Hey Ya’ll,
I’m back to add a little bit of fun to an otherwise busy work week! Today’s wedding style quiz includes three very different sets of floral arrangements that are perfect for three very different kinds of weddings.
So… if you were getting married tomorrow, and you had to chose one of these floral themes for your wedding, which one would you chose?
Let me know in the comment section below or respond via my Facebook Page or twitter page @yourBASHbworley.
-Brian
Hey Ya’ll,
St. Patrick’s Day is this Sunday (March 17, 2013), so today I’m highlighting a few cute ideas I’ve come across for food, favors, decorations and drinks, sure to liven up your St. Patty’s Day celebrations.
This cute DIY wreath by Sugar Bee Crafts is a great way to great your guests and get the party started! Click HERE for the full tutorial.
Another great DIY decor item is this fantastic shamrock garland, made simply by folding two different shades of green streamers and tracing a shamrock stencil on top. Next, you cut that shape out of each streamer. Click HERE for the full tutorial from Studio DIY.
Once they’re unfolded, affix the garlands to your walls or hang from your lighting fixtures or over your mantle to add the perfect pop of green to your party space.
Next, focus on adding fun pops of green to your party food–but try not to over do it with the green food coloring. Not everything looks appetizing in green! Here are some cute ideas to get you started:
Don’t forget, you can always add in some rainbow and pot-o-gold inspired foods too:
For drinks, stick to Guinness, green beer (add a few drops of green food-coloring) or apple martinis…
Use green sugar or sprinkles on the rim of your glasses for a nice finishing touch!
Do you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day? Let me know what your plans are in the comment section below. If you have any great St. Patty’s Day party tips or recipes, feel free to share them there as well.
-Brian
Hey Ya’ll,
I find the most interesting things while scrolling through my Pinterest feed! Today, I came across two tutorials pinned from a Chinese micro-blog called, weibo.com. Thanks to Pinterest, I was able to track down the original tutorials with all of the project details to share with all of you.
For the first project, originally featured on The Sweetest Occasion, you’ll need is a large bowl, some tape, and of course, some flowers!
weibo.com
Click HERE, to read through The Sweetest Occasion‘s full tutorial with step-by-step instructions.
For the second tutorial, originally from Better Homes and Gardens, you’ll need a few specific items. Some chicken-wire, potting soil, succulent plants, a pair of scissors, a large picture frame, and some plywood that you’ll have to cut to form a box on the back of the frame.
weibo.com
For Better Homes and Garden‘s full slideshow tutorial and step-by-step instructions, click HERE.
So tell me, what’s your favorite flower to display in your home this time of year?
-Brian
Image via glamor.com
Hey Ya’ll,
Since I am neither a chef, nor a bartender, and I’d like to include ideas for both singles and couples, today I’m offering up four creative ways you can celebrate this Valentine’s Day!
Image via ttp://www.hp.com
1) Plan a scavenger hunt that takes you around town to a few of your favorite places. Start at a bar where you may have met or had your first date and have a drink there. Then, give a clue for a restaurant where you love one of their appetizers and go there for apps. Next, hop in the car with a new clue that takes you to another favorite restaurant for dinner. The last clue can lead you back home or even to Yogurtland (which you can get to go). End the night with dessert and having toured a few of your favorites spots around town and fitting them into one fun-filled evening.
Image via whiskergraphics.com
2) Make a memory bag of goodies! Maybe you met at Barney’s (or any establishment) while shopping, you could take a Barney’s shopping bag, cover it with hearts and fill it with things that remind you of your relationship. Maybe your first date was at a Chinese restaurant, simply get a bag of fortune cookies and put a red bow on each one, then open them together to see what your future holds. You could also purchase the first movie on DVD that you watched together and wrap that up in pink or red paper. If your favorite flavor is vanilla, add a vanilla scented candle. Pull ideas from experiences that you have had together and find creative ways to incorporate them into the gift. At the bottom of the bag or basket, have one final gift that is an envelope for two nights away together or maybe a piece of jewelry. This way, the bag is filled with memories from the past and ends with a gift for a memory for the future.
Image via ktjeandesigns.wordpress.com
3) Balloon fortune cookies! Plan a night in with a romantic dinner, but rather than filling the house with roses which cost triple the price on Valentine’s Day, fill the house will helium balloons filled with kind words in the form of handwritten love notes. Throughout the night, pop the balloons and create a scrap book with the messages of LOVE!
4) Recreate your first date! Turn your dining room into the pizza parlor where you had your first date or the Chinese restaurant, etc. Re-create the meal or even order from the first date restaurant and have a romantic dinner at home. If you can, try to make the meal interactive. If you can cook it together or feed each other, you are one step closer to ending the night cuddled up in each others arms.
What is your favorite Valentine’s Day memory? Let me know in the comment section below… Only a couple of days left until the big day!
