The Triple Threat: A Surprise Sweet Sixteen

Sweet Sixteen. A couple weeks ago, my mom asked me to help her throw my sister, Aneesa, a surprise sweet sixteen party. If anyone remembers what it is like to be a teenager, it takes a lot to keep them entertained and I wanted this party to be E.P.I.C., so naturally, I was hesitant. You know, the normal party planning anxiety we all have . . . "what kind of food are we going to serve?" "What will the theme be?" "Who to invite?" "medium or medium well (haha just kidding)"  . . . but you get the picture. Lots of ideas were up for debate, at first I thought about having it at a comedy club in Portland, but then my mom veto'd that idea because she wanted to keep it in town. Then, I thought . . . what about Northern Lights, the movie theater? But I nixed that one because the girlies should be able to hang out with each other. Finally, my mom said, I just really want to have it at the house. And then . . . LIGHTBULB. 
I said, "Mom, I have a really great idea but you really really have to trust me . . ." 
and so it was decided friends, we would be morphing our garage into an 80's dance club! 

The Birthday Girl!

400 neon balloons, 700 yards of streamers, 2 strobe lights, 6 black lights, 1 disco ball, 1 fog machine
 & a sweet sound system = SUCCESS!

What is an 80's party without Ring Pops and Glow Necklaces?!?!

Gotta have the cupcake tower. A birthday party MUST.

We had a smoothie bar! 

Some of the yummy fresh fruit for the smoothies!

cRaZy girls! 

E.P.I.C. status was achieved. No question.

Some of the guests! 

While the kids are away . . . the "adults" will play!!!

It was such a great party! We ended up having a smoothie bar, a sandwich making station and some salads to complete the meal!  Could not have pulled it off without my amazing friends and momma! Happy Sweet 16 Sister! Love you!
and I love the 80's Babaaaaay!

Cheers!

       

I Love . . . LAMP!

Burlap Lampshade. amazing right? I actually got the idea from  . . . take one guess . . . yup, you got it, Pinterest (my usual obsession). I am currently trying to revamp my room from a Tuscan theme to Nature meets Shabby Chic. Original, I know, but I can't help but love this new trend. For the past few weeks, the lamp I had on my bedside table has not worked, and I have been looking for the perfect addition for my new room. Bed Bath and Beyond? Fail. Target? Fail. World Market? Fail. The list goes on and on. Finally, I just decided I would find the perfect lamp stand and then make my own lamp shade, using the picture below as my inspiration! 

Step 1: Find a Lamp Base ($12.00-Walmart)

Step 2: Buy 1 and 1/2 yards of Burlap ($5.00) and cut into strips about 3 inches

 longer then the length of the lampshade 

Step 3: Get a lampshade the size and shape you want (I used one from a lamp I already had) and cover it with burlap, pulling it tight as you glue it to the shade with a glue gun

Step 4: Take the strips of fabric, fold them in half, emphasizing the fold at the bottom. Use a glue gun and make a wave from one side of the shade to the other. Put the strip of fabric on the glue and fluff as necessary

Step 5: You will have some "gaps" in the fabric, use small strips and fill the gaps using the opposite wave pattern as the strip next to it

This project took me about 1 hour to complete (I raced against American Idol on the DVR with no commercials, and won!) Here is the final product . . .

and I think I will put it . . . HERE. 

Now go get shady with some burlap ladies!

Cheers! :)

DIY Fabric Decorative Balls

Fabric is my favorite thing to craft with. Recently, I was on Pinterest and found this idea for my new crafting project . . . and Fell in love! 

Aren't they fabulous!?! I told myself, "Amanda, you are more than capable of doing this" (and yes, I give myself pep talks before all my crafting, partially because most end up being disasters!) So, this Sunday after another fabulous service at my church Solid Rock (check it out!), I went to Craft Warehouse and bought the following supplies:

1. 2.5 yards of fabric in the brown/ivory family - $14.00

2. Varying sizes of styrofoam balls (4"-7") - $12.00

3. 250 Sewing Pins - $2.95

You will also need:

1. A good pair of scissors

2. Something circular you can use to trace

3. Pencil

Step 1: Trace as many circles as possible (approx 7") onto the fabric like so . . .

Step 2: Cut out all of the circles, I would suggest folding the fabric, it will save so much time!

Step 3: Next, fold the circle in half, and tweak the fabric so that it folds out (taking up as much space as possible of the ball), then pin it to the styrofoam ball

Step 4: Continue with this pinning process until the ball is covered, pinning close to one another so that the styrofoam is not visible

 . . .and TA DA! A Masterpiece!!!

I also made a couple brown ones!

