Looking for elegant, yet affordable Thanksgiving table ideas? Our debi lilly design™ Illusion Vases can be used in so many different ways, here are my three favorites for the season, and all of the items can be found right in Safeway’s Floral Department. 

1) The Chestnut: Fill the small debi lilly design Illusion Vase with a small debi lilly design Spiced Pumpkin Candle and two handfuls of chestnuts (perfect for the kids to help), or any favorite fall hued nut. Wrap twine around the vase two to three times, and tie a knot to secure the twine.

2) Chic Roses: Wrap the debi lilly design Orange Double-Faced Satin Ribbon along the base of the medium debi lilly design Illusion Vase, secure the ribbon with a glue stick (easy and fun for the kids to help with!). Next, wrap twine over the top of the Satin Ribbon, and knot to secure. Grab a debi lilly design Flower Bouquet right from the Floral Department, cut the stems, and drop the bouquet in the vase.

3) Stack Pumpkins: Inside a large debi lilly design Illusion Vase, stack mini pumpkins one on top of the other, to the desired height. I love mixing solid stacks of orange pumpkins, or solid stacks of mini white pumpkins, for a colorful, harvest themed centerpiece. You can easily choose one of these designs, or combine them together as shown here, for a beautiful, long lasting centerpiece on your tables, mantles, kitchen islands and more.

Happy holidays!

Fall is here and it’s time for fall foliage, bright oranges, reds and golds. With that, comes Halloween and Safeway has everything you need to make your home festive for the season. From all shapes and sizes of pumpkins, gourds, Indian corn and other fall decorative items, you can make your home as colorful as the fall hues outdoors.

If you want to have some fun with flowers and pumpkins, use one as a vase for fall flowers – the perfect fall centerpiece. Here’s how:

• Find a pumpkin that sits flat on your surface.
• Cut the top off and clean out all the soft insides of the pumpkin including the seeds.
• Cut a square of floral foam and place inside the pumpkin. Fill with water.
• Take the flowers you chose (beautiful fall bouquets are available at your local Safeway store) and cut the stems and insert into the foam. Fall leaves can be placed as a collar around the pumpkin.
• Enjoy! (Don’t forget to add water daily.)

If you don’t feel like scraping out a pumpkin, try using filling a clear vase with baby pumpkins and gourds, add simply add water and flowers. A quick and easy way to bring autumn into your home!

What better way to greet fall than with the aroma of spiced pumpkin wafting through the house...

The new debi lilly design collection of spiced pumpkin candles smell delicious and look gorgeous perched atop our exclusive new candle vases. 

Fill a candle vase with acorns and cranberries, textural dried nuts, beans or mini gourds and voilà - you have a fast and easy autumn centerpiece for your tabletop!

The versatile candle vases give you endless options for creating an easy, unique look.
- Debi

Find the debi lilly design collection in the floral department. Visit www.safeway.com/debililly for more inspiration.

With school back in session, it's no doubt that you are back to hectic schedule and preparation for the year. To start things off on the right foot, set the stage with some great florals. Whether it’s for your children’s' teachers, or even your own desk at work, here are a few tips to makeover your workspace with plants. Try picking out several small plants, both blooming and foliage, and place into a pot or basket. You can fill the top of the soil with moss or decorative stones and have an instant garden for your desk.

Plants can actually lift your sprits! They emit oxygen and remove formaldehyde and other toxins from the air.

Some long-lasting and good choices of working plants are

• Dracaena  Marginata
• Spathiphyllum
• Sansevieria
• Hedra Ivy
• Golden Pothos

Do you have flowers on your desk? If so, what are your flowers of choice?

Have I mentioned how much I love our exclusive vase collections? Let me count the ways…

Whether you want to fill a vase up with fresh flowers, or design a themed seasonal centerpiece, these vases come in every size for all of your elegant entertaining needs.

The Artisan Bud Vases are my go to for mixing in layers of petite floral arrangements on your tables. A single bunch of cut flowers goes a long way in a collection of these vases, and really adds an interesting, stylist touch to your design.

For a more modern look, I love the Cube Collection vases. In two sizes, these vases help create low-profile centerpieces – perfect for arranging in a linear row down the length of your table for dinner parties.

