Brighten Your Life with Flowers

Your Gay Husband Tip of the Day :

Bring Nature Inside

Adding  Fresh Flowers to the Mantle

Brighten Up Your Life with Flowers
It is so nice to have fresh flowers in your house. It feels like it brightens up your life in some little way. I like to scatter them throughout the house. This is when bud vases come in handy. One bunch can bring flowers to several rooms. Whether you buy them from a florist or at the grocery store or grow them in your yard, the are sure to brighten your life.

Live Plants

Sometimes I run across a great deal at the.99 cent store. The other day I found these planters and white Mum plants. The plants fit perfectly into the pots so I never needed to transplant them. Once their time is up I will add them to the garden and go back to the .99 cent store and spend another $3. What a great investment for your environment.






Picture of a Sun Flower

 We have been growing Sun Flowers for the last few years and are they a sight. The are so radiant they almost make you smile. This is a picture of one of the Sun Flowers we grew. Even a picture of Flowers can brighten your room. It might be a good idea to take a trip to your local park and take some pictures of nature to decorate your house with.

Yellow

I have been on this Yellow kick for the past few months. It might have something to do with the Yellow rose of TX. I like to get several different types of flowers while only using 1 color. I usually keep the same type together as well...it just depends.






I hope you can find some inspiration to brighten up your life with Flowers.
Til Later,
Your Gay Husband

Veggie Garden - Part 2

Your Gay Husband Tip of the Day :

Patience can Prove to be Bountiful

Veggie Planter

Veggie Garden - Part 2
OK it has now been 2 months since I planted my seeds. Some grow so fast while others are waiting for the heat to kick in to grow faster. Most of my garden is in my Stacked Veggie Planter. It really adds life to an other wise plain corner of my yard. I already have some veggies [just baby ones] and lots of blooms. We had a heavy rain last week that knocked off my biggest flower on my zucchini plant. If the flower gets knocked off too early a squash won't produce. It's just a part of nature.



Radish

 I have a few Radish plants that are almost at maturity and ready to harvest. Fresh veggies have so much more flavor than ones in a produce store. Here you just pick, rinse and eat. The joys of Organic Gardening. Whether you like radish or not you should still grow them. They are the fastest and easiest out of all the veggies to grow so it makes you feel super successful right off the bat.







Zucchini Squash


Both the Zucchini and Yellow squashes are doing great. I noticed there were 2 getting more water and they grew much faster. They are strong and the blooming has begun. Stuffed squash blossoms with pasta makes a great meal. Don't forget about having it grilled, fried and of course zucchini bread.
I just started more squash seeds so I will have them til October.

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My nephew started his own veggie garden with me. He is 81/2. The first plant we planted was his favorite...Green Beans. When I say this kid love green beans, I really mean he loves them. I have seen him take a bag of beans out if the freezer, put them in the microwave and eat the entire thing. I told you he loves them. Needless to say we planted allot of beans and we should have them all season long.

White Pumpkins

Doesn't it seam like you pay a small fortune every year by decorating with pumpkins. We decorate with them all the way thru Thanksgiving. This year we decided to try and grow some. They are doing really good so far. We are expecting ALLOT of pumpkins this year at NO cost. The pumpkins will be 10-12 inches in diameter and weigh 10-12 lbs. You can either carve or decorate them or even use them for pies and soups. I am so excited.

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I am so excited that my cucumbers are doing so good. They are in the bottom level of my 7 level stacked planter. They are just about big enough to start growing up the trellis. The thing I am most excited about is making my own pickles. Lets hope I get allot.







If you didn't get a chance to plant your veggie garden by seed, don't worry. Just go down to Home Depot and pick up some small starter plants and way you go. Just think of all the fresh organic veggies you will have. They make great gifts for your neighbors or give a co-worker a jar of homemade organic pickles. Very thoughtful.
I hope this inspires you to grow your own veggie garden. Just think of the money you will save as well as some peace and quiet while tending to it. Enjoy your gardening meditation with a Happy Hour Cocktail with Your Gay Husband.
Happy Gardening !
Til Later,
Your Gay Husband

Border Planting

Your Gay Husband Tip of The Day :

When It is Time to Change...It is Time to Change

Border Planting with Rock Garden

Border Planting
Doesn't everyone have at least one area in your yard that is difficult for one reason or another. Well I did. It is at  the bottom of a retaining wall so it is wet and get part sun so I have problems with the grass growing up along the retaining wall itself. It is near the pool so it get lots of use and is also in a high visibility area. After much thought, here is what I did...
COST - $45 for everything
TIME - 2 hours
LEVEL of DIFFICULTY - 2 on scale of 1-5 [based on number of steps]

Before

To start I needed to remove any grass or vegetation 20" from the wall. I will be planting in one portion and creating a rock garden directly next to it for drainage, not to mention aesthetic. Take your time and don't miss anything. You will be happy later when you don't have to weed.

