The first episode of Design Star on HGTV, aired last Monday night, and I can tell you I am already a huge fan of this season! I am loving the fact Tanika Ray is the host, and she did a FAB job last week. The three judges, Vern Yip, Genevieve Gorder and Candice Olsen were much more supportive and encouraging this year! I love it!
The first episode started off with a huge challenge this year! The designers were paired up and, each team was responsible for decorating a room in an empty three-story New York penthouse. My favorite room of the night was the great room, decorated by Leslie Ezell and Cathy Hobbs:
My favorite part of the room was the tire tread coffee table, which Leslie picked out! Check it out:
It really was a great room! The loser of the challenge and the first designer to leave the show was Blanche Garcia, who designed a bedroom with Mark Diaz. Her random "doily"votive holders on the wall, and botched wallpaper frames, contributed to her demise.
I really think this season started off with a bang and a HUGE challenge! I can't wait to see what is next!
Design Star episode 2 airs tonight at 9pm/8c on HGTV
Disclosure: This post is part of a sponsored campaign by Crafterminds and HGTV Design Star. My opinions are my own.
Well, technically the party was almost 2 months ago, which was about the last time I posted. What is up with that? I think with all the excitement and festivities during the month of May, I needed some time to decompress. Yeah, that's it. We'll go with that! So to play a little catch up, I need to post about Madison's Graduation Party!
We held the party in the backyard of my brother's gorgeous house, the Friday night before her Sunday graduation, and it worked out perfect. We did have a few rain sprinkles, but for the most part the weather held.
First up, the decorations. Madi's favorite color is purple, so I knew that would have to be on of the colors in the color scheme. Since yellow seems to be "in" right now, I thought that make a nice choice to add to the purple. I made the usual tissue paper flowers that you see all over blog land, and added some paper lanterns
We strung some white Christmas lights from the fireplace to the trees, over the stone patio.
I made a purple and yellow bunting banner from scrapbook paper to drape from the covered patio
I also used my trusty Silhouette to cut out some vinyl in a celebratory message for the wall of the garage, under the enclosed patio. I surrounded the message with a bunch of pictures of Madi throughout the years
I also strung picutres of Madi witht he friends from the last 4 years of high school Lot's of dance pictures, cheerleading photos, etc. It's hard to tell, but they are hung from ribbon with tiny clothes pins.
I bought two large bouquets of flowers from Costco that morning, and split them up in to several different vases. One on the food table, the stone fireplace, the wine table, and the entry table. They were gorgeous yellow and purple flowers with some white daisies too!
I also had a small entry table as guest arrived in the back yard. It had Madi's yearbook, for friends that hadn't signed it yet, as well as advice/memory cards for friends and family to fill out for Madi. Giving her advice for the years to come, or a favorite memory.
The menu was pretty simple and easy, which worked out great. We had pulled pork and roast turkey from Sugarhouse BBQ Company which was delish! Along with rolls, a yummy pasta salad, fresh fruit, chips and salsa, shrimp, and cupcakes for dessert.
The cupcake toppers were made from scrapbook paper, my giant scallop punch, and were glued to toothpicks. Super easy!
We also rented a cotton candy machine (Madi loves cotton candy), that was a HUGE hit with the kids AND parents!
At about the time the party actually started, I put my camera down and never picked it up again! What was I thinking? Too busy hostessing and visiting, I guess. Thankfully Madi took a few photos!
It was a super fun night, and we all had a great time! We had the fireplace going, another firepit lit, and dancing in the garage! Just wish I would have taken more photos!
Thanks for hanging in there through all the photos! And for being patient with my blog-vacation! Guess, what? It's friday! TGIF! Hope you have a great weekend!
Thanks to Trop50 for sponsoring my writing about fabulous bloggers. This year Trop50 is granting 50 Fabulous Wishes. Click here to enter for a chance to win $1,000 to celebrate a friend with a refreshing attitude about looking and feeling fabulous!
Today, I want to tell you about 5 FABULOUS blogs that I visit every single day! I visit all of them for a variety of different reasons and inspiration. Check them out!
Nie Nie is EXTREMELY inspirational! She and her hubby (Mr. Nielsen) are recovering from a horrific airplane crash. Her story and her will to live is just plain fabulous! Her blog is also full of lots and lots of eye candy! Lots of fun colors and style!
Talk about MORE eye candy! Ashley's blog is full of inspiration in her photos and decorating! Check out her fabulous bedroom and chicken wire wall HERE. Awesome! Also, her darling little Firecracker is recovering from a broken leg as well, and it has been inspiring to read how Ashley spent so much time in the hospital with her, yet continued to inspire all of her blog readers!