The gorgeous Illusion Collection vases are high quality, hand-blown glass vases with a beautiful bubble in the base to create the illusion of light reflection. Filled with cut flowers, fresh fruit or a pillar candle, they are perfect on their own or combined in a trio of sizes for a more statement design.

A favorite party planning trick: take a modern approach to serving tasty treats, by placing cookies in a trio of Illusion Vases. This creates a fun, edible centerpiece for all to enjoy.

- Debi

Find the debi lilly design™ collection in the floral department. Visit www.safeway.com/debililly for more inspiration.

An orchid is a unique plant. There are over 25,000 species that can grow almost everywhere, with the exception Antarctica. Orchids grow on trees, rocks, and underground, most orchids grow in tropical forests and mountain ranges. These are the plants that do best as houseplants.

Orchids are easy to care for and the blooms can last for weeks. Place the orchid near a window with indirect sunlight. Provide food and water to the orchid to promote healthy growth. Water the plant as the orchid mix dries. Do not over water. Orchids like it on the dry side.

Orchids make an awesome gift! I often pick out an orchid from one of our Safeway stores whenever I need a gift. I give orchids to the teachers at school, the nurse in my Doctor’s office and my husband’s secretary for Admin Day. But, I have to share who I buy for the most, ME! I love to treat myself to a stunning orchid to keep on my fireplace; it gives me weeks of pleasure.

So the next time you are shopping at your Safeway store take a stroll thru Floral and check out the orchids. I know you’ll love them too!

Summer is finally here – which means one thing: creating an outdoor living space. This the perfect time for entertaining outdoors, and I love a sunset lit evening with my family in our cozy urban garden.

I am so excited about the newest additions to the debi lilly design™ collection - they are oh so stylish, affordable and will effortlessly and instantly add ambiance to your backyard space.

First, is my favorite Nantucket Lantern Collection. These are perfect for a candlelit vignette on your patio. Fill lanterns a pillar candle, and surround it with clementines, limes, any favorite citrus or firm fruit works perfectly. The warmth of the candle heats the fruit and gives off a fresh citrus scent.

Tree branches and overhead garden trellis is another great detail to enhance outdoors.  Here I hung patio candles from branches around the perimeter of the patio. They glow so beautifully once dusk sets in.

The exclusive St. Tropez inspired metal lanterns come in bright, vivid hues, perfect for hanging overhead, or setting ontop tabletops. Fill them with a votive candle one day, and the next, pick fresh flowers from your backyard, turning them into a clever vase.

Similarly, the St. Tropez inspired bright metal candleholders fit votives or petite floral bouquets. Hang from branches, or set on a tablescape or place setting, and voila – summer has arrived!

Find the debi lilly design™ collection in the floral department.

With the weather warming up, now is a perfect time to celebrate the outdoors creating bright tablescapes. With the debi lilly design™ summer collection in stores now and my favorite stylist tips below, we have everything you need for this season’s entertaining and décor.

  1. One of my favorites is to use a collection of debi lilly design™ Illusion Vases in varying heights down the table. Here, I used them to display on-trend and eco-friendly succulents. I love showcasing succulents because they are striking and can withstand the heat. Place them on top of mossy filler inside a collection of the Illusion Vases for a long-lasting centerpiece.

2. Wrapping paper runner is a great, budget friendly way to add color to your design. Dress up your patio table by placing wrapping paper across each place setting in a bright color that will accent your decor. This way, you can avoid purchasing new, expensive linens while adding a bright pop of color, texture and detail to the table.

3. Another creative way to tie your décor into the summer theme is to fill a set of small lanterns or candleholders with petite floral arrangements. There are so many ways to repurpose décor in new and exciting ways. For this design, I filled the St. Tropez candleholders with the new debi lilly design™ Sensational Spray Roses. For your next event, fill them with votive candles for a fresh look. Your table will have thoughtful layers that will add interest and detail to the overall design.

By incorporating on-trend colors, florals and collections of repurposed tabletop décor pieces, you have the key to designing an elegant and delightful party. Find the debi lilly design™ collection in the floral department.

