Pinterest allows you to create online pinboards (think of them as bulletin boards) for various categories of your choosing, (example: “dream home”, “recipes”, “furry friends”) and you “pin” photos or videos to these boards. What evolves is a collage of all of your favorite things, and you can create as many boards as you like. Other “pinners” can see your boards, follow your boards, comment on them and even re-pin the photos onto their own boards.

Head over to Pinterest, start pinning, and check out our boards! We will inspire you with decorating ideas, our love of flowers, nature and the beach… just a few of the “pins” that define what Seasons is about.

Click this button to follow us! 

Here is a sampling of our boards:

Manufacturers took their cue from Target's immediate sell-out of Missoni clothing and home accents that took place last September. Missoni, the Italian luxury design house, is famous for their use of bold color and their hallmark zig-zag patterns.

You will see this trend of color and pattern repeated in spring and summer fashion accessories, home furnishings and even stationery items.

Panettone, an Italian fruit bread traditionally served for Christmas and New Year's, makes a truly delicious French Toast. This recipe is perfect for a special breakfast treat on Christmas morning, and is a great addition to any holiday brunch menu.

Ingredients

• 1 (1-pound) panettone, paper removed
• 6 large eggs
• 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
• 3/4 cup whole milk
• zest of 1 orange
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
• 1/2 cup mascarpone cheese (optional)
• maple syrup
• Serving suggestion: powdered sugar and assorted fresh berries

This year, let's all keep in mind what is important to our heart and soul, and make sure that those things are on the top of our 'To Do' list.

Here is my Bucket List for the Holidays - create one of your own and enjoy the magic of the season!

Happy Holidays!

Diane

Ingredients

• 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1/3 cup finely chopped pecans
• 5 tablespoons butter, melted
• 3 tablespoons light brown sugar
• 4 (8-oz.) packages cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups canned pumpkin
• 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
• Praline Topping (recipe below)
• Garnishes: coarsely chopped Pecan Pie-Glazed Pecans, fresh sage leaves

Preparation

• 1. Preheat oven to 325°. Stir together first 4 ingredients in a bowl until well blended. Press mixture on bottom and 1 1/2 inches up sides of a 9-inch springform pan. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned.

• 2. Beat cream cheese and next 2 ingredients at medium speed with a heavy-duty electric stand mixer until blended and smooth. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each addition. Add pumpkin and lemon juice, beating until blended. Pour batter into prepared crust. (Pan will be very full.)

• 3. Bake at 325° for 1 hour to 1 hour and 10 minutes or until almost set. Turn oven off. Let cheesecake stand in oven, with door closed, 15 minutes. Remove cheesecake from oven, and gently run a knife around outer edge of cheesecake to loosen from sides of pan. (Do not remove sides of pan.) Cool completely on a wire rack (about 1 hour). Cover and chill 8 to 24 hours.

• 4. Remove sides and bottom of pan, and transfer cheesecake to a serving plate. Prepare Praline Topping; immediately pour slowly over top of cheesecake, spreading to within 1/4 inch of edge. Garnish, if desired.

Praline Topping    (Prep time: 20 minutes)

Ingredients

• 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1/3 cup whipping cream
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preparation

• Bring first 3 ingredients to a boil in a 1-qt. saucepan over medium heat, stirring often. Boil, stirring occasionally, 1 minute; remove from heat. Gradually whisk in powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth. Let stand 5 minutes, whisking occasionally. Use immediately.

Enjoy!

This grilled bruschetta recipe, featuring mashed cannellini beans and the bright flavors of fresh lemon and parsley, make it the perfect appetizer to serve your guests. It is healthy, hearty, and worth adding to your holiday menu planning.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 (8-ounce) long loaf of Italian bread
• 1 lemon
• 1 can (15- to 19-ounce) white kidney beans (Cannellini), rinsed and drained
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon ground pepper
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley leaves
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley leaves (for garnish)
• 2 cloves of garlic, each cut in half

DIRECTIONS:

1. Turn Oven on to Broil.
2. Slice the bread diagonally into 1/2-inch-thick slices.
3. Using the lemon, grate 1/2 teaspoon of lemon peel and squeeze 1 tablespoon of juice. In a medium bowl, with a fork, lightly mash the beans with lemon juice, peel, oil, salt, pepper, and 1 tablespoon parsley.
4. Place the bread slices on a sheet pan and cook 2 to 3 minutes on each side or until they are lightly toasted on both sides. Keep your eyes on the oven - the bread will toast very quickly.
5. While the toast is still warm, rub 1 side of each toast slice with the cut side of the garlic.
6. Just before serving, top the garlic-rubbed side of the toast with the bean mixture and sprinkle with the remaining 1 teaspoon parsley.


ENJOY!

It's always a fun project to change out the contents with each season, and we are always coming up with new, creative ways to fill them - sand and shells, bath salts, soaps, acorns, pinecones, faux fruits, ornaments, candy... the list is endless.

For Halloween, we created a whimsical assortment of jars filled with candy. To keep with the traditional colors of the holiday, we used candy corn, black licorice, white & orange gum balls, and ghost & pumpkin peeps. Most of this candy can be found in your grocery store - just be open minded, pick your color pallette and have some fun!

• Black is the new black

• The palatte is similar to the “Escape” trend in 2011, but a bit bolder for 2012.

• Neutrals will be cooler – grays and slate colors

• Pink and purple undertones will be strong

• Camel & Khaki become the new neutrals upon which richer hues can be layered as accents

• Metallics and pearlized colors will continue to be strong

• Gold will begin to make a comeback, but with more of a satin finish

• Bronze and silver will remain strong

Paint color can have the most dramatic effect on your space, and it is the least expensive way to update your home. Benjamin Moore has added some intriguing new colors to their 2012 paint palette. Here are some key color-family trends along with the Benjamin Moore color name.

Red: Walls and furnishings may see a range of feminine reds and oranges, all the way to softer vintage pink tones (soft, blush). Some highlighted Ben Moore colors: Candy Cane Red, Potpourri.

Yellow: The 2012 yellows will be sunny and golden, sometimes even in a lacquered shine vs. the previously seen matte finishes. Luminous blonde tones, honey and gold will also emerge. Look for colors like Baby Chick, Hollywood Gold or Metallic Gold at one end of the spectrum and more neutral tones like Subtle, Buttercream Pearl and Turmeric or Bronze Metallic.

Green: Beautiful green will move to crisper shades, some teal-tinged but also safari and camouflage tones. Forecasters are pointing toward colors like Fresh Scent Green, Pear Green or Winchester Sage to Dark Olive and Harbour Town.

Blue: The blue story will be one influenced by water and air... but more saturated than in previous years. Look for charcoal and blackened navy hues. A few colors of importance: Palm Coast Teal, Old Glory, Serenata and also deeper tones like Deep Ocean, Mysterious and Gentlemen's Gray.

Print out this blog and take it with you as you have fun planning your next painting and decorating project.

It was believed by the Celts that on that night the spirits of the dead would be able to return to the world of living and play tricks and cause havoc on the living and on the crops. The Celts would carve gourds, which are small squashes, into scary faces and put lit candles in the gourds to ward off the evil spirits.

The festival would frequently include large bonfires. It is believed that the fires attracted insects, which in turn attracted many bats to the area. Masks and costumes were worn in an attempt to mimic the evil spirits and to protect the living.

Today, Halloween is a fun holiday full of magic and make-believe, and Seasons Gifts And Home has wonderful Halloween decorations to make your holiday spooktacular!

The majority of Americans celebrate Halloween by trick-or-treating or attending costume parties, giving out treats and watching scary movies. How will you be spending your Halloween?