I just stumbled onto a great blog called 10 Rooms where I found this beautiful picture of an outdoor space designed by stylist Maxine Brody. I got to thinking… we spend a lot of time maintaining outdoor space (watering, mowing, planting), but very little time decorating it. This photo shows how lovely and welcoming a simple backyard can be, and how little it takes to make it feel like an extra room in your home.

In this photo, it’s the candles that add the extra ambiance. If you already have a bit of seating, think of adding some soft candlelight with one of these accessories to turn your porch, patio or yard into a romantic oasis.

Royce Lighting makes beautiful hanging and table lanterns to fit any style. They can be used indoors, too.

This Nine-Candle Candelabra slips through the umbrella-pole on your outdoor table so it stays steady and won’t get bumped around.

If you live in a dry area where flames pose a significant risk–or you just have small children running around–Smartcandle LED Candles provide atmosphere without being a fire hazard.

Kuhn Rikon Frosting Pen

I will admit that I’m not much of a baker. I have dreams of whipping up moist cakes and sugary-sweet homemade icing (wearing four-inch heels and a stylish wrap dress no less), but the reality is over-baked sweets and store-bought frosting. Time is precious, and I just can’t spend every weekend perfecting the red velvet cupcake or my favorite—the frosted sugar cookie! Thankfully, I discovered a new kitchen gadet that will make my store-bought treats look and taste just as good as home baked!

The Kuhn Rikon frosting pen is a clever little tool that lets you dress up store-bought and home-baked goodies like a professional. The pen gives you precise control as you write, border and create shapes on your cakes, cupcakes and cookies! Great for kids and adults, the pen has two speeds three to five tips, and two to three refillable frosting cartridges, depending on which SHOP.COM store you purchase it from. What I love about it is that you just write with it like you would a pen, and the frosting comes out smoothly and easily. That means fewer mistakes and less wasted frosting! I plan on using this handy gadget for customized Valentine’s Day cupcakes. I’ll draw little hearts or fun little sayings on each like those conversation heart candies!

I’ll probably use it with a simple can of Duncan Hines or Betty Crocker frosting, but feel free to mix up your very own. The pen uses two AA batteries. Just hand wash the unit when you’re done!

Flip! for Decorating

Are you dreaming of a home makeover but don’t think you have the expertise or wherewithall to make it a reality?

Well,  design consultant and Today show lifestyle expert Elizabeth Mayhew recently published a book chock full of tips and tricks to make your abode stylish in a snap–and on a budget, too! Flip! for Decorating is a must-read for anyone who has flipped through the pages of a decorating magazine, lusted over the pretty pictures and said, “How do I DO that?”

Elizabeth, who also writes a regular column for House Beautiful, offers readers step-by-step instructions on how to decorate the four most-used rooms in your home: bedroom, family room, dining room and living room.

She describes how to use what you already own and freshen it up with new fabrics and paint.  You’ll also read about how to put together a professional looking color palette, how to dress a window and choose the right furnishings and accessories for your spaces.

Overwhelmed with the design options?  Elizabeth also has a section on how to prioritize your decorating decisions and make the right choices so you won’t waste a dime. Valuable advice this year, don’t you think?