Mothers are what make the world go round. That’s why we’re celebrating her on Sunday, May 13^th. And what better way to show your enduring love and appreciation for the nurturing mothers in our lives, than to celebrate her with an inspired Tea Party.

I’m spilling all of my stylist tips and tricks so you can recreate this look in 5 simple steps.

1. Take a cue from the color of the year, “Tangerine Tango,” by setting your table in a color palette of tangerine, pink and green to welcome your guests.

2. A DIY ribbon runner is a great, budget friendly way to add color to your design. On top of your table or classic tablecloth, run several rows of ribbon in a few colors down the length of your table. Here I used debi lilly design™ satin ribbon in Pink, Kiwi and Orange.

3. Place collections of Illusion Vases and the tea set you have at home on your table and layer in florals and candles in spring hues that coordinate with the theme.

4. Inside the teacups, place petite floral arrangements of spray roses. There are so many ways to incorporate your treasures from home in new and exciting ways.

5. Lastly, make each guest feel special with a pretty little favor to enjoy long after the party has ended. Our new collections of Savoy Candles are perfectly packaged in a gift-box and tied with a bow that will sit perfectly on each place-setting for both a grab-and-go gift, and that elegant finished touch at the table.

Tell us, who inspires you this Mother’s Day?

- Debi

Find more inspired looks using our exclusive collection of debi lilly design™ floral arrangements, bouquets, contemporary scented candles, home décor and other gift items, in the Floral department.

Spring is here! I just love that when you walk through our Floral Department you get to see all of the spring flowers: daffodils, hyacinths, tulips, peonies, lilies… the list goes on! Now is the perfect time to beautify the inside and outside of your home with the beautiful blooms of spring. Did you know that our Floral Department has all your indoor and outdoor blooming plant needs? Along with our selection of indoor plants, we also offer all types of outdoor plants - color bowls, hanging baskets, annuals, perennials, fresh herbs & vegetable plants (depending on your area) - all perfect for your patio, garden or walkway. Want to grow your own? Safeway Floral Departments also offer seed packets: vegetable seeds, flower seeds, and organic seeds. To make sure your plants are given the best care, we also offer premium and organic potting soils, outdoor mulches, organic plant food and plant food spikes, and leaf shine. All of these items can enhance the life of your garden. Be sure to stop by the Safeway Floral Department and enjoy the flowers of spring!

There are so many wonderful reasons to love spring. Fresh air, longer days and my favorite, the enchantment of gorgeous spring blooms.

We are excited to share the newest additions to our line of beautiful florals, including Orchids potted in the small Illusion Vase for a more contemporary twist. Orchids are my favorite at-home bloom, go-to hostess gift, and more because they are striking, delicate looking, classic flowers and best of all, very long lasting with very little care.

For a lush, feminine look, the Chic Rose Bouquet can be placed in a tall “corseted” Illusion Vase for a glamorous way to display your bouquet.

Another look that I love, that is striking yet affordable, is the floating reflexed rose. Simply cut off the stem and peel back the petals of a single rose and float it in the Illusion Vase filled with water.

The debi lilly design™ Illusion Vases are perfect for displaying your favorite blooms and décor, not just this spring, but all year long. Use debi lilly design™ satin ribbon for the finishing touch, or ask your Safeway florist to create the looks for you.

What are your favorite flowers for at-home arrangements this spring?

- Debi

Find more inspired looks using our exclusive collection of debi lilly design™ floral arrangements, bouquets, contemporary scented candles, home décor and other gift items, in the Floral department.

Spring is here!!  And with that comes my favorite holiday of the year, Easter!! Easter is two weeks earlier this year, April 8^th, so now is the time to enjoy all of the really fun spring/Easter items that you can only see at this time of year.  I would love to know your favorite part of Easter. Is it the spring bulb flowers, eating the chocolate bunnies, or the peeps? For me, I love all of the spring flowers that come in all of those beautiful colors ... blue, lime green, pink, lavender, and yellow. Your Safeway Floral Department also has pretty cute Easter home décor that will go perfect with your Easter celebration. For statuary, we have bunnies and chicks! Betty & Benjamin Bunny are these mischievous resin brother & sister bunnies that just can’t wait to enjoy the sunshine of spring. 

