The Great Outdoors

Now that the weather is turning nice here in Michigan, I'm spending more time outdoors. 

Hostess with the Mostess Danielle Rollins has tips on how to plan a spring brunch on the Ballard blog today.

Isn't that setting just beautiful?! I love how comfortable looking the wicker armchairs are pulled up to the table and the brilliance of the blue ikat fabric as a table cloth (Ballard sells it by the yard, and Rollins says in her post that she has used all sorts of things as tablecloths). 

I love her philosophy of looking at what she has and deciding what she needs it to do. She writes, "Using things I already have in unexpected ways creates more visual interest." In the garden or in your home, when dressing yourself or deciding what to serve for dinner, I think this is a really good way to live.

To create a similar look for my house, I am charmed by this outdoor dining set from Tar-jay. Of course, we'll have to do some planting in our yard to get the look of all that greenery.

Landscaping really helps to set the mood. Not only are the peonies below beautiful planted in a row, but they make a stunning arrangement for your table when cut. It's still about two months until we can enjoy them where I live, but a girl can dream...

via Longfield Gardens

Is the weather where you are making you want to be outdoors more?