Friday, July 30, 2010

Carving out your niche



Several of my clients have a hard time knowing what to do with the niches throughout their home. In my home, we have an 8 foot niche set in a recessed curve in our front entry. Instead of filling the niche with a large art piece, we built custom shelves to display my church collection. I like grouping collections in one area for greater impact rather than spreading them all throughout the space. We also built a wood bench with comfy pillows to soften the space.

What do you have displayed in your home niches?

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Just Bag it

My boys started school on Monday! We had so much fun at our Back to School party last year I was really hoping they wanted to have another BUT they both said they were too old (sigh). However, I did find the cutest lunch boxes (with matching backpacks) at Land of Nod for your little ones starting back to school. Try out this little bee for all of your little honey's beeswax..


for their all nighters...


their penguin packs


lunch bot


& let's do lunch bag for your tween



When are your little ones starting school?

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Pinwheel Charm

Family Fun has a great tutorial on how to make your own pinwheel charms....



I am thinking rings, earrings, necklaces, and hair accessories! For instructions, click here.

Veggie Lunch Totes

While looking for favors for my girlfriend's Eat, Pray, Love themed bunco next month, I found these Veggie Totes from Rachel Ray. My fave is the hot tomato lunch tote


& the artichoke


you can find them here

Monday, July 26, 2010

40 Blows

Yes, another friend is turning 40, another GREAT birthday party, & yet another version of fun 4o's gifts. This time, GUMBALLS & FORTY BLOWS!



What do you think? Do you like the sucker bouquet or the gumball jar best?

Friday, July 23, 2010

Balloon Love

LOVE these Balloon place cards from Project Wedding


& this fabulous balloon in a box invite from on hand + modern



What is your favorite balloon idea?

Eat Pray Love Bunco

One of my favorite girlfriends is hosting Bunco next month with an Eat Pray Love theme. She is a fabulous cook & the menu consists of 3 different courses from each country. She has asked me for ideas but I only have a few so far-would LOVE if any of you have some thoughts?????

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Rainbow Cocktail

LOVE this colorful cocktail ice cube idea for your next RAINBOW or Wizard of Oz party! Think red, yellow, & green ice cubes for a "stoplight" cocktail for your next racing themed party, team colors for your next sports themed party-the possibilities are ENDLESS!



For Double Rainbow Cocktail recipe go here.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Color Designer

If you are ever struggling with color selections for your next home design project or party theme, the Color Scheme Designer is a great resource tool. You simply select the color you want to start with & click on "Adjust Scheme" until you get the exact color you want. You can then start to play with the complement colors & my favorite, the triad color scheme. Just have fun with it and see what great color stories you can can create.



(via Creature Comforts)

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Jeffrey's Pool Party

How fun is this birthday pool party! I am CRAZY about the blue & green color scheme & the custom houndstooth swim trunks logo created by Anders Ruff Design.


adore the custom party circles


& the "don't drink the pool water" labels-SO clever & cute


& the beach buckets for lunch pails


chalk buckets


& bubbles of course



Please stop by & check out all their other FAB-U-LOUS AR designs-you'll love them too!

Soap Love

Saw these French Macaroon Soaps on Jaimee Rose's blog & thought they would make the cutest favors for your next spa party.

Monday, July 19, 2010

Ariel In Wonderland

I know Alice in Wonderland parties are a current popular theme & I had to share this birthday tea party (found via Catch my Party) created by Kelli from The Paper Dolls. I LOVE the colorful whimsy of her design & the pure happiness & joy she must have to create such a magical party.






Ribbon Envy

Lovin' this wrapping idea from Martha's Crafts Department blog


think of all the messages you can create for Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries, graduation, & Valentine's packages-even favor tags!


for instructions go here

Sunday, July 18, 2010

California Cation

Home from a great vacation! Can someone come over, unpack & do my laundry?

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Break Time

Just a quick post to let you know that I am taking a little break until next Monday, July 19th!

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Girls Weekend Part Two

As promised, a few of the "professional" pics (I don't have them all, she only sent a few) from the weekend...don't you love the pink glass mosaic tile?


we are lined up from oldest (january birthday) to youngest (december birthday) yep, that's me, at the end-I am the baby of the group!


my hubby had a few jokes about having 16 girls in one bed


it was 110 degrees that day (a little warm for photos, but we don't sweat,we glisten)


last photo of the day



I can't wait to see the other photos-which picture do you like the best?

Friday, July 9, 2010

Girls Weekend Part One

I am finally posting some photos from our 40th Girls Weekend!! I must apologize in advance-some of the photos are not great, my photography skills are extremely lacking. However, the important part is we had an incredible time! We have all been friends for almost 30 years (28 to be exact)! Five of us started the morning with manis & pedis & drove up to Scottsdale, (with a quick stop at Sprinkles to pick up our cupcakes) and checked in to the Hotel Valley Ho.

We had one "party" suite and 4 guest rooms for all the girls. We set the girls pj's, flip flops, and "dog tag" necklaces at the foot of their bed. (in some of our photos you can see our tags, they were engraved with "Girls Weekend 2010" & the other side read "circa 1970" which is the year we were all born).


we set up our version of the mini bar


& our snack bar for the late night pj party



after an afternoon down by the pool, we headed down to Trader Vic's for dinner & mai tai's


love my girls




chillin' at our pj party


carrie & susie making our yummy "taste of paradise" cocktails


the next morning, we needed plenty of this before heading down to the pool


hanging out poolside


that night we had dinner at banderas


table two


table three


went out for a few more drinks & dancing



We had such a great time-so much fun we are already planning our next weekend! It was so great to be with all the girls! We also had a photographer come out & take pictures-I will be sharing those with you as soon as I receive them!