Prom Night

How many of us look back at our Prom Night and wish we could push the "redo" button.  Well my hand is raised, that's for sure.  Maybe it's because my hair was teased so much, and I had pounds of aqua net hairspray on, or maybe it's because I had on a long sequined red dress with huge puffy sleeves?  I always thought that proms were overrated, however, with my son's prom I wanted to make it a special night to remember for him and his friends.  So in the weeks prior to his prom I was in total planning mode.  What could I do to make sure that their prom night was as special as they all are?  So here is what I came up with.....

I had a vision in my head and with the help of my family we brought it to life!  This was the photo booth back drop that I created.  I wanted the kids to have a fun place to sit and take silly photos before and after we served dinner.  This back drop was fairly easy to create.  I made the garlands with various types of tissue paper that I found at a local party store.  I used the Cricket to cut out the PROM letters, and I used some scrapbook paper to make the pinwheel circles.  I found the crown and the top hat also at a local party source store.  The chalkboards I found at Dress and Dwell Boutique in New Albany.  You can write whatever you want one them, they are such a versatile piece to have.  Simple linen drapes were used as the back drop.  I chose this color combination of yellow, green, and silver, because they are the colors of my son's school.

My son and his beautiful date, how funny is this?

I am so happy that the kids allowed me to take their photos, and they enjoyed the photo booth.  Now on to dinner plans....

Here is the end result, and I show you how I created this easy table scape.

We turned our family room into a dining space for the evening.  I have a large farmhouse table that worked out perfect for our dinner party of eight.  I used 2 sheer damask drapery panels for the table runner.  The napkins came from TJ Maxx, and the napkin rings were from Pier 1.  I used lots of fresh flowers down the center of the table.

I wanted to make my name cards for each of the kids, to make them feel special.  So I came up with the idea of painting simple garden pots with chalk board spray paint.  It was so easy, the boys helped me spray them.

I found both of these at the Home Depot.

And the end result was this...

I used some light green chalk, and personalized each one, then filled them with treats.  I put a pack of gum, some chapstick, the girls had a fun light up ring, and then a special message written from their dates.

I found the most beautiful papers at World Market, and the boys each wrote a special message for the girls.  Trying to teach these boys how to be gentlemen and thoughtful.

Here's the guys writing their special messages to the girls...

And the boys got gum, chapstick, and a mustache on a stick in their place card pot.  Hind sight, I should have made mustaches for the girls too, they loved them just as much!

And here are some of the flowers that were on the table...

Hope you find some inspiration in this post.  There are so many easy tricks that can make your event special!  And just for laughs, here is a photo of me at my prom...I'm in the red!

Until next time...

xo ~Gretchen

Blogging your way Road Trip Adventure to NYC

So last week I had an amazing opportunity to attend 2 full day classes taught by Holly Becker and Leslie Shewring.  Holly is an accomplished blogger, who reaches a large audience world-wide, she is a best selling author of her beautiful design book called Decorate, she has an amazing eye for interior styling, and I am now proud to call her my friend.  And Leslie is equally as talented.  She has her own successful blog, as well as contributing to Holly's blog, she has amazing photography skills, and is also now a new  friend.  I learned a lot during the two days of classes.  Sometimes it's just as simple as surrounding yourself with people who have similar creative souls as you do.  There were some very inspiring and lovely women in this class, and I look forward to following their blogs and see where their paths take them.  I took the class with my best friend, and it was 2 days of jam packed information taught by both Holly and Leslie.  If you ever get the opportunity to take a class from Holly, I highly recommend it :).  One of the skills I am most excited about learning this past weekend was learning how to use my camera to take interior photos.  So I wanted to share some of these photos I took with you, and I hope that you feel inspired to tap into your creative side!

My Styling using LuluBelles jewelry and some trims, fabrics and ribbons.

My Styling using a LuluBelles necklace

Some of the beautiful garland that Holly created herself.

One of Holly Becker's Mood Boards that she designed.

Beautiful tulips in a milk jar on our table, that I styled with velvet ribbon and a vintage brooch.

Having fun playing around with depth of field.

Styling with a fun little chevron printed party bag, that was giving to us at the class.

LuluBelles necklace, with a French general book, and a classmate's flower.

Our amazing loft space, Divine Studios in NYC

Leslie, Natalie, Holly and myself.

Hope you feel inspired!

