CHRISTMAS. EXCITEMENT. SUGAR OVERLOAD. BAKING STRESS. Words describing me trying to come up with an impressive, yet doable after work, baked good for my work Christmas party this week. Continue reading “White Chocolate Christmas Reese’s Recipe”
Author: juliavalley
Julia Valley is a DIYer living in Boulder, Colorado creating sweets, fashions, and home decorations.
Velvet Off the Shoulder Holiday Top Sewing Tutorial
While most of my focus lately has been on holiday eating – think hot chocolate, cookies, and comfort food – I have also been thinking about holiday clothing as well. Besides the obvious PJ and blanket scarf combo, there are a ton of parties that need a little bit more glitz. (Wait, I can’t show up in my leggings and a huge sweatshirt to this company party?) Christmas and New Years always lend well to sparkle and shine, but I was inspired by something a little different this year. Continue reading “Velvet Off the Shoulder Holiday Top Sewing Tutorial”
Flannel Blanket Scarf DIY
The last couple of weeks in Houston we have seen some bone chilling 50 degree days. I know it sounds lame, but the humidity makes it feel 20 degrees colder, I swear. Though I’ve stocked my house with cozy pillows and shareable sized blankets, sometimes we all need to leave the couch to stock up on more hot cocoa and tea and for some reason wearing a comforter as a coat isn’t acceptable. The solution: blanket scarves. Continue reading “Flannel Blanket Scarf DIY”
Baked Shoestring Sweet Potato Fries Recipe
So I’ve been working on a recipe for sometime now for y’all, but I didn’t want to share it until it was just right. I know, very generous of me to taste test batches upon batches of french fries and claim them not as a snack, but as a scientific baking experiment. That means the calories don’t count, right? Continue reading “Baked Shoestring Sweet Potato Fries Recipe”
Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice – Cinnamon Sugar Cookies Recipe
With Thanksgiving only about a week away, recipes have been flying around left and right for the perfect turkey, the most incredible stuffing, and some “unique” version of apple pie. While everyone at the store is fighting you for the last can of pumpkin or the only turkey that isn’t 30 lbs (honestly, who has this many people to feed?), I’ve been hiding in the baking aisle just hoarding all the spices and a whole lot of powdered sugar. Continue reading “Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice – Cinnamon Sugar Cookies Recipe”
Fri-DIY: A Golden Thanksgiving
With Thanksgiving quickly approaching, I have been working on getting a menu prepared, drinks taste tested, and decor… well, I’m working on it. This year I am staying back in Houston and celebrating with a group of good, similarly money-minded friends (flights are crazy expensive!). Knowing this group, there will be plenty of football watching, cheery drinking, and experimentation on cooking. We’re ordering a turducken, and it’s quite intimidating… any tips anyone?
Since most focus goes into the food and there are plenty of people helping out with that, I’m trying to get creative with the decor this year! After much searching and thought, I’ve agreed that gold is best. It’s been trendy for a couple of years now in home decor, and there are so many inexpensive items that you can purchase or make to really gild your table to glittery perfection. Chargers in shimmery gold can be purchased at Michael’s for about $1.50 a piece. Old wine bottles can be covered in gold paint or glitter to hold fresh flowers. The frugal options are endless! Check out my list of DIY’s and inspirational photos to get excited about your table this year. Bonus: this theme works well for Christmas and New Years too!
These DIY gold and glitter bottles from Yahoo Makers are too easy and so glamorous. I love the greenery coming out of the tops too.
Martha always has good holiday ideas. These gold dipped pine cones could easily be used for place cards or just placed sporadically along a table runner for a rustic chic look.
It’s hard not to love these gold spray painted Christmas lights from Landee See Landee Do – I would leave these up all year! Strung along the center of the table or in some tall glass vases would make for a glimmering centerpiece.
I’m also really into these gold branches from Pop Sugar. Throw them in a clear vase, hang some ornaments on them, and you are ready to go!
Though I usually send invites out on Facebook for my events, I really like the idea of sending paper invitations for special occasions. These gold accented invites from Paperless Post really caught my eye!
For more inspiration, check out the photos below!
Gold Table Display by A Pumpkin and A Princess
White and Gold Table by Sarah Sherman Samuel
Christmas Gold Display by The 36th Avenue
Rustic Holiday Table by Junebug Weddings
Do you guys have anything beautiful planned for your tables?
Taylor Swift Blank Space Costume DIY
Getting to be a bunny for Halloween last year was really a highlight of costumes for me. Thus, this year it was going to be hard to top. I kid you not, I think Megan and I spent a whole week trying to come up with a costume. All couples, BFF, and group costumes were discussed and shot down one after another. It felt hopeless; like the more we searched, the higher our expectations were and the less I liked every single idea we came up with. This was supposed to be fun – what the heck was I getting so worked up about!? Continue reading “Taylor Swift Blank Space Costume DIY”
Lisa Frank Rainbow Kitten Costume DIY
When someone invites you to a 90’s themed costume party, what do you immediately think of? Grunge? Clueless? Zenon girl of the 21st century? All great options. But really, how often do you get the opportunity to wear a rainbow animal angel costume? Time to take advantage of this opportunity while you can! Continue reading “Lisa Frank Rainbow Kitten Costume DIY”
Sew Bake Decorate 