The Chelsea chicks are these adorable little resin chicks that look in very cute in there trendy knit sweater!! 

With all of these Easter decorations to choose from, let me know which decorations you bring home to add to your home decor. Happy Easter! 

March 20^th marked the official first day of spring… and boy, oh boy, I have spring fever.

Want to bring spring into your home with the freshest colors of the season?  Well, look no further. Light, bright, tablescape inspiration is in order.  Winter has passed – and spring is joyful.

Here are some designer tips and tricks to recreate this look in your home –

1. Limit your color palette to three seasonal colors. For this tablescape design, I incorporated seasonal florals in light pink with glass and ivory containers and added a pop of green in the details.

2. One of my favorite design tricks is to repurpose elements in your home, pulled right out of the kitchen pantry. For this spring design, I combined new items in my collection, like the debi lilly design™ Waterlilly Candleholder with the original Illusion Collection glass vases. But this time, instead of creating a colorful floral arrangement, I filled the vase with moss and potted ivy, finished with a band of raffia.

3. Another way to instantly add color to your table is to add in the lovely layered details. I like to run festive wrapping paper under each place setting. This fun pattern brings in texture, color and detail to set the mood, no matter what the occasion this spring.

Your guests will instantly feel the energy this season exudes and you won’t believe how simple it is to pull together this inspired look.

- Debi

Find our debililly design™ collection of floral arrangements, bouquets, contemporary scented candles, home décor and other gift items in the Floral department.

Tomorrow, of course, is the most “lovely” day of the year. In case you haven’t found a gift for your loved ones yet, look no further than Safeway. Now you can find gorgeous giftable candles, rose arrangements and so much more right in the floral department. Check out our previous blog for details.

My favorite sweet idea to get the whole family to focus on love is as simple as setting up a Valentine Candy Bar at your kitchen or dining table. This is easy as 1, 2, 3.

1. Place several Illusion vases in varying heights on your table and fill alternating vases with pink and red candies (in your family’s favorite varieties of course – we love Cherry Gum Drops and Cinnamon Gumballs and the funny, updated “text me, LOL” Conversation Hearts in our house).

2. Always adding in layers of detail, tie looped pink ribbons to the vases for a pop of color, and votive candles around to add interest to the design.

3. Fill the large center vase with love notes or “love coupons” on colored paper for your family to grab, read, and enjoy.

This activity is fun to set up with your kids, gathered together around the table spending quality time, or as a surprise when everyone gets home from school. Not only does it add seasonal, themed, loving décor, but it also brings the family together to enjoy the sweet treats, love notes and special time together.

What other Valentine activities do you plan to share with your family?

- Debi

Find our debi lilly design™ collection of floral arrangements, bouquets, contemporary scented candles, home décor and other gift items in the Floral department.

Well it is almost here...Valentine’s Day! Unlike other holidays, Valentine’s Day is celebrated on the same day all over the world. Roses are the most gifted item on this day, but you don’t have to give roses, you can choose any flower which suits your needs best. I personally love tulips! Tulips come in a variety of colors and they look good with any other flower. Tulips are very fascinating to me because they will continue to grow right out of the vase. They will grow at least an inch or more, it’s really fun to watch! But do you notice that sometimes your tulips seem to droop after being in the vase for a while? Well here is a simple little tip that you can do to help your tulips stand up just a little bit straighter in the vase. Using a small paring knife, simply make a small cut in the stem just below the head of the tulip. Make sure to not cut all the way thru the stem, only make a small incision with the knife. Do this to all your tulips, and they will then stay straight in the vase. As you are reaching for roses on Valentine’s Day, don’t forget the Tulips! And if you are not sure if your sweetheart will prefer tulips over roses, have our floral designer mix the two together for a spectacular Valentine bouquet.

Be sure to stop by the Safeway Floral Department this Valentine’s Day and pick up some tulips to take to your sweetheart!

Take a sneak peek at our new Valentine’s gifts – from our in-store designed fresh floral arrangements, to the new debi lilly design™ Savoy Candle Collection, you will find the perfect gift that speaks right to your loved one’s heart.

