(A big “thank you” to our friends at Piper Classics for sponsoring this blog post!)

Rustic home décor is increasingly popular in the world of interior design. From its organic roots to the old-world charm it brings, welcoming the rustic style into your home is especially fitting in the autumn. Discover what rustic farmhouse elements are trending this fall and the best ways to incorporate them into your home design!

Autumn Accents. Leaves, pumpkins, sunflowers and apples are all monikers that evoke a sense of fall. Welcome these decorative accents into your home this fall. Arrange pumpkins in your entryway or on your porch for a festive, welcoming vibe. Adorn your dining room table or mantle piece with garland featuring fall colored leaves. In the kitchen, a bowl of colorful apples or an arrangement of freshly cut sunflowers make for festive countertop décor.

Fall Florals. Welcome the fall season into your home with a beautiful floral arrangement of autumnal flowers. Eucalyptus leaves are trendy in the world of floral design, as are their succulent counterparts. Choose an arrangement that uses succulents instead of traditional greenery for a contemporary floral centerpiece. To really harvest the autumn season, berry wreaths and sprays make for a beautiful front door display. Anything that features berries, sunflowers, cotton, or astilbe in rich tones will evoke a warm and welcoming vibe.

Harvest Must-Haves. To harvest is to gather crops, so it’s only fitting to work autumnal crops into your home décor. From pumpkins to gourds and apples, find decorative elements that feature these fall motifs. Think decorative accent pieces for your shelves or entertainment center in your family room; tablecloths or window treatments with an apple print; pumpkins in varying shapes, sizes, and colors to adorn your dining room table or entryway. You can also work fall-themed farmhouse essentials, like scarecrows and turkeys, into your décor.  Find the elements of a fall harvest that speak to you and incorporate them into your home design!

For all of your farmhouse décor needs, shop Piper Classics.

Easter Recipe: Deviled Eggs with Cheese & Bacon

Ingredients

12 eggs

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1 tbsp honey mustard

1/4 tsp black pepper powder

1/4 tsp salt

4 strips bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled

2 tbsp shredded cheddar cheese

chili flakes (optional)

chopped chives for garnish (optional)

Directions

1. Boil water in a deep vessel. Add 2 tsp salt to it. Add eggs. Cover with a lid and boil on low to medium heat for 7 to 8 minutes.
2. Take the eggs off heat and let them cool. Run them under cold water if need be.
3.  Crack the shells and take them off carefully.
4. Cut each egg into half, longitudinally.
5. Take out the egg yellows carefully.
6. In a glass bowl collect all the egg yellows.
7. Mash the yellows with a fork and add to the glass bowl, mayonnaise, salt, pepper and honey mustard. Add a teaspoon of chili flakes if you please.
8. Now fold in 3/4th of the crumbled bacon and cheese. Mix well.
9. Stuff this egg yellow mix in the empty centers of egg whites.
10. Refrigerate for about 24 hours.
11. Garnish with the remaining crumbled bacon. Add chives if you wish to:)

You can add a spicy Asian flavor– just garnish with chopped green chillies, chili flakes and lightly toasted sesame seeds. That variation is on the hot side, but still delicious.

Click here for more Deviled eggs Easter Recipes!

Outdoor Home Easter Decorating Ideas

Image via: Etsy – XtinesDOORnaments… – Easter Decor Grapevine Wreath

Want More Creative Easter Wreath Ideas? Visit us on How To Make a Burlap Wreath.com

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Easter Decorating Ideas: Egg Ornaments

Hanging artificial Easter egg ornaments from a tree is an inexpensive and easy way to decorate your outdoor space for Easter. Delicate details such as swirl, colorful dots or stripes around the middle of the ribbon add an elegant touch to simple decorations. While pastels are always a hit, earth-toned plastic eggs such as tan or cream help to add a rustic charm to the decorations.  We like these Easter egg decorating ideas.

Spring Flowers make unique Decor for Outdoors Too!

Easter is the ideal time to show off beautiful spring blossoms. So adorn your garden or patio by placing real or faux flowers in pots or baskets at strategic points. Also, wreaths made of flowers and Easter eggs can be placed on the front door or hung from the branches of the trees.

