Quick Valentine's for My Lady Loves

I was itchin' for a paper detox last week, so I whipped some Valentine's Gifts for my girlfriends. I filled monogrammed mugs with heart-shaped candy and added some "love notes" to them.

I added some tags with hand-cut hearts.

Then I wrapped them all in cellophane Easter basket bags from the dollar store that I cut in half.

As can see, I still don't have my good camera. :( 

{366} Week 6

{Day 36} 02.05.2012
Relaxing before bed after another long weekend of cleaning, organizing, and overeatting.

{Day 37} 02.06.2012
Post Happy Hour Browsing at P.O.S.H.

{Day 38} 02.06.2012

After Happy Hour, I went home on {Day 37} and pulled an almost all-nighter for work. I was exhausted on {Day 38} and didn't take any other photos other than this one of a stranger on the L to send to my hairdresser. (For the red color, not the roots.)

{Day 39} 02.08.2012
Another late night in the office. :( (i.e., that clock's not reading 10:11 a.m.)

{Day 40} 02.09.2012

The late night view from my office.

DAY 41: 02.010.2012

Lightscape on State Street

{Day 42} 02.11.2012

Valentine's for my Gal Pals

Andy's 40! Photo Place Mats and Cake Topper

Andy turned 40 last week. His parents and Aunt Ruth came into the city for a surprise birthday dinner at Chicago Q restaurant. I used an old photo to make some cute, simple table decorations to set the mood.

Andy's mom gave me this photo of a 4-ish year-old Andy last spring. I always knew that I'd use it for his 40th birthday. Once we decided to go for BBQ, I figured that place mats would be perfect. I scanned the photo and laid the pattern out in Illustrator. I had them printed on 11"x17" paper at Kinko's. I really wanted them to say "Happy 40th Birthday," so I didn't laminate or decoupage them for durability. (I think that it would so fun to make these for a kid's birthday and add a new one into rotation every year.)

I printed the "Happy 40th Birthday" pattern onto card stock for "napkin rings." The 40s were cut by my Silhouette SD.

I made a party hat cake topper by taping some toothpicks on the bottom to secure it in place.

It might have been a *smidge* emasculating, but I thought it was the cutest.

I told the bakery (Andy's fave frosting in the city, Sensational Bites) to decorate the cake in 70s red, orange, and brown colors.

As I mentioned in my 366, Week 5 post that I had planned to usher Andy into year 40 with balloons and then slept through the alarm. Well, all was not lost. They greeted him when we came home from dinner.

Unfortunately, I left my camera at Aunt Ruth's house the weekend before and she forgot to bring it to dinner. It breaks my heart, but these were the best photos that I could manage with my point-and-shoot. :(

366: Week 5

DAY 29: 01.29.2012

My boyfriend's really taking it on the chin today. Two busted keys in one day.

DAY 30: 01.30.2012

Andy's A.M. Birthday Surprise is all ready to go in the craft room. (I slept through his alarm and didn't get to spread the balloons around the apartment. I woke up in a mad panic at 6:20 and dragged him in there to admire them while I danced around with my bed head sticking up in a million directions and my eyes still heavy with sleep. He got some mileage out of the story at work.)

DAY 31: 01.31.2012

That cake is sparing no feelings. Look at those flames!

DAY 32: 02.01.2012

I need serious help. Someone needs to wire my jaw shut.

DAY 33: 02.02.2012

Cooking dinner at 8:44 p.m. after a long day at work is one of my least favorite parts of marriage. Back in the day, it would have been takeout or nothing at that hour.

DAY 34: 02.03.2012

I am required to complete very long training curricula at work every few years. Keeping up is killing me (and all of my peers). I made a post-it note "Countdown" to excitedly tear through as I complete my classes.

DAY 35: 02.04.2012

Happy Birthday,  Andy...for the fourth time. Andy's fourth birthday party with friends at Chicago Cut Steakhouse. (Mmmmm. A family favorite.)

366: Week 4

DAY 22: 01.22.2012

Rehydrating after the Sparkle Brunch and reliving France.

DAY 23: 01.23.2012

Working on birthday cake secrets in the wee hours of the night.

DAY 24: 01.24.2012

I had bought dinner for a homeless woman the previous week. I didn't know why the bill was $18.76...until I found the receipt while cleaning out my wallet and noticed that she bought four oatmeal cookies! (I'm not mad about the price. This made me laugh.)

DAY 25: 01.25.2012

I was probably a bit more excited than socially acceptable over this purchase.

That glue stick pen is now my favorite craft tool.

 DAY 26: 01.26.2012

It's such a gray, crappy day that Sears Tower is hiding out in the cloud cover.

DAY 27: 01.27.2012

Glittered chef hats is a first even for me.

DAY 28: 01.27.2012

Happy 40th Birtday, Andy! Mother C was drunk when she opened the candles

and lost the "H." I was also drunk and, therefore, no help in finding it.

A Pretty Crate & Barrel Box

I've mentioned before how the Crate & Barrel box has been my nemesis through 16 wedding seasons. (Yikes! Am I that old?) I once again triumphed in the fall, with a fun package that I prettied up for my friend's September bridal shower.

I used pretty green paper to cover the Crate & Barrel name, then stabled peach tissue paper that I had from my own incomplete wedding projects around the perimeter for frilly goodness.

Incidentally, I believe this package led to me tying 90 party favors for her October wedding. Lucky me.

A Sparkly Brunch

I hosted a super cute brunch for my girlfriends this weekend. Our group has some important December and January Birthdays and one newly engaged friend. I thought a sparkly, confetti-themed brunch celebrating our good friends and good will would be a great way to kick-off the new year.

I scheduled this spontaneously right before the holidays. I was inspired by a sparkly party that I saw in a 2010 issue of Martha Stewart Living that had lots of sequins and paillettes. This evite design sealed the deal on the theme.

I picked up red, purple, and fuchsia glitter wrapping paper from Paper Source, I happened to have a gold Chilewich runner from a sample sale, and I found a pack of eight fuchsia napkins at Home Goods for 99 cents. It was party kismet.

Whole Foods had these PERFECT fucshia and purple flowers.

I used my circle punches to make "confetti" for the place cards and napkin rings. Each place card and napkin ring had a unique pattern.

 

I also made some party hats with the glitter paper and crowns by stapling crepe paper fringe onto dollar store crowns.

I started making some "HAPPY" signs to hang above the mirrors, but, as always, time got away from me. I didn't get past the "H" and "Y."

I forgot to take a photo of the food spread. The menu included:

• Mimosas
• Orange LaCroix and O.J.
• Bacon, Leek, and Gruyere Quiche
• Ham, Shallot, and Cheddar Quiche
• Vegan White Bean Quiche (made by my friend)
• Hashbrowns
• Mixed Greens served with Fresh Vinaigrette Dressing
• Fresh Berries
• Bread and Butter

It was the easiest meal I've ever hosted! I had intended to make fresh brownies and sticky buns, but that Friday snowstorm threw a loop in my plans. I got some delicious bakery from Whole Foods, which was a million times better than anything I could have made myself.

I sent everyone home with a Godiva chocolate candy bar wrapped in glitter and more "confetti."

Our casual brunch turned into a four hour luncheon! It was so fun and a great respite from the snowy weather.

P.S. I used some scraps to make "Thank You" cards for the hostess gifts I received. I think that I want to make some "Tina" cards like this. Might as well use up the glitter spares before they become soooo 20XX.