Jody Minns's Stories: 2016

Photo ℅ Sams Flower Shop in Bangalore, India

Flowers have a way of brightening up our mood and the ambience of a space. The colourful bloom they bring when a bride holds her bouquet, the fragrance they add to home decor and the empowering soothing feeling that engulfs the environment; flowers are truly important in our daily lives.

Beyond those special occasions, flowers can be used to add a unique, fun and powerful vibe to an environment, specifically a living space. While those regular flower vases work wonders, there are some other creative ways that flowers can be displayed to liven up a home. From the kitchen, parlours, rooms, bathrooms to the dinning; you can get your creative hats and build a more welcoming and inspiring atmosphere in your home by adding flowers.

In fact, it's time to think outside of your comfort zone. From mason jars, small vase of peonies to vintage additions, creating fabulous floral arrangements doesn't have to be expensive or time consuming.

Here are 5 creative and fun ways you can display flowers in your home or environment

1. Spray Painted Mason Jars or Jam Jars

2016-04-14-1460631555-9410484-howtopaintmasonjarsflowers.jpg

Credit

Mason jars have so many uses and can be well utilized to brighten up any environment. In place of mason jars, don't throw away those jam jars yet, they can serve you really well. Group the flowers into a reasonable amount and cut the stems to the desired height. When combining different flowers, pay attention to the theme you're working with for your home or office space and consider the symbols of those flowers before you purchase them.

Give those mason jars a lift by painting or decorating them to fit your taste. They'll look beautifully arranged on window sills or coffee tables right under the light to create a vibrant environment.

2. Tea Cups

Credit
There are probably some abandoned tea cups in your house that can be revamped. In this case, size doesn't matter. Clean up those tea cups and fill them with beautiful flowers that will adorn your living space. These can work in different parts of the home, from dining areas to your home library.

3. Vintage Tins and Containers

2016-04-14-1460632222-8737232-vintage_wedding_ideas2.jpg

Credit

There are some retro tea and coffee tins that could add some uniqueness to your living space. From elegant red roses, sunflowers to white roses, you can revamp your vintage containers to create a decorative environment. There are different ways to add vintage tins to your space, including on kitchen tables, hanging on walls to your creative shelf area.

4. Bottles or Long Vases

2016-04-14-1460632793-5777442-Glassflowervasesforhomeinteriordecor.jpg

Credit

For those really long flowers that you don't want to cut, consider using bottles or long vases to serve this purpose. Everything from a coke bottle, used wine bottle, to a transparent glass vase. Depending on your preference, you can decide to decorate the bottles to avoid it looking old or used. Such containers are great because they give more room to fill in water, pebbles or other decorative ornaments.

5. Shells

Credit
These are especially useful during those summer heat times. A trip to the beach or store to choose a wide mouthed shell to display some flowers can be well worth it. Think about the ambience this addition can add to the feel of your living room or bed side.

6. Cake Stands

Credit

Yes! Cake stands can be used for flower decorations too. What's really amazing about this tip is the fact that it can be used not only for home or office spaces, but also for wedding centrepieces.

2016-04-14-1460634024-2459029-29521_Betekenisbloemen.jpg

Credit

With these creative ways of styling up your home with flowers, you can be sure of always having an inspired environment. When in doubt about using containers, it's best to research for inspiration and get ready to embellish some of those old wares to bring life back to your home or office space. Some ideas range from ribbons, bows, glitters, pebbles, jewels, shells and leaves- to give a natural look.

-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

Judge Rules Katy Perry Can Buy Historic Former Los Angeles Convent

Pop star Katy Perry will get her chance to live in a former Roman Catholic convent after a judge on Wednesday invalidated the property's sale by five nuns to a restaurateur.

The case had pitted Perry, daughter of Protestant pastors and one of the top-selling pop stars in the world, and the archdiocese against the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

The nuns, all aged between late 70s and late 80s, once lived in the convent and two of them wanted to sell it to Los Angeles restaurateur Dana Hollister.

The archdiocese filed a lawsuit last June, arguing that the two nuns did not have the authority to sell the property to Hollister.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Stephanie Bowick approved the archdiocese's motion to block the sale to Hollister, voiding the purchase documents and deed. She said the nuns did not have the authority to sell the property and that even if they had, they did not properly validate the transaction.

Representatives for Hollister did not reply to requests for comment.

The archdiocese said it was "gratified" by Bowick's ruling in a statement, and added that it was still under contract to sell the convent to Perry.

