The Perfect Wife
Chic Room of the Week
February 2011
16 posts
Oscar Party Buzz
Check out these great templates and ideas from Twig and Thistle to throw your own Oscar party for this Sunday! So much fun!
The 2011 Oscars air on February 27th this year and I couldn’t be more excited! I’m a huge movie fan and grew up in a family that celebrated film and television. Consequently, the Academy Awards were always a big deal to us. My parents even named our cats Oscar and Emmy!
Last year, I created a downloadable Oscar suite that included printable party invitations, ballots, envelope liners, popcorn bags and candy toppers. I’ve been getting quite a few requests for an updated 2011 version so, with out further ado, here they are! Each PDF includes instructions and if you need more information, please see my original posts here and here.
OSCAR INVITATION & ENVELOPE LINERS
Set the tone for the party to come with these printable Oscar Party Invitations and envelope liners.
OSCAR BALLOT
Play along while you watch! Have guests arrive early to fill out the ballot ahead of time for who they think will win. At the end of the evening, tally up the score to see who guessed the most right!
POPCORN BAGS
What are movies without the popcorn? Serve individual portions by printing the template directly onto white paper bags, line with glassine bags to prevent butter stains and fill with movie popcorn! Both the paper and glassine bags can be found in my Etsy shop here.
CANDY BAG TOPPERS
Of course you can’t have the popcorn without the candy! Dress sweets up by arranging in cellophane bags and topping with red and white stripped toppers. Arrange it all on an old fashioned candy tray and pass it around to all your guests. Learn how to make a candy try here.
As promised here is the rest of the goodies for the DIY Oscar Party! I thought a candy tray would be a fun way to serve your guests and what Oscar party would be complete without a ballot! Mine are designed to let guests make their predictions and keep track during the ceremony. There is a place on the back to record the final score to help you pick a winner if you’re awarding a prize. Also note, not all categories are represented due to space constraints.
Candy Bag Toppers Download
Fill 3 5/16″x5 1/8″ cellophane bags (buy) with candy and staple in the center. Print out candy bag toppers onto solid sticker paper (found at office supply stores), cut to size, fold in half the long way and affix toppers to cellophane bags. Don’t have sticker paper? Just print onto cardstock paper and affix with double-sided tape.
Candy Tray
Inspired by the candy girls at Alt, I thought a candy tray would be a perfect touch to the party. All you need is a white tray and a length of red ribbon. Tie the ends of the ribbon together. The knot should rest behind your neck and the ribbon should go under the front of the tray. Then just fix the ribbon in place with strong tape or thumb tacks!
Ballot Download
Print double-sided onto 8.5×11″ card stock and fold in half length wise. Coordinate with red pens.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Images and Content from Twig and Thistle
Chalkboards aren't just for grammer school
Chalkboards have made such a comeback. I’ve seen them used as decoration in homes, at weddings, parties, everywhere! Perfect to use at dessert bars, for table numbers, platters, anything.
To get this look on a budget: Find some cute small frames at the dollar store, IKEA, or Michaels and spray the front of the frame’s back board of the frame with chalkboard paint. Ask a friend with nice handwriting (like i did) to help and you’re all set!
Picture 1:http://www.createmyevent.com/2008/03/blackboard-tags.html
Picture 2:http://www.southernliving.com/food/holidays-occasions/punch-cocktail-summer-drink-recipes-00417000067806/page3.html
Picture 3:http://www.ayleebits.com/2009/07/
Picture 4: http://www.moderndose.com/product_info.php?products_id=590
Chic Room of the Week
OMG…this bathroom is to die for!
How To Save On Kitchen Cabinets
If you are re-doing your kitchen or at least considering it, Apartment Therapy lists some great resources on how to save money on kitchen cabinets.
Cabinetry usually adds up to about half of kitchen renovation expenses, so if you have a small budget, you’ve got to find ways to cut costs. Shop sales, check second-hand and salvage stores, try a demolition auction, or find ways to get a custom look from big box sources.
Shop for Discounts on Stock CabinetsFor kitchen cabinet sources, click here.
- Home Depot : Big box stores like Home Depot have frequent discounts on stock kitchen cabinets. Between 2/10 and 2/23/2011, they’re offering 20 percent off all in-store stock cabinets and discounts up to $10,000 (on a $50,000 order) on special order cabinets.
- Lowe’s : Through 3/6/2011, they’re having a promotion on KraftMaid cabinets, where 10 cabinets gets you a free sink base, premium finish, and door buffers. They’re also offering discounts up to $10,000 (on a $50,000 order) on special order cabinets.
Manhattan Cabinetry : This store focuses on higher-end custom cabinetry, rather than cheaper in-store stock, but they’re currently having a showroom sale at their Park Avenue location, with up to 80% off cabinets.
Scour Your Local Salvage ShopFor a national short list of salvage shops, click here.
Habitat for Humanity ReStore : With locations across the US and Canada, chances are your local ReStore has a decent selection of cheap second-hand kitchen cabinets. When you’re renovating, remember to donate your old cabinets rather than send them to the landfill.
