Kitchen Decor

Christmas Gnomes: Dishes, Bowls, Salt & Pepper Shakers, Candy Bowls, Cookie Jars…

October 22, 2022 By Joi Sigers

Gnome Sweet Gnome

Over the past three years, I have fallen head over heels in love with gnomes. I love them, I collect them.. quite frankly, they have my undying devotion, whether they know what to do with it or not.

I honestly have no idea where this infatuation started – after all, when it comes to Christmas collections, I’ve always been ALL about snowmen, Christmas bears, and gingerbread men… somewhere along the way, gnomes just joined the party.

The snowmen don’t seem to mind, so it’s all good.

When it came time to make the image for the food blog’s Christmas Gift Guide 2022, there was very little doubt who the guest-star would be. I also thought it perfectly fitting to start the whole shebang off with a post about Christmas Gnomes in the kitchen, so I’ve rounded up a great assortment of gift ideas for the kitchen – after all, there are a LOT of other gnome collectors out there.

You may even be one, yourself! If so… like me… you’ll want as many of these as you can get your mitts on for your Christmas table.

Click through any image or link for more information and a closer view. These are absolutely gorgeous and would surely bring a lot of joy and smiles to your gnome home. All of the links below are Amazon links. ~ Joi (“Joi”)

Bico Christmas Gnomes 11 inch Dinner Plates (Set of 4)

Bico Red Gnome Candy Bowl

Bico Red Christmas Gnome Cookie Jar

Bico Christmas Gnome Salt and Pepper Shaker Set

Bico Christmas Gnomes Ceramic Spoon Rest

Holiday Gnomes Doormat

More Christmas Gnomes are on Amazon (click through any of the Amazon links above or in the Amazon graphic below). I love all of them and am crazy about the fact that most (like the doormat above) can be used all winter.

Black and White Farmhouse Salt and Pepper Shakers

May 6, 2022 By Joi Sigers

I was browsing salt and pepper shakers on Amazon earlier and, as I often do on Amazon, I found a lot more to love than just one. This Black and White Farmhouse Salt and Pepper Shaker Set (Amazon link) is one of my favorites.

These great looking shakers are made of high quality, thick glass. The lid is made of corrosion resistance stainless steel meaning they’re built, not just to looks handsome, they’re built to last.

I love that there are lots of holes in the lids. I hate shakers that pretty much give my arm a workout because there are so few holes. I’m not Popeye… heck when it comes to arm strength I’m not even Olive Oil, but that’s a whole other story.

I also love the color scheme. Black and white goes with absolutely every color and design scheme – even my colorful, whimsical kitchen with all it’s purple and red.

As if they don’t have enough going on for them, they even feature extra wide openings at the top, making filling your salt and pepper shakers easier and more convenient.

See Farmhouse Salt and Pepper Shaker Set (Amazon link) for a closer look.

These give all new meaning to the word charming.

Table Runners: Inexpensive Way to Add More Color to Your Kitchen or Dining Room

January 4, 2022 By Joi Sigers

My youngest daughter, Stephany, and I went to Kohl’s earlier… shopping for various pretties. The main thing I was looking for was a new runner for the dining room table. I didn’t see anything I really liked, so I came home and jumped on Amazon (a place I ALWAYS see things I love). Sure enough, one search for table runners (Amazon link) produced so many choices I’m still trying to decide.

I love table runners because they allow you to still see your beautiful wooden table. It’s like you’re adorning it rather than hiding it.

The Akuntana Table Runner (Amazon link) pictured here is one of the ones I’m considering. We have a lot of purples, blues, and deep reds in our kitchen and dining room, so the deep red and dark blue have caught my eye. I love that it’s High-quality Waterproof and Stain Resistant – with one husband and three grandbabies (all 4 and under!), I can’t possibly tell you how much I love this.

Other Features:

made of 100% high quality polyester with a cotton-like feel
machine washable
low iron if needed
spill-proof, wrinkle-free, no shrinking, no color run
rectangular size 14 x 90 inches long

Take a closer look at the gorgeous, vibrant colors the Akuntana Table Runner (Amazon link) comes in on Amazon.

Gorgeous Knife Set with Wooden Block from The Pioneer Woman

December 30, 2021 By Joi Sigers

I’ve probably mentioned it a hundred or two times on the food blog, but I love and collect everything Rachael Ray and have for too many years to count. A few years ago, I began collecting another favorite Food Network star, Ree Drummond, and now my Pioneer Woman collection rivals my Rachael Ray collection.

Cookbooks, magazines, dishes, pans, napkins, mopines, cutlery, spatulas, garbage bowls, EVOO bottles… you name it, if the name Rachael Ray or Pioneer Woman is on it, our kitchen has it (sometimes multiple times).

What can I say, I spend a GREAT deal of time in the kitchen and want to be surrounded by bright, colorful, whimsical, and beautiful things that make me smile. Plus, to be the best cook possible, it helps to surround yourself with the best tools possible and these are some of the best you’ll find anywhere.

I also love that many of their kitchen and cooking items come in my favorite colors: Purple, red, and turquoise.

