By Kassie Pounds | Instagram @victorycottage

I love to use home decor items that can be multi-purpose, because using something over and over again the same way can tend to get mundane. I like to change things up a lot in my house, and using an item more than one way can make it feel fresh again, and also cuts down on unnecessary spending. I got this metal compote bowl recently, and wanted to share a few different ways you could incorporate this into your home.

1. Add greenery or flowers, using floral foam.
2. Layer moss (from the craft store) in the bottom of the bowl, and place a candle in the middle.
3. Use the compote as a candy dish if you have some prettily wrapped candy. (Watch for the online story for the photo of this adorable display at liveittexas.com)
4. Add some tissue paper to the bowl and use it for food display at a party.

To read more, pick up a copy of the March/April issue of LiveIt Magazine. To subscribe call 940-872-5922.

By Norman Winter, Horticulturist, Author, and Speaker | Facebook @NormanWinterTheGarden Guy

Viva Magenta is the hot new color for 2023 according to Pantone, the gurus of all things color. Specifically, it is Pantone 18-1750. In the garden world, flowers will never be able to be bred so specific as to reach a Pantone number. We as gardeners, horticulturists, landscape and container designers, however, want to participate. We love this time of the year, thus Viva Magenta becomes somewhat subjective. That being said I first nominate Superbena Royale Plum Wine verbena.

Before I decided to go out on this limb so to speak, I asked Google, is plum a color of magenta? They said absolutely that it was considered the darkest shade of magenta. Bob Villa has a post on Viva Magenta too. He shows paint chip cards showing the various shades. There at the bottom of both, were colors that matched Superbena Royale Plum Wine to perfection. Of course, Bob doesn’t say that, he just shows that on the card.

To read more, pick up a copy of the March/April issue of LiveIt Magazine. To subscribe call 940-872-5922.

By Kassie Pounds | Instagram @victorycottage

After the holiday season, sometimes it’s nice to put everything away and start fresh. For me, the Christmas decor can start to feel cluttered when it’s out too long, but where do you go from there? No one wants a house that feels stark and cold in the winter months. The key to avoiding that, is to make your house cozy:

1.Keep soft or furry throws draped on chairs and sofas, or in baskets so they can easily be grabbed for warmth.

To read more, pick up a copy of the January/February issue of LiveItMagazine. To subscribe call 940-872-5922.