Thursday, September 24, 2009

Jars, Jars and More Jars

To go along with my last post...
how 'bout adding some jars to that game room motif?
Wouldn't these look cute on the mantle,
in a bookshelf or on a side table?

Game pieces are always a hit,
but what about these croquet balls too.
Great vintage wood balls...
I love this idea too!
Cards from any questionare-type game
would be a great addition to my family's dining room table.
It would be really fun at a dinner party as well!

And, then there's the paint brushes in jars...
this may not go well in the newly anointed game room,
but sure could make a great arrangement
pretty much anywhere.

Think of all the rest of the jar decorating possibilities throughout the year...
  • Halloween- candy corns, spooky fake spiders, toy eyeballs, etc.
  • Thanksgiving - small gourds, fall leaves, acorns, nuts, etc.
  • Christmas - ribbon candy, peppermints, small ornaments, bells, tinsel, etc.
and the list goes on.

Have you used jars to decorate in your home? What do you put in them?

Pictures above were taken at Martis Camp, Lake Tahoe.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Frame a Game: Playroom Decoration Idea

Vintage Board Games in a Frame

Here's another great decoration idea from those creative interior designers up at Martis Camp in Lake Tahoe... using board games and game pieces for decor. I've seen this idea before, but when I saw it again... I snapped some pics, and had to share. In looking through these, I've added a few ideas of my own too...

Above is simple, yet sweet... framing a couple vintage board games. Searching etsy.com or ebay will bring up many vintage board games for sale. Another idea... frame one of your favorite current board games... it doesn't have to be vintage to still be cool!

Domino Frame

Isn't this frame idea cute? Think of all the other game pieces that could be glued to a frame...
  • Dominoes
  • Monopoly Money (decoupaged)
  • Assorted Plastic Game Pieces
  • Candyland Cards
  • Playing Cards
  • Dice
  • Scrabble Pieces
  • this list goes on and on...

I do love the old Pin the Tail on the Donkey game that's being framed too!

Game Collage

Now this piece is awesome... a collage of all sorts of vintage game pieces and board games... from money, to marbles, to cards and scrabble pieces... To make this on your own is easy. Again, you can definitely go the vintage route, or how about just taking some of the games from your cabinet that everyone has grown out of, and putting something together. The collage should bring up many memories of the hours spent playing the game!

Here are a couple more shots of details of the collage....


I hope these decorating ideas have been inspiring... I'm in great need of new art for my family room, and after writing this post, I think I'm going to head out, pick up a canvas, and have a hot glue frenzy-- gluing anything and everything to the canvas... board games, game pieces, the works. I'll post something once I've come up with it!


Monday, September 14, 2009

How Swimmingly Adorable!



We're a big swimming family...
so when I saw this idea at Martis Camp
in Lake Tahoe, I just had to share!!

Don'tcha just LOVE the old fashioned bathing caps?
There so retro-cool I can't stand it!

Wouldn't it be perfect on a wall in your pool house?
Don't have a pool house...
but have a "sports" room...
Add swimming to the mix of sports!

Don't have time to troll flea markets and trash bins at rec centers ;)
I did a quick search online, and lo and behold,
you can find these vintage-style bathing caps in many places...
Check this site out of vintage style bathing caps.

Along the same lines, instead of vintage-style bathing caps,
collect your daughter or son's team caps and line
them up in a frame.
Now that's some quick and colorful art!

Friday, September 11, 2009

I Heart New York!

I'm thinking of New York City today, like many people...

I went to grad school there many years ago...
I have so many amazing memories of that town.
Lots has changed, but I'm sure much remains the same!

.... just a few of my favorite NYC things...
Grand Central Station
The Promenade, Brooklyn Heights
The Subway
A NY Bagel
The Murals in the Rockefeller Center
The Whitney
Central Park
Getting a Cab at 4am


Saturday, September 5, 2009

Ooey Gooey Carnival Food...

ATTENTION: Before you read any further...
there will not be any healthy food suggestions in this blog post!
Just needed to warn you!

Ya gotta love the fair or carnival for all the different sticky, wicky, ooey, gooey food that is served. To recreate those "tantalizing" treats for your next Carnival or Fair party, I've gathered up some recipes for you to check out!

