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Things have been pretty hectic over here (as always!), and Party: Monster Trucks is under way.

We decided on having the party at a (:::sigh:::) bounce house, but I honestly think we found a great medium in the one we choose. First, we have the option to turn it into a glow party (complete with glow sticks for the kiddos and some blacklight bouncing action!), and we can actually bring our own decorations and snacks (a must for this mama). Although I wont be able to go as crazy detailed with the decorations as I usually like to, I can rest easy knowing that our little guy can still get one amazing, personalized party :)

To kick start some of our decorating fun, here is pic of the flag we just got in the mail today:

We got them from here.

We ordered two, and I plan on pairing them with some b/w checkered flags, and maybe some of the other truck's flags (each monster truck has their own flag that is attached to the back of the truck, for all those who are not familiar with them. Read: me, two weeks ago LOL). A DIY project, I am sure :)

Although I am not sure who is more excited to have it: Jason or the birthday boy. Ha!

Tomorrow I will be here with some pictures of an AMAZING thrift find I got today, so I hope to see you then!

xo,

Rachel



Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: EarthDay Inspired Party Decorations

Hello! I hope everyone is doing well :) We have a house full of sickies here (little, whiney ones to be exact. Ha!)

Tomorrow we go to check out some venues to have Jameson's party at. I am always torn on whether to have parties at our home or to have them at a "destination." And by destination, let's be honest, I mean an indoor bounce house place. Is it just me, or is everyone's kid having thier parties at one?? I usually try to shy away from these places because they're expensive, impersonal, and well....just not as much fun as the parties I throw here :) As he gets older though, his parties are getting larger (his class is 25 students, and that's not including his other friends. And, as he has already informed me, we are inviting everyone in his class). My concern is having all these children at our home and not being able to entertain them enough. So, we are looking at different places. My main concern is being able to provide our own decorations (duh) and really making it personal. Wish us luck:)

In the mean time, in honor of Earth Day, here are some amazing projects that use objects probably already around your house. I love projects like these because they really keep the price in check when party planning!

Click on any link below to see full tutorials.

1. Cover up some aluminum cans in scrapbook paper or fabric to gather party supplies

2. Create rockets out of toilet paper and use as decoration or favor boxes

3.  Use tissue boxes to create monsters for a monster bash or for Halloween

4. Spray paint pickle jars to create an AMAZING favor box for a lego party (link unknown)

5. Any monster bash or dinosaur party would be perfect for these tissue box feet

6. Buy glasses and plates from a thrift store, paint, glue together, and voila! Cake stands!

7. Take your old soda bottles, fill with colored water (and maybe a glow stick!) and bowl

8. Create custum candy pouches from brown paper bags

9. Spray paint old cookie tins (Goodwill always has some!) to match your party theme

10. Use Sunday's newspaper for something other than coupons- create this wreath

Hope you are inspired to take something old and turn it into something amazing!

me? I am inspired to throw a lego party now! ha!

xo

Rachel



Series: The House on the Left

Hello!!

I had mentioned last week that I would be introducing a new series to the blog that would chronical some of the few gazzilion projects that I do on a daily for our house. A new house = a bunch of new projects for this gal, and I just CANT WAIT to get started :)

So, I bring to you:

This weekend was a lot of fun for us (okay, well mostly me. ha!)

As well as doing our normal tour of the few thrift shops around here, the outdoor flea market opened up for the season! a. this means that summer is officially right around the corner, and b. this girl could not be any happier :)

 I LOVE flea markets. I feel like you never know what you will find and that the next treasure is right around the corner.

Total score for the weekend left us with lots to love...

...like this adorable little vintage toy bank for only $4 (!!). I must say, it was love at first sight, and was our first purchase of the day, setting the tone for the rest of our hunt. (and, to keep it real, as proof that everything we own has been drawn on, just look at our poor books!)

This little steal-of-a-deal at $3 was bought for the intent of holding some cute soda bottles and burgers at the vintage 4th of July party I want to hold this summer. For now, it looks quite lovely on our side table :)

Some things we found need a little love...

....like these instument candle stick holders. A little brasso action and I think these babies will look amazing. I found them at a thrift store up here, and had to go back a second time to go pick them up because I couldn't stop thinking about them. They are just such a fun, unique bunch of little acccessories, don't you think?? The placemats I found were only $2 for all 4, which I snatched up, even though I have no idea what to do with them. We are not placemat type of people (plus they are hand wash only--ha! I have 3 kids, so they would last a week in our house), but the design is so lovely, that I just know I will come up with something to use them for.

...And a few of the things are going to need a whole-lotta love:

I am excited to redo that ugly chair in the middle. We bought two of them, and I just know that I can make them look beautiful...I hope :)  

As well as a BUNCH of paint, I picked up some fabric to get started on some projects:

All in all, this was a  successful weekend "hunting" that left me with a lot of projects to fill up the next couple of weeks. I can't wait to show you some 'after' pictures :)

Hope your week is going great!

xo,

Rachel



Adorable ideas for an Easter themed 1st Birthday or Baby Shower

I shared with you yesterday some of my ideas for a global themed easter with items I found from Etsy. While I was browsing all the amazing items out there, I kept coming across some of the most adorable items that would be just perfect for an Easter/Spring themed 1st birthday or baby shower.

1./ 2. / 3. /4./ 5. / 6. / 7. / 8. / 9. / 10. / 11. / 12.

