Monday, July 4, 2011

IMPROVISED 4TH OF JULY DECORATIONS ON THE CHEAP!



HAPPY 4TH OF JULY FRIENDS!

Curtis and I are so excited for today's festivities!  Our little "Casa Del Playa" is one of the BEST places to be on the 4th of July.  From our little beach we can see 3 to 5 firework shows!  Every year we invite our friends and family over for potluck, bonfire, and fireworks!  It's always such a blast.
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It's been a while since we've had friends over to our house.  We've been in a constant state of remodeling and the house is never quite up to par and were honestly just too tired!  So Curtis and I worked our bums off this week finishing a bunch of projects and getting the house to a some what reasonable state.  So needless to say, we wanted to keep everything very simple this year for 4th of July.  Were having some friends and family over for a potluck and we've picked up a rotisserie chicken and a few goodies from our farmers market. 
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As we were getting things together this morning, I started remembering all these things I have hiding around the house that I could pull out real quick to do a little decorating!
(Excuse the low quality photos, the batteries in my camera died, so I took these with my phone!)

I pulled out an awesome 4 tiered serving set that Curtis and I snagged of Craigslist for $15 for our wedding!
I also love how my fun Ikea dandelion chandelier looks just like a big firework!
I didn't even plan that!




We picked up some yummy treats from the store, and our wonderful next door neighbor made us a fresh loaf of banana bread.  She's such a doll!  We also got these delicious strawberries from one of the local Farmers Markets Curtis and I work at.  They are currently marinating in sugar!  Yum!


Did a little decorating on my toes and pulled out these little cup cake wrappers and made some patriotic streamers with a little bit of twine this morning.  Aren't they cute and cheap to boot!



My husband and I were just going to set up a simple folding table in our entry way for all the potluck food.... but then I remembered I had a red and a star patterned table cloth tucked away in one of our linen bins!  I yanked those puppies out!  I pulled the star in from our outside patio.  The cute picnic basket and apple box I use as a display for my "Little Road" shop at the farmers market.  We picked up a few cheep flowers at the market and stuffed them in the middle, and put some drinking cups on on one side.  The sparklers we had left over from our wedding, and I put them in a vintage blue mason jar with a patriotic imprint on the front.  I've been collecting old mason jars forever so I just had this hanging around the house.  We also use mason jars for all our drinking glasses.  A few more mason jars to hold utensils, and there ya go!  4th of July decorations for only a few pennies!
Sometimes if you use your imagination, you can do a whole lot with what you've already got!



We always keep a few Costco packs of drinking glasses, paper plates and plastic utensils on hand for whenever we have events.  It saves a lot of time and energy in the long run!


Curtis and I pick up fresh peanuts at the Farmers Market every week.  (Alvarez Farms makes the best!)
I bought a bunch of these cute popcorn bags a while back when I was at the craft store.... I figured they would come in handy some day!


My Aunt is also a family junker and I found this great mason jar in one of her antique stalls at Auntie Mable's Country Store in Paradise California.


My husband LOVES Rainer cherries!  He waits all year for them and they just started showing up at our Farmers Market.  PS. I love my Le Creuset batter bowl!  I thought the cherries looked so pretty in it.

And a few more mason jars just for the fun of it!
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I hope all of you are having a wonderful day playing outside, eating and watching fireworks!
What kind of plans do yall have for today?!

CHEERS!


Thursday, June 30, 2011

AN AMELIE INSPIRED WEDDING

Whoo, I've been so neglecting my poor little blog.  I do love you still, I promise!
Alright, enough schmoozing with the blog and lets get back on track!
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I'm pretty much completely in love with this wedding!
I think most everyone who has seen the french subtitled movie Amelie has fallen in love with the movie.  I love how this couple has incorporated so many of the fine details into their special day.
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I seriously just had a conversation with Curtis about how we should put our wedding clothes back on and do a creative photo shoot / video.  Sadly he told me that he thinks it's too late for us.  :O(
I may still have to wrangle him in for a creative video for one of our big anniversary's.

For those of you who have sadly never seen this movie.  I can't say how much you're missing out.  It's quirky, its fun, its lustful, its adventurous.  Amelie is the kind of girl we all wish we could be.  Completely in love with the wonder of life.
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So what an amazing idea to turn it into a wedding theme.




Even the little gnome had to make an appearance.


One gorgeous french cocktail bar!



The couple had their guests send in a snapshot of them selves with their RSVP card.  They cut them and fancied them in an Amelie style as place setting cards.  Genius!