Popcorn Balls
Ingredients:
1/4 cup corn oil
1/2 cup popcorn
1/2 cup dark corn syrup
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt

Preparation:
Heat corn oil in a 4-quart kettle over medium heat for about 3 minutes. Add popcorn. Cover, leaving cover just slightly ajar. Shake frequently over medium heat until popping stops. Meanwhile, mix together corn syrup, sugar and salt. Add to popped corn in kettle, stirring and tossing constantly over medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes, or until sugar is dissolve and popcorn is evenly coated with mixture. Remove from heat. Gently form into balls, using buttered hands.
Makes about 1 dozen popcorn balls.

Caramel Apples
Ingredients
6 apples
1 (14oz) package individually wrapped caramels, unwrapped
2 Tablespoons milk

Directions
1. Remove stems and press a craft stick into the top of the apple. Place apple on a baking sheet covered with wax paper.
2. Put caramels and milk in a microwave safe bowl, and microwave for 2 minutes, stirring once. Allow to cool briefly.
3. Roll each apple quickly in apple sauce until well coated. Place on baking sheet.


Extra Big Lollipops
You know the kind... the rainbow swirl ones that were as big as your head when you were a kid... When I was a kid that was all I wanted to buy when we went to a carnival, fair, or amusement park. When we'd get in the car, after the long day, my parents would finally let me open it. Oooo, it was the best!

So, wouldn't these be great for your party? The kids' eyes would just bulge when they see this treat come out. I found this place online that sells large swirl lollipops. Take a look!

Super Sundaes
There's always the tried and true banana split... that will sure be a winner. But, in Real Simple Magazine this August, I also found some great easy sundae ideas. Here are 2 of them below:

S'Mores Sundae:
scoop of vanilla ice cream
hot fudge sauce
mini marshmallows
crushed up graham crackers

Cracker Jack Sundae:
scoop of vanilla ice cream
popcorn
carmel sauce
peanuts
-----------------

I'm sure there's many more Carnival/Fair food ideas out there! Let me know your favorite!!

BTW-- Ironically, just last night on my yahoo! page, up popped a news segment on Fried Fair Food! It was hilarious! It's amazing what things people will fry up!




Thursday, September 3, 2009

County Fair Games for Your Party

And They're Off....

We love going to a fair! And the kids just love the games. The bummer is, Mom and Dad shell out so much money, and the kids barely ever win! Occasionally they get a consolation prize. You know the ones... those cheap stuffed animals that lasts all of a half day before it's newness is gone, and it is discarded in the pile of all other junk toys...

So, instead of shelling out the money at the fair, why not play the games at home! Below I've outlined some great carnival/fair style games that are perfect for a party, or any day!

Aren't They Cuuute??

Ducky Ring Toss
Object of the Game: To have your ring land around a duck in the water.
1. Buy a bunch of rubber duckies. Check out Oriental Trading and search for "toy rubber ducks" to find all sorts of styles. Also purchase an inexpensive ring toss game or two, so you can have some rings to use to throw around the ducks. (The rings can come in handy for other Carnival games as well.)
2. Once the ducks arrive, write on the bottom of them a number from 1-3.
3. Fill up the kiddie pool with lots of water.
4. Put all the ducks in the pool. The more the merrier.
5. Create 3 bins of prizes, labeled 1, 2, and 3. Note: The prizes can be anything you'd like... a toy, a stick of gum, a sticker, a box of raisins... use your imagination!
6. Have kids toss rings around the ducks. When a ring is around the duck, pick up the duck to see the number on the bottom, and let the child select the appropriate prize!

Penny Toss
Object of the Game: To have a penny land on a plate and not fall off.
1. Pull out all your pots and pans and arrange them upside down (bottoms up) together in group on your lawn. Ideally you want your pots and pans to be of different heights.
2. Cover them up with a plain sheet. Smooth the sheet so the surface is even.
3. Place plates (of different sizes) on the bottoms of the pots and pans.
4. Create some type of line where children can stand to throw the pennies.
5. Once a child's penny lands on a plate, give them the penny as a prize!

Knock the Bottles
Object of the Game: To knock down as many bottles as possible on one toss.
1. You have 2 easy choices for setting up this game...
a. buy a prepackaged set up for this game (for instance, Oriental Trading has a Milk Bottle Toss game...)
b. Or make it your self at home...
2. To make it at home Gather up 6-9 plastic soda bottles (look for bottles with very wide caps/mouths, so they can be stacked easily). Clean out, and preferably remove the label, so they are all the same.
3. Find a wiffle ball, bean bag, or some other light ball.
4. Set up the bottles in a pyramid and let the kids at it!

Hopefully some of these games will inspire you to throw your own carnival at home! In future posts, I'll make sure to write up some more!

Good Luck!