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Pampas DIY Chandelier

Fall Decor Pampas DIY Chandelier for your Next Party

Fall Decor Pampas Grass DIY chandelier for your Thanksgiving party || Darling Darleen

Pampas grass is everywhere right now in floral arrangements, wreaths and and wedding bouquets. You’ll probably be seeing pampas grass in some of my holiday decorations! A little sneak peek. With Thanksgiving right around the corner, it’s always focused on the feasting table. Since I’ve posted so many great Thanksgiving centerpieces and tablespaces, why not add a visual element that is unexpected yet works perfectly with the natural, fall decor. The pampas DIY chandelier is so easy to make and is dramatic and elegant! I would of make a huge one right over my dining table, but the chandelier was in the way. This pampas DIY chandelier works over the drink bar cart.

You can find pampas grass usually in landscaping. They work great as a buffer and privacy bush. I found my pampas grass at the beach. So many there! If you don’t have pampas grass in a public place or in your yard, then they are available at a specialty florist or online.

Pampas DIY Chandelier Supplies:

Floral Wire Wreath

Floral Wire

Pampas Grass —Colored Pampas Grass

Floral shears

Jute Twine

hairspray

Take your cut pampas grass and spray the flower pods with hairspray. Let it dry. This will help keep the flower pods put and from falling off the pampas stock.
Cut the pampas grass down to assemble on the wire wreath. You will lay one row clockwise one on top of the other covering the wire wreath. Wrap with floral wire in a zigzag pattern.
Then lay another row of pampas grass counterclockwise fully covering the wire.
You can repeat until you are satisfied with the outcome.
Then using your jute twine, tie 4 strings on each side of the wreath. Make sure the string is long enough to hang the wreath. I used a square knot so it would be secure and stay in place.
Hang your wreath from your ceiling.
Then take another batch of pampas grass (maybe a different color) and secure to the jute strings that are hanging the wreath in place. Use floral wire. Repeat on all 4 sides.
Add additional pampas grass, securing the base to the wire wreath and the top to the jute string. Repeat until you are satisfied with the results.

Fall Decor Pampas Grass DIY chandelier for your Thanksgiving party || Darling DarleenFall Decor Pampas Grass DIY chandelier for your Thanksgiving party || Darling Darleen

DIY Basket Light Pendant

Easy DIY Basket Light Pendant for only $30 and 30 minutes of your time!

We have been adding and changing out light fixtures in our new home. It’s been a slow process as I am trying to change them out as I go about decorating each room. The boys room is just about finished, and I finally changed out their dated flush light fixture with a fun modern basket light pendant. I’ve had my eye on a $400 basket light pendant, and I thought save the money and just DIY it! This project only cost me $30, and I think I like this DIY basket light pendant better than the one I had my eye on.

All the supplies you need for this DIY Basket Light Pendant is a large basket, a light pendant cord, drill, small screwdriver. I bought my large basket at Home Goods for under $20, but you can find similar cheap ones at Hobby Lobby, Amazon and Target. I also looked for a round basket that didn’t have handles and was open weave so the light could be more pronounced when hung.

The light pendant cord was so easy to install, and I love the modern touch of gold and the simple straight line. For only $12, this is the best light pendant for DIYing any light fixture!

On the plate side of the light pendant cord, you will take it apart and separate the black cord from the plate. Using a small screwdriver, loosen the screw from connector to pull the cord out.

Drill a hole in the base of basket. Then feed the light cord through the bottom of the base and reattach it to the plate. If you want the light to hang in the middle of the basket, we put a knot at the top of where the cord and the basket met so the light bulb would hang in the middle of the basket. This helps penetrate more light from the basket. Hard wire the light to the ceiling. This requires a professional to install, unless you are handy or have a handy husband who can do the trick!

Time to treat yourself to some Fall shopping at Homegoods!
I’ve teamed up with a group of bloggers to give one lucky winner
a chance to win a $650 Homegoods Gift Card!

To enter: complete the steps in the rafflecopter below. The more steps you complete,
the more entries you receive, and the better your chance at winning!
This giveaway runs until Tuesday, October 22nd at 12am PST

Winner will be announced here. Good Luck!
*this giveaway is in no way sponsored by Homegoods.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Planting Bulbs Indoor Containers

Force Bulbs Indoors in time for Holiday Flowers

Planting bulbs in indoor containers is an easy way to decorate for fall with organic natural textures but also can be enjoy through the holiday months ahead. Forcing bulbs in containers is easy and a beautiful natural centerpiece for a dining room table or end table or entry way table. Add texture with replanting orchids. || Darling Darleen #darlingdarleen

