Party decor and tasty recipes

I was so inspired by this skirted table with all these colorful ribbons....I had to try it!
DecRenew Interiors
(Our Baby Shower Color Scheme)
This past weekend some friends and I hosted a baby shower for a dear friend of ours.  My job was to come up with some fun decorations to decorate the hosts table and misc touches here and there to set the mood and create ambiance.
All girls love to come and be with their friends especially when their is a celebration in order.  It does take extra work to make things look prettier but it is SO worth it.  The extra time we spend makes the person we are honoring as well as the guests that get to come to the party feel special. 
"Sip and See" is the perfect way to host a shower, especially with the busy schedules we all keep these days.  Guests came and went and coffee, ice tea and yummy desserts were served.
I decided to put a variety of different color and patterned ribbon all the way around the table, creating a beautiful cascading skirt around the table (see above).  The kids that were there before hand, really enjoyed cutting all the ribbon the right length and attaching them all carefully with pins.  I always love getting children involved, especially girls.  They LOVE to help out and it makes them feel so important.  It takes some patience and guidance but their expressions after they have finished is priceless.
These colors are so joyful!  Perfect for this happy celebration.
The girls and I enjoyed putting together these tissue paper rosettes for the event too.  Balloons are great but these are just so much more spunky than the typical.  Plus...it's always fun to try a new idea.
They added such a fun cheery color to the table full of irresistible desserts!  Of course a party is no party if the food doesn't taste FANTASTIC.  If it's beautiful and the food tastes horrible, that's no good.  We have no excuse these days, we have lots of options!  We had several purchased desserts....lemon cakes from Costco that were divine and finger press cookies from Market Street that melted in your mouth.
The girlie's overlooking the fun and anticipating the guest of honor!  What girl doesn't want to see a cute little new born baby and hold him!  They hung all the decorations and felt proud.  Aren't they so very adorable in their little skirts and dresses.
Plates and napkins - Party City
There are so many cute plates and napkins out there for baby showers, etc.  Ruthie's Tip of the day:   Remember to look down all the isles in all the theme categories. These plates weren't in the baby shower section but the napkins were.  Mixing and matching is the best.....not matching and matching!
My friend Kristi made these petits fours.  I've always wanted a good recipe and she says this one is really easy.  Visit the link here that she shared with me so you can make them too!  They are absolutely melt in your mouth delicious!  Perfect for wedding and baby showers as well as birthday parties and any special occasion.  I could get all kind of crazy thinking about fun ideas to decorate these little cuties. 
Recipe for Tracy's Oreo Truffles.  WARNING...You can't just eat one of these!
(Marilyn's homemade peanut butter cups!)
WOWZA!
 1/2 c. smooth peanut butter + 4 1/2 tsp. butter (soft) + 1/2 c. powdered sugar - mix (sometimes have to make a bit more)...Melt in microwave, 1 pkg. semisweet choc. chips + 4 hersheys bars + 1/2 c. peanut butter. Drop a bit of chocolate mix in little muffin cups...top each with a small 'ball' of peanut butter mix...top all with more chocolate. EASY!!!
 Refrigerate to set.
Mindy's iced tea Recipe is always a hit!
2 large ice tea bags
2 cups sugar
3/4 cups Lemon Juice
1/2 cup white grape juice or apple juice
Water to fill gallon jug
Here are some additional photos that inspired me for this event and others I have up my sleeve that are coming up soon!
google.com
Now that we are done with the tissue paper rosettes, we are going to hang them above my daughter's bed.  Her room is SW gecko green so they will look perfect in there!
 
The larger the grouping and all hung at different heights, the better!  We have 9 so that should make a grand statement.
Beachbungalow8.blogspot.com
So elegant!
Visit my website Decrenew Interiors and book your consultation today.

Decorating with Summer Yellow

Decor Pad
(This headboard makes this room a sunlit sanctuary)

