As most of you know, every month we like to enjoy one inexpensive- and sometimes free- bouquet to keep things feeling fresh around here (the idea actually stemmed from a super sweet Christmas present from the hubs a while back). And this month John actually came home with a bouquet thanks to the fact that for the first time ever, he went grocery shopping without me. We always run errands like that together, but since Clara was just two and half weeks old at the time, us girls opted to stay behind and send daddy out for food on his own. Guess what? He survived without us (the nerve). And of course it was a lovely surprise when he returned with this cheerful $4 bouquet of yellow alstroemerias along with the milk, eggs, and other staples that he ducked out for.
They look great on the console table by the front door (especially since people have been stopping by to see Ms. Clara, so we love the little pop of color that hopefully says yes-we-have-a-newborn-but-our-house-hasn’t-imploded-in-the-meantime). Even if a few other rooms aren’t nearly as neat these days…
We love alstroemerias because they’re one of the best bang-for-your-buck grocery store bouquets that we’ve found. They easily last three or even four weeks – all we do is change the water every few days and recut the stems on an angle about every eight days or so. And these yellow guys are so happy and sweet (we’ve always gone with soft pink ones in the past).
And instead of opting for a super bright vase, this time we went with a simple square glass one that we had laying around. It creates a nice balance to the glass greenhouse on the other side of the console and it really lets the yellow blooms and those fresh looking green leaves be the stars.
So that’s our bloom o’ the month breakdown. Have you guys been enjoying alstroemerias or any other cheap but oh so charming flowers these days? What’s the state of affairs in your backyard? Any free blossoms to clip and pop into a vase for a quick little dose of happy in your kitchen or living room? Tell us all about your latest floral related endeavors.
Wanna see our first grocery store bouquet from last January? Itching to check out February, March, April, May, June, July, August, and September too? How about this year’s January, February, March, April and May bouquets? Just follow the links for some pretty sweet cheap-o (and even free) bouquets.
Melody says
Every once in a while I get a bunch of Spider Mums from Sam’s club for $5. I think they’re really cool looking!
stephanie says
:) you two are terrific! i just like to get the word out there! i really appreciate your response to my comment!
Heather says
My hydrangea bushes have exploded over the last week or 2, so I’m thoroughly enjoying snipping the beautiful pink blooms for the center of my kitchen table. We have a simple square vase exactly like the one in your picture, and they look so perty!
kayla @ boygirlschnauzer says
What beautiful flowers! My mom just got me some for our new apartment, but ours are white with a bit of pink. They really do cheer up a room, and I love that you two do this every month-it’s adorable!!
Erin @ Letter Soup says
You’ve inspired me to get some fresh flowers asap. This is lovely! And I’m copying that “P” idea! Thanks!
Tara says
I love having fresh flowers around to brighten things up, thanks for the tips!
Becky@OrganizingMadeFun says
I would LOVE to have fresh flowers all around our house…but I can’t even have candles as my hubby is so allergic and now my kids are getting that way too! I keep my flower fix outside…very pretty!
miss j says
When I read “Even if a few other rooms aren’t nearly as neat these days…” I was hoping we were going to get a shot of the nursery in a shambles or some other such room in a state. Funny how we like to see your place messy, just as much as we like seeing it tidy.
YoungHouseLove says
Just picture blankets draped over the chairs in our den and living room, baby books piled next to the bed, a mound of little onesies in the laundry basket, etc. It’s actually kind of a sweet scene, maybe we’ll snap a few photos to preserve the memory!
xo,
s
Andrea P says
Oh how I love the Budget Blooms updates!
What is sticking out of the little yellow vase? Is it a homemade diffuser?
Also, I am dying to know what you think the “perfect/best” gray-blue paint color is?
