Southern Living Christmas All Through the South on TV

I've had a great December so far promoting on my favorite books ever, Southern Living Christmas All Through the South. 

I had a blast with my TODAY show family!  We shared some cookie recipes and tips for hosting a cookie exchange party.  

Click here to watch the segment and see the recipes.

This morning we had a few minutes to share some budget friendly holiday tips on Good Day Dallas. 

Click below to watch: 

 Southern Living - Spiced Snowflake Cookies and Icing - Dallas News | myFOXdfw.com

Click here to watch  my Yule Tide Feast Tips on the 700 Club

Click here to order your copy of this amazing book!  

Friday Favorites

I hope you will check out the tailgate segment I did yesterday on TODAY show!  I had a great time with Al, Tamron and Willie as always!

Have you seen the Palmetto Bluff Southern Living Idea House yet?  You will love it!

15 Flower tricks you have never heard before.

Super excited about this dress I just ordered for Fall.

This is so hard but we really have to-have to-have to do it!

On the Today Show :: How to make family heirlooms modern

Have you ever wondered what to do with your family heirlooms? This morning on the Today Show, I shared some creative ways you can turn those treasured keepsakes like old brooches, antique vases, and other objects into modern decor.  

Watch the segment here:

Fourth of July Entertaining on the TODAY Show

I was on The TODAY Show this morning showing some last minute ideas for Fourth of July entertaining!

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Mix and match red, white and blue plates and flatware to give your table a patriotic feel! Don't worry if you don't have the exact number of every color. Combining patterns will keep things fun and festive!

I used brown paper lunch sacks to make place cards for the guests. It's a simple thing you can do to make your friends and family feel extra special.

Not sure what to serve? This red velvet berry cobbler featured on the cover of July's Southern Living would be delicious!

 If you don't have red, white or blue place settings already on hand, don't fret! Take to the outdoors to find some summer inspiration.

I used some ferns from my backyard, a butcher block from my kitchen and a few different sized glasses to make a great centerpiece!

Use a metallic marker to write your guest's names on leaves for quick and simple place cards!

Next up, serve your guests a refreshing drink to beat the July heat. Place popsicles in wine glasses and top them with a sparkling white wine. Prosecco is my favorite!

I also just had to share my shoes! I couldn't have picked a more fun pair for the Fourth! 

I had so much fun sharing my tips today! I hope you all have a wonderful Fourth of July!

TODAY Show: Memorial Day Entertaining

Good Morning!  TGIF!  Are you excited about the long weekend?  If you have plans for entertaining this Memorial Weekend, I hope you had a chance to catch me this morning when I shared my tips with Savannah Guthrie on TODAY.

Watch the full video here!

Keep it clean and put a small basket of Wheat Germ or Moss in a basket to catch the drippings from your drink dispenser.  We added flags to give it a patriotic look.  The Drink Dispenser is from Sur la Table and the Glass Dryer Rack is from Farm Housewares.

Invest in serving pieces that can go from the kitchen to the table.  I love the paddle from Chef Tim Love's collection for Sur la Table.  The rubs are amazing too!

Set the table using your favorite red, white and blue pieces.  I love John Robshaw's block print linens and this blue and white pattern took on a patriotic feel when we added a red plate.

The centerpieces were made by my talented and crafty friend Katherine.  She had them at her home and I asked her to loan them to me for the segment.  Aren't they brilliant!  They are simply old glass soda bottles and jam jars that she painted white. She had yellow flowers in them but I used red gerbera daisies to keep with our red, white and blue theme.

Set up a popcorn bar for your guests.  It is a fun treat for adults and kids alike!  Simply stack brown paper sacks full of plain popcorn and let your guests add condiments.  We had red and blue M&Ms, parmesan, bacon bits, various salts and pepper, and cranberries.  The three-tiered basket if from Southern Living's collection for Ballard Design and it can be used tiered or as separate baskets. Brilliant! I stamped the brown paper sacks to give them a bit of style and I labeled the condiments with ribbons and signs made by The Left Handed Calligrapher.

Add mood lighting in style with BHLDN's three blue and white lanterns.  I love the way they mix patterns!

Keep the kids entertained with a paper tablecloth and a centerpiece made with Crayola Colored Sand and red, white and blue crayons.  So easy!

Don't forget the music! I didn't get to the Rukus in the segment but I am crazy about it!  It is solar powered and you can connect your music to it by bluetooth or USB.  I think everyone needs one for summer!

Speaking of music, I snagged a picture with artist, Pitbull, before he performed his new song off of the Men in Black III soundtrack. 

New York looks wonderfully patriotic decked out with American flags to celebrate our veterans.

I hope you all have a wonderful Memorial Day!

On the Today Show with Kathie Lee and Hoda

Hi Everyone!

Yesterday I was in the Big Apple and popped by The Today Show with Kathie Lee and Hoda to share  "8 Tips for a 'Cent'sible Wedding." I had great time putting the tips together from all of the wonderful suggestions in the Southern Living Wedding Planner and Keepsake: What To Do Before Saying "I Do".

Watch Kim on Kathie Lee and Hoda
{Michael Kors pink dress / Christian Louboutin pumps}

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Here are some of the tips we shared:

Use a picture frame painted with chalkboard paint to display your wedding menu.

Have family members contribute their favorite family pie recipes.

Display them on heirloom cake stands for an added personal touch.

Don't let a pair of stilettos ruin a good party. Provide your guests with flip flops so they can continue to dance the night away.

Those ladies were such a blast. Click here to watch the full video and see all of our tips!

Are you finished with your Holiday Shopping?

Now it is time to wrap!  Check out my tips for fun and easy gift wrap ideas on the Today Show!

Stocking Stuffers on Today Show!

Stuffing the stockings is my absolute favorite thing to do at Christmas.  I loved presenting Today's Stocking Selections under $20.  What are you stuffing your family stockings with?

5 Reasons to use your good dishes:

-They can bring a little smile everyday!  Add little luxuries into your every day life and treat yourself!  Find joy in the simple things like setting a beautiful table, whether it is for two or twenty!

-Although I am a big advocate of using the good things everyday, there is no better time to start the habit than the holidays.  Check out my Thanksgiving Tablescape on The Today Show and see how I incorporated Blue and China into a Harvest Table.  Using your best china, crystal and silver will make your guests feel even more special.

-These beautiful things were meant to be used.  Don't you think the designers and artists behind the hand-painted china would be sad if they knew it wasn't really being used?

-Coffee tastes better out of a beautiful porcelain cup than an old souvenir mug.

-The number one reason people give me for not using their fine china is that they fear it will chip or break.  I have squashed that excuse by telling them about Replacements, Ltd.  They have a warehouse the size of seven football fields that houses replacements pieces for over 350,000 patterns!  So, you don't need to worry!  If something breaks, Replacements, Ltd. can send find you a new one!

Today Show Tailgate Recipes

Did you catch me on The Today Show this morning?  I had a great time with Hoda, Kathie Lee and, our surprise football legend, Frank Gifford!  It was a blast!

Click here for the recipes we shared on the show.

Click here for details on the tailgating fashions.

Click here for a link to the Astroturf invitations.

 Happy Tailgating everyone!