We always have flowers at home. Modest flowers - a bunch from the market once a week. We usually spend under $10 total. Houseguests on their way made us feel like we could splash out and go a little bit crazy on flowers this past week and we did. Four different varieties spread throughout the apartment was such a treat.

We bought this bunch of organic yellow spray roses ($10) and cut them off super short to fit densely in this favorite vase (a gift from our mother-in-law). It was the centerpiece for meals with our willow dishes (which Sarah also likes) and new colorful glasses.

The biggest splurge were two (!) bunches of peonies ($26). Absolutely worth every penny. The big bunch of blooms filled the oversize vase and the intense color and lovely scent lit up the spot in our living area unbelievably.

In the bedroom we went for a bunch of lime green Hypericum ($7) in an old spice jar on the bookshelves.

On the windowsill in the dining area we had a bunch of small yellow pom pom-ish flowers - we don't know the real name ($1.50 each) in a Pernod water decanter we picked up a few years ago from the Marshall Fields Flea Market.

Now, we wouldn't spend this much on cut flowers every week, but it was a nice way to welcome guests and make our apartment extra summery and seasonal. Next time you have a good excuse, we suggest you give it a try...

Everything was from Whole Foods, except the pom poms which we picked up at the flower stand in Crate and Barrel.