And I think I will put them . . . HERE!

I will also take this time to show off my new treasure from Aunt Bee's, an antique desk with keys! I've been eyeing it for a couple months now, and it finally went on sale for $159.00!

Please take note of the super cute window frame I picked up from The Fussy Duck for $20.00!

That is all, what a happy happy Sunday! Now go make some balls! 

Cheers Friends!

How to Throw a . . .

WINE PARTY. My dear friend Liz turned 25 this week and I decided to throw her a classy dinner/wine tasting party. She has this healthy love for wine and I just love throwing parties . . . end result? A wonderful night full of laughter with some of the greatest girls I know. To start . . . I went to Bed Bath and Beyond and got some awesome wine glasses, 12 for $20! 

Click here to get a set of your own! 

I also went to TJ Maxx (awesome place to get serving plates and any decor) and picked up some shabby chic blue and white serving plates and salad bowl (look for them in the pictures, they are divine). I only spent $25.00 on 3 dishes! Amazing! In fact, I went back today and bought some more to complete the set! My roommates might be a little upset, because I'm taking up all the cupboard space with some seriously impractical things! Oops! Love you :) 

Next, FOOD! 

Check out the Menu . ..

1. Tomato Soup shooters with Mini Grilled Cheese Sandwiches 

2. Brie Cheese melted on Fig Jam and Baguette 

3. Green and Red Grapes on Skewers 

4. Rogue River Blue Cheese and Pear Salad with Candied Walnuts

5. Caprese Salad

6. Carrots, Cucumbers with Hummus

7. Organic Tortilla Chips with Spinach Artichoke and Parmesan Dip

8. Mini CUPCAKES! 

 My color scheme was blue and red, which turned out even better than I expected! Look at these cool pictures Liz's friend Chelsea took . . .

So you are probably wondering . . . where is the wine?!!? And how did I make wine tasting into a game? I had each guest bring their favorite wine and I put it into a numbered brown bag, tied it at the top with a red raffia ribbon! I had numbered sheets of paper and each guest poured a little taste in each glass and wrote down their guess of the type of wine (chardonnay, riesling, merlot . . .). I made a headband (to see click here) and
 the guest who had the most correct tastes won! 

So fun to . . .

Cheers! Love you dearly Liz! 


Special thanks to my fabulous roommates (Jamie Porter the cupcakes were fabulous)
and everyone who could come! 

DIY Divine Branch and Fabric Flowers

Branches. Are fabulous. I love the nature/shabby chic hybrid that seems to be very popular with home decor this past year. Inspirations? Anthropologie & Pottery Barn. There is something so warm and homey about trees, white ceramic pieces and neutral colors. 

Check out my DIY project below . . . Total cost = $5.00!

Step 1: Find a great stick, twig, branch . . .TREE! Go Crazy! :) 

Step 2: Buy 1/2 yard of fun fabric at a craft store,

                     and cut into 1" strips approx 1 foot in length

Step 3: Buy some fun beads (pearls are great)

Step 4: Tie knot at end of fabric strip and begin twisting fabric around the knot, 

                    using a hot glue gun to every time you twist around the knot. 

Step 5: Hot glue beads in center

Step 6: In organized randomness, place your flowers through out the branch

Step 7: Place in a fun vase

Step 7: Find a fun spot in your house to complement your new creation

OKAY ALL . . .  I need your help! Where do I put it? 

My roommates and I are battling with this decision. 

HEEEEELLLLLP!

Next to the patio door (please note our new shutters and drapes) . . .

OR . . . 

In our dining room next to the wine rack! 

Please give me your opinions! Comment here or on my facebook! 

Cheers to beautiful branches! 

Painting Spring with STRIPES.

Stripes. Today I went to church at Solid Rock in Portland (amazing . . . check it out here if you are church shopping) and after, went with one of my beautiful friends, Sierra, to Washington Square. Let me tell you, Ladies & Gents . . . stripes are everywhere. I am not being dramatic, which I often am. Pinky promise, stripes are in your near future, I can feel it. The ultra hot trend was in every store I milled through, Forever21, J.Crew and Nordstrom. Jump on the boat.

Here are some ideas to Spruce up your Spring:

J.Crew $39.50

This could turn into this . . .

check out this blog!

I especially love Big Stripes & Little Stripes. . . perfection.

Or are you feeling this striped skirt instead? 

I just bought this skirt . . . and will be pairing with a floral print scarf . . .

$22 at Nordstroms

Finally, how about a merge of my last two blogs? Stripes and Ballet Flats. 

anthropologie

Since its Sunday, I will leave you with a link to my favorite worship song . . .

Hosanna by Hillsong

Cheers!