch. We recommended you wash (and fully dry) the grapes beforehand in case guests find them irresistible to eat!

Happy Pesach!

The Origin of April Showers Bring May Flowers

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Once April 1st comes around, it’s time to take out of storage those rain boots, umbrellas, ponchos and of course – vases for your spring flowers. The age-old saying “April Showers Bring May Flowers” still holds true today. But just how did this fun saying originate? Today we’re diving into the history of this poem and prepping for the rainy months ahead of us!

April Showers Bring May Flowers: A History

The poem as we know it today originated all the way in 1157, in the form of a short poem written by Thomas Tusser. The poem can be found in the April section of a collection of his writings titled, “A Hundred Good Points of Husbandry.” The poem goes as follows:

Sweet April showers Do spring May flowers

While this poem is clearly a direct ancestor to the version we know today, let’s travel back in time a bit further to the end of the Fourteenth Century, where legendary poem Geoffrey Chaucer had his own say on the month of April in his famous collection of stories titled, “The Canterbury Tales.” Chaucer’s version goes as follows:

Original:

“Whan that Aprill, with his shoures soote
The droghte of March hath perced to the roote
And bathed every veyne in swich licour,
Of which vertu engendred is the flour;”

Translation:

“When in April the sweet showers fall
That pierce March’s drought to the root and all
And bathed every vein in liquor that has power
To generate therein and sire the flower;”

While Chaucer speaks of April in relation to March rather than April, it could certainly be said that while Thomas Tusser may be the father of this saying, Geoffrey Chaucer is certainly the grandfather.

Thoughtful and Heartfelt Get Well Gift Ideas from Free E-Cards to Get Well Dog Flowers

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Know someone special who is feeling under the weather and could use a pick-me-up? Put a smile on their face and let them know they are on your mind by surprising them with a get well gift. Here are some ideas to help get you started on your way to sending smiles to those who could use them.

Send a Smile Electronically with a Get Well E-Card

Send well wishes instantly to anywhere in the world with a get well e-card delivered straight to their inbox. Celebrations.com has a selection of both free and premium get well e-cards that are the perfect pairing to a bouquet of get well flowers or a batch of get well cookies.

Floral Get Well Gift Ideas

Get Well Bouquets

Flowers add a touch of cheer to any atmosphere, making them a great choice for a get well gift. Whether you know your recipient’s favorite flower or not, there is always an appropriate arrangement for every personality.

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A Cheery Companion for Someone Having a Ruff Time

Alternatively, you can surprise them with a sweet floral pup from the 1-800-Flowers.com a-DOG-able collection. This arrangement is the perfect companion for someone having a ruff time.

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Get Well Food and Beverage Assortments

If you are considering sending food, be sure to read our tips for sending get well gifts below to make sure your surprise snack is appropriate for your recipient.

Warm Their Insides with Soup

Soup is the go-to get well food for many reasons – it warms you up, is simple to make and is easy going down. Since they may not be well enough to make themselves a batch of soup, they’ll surely appreciate a ready-to-go meal such as the Soups on Basket from 1-800-Flowers.com.

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Tea For the Mind and Body

If you prefer to send warm beverages rather than food, tea is highly recommended. The Time to Relax Tea Basket from 1-800-Baskets.com is a great way to give them a reason to relax.

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Don’t Forget the Entertainment

If you’re looking for an all-inclusive basket, the Friend on the Mend Basket from 1-800-Baskets.com is the way to go. This assortment includes not only both a can of classic Chicken Noodle Soup, cookies, and herbal tea, but also a word search puzzle to help occupy them while they are on the mend.

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Get Well Gifts to Help Them Relax

Send a Sentiment with a Spa Basket

The stresses of being sick can really take a toll, so remind them to give their mind and body a break by surprising them with a spa basket filled with all they need for a relaxing afternoon. Keep in mind the benefits of certain scents and essential oils – such as lavender to soothe nerves and stomach – when choosing the perfect assortment for your recipient.

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Where Should You Send Get Well Gifts?

If you know someone under the weather at home, of course their home address will suffice. However, there are several locations which may require some further information, such as floor, room number, or even building name. Here are some locations that may require further information:

  • Hospitals
  • Nursing Homes
  • College Dorms
  • Wellness Centers

Keep in Mind When Sending Get Well Gifts:

Sending Food? Check Dietary Restrictions

When choosing the right get well gift, keep in mind the needs and restrictions of the recipient. If you want to send foods and treats, be sure to take into account any dietary restrictions (such as dairy-free, gluten-free, vegan, etc).

Keep in Mind Supply Restrictions

For example, if you are interested in sending get well flowers to a hospital or nursing home, be aware that there may not be empty vases easily accessible to the recipient. Therefore, you are better off choosing an arrangement that already arrives in a vase. Similarly, if you are looking to send an entire cake, keep in mind that supplies such as cake knives or plates may not be readily available, so you may want to send products that require less prep work and/or maintenance.