Laying Edging

To create perfect lines as well as creating clear lines of demarcation I use a plastic item that is used to keep bricks in line when laying pavers. It is perfect for this application as well. First lay down the track on the prepared area and using 8 inch plastic spikes secure the edging. Then cut out weed fabric and lay down in section where rock garden will go. All these Items can be purchased at Home Depot.

After

When choosing your planting material make sure to consider the amount of sun, moisture and check to see what kind of maintenance they will require. Don't forget that after planting you will need to mulch. I needed plants that could be in wet or dry conditions, that will stay year after year, that will get denser but not bigger, low maintenance, and part sun. This will save you both time and money in the long run by not having to constantly buy new plants.




This area is now ready for all the pool parties and FUN for summer. Take a look at your yard and see if it is Time To Make A Change. I also stained the fence. I hope you find inspiration and add your personal touches to your own space.
Happy Gardening.
Til Later,
Your Gay Husband

Revamping Vases for Spring

Your Gay Husband Tip of the Day :

Make Something Old New Again

Black to White

Revamping Vases for Spring
It is so much fun doing little things to make a big impact. When using vases I like to usually use only 1-2 colors and let the flowers make the statement. I am sure you have heard this before when using frames. It makes it easier to use the vases in clusters or when setting an entire room to just see a single color when it comes to your vase. Here I used white. I am a HUGE fan of using white and black and adding color from there. Right now I am doing white.
COST - under $10 [.97 plus tax for paint and the rest on pots and plants.
TIME - 20 minutes not including dry time.
Level of Difficulty - 1 on a scale of 1-5

Vases...Before

I found this long black vase at an Estate sale for $1. I just loved it...it was different then most vases I find. I love updating vintage pieces and breathing new life into them. I also painted these other vases using a white gloss spray paint for .97 at Home Depot.

Plastic Nusery Vases

Three of these are plastic pots that plants come in from the nursery. I didn't have any ceramic and they were going on the patio so I decide to paint them white. I put a glass coaster under them and mixed them with white candle holders. They look great.

Kalanchoe Plant in White Pot

It always amazes me with what you can come up with when you have a plan. My plan was to use white vases/planters this spring. From that point it all came together. Think...ReNew - ReUse - RePurpose and see what you can come up with.







I hope this inspires you to add simple affordable design to your home. Have FUN and you may just inspire your friends to do the same. Beauty is contagious.
Til Later,
Your Gay Husband

Staining The Fence

Your Gay Husband Tip of the Day :

Patience Provides Quality Work

Finished Fence

Staining the Fence
We had a fire a while ago that burnt down our garage. It also destroyed a car, 1 20" foot section of fence and a portion of another fence. These fences were on either side of the garage. When they replaced the fence they use the same color as the Cedar on the garage. There was just a problem with this....NONE of the fences matched. We had a light Cedar, dark cedar and almost a red color they used for the smaller section of fence. We decided to stain the fence so it would all match. I needed to go with a darker stain so that it would cover the previous stains without covering the grain of the wood. I used a transparent Behr outdoor Stain that is made for fences. They also make semi transparent and and one that has total coverage. It would have been easier to not use the transparent stain but I like the look of stained wood... not stain that looks like paint. To each their own.

Before Staining

 This is the lightest fence that we had left from the fire recovery. The color is OK it just didn't match the other fences, which for me is a design no no. The fences are 8 feet high.

Removing Hardware

Before staining you will want to remove any hardware off the fence and Blue Tape any areas that are NOT fencing. The stain will bleed and can be difficult to remove once absorbed.

Staining with a Brush

I used a 1" inch brush to stain any hard to reach sections and a 3" inch brush to finish staining the inner planks. It is key that once you begin a plank that you work downward before you go onto the next section. If you let a section dry or overlap, it will cause streaking.
Take your time and you will end up with a perfect fence.

