Pinterest Party Planning

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Vincent’s fourth birthday is less than a month away, which seems crazy.  He’s growing up so fast.  When I asked him what kind of party he wanted, he said he wanted colored balloons.  So, I took that theme to Pinterest to get inspired.  I found rainbow, balloon and sprinkle ideas galore.

Spelling out FOUR with cheap letters from the craft store and tying balloons is a fun welcome.

Maybe I’ll add a balloon wreath for extra pizzazz.

A balloon banner would also be a really cheap decoration.

For the dining room, a balloon and tissue paper pom-pom hanging bouquet is fun.

Sprinkles are another way I plan to add pops of color.  Sprinkles around the rims of chocolate milk?  I’ll take that.

Cake pops decked out in sprinkles and drizzled icing.  Cute, but might be too difficult for a non-baker such as myself.

Oreo pops, however, seem right up my alley.

Zig zag paper streamers in a variety of colors is an easy (maybe V can help?) decoration.

Fresh fruit skewers are a simple, healthy and pretty party food.

I’ve seen a few cakes I think would be fitting for a four-year old and adults.  Maybe a polka dot cake?

Or maybe a candy cake?

If we knew more little kids, recycled crayons could be a cute party favor.

That’s the direction we’re headed.  Invitations will be sent out soon.  As soon as our guests receive them, we’ll share the details.

Do you choose the party theme, or let your kids?  What are your favorite themes?  Your kids?  Any party planning tips or tricks?  Favorite cake recipe?

Gimme a Giveaway: Cottage Light Studio

Published on by Our Humble Abode61 Comments

***This giveaway is no longer accepting entries, Thank You!***

Summer is nearing the end, but it will live on forever in your home through today’s giveaway.  Cottage Light Studio is an Etsy shop filled with beautiful photographic prints, just oozing summer goodness.

Waiting to Play:

In a Cottage by the Sea:

Vintage Summer:

Summer of Love:

Summer Meadow:

The Goods: One 5 inch by 5 inch photographic print of your choice.

To Enter: Subscribe to follow Our Humble A{Bowe}d, if you’re not already.  To subscribe, click the “Sign Me Up!” button under “Be the first to know.”  Once you’ve subscribed, leave a comment, which can (but doesn’t have to) include our Just for Fun question.

Just for Fun: Tell us what you do to savor summer.  Camping?  Days on the water?

For additional entries:

1. Add Cottage Light Studio to your Etsy favs, come back and leave a comment telling us what your favorite item is.

2. Like Our Humble A{Bowe}d on Facebook, come back and leave another comment.

Contest Closes: Thursday, August 25th at 11:59 pm, central time.

Number of Winners: One!

Ships: Anywhere, meaning globally.

Other Info: We will select the winner using random.org and announce on Friday, August 26th.  Good luck!!

All  images found via the featured Etsy seller’s listing as linked above.  Copyright protected.

Please note:  We were not compensated for this post.

It’s a Wash

Published on by Our Humble Abode4 Comments

We mentioned a tiny change we recently made to the kitchen.  It definitely isn’t a drastic change, but certainly was necessary.  Until last weekend, our kitchen faucet was sad.  And ugly.

And old.  And creaky.

And leaky.

Ben and I discussed what style we wanted and needed.

  • A single hole instillation was a must.
  • Pull down style is preferred from pull out.  Wondering what the difference is?  Our old faucet is a pull out, but a pull down faucet has an arched neck, so the sprayer pulls down.
  • Brushed nickel or brushed stainless finish.  No polished chrome.
  • The sleeker the design, the better.
  • Made by Kohler, Moen or Delta.
  • The cheaper the better, without sacrificing quality.

A quick trip to Home Depot yielded great results.  We decided on the Kohler Simplice for $218.

We brought the faucet home, unpacked it, and held it in place to make sure the granite window sill didn’t stick out too far for the faucet to fit in.  A sigh of relief, the faucet just barely fit.  So, we cleared out the cabinet and Ben started installing.

 

Less than 30 minutes later, including a trip to the hardware store for longer screws, we had a shiny new faucet.    Oooh.

It has a sleek pull down sprayer, complete with a stop button.  Ahhh.