"The Archdiocese was forced to take legal action to protect all the five sisters from being taken advantage of by the Dana Hollister transaction," it said, adding that it will continue to provide care for the nuns.

Perry, who rose to fame with the hit song "I Kissed a Girl," offered to buy the 8-acre (3-hectare) Roman Villa-style property for $14.5 million.

The nuns had rebuffed the 31-year-old performer, accepting a competing $15.5 million bid from Hollister, who wanted to convert the former convent into a hotel.

Attorney John Scholnick, who represents two of the five nuns, told Reuters he was "disappointed," but emphasized that the ruling only invalidated the sale to Hollister and did not authorize the sale to Perry. He said there could be an option for an appeal.

-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

10 Backyards Built for Fun

Laura Gaskill, Houzz Contributor

Who says your backyard has to be boring? Who says your backyard has to be boring? With creative playhouses, hammocks, skateboard ramps and more, these 10 outdoor spaces prove that the backyard can be the place to hang out all season.

16 Ways to Get More From Your Small Backyard

Photo by Trinity Hammocks - Discover contemporary patio design inspiration

1. Sculptural hammock. A hammock this unusual is sure to become the focal point of the backyard. Plus, you won't have to fight over the best seat in the yard when you have a hammock built for three!

Find a New Hammock on Houzz

Photo by Hoi Ning Wong - Discover traditional landscape design inspiration

2. Oversize chess set. A giant chessboard is equal parts Alice in Wonderland and resort chic. Think of it as built-in entertainment for outdoor fetes.

Photo by Living Edge Treehouses & Edible Landscapes - More modern kids' room ideas

3. All-ages treehouse. Who says treehouses are just for kids? Make it big enough for grownups too, and you can enjoy your evening glass of wine from a lawn chair with a view.

Photo by V.I.Photography & Design - Browse contemporary landscape photos

4. Skateboard ramp. Make the skaters in your family happy (and give them a reason to stay home) with a skate ramp in the backyard. Have the space do double duty by installing a basketball hoop in the center -- just don't try to use both at once, or there could be some unfortunate accidents!

Photo by austin outdoor design - Search contemporary patio design ideas

5. Sunken fire pit. Like a modern version of the 1970s sunken "conversation pit" living room, this fire pit zone is sure to be the place for friends to gather. Bonus: Hang lanterns from a nearby tree to boost evening ambience.

Find the Perfect Fire Pit for Your Backyard

Photo by We Are In Our Element - Browse eclectic home design ideas

6. Outdoor claw-foot tub. A claw-foot tub hooked up to hot water in the backyard is like having a personal retreat steps from your back door. To protect your tub, you'll need to cover it between uses -- even though you drain it after using it (unlike a hot tub), a cover will keep debris from falling in and clogging the pipes. If your yard isn't private, you also may need to install additional fencing or a privacy screen.

Photo by Aloe Designs - Discover landscape design inspiration

7. Fountain for splashing. On a hot summer day, what could be better than splashing in cool water? Sure, you can turn on the sprinklers, but a fountain for getting your feet wet may be even more refreshing -- and it can be made to recycle the water, so you waste less.

Photo by Leroy Merlin OFFICIEL - Search eclectic landscape pictures

8. Fairyland. Whimsical touches can turn an ordinary backyard into a magical place for children to explore. A "fairy door" on a tree trunk, fake toadstools in the lawn and flags adorning the playhouse are sure to spark imaginations.

Photo by The American Institute of Architects - Discover contemporary patio design inspiration

9. Movie screen. A digital projector and a blank wall are all you need to transform your backyard into an outdoor movie theater. Invite your friends and neighbors to come over at sunset for movie night alfresco.

Photo by Kevin Cooper Garden Design - Search contemporary landscape design ideas

10. Garden folly. Is it a garden observation platform? An alien ship? Part of an old movie set? Whatever it is exactly, having something so unusual in your backyard is sure to spark conversations and lighten the mood!

Browse Landscape Photos for More Ideas

-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

Spring and Summer Party Themes

An inspired party theme is a lot like a good glass of giggle water. Both incorporate quality ingredients, showcase creativity, have layers of interest and complexity, appeal to the senses, and whet the appetite. Ready to imbibe? Read on for five chic and historically inspired warm-weather party themes that are sure to intoxicate your guests this spring and summer.

