Amazing Finds

I have been pouring over Esty and yard sales for some interesting and useful pieces. Here are some of the great things I found while looking around. The first two items were from Esty and the last was from a local yard sale. It is amazing what great items you can find at yard sales that will make great vases and accents to your home or office!

Oh How I LOVE Ikea!

As gas prices are rising and it seems like everything is costing more... it only makes sense that brides and corporate planners will try and use cheaper items to make their event magical. I am and will always be a fan of Ikea. I know some people may not agree, but they have some great items for decorating a space or venue for your special day or event. These items are normally super cheap can can sometimes be ordered so that you can get as many as you need. A lot of other home decor stores are really expensive or don't carry a ton of one item. Here are some of my favorite items to use during an event to same some money!


Great vases, wire baskets, lanterns, trays and more! There are so many things that Ikea has that are useful at weddings and events! They are cheap and are easily transitioned to be used in the home!

Pictures from www.ikea.com

Super Bowl Weekend

I am a sports fan in general and love football (I even worked for a NFL team for a year) and I L-O-V-E the Super Bowl. Not just for the game and commercials but for the parties and food as well. Being a planner and baker, I love to find easy and new recipes and ideas for Super Bowl parties. Weather you are hosting a few friends or your whole neighborhood, you can easily use these tips and tricks. You can easily but minimal effort into planning a party and still have it be great.

I found these great ideas from NewsChannel5.com from Nashville, TN By Louise Tutelian
From Ideas That Spark
(http://www.newschannel5.com/story/13965469/super-bowl-snacks-that-score-big)

Instead of the same old brew:

Hold a mini beer-tasting. Choose six beers: They can be from different countries or states, and they can range from light to dark -- whatever piques your interest. Supply guests with a menu (a sheet of paper with the name and origin of each beer) and leave space at the bottom so they can take notes.

Instead of take-out pizza:

Set up a build-your-own-pizza bar -- your crowd needs something to do during all those time-outs! Bake packages of store-bought biscuits according to directions, and then split each biscuit in half. Have an assortment of toppings ready: marinara sauce, pesto sauce, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, basil, red peppers, onion and prosciutto. Keep a roll of tinfoil next to the oven and let people heat and melt their creations whenever they're ready.

You can also bake pizza casseroles. First, line a greased casserole dish with quartered biscuits. Cover with sauce, sprinkle with toppings and cheese, then bake at 350 F until the cheese is melted. Serve with extra sauce on the side.

Instead of brownies:

Mix up the flavor with chocolate-chip and oatmeal-raisin cookie sandwiches with Nutella hazelnut-chocolate filling.

Or, make everyone happy with Super Bowl sundaes. Sometime after halftime, put out a few gallons with all the fixings -- grownups and kids alike will be glad you did. 



Love Love Love These ideas... Here are some of my own tips for decorations and games!

Have your own small gambling game and have each guest put down a dollar (or more or less) and choose squares for what they think the end score will be of the big game! Here is a link to the How-To's http://www.ehow.com/how_5664676_play-football-pool-squares.html



When I think of superbowl I think of beer... so get football  beer coozies for everyone at the party and use used beer bottles to make fun centerpieces and vases.  Have football helmets, footballs and jerseys as decoration.



You can go all out and make everything packers and/or steelers colors and have everything with a football theme or make it simple with a few small items. Whatever you choose you will have a great time! Enjoy the game everyone and drink and eats LOTS!

Pics From:

DCBeer.com

billbrady.wordpress.com



Bring the Indoors Out

I had a wedding tasting with a bride today that had the most, cute, rustic idea... to bring the indoors outside. I love the rustic theme and adore the idea of using older indoor items for an outdoor wedding. Using window panes and doors as your decor for the outdoors is such as  great idea and pretty easy to do. Looking at antique shops and old buildings that are being torn down is a great way to get some older rustic windows and doors that you wont have to do anything with. Use the windows and window paint to put up guests tables or have guests sign a large window you like as the guest book and display it in your house afterwards.
Also use other items that belong indoors such as drawers and coffee tables or anything you think of to decorate and display food or other items. The bride  found a great idea to use a drawer to serve drinks. You can also find rustic and old vases and glasses to display flowers or use to serve drinks. I also love using a dresser to serve dessert on.

pictures from:
http://jackandjillwedding.com
http://mysimpledetails.blogspot.com/
http://postcardsandpretties.blogspot.com/2010/08/friday-faves-old-doors.html
http://gordongossip.blogspot.com/
http://ruffledblog.com

Love Me Some Birch

 I am in love with the birch look this winter season! I love it for any season really since it is versatile and looks great with some many natural colors. I found a great DIY to make birch center pieces! I found some great birch vases made with a glass vase and a birch sleeve bought at a flower market, then take anything you have around the house or can find at the craft store to decorate the vases, like jewels and earrings and fabric flowers.

