Floral wreath crowns aren’t just for sweet little girls walking down wedding aisles anymore. These fun floral accessories have even been spotted on male models at the Vivienne Westwood SS 2013 runway show and was worn by all of the guests at Kim Kardashian’s recent baby shower.  As the history goes European women, typically the countries of Scandinavia, Estonia and Latvia celebrate Midsummer’s Day by making these floral wreaths to wear in their hair. Behind Christmas this is the most celebrated holiday. Who wouldn’t love a great reason for a party, a spin around a maypole, festivities and flowers in their hair? Sounds like my kind of party. Think about incorporating this trend into your next whimsical or romantic themed birthday, baby shower of girls night for the special ladies in your life. Whether a Halloween idea, or a headpiece for a baby shower a floral crown is a darling focal piece to any fairy, princess or gypsy girl.

Source: Mirror

DIY Flower Wreath Crowns

1. Find flowers
2. Clean the flowers of any thorns or stems
3. Begin your structural base
4. Add flowers
5. Shape the crown
6. Measure
7. Secure and finish

trend watch | flower wreath crowns is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

Break away from normal dyeing techniques this Easter and get creative with your favorite paints. Go bright, go soft, dabble, dot, press or splatter to your heart’s content. You really can’t go wrong when it comes to coloring Easter Eggs, and using your favorite paints allows you to get even more creative. I don’t know about you, but I can never get my eggs as bright as I’d like. With paint, I can go as bright or as dark as I’d like, and I don’t have to let my eggs soak for 20 minutes and hog the cup to get it there. What kind of paints will you be using this Easter?

Paint-splattered Easter Eggs at Better Homes and Gardens

No-fuss Painted Eggs at Better Homes and Gardens

Toothpick Egg Decorating at Better Homes and Gardens

Tie-Dyed Easter Eggs at Better Homes and Gardens

Painted Bunny Easter Eggs at Better Homes and Gardens

painted easter eggs is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

Glitter makes everything better, and Easter eggs are no exception. You can completely coat your eggs in glitter, go halfsies, or get creative with fun glitter stickers. For the older kiddos (or you), you can try out the Martha Stewart glitter packs, or you can use any glitter in your craft drawer or at your local craft store. Just coat your eggs with Elmer’s Glue, and roll them around in the glitter of your choice. For the lil ones, let them color their eggs as they normally one and decorate them with glitter pens from your local Walmart or craft store.

Tip: Use a larger paintbrush to coat your eggs in glue, or a smaller brush to create intricate designs

Glitter dipped Easter eggs at Create.Craft.Love.

Glittered Easter eggs with Mod Podge at Plaid

Dyed, Lace-wrapped Easter Eggs at Better Homes and Gardens

Glittered Easter Eggs at Martha Stewart

Glittered Sticker Eggas at Martha Stewart

Will you be adding glitter to your Easter festivities this year?

glitter easter eggs is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

With the kiddos home for Spring break, it’s time to break out your mod podge, pretty napkins, tissue paper, and anything else worthy of being glued to an egg. Check out these creative ideas we found around the web, and see what you can find around the house to make this years’ Easter eggs extra special.

Tissue Paper Eggs at Martha Stewart

Easter Eggs with Overlapping Dot Designs

Polka-Dot Sticker Egg Designs at Better Homes and Gardens

Decoupage Easter eggs at Farm Boy City Girl

Pressed flower Easter eggs at Rook No. 17

Decoupaged springtime eggs at Brown Paper Packages

Paper-napkin Decoupage Egg at Martha Stewart

What is your favorite?

decoupage easter eggs is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

The weather is changing, the flowers are blooming, and Easter is quickly approaching. Spring is officially in the air and it is time to brighten up your home with a splash of color and creativity before the coming holiday weekend. Where do we turn for inspiration? Why Pinterest of course! Check out these fantastic DIY ideas for your spring decor. The best part is that you can get started right away since you’ll find most of these items are already in your home.

au naturale…

a splash of color…

around the house…

diy spring decor for your home is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

You juggle kids, work, home, volunteering and everything else in between. Are you really enriching your life by doing everything? It’s tough to be supermom. As a site completely dedicated to reminding moms how important it is to take time for themselves and providing time-saving tips we know first hand how hard it is to turn off your “mom button” and just relax sometimes.