A Regency Picnic

Nothing says warm-weather entertaining like a picnic, and few picnics are as famous as the picnic on Box Hill in Jane Austen's novel, Emma. A fashionable pastime in early 19th-century England, a British Regency picnic makes a wonderful spring or summer party theme. Set lace as the attire, serve Regent's Punch, onion pye, salmagundi, and solid whipt syllabub, and invite your guests to bring a dish for sharing in a traditional wicker hamper like this one. Click here to access these traditional British picnic recipes.

An Ice Cream Garden Party

A big part of the New York entertaining scene in the early 19th century, ice cream gardens were fanciful restaurants that served sweet and savory ice creams along with other treats, wines and lemonades. Ice cream gardens also featured elaborate floral displays and musical entertainment. When hosting your Ice Cream Garden Party, offer a variety of flavored scoops like cinnamon, bergamot, rose petal, parmesan cheese, and asparagus, which were all popular flavors of the day, or whip up a batch of First Lady Dolley Madison's preferred flavor: oyster. Serve your crème glacée in cordial glasses like these on an ornate silver tray like this one, and bring in a local chamber music group to set the perfect tone. Click here to access the sweet and savory ice cream recipes.

A Poolside Glamour Party

2016-04-14-1460676961-1803240-76a442e40c14d5d73c66877e9a3f8ee4.jpg

Recreate the retro-chic appeal of the summer of 1970 by hosting a pool party inspired by photographer Slim Aarons' famous "Poolside Glamour" photograph. Shot at a Richard Neutra-designed house in Palm Springs, California, this iconic work perfectly captures the 70s vibe and style that are back en vogue today. Request cabana-chic attire, slip on a pair of white lace palazzo pants, and serve Harvey Wallbangers and pineapple-chicken skewers to the sounds of The Carpenters, Tom Jones, and the 5th Dimension. Click here for fashion inspiration and to access the recipes.

A Classic New England Clambake

Clambakes originated in North America more than 2,000 years ago when Native American tribes in New England cooked lobsters and clams in sand pits lined with seaweed and hot rocks. While there is nothing as beautiful as a clambake on the beach, backyard clambakes at sunset can be just as delightful. Serve a traditional menu of lobster, mussels, crabs, and corn on the cob prepared like this, and add seaside touches like nautical rope, driftwood, shells, a sandy-textured burlap tablecloth, and cotton napkins like these. Click here to access the recipes and find some great online resources for your clambake.

A Dorothy Parker Game Night

We all know that Dorothy Parker's Algonquin Round Table brought together New York's wittiest writers, critics, and actors for a daily dose of great food and clever conversation. But during the summer, particularly around Dorothy's birthday on August 22, the group would leave the confines of steamy New York and gather for a game-filled party on Neshobe Island, an island in the middle of Lake Bomoseen in Vermont. Play up the theme by inviting a small group of friends to enjoy a sultry summer evening engaging in all the party games Dorothy and her pals played: sunset croquet, cribbage, poker, classic charades, "Wink Murder," "Twenty Questions," and the "I-Can-Give-You-a-Sentence Game," which involved each member taking a multisyllabic word and turning it into a pun within ten seconds. Click here for more information about all the games.

For more fête-chic party ideas and inspiration, click here to follow The Salonniere on Instagram.

Photo sources from top to bottom: a still photo from BBC's 2009 adaptation of Jane Austen's, Emma; an ice cream bar from Wedding Philippines; "Poolside Glamour" by Slim Aarons; clambake photo courtesy of The Salonniere's Carla McDonald; croquet photo from Style Me Pretty.

-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

Thursday, December 29, 2016

Wednesday, December 28, 2016

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Monday, December 26, 2016

Thursday, December 22, 2016

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Monday, December 19, 2016

Friday, December 16, 2016

Thursday, December 15, 2016

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Monday, December 12, 2016

Friday, December 9, 2016

Thursday, December 8, 2016

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Monday, December 5, 2016

Friday, December 2, 2016

Thursday, December 1, 2016

Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Monday, November 28, 2016

Friday, November 25, 2016

Thursday, November 24, 2016

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Monday, November 21, 2016

Friday, November 18, 2016

Thursday, November 17, 2016

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Monday, November 14, 2016

Friday, November 11, 2016

Thursday, November 10, 2016

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Monday, November 7, 2016

Friday, November 4, 2016

Thursday, November 3, 2016

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Monday, October 31, 2016

Friday, October 28, 2016