Life in Pictures.

Friday Favorites-- Last Minute Valentine Ideas

Well, the day is almost here!!  I LOVE valentine's day.  Not so much for the mushy stuff...more for the cute, fun stuff and for all the red and pink!!!  I found a few more cute ideas I thought I'd share just in case you suddenly have the urge to do something festive before the weekend is through! :)

If you're having a dinner party or making somthing special for your loved ones and looking for a fun centerpiece idea I LOVED this one from Martha...

 

I know it looks complicated, but the best part about it is that they are all one or two blossoms in small vases just arranged on the table in the shape of a heart.  You DON'T have to be a flower magician to create some awesome arrangement.  Thanks Martha!!

This pillow from flax and spindle is SO cute!!  I need one for next year! 

 

If you're looking for fun last minute gift ideas remember the homemade idea book from this post???

 

Or how about making your own "tower of treats"?  I love this from martha...making several different types of cookies and treats and wrapping them up in different sized boxes that are all wrapped up in fun papers and ribbons...too cute!!

 

And for the kids...I made this last night and it was a big hit...

 

I was too lazy to make homemade crust...so I bought  a pre-made one and just cut it into the best heart shape I could.  I cut up a few pieces of pepperoni to make the I love u and that was it.  They LOVED it!!

If you don't want to do pizza how about heart pancakes, punch their sandwiches into hearts using a cookie cutter, heart cookies...you name it you can make it into a heart shape!! ;) 

Have a wonderful valentines day!!

-t

Design 101: What do you like?

Recently I've been getting a lot of emails and questions asking for design tips.  I thought I'd put together a few posts here and there to help those of you who are interested in learning more.  Design has always been one of my passions.  I constantly have ideas floating around in my head and wish I had 5 different houses so that I could decorate them all in a different style!  I took a few design classes in college expecting to love them but instead was disappointed.  I didn't want to learn about the different types of springs in a cushion.  If I was going to buy a couch or chair it was going to be #1 because I loved the way it looked and #2 because it was comfortable...not because it had a certain type of spring! 

I really feel like design is about creating something you love.  A space that makes you happy.  It doesn't have to be expensive.  The first thing I always ask people when they ask me to help them create a space is "what do you like?"   I often get a blank stare back like "um, I don't know...that's why you're here...to TELL me what I like."  lol!  :)  You know what you like, you just may not realize it.  That is a key element to starting any project.  You need some direction.  The best thing you can do is to start a library.  I purchase empty three-ring binders and a big box of sheet protectors every year.  It's like making your own book of things that you love.  Whenever you buy a magazine..tear out the pictures of things that you like and put them in your binder.  When you're out and about, take pictures of things that you like and put them in your binder.  and I mean ANYTHING. color schemes, decor items, paint swatches...etc.  I have binders for all the things that I love.  Recipes, party planning and ideas, interior design, crafts, photography, scrapbooking, creative gift giving and wrapping...I've got them all. 

 

Before you know it you'll have a great resource.  When it comes time to tackle a design project you can pull it out and help guide yourself in the direction you would like to go with your room.  If you aren't confident enough in your own abilities this will be a great help to your designer as well.

So start tackling your own library...and then we'll move on to the next project! :)

Have a great day!
-t

Friday Favorites-- Blue Bell Bazaar

Love these little chalkboards.  They are too cute in their little frames...

 

How about one of these on your entry way table with a welcome message for guests.  You ca even customize it for different guests! ;)

Find them here and tell them I sent you. ;)

-t

great things....

i get to go have dinner with my ENTIRE family tonight and my sister gets MARRIED in the morning!! 

Friday Favorites-- Funktion

I had SO much fun doing my favorite things last month.  It gave me a chance to highlight  some of my favorite internet finds and fun things.  well, the response was TERRIFIC!!  Apparently you liked it too!!  I received notes from shop owners and blog readers...shop owners telling me thanks for the unexpected surprise of being included on the list and blog readers telling me they had purchased several of the items on my list and loved them too!  I've had several requests to keep up the list.  I don't think I can keep up the pace from December (but don't worry we'll do it again in 2009!!) so I decided to devote Fridays on the blog to my favorites. 

I will highlight things in the new "Favorites Friday" section.  A little something to look forward to for the weekend! ;)  I would still love to hear about your favorites too!  If you are a shop owner or internet junkie. :)  If you want to share your favorite things send me an email with the title "favorite" to tammylmitchell@cox.net  I'll check it out and post about it in a future favorites post. :)

Today I thought I'd share one of my recent favorites...FUNKTION.  First of all...can the name be any cuter???  :)  They create a fun and funky line of tablecloths, aprons, kids clothes, dishtowels and more.  

Here's the one I just bought myself for a few Christmas parties I was having...you want to look cute in the kitchen even if you are slaving away!! :)

 

Cute little girls dresses...

 

fun dish towels...

 

This is the one that's next on my list.  :)  I had a hard time choosing between this one and the one I ended up with! :)

 

You can find them at fine retailers in your area. or order directly from their website... www.funktionhome.com

Great thing for today...Andy flashed me the "i love you" sign today for no reason.  what a sweetheart!

What made it a great day for you today??