It’s true that when moms, and women in general are stressed, overwhelmed and tired, we have a shorter fuse. We become irritable, and it’s more difficult to handle the challenges of being with children and spouses.

Logically, you know that running yourself on empty isn’t good for your health or your family. But the instinct to be a devoted mother means operating in overdrive. You want your children to be happy, and you desire to give them every possible life experience, even at the expense of your own needs. It’s important to step back, breathe and take at least 10 minutes for yourself each day. On the days where you can’t fit a single extra moment into your schedule be sure to have special places in your home that give you peace. For me, this place is my bedroom. It’s not only a sanctuary for me but, also for my husband and I as a couple. Even as a little girl I remember giving my bed the respect it deserves – luxurious sheets, quality pillows and throw pillows for the final touches. Today it’s a trait I still believe in, especially since we spend so much time there. Did you know: “The average adults sleeps nearly 3,000 hours per year, ” says Wikipedia.

A Cozy Robe:

Anyone who’s ever enjoyed the experience of a day at the spa  knows what a pleasurable, tranquil experience it can be to spend a little time pampering yourself and investing in your own well-being. But inevitably, the time spent at the spa has to end, and you find yourself back in the real world. But does it really have to stop there? It shouldn’t. You deserve to feel the warmth of a good robe each and every day. Take the time to find yourself a full coverage, absorbent, lightweight spa robe. Although they aren’t the most sexy, they sure feel amazing in winter months, when you’re not feeling so well or just want to warm up.

A Perfectly Scented Candle:

Some candles when lit release a faint, yet continuous stream of floral and herbal essential oils into the air as they burn. When a person inhales the essential oil vapors, the oil molecules enter the respiratory system and ultimately get imbibed into the bloodstream, thereby preventing and treating certain illness in the body. Moreover, the oil released has chemical properties that help one to relax, thereby reducing stress.  Aromatherapy fragrances released by some candles can affect a person’s psychological and physical state. Scent combinations are endless. Did you know that there is an artform to fragrance layering? The right combination of lavender, basil or rose, for example, could provide you with the perfect environment for relaxation.

A Throw Blanket:

Blankets are basically used by everyone and anyone to keep themselves warm and protect from the cold. There are varied types of throw blanket, so if you are going to shop for throw blanket then you should first decide the amount of warmth, comfort and style you need for the blankets and then choose them according to your needs. There is just something so wonderful about wrapping yourself in a warm blanky, whether you are a kid or an adult. Each night I sleep with my own personal fur blanket that is used to cuddle up to and just in case my husband tosses and turns to leave me without sheets and the duvet.

Sexy Pajamas:

Do you ever think about a dress that can make you really feel luxurious and comfortable when wearing it in house? You can get the same feeling from wearing sexy, silk pajamas (even if they stay under your full coverage robe).

Apart from the comfort, silk pajamas are easy to wash and free from wrinkles. Not only that, silk pajamas are simply elegant and classic. They come with various fabrics, styles, and designs. Regardless of age, it simply makes you beautiful and gives you an extra-ordinary comfort.

One place to find all five of these stress releasing items is Frette.

About Frette:

A leading provider of luxury linens to the finest homes and hotels worldwide. Frette luxury bed sets, bath & spa, home fragrances, robes, loungewear for men and women. Their mission is to add beauty, love, and comfort into one’s home with design, quality and craftsmanship that withstand the test of time.

top 5 items every happy hour mom needs in their life | frette is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

Pink, pink and more pink. After having a baby boy the first time around I find myself practically crying tears of joy every time I land in an aisle shopping for baby clothes and accessories for my little girl on the way. I give props to couples who can wait to find out until their due date to find out the gender of their little one. For me, the sooner the better. As soon as I made it through my first trimester the shopping flood gates opened and I was well on my way to designing her own personal pink sanctuary.