XO~Gretchen

Peppermint Pudding Pie

Peppermint Pudding Pie

Every year around this time, I look forward to making my peppermint pudding pie recipe.  It is super easy to make, and it is reduced fat, and reduced sugar.  And yes, it is still really yummy, you do not even miss any of the extra fat or sugar.  I have a little bit of a sweet tooth, but because I am diabetic I have to really watch what I eat, so I modified this pudding pie recipe.  Here are a list of the ingredients you will be using...
Low fat Cool Whip
2 Packages of Sugar Free White chocolate instant pudding
1 cup Skim milk
2 tsp. Peppermint extract
Roll out dough pie crust
peppermint chips, or crushed candy canes

Before you start mixing the ingredients for your pie, get the oven preheated to 450 degrees.  You will bake your pie crust first.  The Pillsbury Pie Crust work the best, I have tried the off brand, but it is not the same.
Roll out your pie crust, you will only need one.  Then place it in a oven safe pie dish.  You then have to pinch the sides all the way around.

 It looks like this before you smooth it out and pinch the sides.

This is what the pie crust should look like before it goes into the oven.  The directions say to bake at 450 degrees for 10-12 minutes.  I usually leave mine in for just about 8 minutes.  You just want it to get a slight golden brown like this...

So now while your pie crust is cooling you can get started on the pie filling.

In a large mixing bowl, add 2 packages of the sugar free white chocolate instant pudding, and 1 cup of skim milk.  Mix together until you get a thick smooth mixture.

Once you get this thick smooth mixture, then add the cool whip.  I either use one large tub of cool whip, or two of the smaller tubs.  I mix in a little at a time.  I also now add the 2 tsp. of peppermint extract.

Once it is all mixed together, then add the pie filling into your cooled pie crust.  I then add the peppermint chips, or crushed peppermint to the top.  And it is just as easy as that.  This pie is refreshing and light, and will leave you feeling less guilty about eating a holiday dessert!  Hope you have a wonderful holiday season, and please give this recipe a try, you will not be disappointed.

~Gretchen

These are a few of my favorite things....for the holiday season

So for the holidays I have a few favorite things that I enjoy this time of the year.

1.  Seeing all the beautiful window displays at local antique shops.  This photo was taken of an antique shop window display in New Albany, IN.  My cousin, aunt, mom, and I spent the afternoon shopping at their local boutiques.

2.  Vintage ornaments on my little silver tinsel tree.

3.  I absolutely love collecting Cody Fosters glittery holiday houses.  Each one is so interesting, and tells a story with all its little decorations and details.  This pink one happens to be my favorite!

4.  I love this ornament because of the color combination of red and turquoise.  I love using those two colors together during the holidays.  You should try using red and turquoise while wrapping your packages.

5.  Making ornaments with my boys is a holiday tradition that I look forward to every year.  This year we made these little pine cone elves.  Each one is as individual as my boys are.  I have the directions on how to make these on the previous blog posts.

6.  My glittery, sparkly, shoes are a holiday staple!  I love wearing them every chance I get during the holidays.

7.  Nothing says Christmas more than fresh greenery all around.  I love the way it smells and looks.

8.  Elf on the Shelf is another holiday tradition that we have at our home.  I love to see the look on my boys' faces when they find where the elf is hiding every morning.

9.  This is a garland that I made for my mantel this year.  The garland reads "JOYFUL", because that is what we should feel this time of the year.  I made it with vintage script paper and some scrapbook paper, along with some glittery snowflakes and snowmen.

10.  I try to add a few vintage ornaments to my collection each year.  It is so fun going out antiquing and finding all these lovely treasures.  Each one has such history.

11.  This is an ornament that I made last year at the Creative Connection Event.  I just love little birds, and I adore this little birdie perched on her nest, wearing a crown of course ;)

12.  And last but not least, I love the way department stores decorate for the holidays.  It just makes shopping even more fun.  I enjoy hearing the Christmas carols ring through the store, and all the workers seem happy to help.  Everything seems more magical when you add Christmas lights to it!

I'd love to hear what your favorite things are this holiday season.  I took all these photo's using my iPhone, and they were posted to my Instagram account.  Instagram is a fun iPhone app, that I highly recommend.  If you would like to follow me, I have a link on my blog page(the one with the little camera).   Hope you are having a wonderful holiday season!

Until next time...

XO~Gretchen