UltimateMama realizes the holidays are sneaking up on everyone so she wanted to give her recommendation on a quick and easy centerpiece idea for entertaining.  Pre-made, fresh, floral bouquets are an affordable and convenient way of sprucing up any table place setting.

UltimateMama loves to use fragrant flowers such as roses.  She always lets her children select the colors.  It is so easy to create a festive centerpiece as one just places the bouquet (or bouquets) in a vase and the table is ready for any party or event. For longer tables, UltimateMama is a fan of alternating the bouquet colors in beautiful crystal vases.

Since the fresh flowers in the bouquet arrangement usually last for a few days the bouquet vases are great addition to the table for all meals when one has overnight or weekend guests!

UltimateMama was recently treated to a delightful, decadent afternoon lunch at KDHamptons founder Kelli Delaney and Dr. Mark Kot’s beautiful Water Mill home, Maple Shade.  The radiant hostess gave me a tour of this home’s his (Mark’s) and hers (Kelli’s) expansive gardens which include grand silver maple trees and the most elegant hydrangeas on the East End of Long Island.  Kelli and Mark’s ultimate summer garden is accentuated by a drizzle of blue and white pillows, vases, and urns surrounding their outdoor furniture which makes for a dazzling, sophisticated, yet comfortable atmosphere.

Mark’s garden:

Kelli’s Garden:

UltimateMama has the perfect gift idea for your favorite camper at sleep away camp this summer – Confetti & Friends autographed pillow. The Camp Friends Forever pillow comes complete with a fabric pen. Memories will last forever!  Additionally, Roberta Roller Rabbit’s sleepover bags make great bunk comforters when they are unzipped.  What child doesn’t love Roberta Roller Rabbit’s cute little blue dogs on their bed?

UltimateMama’s friend recently lamented a mistake in purchasing costly artwork for her child’s room.  Unfortunately, less than two years after the art was purchased the child labeled it as “babyish” and wanted it off the walls.  UltimateMama has an easy, cost efficient way of decorating bedroom (or bathroom) walls that will bring a smile to any child’s face — use your child’s artwork as the focal point and frame it!

Children have so much pride in their creations.  By displaying their efforts you are showing them that you value their unique, individualized masterpieces.  No matter the age of your child it is highly likely that you can find something they have created that will work well in a frame (sometimes the youngest children create the best abstract art pieces).

Several options exist for framing your child’s art projects.

Of course you can get your child’s artwork matted and framed professionally in a matter of days (or even hours).  The plus with using a professional framing shop is that you will have many options in terms of color, sizes, shapes of both the mats and the frames.  Additionally, if your child’s artwork has a unique shape or multiple dimensions a professional framer may be able to give you some ideas on ways to make it stand out.  One minus is that it may be harder to “update” the artwork if you decide to change the piece you had framed.  Additionally, professional framing comes at a cost (approximately $50 on the low end and a few hundred dollars on the high end).

UltimateMama has both used a professional framer as well as done it herself and was quite pleased with the results of both.  Self framing is quick, easy, and cost efficient.  Also, it allows you to easily swap out last year’s masterpiece for this year’s winner.  UltimateMama loves the Studio Décor frames in white from Michaels.  They are simply, classic, and easy to hang.  Many times, you can purchase one and get the second frame for free which is wonderful if you have multiple children’s rooms to decorate.  Both the land of nod and pottery barn have terrific frames for children too!