40th Anniversary Party

A couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to decorate for a party my friend Jill was having in honor of her parents' 40th wedding anniversary. First off...the venue for the party could not have been prettier. It was held at the Iowa Historical Building on the Cafe Terrace...with downtown Des Moines as the back-drop...gor.ge.ous! We decided the theme should incorporate some of the color palette from their wedding (we picked out shades of yellow w/ white and green accents) and that it should feel "country chic."

Now...the way I usually decorate for parties stems from what I have on-hand...how I can transform those items into centerpieces & table-scapes. For this party...I used every mason jar I could get my hand on, in addition to larger glass pieces I have (a cake stand and various vases).

Every table had a sheet of craft paper, plus a combination of vases w/ flowers and mason jars. I filled the jars w/ rice (it was the cheapest thing I could think of) an l.e.d. candle, and a teeny-tiny chalkboard w/ love notes written on it. The jars were also wrapped in twine...to add to the country feel. I incorporated yellow into the mix with both flowers and lemons. I will say...I loved the look of the lemons. They were really natural...and added a great pop of color!

Jill and I planned this party for quite a while...from the very start, though...I knew I wanted s'mores as the favor...for people to enjoy after. The hubs and I wrapped grahams, mallows, and chocolate squares...tying them all up w/ twine and a little note card that said "to many s'more years." Awww.... The lover.ly sign was painted by my friend, Abby, who also made one for the main level of the building...to help point guests in the right direction. 

I had to come up w/ a last minute idea for something guests could sign. Decided on a large piece of foam board (I was lucky to find it in black)...and just had folks use chalk markers to write their names & well-wishes.

I love the banner! It was a great addition of color...and on a large scale. Jill made the numbers (covered in vintage pics of her parents) and they turned out great...gave everyone something to look at while they picked out their tasty desserts.

Just a couple of old friends...

I was so relieved when everything was up to be enjoyed! What a beautiful way to enjoy the party...and all the hard work.

~Hilary~

Instagram + PostalPix

For the record...I'd like it to be known that I was on/enjoying Instagram well b/f it became popular. Since it has turned into a picture-taking sensation, however, I've been using it a lot more to transform my pics. While it's fun to have all these visuals on my phone...to share w/ many people all over the world...I wanted to be able to have the pictures in real life. Then along came PostalPix. What a wonderful & ingenious thing! All I had to do was download the app on my iPhone, create an account...then pick which pictures I want to have printed. I use my PayPal account...making the whole process seamless. Once I upload the images...it only takes a couple days for the pictures to reach me...yay!

Now...I'm not a big fan of picture frames (plus the shape of the Instagram pics wouldn't really work in them)...so I came up w/ another way to display all my snapshots. I used baker's twine (suspended between a couple nails) as my base...and then ordered some baby, tiny clothes pins to hold the pics up. The entire process took probably 15 minutes.

I love the finished product! Plus...I can change the pictures out really easily when I get new ones (which I most assuredly will do).

*Our dining room has a little something special now!

~Hilary~

Ummm, yeah...

Miss Addy has pretty much the coolest aunt...ever! Oh wait...that's me. Awkward?? Not if it's true. ;) I've been getting a super-de-duper cute room ready for her over the last few months...
and it's finally done!

So...without further ado...the room!

I love how the wall art pieces turned out (although...I'd be lying if I said I won't be looking for additions). I thrifted all of these for less than $1.99 each...bam! I was going to paint all 3 of the chalk pieces, but the hubs said the colors on the flower basket were too pretty to cover up. Awww.....

Heart-shaped cork board *swoon*! I picked this beauty up from my favorite Salvation Army for only 99 cents...ohmygoodness!! Now...it just needs some pics on it.

My heart skipped when I spotted this embroidered lovely @ the flea market...and at $2...it was a steal! Other thrifty finds...the yellow ginham metal basket was only 50 cents...and I found the Ikea pendant lamp for $2 @ a garage sale a couple years ago.

I needed a little space to set odds & ends...so was thrilled to find this bench @ the flea market for only $25...made out of reclaimed lumber. The mountain scene painting was picked up @ Goodwill for less than $2. I found the cuter-than-cute tea set @ a second-hand store. I especially love it b/c it's not saccarine sweet pink...but my favorite shade of green.

