----> Navy and Yellow Themed Baby Shower

My little/only sister is expecting her first baby in October and I was giddy about getting to throw her a baby shower with my mom.  We didn't have a theme in mind when I started browsing etsy and pinterest for ideas, but when I searched for invitations on etsy and THIS popped up, I fell in love with the colors and knew we now had our theme.  Knowing my sister, she wouldn't be sad if it didn't scream BABY - and who doesn't love the navy/yellow combo (?!) - so I ran with it.

I messaged Jae, who was awesome and easy to work with - and she got right on designing the invitation.  She also designed the pennants for the banner.  When it was all finished I took the files down to Alphagraphics and had them printed on 100# card stock. 

Everything turned out just how I was imagining and she loved it!

 I did the cake topper (which had his full name), food name cards, and Mihri Hatun quote in the frame to match the invitation and pennant banner.  My sweet neighbor who just graduated from High School and is going to college this fall for Culinary Arts made the cake.  It couldn't have been more perfect.  It was a rich butter yellow cake with cream cheese frosting.

For lunch we served:

Tuscan Chicken Salad Croissants

Summer Couscous Salad

Fresh Fruit

Veggies

Water Punch

Red Velvet Cake Bites

Oreo Truffles

I got to see my best friend from High School who I hadn't seen in almost 8 years!  The last time I saw her was at my own baby shower for my oldest who turns 8 in January.  It was great to catch up with her.  You can't even tell, but she's 22 weeks pregnant with her fourth!

I can't wait until the end of October!

Love you, sister.

----> Cane Chairs S.O.S.

My neighbor friend, Jami, recently asked me if I'd refinish a couple cane chairs that she had found at a garage sale onceuponatime for five bucks...and not five bucks each.  We're talking $2.50 a chair.  Steal.

She is the creative genius of Images by Jami - her photography business - and uses these chairs in photo shoots but wanted to freshen them up with some white paint. 

Brown equals blah in this situation.

The bottom cushions came off easily but the back cushion was stapled in place around the frame of the chair so I didn't want to mess with taking that one off just to paint. 

 If I knew my upholstery/sewing/cushion terms (do cushions have terms?) I'd know what to call that outer edge piece that frames the cushion - I took it off to get closer to the frame.  I used a screwdriver and gently tugged on the staples and it came off easily, only drawing blood twice. 

See. Walmart bags are useful.

The white paint makes them look so much better. 

Here are the chairs in Jami's front room where she meets with her clients.  I looooove her white tufted ottoman and the canvas collage on the wall of her cute kids!