Another fabulous blogger! Shelley is HILARIOUS! I love her posts about her adorable "chicks", and I love her style! She has done some serious decorating! Check out this FABULOUS photo gallery wall HERE. I LOVE IT!
I absolutely love what these DIY'ers do! They recently purchase a "new" to them home and are slowing but surely redoing it! Check out their new patio HERE, which they finished just in time for their little bean's (Clara) FIRST BIRTHDAY PARTY. These two even DIY'd their WEDDING! Check it out!
Jen @ Tatertots and Jello ALWAYS has the best ideas! Whether it's CRAFTING, or DECORATING or RECIPES, Jen has got it covered! Her blog is a daily does of creativity! You MUST check her out!
What do you guys think? Do you read the blogs above? What blogs are your must read blogs? I would love to hear!
Also, if you aren't already a follower of my blog, I would love you to be! 😉 Don't forget to enter the 50 Fabulous Wishes contest for a chance to win $1,000 to celebrate a friend with a refreshing attitude about looking and feeling fabulous. I was selected for this Tropicana Trop50 sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do. I received compensation to use and facilitate my post.
I was at the Dollar Store on Saturday, and happened to pick up some random bird figurines, with the thought of painting them white. BUT, after seeing these in the PB Kids catalog:
I thought….hmmm……let's give them a little coat of silver! Yes? I thought so too!
So they went from this:
to this:
to this:
What do you think? Me likey!
PB cost: $29 for two
My cost: $2 for two!
I already had the spray paint! Just paid a buck each for the birds!
Thanks you everyone, who chimed in via this blog post and facebook, regarding my curtains dilemma! The verdict is in, and most everyone thinks the curtains should stay. I totally agree! I'm loving my master bath again!
and another big thanks to Emily at Decorchick! , who also featured my bath remodel HERE. PLEASE stop on these two blogs and show them some love! They are both very, very talented gals! 🙂
In other news……IT'S BACK!!!!! THE PLEURISY! Seriously, what? Why? Can I not ever get over this crap?!?!?!?
Thanks for all the well wishes and love! Y'all are the best!
The best news of the day? It's Friday! Woot Woot! Enjoy your day and I hope you all have a FABULOUS weekend!
Here are some more photos! Before, During and After!
I'm noticing that my camera lens is pretty dirty! Excuse the spots! Yikes!
I'd love to hear what you think! I have some curtains to hang, but I am still a bit undecided on them. The paint color is Sherwin Williams Sea Salt. I'm in love!
So…here we go again. Another master bath sneak peek. I know, I know….you are wondering when (if?) we are going to finish the master bath. I mean this was just a mini-remodel, right? Well progress has been made, slowly but surely! Don't believe me? Let's refresh your memory, shall we? Here is the BEFORE
Purdy, isn't she? 😉
You can see our updated vanity and mirror here our new tile here and our new faucet here…all that leads me to this:
We installed board and batten last weekend and got the tile grouted!
Can I get a Woot Woot?
What is the plan for this weekend, you ask? Okay, I know you didn't ask, but humor me, mkay!
Not too bad! Should be able to get that done this weekend, right? Maybe? 🙂
Then I get to hang curtains and decorate!
Oh, and move the toilet out of the bathtub (what, you don't have a toilet in your bathtub?)
Whatevs.
And one more thing…..guess what? It is FRIDAY! Finally!
Lot's of great stuff out in blog land this week! Check it out!
Jen @ Tatertots and Jello made these Valentines Day pillows! Super cute! Her blog is one of my most favorites! She always has the cutest ideas!
Check out this cute wreath, chalkboard and chandy necklace @ Madigan Made
I love that she changes out the decor around the chalkboard, and the quote on the chalkboard for every holiday/month! Very creative!
I love this idea! Valentine Frames from the girls @ Eighteen25. When you drop by their website, prepare to spend some time there! Lots of GREAT craft ideas!
My kids are too old to do valentines for their friends and teachers anymore, but how cute are these? I've got to figure out a way to make these for SOMEONE! :) Ashley Ann @ Under the Sycamore made these CRUSH Valentines! So creative!
She also has some AWESOME recipes on her blog check 'em out! She is always making, baking or cooking something!
And two Etsy shops I want to tell you about. My super, fabulously talented cousin and her daughter make these adorable headbands
How freakin' cute are they? She sells all sorts of these darling things! You can find her etsy shop here: Maisey's Daiseys. Please go show her some LOVE!
And my sweet, crafty friend Laura has these darling necklaces!
I bought one from her HERE and it is even more darling in person! I love it! Please take a moment to see how cute these necklaces are!
So many cute, crafty things out there in blog land this week! If you click on any of the links listed above, please feel free to share some lovely comments with them! They are some of the most talented women out there!