Storage space is pretty limited in this baby-sized room...so I snagged this chippy, white cabinet @ a re-sale shop to solve that problem. For Addy's things, I bought storage boxes w/ lids...and jewelry organizers to hold some of my things (see my accessories story here). The stacking blocks on the floor are something from my childhood...vintage from Germany.

 This bed is pretty much my favorite 'story' of this whole project. One day I was trolling Facebook...as I do (too often)...and a lovely lady from my church posted she was giving away a picket fence twin bed frame. Did you hear that?!? FREE!! I couldn't reply fast enough! Bonus...someone else saw the post and had a free mattress. All we had to buy was a box spring. How amazing! The bedding is a mish-mash of new and thrifted + a vintage chenille bedspread. Another freebie...the nitestand...holds a vintage lamp my mom had bought for me a long time ago (plus thecutestever tiny box of tissues & a bowl full of succulents). Last...but not least...in this corner of the room...a vintage straw bag I discovered @ the Goodwill.

Just one more pic...b/c I am 'completely, and perfectly, and incandescently happy' w/ the results. (Just a little play on a quote from one of my most favoritest movies, Pride & Prejudice).

Now...if only she were old enough to stay the nite in her big girl bed. Guess I'll just have to enjoy the room for now...

~Hilary~

Sunday Snapshots

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1. Morning walk. The light was so pretty. Everything in the neighborhood looked so magical...and we were just about the only ones out & about...so serene.

2. Look #1 for lunch w/ Eric & Gina. "Dress" (actually a house dress): thrifted; sweater: Old Navy (a couple years ago); long, pink necklace: something I scrounged from Sister; heart necklace: a gift someone must've made for my grandma when she was young...it is carved out of wood and has her name burned into it (her maiden name). How sweet!!

3. Although I really liked that outfit...I just wasn't feeling it for that day. Look #2: same sweater as b/f; dress: Old Navy clearance; necklace: pink one from 1st outfit.

4. Red beans & rice @ Buzzard Billy's...a cajun restaurant that has re-opened downtown. My favorite part of the lunch (other than the company)...the homemade hush puppies...oh, mylanta!

5. A recent spray painting project b/f shot. I painted them w/ a floral spray paint b/c it was the closest pink I could get my hands on...not really sure I love the results. Might be re-spraying w/ some good ol' white.

~Hilary~

Sunday Snapshots

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1. My spring-time table decor. Thrifted vase filled w/ scraps from my shredder & some eggs I dyed a few years ago. Thinking I might possibly change it up w/ some jelly beans...can't decide...

2. Sheldon catching some rays in his favorite spot. :)

3. My outfit for church...the skirt & shirt were both thrifted (Salvation Army). Skirt was one of 2 from Fossil I scored that shopping trip!

4. Fajitas!!

5. Finally got my jewelry all pretty and organized. I.love.it!

Happy Sunday!

~Hilary~

Bejeweled...

Jewelry, jewelry...oh how I love thee! Vintage jewelry...to be exact. I just can' help myself...when I'm out-and-about @ garage sales, flea markets...wherever...my eyes are always looking for some pretty baubles. I almost have a snobby aversion to new jewelry. Like, how dare it think it's cooler than my lovingly worn, vintage pieces?!?  Alright...so that's a bit extreme...but it's how I feel, in my heart of hearts...about my lovelies.

A must-have when you have a slight problem collecting (anything) is a place to display it. I haven't had a proper home for my pretties...until now. The last of our bedrooms to be redone is now a home-away-from-home for my niece, Miss Addy...and a showcase for my jewelry. I still want to add some details to the room itself...so pics of that project will be coming later. The landing spot for my accessories is done, though...and I couldn't love it more!

I bought 2 towel bar thingies @ IKEA last May (that's how long this idea has been brewing) + 'S' hooks to hang all of my necklaces, headbands, and scarves. There's also a magnetic bar w/ lidded containers (also from IKEA and supposed to be for spices, I think) to hold little things...earrings, rings, pins. Most of my collection is now on display...I do have a few odds & ends in another spot, though. 

I'm so excited to have all of my jewelry organized and visible...the accessorizing possibilities are now endless!

~Hilary~ 

Springtime...

Out of nowhere...the weather around here has been beautiful! Windows open, flip-flops on...and some switching around of the decor have been in order.