-Brian
Hey Ya’ll,
Do you pack a lunch for your child? Valentine’s Day happens to fall on school day this year (Thursday, Feb. 14), so it’s the perfect opportunity to put a smile on your little sweetheart’s face and keep them feeling special all-day!
Candy box lunch via Katherine Marie Photography
My favorite idea is pulled from KatherineMaries.com. You’ll need to buy a few of those heart-shaped boxes of chocolates in a couple different sizes. (BONUS: You’ll need to eat all of the chocolates inside ASAP! Or, I guess you could save them or set them out in a candy dish if you have self-control!)
Once you have your empty box, begin filling each slot with a fun, colorful snack! Some great ideas include: grapes, cheese, peppers, carrots, cucumbers, Jello, fruit snacks, strawberries, crackers, mini-turkey roll-ups, deli meats, cereal, popcorn, blueberries, broccoli, tangerine, raisins, raspberries, pretzels, etc. The smaller chocolate boxes are great for heart-shaped PB&J’s or any other sandwich or pita or even a cold pasta or a mini-salad. Once packed, stack the boxes and tie them together with ribbon! Your kids’ lunch will be the envy of every student in the lunchroom!
Image via Smuckers.ca
Image via yourhomebasedparties.com
Healthy Snacks:
Make any sandwich more special by cutting the crusts off using a heart-shaped cookie cutter. Go one step further and add cupid’s arrow using a red or pink heart-tipped arrow shaped toothpick.
You could also top the sandwich with a treat, by adding a red, heart-shaped gummy candy to the top of a toothpick!
Slice an apple into circular discs, then, using your smallest heart-shaped cookie-cutter, stamp out individual hearts.
Image via wilsonsandpugs.blogspot.com
Crackers and cheese can be spiced up with the help of a heart shaped cookie cutter as well! Add salami or pepperoni to really make the heart pop!
Sweet n’ Salty Snacks:
Pack a bag of hugs and kisses using pretzels and chocolate. Create the X’s using two pretzel sticks held together with a dot of melted white-chocolate, and the O’s by covering circle shaped pretzels in dark chocolate. Add pink and red sprinkles for fun! Click HERE for the full tutorial from GEMS Girls’ Club. Tip: Make these the night before so the chocolate has time to cool and set before being thrown into a ziplock.
Make a batch of rice crispy treats, but add in a few drops of red food coloring the the marshmallow mixture. Feel free to add other pink, red and white hard-candies or sprinkles into the mix too! Then, before they are cool, form the traditional square into a 3-D heart! Place individually in cellophane with a red bow!
For a sweet finishing touch, toss in a handful of white chocolate chips tucked into fresh raspberries.
Regardless of what you pack, don’t forget to toss in a special note to remind your Valentine how much you care. Click HERE for free printable love notes from the Chickabug blog.
And for even MORE great kids’ lunch ideas for Valentine’s Day, check out: www.bento-logy.blogspot.com.
Did your mom or dad used to do anything special with your school lunch on different holidays? Let me know in the comments section below.
-Brian
Hey Ya’ll,
Last year I did a Valentine’s Day blog series showcasing a few creative ways to celebrate the holiday whether you’re single or in a relationship. This year, I’m doing something similar, but I’m focusing solely on food!
So I want to know… Do you prefer cooking a heart-y meal for your sweetheart(s) on Valentine’s Day or do you like to eat out? Do any of you order in? Also, regardless of where you eat, which meal of the day do you choose to make special: breakfast, lunch or dinner?
If you have a few moments, let me know in the comments section below. I’ve got a bunch of ideas brewing but I’d love to know what your plans are! Also, in case you missed it last year, here are My Thoughts on Valentine’s Day Proposals.
-Brian
Related Posts:
Hey Ya’ll,
I’m always in search of creative ways to give my parties a fun, personalized touch! So, when I saw this cute DIY Paper Runner project on one of my favorite blogs, “Oh Happy Day”, I decided to share it with you here.
This project is a creative and easy way to save money on expensive table linens for your next dinner party or even a formal event like a wedding. Once completed, you can use this runner without a tablecloth, or dress it up by pairing it with your favorite solid or patterned table linens.
All you’ll need is a pair of scissors, a roll of Kraft paper, some paint, and a paintbrush! You can do this on brown paper using white paint (as shown), or use white or black paper, or even colored paper. The same goes for the paint, just be sure to keep it simple. You might even try using stencils to paint on your paper if you’d like it to look a little cleaner or attempt a more intricate design.
Let me know if you decide to attempt this project! It looks as fun to make as it does on the table.
-Brian
Hey Ya’ll,
This time of year, I get asked the same question by just about everyone I know: “What are the easiest ways to decorate for the holidays that will make an impact, are easy to put up and take down, and won’t break the bank?” So, in an effort to help ya’ll do just that, I put together a list of my Top 10 holiday decorating tips!