Thanks & keep up the great work!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Andrea,
Here’s what’s sticking out of the yellow vase: https://www.younghouselove.com/2010/01/pick-up-sticks/
And here’s a DIY reed diffuser tutorial (since you mentioned it): https://www.younghouselove.com/2009/01/stick-em-up/
Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Lindsey says
We have a hydrangea bush and every couple of days I clip blooms so now I have them all ove my house. Blue is the main accent color in our house so it works perfectly. I’ve also had our pink knock our roses and gardenias!
sri says
love your blog! where did you get the white fruit bowl? It looks good
YoungHouseLove says
The white faux clam shell that we use as a fruit bowl came from Z Gallerie. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Kate says
Where did you get the knobs on the entryway table? I love those and am looking for something similar!
YoungHouseLove says
They’re from Anthropologie. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Karla@ {The Classy Woman} says
Hubby has brought me those type of flowers several times, they are generally an orange/peach color or pink, I don’t know if I’ve ever had the yellow ones. So bright and pretty!
We try to do the bouquet-a-month here too, and so far HAVE ddone it every month. I used to do ALL of the grocery shopping and then once when I was really sick hubby had no choice but to pick a few things up. Sometimes we would go together-but rarely.
Now, he goes on his own a lot. Even without my list he does an amazing job and the bonus is he usually comes home with flowers. Something that I don’t typically by for myself. ;)
~Karla
Hallie M. says
I LOVE the pop of yellow. One of my favorite summer time colors. Since we moved into our first house I have made it a priority to have fresh flowers. I have a beautiful white vase from West Elm that sits on our console table in the entry way and I try my best to get some cheap grocery store flowers as often as possible. I love what fresh bright flowers can do for the mood and energy of a house.
Julie B. says
Love it!! :) That whole arrangement is awesome!
JenWoodhouse.com says
I’ve always loved your entryway framing arrangement. What sizes are your frames? It looks like maybe a 16×20 in the center, flanked by a couple of 8x10s and 4x6s with 2 11x14s on the outside. Is that right?
YoungHouseLove says
Hi Jen,
All of the frames are from Ikea, so the sizes aren’t perfectly standard. The center frame measures 15×19″, flanked by two 8×10″s (as you guessed) with a 5×7″ stacked on top. And the outer frames measure 12×15″. So very good guesses overall!
-John
hi-d says
Those are beautiful…they look almost too perfect to be real. Love the bright yellow color – very cheery!
Jessica says
Our new house (as of last Monday!) has 9 rose bushes in the backyard. Nine! In red, yellow, white and pink. So we’re excited to have our choice of the pickins right at home.
Here’s a pic: http://www.flickr.com/photos/asteriahanover/4698774824/
Katie says
I’d like to know how in the world you all keep your picture frames straight?! Ours have taken on their own personality, angling themselves just-so…we’ve tried the rubber dot method but that doesn’t work out as well as I’d like…suggestions??
YoungHouseLove says
Velcro or even a loop of painter’s tape (so it doesn’t mar the wall) works like a charm!
xo,
s
Carolyn says
I love fresh flowers, but husband has quite bad allergies. I’m thinking a good alternative could be some nice succulents around the house. Maybe a couple of nice, low maintenance plants as well. It’s amazing the difference flowers and plants make to your living environment. Great stress reducers!
As for the state of our backyard..haha..you don’t want to know! I’m thinking two nice, big pots of herbs either side of our back door could look good (and practical).
Sharon Holden says
As summer has just passed here in Australia I have been lucky enough to get some wonderful blooms from my rose bushes the last few months.
I best love flowers in a simple glass bowl or hurricane vase they just keep the house so cheery! Congratulations to you both on sweet, sweet Clara – she is adorable :)
Eoling says
I love flowers photos. Such a nice combination of yellow and green. Magnificent!
Good luck in future and lets see more articles like this one.
Marianne says
Hi! How did you set up the glass greenhouse?
YoungHouseLove says
We just picked up a glass dome for $4 at a garage sale and popped a moisture loving fern in there. We don’t even have to water it!
xo,
s
Livy says
Hey guys! I was wondering what is in the frame closest to the door? Looks like a map to me..
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Livy,
That’s actually the drawing of our land that we got at closing (it’s a funny long lot with a tiny rectangle in the middle which represents our house, and it says things like “house is old” in the notes section). We love framing things like that (they make us laugh and have meaning). Hope it helps!
xo,
s