The Savoy Candle Collection comes in five lovely scents including “Honeysuckle”, which has notes of Tangerine, Mango and hints of Dewey Lotus and Hyacinth. In a pretty bow tied gift box, these candles come in a single glass poured candle or a set of 4 glass votives. They will surely warm up any romantic evening.

I am jumping up and down for our new hand-tied rose bouquets. These beauties are already perfectly designed for you - all you need to do is give the flower stems a fresh cut and place into a vase filled with water. It’s that easy! I recommend pairing two bouquets with the large Illusion Vase for a full, elegant look. I love to add a corset ribbon accent, or a single looped bow for that added touch of detail. Just ask any of the florists at your local store to help you in putting the look together.

What do you have dreamed up for your romance-filled, lovely Valentine’s Day?  How do you plan to spend Tuesday, February 14th in celebration?

- Debi

Find our debi lilly design™ collection of floral arrangements, bouquets, contemporary scented candles, home décor and other gift items in the floral department.

We are right in the middle of all the hustle and bustle of Christmas time. There is shopping, wrapping, decorating, cooking, attending parties, and hosting parties. It feels like time is spinning pretty fast and before you know it, we’ll be singing “Auld Lang Syne” and thinking about New Year’s resolutions. If one of your resolutions is to be more ‘green’, consider foliage plants. Our Floral Department has a vast assortment of foliage; different sizes, types, and textures - the best ‘green’ for your home right now. Did you know that certain foliage plants have been proven to remove toxins from the air? Foliage plants are also very effective in removing indoor air pollutants. Among the many foliage plants that benefit your health for inside your home are types like Pothos, Palm, Ferns, Bromeliads and of course, Aloe Vera. Many varieties are adaptable to growing conditions, indoor or outdoor. During the hustle and bustle of the holidays, branch out and reach for a foliage plant. Start your green resolutions early!

I love this flickering candle, autumnal design for tabletop or mantle top in your home.

Materials:

3 Debi Lilly Design Illusion Vases in small, medium, large

3 Debi Lilly Design Pumpkin Spice Candles in 3x3 size

Twine

Fall Leaves

1 bag dried Kidney Beans

1 bag raw Almonds

1 bag unshelled Almonds

Place a layer of Kidney beans inside the vases and top with layers of nuts.

I like to have just two layers inside the small vase and three layers in the medium and large vases. 

Wrap candles with twine for texture and detail, and insert fall leaf for a splash of color and interest.

Set candles inside the vases, making sure they sit flat so the flame burns evenly.

Arrange the trio of vases. Light candles and enjoy.

Find all debi lilly design™ at your local store.

Find more great tips on our Holiday Microsite.

-Debi

I love to create fun and festive Halloween décor that the kids can jump in and design together with me, for some good old-fashioned family fun around the table.

My favorite design for this spooky season is so easy to put together using just five products found right inside Safeway's grocery aisles, and one item from last year’s costume…

3 Debi Lilly Design Illusion Vases in small, medium, large

1 Debi Lilly Design Pumpkin Spice Pillar Candle in 3x3 size

1 bolt of Debi Lilly Design Orange Satin Ribbon

Halloween Jelly Beans and Candy Corn

Halloween mask (I love to use a "cat eye" mask)

To create a "haunted" centerpiece, simply fill jelly beans to the top of one vase, candy corn in the second vase and tie a bow or single-looped knot around at varying heights.

For the third vase, drop in the candle and slip the Halloween mask over the top. Light the candle, and voila, instant centerpiece!

-Debi

debi lilly design™ can be found exclusively at your local store. Look for her designs in our floral department and future guest posts on our blog.

For years I have been described as a ribbon-a-holic. I was once told by Oprah Winfrey on her show that I “wrap gifts so beautifully, no one even wants to undo the ribbon and actually OPEN them.”

There are many more clever and fresh ways to use ribbon than we realize. You would be amazed by how simply adding a lovely ribbon instantly makes everything more special.

A simple but great party planner secret tip for your table this fall is to tie a knot with ribbon for a thoughtful detail on your candles and votives. Or you can wrap the ribbon around as a band, and secure it with double-sided tape.