Trendy Trifecta: DIY Planter Decorating with Gold Foil

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Looking for the perfect way to add some dazzle to your workspace?Look no further than potted plants! They not only add a simple and chic fresh touch but plants also have tons of great benefits. Win-win!

We jam-packed 3 trends – DIY-ing, chic potted plants, and gold foil – and turned them into one super chic and trendy decoration to add a touch of glam to your work desk or study. The potted plant used here was the Succulent Garden by Real Simple®. It comes in a sleek white ceramic planter which served as the perfect canvas for what I had in mind. The best part? Not only was this craft so easy, but if you grow tired of the metallic look, the gold foil polka dots will come off easily with some rubbing alcohol!

Note:  A 1” round hole punch was used here to create the “polka dots.” You can choose whatever hole puncher you wish to achieve your desired look. Alternatively, if you do not have a hole puncher, you can easily use scissors and a pencil to trace and cut out your desired shapes.

diy-planter-gold-foil-decorating-supplies

Supplies for DIY Planter Decorating With Gold Foil

Planter (preferably in one basic color)
Gold Foil
Hole Puncher in desired shape and size
Liquid Adhesive (I used Mod Podge)
Brush

Directions for DIY Planter Decorating With Gold Foil

Start by cleaning off your planter and removing any fingerprint or residue stains. Once your planter is prepared, cut out a handful of your desired shape.

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Dip your brush into the liquid adhesive and apply to the back of your shape. Try and keep most of it in the center of the shape as it will ooze out the sides when you are securing it to your planter. Use your fingernail to smooth out the shape and secure onto the planter.

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Continue until you are satisfied with your look. Now, you’re ready to show off your newly decorated planter!

DIY Gold Foil Polka Dot Planter: Before and After

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Chinese New Year 2015: The Year of the Goat

On Thursday, February 19th, you are sure to find doors dressed with icons representing good fortunes and red decorations cut out of paper! That is because on this day Chinese New Year 2015 is celebrated by individual families and Chinese communities all over the world. Read on to learn more about Chinese New Year history, traditions and how to celebrate!

The History Of Chinese New Year

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As this falls at the end of winter in China, this celebration is also sometimes known as the “Spring Festival.” Chinese New Year always falls on a date between January 21 to February 20. The history can be traced back to over four thousand years ago and was originally a celebration to honor deities.

Today, Chinese New Year is a way to say goodbye to the previous year and welcome this year with open arms and thoughts of luck, wealth and success.

The Year of the Goat – What Does It Mean?

Each year on the Chinese Lunar calendar is associated with its own zodiac sign. 2015 is the Year of the Goat – also known as the Year of the Sheep – and thus the year is said to parallel some of the trait’s of that animal’s personality. According to this belief, we can expect 2015 to be peaceful and full of creativity and kindness.

5 Traditional Ways to Celebrate Chinese New Year 2015

Clean the House

This isn’t just for keeping up appearances (although it doesn’t hurt)! Generally, those celebrating will clean their house or “sweep the dust” as a way to say farewell to the previous year and welcome the new one.

Traditional Dinner With Family

Traditionally, on the eve of Chinese New Year, those celebrating gather with family – both immediate and extended – to mark the new year and reunite with relatives they may not see frequently. Serve authentic foods such as dumplings, sticky rice cakes and noodles!

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Paint the Town (and Your Wardrobe) Red

Chinese New Year is all about the color red – and it doesn’t just stop at the paper cutouts decorations! Those who really want to get festive will even go as far as to wear red undergarments in the spirit of the holiday.

Decorating with red flowers is a great way to add a festive touch to the day! Fill your home with bouquets of red flowers scattered throughout for a fragrant (and lucky) touch. Pin a red flower to your jacket for a subtle touch that is sure to add some luck to your day!

Hand Out Luck and Wealth

A fun tradition for older generations to share is to give out red enveloped filled with money and luck to kids. This can be chocolate coins or actual money; the red envelopes are thought to be lucky therefore you are literally handing out luck!

Indulge in a Tray of Togetherness

As Chinese New Year is a time for family reunions, it is common for families to put out an assortment of snacks, also known as a Tray of Togetherness. This tray often includes dried fruits and nuts served in an decorative platter (red, if you have one).

Perfect Pairings: Famous Couples Past & Present

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Mark Antony and Cleopatra, Romeo and Juliet, Beyonce and Jay-Z … history is filled with famous pairs both fictional and non-fictional that have filled our hearts with love. Whether your favorite celebrity pairing is from a book, movie, or a real-life couple, celebrate the timeless love celebrated by these famous pairs with our handy printable matching game!

This game is the perfect activity for a Valentine’s Day brunch, engagement party activity, bridal shower game, or for a fun ladies night filled with rom-coms!

So grab some pens, prepare some hearty snacks and put on a lovely soundtrack, and get ready to celebrate love! Download our Famous Couples Past & Present Matching Game here.

