Assemble for the party!

Who is your favorite super hero?  Batman?  Captain America?  My husband happens to love the Avengers and with it just being his birthday, I decided to throw him an Avengers themed birthday party.  With our families and a few close friends we "assembled" to chow down yummy food, whack a pinata and enjoy each others company.  

I found these awesome Avengers cookie cutters at Williams-Sonoma, which were perfect!  While the cookies don't look quite as impeccable as the version on the box the cookie cutters came in, but they were a hit anyway.  (thank you to my family that helped me finish the Iron Man and Spider Man cookies!) 

 And who is my favorite super hero?  My favorite super hero happens to be my husband : ) 

Note worthy

I got inspired this week by an upcoming activity I'm planning for the young women I work with at church.  My friend that I work with as a youth leader and I decided we wanted to have a craft night for the girls, but we weren't sure what craft we would do.  Then it came to me!  With our church's general conference coming up, a simple composition notebook turned into a personalized journal would be inexpensive and inspirational!  I couldn't help but make a sample of the craft especially so I would one for myself! 

I started with a plain composition notebook (only 50 cents)

 I then traced & cut paper that I wanted as my new cover.  This is wrapping paper that I had (and love!), but any scrapbooking paper or contact paper could also be used. 

 Then I added a little adhesive to hold the new paper cover

To personalize it I added an initial cutout 

I then added a some inspirational thoughts/values

Hmm...it seemed like it needed a cute ribbon closer, so I hot glued on this fun polka dot ribbon I had (yikes my glue gun looks grungy) 

The final product!  I can't wait to make this with the girls at church!

Make it over: plain and dark to blue and bold

Before

On one of my outings to my favorite thrift store I spotted this coffee table that had great bones but definitely needed a little makeover.  For only $8, I knew I could turn this coffee table into a favorite piece with new hardware and paint.  I mixed spare turquoise and white paint I had laying around to create this robin’s egg blue that makes the coffee table stand out.  I then added the glass vintage-style nobs, which makes the coffee table take on the cottage style of our den.  So much fun to makeover thrift store finds! 

After

It's vintage antique show time!

First thing on my to-do list this Saturday...go to the Vintage Antique Show with my mom!  This local event is done twice a year and as always it's sure to be filled with fabulous finds and inspiring ideas.  My favorite find last time was my vintage window, turned chalkboard (which you've seen showcased on here quite a bit!).  I'm hoping to score more fun goodies and of course have a grand time with my mom.  So maybe I'll see you there?!  

Office space

With it officially being the weekend the office should really be the furthest thing from my mind, right?!  But, I can't help but think about inspiring, fabulous and function office spaces since my mom completed the re-do of her home office space recently.  Hopefully one day soon I'll get our home office in order to actually use and be inspired by, but until then I'll drool over my mom's adorable space that perfectly reflects her personality and panache for decorating.  

 

This media cabinet was a find from a thrift store that my mom re-purposed and is now a great storage space for office necessities that look best tucked away

This vintage-style pendant light from Pottery Barn was the perfect additional light source to tie this work space together (it looks like it was made just for this office!)

An old window is re-purposed to be a memo board adorned with nostalgic notes and memorabilia

Black and green vintage accessories  help tie together the charming space

 

With everything put together my mom is ready to be inspired while in her home office space.  This  picturesque nook is a great example how any office space should be fun and reflective of the things motivate you to get things create, work and get things done!

Putting it on display, family photos

A few months ago I was rummaging through my favorite thrift store and saw this over-sized basket lid amidst the piles of housewares.  For a couple of moments I actually walked away from the basket-style item since I wasn't sure that it would work anywhere in our house, but I was drawn back to it for some reason, and I threw it in my shopping cart.  As I continued to shop around, it came to me, that I could hang this over-sized item on the wall and hang photos from it!  

With mini clothespins painted to match the futon cover in the den, I pinned up black and white family photos on the basket lid and then hung it up for display.  

Slowly, but surely, the cottage style of the den is coming together with these additional touches.