One Section at a Time

As you can see I stained the inside planks first with the brushes then I used a 4" inch roller to do the outer planks. Before you know it, you are done. Now just replace your hardware and you are ready for your first outdoor party. I saved over $800 doing it myself.







I recommend putting on some music and finding your ZEN to reach optimal results.
It is not what you do but who you are when doing it.
I hope this inspires you to add design to your surroundings and not settle for less. You deserve it.
Til Later,
Your Gay Husband

Easter: Simple Place Settings for your Table

Your Gay Husband tip of the Day :

Use a Simple Color Pallet for Greater Impact

Mellow Yellow my Chickadee

Yellow and White
For some reason I have gone crazy for YELLOW this season.  I love setting a table for a party. I get this from my Mother. She would set a table the day before a party so she would be ready and be able to spend the time it would need to create her desired look. Place settings and serve ware are my guilty pleasure. I find that when you put creative energy into your table setting your guest will feel special and relaxed. When adding color for Easter make sure to not go crazy. Pick 1 or 2 colors then go for it. Layer as much as you want but just make sure to only use those colors you chose and nothing else. Here I use Yellow and White but really build off of what you already own.

Egg Seating

Here I used a small terracotta vase that I bought 3 for $1 at the Dollar Tree. I also picked up some yellow Easter grass. I colored all of my eggs in yellow to keep with my theme then used a sharpy to write the guests name on it. I love having preset seating, it really mixes up the conversations and prevents clicks...such an intense sports conversations that have nothing to do with an Easter meal. Get to know each other better. It's good to have some questions prepared such as....what is your most memorable Easter....what was you Easter tradition growing up. Believe me it helps keeping people connected.


How To Set a Simple Place Setting

Informal settings generally have fewer utensils and dishes but use a stereotyped layout based on more formal settings. Utensils are arranged in the order and the way a person will use them. Usually in Western culture, that means that the forks, bread plate, spreader, and napkin are to the left, while knives, spoons, drink ware, cups, and saucers are to the right.

Green and White Place Setting

Green and White

When using a table cloth make sure that your napkins are the same color. Here I used white. I really like using white as a staple in my table setting collection. You can always add a pop of color, even a plate of limes or lemons will freshen the table with something organic. Everything including flowers will be green or white only. This will make for an elegant yet casual table. Run your flowers, candles and condiments like butter and salt and pepper down the center of the table and repeat if necessary depending on length of table.



Veuve Cliquot Pansardin Champagne

 I always have a water glass and either a wine glass or champagne glass depending what is being served.



Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Champagne is my favorite for parties. This is the Champagne that Patsy and Edina would drink on Absolutely Fabulous. They were truly Fabulous !

I hope this gives you inspiration for your Easter Celebration this year. If not anything else you will know where the fork goes.

Hoppy Easter.

Til Later,

Your Gay Husband



Decorate for Spring

Your Gay Husband Tip of the Day :

Rotate Accessories and Make them Look NEW.

Spring Decorating

Decorate for spring
I don't know about you but I love to DECORATE and mix up all the things I love to make them seem new again. For this spring I am doing Whites, Apple Green with an Asian flare. I always start with a blank slate. I remove EVERYTHING from the area I am going to redecorate. It becomes your blank canvas and you are now the artist. Have FUN and enjoy the process. I gather everything that has to do with my colors and any Asian pieces I may have and put them out on a table so I know what I am working with. You might end up changing it a few times until you get what you like as your final result, just don't rush it and if you get frustrated, take a break and come back to it with fresh eyes.



Add something Organic

I think it is important when dealing with design to break it down into smaller parts to make it more attainable. I add some Organics like a Bonsai, Lucky Bamboo or Candles to breath life into the space. It adds a touch of romance to the space when the candles are lit. I add keepsakes as well to keep memories fresh. I have this little Asian figurine that I purchased on the day of my Dads wake and it has been with me ever since. I think of him every time I see it.

Asian Ceramics

When setting up this portion of the mantle I am very careful not to make it seem like scenes yet still have interest. I have use organics as well as Asian ceramics that I have collected. Notice that white with a small amount of green has been added to ensure continuity.

Apple Green Aaccessories

To anchor the fireplace I did a small collection in Apple Green. I have Jonathan Adler Vases and a Fu Dog for good fortune. I like to have things in clusters where possible. It creates impact and really defines the space, in this case through color. I use varied heights to add dimension. If you noticed I do this on most of the surfaces on the mantle.

