DIY Valentines

Are you in need of some ideas for Valentine’s day?  Look no further.

Want to plan a quiet night in with your significant other?  Eat Drink Chic shows you exactly what you need.  See the full details here.

Feeling like baking?  I think anyone would love these “You’ve Got Mail Cookies” from Bee in Our Bonnet.  Those cute mailboxes are from the $1 section at Target and come in white, red and pink (I have picked up several already to hold Valentines for my son’s teachers).  Cookie decorating ideas here.

Have a little girl or a gal who is a little girl at heart?  Make her this adorable necklace from One Charming Party.  

-Lana

Ban.do Hair Accessories

Vintage jewelry, feathers and millinery take center stage in Ban.do's hair accessories.  They manage to perfectly pair jewels with feathers and flowers. 

I wish I had gorgeous red hair like the model!

-Lana

Brushstrokes

I'm still feeling inspired by the Impressionism exhibit I saw not too long ago.  I catch glimpses of their influence everywhere.  I can't help but love the brushstroke accent on this Paint-Box blouse from Anthropologie and the cheerful colors in this Paint Palette pillow from CB2.

-Lana

Etsy finds

I am a stalker.  I love stalking.  It's fun.  Now, while I won't get anywhere googlestalking Ben Affleck (sigh) I will get somewhere stalking Etsy, which I have done today.  Here are my finds!

I heart this pink dress.  You can find it for sale here.

These earrings are really sweet.  You can find them here.

Cute little pin that would look great on any cardigan.  You can find it here.

I want to learn to make this coffee cuff!  You can find it here.

Visit Etsy today and see how amazing and creative people are.  Get inspired!  You can also visit our store here. We're quite partial to it.  :-)

- Tina

Super Bowl Party Planning

Super Bowl XLV is here!  If you know me, you know I love sports and you know I love a good party.  So what better excuse.  Here are some great ideas for that Super Bowl party you might be having this weekend.


I love Plum Party.  They have an array of ideas, decorations, and best of all printable party packs!  See the superbowl printable party here.  You place the order, make payment and you instantly print the pack out yourself on your home printer.  Just look at all the cute stuff!

The set includes:
Invitation (fits A7 envelope)
Cupcake toppers or Beer bottle charms
Pennant Garland "Touchdown!"
Party food labels
Wine glass tags
Napkin rings, Vase wraps or Candle wraps
Snack Box or Hamburger Sleeve
Straw markers
Placemat or Front Door sign

Okay, decorations are taken care of, now onto the food.  Best bet is to serve bar food - easy to eat and munch on throughout the game.  Here are some rockin' recipes I've found.


Pigs in a blanket

Need:
Pillsbury Cresent Rolls
Lil Smokie Sausages


Directions:
Cut each crescent roll square into 4 pieces, wrap around sausage, cook according to crescent roll package directions. Serve with dipping sauces such as mustard, ketchup, sweet & sour sauce or whatever you like.


7 Layer Dip

Need:

1 can (16 oz.) refried beans

1 tbsp taco seasoning mix

1 cup sour cream

1 cup salsa

1 cup shredded lettuce

1 cup shredded cheese

4 green onions, sliced

2 tbsp sliced black olives

tortilla chips

Directions:

Mix beans and seasoning mix, spread onto bottom of pie plate

Top with layers of all remaining ingredients except chips

Refrigerate for several hours

Service chilled with chips

Cold Corn Salad

Need:

3 cups frozen or canned corn

5 medium tomatoes, halved, seeded, chopped (I like Roma) shopping list

2/3 cup finely chopped red onion shopping list

1/2 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

mix all ingredients into a bowl and let chill in the fridge

when ready to serve add a little cider vinegar and olive oil and toss gently

Well, there you have it.  Your Super Bowl Party put together in a matter of a few hours.  

Enjoy and have a wonderful weekend!

- Tina

Tablescape for a Chinese New Year Party

Tomorrow is Chinese New Year and the Year of the Rabbit!  I was excited to see a modern tablescape for a Chinese New Year Party by Apples & Onions (featured on Daily Candy).  

I love the floral arrangements placed in colorful tea tins as well as the menus slipped into red envelopes at each place setting. See Daily Candy for the complete slideshow and Apples & Onions for party recipes.


-Lana

Deep Winter Decorating

It’s always around this time of year, when the holidays are over, the weather is crummy, and comfort food becomes my daily diet, that I feel kind of blah with my house.  Don’t get me wrong, I love the seasons. They help frame memories and I enjoy the hope and anticipation of the next season. But I seem to do much better with summer vignettes in my house, and always struggle with how to use my decorating accessories for winter use. 

So I’ve been flipping through design books and magazine to inspire myself –and you!

Inspiration one; Sweaters!  This chic and cozy pillow cover is handmade (and authentically English!).  The Etsy store has lots more options and colors.  I have a pair (just ask the owner for a set and she is happy to oblige) of ecru cream pillows and love snuggling up to them on the couch for my daily Aran sweater fix.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/ACrookedSixpence

Inspiration two: Cashmere!  It inspired a Seinfeld show and has been a luxury item for centuries.  I love looking at the Atlantic Blanket company website.  It’s as relaxing as having a glass of wine.
http://www.atlanticblankets.com/throws/plain-cashmere-throws/plain-cashmere-throw-190x140cm-cream

Inspiration three: Sleigh Rides!  Jingle bells –the essential safety precaution of yesteryear’s transportation looks great on a decorative plate, or piled up in a glass apothecary jar.  Either new and shiny, or old and weathered, safety like this is always in style.

Inspiration four and five:  Walks in winter woods!  If you stroll in an area that has deer year-round you may spot a shed antler or two laying about.  Take it home, clean it up with a few drop of bleach in a sink of water, and it looks great on a mantle or table next to some candles and books.   The bare branches of the trees are also another great source of inspiration.  Their sculptural quality is equally captivating in a vase or basket inside.  Best of all you can arrange your ‘tree’ to suit any size space.  Use long branchy-branches near a winter on the floor if you want some height in your ‘sculpture’.  Or put snap twigs in a julep cup for a super simple ‘bouquet’.

Inspiration six: My wardrobe!  Layers are essential for my winter dressing.  Likewise I’ve applied the dressing concept to my sofa and chairs by layering my throw blankets and pillows (in some places three deep).  This way I can enjoy them all at once!

Happy 2011!  Love, Lauren