Famous Couples Matching Game Answer Key:

Non-Fictional Famous Pairs

Mark Antony & Cleopatra
Rhett Butler & Scarlett O’Hara
John Lennon & Yoko Ono
Adam & Eve
Matthew Broderick & Sarah Jessica Parker
Beyonce & Jay-Z
Frida Kahlo & Diego Rivera
Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt
Prince William & Kate Middleton

Fictional Famous Pairs

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Mickey & Minnie
Superman & Lois Lane
Popeye & Olive Oyl
Spiderman & Mary Jane
Romeo & Juliet
Homer & Marge
Han Solo & Princess Leia
Jay Gatsby & Daisy Buchanan
Ross Gellar & Rachel Greene
Tarzan & Jane

15 Romantic Activities for a Valentine’s Day In

Valentine’s Day 2015 is right around the corner! This year’s day of love falls on a Saturday, so why not make this year’s celebration an entire weekend of romance by staying in surrounded by your special someone. Here are 15 activities that you can do to add some excitement to the weekend – all from the comfort of your own home.

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Tackle a recipe together. Is your pinterest board filled with dishes and treats you like but never actually planned on making? Take this opportunity to actually take a shot at that difficult recipe – after all, you do have a sous chef to work with!

Make it a rom-com movie night. When the temperatures are approaching freezing and the restaurants and stores are over packed, there’s nothing quite like snuggling up with your significant other over a romantic comedy. Grab a warm blanket, some movie night snacks, and cozy up in front of the TV with some of your favorite movie romances. Bonus points if it’s a Valentine’s Day theme movie!

Recreate your first date. Take inspiration from your first date and recreate the highlights from the comfort of your own home!

Make it a musical day. Bring out that old guitar or keyboard and celebrate the day by collaborating on a karaoke session together. If you’re feeling extra adventurous, you can even create an original song incorporating both of your musical skills. If neither of you happens to be talented with the tune, simply make it a karaoke night!

Do a chocolate tasting together. Add some sweetness to the day with a chocolate tasting station! Pair some milks, whites, and darks with wine to really add some romance.

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Decorate some sweets. Sure you can bake desserts together, but baking not only requires a ton of prep work but also requires a ton of cleaning afterwards. Skip this step and buy pre-made kits such as the Cheryl’s Buttercream Frosted Valentine Cookie Decorating Kit.

Make mugs for each other. Did you know that you can make your own one-of-a-kind mug with a ceramic mug and permanent marker? Get the how-to for this easy DIY permanent marker mug, and sit down with your Valentine to decorate mugs for each other.

Romantic dinner. Grab your best china and chill some bubbly while you prepare an intimate, romantic dinner for the two of your to enjoy. Be sure to check out our top tips on planning a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner for two.

Make it a boozy paint night. Channel your inner artists over a glass of vino by recreating a work of art! You’ll need two canvases, some paint, and a simpler painting or image to draw inspiration from. You’ll be surprised at how two people can interpret the same work of art in such vastly different ways!

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Simmer down with a spa night. Pick up an assortment of spa supplies such as loofahs, body scrubs, face masks and soaps and melt all the stresses of the day away with a romantic spa night!

Build a pillow fort. Celebrate a simpler time by unleashing your inner child and building a pillow fort together! Then, snuggle in the fort with some snacks!

Set up a scavenger hunt. Treat your special someone to a scavenger hunt leading to a surprise gift. Hide clues around the home – put a romantic touch on it by using a heart hole punch to for heart-shaped notes!

Go through old photo albums together. Grab old photo albums of the two of you growing up and go through them together – be prepared for lots of laughs!

Have a picnic at home. Lay out a blanket on the floor, grab a picnic basket full of goodies and have a romantic picnic inside! Who needs the outdoors when you have each other?!

Have a theme night. Pick a “theme” and surround all of the day’s activities around it. Whether it’s something as general as Italian (think Italian movies, Italian food, Italian wine) or as specific as Super Hero, with a bit of creativity you can have a Valentine’s Day the two of you will never forget!

DIY Wine Glass Bamboo Gift

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Sometimes, the best gifts are ones that take a backseat to life, playing in the background versus taking a front seat. That’s why live plants and dish gardens make such great gifts – they’re stunning, add a breath of fresh air to the room and play a subtle yet important part in one’s every day lives. A plant placed on one’s work desk brightens their mood and day in a subtle way on a daily basis, while a flower or plant showcased in one’s living room makes for a much livelier atmosphere.

If you know someone who fancies themselves a wine aficionado or simply loves the sophistication of a classic bottle of red or white, surprise them with a lucky bamboo plant showcased in a chic wine glass!

Since we’re a big fan of personalized gifts, we put a personal touch on this gift by writing a surprise message on the inside of the glass with permanent marker. This step is optional.

The best part? Thank to the bamboo plant’s low maintenance nature, even someone with a brown thumb can appreciate this creative idea!

Continue reading DIY Wine Glass Bamboo Gift
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