On the Patio

Here is what it looks like on the Patio. On top of the Fridge that I refinished is a cactus, apple green bird house, small apple green vase and a metal tea light holder that looks like a rock. On the cart next to the fridge i kept it pretty simple with a trio of White ceramic vases all various sizes to compliment each other.

Wishing Urns

You can easily make something fresh again just by moving things around. Here I took the Jonathan Adler Wishing Urns that were given to me as a gift from the downstairs mantle to an Upstairs Lane Coffee Table. Notice they are keeping with the white and there are 3 of them. Not to mention my memories of these gifts every time I see them.








So get out all of your keep sakes and ReDECORATE for SPRING.
I hope this inspires you too !
Send me some of you pictures or leave a comment about your Spring Decorating.
Til Later,
Your Gay Husband

Edible CenterPiece for Your Table

Your Gay Husband Tip of the Day :

Make Food Storage a CenterPiece

Fruit Storage Made into a Edible CenterPiece

Edible CenterPiece for Your Table
There are a few things in life I like and 2 of them are creativity and functionality. When ever I go shopping I get a variety of Fruit. Some is more ripe than others. Where am I going to put all of it. You can't put fruit in the fridge that still needs to ripen not to mention out of sight out of mind. When I have fruit OUT and AVAILABLE, I eat more and that is the practical part of this...The creativity part speaks for itself.



Apples and Citrus

 Adding something organic to an otherwise lifeless table really brightens a room. Here I have a variety of Citrus and Fuji Apples. I don't know about you but I love grabbing an Orange or an Apple for a snack. The Lemons I use mostly for cooking and the Key Limes are perfect for Cocktails. As you see I will use every last piece of fruit one way or another.







 Edible Color for Your Table

This is the epitome of form and function. Don't worry if some of your fruit gets over ripe...that's what baking is for.
Make your own Edible CenterPiece and see if it inspires you to eat more fruit, it does for me.
I hope you enjoy mixing creativity with functionality.




It is not just for a centerpiece...it is for LIFE.
Til Later,
Your Gay Husband

Stacked Planter for Veggie Garden

Your Gay Husband Tip of the Day :

When lacking space to Plant ... Go Up !



6 Level Stacked Planter

Stacked Planter for Veggie Garden

I have been having an inching to plant a veggies garden but I didn't want to spend a lot of Money of give up the Planting space in my Yard. Through the years I have used planters for several things from annuals to trees. If you keep your eyes open you can find them for free. Neighbors are always tossing their old things out or a thrift store or garage sales are great places to look. I will take a pot and referbish it. Needless to say I already had most of these pots. I only had to buy the one on the top and it was only $3.97...Not Bad.

Paint Supplies

I started will a 6' long piece of rebar. I threaded the pots through the rebar [filling each pot with soil as you go] until you reach the top. If the pots don't have a hole make sure to drill at least 3. If it does have holes already but not where you need them if you tip the pot...then drill some. I used Rustoleum Paint from Home Depot. The entire project took less than 2 cans. I used 2 complimenting colors to make them look more fluid. In this case Gray.

Potting Soil

I used Scotts Potting Soil. I recommend putting at least 2-3 inches of 3/4" gravel at the bases to ensure proper drainage. You don't want the bottom pots to be wetter than the other pots. [you can possibly rot the roots] After plants are in the soil you can top with 2 inches of mulch. I use cedar to reduce insects and weeds while holding in moisture.

Tomato Cages

Here I have used 2 Tomato Cages to provide more upward planting. The one on the Top Right will have a Cherry Tomato Plant, while the one on the bottom left will contain Cucumbers. I also have twill up the fence for additional room to grow forthe cucumbers. 
This was a Fun project. I can't wait for Veggies.
COST - $40 I had most of the Pots
TIME - 2-3 Hours
Level of Difficulty - 2.5 on Scale of 1-5





I hope you enjoy this as much as I did. Happy Gardening !...and remember you burn calories Gardening !
Til Later,
Your Gay Husband

Happy Plants = Spring Mulch

Your Gay Husband Tip of the Day:

Mulch and Fertilize NOW for a Happy Garden All Season



Spring Mulch

 Spring Mulching
I love being surrounded by beautiful things. The one thing I have learned that it does not happen itself. Take the time to give your plants what they need to thrive and the will give you back 10 fold.
COST - Organic Mulch $3.88 per 2 cu feet bag [I used 10 bags]
TIME - 1 hour
Level of difficulty 2 on a scale of 1-5 due to labor

Cedar Mulch

I use a Cedar Mulch that does not float away with water. It is able to do this because it is shaved rather than chips. Using cedar will also assist in pest invasion. This is critical if you are doing organic gardening.