For something a little more creative, you can "stripe" by using multiple bands of ribbon and decorative tack to secure the ends, making an instant design statement.

Lastly, to add a bit more drama to your décor, another trick is to lay ribbons, in two or more colors, flat on your table in a weave. A few length-wide, a few width-wide, letting the ribbons fall to the same length as your tablecloth.  I like to keep the spacing varied, so the "plaid" is interesting and more artistic than a grid-like design.

Plus, it is fast and easy to change the ribbon color throughout the upcoming seasons… orange for fall, red for holiday, gold for New Year.

What are some great ideas you’ve had with ribbon? We’d love to see your design tips and pictures.

-Debi

debi lilly design™ can be found exclusively at your local store. Look for her designs in our floral department and future guest posts on our blog.

We are enjoying the lazy days of summer right now, slowing down and relaxing by the pool, maybe doing a little gardening, walking the dog, and doing anything we can outside. But, there are still birthdays, baby showers, weddings, and all kinds of occasions still to celebrate. Come inside to the Floral department. We can help you! We have the right selection of products for you, from mixed bouquets, blooming plants and foliage, chocolates, candles, and orchids. Don’t forget about roses! You won’t find these high quality roses anywhere else. Be sure to check out the many different rose arrangements available. My favorite rose arrangement is one of the new Debi Lilly designs called “The Allure”. This design is perfect as a table centerpiece, on the bedside table, on the coffee table, or even the office desk. It is an updated classic, contemporary style that is suitable to give to any woman or man. When the time comes to leave the hot blazing sunshine to shop for an occasion gift, remember to consider one of our many beautiful rose arrangements. 

Father’s Day is here! This year, I wanted to learn more about how others around the globe celebrate Father’s Day. In some countries, Father’s day honors the influence of fathers in society who were Kings, Saints, Patriarchs, and Godfathers. The question is, how do you celebrate to honor your Father? Gift giving, barbequing, golfing, fishing, family picnics, and taking portraits - well the list could go on.  For gift giving, our Floral Department has everything you need for Dad. We offer potting soils, gardening tools and outdoor containers for those dads who love to garden. We offer gift baskets loaded with goodies perfect for him.  Don’t forget that dads love orchids, and even blooming plants. Bromeliads are the perfect blooming plant to give to dad and are really easy to take care of. Bromeliads are hardy, easy to water and drought tolerant. If you are out of ideas, we also offer gift cards. Let me know the ways you celebrate your Dad!

Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 8th and its time to celebrate one of the most cherished people in our lives – our moms. Safeway is the place to shop for the perfect gift. There are so many choices in the Floral department including bunches of beautiful roses, mixed bouquets, arrangements, balloons, boxed chocolates, flowering plants, orchids, home décor items and more.

Safeway introduced entertaining and design expert, Debi Lilly, earlier this year and now new Debi Lilly items have arrived. Effortless, inspired, imagined describe the new line of Debi Lilly products available only at Safeway. There are fragrant candles in the most popular sizes from votives to pillars in colors that compliment the home. Select from Snap, Refresh, Dusk, Twilight, Beeswax or unscented. These candles look positively inspired when placed inside Debi’s Illusion Glass or Cube Glass Collections, which are available in several sizes. The Illusion Vase Collection features four sizes of cylinder vases with an illusion bubble in the base. Not only are the Illusion vases great for candles but also look wonderful with a beautiful mixed bouquet designed by Debi that makes the perfect Mom’s Day gift. Safeway also has several other arrangement designs by Debi Lilly such as The Allure, The Modern, and The Contemporary Rose that all feature beautiful roses.

You are sure to find the perfect Mom’s Day gift in Safeway’s Floral department plus maybe a little something for yourself too. Happy Shopping!

Finally, Spring is here! You can tell that Spring has arrived when you walk through our Floral Department and see all the Daffodils, Tulips, and Hydrangeas. Spring colored flowers everywhere! Spring is also the time of year to start your gardening for the inside of your house as well as the outside, including your patio if you haven’t started already. 

