FOCAL POINT STYLING: April 2011

For the Royal Wedding and this Fusion Friday - it's all about Jack. The Union Jack that is. The Union Jack itself is actually the symbol of unity of three countries, and their flags fused into one. The Union Jack has also been merged into both apparel & accessories and home goods & interior room styles. It has been made into everything from fabulous Alexander McQueen clutches, boots and coats, to cell phones, bed covers, and furniture upholstery. It's also been made into the now infamous saying - Keep Calm And Carry On (including my own version for William & Kate posted at the end).

Enjoy the collection...

All images collected from Google

OK... that was a LOT of Jack...

But for today of all days - ya gotta love it!

If you would like to read more about history of the

Union Jack flag, whose history actually dates back to this month -

April 12, 1606 - you can just click the link here...

It's actually really cool.

And for those of you who really don't give a hoot

about the historic wedding fuss today - here's something for you...

I on the other hand caught the fever this Wednesday, and I'm looking forward to viewing and tweeting about the wedding. the trees in the church, and of coarse - the dress!

Also - be sure to check out the

R O Y A L R O O M S

ideabook over on Houzz - and be inspired to create

something royal for yourself this weekend!

Cheers to William & Kate

as they unite their lives into one!

Keep Calm And Marry On!

A collective view of our budget-minded, thrifted and semi-homemade Easter home...

From those thrifted Easter eggs spray painted gold and thrifted Easter bunnies sprayed white, to thrifted white dishes adding texture and even West Elm after Christmas clearanced gold table runners added some chic shine. Place cards I made help personalize the place settings on the table, which I reused later in mini chocolate filled Easter basket giveaways. Spring touches surrounded us, from the inside out: Spring bunnies were in the container garden out front and hidden eggs out back on the patio. Last minute fresh flowers (white roses the hubs brought home Saturday evening) were added to the table in another thrifted vessel on Sunday morning...

Fresh flowers added to the table...

Family style served food vs. the originally though buffet...

A room filled with food, family and friends...

Monogrammed Golden Eggs

and name cards printed on linen card stock and cut with pinking shears...

Individual Carrot Cups (in lieu of a veggie tray)

Soaked carrots in water, covered pot holes (lol) and filled in each with two tablespoons of ranch veggie dip and five baby carrots...

Sorting colors...

Fresh brewed iced tea & homemade side dishes complimented a Honey Baked Ham (and chicken for the non-meat eater). Guests brought wine, key lime pie and carrot cake for dessert - which was dressed with two of the individualized carrot cups from the appetizers... all served family style at the table vs. buffet style like I had originally thought...

Thrifted dishes and dessert...

Spring living...

Easter Vignette...

Easter Gold...

Easter touches on the patio... Sephora egg-spotting!

Marcia and Mom...

Friends and family...

Everyone laughed much, reminiced over childhood stories, ate well and had a lovely time =). We toasted to "Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end" and on that note - now it's time to 'undecorate' and pack it away for next year.

How was your Easter weekend?

Blessing to you and new beginnings...