Category Archives: etc.

Decorating with Black

November 11, 2013

Happy Veteran’s Day! A big thank you to all the fearless and faithful men and women of this country that have giving their lives in service. We are headed to our local Veteran’s Day Parade this morning, Denali’s Marching band is in it. She’s playing the piccolo this year instead of the flute, it’s a nice compact, light instrument to carry back and forth to school each day. But, it’s also a more annoying, high pitched flute to listen to during practice times.

Lately I’ve been loving white, I painted my living room all white and everything is so bright and cheery in that room now. But, you know who’s BFF’s with white walls, black accessories! I love the dramatic contrast of black and white, it adds a graphic element that no other color combination can create. That’s why I think my botanical print works so well in this room.

1. Owl Plate
2. Bunny Votive
3. Blanket
4. Candle
5. Cake Plate
6. Black Sequins Pillow
7. Faux Fur Pillow

I’ve done a little online window shopping and picked out some really great, inexpensive black accessories to add contrast to any space. I’ve waited a long time for H&M to open their home store in the States. And now they are here! You are going to be so impressed with their home line and the amazing prices.

What do you think about decorating with black? Do you think it’s sharp and a classic? Or is it just too harsh for your home?

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Be Thankful Plate

November 8, 2013

How about a no-brainer craft for the weekend? I have been admiring these salad plates at West Elm. So I picked up this pretty black plate at Target for $3.99 (similar to these ones) and a gold Sharpie paint marker this morning. Then I just free handed a little Thanksgiving message, kind of like I did with the plate I make last year. It’s far from perfect, but it was a fun little experiment. And I’ll enjoy putting it out this Fall. I don’t think that it is by any means water proof. But, it does make a nice decorative piece.

If you haven’t joined the Instagratitude Project, I hope you will. Each day this month we are sharing on instagram something we are grateful for. Add the tag #instagratitude2013 to join everyone else. I know I am totally blessed by the posts and I’m making a conscious effort to have a thankful heart. Follow me on Instagram for more information.

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Hunger Games Party

We celebrated Denali’s 12th birthday with a Hunger Games party. It was really such a fun afternoon. I had a crazy week leading up to the party, but somehow we got it all together. This kid is worth it. She is beautiful inside and out. So proud of her and lucky to have her as my daughter.

Can I tell you, 12 year olds are a tough crowd. I planned games and crafts, but they really just wanted to stand around looking awkwardly at each other. Maybe it wasn’t awkward to them, but it was for me. Denali LOVED the party and seemed really happy, so I’ll go with that. I’m not sure if I’m ready to have a teenager in my home (are you ever ready?).

I’m sure you saw my planning and gathering of party supplies. I really had fun with this black, white and gold color palette. All the gorgeous Glitter Everywhere party decorations from Minted worked so well with this theme. I repeated arrows all over the place in honor of Katnis the heroine of the Hunger Games books. I love how the dessert table backdrop turned out. I used the quiver and arrows that I got at a flea market and then cut lots of black, white and glittery gold arrows with my cricut and stuck them to the wall cascading into the quiver.

On the dessert table I served, oreo truffles dipped in black colored chocolate, Katnis Caramel Apples (with arrows through them), “black” fruit, homemade caramel corn, chocolate Mocking Jay cookies and oreo cupcakes and vanilla bean cupcakes, and lots of black and gold candy.

Now we wait for Catching Fire to come out in theaters. And I think we should have this party all over again.

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Hunger Games Party in the Making

November 7, 2013

Probably the best part of hosting a party is gathering and making all the details that make a party a party. I shared that I’m having a Hunger Games party for Denali’s 12th birthday.

Here’s the makings of a party. I had a lot of fun making arrows with my Cricut to hang on the wall as a dessert table back drop. I also cut the 2 crossed arrows to put on the treat bags and to embellish the gorgeous Minted decorations.

For an activity and treat at the party. The girls get to make 2 necklaces, one is a Mocking Jay and the other is a stone arrow head.

Come back tomorrow for the whole party put together.

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Fall Entertainment

November 5, 2013

I’m back to share more of the Ford Fiesta Movement with you. This month Ford’s 100 “agents” are taking on the theme of ENTERTAINMENT. In September, I shared what adventure looked like to me and then I was inspired to take a little solo adventure in NYC. And last month, I shared how I was inspired to give Riley, my vintage trailer, a little more style.

Entertainment by definition is the action of being provided enjoyment, it’s an event or performance and it’s also the action of receiving guests and providing them with food and drink. For me, entertainment is definitely all about having guests over for a meal. I get so much enjoyment out of planning, preparing and then having folks over. It’s a diversion from my everyday routine and it’s a sport or hobby to me.

When I was a kid, my mom hosted lots of big dinners and get togethers (well she still does), she cooked elaborate dishes and desserts. One of my jobs was to set the table, and I loved getting out my mom’s china, crystal and silver and setting it perfectly at everyones seat. It’s still one of my favorite parts of having guests, sometimes I even set the table the night before, once everyone has gone to bed. It’s a silly thing to love, but there’s just something so satisfying about a beautifully set table to welcome your guests with.

No. 1 Metallic Gold // Brown Linen // Gold Dot Burlap

No. 2 Black and White Tribal // Mint Green // Chalkboard

No. 3 Mercury Glass // White Pumpkins // Grey

I want your input, help me plan the next event I will host. I want to have friends over for a Fall (not necessarily Thanksgiving) meal before the rush of the Holidays. Help me pick a color and pattern combination. This next week, I’ll do some research and gathering and put one of these 3 looks together on my table. I’ll, of course, have some DIYs to make the table special and it will all be done on a budget.