I like to keep life as fun and as colorful as possible!

This gorgeous turquoise Rustic Pioneer Woman Cutlery Set (Amazon link) is on my radar. Most of the Pioneer Woman items I have are turquoise, so I’m absolutely thrilled these come in this wonderful color.

The Pioneer Woman Cowboy Rustic Forged 14-Piece Cutlery Knife Block Set includes a GREAT variety of knives including a chef knife, bread knife, Nakiri knife, utility knife, paring knife and steak knives.

The blades are stainless steel and have ergonomically designed handles. LOVE that! I also love that the set comes with a beautiful wood block for easy storage.

See Rustic Pioneer Woman Cutlery Set (Amazon link) for a closer look!

LOVE These Checkered Kitchen (or Laundry Room or Bathroom) Rugs

November 16, 2021 By Joi Sigers

I’ve been needing (okay, maybe wanting is closer to reality) new kitchen rugs, but can’t seem to find any I love. We like to switch up the colors and “theme” with the seasons and, truth be told, our summer-y rugs really need to go back into the linen closet for a while!

I do just about all of my shopping on Amazon (by almost I mean I still shop in grocery stores) these days, so naturally that’s where I was browsing earlier. When I came across these absolutely wonderful Buffalo Plaid Kitchen Rugs (Amazon link) and now my mind is absolutely set on them.

Things I love about these rugs:

They go with any kitchen theme. Our themes are rustic and whimsical and these rugs go perfectly with each.
Go with all colors! The black and white checks go with our primary colors red and purple.
Go with all appliance colors. Our large kitchen appliances happen to be black, so these will match perfectly. They’d also go perfectly with white or gray.
Durable-High Quality. These rugs are made of a new modified superfine polyester fiber. They’re non fade, which I adore.
Non-Slip Backing. The anti-slip rubber on the back is a concave-convex dispensing design to ensure that the carpet is anti-slip, helps it to stay in place on the floor, meaning you don’t have to worry about the rug slipping with pets, kids, or husbands stumbling around at 5:30 am looking for coffee!
Easy Care. All you have to do is sweep with a broom or vacuum regularly. They can even be put it into a washing machine when necessary.
Just in time for Holidays! While I’ve been focusing mainly on gift ideas, we all need to also focus on getting our kitchens

See Buffalo Plaid Kitchen Rugs (Amazon link) for more information. As for me, I’m now figuring out just how many I need. Seriously, y’all I am so in love with these.

Thanks for reading! ~ Joi (“Joy”)

Boo-tiful Halloween Dip Bowl Set (Love This so Much!)

October 8, 2021 By Joi Sigers

Not sure how I ever lived without this ADORABLE Halloween Dip Bowl Set (Amazon link). This time of year is so wonderful it defies description. I have always been (and will always be) completely obsessed with Christmas and Thanksgiving but, quite frankly, I’ve only comparatively recently become obsessed with Halloween.

Maybe the older we get the more we truly, truly appreciate things that are just wildly fun and come with zero expectations… things that simply want to make everyone smile.

That’s Halloween season to a tee.

There’s a certain magic when you combine kids with Halloween. Now the kids in my life are all either in their 50s (husband), 30s (daughters and sons-in-law) or toddlers (grandbabies!) and making them smile is the one thing in the world that makes me smile the most.

Okay, my cats would figure in there too but their smiles are more audible than visual.

This colorful, fun, and deliciously unique dip bowl set is available on Amazon (they have so many beautiful Halloween dishes and decorations, I’m having a hard time not buying everything!).

2-piece set
Nested set of two dipping bowls feature debossed sentiment rims, hand-painted interior stripes and exterior icon artwork
Material: Dolomite
Size: Size: small 2″ x 3 1/2″ | large 2

Please see the adorable Halloween Dip Bowl Set (Amazon link) for a closer look.

Halloween Dishtowels: Yes… My Mind IS Already on Halloween!

September 5, 2021 By Joi Sigers

How cute and colorful are these Halloween dish towels (Amazon link)??!! From everything I’ve seen (online and in stores), plaid is huge this year. Personally, I love it every year, but I’m seeing it everywhere this year – especially in black and white.

One of my biggest kitchen quirks and obsessions is dish towels. I celebrate each season with coordinating towels on the oven handle for show and in the drawer for go!

I can’t wait to add this set of three beauties to the rotation. They’re 100 percent cotton, machine washable (tumble on low in a dryer) and measure 18×28 inches.

While I plan to use them in the kitchen, they’d also be ideal for a bathroom.

See Halloween dish towels (Amazon link) for a closer look and for more information. These are just so darn cute!

Summer Kitchen Towels, for that Summer State of Mind!

April 10, 2021 By Joi Sigers

I recently told my daughters that I don’t think I’ve ever looked forward to spring and summer in my life as much as I did this past winter. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love winter and everything about it (Christmas, snow, fuzzy sweaters, hot chocolate, soup, curling up under a warm throw while watching movies with my husband…)

And yet, all January and February, all I could think about was baseball, grilled hamburgers, my flower beds, trips to the lake, strawberries, sundaes, watermelon, butterflies, bees, and feeling the warm sun on my face.