Adding pops of yellow to your decor is a fast and fun way to welcome summer into your home. Play with layers of colors and patterns to create a vibrant look for your home sweet home!
Country Living
(I'm having to pick myself up from off the floor on this one....so yummy)
I know....it's so hot here in Texas that it seems crazy to incorporate anything to do with the word sunshine to our already HOT homes!  I think you will be pleasantly surprised at what an impact yellow can make to your interiors.  Take a look at see!
Yellow and turquoise creates an elegant and playful mood.
House Beautiful
Adding yellow flowers to a coffee table is a vibrant WELCOME!
I have to find somewhere to incorporate this look into my home!
What a statement these doors make!
Apartment Therapy
This Loft room from The Southern Living Texas Escondido Idea House is so delightful and warm!
Southern Living
 The neutral backdrop allows the home owner to add whatever color they want to. Yellow leather chairs with nail heads is a perfect fit for this charming living area upstairs.  They will grow more beautiful with age.  The club chairs are bulky but notice how the designer softened the look with a round coffee table and round side table.  They are also open underneath and the perfect scale in order to allow the space to feel bigger and more spacious. 
Yellow and black compliment each other well in this living space.  The zebra rug is my favorite!
A yellow chandelier for those of us that are brave!
Full of sunshine! What amazing lamps!
These dining chairs below make this
 room come alive!
What a wonderful office space.  The yellow (gold) wing back chair combined with the round work table is a perfect fit for a functional space.  Can be used to meet with several clients or for relaxing with a book with your feet up on the matching yellow ottoman.  Love the painting hanging on the bookshelf.  The gold frame marries the elements together in a beautiful grouping of three.
Southern Living
This dining room is captivating.  I'm in love with the soft yellow in the ceiling alcove.  Such a beautiful addition and adds a bright cheerful feel.  Just think about how romantic it would be at night.  Without the yellow band, this ceilings architecture would not have been much of anything.
Decorating with yellow can be as simple as adding a tray to your bedside table.
Or adding an interesting piece of original art to a room.
Accessories and pillows can play a huge impact in a room! Yellow paired with this lavender color is gorgeous isn't it?  Crazy about the white throw on the arm chair.  This room is not over done, it just makes a statement because of the scattered pops of color.
A yellow headboard is thrilling combined with Kelly green.
This master bedroom is a happy yellow. I love how they put a band of yellow on the drapery panels to tie it all together.
A mirror painted yellow is pure perfection in this powder bath.
How about a yellow rug and some large artwork in a grouping of 4?
Apartment Therapy
A yellow door is a great introduction to who you are!
I'm wondering if I could pull off this yellow wall in my courtyard?
A yellow dresser, vanity, bench or headboard is always a bit of drama in a room!
These chairs made me smile.
Re-nest.com
I would be a guest in this room. The painted brick is an added texture to this backdrop.  The bedding looks very crisp and cool for summer.
Domino Magazine
This entry would welcome you home if you'd had a bad day!
House Beautiful
Yellow on bookshelves!
Notice the back of the bookshelves are painted brown.  A subtle touch that acts as a nice backdrop to these yellow books.  I don't think these are Yellow pages (phone books) or National Geographic Magazines.
Elle Decor
A tiny touch of yellow in this room by using side tables.  It's perfect!  Nice way to incorporate the floor.
Examiner.com
Go add some summer sunshine to your home!
Visit DecRenew Interiors and set up your design consultation today!

Ottoman Redo

I found this cute little wicker ottoman about a year ago and wanted to pair it with one of my chairs in my living room.  It wasn't very functional because it was not comfy to rest your feet on and was too low.  I decided to have my upholsterer add a padded top to it to add some character, texture and comfort. 
I love it because it's perfectly imperfect!
I flipped it upside down so we can now use the inside of it for storage and the topper goes on top.
We always need extra storage in our house.
Visit my website DecRenew Interiors to see more before and after pictures. 
Book your design consultation today!

Back to School Ideas 2011

(Polkadotchair.com)
It's that time of year already! The school bell is about to ring. Some of my kids friends have already started back to school!  This week we are doing all the school supply shopping and of course new clothes.  It seems like they just got out for the summer doesn't it?  I'm feeling a little bummed out!
I thought I'd share a few ideas I've found for "Back to School" parties/gifts, etc. to get us all in the right school mood.
(Pinterest)
My daughter is going to be a Freshman this year (I'm about to have a heart attack).  I thought this would so much fun for her to hand out to her friends at "Fish Camp".  "You're o-FISH-ally a Freshman." Cool don't you think? You never know with teenagers but I asked her and she thought it was fun.    Adding a few M&M's would add to the excitement too.
(Polyvore.com)
These nails are my favorite back to school idea yet!  My teenage girls will totally do this!  Fun for a teacher to do too!  All teachers out there..... get your "groove" on with these!  You will be the talk of the school I promise!
(Pinterest)
Great idea to pass out to a teacher in elementary school or maybe you could even give this to your child on their first day.
Fun eraser giveaway for a "Back to school" party! 
(beeinourbonnet.blogspot.com)
 