And of course the Creme Brulee!!


The pictures are absolutely wonderful but check out the amazing video to go with it.
You can watch it HERE
(Sorry, I tried to attach it here but wasn't able to.)
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So dear readers, what would your wedding theme be?

CHEERS!



Sunday, June 19, 2011

TO MY DAD

I'm sure there are many wonderful Dads in this world. Though, I have to say, my Dad takes the cake. Even if one were to try, there is not another single one like him.
Through the years my dad has taught me;

To live every day as a new adventure.

And to always make the most out of what little I've got.

To always share with others less fortunate.



To hold on tight to the ones you love and always ENJOY THE RIDE!


He taught me to always work hard and really enjoy the work I do.


He taught me to give people hell whenever possible!


And to take a snooze whenever there is a chance.

He taught me to find love in music!


He taught me that even in the worst of times, there is always something worth smiling about.


He taught me that the future should always include and have room for the ones you love.

He taught me that the best me is just........ plain ole me.


My Dad taught me that there will always be chalenges along the way.....


But that he's always got me.



The older and bigger I get, he always remains bigger than me.  I look up and admire him in every way possible.  I love my dad as I love the stars.  He is a happy twinkling inside my heart.

HAPPY FATHERS DAY TO YOU DAD!
XOXO


Thursday, June 16, 2011

NEW SHOP ITEMS

Curtis and I have added a few new treasures to the shop this week.
If you're in the Seattle area, swing by the Des Moines Farmers Market this and every Saturday to take a look. If you can't make it, no problem, you can grab some goodies from THE SHOP!


Vintage Tarnished Silver Platter Chalkboard  $25
(Yes, it is a chalkboard... lol)

Vintage Crystal Bird Feeders $15


Brazilian Coffee Bunting Banner  $16



Vintage Steamer Trunk Coffee Table With Casters!  $65
Great for additional storage!
(Available only at the Saturday Market or by Reservation)

Vintage Roller Skates $15
(Come on, ya know you want to sing the song...... "Oh I've got a brand new pair of roller skates, and he's got a brand new key.")


Funky Up-cycled Sunshine Yellow Mail Box with Chalk Board Siding.  $20
(Who doesn't want a sunshine yellow mailbox?!)

That's it for now!  If you see something you must have, just send me a comment or a message.  I'm always happy to hold items in reserve and can send an invoice via Paypal. 

Cheers!


Tuesday, June 14, 2011

A FAIRY TALE AFFAIR

I saw this today on Design Sponge and found myself just head over heals.  I am officially smitten and in love with David Stark.  This imaginative ex painter now installs creative and beautiful collections at high end events and parties.  Just check out this amazing birthday luncheon he did in Washington DC.  David took inspiration from fairy tale books and decorated accordingly.   Oh my, the moss, the sea creatures, the torn out pages.... my little heart pitters at just the thought of having him decorate one of my parties.  lol

*All the wild horses*


*The Castle On The Top Of The Hill*


*The Princess And The Pea and the Golden Egg*


*Pirates Of The Caribbean and The Frog Prince*


*The world is your oyster*



*Such a heart felt message to tie it all together.*


If you would like to read about David Stark you can find him HERE

CHEERS!

Sunday, June 5, 2011

FAR ABOVE THE AVERAGE TV COMMERCIAL


Hi Friends!   Just a quick update on The Little Road's opening day at the Des Moines Waterfront Farmers Market.  IT WAS A TOTAL SUCCESS!  I met so many great people and sold quite a bit of merch!  Ton's of people took my business card and plan on contacting me with special orders.  I was on such a Little Road high after the market ended!  Curtis and I had to go celebrate with ice cream!  Don't worry friends, I will post pictures very soon.  Today I feel like I've been hit by a truck!  So I'm just going to take it easy and send you a quick beautiful blog.
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Have you guys ever seen this commercial for Sony's Bravia LCD TV?  I just saw it for the first time on another blog I follow called A Cup Of Jo.  She has a very fun blog, I recommend checking it out.  Anyway, I am totally in love with this commercial.  It features 250,000 brightly colored rubber balls (real, not computer generated) bouncing down a San Francisco street.  It took 4 days to film and a mear 50 interns to clean up the mess.  The cinematography is amazing! Combined with a perfect music choice, the commercial leaves you feeling happy as well as inspired.  It makes me think of Little Liam, the boy I nanny for during the week.  He LOVES bouncy balls!  I imagine this video to be something he would probably dream about in his sleep.  Simply beautiful!



CHEERS!