Easter Decorating Ideas with Light

If you are hosting an Easter dinner this season, consider adding a little light and sparkle to your outdoor space. Hang strands of tiny white lights on the railings, overhangs, and surrounding the trees.  If your party has lots of kids, fun Easter themed decorations including lights with eggs and bunnies or pastel colored paper lanterns would look great.

Decorate with Nature like an Easter Wreath!

Easter decorations are not just about eggs and pastel shades. It’s also about renewal, rebirth, and springtime which at once brings to mind blooming flowers and animals coming out of hibernation. To invite these little critters to hang out on your outdoor space, consider hanging creative squirrel feeders as part of your Easter outdoor decor. Better yet, this decorating idea is sure to last beyond Easter. Here are some creative Outdoor Easter decorating ideas using baskets.

Image via: Etsy – Flower Basket – Chickadee Lore

We all know that Christmas gets a lot of attention when it comes to decorating, but the reality is that Easter actually deserves just as much of a celebration. So, this season uses these Easter decorating ideas to create a beautiful and a festive outdoor space that will be second to none.

Valentine’s Molten Lava Chocolate Cakes 

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Lava Chocolate Cake Ingredients:

• 2 sticks unsalted butter, plus more for the ramekins
• 4 teaspoons granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• Pinch of cayenne pepper
• Pinch of nutmeg
• 12 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar, plus more for dusting (optional)
• 6 large eggs plus 6 egg yolks
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract

Molten Lava Chocolate Cake Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Butter eight 6-ounce ramekins and sprinkle each with 1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar.
2. Combine the butter, cinnamon, cayenne, nutmeg and chocolate in a saucepan over low heat, stirring frequently until melted and smooth. Cool slightly. Whisk the flour, confectioners’ sugar, eggs and yolks, vanilla extract and almond extract in a bowl until creamy. Whisk in the melted chocolate mixture. Divide among the prepared ramekins.
3. Bake the cakes until the tops are stiff and the edges darken, 12 to 14 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool 5 minutes. Loosen the edges of the cakes with a small paring knife and transfer to plates while warm. Dust with confectioners’ sugar.

Looking for a Moist Chocolate Cake recipe?

We love this moist chocolate cake recipe here.

You can serve at least eight slices of pure chocolate cake pleasure. Your loved ones will surely enjoy this chocolate cake on every bite.

For more chocolate dessert recipes on Stagetecture, click here.

New Years Eve Party Ideas: Dress Up your Party Glasses

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Make Sprinkle or Edible Glitter Rimmed Glasses

This is such an easy and fun way to make an impression. Just dip your glass into a little syrup, honey, icing or chocolate, depending on what you will drink with it. Then dip it into the sprinkles of your choice. Chocolate and colored sprinkles are great for kids, but take care that they are old enough not to try to bite it off. Bright colored sanding sugar or edible golden or silver glitter is a unique to way dress up Champagne flutes or cocktail glasses.

To make your own colored sugar you will need 1 cup plain white sugar and 2 drops of the food color you want. Take a jar which has a good fitting lid and pour in the sugar. Add the food coloring and close the lid. Now just shake the jar until all the sugar is colored. If needed, add some more food coloring and repeat the process. Spread the sugar onto a baking paper sheet or aluminum foil and let it dry for a few hours.

Beautify the Bowl of the Glass

To do that you will need glitter of choice, modge podge, paint brush and if you want stencil and tape or some painter’s tape. Clean the glasses thoroughly and make sure they are dry. You can now use the painter’s tape to wrap around the rim or stem or tape the stencil on the glass. Apply to the area you want to decorate a thin layer of modge podge and sprinkle the glitter so it will stick to the podge. Let it dry completely.

The best way to make sure that the glitter doesn’t come off is to apply one or two coats of decoupage coat. Let them dry and remove the tape and stencil if you used one.

Using the same method, you can also decorate the base of the glass.