I’m in the Fall mood and have been decorating the house with cozy autumn touches. Instead of decorating the whole house with pumpkins and orange and brown, I’m going more a organic route with textures of wood, dried stems and natural materials. Usually during the holidays I like to decorate with paper whites, but I’ve never forced them inside because I usually don’t start them far in advance to do so. The bulbs need about 3-5 weeks to bloom after planting them indoors. Planting bulbs in indoor containers for holiday flowers should begin in early fall. The best bulbs to plant for the holidays are paper whites and amaryllis because they do not need to be chilled, whereas your spring bulbs need a chill period of about 3 months. Once paper whites and amaryllis are planted, they are easy growers and add so many beauty to a room, especially when the short, cold days come along. If you’d like to see how I’ve decorated my house last year, I posted all about updating my living space for fall.

Supplies for Planting Bulbs Indoor Containers

Bulbs

Soil/Dirt

glass container (wide opening)

moss

river rocks

sticks (optional–use for paper whites and if your container is low)

Paper whites and amaryllis are available at more local florist and cost about $1-$2 a bulb. Some things to keep in mind when planting the bulbs. Make sure to plant them roots down, stem up. You can plant them in soil, surrounded by rocks and moss to keep the moisture in. The bulbs stay above ground, except the roots. Make sure to keep the bulbs dry to prevent rotting and don’t put water over the bulbs, only on the roots. You can plant them in watertight containers with their roots in the water and their bodies above. Plant bulbs close tougher but with enough space between. And remember to always keep the the tips of the bulbs uncovered.

Fill your glass container with a little bit of soil them add moss and rocks to the perimeter so you can mostly see the moss through the glass container.
Before you place the bulbs on top of the soil, pour a cup of water on the soil so it is moist, but not oversaturated.
Next place the bulbs roots down, stems up. Keep them snug in the container but also a little separated between moss
If your container is low, place sticks between the bulbs so as the paper whites grows the stems will have a place to lean up against to prevent it falling over. I added moss to my sticks (found in my backyard) with spray adhesive!

For added texture, replant grocery-store orchids in fun containers and add moss and rocks.

Planting bulbs in indoor containers will be enjoyed through all the holiday months ahead!

Milk Bath Recipe for Dry Skin

This Milk Bath recipe for Dry Skin is made with goats milk, which will leave your skin feeling so soft and smooth.

This winter has been brutal to my skin. The wind is blowing and the temperatures have dropped to single digits. Dry itchy, chafing skin has arrived on my legs and hands. I’ve been lathering up the lotion but it seems to only relief the pain for a bit. My arms have dry spots. Even my face has dry patches! Time to really focus on healing my skin during the winter months. After living in the South for seven years, I forgot how cold the Northeast can be! I pulled out all of my favorite winter must-haves, but my skin needs more attention and something to bring in moisture. Then I remembered my milk bath recipe for dry skin that I used to take every week during the winter months when we lived in Connecticut prior to our move to the Georgia. I would even draw up a bath for my babies to take a milk bath just to keep their baby skin soft and smooth.

What I love about this milk bath recipe for dry skin is that the primary ingredient is goat’s milk, not cow’s milk. I like to use powdered goat’s milk because usually I make a large batch and store it in a jar for longer shelf life and of course multiple milk baths. You can get powdered goat’s milk at any health store or through the link. Goat’s milk has wonderful benefits for the skin. Goat’s milk has a high content of alpha-hydroxy and lactic acid, which helps break down dry skin and brings new cells to the surface. It also has a high fat molecule content making it extremely moisturizing. In addition, it is packed with Vitamin C, D and E which all aids to making your skin younger and fresher.

The other thing I like about this recipe is that it has coconut oil and I did a whole post on the benefits of coconut oil and how wonderful it is for your skin. Also for added scent for also skin benefits, you use Lavender essential oil or Ylang Ylang essential oil. Lavender essential oil is great for the skin because it is antibacterial and can kill bacteria that penetrates the pores. I like to put Ylang Ylang essential oil in it also because it balances the emotions, which is great for relaxing during a hot milk bath.

Milk Bath Recipe for Dry Skin

1 cup powdered goat’s milk
1 cup epson salt
1/2 cup baking soda
4 tablespoons unfiltered, raw extra virgin coconut oil
Lavender Essential oil (few drops)
Ylang Ylang essential oil (optional)
Lavender buds (optional)

**Add fresh roses and flowers and make your milk bath for two this Valentine’s Days!**

Pour all of the ingredients in a jar that can seal. Store the the milk bath recipe for dry skin in a cool, dry cabinet along with your other bath products. This milk bath recipe for dry skin is great for a bath for two. Enjoy it this Valentine’s Day and make sure to add fresh cut roses and flowers to make it romantic!

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