I love the green and natural look of birch and the simplicity of it! You can also buy birch branches at the flower market or a local craft store and use them alone or in a flower arrangement. You can also paint the birch piece or use sticks you find from around your yard and paint them. If you want a green wedding this is a great way to go since it is inexpensive and natural.

Birch can go a long way and can be used in many different ways. Use it in the winter or in the spring! Birch is also great to use within the house as well, make your own birch candle holders or throughout your home!

Good luck making your centerpieces and enjoy the holidays!

Found From: Elizabeth Anne Designs and edytaszyszlo

Give Thanks for Thanksgiving

I absolutely love Thanksgiving and the entire holiday season! Thanksgiving is a holiday with warm colors, warm yummy food and football! Any holiday with football is the best! Every family has their Thanksgiving traditions, and by no means do I think any family should change tradition, but if you are trying to think of some great Thanksgiving décor or want to throw a pre-Thanksgiving themed party {or even a Thanksgiving wedding}, here are some great ideas! Use the warm fall colors are your palette for the event, and don’t be scared to use some pumpkin décor either… it is not just for Halloween! Also use apples, pears, corn and leaves to decorate.

Many catering companies have holiday themed food, so go through their menus to get some great ideas… one of my favorite are mini pumpkin pies and turkey and cranberry slider sandwiches. I love stuffing as well, use small serving spoons, the ones caterers use to serve stuffing and gravy on! Another favorite of my family is cinnamon apple cheesecakes! It screams Thanksgiving and fall with the warm cheesecake and spiced apples! Don’t forget the caramel apples… or try caramel pears for a change! Of course you need some drinks! For the adults make mulled apple cider or mulled spiced wine (some local wineries have mulling wines and spices). There are great winter lagers out as well… and what is football without a little beer? For the kids in the family, hot apple cider and a cranberry and ginger ale drink for some fizzies!

Here are some of my favorite fall décor and food pictures! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Photos From:

http://blog.thecelebrationshoppe.com/

http://www.thepartydress.net/

http://athome.kimvallee.com/

http://makemerryevents.com/

http://blackeiffel.blogspot.comhttp://blackeiffel.blogspot.com

http://www.kenlauher.com/

http://rlake.smugmug.com/

http://potterybarn.com/

http://www.thepartydress.net/

Re-Use and Recycle: Bottlehood on Esty

I am IN LOVE with bottlehood's shop on Esty.com! The company recycles beer, wine and liquor bottles and makes them into cups, candles, cheese boards and vases! I am getting some of these for my bf {shhhh don't tell him} and I started thinking about the great way you could use these at your wedding or event. These may be kinda expensive if you are buying all your guests items, but how great to have a wine bottle vase or a liquor bottle as your vase centerpiece. I also saw that the company will make items requested for wedding registry's! These items are so unique you will never find them anywhere else! What a great gift as well for the lucky couple or even as a birthday present for your man! Also just great for use at your home bar or home... what a great conversation piece!
Check out their shop on Esty: http://www.etsy.com/shop/bottlehood

Here are a few pictures of items they sell! I love the variety and the locality of the items. Most items tell you where the bottle came from (all local from CA).

Color of the Week: Cerulean

This color is amazing! I was browsing online stores looking for a dress to wear to a friends wedding and saw this color. Thanks to J Crew for having an amazing array of colors and the cutest dress ever...purchasing it later tonight! It was called Hazel blue... but with a wikipedia search of colors I found this similar hue and the name cerulean. Found out the name comes from the caelulum meaning "heaven, sky". This amazing dark blue yet still light blue fits perfectly with any season, epically summer and winter, and the heaven sky meaning of the color as well.

If you have seen a theme, this color will go great with any yellow or orange hue! I also love it with pink and white. I really enjoy using the blue as the main color and having some other bright colors as accent and floral colors. This blue could also be an accent color to many different main colors. I love this color by itself not just for a wedding or event but around the house as well and in clothes.

I love this color in the house as an accent and in jewelry as well... Look at some of the amazing things I found! I love the idea of using the blue vase with pink flowers in it for the centerpiece, especially this amazing round vase. This has to be one of my all time favorite colors! It is bright, yet still subtle enough.

After doing a little more research on the color found some amazing birds with cerulean in the name. They are gorgeous... goes to show you have wonderful colorful life really is...

Find some of the amazing items:

http://www.jcrew.com/wedding/Wedding_Bridesmaid/dresses/silkchiffon/PRDOVR~22512/22512.jsp

http://www.1stdibs.com/furniture_item_detail.php?id=365167

http://www.pinkwaterfairy.co.uk/htmlfiles/earrings/earringsgrey.htm

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=6819576

http://www.imagekind.com/Blue-Vase_art?IMID=01b2c98f-0d7e-4ca4-8bed-b0aec5c38fed