it's that time again...Leopard Print

Every year, around this time, I get exited for a little leopard print.  Remember, a little goes a long way, although I'm so gonna buy this gem from J Crew.  

Dcorpad

House to Home

The Zhush

and PLEASE people, unless you are under 12 yrs old, DO NOT do this:

Put a touch of leopard in your back pocket.

Dormlife

In a couple of weeks my oldest son will be heading off to college. With that comes a dorm room.  Now, anybody who knows me would know that a blank canvas like that is a dream come true.  However, with a 17 yr old boy...not so much.

 

Me:  "Hey honey what color theme do you want your room done in"  (the word "Theme", big mistake)

Him:  No response, just look of bewilderment , with hint of disgust.

Me:  trying a different, simpler approach, "I mean what color comforter do you want?"

Him:  Without looking up from Sports Center, "I don't care...Blue.?"

And that, my friends, is how our dorm room planning-decorating-bonding time has gone.

This is his dorm room, and It is newly built...so it's even a "clean " blank slate.

How in the world is he gonna fit his stuff in this little closet?  Hmmmm, maybe a cute curtain for doors? (note to self:  Do NOT use the word "cute.")

I do like the storage space under the beds...I'll keep you posted. 

A little lesson in teenage boys to keep in your back pocket. 

Sneaky!

Here are a few ingenious cool ways to incorporate a some extra sleeping space. Although they are so cool and sneaky that I would probably show ANY visitors that stop by.....

Below is one of Murphy Bed's best sellers-the Camden chalkboard bed..  It's a perfect way to incorporate an extra bed into a space. It also comes in cork board or white-board.

My kids would rather sleep on a top-secret hideaway bed.  It's a big deal when we pull out the old sofa bed in our office!

Put some extra sleeping space in your back pocket. 

cookie sheet craft

Before I throw out my old cookie sheet-that i'm positive i've had as long as i've been married, I remembered of a cute tray I saw on the Martha Stewart Show.

I'm sure you all have on that looks like this below.  How about taking a yard of fabric and making something useful and decorative out of it.

you need:

1 Yd. of decorative fabric

1 baking sheet

spray adhesive

scissors

fabric glue

piece of felt for back

So easy.  Folding the corners round to the back was a little tricky but by the fourth corner you get the hang of it.

images Martha Stewart, House and Home

Put a summer craft in your back pocket.

Bedtime Reading

Love the "homey-ness" of bookcases in the bedroom- actually, love ALL bookcases.  In fact, I have the perfect wall in my bedroom that is just calling for bookcases to surround the window.  Here's a little inspiration.

(above is what mine would kinda look like.)

This look is just 3 store-bought bookcases propped up for a dual purpose of bookcase/headboard!!  Love.

images Decorpad, Traditional Home, Elle Decor, Cottage Living, Little Moth, BHG, the mustard Ceiling.

I wish my husband was more handy.....Put some bedtime reading in your back pocket...

Button Cookies

Last weekend we made Peanut Butter Button Cookies from a tutorial from Bakerella.com. (called Coraline Cookies.)  So easy and fun.  Any peanut butter cookie recipe will do.

photos Bakarella.com

The tutorial says to roll the balls to fit in a 2 liter soda cap.  After cooking 8-9 minutes press the cookies lightly with that same cap. Then, the fun part, take a straw and make the button holes.

O.K., so our first try wasn't perfect but my daughter and her friends had a great time making them.

Put some button cookies in your back pocket.

Bohemian Vibes

Although I would never call us bohemian, there's always a little place that loves the look.  An easy way to get it is through throw pillows.  Ikat & Batik at Etsy has the an easy and inexpensive way to reach your inner-bohemian self!  They sell pillows in groups of 9 (yes 9 mixed pilows for $180,) combos of 3's or in sets of 2, at $48.00. Here's a little inspiration:

Sold in pairs

Groups of 3

...or the mother-load !

A good way to hide a stained couch!

Channel your inner-bohemian and put some batik pillows in your back pocket. www.etsy.com/shop/ginette1223

Last Minute Party Ideas for the 4th

Our friends at Print Your Party are offering FREE downloads of printables

to pep up your Independence Day bash!!!!

Everything from cupcake toppers, (which we are using in our hot dogs) to water bottle labels (also cute as napkin rings, which I am wrapping around bandannas

that I bought at the Dollar Store-3 for $1.00)

 Here is some bandanna inspiration...

More fun from the Dollar Store...

These are from Michael's...

Another quick craft for your kids to help with is the ol' can decorating.  

There are a million uses for these-how about, striped straws, pixie-stix, pretzel sticks,  etc.

 have a great 4th and put some last minute decorating in your back pocket...