Second Use : They’re a local salvage shop in Seattle that has been reclaiming building materials for reuse in the Puget Sound region since 1994. Kitchen fixtures are frequent finds — these base cabinets are currently listed for just $35.
Build It Green : A division of the Community Environmental Center, BIG has a huge, 17,500 square feet warehouse in Astoria, Queens. They frequently have used cabinetry in stock — this kitchen island with cement top was recently listed for $200.
For an explanation of how “demolition auctions” work, click here.
Craigslist : Check the craigslist classifieds for second-hand kitchen cabinets. Every once in a while, you can find an amazing set of freestanding retro wood or metal cabinets that just need cleaning or a new coat of paint.
Green Demolitions : Based out of White Lake, New York, this organization sells commercial surplus and donated kitchens, appliances, bathroom fixtures, and home decor from houses being demolished and renovated in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
Murco Recycling : Murco organizes “demolition auctions” for houses that are scheduled to be torn down. Bidders rescue old cabinets from the dump, reusing them in their own homes. You can walk away with great deals, but you have to dismantle the goods yourself.
For tips on customizing a big box kitchen, see this post.
IKEA : With 25-year warranties, modern styles, and affordable prices, IKEA is a reigning king of kitchen sales. To avoid the ubiquitous Scandi-modern look, mix things up a little — this customized IKEA kitchen has some good ideas for ways to put your own stamp on a big box kitchen.
BMC Lab Supply : This bright, white industrial kitchen incorporates easy-to-clean cabinets from a lab supply store. It’s a smart way to repurpose heavy-duty furniture in a modern home. One warning: industrial cabinets can be rigid and difficult to modify or customize.
Home Depot : This modern micro kitchen uses open cabinet boxes (without doors) to create an airy aesthetic. You can find similar doorless cabinet boxes at Home Depot, Lowe’s, our your local home improvement store.
RELATED RESOURCES
• Best Budget Kitchen Renovation Resources
• Eco-Friendly Kitchen Cabinets: 10 Sources
• Best Salvage Shops: Coast to Coast
Photo: KraftMaid Kitchen Cabinets
Direction Cards
These are super cute direction cards created by Hello Tenfold. Much cuter than mapquest directions!
Cool Superhero 2nd Birthday Party
This is the coolest 2nd Birthday party featured on Life Frosting. My nephew would love this! The framed pictures at the end are a nice detail and the invitation is super cute!
Images: Life Frosting
Scarlett gets Bubbly
Loving Moet’s new ads featuring Scarlett Johansson!
J. Crew does Hollywood
J. Crew’s new catalogue features Hollywood and this Spring’s short shorts, stripes and cigarette pants. Blue skies and glistening waters are a nice bonus!
J. Lo's Pad
Wanna live like J. Lo? Jennifer Lopez’ home is featured in this month’s Veranda magazine. Designer Michelle Workman executed this magnificent style
Happy Valentines Day!
Images: We Heart It
i would desperately like to find a similar dress to kate middleton's blue issa dress that she wore for her engagement pictures! help!
If you are willing to spend $535 on the exact Issa dress, you can reserve it on Net-a-Porter.
Ingenue has an almost identical copy of the Issa dress, called “Pepita.” It sells for £99 from Chica Boutique .
Pepita Dress
Target has a similar dress for only $29.
Target
BCBG makes a similar wrap dress on sale for $89
BCBG
Bluefly.com carries this Wyatt Navy Wrap Dress with a great twisted knot detail. It’s on sale now for $89
Bluefly
Bloomingdales carries a grey Three Dots version for $138
Mad Men Photos
Update: Mad Men party was a blast- here are some pics from the night!
Mad Men Theme Party
Tonight I am attending a “Mad Men” theme party. I’m always in for a costume theme party! While scouting the web for some inspiration, I came across these great posts!
From the clothes and hairstyles to the incessant smoking and ludicrously dated social codes, Mad Men serves as a time capsule for the middle of the last century, and food and drinks play a particularly prominent role in recreating the period. Epicurious offers a menu with Spicy-Smoky Peanuts, Caramelized-Onion Dip with Cilantro-Garlic Pita Crisps,Fillet of Beef Wellington, a classic 1960s dish, Creamed Spinach and Golden Potato Gratin and for dessert, Baked Alaska.
An easy addition is a nice cheese ball tower would be perfect. Or a fabulous cheese mouse. Another super easy addition would be bowls of salted nuts scattered throughout the room.
For drinks, setup a bar front and center. Line up neat rows of of collins, hi ball and martini glasses. Don’t forget the martini shaker! Be prepared with the garnishes… (olives, onions, citrus fruit, twists) and lots and lots of booze. Have a bartenders guide available so you can make Tom Collins, Manhattans, Old Fashions, Brandy Alexander and of course, Scotch for the men.
Pick up some candy cigarettes and old matchbooks. Ask guests to dress in ’60s-style clothing. Hats are a must for both men and women! Look for vintage tablecloths, napkins and serving pieces to create the 60’s feel. Betty wouldn’t have scrimped, neither should you.!