Wild Iris

This is a great plant that comes back every year. It will get about 24"-30" high and stay in a compact area up to 12"-14" in diameter. Add up to 4" of mulch surrounding the plant. The plant may "look" dead but it is just sleeping.

Colored Calla Lilies

Repeat adding 4" of mulch to all of your plants. I recommend adding 4" of mulch to your entire yard excluding grass areas. Not only will this help feed your plants it will keep down on pests, keep soil moist and reduce weeds BIG time. Once your are done give your garden a heavy watering and pour yourself a tall cold drink...You deserve it.







Take the time on a beautiful day and give back to your plants...and they will give back to you. The other benefit you reap from gardening is a workout. Yep you burn lots of caleries so you can eat more...
Happy Gardening.
Til Later,
Your Gay Husband

"Live Green" with Fresh Flowers

Your Gay Husband Tip of the Day :
Decorate with FRESH Flowers

Gerbera Daisys

Fresh Flowers for Less
I love fresh Flowers around the house. When I plan my weekly shopping I always checkout prices for fresh Flowers. If you don't buy them on promotion they can be very expensive. I only spent $4.99 on these Gerbera Daisy's. They are one of my favorites.
BIG impact with BIG savings.

Gerbera Daisy in Bud Vases with Tea Lights

Here I used the Gerberas in 5 Bud Vases with tea light candles between them. This makes for a great centerpiece inside or out. I used these on my outside patio for a romantic dinner.

Gerbera in a Single Vase

It is nice to keep fresh Flowers next to your bed on a night stand or in the bathroom. This just took 1 flower and adds tons of impact to any space. I recommend collecting vases, especially bud vases of every color a size. This will allow you to maximize your looks.

Gerbera in Large Vase

These are the same flowers just with a totally different look. I used all of them in 1 large vase. I usually don't care for pink flowers but these were such a beautiful tone that I couldn't resist.












Add beauty to your surroundings for only $4.99. Yep I only spent $4.99 for these looks. I bought them at the grocery store believe I or not. When picking Gerberas make sure the center is tight and just starting to bloom. Change water every 3 days and should last for 10 days or so.

Enjoy adding beauty to your home by adding FRESH FLOWERS.
Til Later,
Your Gay Husband

DIY: Beverage Fridge Make Over

Your Gay Husband Tip of the Day:
"Re New" before you "Buy New" and SAVE


Finished Project

From Drab to Fab
We have this old beverage fridge on our patio. It was being tossed out so we took it. It has been a great fridge and perfect for that cool beverage when you are out by the pool. Most of the Patio is Black and White with some Lemongrass and Sand accents. The fridge was dated to say the least so I decided to give it a face lift and paint it Black. It looks NEW...Really !
COST - $15
Time - 1 hour not including dry time
Level of Difficulty - 2 on scale of 1-5

Rustoleum Epoxy Appliance Paint

To get started I made sure to clean fridge thoroughly and lightly sanded any rough areas. Once it is clean, tape off the areas that you don't want painted such as fixtures or handles. You don't want it to loo like you poured paint over it. I used RustOleum Primer [I use the left overs form my "frame" project and Epoxy Spray Paint that is made for appliances. I love this paint. You can by these at Home Depot.

Primer Coat

Make sure to apply 2 coats of primer. This is key for ensuring adherence of the Epoxy Paint. Follow directions for dry times. I used a gray base primer that is made for dark tones. Take your time and don't miss a spot.

First Coat Epoxy Paint

When painting make sure that you are in a well ventilated area. I use a mask and goggles. Better be safe than sorry. After you apply the first coat of the Epoxy Spray Paint it will look splotchy. It will look splotching for the first 2 coats. I recommend applying 3-4 coats for best results. It feels and cleans just like a NEW fridge.

Finished Beverage Fridge

This was a Fun project. I only needed a little help with moving the fridge to an open space for painting. It makes such a BIG difference. It's funny how you can get used to something if you live with it everyday, so why not add a bit of newness to your environment without spending the Big Bucks.






I hope this inspires you to make something of yours go from Drab to Fab.
Til Later,
Your Gay Husband