Do you like No. 1 Classic Warm Tones, No. 2 Modern Mint, Black and White, No. 3 Clean and Colorless? And why?

And don’t forget to check out some of the fun youtube videos put together by Ford Fiesta’s agents. I enjoyed this silly photobooth video, you might it as well. It’s interesting to see what others see as entertainment, there’s a lot of verity in the videos this month.

This is a sponsored post and I was compensated for my participation. The opinions expressed are my own.

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Let’s have a Hunger Games Themed Party

November 4, 2013

My oldest, Denali, just turned 12! Seriously, how can I be the mom of a 12 year old, I don’t feel that old (but, maybe I look it).

Denali is a huge Hunger Games fan, she read all three books in less then a week. And to be honest, so am I, I loved the books, first movie and can’t wait for the second movie to come out. She wanted a Hunger Games themed party. Definitely not the kind of party you can find pre-made. So, I’ve done some searching online and put together some fun finds for a Hunger Games party. I went with a black, white and gold color scheme and focused on the archery skills of Katnis, the heroine, with arrows.

Paper Plates // Hand Painted Arrows // Glitter Stickers

Striped Napkins // Hummingbird Cookie Cutter (for Mocking Jays)

Arrow Earrings // Black, White and Gold Party Decor // Arrow Ornaments (currently out of stock)

I ordered the cookie cutter and made cute Mocking Jay cookies by bending the beak of the hummingbird. I think they are a pretty close resemblance. And my vintage arrows and quiver and stone arrowheads will make an appearance at the party for sure.

What do you think? Am I on the right track?

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DIY Dip Dye Napkins

October 31, 2013

Happy Halloween friends. I hope your day is full of yummy treats and fun with your kids.

Ok, I’ve had the supplies and the idea to make these dip dye napkins for months now. I knew I wanted a black set of these for Halloween, so I waited till the VERY last minute to make these. Last night, very late last night, I decided that I just needed to do this. I am crazy, I know. But, making and doing is just so much fun sometimes.

I made a set of six in about 1 hour. I dyed them 3 at a time to save myself some time. Following the instructions of the RIT powder dye box, I dyed my 100% cotton napkins using the stove top method. I bought a set of six cream/white napkins at Homegoods for $7.99 and made sure to pre-wash them. Then used a dowel and some clothes pins, I wrapped 3 napkins half way around. Then I just sat the dowel on the edges of the pot, making sure that just less then half of the napkin was submerged in the simmering dye.

Don’t mind the terrible iphone pics, and notice that it was 10:29pm when I started this process.

To get this nice dark grey (almost black), I let the fabric sit in the dye for 25 mins. The I very carefully rinsed the dyed end of the napkin under running water, not allowing the it to touch the white side of the napkin. To complete the process, I washed them in the washing machine on a cold cycle.

We’ll use them more next year. I was just planning ahead for next Halloween 🙂

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BLT Halloween Costumes

October 29, 2013

Well, here’s 2013’s Halloween costumes. My kiddos are a BLT this year. I am proud to say that I actually saved money making these costumes this year. I usually make their costumes, but it’s not always cheaper then buying. I spent under $25 to make all 3 of these.

You know I love a theme for siblings costumes. It was pretty tough coming up with an idea that everyone LOVED, especially something a 12 year old approves of. But really, what’s cooler then bacon? Dylan got the lame lettuce, but he’s the middle child and is pretty easy going. It helped that his favorite color is green and that we agreed to spray his hair as well. Olivia is our little tomato (or mato, as she says it). I looked at toddler patterns for costumes similar to this, but I just wasn’t willing to pay $10 for just the pattern (I was trying to save money). So, I cut my own pattern and I’m pretty pleased with the end result.

Our little tomato is definitely on the move. We’ve got one very independent 2 year old on our hands these days.

Are you ready for Halloween? What are your kids costumes this year? Are you going homemade all the way or store bought this year?

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Instagratitude Project

October 28, 2013

I’m really excited that November is almost here. It’s almost Instagratitude time!!! Last year, when I came up with this idea for sharing daily something that you are grateful for, I had no idea how great this would be. It really did help change my frame of mind and I focused more of the blessings of my everyday life. Just look at how much I had to be thankful for in one month.

I hope you will join me for the month of November and share one instagram daily of something you are grateful for. Post your image on Instagram, and add the tag #instagratitude2013 (and if you want, you can tag me @jeranmcconnel as well). I can’t wait to share in this project with you, I hope you will join me.

I need to have this daily reminder to be grateful. It’s easy to get wrapped up in the negative and what you DON’T have. I DO live such a blessed life and I want to honor God by sharing how grateful I am for his provision and generosity in my life.

Psalm 9:1
I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.

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Halloween Costumes That Go Together

October 24, 2013

Peter Pan and Tinker Bell // Cowgirl and Indian // Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia

Dorothy and Scarecrow // Shark and Scuba Diver

Harry Potter, Hermoine, and Hedwig // Metamorphosis

Yesterday I shared how I’m displaying instagrams of my kids’ Halloween costumes over the years. I thought you might like to see some of the ideas we’ve come up with over the years.

I love it when couples and siblings wear matching or ‘go together’ Halloween costumes. Every year we work hard to come up with an idea that everyone is happy with (and that I can make). I thought I’d put together this little round up of some of our costumes over the years. I am just putting the finishing touches on this years costumes. I can’t wait to share them with you (check out the BLT costumes here). I’m really happy with how they turned out, and the best part is, I only spent about $25 total on all 3!

I also found a good list of couples costume ideas and and another one for siblings costume ideas that go together. You might find some good last minute ideas there.