Heart Day...

Some last minute ideas for Valentines Day, to give to others or splurge for yourself.

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Enjoy...

your Thanksgiving holiday... and see you on Saturday.  Love this tablescape via mochatini.org.  I have some blue vintage glasses like those I have been dying to use!!

What I'm working on...

Making a crocheted baby blanket, to match a friends decor!

Invite & Party Decor for my Niece's Birthday, a flower theme.

So many projects still left to do...

whimsy & contemporary

Another beautiful wedding styled photo shoot featured on Style Me Pretty, inspired to combine whimsy with contemporary. I love this color combo!!

Styled and Designed by Soiree / Photographed by Tana Photography

hello...time to party!

Love these unique items created by my friend Katie of KGD&D, made perfectly for you to spruce up your special occasion.

Click on the images above to visit etsy listings.

Thanksgiving Table Ideas

Here are some ideas and themes to use for your Thanksgiving Table this year.

Top down: Rustic Thanksgiving Table via Southern Living, Give Thanks via Readers Digest, Fun Pumpkins via Happy Mundane, Old Photos via Sweeter Living, Thankful Table Cards via ishootnouns, Bean Centerpiece via Rachael Ray.

Costumes...

So I decided to be an owl for Halloween at the end of September, when I found this awesome tutorial on how to make an kid's costume. Making the costume went so smoothly that I ended up making it for Ryan as well, so we ended up being a pair. The mask I made was similar to the pattern with the costume, but if you wanted to buy a mask you can find a great one here. These costumes turned out so cute and they were really comfortable!!

5 Halloween Ideas

I've been searching for great Halloween Decor and party ideas! Here are five of my favorites...

3 Halloween Witches via SallyBoyle | Monster Cupcakes via BHG

Halloween Plates via Design Mom

Pumpkin Vase via Midwest Living | Wreath via wRIte iT DOwN

Jonathan Adler | Party Supplies

Paper Lantern, Dessert Plates, Beverage Napkins

Tumblers (Re-usable)

Gift Enclosures, Wrapping Paper

I Love Jonathan Adler... and these party supplies are to die for! Now I just need an excuse for a party!

The Perfect Table Setting

I don't know about you, but I love collecting plates, glasses, napkins, and tablecloths to create "the perfect table setting". It's so much fun to have company for dinner and to try out new combination's. Below are some great examples of some different looks.

House Beautiful, by Rebecca Moses (see this great video)


Photo by Laurey W. Glenn (Southern Living)


by camillestyles


Photographed by Karl Juengel

Bowls!

I love collecting serving bowls with fun patterns and shapes to use for parties. Here are some of my favorite ones.

1. Marker Lines Bowl 2. Granny's Spaniels Bowl 3. Kahla Elixyr White Serving Bowl 4. iittala Origo Orange Bowl 5. stainless steel snack bowl 6. compliments dinnerware 7. Aalto Dual-Colored Bowl 8. Geodesic Bowl

DIY | Christmas and Home Decor

Here is a collection of some great DIY (do-it-yourself) projects and products I have found perfect for the home. Some would be great projects for the winter break!!

Glass Jar Frames via Photojojo
*would be so cute as decor around the house, or for a special event!

Wood Evergreen Tree via Etsy.com
*paint some of these in green or a fun color... use them as sideboard or mantel decor.

Rosette pillow made of felt via Felt Furnishings
Photo by Chris Everard
*same idea as the rosette wreath... would be a great color addition to any living room.

Wrapping Ideas

I found some great Christmas gift wrap ideas I wanted to share... since its that time of year.

Top: White Boxes with woven ribbon, Paper-ribbon-greenery...Second: White boxes and bright ribbons via Real Simple, Lace tape ... Third: Creative Lettering , Furochic Gift Wrap (Reusable)... Bottom: Newspaper gift wrap, Hand made gift wrap

Soiree Blog | Our Wedding

So excited that my friend Brandi of Soiree (Wedding and Event Planning) posted images from our wedding of the centerpieces and our cake. Of course I spent months and months collecting and creating new ideas to make the details perfect. Check out the Soiree blog for great event planning ideas and advice.

vino&pizza

We had an excellent evening with friends this past weekend for a "vino&pizza" party. Together we came up with recipes for 5 different kinds of pizzas, and each couple had to bring two bottles of wine to pair with a chosen pizza. The pizza's turned out yummy, and the wine paired well.

Pizza's in the pictures above include the "Meatless Mediterranean" and the "Broccoli & Cheese Baked Potato". All of these pizzas would make an excellent meal any time of the year. Check out the menu below for the list of toppings and the wine pairings and also see my post from last year to compare what was on the menu... Enjoy!

Halloween Costumes

What amazing costume ideas bloomacious has discovered through pictures on flickr. Below are some images they have recently posted, and a couple that I have found. These images demonstrate how simple it can be to come up with something great!

Also check out bloomacious for their other fun halloween posts!


Alice by Kanira (bloomacious post), and Snow White by Alicia J. Rose (bloomacious post)


Mad hatter by brittanyhildebrandt
Could be created by wearing a simple dress, maybe with dress coat over it. Add a top hat with a long ribbon.

Mary Poppins by misselisabeth
Could be created easily by wearing a long skirt, with a ruffled blouse and a blazer over. A vintage hat with flowers or ribbons. And accessories of a carpet bag, scarf or small bow tie, and don't forget the umbrella.

...where the wild things are...

Since inspiration often comes from imagination, I wanted to post about products related to the release of the movie "Where The Wild Things Are".

Below are some the greatest art, clothing, figures, and housewares inspired by this theatrical release (October 16th), many of which come from Urban Outfitters. The movie also has a great soundtrack recorded by Karen O and the Kids.

also...Gallery Nucleus has a gallery titled Terrible Yellow Eyes featuring artwork inspired by the book.

1 | Geoff McFetridge Wild Things Hike Tee , 2| Where the Wild Things Are Claw Trees , 3| Hand Painted Watercolor And Ink, 4| Wild Journal , 5| Pillow: Wild Grass, 6| BIRTHDAY PARTY INVITES, 7| Carol Vinyl Collector Doll , 8| Allover Owls V-neck

Halloween Crafts

Wanted to share some of the great Halloween crafts out there to liven up your decor. I can't wait to try making a translucent pumpkin.

Top: Trick or Treat bags via Country Living, Translucent Pumpkins via Martha Stewart, Terrorium via Poopscape
Bottom: Spooky Packing Tape Transfers via How about Orange... ,Bat Stencils via Country Living, Painted Pumpkins via Home Made Simple

Jaiden's 4th

Lots of fun this weekend at my niece Jaiden's 4th birthday party. Above are some images of the festivities. Green Balloons attached to the cute white treat bag (bottom right) and my mom added paper ice cream cones to the front, her invitation, beautiful water lily in the pond, green lanterns, Ice Cream Cone Cupcake (yummy), the birthday cake.

Lovely Ribbons

I love searching for ribbon online and at local stores. They are great to use for gift wrapping, craft projects, and floral arrangements and can help you achieve a color scheme. Below are some fantastic examples of great patterns and colors.

1: Pink/Black Damask 2: LaBelle Fleur 3: Orange Stitched 4: Green Paisley 5: Polka Dot Multi 6: Pink/Brown Stripe 7: Pink/Green Circles 8: Pink/Brown Woven