-t

Happy New Year!!!

A little last minute inspiration.  I always decide to throw little get togethers at the last minute.  Grab some goblets, number stickers, left over ornaments, a cake plate, and gather your clocks from around the house.  PARTY!!!

 

Happy New Year!!

-t

Orange Bowl Party!!!

We are big college football fans around here.  Especially at this time of year!!  We love to grab some grub and watch all the bowl games that happen this time of year.  Go USC!!! ;)  I realize that not EVERYONE is as big of a fan as we are..but that doesn't mean you can't use it as an excuse toget together.  If you make it a fun enough party even the non-football fans won't mind coming and hanging out! :)

SO...here's my version of an Orange Bowl party that will hopefully spark some ideas...I mean just think of the bowl names and you've got a party!!  Sugar bowl...table full of sugary goodies, rose bowl...red color scheme with roses everywhere...get creative!!

The theme is easy...just think everything orange!  For a little added color mixing in this fun blue is nice.  Orange lanterns, orange Izze, orange cupcakes, orange florals...you get the idea! :)

 

The orange chargers I picked up at Party City for about $1.50 each.  The orange glasses are from pottery barn years ago on clearance (I LOVE to shop celarance for party supplies!! )

 

The little candy jars with candy orange slices in them are from IKEA.  The felt flowers all over the table are from the scrapbook store.

 

Party favors and other decorations are clementines...in season this time of year and yummy!!  Fill a few various glass jars with them for your table and orange take out boxes (from Michaels $.79 ea) with a few for guests to take home. :)

 

Are you suddenly wanting to watch some football?? ;)

Have a great day!

-t

A few more ideas...

here are the last of the holiday ideas from the contest. These are idea boards I submitted simply from gathering images from a few of my favorite places and compiling them together. :)   The top one is my favorite.  Very "homespun."  Love the vintage buttons in the top entry.  I'll for sure be hunting some of these down in 2009!! :)

 

The colors in this one could be carried from Thanksgiving all the way through Christmas giving you an excuse to put your decorations up early next year! ;)

 

Love, Love, Love this one. 

 

Now go finish wrapping!!  Only a few hours left!!! :)

Gingerbread Party

I love to make cookies and gingerbread houses with the kids every year.  They get SO messy and have so much fun it's totally worth the work!!  :)  It's even more fun if you invite friends over to get messy with you! :) 

Here's a little idea for a gingerbread party.  The colors in this are just so fun...who wouldn't want to participate!!?

 

You can buy these gingerbread house and gingerbread men kits at Costco and Michaels and other places.  Then you don't have to spend the time in the kitchen actually MAKING the gingerbread which is WAY easier!!! :)

 

Apple green kraft paper makes for a colorful table cover.  It also makes for easy clean up!!  :)  A colorful piece of scrapbook paper defines each place setting and adds to the fun vibe of the party.

 

 

This gingerbread flavored Jones cola is too fun!!  Not that the kids need more sugar after this tooth decay fest..but I couldn't resist!! :)

   

Gather the neigborhood kids together and make a mess!!  It makes for a great photo op!! :)

Have a great day!!

-t

California Christmas

This was one of my favorite submissions for the holiday decorating contest...I just pulled together a few things from the house and wa-la!!  Totally goes with the "theme" of our decorations this year. :)

 

Th plates are my normal everyday wear.  The "chargers" are actually silver cardoboard pieces from th party supply store.  They have a scalloped edge and I thought they mimicked a shell pretty well.  They are cheap too...only like 1.00 each.  The large ornaments are from homegoods...surprise surprise ;), the shells and starfish you can find all over including walmart.  Just throw a few around your table. :) 

 

 

Favors are just wrapped in plain kraft paper (which I LOVE) and brown satin ribbon.  Put some greenery and a starfish on each plate and you're done! :)

 

Have a great day!

-t

Christmas Table Ideas

Now that the contest is officially over...THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT BY THE WAY!!  I can share more of my entries to hopefully help you with some ideas for your holiday tables this year. 

The first one I'll share is my "Classic Christmas."  I really like the bright and bold red, white and green in this. :)

 

Here's a close up ofeach setting.  The white plates are just my everyday ware.  The "placemats" are a piece of red 12x12 scrapbook cardstock.  The polka dot plates and star bowls are from pottery barn.  You can often find the star bowls (they carry them every year) on super sale after Christmas for about  $5 a piece.

 

The stocking silverware holders were a find at Homegoods last year.  They'll often have little random things like this so keep your eyes peeled next time you're there!!

 

Favors are easy.  Celophane bags (or if you don't have celophane fill sandwhich sized ziploc bags with peppermints and then cut off the ziploc part) filled with peppermints (you can find these cute round ones at CVS in bags for about $1.50 each) and tied with wired gingham ribbon. (on sale at Michaels)

 

The centerpiece is made up of strands of garland and berries (also from Michaels) and a few glass jars filled with red, white and green Christmas ornaments (thy came in a pack at IKEA and were VERY reasonable!!)

It is VERY easy to put this together.  You can put something similar together in any color scheme.  Look for items you have around your house and throw them on the table and see what you get!! :)

Have a great day!

-t