Decorate the Wine Glass Stem

Print out some labels, use washi tape or create your own labels and wrap them around the stem. Use colors that match the rest of the décor and write season’s wishes.

For a simpler decoration, you can tie a nice ribbon around the stem or secure it with a drop of hot glue.

It is easy to turn an ordinary item into something great and impressive. Add some party mood and a good bottle of Champagne and you are all set to have the first, fancy drink of the New Year.

For more New Year’s ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

How To Transform Your Home With Kwanzaa Decorations

Kwanzaa is a weeklong celebration and starts the day after Christmas – December 26th. Like any other holiday, it is the time to decorate the home and get together with friends and family members. During this time, families get together, exchange gifts, take parts in various sacred traditions, and share the feast of Karamu.

Display the Bendera Ya Taifa (National Flag)

Showcase the official Kwanzaa flag indoors or outdoors. The flag represents the struggle for freedom and is very significant. Hang it facing east as that’s the tradition. If you don’t have a flag, make one. Divide a white piece of construction paper into 3 equal parts. Paint the top part red, the middle part black, and the bottom part green.

Beautify Your Home with Red, Black, and Green Decorations

To celebrate African heritage, display objects with Kwanzaa colors in prominent locations. Put the items on your fireplace mantel, on the coffee table, or in a curio cabinet. Tie ribbons around candles and vases and throw a blanket over your sofa. You can also create a colorful bouquet using balloons and place it on your porch to welcome guests.

Create a Centerpiece for Your Dining Table

The most important part of Kwanzaa is the ritual feast which is celebrated on the last day of December. The feast is known as Karamu which translated means the feast of feasts. Set out the items used for the Karamu in advance. Lay down the Mkeka (mat made of straw or fabric) then place a candleholder with seven candles: three red, three green, and one black. Place the black one in the middle, the red ones on the left, and the green ones on the right. To complete the centerpiece, add the unity cup and a bowl of fruit.

Looking for Christmas Centerpieces?

Many centerpieces can be adapted for the Kwanzaa holiday. Take a look at our 20 pretty Christmas centerpieces to give you ideas.

Adorn your home with Kwanzaa decorations to make it outstanding. Choose the most beautiful objects to celebrate the occasion. Start picking the decorations early as the holiday season can be quite busy. Also, be sure to choose ornaments which represent African culture and show your commitment to the holiday. You’ll enjoy the celebration tremendously.

Are you celebrating Kwanzaa this year?

For more holiday ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

21 Of Our Favorite Chocolate Truffle Recipes

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How to Make Truffles That Wow!

Making chocolate truffles recipes can seem like a challenge, but we can help. The secret to making impressive truffles is this: choose high-quality chocolate and organic cream. If you can’t find quality chocolate, choose one with 62% cocoa or higher. If you don’t like dark chocolate, make white chocolate truffles. Don’t think of where to buy truffles when you can make your very own. Follow this recipe for the best outcome.

Chocolate Truffles Recipes Ingredients:

50g unsalted butter

300ml organic cream

300g high-quality dark chocolate

Flavoring (like orange zest or vanilla)

Crushed nut toppings (such as desiccated coconut or crushed pistachio nuts)

White chocolate

100g milk

Chocolate Truffle Directions:

1. Chop the chocolate and put it in a big bowl.
2. In a saucepan, mix the cream and butter and heat them until the butter melts and the cream simmers.
3. Remove the mixture from the heat and pour it over the chocolate. Stir the mixture till it blends smoothly. Add the flavoring at this point then cool and chill for about 4 hours.
4. Shape the truffles by dipping a melon baller in hot water and scooping balls of the mixture and placing them on greaseproof paper. You can also coat your hands with flavorless oil and roll the truffles between your palms.
5. Put the toppings in different bowls and roll the truffles till they are evenly coated then place them on greaseproof paper.
6. To make white chocolate truffles, use white chocolate instead of dark.
7. Store the truffles in an airtight container for 3 days or freeze them. If you want to give the truffles as presents, cover them with foil and refrigerate them. Leave them in the fridge until you’re ready to give them out.