Do you know that our Floral Department has many items for your indoor and outdoor gardening needs? We offer beautiful blooms that are ready for your patio: color bowls, hanging baskets, and table-top planters - depending upon the size of your area. We also have seed packets:  Vegetable seeds, Flower seeds, and Organic seeds too. In addition to all these beautiful spring flowers and seeds for your home or garden, we also have all the pots, potting soils, and tools that you need. We offer premium and organic potting soils, outdoor mulches, organic plant food and plant food spikes, insecticidal soap (the organic way to rid your garden of pests), and leaf shine. 

Finally, you will need a trusted name in tools to use to make your gardening experience more enjoyable. That’s why we offer Fiskars, including various Pruners, Trowels and Cultivators.  Once you are done getting your home ready for Spring, check back here at the Floral Blog for everything Easter!  

Valentine’s Day is almost here and its time to decide on the perfect gift. Safeway’s Floral department is always great for one stop shopping. The floral department is decked out in red, pink and purple and there are so many gifts to choose from like roses, chocolates, plush, balloons, rose arrangements and blooming plants just to name a few. Perfect for the holiday Safeway is offering the potted “Love Story Lily”. This lily is a beautiful deep magenta color with a sweet fragrance sure to delight your special someone.

But the biggest news is that Safeway has Debi Lilly designs (you might of seen her on The Oprah Show) available for Valentine’s Day. Debi Lilly’s “The Modern” design is a gorgeous vase of twelve roses with a ribbon band and bear grass loops. “The Allure” design is also a favorite with twelve roses in an oval shaped vase with beautiful foliage tucked inside. You can’t go wrong with either of the Debi Lilly designs, “The Modern” or “The Allure”, and each can be made with your sweetie’s favorite color of roses.
 
Whether it’s a spectacular Debi Lilly design, orchids, candles, “Love Story Lily”, roses or mixed bouquet, Safeway has all your Valentine gifting needs covered and you’re sure to find your perfect Valentine’s Day gift.

The countdown is on, and we are close to celebrating winter holidays. It is a time filled with excitement in the shopping rush to buy the perfect gifts, mail out the cards and letters, double check the dinner menu and find out who’s coming to visit. There’s always a hustle and bustle in neighborhoods across the nation, anticipating the arrival of St. Nick. But we can’t forget about those who have birthdays this time of year, or those who are sick or alone.  If you are out of gift ideas for any occasion, choose flowers! It doesn’t take the largest centerpiece or arrangement to brighten someone’s day, just a few flowers can do the trick. My mom was feeling under the weather recently and I brought her a bunch of Tulips. Yes, we have tulips this time of year! This amazing gift of fresh flowers is full of cheer and happiness. Happy Holidays!

I remind myself often that our Floral department is truly a one-stop shopping experience for: Flowers (of course!), Vases, Giftables (Orchids, Baskets, Plush, and Chocolates) but also Home Décor. Right now in the midst of fall, there are many items in the Floral department to choose from. There are pumpkins, candles, mushrooms, roosters, fairies, and witches!! Harvest wreaths and mantelpieces, wheat stacks and topiaries. One of my favorite décor items are the Bobblehead Halloween cupcakes! It is worth an extra stroll through the department to see all the fall goodies that can really bring Harvest to your own home. Celebrate the ambers, reds, oranges, greens and brown colors that are so warm and inviting. Bringing home some of these fall décor items will truly bring that same feeling of warmth into my house, and yours!

Did you know that National Flower Week in the United States is always the 3^rd week of September? This is one of those historical facts that I never knew. This year National Flower Week falls from September 21 through 25.

I work with flowers every day and I do forget to appreciate them. That old cliché “Stop and smell the roses” rings true even today. It may feel awkward to stop what we’re doing for just a minute to truly appreciate - flowers - but what a difference that minute will make! Maybe it’s the color or the scent, the texture, anything about a flower that will brighten the day and turn the stress away for just that minute. So this would be the week to really take the time to celebrate flowers and what they mean to you. And I’d like to hear from you - let me know what is your favorite flower and why!

For more information about National Flowers, check out this link:

http://www.ehow.com/list_5906711_list-national-flowers.html?ref=Track2&utm_source=ask