Aren't these just some of the sweetest things you have ever seen?

Although I have never choosen a holiday as a party theme before, I am really inspired by some of these photos! How about you? Have you ever had a Halloween themed birthday or Christmas wedding??

Hope you all have an inspired weekend! I am hoping to get my act together this weekend and finally post my Care Bear collection to my Etsy store...wish me luck!

xo,

Rachel

Global Easter via Etsy

As well as unpacking what I am sure was our 10,000th box this week, I also unpacked some of our Easter decorations. Which, may I say, is sorely lacking...nothing a little shopping couldn't cure, I am sure :)  That said, however, Jason now has me on a strict budget every time I leave to go down the road to HomeGoods (our new house is now suuuuper close to a HomeGoods store, and I miiight have gone a little over board since moving in. What can I say? Pillows make me happy.)

I have way too much going on this year with unpacking and party planning to even THINK about a DIY project. So, for now it is strictly dreaming :)

Since I am obsessed with all the beautiful colors of this season (think, aquas and tangerines), I thought it might be fun to to do a sort of  "global" theme. Throw in a bright ikat pillow or two, and I would be in heaven :)

Here is a little eye candy I found on Etsy:

1./2./3./4./5./6.

Fabulous, right?

Do you decorate for Easter or Spring in bright colors or pastels? I think my eye is always drawn to the brighter colors.

Hope you have an inspired day!

xo,

Rachel

Care Bear Party, part 1

Hello!

Today's post is kind of a sneak peak of the Care Bear party, because I am only showing off some of the rainbow decorations I made. I wanted to do this post first because I really think the decorations are beautiful and perfect for St. Patrick's Day (in fact, we still have ours up!)

For all my parties I try to think of creative ways to make a big impact on a small budget. The projects I am showing you today were made with some of the CHEAPEST items: scrapbook paper and crepe paper! Half the time I have this stuff on hand just lying around; if not I cut myself a coupon and head to the nearest craft store :) For this party, everything was centered around clouds and, of course, rainbows. The colors used could always be swapped out to match your theme, however :) But, I have to say, seeing all these bright colors sure have put a smile on my face!

The first project I made were the streamer "wind socks".  I have done this project for a lot of the parties I have thrown, because it so super easy and super cheap. My plan had been to have them hanging outside near the front door, however, it was much too windy during our party to do so. So, inside they went (and still are!)

Things you will need are:

Crepe paper (I keep a drawer full of just about every color so I always have it on hand)

Yarn, or some kind of sturdy string

Tape

Something for the circular base. I used a metal wreath thing I bought a few years back. Anything circular could be used, however as long as it is sturdy.

***Also, you could totally switch out the crepe paper for ribbon. This would instantly make it look more expensive and probably last awhile longer. If I was using ribbon, I would suggest hot gluing it onto the base instead of tape***

First, I tied 3 pieces of yarn equal distances away from each other on the base, and then tied them all together, making sure that when it hung it was even and not slanted.

Next, I cut out a long piece of crepe paper (twice as long as you want it to hang), and placed it over the metal, so it hung equally from both sides. I did the same with the next color, and then taped the two to the base with one slice of tape.

Repeat until you are there is no space left. I kept our color pattern the same as all the rainbows I used throughout the party: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple.

In the past, I have been strict about having all the streamers the same length, but I really love how these are staggared at different lengths; it gives it this beautiful, messy look.

Simple, but beautiful, right??

The next three projects were all created using the same technique and all used cardstock paper.

Although I sewed all these together using a sewing machine, you could tape it instead. That is what I used to do before my sewing machine came into my life. However, sewing it is SO much easier and really makes it look so much better (and if you take care of it, you could reuse it for another party!), there is no way I would ever go back!

First, cut you paper into strips. Mine are about 1". Also, I used 12 x 12 paper, however in the past I have used standard 8.5 x 11, and it comes out just as great. Repeat with each color. I used 1 sheet of each color (6 colors), and it was enough for the two garlands I made.

Next, cut out your heart shapes (or any shapes you want!)

I used my Cricut machine because it really made it much easier to cut out the gazzilion hearts I wanted to cut. However, you could always use a punch or even do it by hand. If you do free hand it, consider using felt... I have seen a bunch of tutorials out this using felt, and it just looks amazing. 

This project evolved from seeing all this paper I had left over from my cut outs. I kept thinking how beautiful it would look hanging up and all the beautiful shadows it could cast on the walls.

Next, create a little production line and run all your pieces through a sewing machine. I was lazy this time, and didn't bother changing my thread to match each color, so everything is sewn with the yellow that was already in there :)  For the paper strips, I just sewed right down the middle. For the hearts, I did it just above the center, that way the top wouldn't be to heavy and flip over when I went to go hang it up. For the paper strips, since they are hung vertically, it is best to weigh them down a little with a bead or something. Also, make sure you leave plenty of thread in the beginning to hang your garlands from!

I didn't show the other garland (the one where we took our heart shapes from), because I just taped string onto those and hung them.

I have done these before, and everytime I am shocked by how much impact they provide!!

Combined with our "cloud" pom poms they really played up our theme :)

The heart garland we used behind our ice cream bar.

So, here it is: Super easy, super cheap Rainbow Decorations!!

I hope you are inspired to add some to your party!

xoxo,

Rachel