20 Blogger Friends Chocolate Truffles Recipes

1. Chocolate Peppermint Truffles – Sweet Pennies from Heaven
2. Mocha Caramel Cookie Dough Truffles – Cake Whiz
3. Healthy Chocolate Fudge Truffles – To Simply Inspire
4. Chocolate Ganache Truffles – Julie is Coco and Cocoa
5. Dark Chocolate Truffles 3 Ways – Fearless Dining
6. Chocolate Pumpkin Truffles – Quirky Inspired
7. Ginger Butterscotch Truffles – Mama Dweeb
8. Pumpkin Pie Truffles – Connoisseursus Veg
9. Peanut Butter Truffles – Simple Stacie
10. Raspberry Chocolate Truffles – The Kitchen is My Playground
11. Easy Chocolate Peppermint Truffles – The Suburban Mom
12. Chocolatey Oreo Mint Truffles – The Thrifty Couple
13. Baileys Almond Truffles – An Italian in My Kitchen
14. Peanut Butter Oreo Truffles – Baking Beauty
15. Chocolate Cookie Truffles – My Heavenly Recipes
16. Irish Cream Coffee Truffles – The Crumby Cupcake
17. Cake Batter Truffles – Snappy Gourmet
18. Coconut Truffles – Cincy Shopper
19. Snickerdoodle Cookie Dough Truffles – A Magical Mess
20. White Chocolate Peppermint Truffles – Thrifty and Thriving

Perfecting Your Chocolate Truffle Recipe

To make your chocolate truffles stand out, think outside the box when it comes to choosing coatings and flavorings. You can coat your truffles with coconut flakes, colorful candy sprinkles, chopped nuts, or crushed peppermint candies. If you make many truffles, put them in lovely containers and give as gifts. Your friends won’t forget your kind gesture.

Love Chocolate? 

This chocolate cake recipe is the perfect one to try! How to Make Moist Chocolate Cake

What yummy chocolate desserts will you make this season?

Christmas Decorations: How to Make Dried Fruit Ornaments 

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Dried Fruit Ornaments Materials:

Citrus fruits: oranges, tangerines, grapefruits, lemons, limes; apples and pears

Sharp knife

Twine or ribbons

Oven

Cookie cutters

For dried fruit ornaments decorations

Cloves, cinnamon sticks etc.

Pine twigs, pinecones and other seasonal items

Glitter (optional)

Mod podge or white glue and brush (optional)

Dried Fruit Slice Ornaments

To make slices which you can use as ornaments or for décor, just slice the fruit of your choice thinly, about ¼ inches. You can dip the pear or apple slices in a solution of water and lemon to prevent discoloring. Preheat your oven to about 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Now put them onto the oven rack and bake for about 2 or more hours, until done, turning them one or more times. Check each one of the slices separately, since one can be done sooner as the other, depending on the fruit and the thickness of the slices. As an energy saving alternative you can place the slices over a turned on radiator for some hours or even let them air dry, which would take of course much more time and a dry atmosphere. If you want you can apply some glue or podge and sprinkle glitter on them, for a more glamorous look. When they dry completely, you can attach a ribbon or twine to hang them on your tree. Or you can use them with spieces such as gloves or cinnamon sticks for a spicier look.

We love these dried fruit ornaments from No Meat Athlete too!

Image via: Etsy – Little Bear Woodwork – Dried Fruit Ornaments 

Citrus Peel Ornaments With Cookie Cutters

For this option one should use only citrus fruits. Peel the citrus fruits of your choice carefully so you will have as large as possible peels in one piece. Now cut your favorite shapes using cookie cutters. Great shapes for this are stars, hearts and Christmas trees. To dry them, follow the instructions which have been described above.

Make Roses With Citrus Peels

To make flowers you will need to peel the citrus fruits in a way that you will end up having one long stripe of peel of even width. To do this you will need to start from the top of the citrus and cut in a spiral movement downwards. Try to get the peel as thin as you can, not cutting too much of the white with it. Now wrap the peel around itself, creating a beautiful rose and affix the peels at the end with a toothpick to prevent unwrapping. You can dry the rose on a radiator or use them as they are in decorations.

