5 Things: April

It's hard to believe that April is already here! Here are five things that I love this month!

1. Mason jars: I love this idea for candle holders from Budget Wise Home. Mason jars are filled with sand and small candles. Super cute, both indoors and out!

2. Twine: Use it to make pretty, natural napkin rings or tie thick twine to picture frame hooks and hang to give a simple white frame a rustic flair!

3. Cherries: Again, not a decorating tip (although who can deny that a bowl of cherries makes a room look brighter?), but a plug for my old hometown of Ann Arbor, MI. Michigan is famous for its cherry products, be it chocolate covered cherries, grilling sauce, or fudge. April is free shipping month for Cherry Republic, a company dedicated to creating wonderful cherry products! See cherryrepublic.com for gift ideas!

4. Umbrella Stands: April is known for its showers, and wet umbrellas are no fun to bring indoors. An umbrella stand at your front door looks cute and keeps things clean. The problem? Traditional umbrella stands start at about $50, and quickly go up from there. A great alternative? For less than $10 at afloral.com, these tall tin French floral buckets work just as well and are quite rustic!

Double duty: A flower bucket as an umbrella stand! Add stones for weight if necessary. 

5. Decorative Plasticware: Target gets a gold ribbon for coming out with designer dinner sets that look great but won't break! Plastic finally has style! And of course, it's all very affordable.

Set of 4, $9.99, Target.com.