I will be the first to admit that I have a lot of stuff. By a lot...I mean...too much. Needless to say...there isn't really anything I ever need to buy to decorate. Does that mean that I don't buy things?? Ab.so.lut.ely not. For this little vignette, however...all I purchased were the super-de-duper beautiful daffodils.

*I don't have a mantle...so I think this cabinet is my new go-to focal point.

*Daffodils...only $5 for this whole bunch...what a steal! The "vase" is really an orange juice decanter (minus the bright yellow lid).

*My grandma's Pyrex nesting bowls...they are the coolest color of blue!

*A couple little bunnies I've picked up along the way. I looked at the brown one in an antique store in Kalona for close to 3 years b/f I decided to buy him. It was kind of a little game I would play every time I would visit...wondering if he was still there. A few times ago, though...I didn't want to risk it anymore...

*Pretty little metal flowers...plus a couple of flowery prints...and my springy decor is done.

I scoured most of the treasures for my display from my china hutch. I've never really liked the thing...but where would I keep all of my knick-knacks?? A lovely vintage pie-safe perhaps? Hopefully some day. :)

~Hilary~

New, Freebie Wreath...

Got home Sunday nite and just really wanted to do a project. I've been thinking about a new wreath for the front door...so I went searching for some supplies in the ol' crafty archives. I came up with a wire wreath form I had used for an old project (so...I took it apart) and a bunch of fabric remnants from my frame project (here).

All that was left to do was cut a bunch of strips of fabric (they were b/w 8-14 inches each) and then knot them around the wreath frame. Sorry I didn't capture any pics of the process...I had about an hour and just wanted to get done. It's so easy, though...just tie each piece of fabric around the frame (double knot) and then continue all the way around. I tried to get the fabric as close together as possible and also varied the knot being toward the top, middle, and bottom of the frame.

The finished project is justsocute! The colors are "spring-y"...and also remind me a bit of my childhood...hello, dusty rose and country blue. ;)

 I totally want to make more of these wreaths now...especially for our side door. Gonna have to hit up the remnants @ the craft store...this takes quite a bit of fabric.

~Hilary~ 

Brown Thumb

...that's what I have (or maybe even black) when it comes to house plants. I do like to have a little something 'living' around, though...so I'm always trying my hand at some plant or another.

I do have one (soverysad) plant in my kitchen that has been 'alive' since last Valentine's Day. The first couple of blooming cycles, it thrived...w/ the tiniest of pink flowers on it. All it is now, though, is a pitiful few sprigs of greenery...nary a bloom to be found.

Last May, at the wonderland that is IKEA...my mom, sister, and I bought some bamboo. Why wouldn't you buy a living plant at a home furnishings store...makes perfect sense. So...I brought it home, made it a little spot in our main level bathroom...and it's been doing alright. THEN...I put it in the basement over Christmas (didn't really fit the decor). Ever since its stay downstairs...it just hasn't been the same. About a week ago...it turned a sad color of yellow...death.

Sadness...it gave a good fight, though...I really thought it could survive...

There is one piece of the 3 that is still green and nice...so it has a new home by my kitchen sink. We'll see how long this lasts...

So...I needed something new and fresh to take the place of the bamboo (RIP). I've really been wanting to do some sort of terrarium (b/c they're poplular and I have no original ideas)...so off to LOWE's I went. Well...they didn't really have the right kind of plants for said project...but the lady working there talked me into something called a palm.

I had 1/2 of the items needed for the project (vase & rocks).

You can never have enough vases...just don't know when the project bug will strike!

I had to buy the plant ($2.49) and a bag of potting soil ($3.69)...of which I used very little. So...I'm thinking the cost of everything was less than $3.

Everything you'll need to make your own little tropical decorative piece (minus the cat...he's very curious...will probably kill my new plant w/his nibbling).

Sorry...no action shots of actually putting this together. It's so easy, though...pictures & directions might be a bit insulting to your intellegence. ;) All I did was put a little potting soil in the bottom of the vase, placed the plant in (smooshed the root ball down a bit), gently dropped the rocks in...and then gave it a bit of a drink.

I really like how this turned out! Gives the bathroom a little something special. I will prob have to let it get some rays somewhere else from time-to-time...but hopefully (fingerscrossed) it will be ok in this spot.



~Hilary~