Suffice to say, I am as happy as a cat in a bed of catnip now that the weather is warmer.

As I’ve often said on the food blog, I love to decorate seasonally – changing towels, knick-knacks, and so forth with the seasons and upcoming holidays. I’ve been looking on Amazon for more summerlicious kitchen towels and…. tada!… like any shopper who puts her heart into her work, I have had success.

I’m including a few of my favorite towel finds, here, in case you are as ready as I am to embrace summer like it’s never been embraced before.

Details for the Watermelon Towel Set Above:

Polyester
Imported
Soft Material : 100% High-quality durable fibers, machine washable & tumble dry, ultra-soft so they won’t scratch your delicate cookware, plates, pots, or pans
Highly Absorbent : Absorbent enough for drying, cleaning, scrubbing or achieving any other household task. Keep absorbent even after multiple machine cycles
Includes : Brand new set of 2 stylish dish towels/tea towels 18 X 28 Inches (45cm X 75cm), long-lasting durability and performance
Kitchen Decor : Add flair to your kitchen decor with Artoid Mode colorful kitchen dish towels. Perfect for all of your daily drying and cleaning kitchen jobs
Unique Cute Design : Printed with stylish, unique and cute patterns. It is the perfect combination of seasonal decor and daily cleaning

I also love the Hello, Summer towels pictured on the right. I’ve already ordered popsicle molds to make plenty of healthy popsicles for my grandbabies (as well as the grown-up family members who love them just as much). Not only can you use organic juice to make healthier popsicles, you can add bits of fruit and even use yogurt to make creamy popsicles. I’m pretty sure I’m as excited about them as anyone.

These towels will be perfect for a popsicle-filled summer.

These colorful polyester kitchen towels, like the ones above, come in a set of two and measure 18 X 28 Inches (45cm X 75cm).

The Way to this Rachael Ray Collector’s Heart….

August 3, 2020 By Joi Sigers

One of My Cats Inspecting the New Measuring Cups

My husband went and did it again… he proved to me, for the billionth time, that I didn’t just marry a great guy, I married my hero. I wrote a post on my food blog a while back about a gorgeous set of Rachael Ray measuring cups. I wondered how in the word I didn’t already have them… given how I collect all things Rachael Ray and am in love with the colors.

Well, not only does he apparently read my food blog (awwwww), he takes hints even when they weren’t intended to be hints!

You guessed it.. I now own the gorgeous measuring cups and a ridiculously beautiful Purple Rachael Ray Moppine Towel as well.

In the pictures, here, the purple measuring cup looks more gray, but it is unmistakably a beautiful purple. One of our cats, sweet Dokkie, seems to be inspecting the colors above, doesn’t she??! When you’re a cat mom who is also a food blogger, you do not…. absolutely do NOT…. take photos of anything without help from at least one little Nosy Parker.

Some might would shoo the cat away and take professional-level pictures but not me. I simply take what I consider to be the cutest picture.

Rachael Ray Moppine Towel and Measuring Cups

As you can tell, the purple moppine towel is absolutely gorgeous – such a deep, bold shade of purple. I love the way Rachael Ray Moppine Towels (Amazon link) are made – you can put both of your hands into the hand pockets, allowing the rest of the moppine towel to cover your forearms, protecting you entirely from the hot deliciousness you’re removing from the oven. When you click through the link Rachael Ray Moppine Towels (Amazon link), you’ll see the WIDE array of colors available. I’ve had the red before as well and it’s also a beauty.

You can find the gorgeous Rachael Ray Measuring Cups on Amazon, too.

Rachael Ray Measuring Cups and Dokkie

Bamboo Pig Cutting Board…. Yes, Please!

June 2, 2020 By Joi Sigers

I have always had a total, complete, and all-consuming love for pigs. If my cats (the one animal I have an even greater affection for) allowed it, I would have one – a female I’d name Patsy Swine.

Come on, how could I not?

I often blog about pig collectibles and kitchen items on the food blog because I’ve heard from so many readers who love them almost as much as I do. I say almost because none of y’all have a name picked out for a pig you’ll never have.

This gorgeous bamboo pig cutting board is from Amazon and I am in love with it. It speaks to everything my own kitchen’s decor is about – a rustic/whimsical approach, heavy on pigs.

Here’s the thing – I have always loved pigs greatly. I even began “collecting” pigs for the kitchen over 12 years ago. Then something happened that made me fall even further in love with them and made me want to have them outside of the kitchen as well as inside of the kitchen…. this “something” that happened is a precious, lively, adorable 2 year old named Maddox and he (along with the rest of my family) makes my world go round.

Since he was about 6 months old, he has LOVED pigs and cats (I keep telling people he IS my spirit animal). While he loves all animals, there is a certain, palpable joy that comes over his face and into his voice when he sees a pig or cat (real, stuffed, drawing, figurine…). If it’s a cat, he laughs and meows. If it’s a pig, he laughs and oinks.

Why wouldn’t I want more of that in my life??!