Target
1) While shopping at Target the other day, I discovered these collapsible 5′ tinsel trees! They are a quick and easy solution for adding a burst of holiday spirit anywhere in your home, office, dorm or apartment. Were talking, Instant assembly and simple storage. This fun pop-up tree is a perfect holiday accent. They come in gold, red, silver, hot pink, apple green and turquoise… just pop up a few of them and your space will be instantly festive!
2) Everyone has empty boxes around the house, pick up some holiday wrapping paper at a discount store (or use left over scraps from last year), build the boxes (moving boxes, shoe boxes, all different sizes) wrap them up, tie on the perfect bow, stack them high and let everyone wonder what is inside! It’s a great way to decorate on a budget.
3) Nothing screams, “HOLIDAYS!” more than Poinsettias. This past weekend, I picked up some 10″ pots with huge potted poinsettias at Costco and Home Depot had the smaller pots for a whopping 99 cents. Just like the wrapped presents, place them strategically around the house. The hardest part of this decoration is remembering to water them!!!
4) Everyone always has a few left over ornaments, so find a couple glass bowls or a few apothecary jars and fill them with whatever is left over, or even pick up a few additional ornaments at a discount store and create a stunning centerpiece or the perfect mantle display. If you really want to get fancy, add a candle or two to the mix!
5) Like a poinsettia, pine cones also make people think of the holidays. Cut some choice branches off from the bottom of your tree or the back that will face the wall, line them up down the center of the table, on the mantle or on a buffet, then, add some pine cones into the mix and if you can, add some white string lights as well to make this a truly bright idea!
Image/Tutorial via Real Simple
6) This tip is as easy as 1, 2, 3… all you’ll need is a hot glue gun, some Nilla Wafers, various size tree shaped Styrofoam cones, paper, and some powered sugar! Wrap the cone in white construction paper (this will keep the hot glue from melting the cone) then start gluing the Nilla Wafers to the tree form, carefully stacking them on top of each other to make branches. Finally, dust the wafers with some powered sugar and you have just created a winter wonderland that can be used as a centerpiece or on your mantle!
7) I always say the first place to shop when you’re decorating is around your own house! Candles are the perfect accessory that help to illuminate your house and nothing is more beautiful the natural candle light. Here are a few helpful tutorials for decorating with candles or making your own!
8) Target has a HUGE selection of Christmas stockings starting as low as $1.00. I recommend picking up a few and then decorating them with your handy glue gun and inexpensive craft store decorations, left over fabric, or even household items. Here’s a tutorial for making stockings at home. Once your done, hang them by your chimney with care or anywhere else around the house that is in need of a pop of holiday color!
9) During the holidays we are given a free pass to eat, drink, and be merry; so why not use food as decoration by putting it on display for everyone to enjoy with more than just the sense of taste, but also the sense of sight, touch and smell. This idea makes the gingerbread house edible and clean up a breeze!
Image via CB2.com
10) One of my mom’s best holiday decorating tricks is switching out the pillows around the living room year after year, with some fun holiday pillows that she stores inside the coffee table during the year. She packs away the accent pillows for Christmas and it is quick, easy and they are reusable year after year! Here’s two more cute holiday pillows:
Image via Target.com
Image via Pier1.com
Hey ya’ll,
Whether the candidate you vote for wins or loses, the main focus of an election day party should be uniting the states of America via your closest friends and family! Take this opportunity to go back to our roots as proud Americans and illuminate the things that are unique to our culture.
Image via Apartmenttherapy.com
FOOD: The centerpiece to any great celebration is often the food, so try to make your election day menu special with a little bit of thought and planning! I think that comfort foods are always great for any party—but for an election day party there are a few dishes that scream “American”. Here are a few to include:
Image via MarthaStewart.com
Image via http://lisastorms.typepad.com/
Here are a few more delicious and attractive snack options from ImpressedInc.com:
DRINKS:
Always be sure to have a variety of drink options for guests who prefer non-alcoholic beverages.
Image via blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com
Here are some easy tips for continuing your election day theme with your party’s beverages:
Image via img2.etsystatic.com
Image via http://www.domesticblissdiaries.com
DECOR:
You don’t have to do much to dress up your home or a venue for an election day party, just add a dash of red, white and blue to each room!
Try making a few tin can luminaries – they’re a little bit of work but a great DIY decoration! Here’s what you’ll need:
Click HERE to head to CraftsforAllSeasons.com for their step-by-step instructions on how to make these tin can luminaries.
For even more election day party tips, check out my Memorial Day post–it’s chock full of red, white and blue inspiration. No matter how you spend this election day, make sure that you make it out to the polls and cast your VOTE if you haven’t already!
-Brian
Hey Ya’ll,
I know how much work goes into a really great Halloween costume, so I figured I’d give people another place to show theirs off!
Post your Halloween costume in the comment section below or email it to me at: brianworley007@gmail.com and I’ll post it here for you! I bet you all looked great–can you tell which alien is me in my photo above??? Let the guessing begin!
I hope you all had a fantastic and safe Halloween night chock full of spooky tricks and tasty treats galore.
-Brian