Sadly, it isn’t in the remodeled kitchen, but it is prettier and doesn’t leak!  Of course, we’ll use the new faucet after the remodel, too.

Do you have a long list of requirements when looking for a new faucet?  What style do you dream of?  An industrial sprayer?  Have a color preference?

Etsy Favs: August

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It’s that time again.  Etsy time!  Honestly, Etsy posts are some of my favorite to write because I remember all the lovely things I have added over the past few weeks.

Let’s start with art, like the Ginko Leaves screen print from Bold and Noble.

For a fun, 3D conversation piece, check out 57 fish by Karoart.  Hmm, could I make a 3D clay piece?

We’re still obsessed with birds and feathers, including this watercolor painting by Amber Alexander.

An original water-color painting for $35?  Say yes to Disappear by Water Color Paper.

Combine an original art piece, feathers, and a budget and you’ll get this original feather painting by Fairysomnia.


Yep, more feather paintings. This time from La Berge.

Just for kicks, how about a feather etching from Atelier28?


Along with feathers, I’ve been eyeing several text prints, like Something Wonderful by Khamm75.

And this Love Together Forever print from Orange Beautiful.


Now that we’ve covered art, it’s time for housewares.

Fabric animal baskets from Hoganfe add style and function to a little person space.

For baby, here’s a cute wooden bird mobile from Snug Studio.

This bull/knife block/bookshelf/cheeseboard from Toro Legno is sure to spark a conversation.

These sunny yellow crochet snowflakes from Dolce Crochet would make wonderful coasters.

Speaking of coasters, this rainbow puzzle set by Artis Everything are so fun!

And another set of coasters.  I guess we have a lot of drinks.  This time, a natural set made of wood by Bella Glow.  If you have scrap wood, why not make coasters?

Apparently I have a crush on doilies lately because this mat by Gildem is really cute.  An adaptation of this would also make great, cheap art.

This chevron and gold vase by Jill Rosenwald is stunning (and expensive!).

On the opposite end of the spectrum, this white and gold paper mache bowl by Etco is affordable and elegant.  I seriously need to make something of paper mache.

Did you love paint by numbers as much as I did?  Well then, this pillow by Shop Dirtsa and you are a match made in heaven.

We don’t need another calendar, but I’m still tempted to get this perpetual calendar from Orange Beautiful.

This geeky love note card from Dawn Correspondence was too cute not to include.

To see more of my favorites, stop by my Etsy profile.  And why not my shop while you’re in the neighborhood?

Plunge into the Lagoon

Published on by Our Humble Abode59 Comments

Well, I did it.  I painted the bathroom mirror.  Before, the mirror had a finish straight from the 90’s.  It didn’t look too bad from afar.

But get up close and you’ll pick up what I’m laying down.

On Thursday, I didn’t know which color I’d choose.  After much careful consideration deciding to take the bull by the horns, I chose the boldest option, Lagoon.  If I hated the color, I could easily paint the frame a safer color, like ORB (oil rubbed bronze) or white.  I picked up another can of Rustoleum’s Lagoon blue (a super pretty greenish blue) Ultra Coverage spray paint and got started.  First, I taped off the mirror, being careful to cover every part.

Two light coats of the satin finish paint later, I had a bold mirror.  And guess what?  I loved it.  After allowing several hours of air drying time, I brought the mirror downstairs and hung it up.  I peeled off the kraft paper, but left the taped edges, just incase Ben hated it.  I don’t know how he could, just look at the drama the color adds.

By the way, the color in this photo seems off.  In person, it looks extremely similar to the Ikea bottle on the left.  This is the most accurate picture I could get of the color.

Pretty, right?!  Luckily, Ben saw it and said he didn’t care whether it was blue or the original finish.  Right after his half-hearted approval, I tore the tape off to make the mirror officially done.

Now, when you enter the bathroom, you’re greeted by this.  Hello, lovely.

And, the bold color still works well with the muted sea green paint color in the adjoining theater room.

I think we’ll keep on trucking in the peacock-blue direction.  So much so that I’m looking at everything to see where I’ll add another unexpected pop of color.  Next stop, art.  And finally putting an outlet cover on that outlet.

Do the new changes float your boat?  Like the bold color enough to try it in your own home?  Where do you have unexpected pops of color?