All of the above ideas have beautiful and natural results. You can make decorations for your table or a garland, using the dried fruits and pine twigs and other seasonal material. For adding fragrance, use spices and even some drops of essential oils.

These homemade citrus ornaments from dried fruits at Whole Foods are a great alternative.

Easy, cheap, beautiful; a perfect decoration item! Which dried fruit ornaments do you think you will try?

For more holiday ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

19 Creative Christmas Decoration Ideas to Try this Season

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1. Green Christmas Decorating – Can you Reuse from Previous Years?

Take a look at the decorations you already have. Do you really need to shop for anything new? Maybe those stockings still look beautiful and those Christmas tree décor will do its job fine. And if at all you really need to buy some décor pieces, check out secondhand shops like Goodwill where you will find lots of vintage and gently used holiday décor. Also, don’t forget to donate items that you have become tired of someone will treasure them!

2. If you don’t want to shop how about natural Christmas ornaments? 

Want a creative Christmas decoration? Take a look at this DIY to make dried fruit ornaments.

3. Christmas Decoration Ideas: Use LED Candles

When it comes to warm winter ambiance, there is nothing like a flickering candle. But, for those who are eco-conscious, there is an alternative that is eco-friendly, safer, and looks similar-LED candles. They are lightweight, reusable, and made from real wax. In fact, they flicker in the same way like real candles-only without smoke, flame, and messy wax. The best thing about LED candles is that they are sustainable as they last much longer, unlike regular candles, which quickly burn down to an end.

4. Visit your Favorite Online Christmas Decoration Ideas Shops:

Check out local craft shops, holiday bazaars or online stores like Etsy and eBay to find something handmade that fits your purpose. We love these Etsy ideas for your Christmas party or just to give to guests.

15 Christmas Tree Decorations Ideas from our Favorite Blogger Friends

1. A Colorful Christmas Tree
2. No Sew Christmas Tree Skirt
3. Star Wars Droid Christmas Tree
4. Designer Dollar Store Christmas Tree
5. Book Page & Bakers Twine Garland
6. Migonis Christmas Home Tour
7. Christmas Tree Memories
8. Michaels Dream Tree Challenge
9. Scrap Ribbon Ornaments
10. Pinecone Owl Ornaments
11. Coastal Inspired Christmas Tree
12. How to Dry Orange Slices
13. DIY Ruffle Tree Skirt
14. Gone Camping Ornaments
15. Wine Cork Christmas Tree Ornaments

To go green this Christmas, you don’t have to compromise your Christmas décor, just be a little more careful about the items that you use to make your home sparkle.

For more Christmas decoration ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Week 3 – Christmas Cooking Gift Ideas #Giveaway

You have had a chance to win holiday entertaining dinnerware and host(ess) gifts for Week #1, and last week you saw my favorite Amazon finds from my #AmazonInfluencer shop. I had so much great feedback about the Amazon shop that I decided to pick my favorite kitchen and Christmas cooking gift ideas this week. You will have your choice of 1-2 products totaling $50.00.

This week the rules are super simple! Tells me why you should win and what 2 gifts you love from my Amazon shop.

Week 3 – Christmas Cooking Gift Ideas Giveaway Rules:

Contest begins on Monday, Dec. 18^th and ends on Saturday, Dec. 23^th. Winner will be announced on Sunday, December 24^th.

1. Visit my Holiday Gifts Ideas Amazon Shop.
2. Fill out the form below with your name and email address. (Last week several readers just left comments. If you don’t fill out the form AND comment AND rafflecopter form, I can’t count your entry!   )

Fill out Rafflecopter Form
a Rafflecopter giveaway

3. After you’ve filled out the above email form, choose an item from my My Favorite Gifts on Amazon and tell me why you’d like to win it! It can be for yourself, a friend, or a neighbor or co-worker. I love to hear creative ideas for giving during the holidays.

4. Lastly, fill out the Rafllecopter entry form to be entered into the contest, daily.

5. Winner will be able to choose 1-2 items from my curated collection up to a limit of $50.00