Best little surprise boxes. 
(beeinourbonnet.blogspot.com)
My girls would love this!  Great craft for girls to make at a party or to give to a friend or teacher.
(ballardbunch.blogspot.com)
What teacher wouldn't enjoy this for their door or classroom.
(pinterest)
Fun to make these cupcakes for friends or create at a party.
This is made out of chocolate Rolos and Kisses.
(saraspartyperfect.com)
If you are on the PTA and need a luncheon floral arrangement or something fresh for the office staff, this is so colorful and sweet.  Could be done with colored pencils or sharpies too.
Nobody wants to go back to school after having the summer off but we can cheer our kids up with a smashing party or something creative to make for their friends.
Goodie bags and a water bottle with their name on it.  Who doesn't want a goodie bag?
(Flickr.com)
I remember having a leather backpack like the above. 
 In elementary school I carried a little suitcase like the one above.  Anyone else remember these?
We would have to cover all our books in brown paper too.
Hope this inspired you to do something fun with or for your kids!
Visit my website DecRenew Interiors for before and after pictures of my work.
Book your design consultation today!



The colors of Colorado

Great reading and fishing spot at Castle Lakes Lodge.
  We just returned from a 10 day family trip to Colorado.   We visited Lake City and Creed with lots of stops here and there and in between.

(Photo by Gunnar Staalsen)
Castle Lakes
I often get asked what inspires me.  Being out in nature is at the top of my list.  There is something about "cool" air and mountains that clears your mind and makes you evaluate the simple things in life.
We loaded our families and our RV's and  took a break from cell phones, Internet, Facebook, TV, chores, and all the other distractions that life brings.  We just enjoyed being together and took in all our beautiful surroundings.
Our first stop was The Sand Dunes - Photo taken from our campsite.
Your eyes can't take in the immense beauty!
  Those dots you see are our crew climbing to the top!
It goes on and on for miles and miles!
The kids of all ages had a blast running and rolling down the sand.

We rented jeeps one day and the three families climbed up Cinnamon Pass.
Crazy fun!
The kids LOVED it.
The views were breathtaking. 
Just look at those colors!
Almost at the top!
The colors changed around every corner!  Drastic differences in landscape everywhere we looked.
The last of the snow!  We carved our names in the snow.
Kids can't resist snow on a mountain top.
The wildflowers were my favorite and we got out and explored.
Such vibrant colors.
The love of my life!

Perfectly imperfect.

Colorado State Flower - Rocky Mountain Columbine
The sound of this river I'll never forget!
It was pretty intense!
We finally got to the top and I almost lost my stomach a few times!
We enjoyed a picnic lunch once we arrived!  Elevation 12,640 ft. 
 Totally worth the 5 hour trip!
My family
We were surrounded by beautiful colors and fresh cool air!  So refreshing after being in 105 degree weather in Texas.
Animals were grazing in the fields.
Even saw the black sheep of the family!
Read about these Guard dogs that live with the livestock in the mountains and protect them from predators (including humans).  The kids didn't realize it was a guard dog until they came up to it and tried to hug it, like all kids do!  The dog was very protective and growled at them.  Someone informed us that these dogs live with the sheep and guard them night and day.
Loved this house tucked away in the woods.
Look at this one with it's own bridge over the river.
More to come on this house on next blog post.
Beautiful but I'd feel awfully lonely way up there.
My youngest daughter had fun with my camera on these next few photos.

Lots of Aspen trees.

Fresh raindrops.
Our last stop on our vacation was Creed.  We stayed at 30 mile Campground in the National Forest and it was the most relaxing place ever!  We will definitely be going back there! 
You can see our RV in the distance. 
This river ran along all the campsites and we loved sitting by it at night while making smores by the campfire.
We cooked huge breakfasts in the morning.
Nothing better than bacon and pancakes cooking out in the wilderness.
We also enjoyed our wine and cheese at night.  Tablecloth and real glasses included.
We decorator's camp with style!
The men kicked their boots off and sat with the ladies! We had amazing conversations, solved the worlds problems, laughed with the kids.....
and even fed a few chipmunks!
In the end, I've once again been reminded why we love to camp.  It makes you get away from the buziness of life and STOPS everything that makes you crazy busy and rushed every single day. Sometimes we get so caught up in what has to be done or what needs to be done that we forget about the best gems in life and that is the people and relationships that we have in our lives.  Taking time away from it all is what I call a vacation. 
It was good to get away and come back refreshed and feeling blessed.
Remember.......LOVE ONE ANOTHER

Here is a link to a video my daughter made of our trip.

Visit my website DecRenew Interiors and set your Design Consultation Appointment today.