I love to create spaces in my home that reflect the different countries that we’ve lived in. If you’re a fan of Happy Hour Mom then you already know that, both Shannon and I, have a soft spots in our hearts for the Middle East, specifically Dubai. When I was recently introduced to the new collection of Boho candles by Illume I fell in love with the Desert Tulip collection. It’s the perfect blend of pink, girly and boho chic that reflects the exotic white sands and eclectic patterns from around the world. The scent is a lively bouquet of red tulips, lilies, and white tea rose accent a passionate blend of raspberry, Mandarin and musk. While spending precious hours with my daughter I’ll also want to enjoy a calming environment to counter act the madness. The Desert Tulip is the just the beginning.

When it comes to furniture I prefer to be practical. The one rule I meticulously follow is, “If the piece doesn’t fit in any other room or can’t grow with a child, I’ll pass.” I’ll save all of my custom furniture for my dream house in my later years. Right now with a messy little boy and a new babe on the way I can bank on the fact that nothing I buy will hold up to the torture of young children. Prior to children I dreamt of an all white home, super modern and uber high quality pieces. Reality check. Flash forward 5 years and I made the wiser of two choices sticking to Crate and Barrel, Pottery Barn, TJ Maxx and IKEA.

Baby girl’s new Desert Tulip-inspired nursery will have a hint of the exotics, a few trendy pieces and girly girl written all over it in a modern, unique way. Stay tuned for the full coverage on the before and after.

Moroccan Pouf * Ikea Poang Chair * Rug * Tissue Tassel Garland * Desert Tulip Candle from Illume * Dear Stella Kallianthi Bedding * PB Teen Curtains

baby girl nursery inspiration | desert tulip is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

still enjoying our holiday toys | walmart shopping is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

Here’s to 2013! 2012 was a year full of ups and downs. We wish you much luck and love in the new year!

~Toni & Shannon

happy holidays from happy hour mom is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

I hold many Minnesota-based brands close to my hearts. Mrs. Meyer’s is one that is on the top of my list. Their products offer fresh somatic scents but they still ensure that their products are safe, extremely high quality and safe for your family and the environment. From laundry to everyday household cleaners these products were inspired by Mrs. Thelma A. Meyer, an Iowa homemaker and mother of nine. It all started when one of her daughters was walking down a cleaning aisle, eyeing all the products with their harsh, stinky chemicals. Right then and there, she had an idea: “Let’s make cleaners that smell nice, like a garden, but still work like the dickens on daily dirt and grime.” She named the product line after her very practical mom and the common sense values she passed along to her kids.

Although I rarely stray from my cleaning cabinet of “old faithfuls” this season Orange Clove  was my favorite. It is made up of whole oranges, embellished with cloves. This scent gives off a warm and spicy citrus scent that will last for days. Until the time when I was recently introduced to these seasonal smells I am a firm lover of Basil. It’s an intoxicating cool and crisp scent that I cannot seem to get enough of. The combination of apricot leaves, parsley, and eucalyptus and the basil create something I can’t find elsewhere.

Besides being a quality product, they also like to be do-gooders:

For each Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Limited Edition Iowa Pine or Orange Clove set purchased, 20% of the proceeds will go towards the Arbor Day Foundation in support of their campaign to replant trees in forests that have been damaged by fire, insects and disease. For each $1 donated, a new tree is planted! What a great way to fight grease, grime and deforestation!

Mrs. Meyer’s is a cruelty-free line of aromatherapeutic household cleaners and laundry care which combines hardworking, naturally derived ingredients and essential oils that are tough on dirt, yet gentle on your home and earth. Their scents are garden-fresh like Basil (my fave!), Lavendar, Lemon Verbena, Geranium, Rosemary and more. The brand includes products that are biodegradable, packaged in recyclable bottles, don’t include ammonia, chlorine bleach, paragons or phosphates and are not tested on animals. Visit mrsmeyers.com for more information.

About the Arbor Day Foundation:

The Arbor Day Foundation is a nonprofit conservation and education organization of one million members, with the mission to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees. More information can be found at arborday.org

A product(s) was provided to me by the author, manufacturer, or representing PR agency. This opinion is 100% my own and not influenced by monetary compensation **

See larger image Mrs Meyers Clean Day 14116 Mrs Meyer's Clean Day All-Purpose Cleaner 32 Ounces (Kitchen) List Price: $9.49 USD New From: $6.60 In Stock

start your year off clean | mrs. meyer’s is a post from: Happy Hour Mom