Wall flowers

Awhile ago Jess and I posted some pictures of some of the wall decor in our apartment, and I have been meaning to show you all what I added to the window in my room a few months ago! This is a cheap and EASY way to get a more personalized version of those adorable flower wall flowers you may have come across while browsing the aisles of Target or IKEA. My tip is to make double the amount of flowers you think you will need, with all different papers selections. Then, glue them back to back so when you roll the ends you can see both designs! You could also buy cute double sided paper, but I liked how sturdy using the two pieces made the flowers feel... I also used some of that sticky wall gummy stuff (no idea what the 'technical' name for it is) to mount them instead of using the tacks (and adding even more holes in the wall.) Here is the link to the pattern you can download: http://www.billiemonster.com/blog/article/monster-printables-paper-wallflowers-make-me-happy

Re-creative!

I realize this is like the fourth post just this weekend, so after a month of posting next to nothing, I'm sure all you followers are just overwhelmed with visual stimulation. So here's a little more for you to oooh and ahh over. I wish I could call all of these items my own... Until then, I have some new ideas to inspire me for my next furniture refurbishments!

This makes me smile... do you see why? :)

I've gotta have an old bucket like this laying around somewhere...

Home for the Holidays

Since this winter storm is preventing me from doing anything but browse the internet, blog, and then blog some more, I thought I would take the time to finally post some pictures of what Christmas looks like over at the Bosworth household (there are a few from Thanksgiving at the McClure's, as well)...  We have yet to take any decent pictures of our apartment holiday decor (so you can still look forward to those). In the mean time, these snapshots should tide you over, and give you a little inspiration for new ideas... Shout out to Mamma Bos for yet another year of great decorations!

Thanksgiving table settings

too bad the star at the top got cut off!

Every Christmas Tree must have an Elf Shelf!

Snow babies :)

Mistletoe Santa's hand painted by my Mom!

Have a collection of broaches that you're not sure what to do with? This could be done with some old buttons or earrings, too

A little string goes a long way...

After watching a Martha Stewart Christmas special on TiVo today, and then after browsing one of my favorite sites, craftgawker.com,  I thought these string balls deserved a little attention... all you need are some balloons, glue, and maybe a little glitter and/or paint

I can just envision these painted in a bright color, or wrapped in white Christmas lights this holiday season...

Ornaments featured on Martha Stewart's Christmas episode

Capture your Pinterests...

Hey everyone!

From here on out,  Jess and I are going to [try] to promise to never go this long without blogging! It has been wayyyy too many days since we've updated this thing, but hopefully after the holidays we will both be adding much more on here to keep your attention (please don't delete us from your daily sites to check!! :) )

I wanted to quick let you all know about my new favorite website (which I'll admit, has been distracting me from updating our blog more often). The website is called Pinterest, maybe you've heard of it? It is "a social catalog to collect and share things you love." If you aren't seeing much action happening on our blog, please check out my pinterest page (as I have found its easier for me to update this than the blog, sometimes) Anyway, here is the link to my page, let me know if you'd like me to send you an invite to join so you can start one of your own! Personally, I am using my page as inspiration for design ideas, so you will see a lot of DIY/ home decorating things on here :)

Enjoy!

http://pinterest.com/abosworth/

My friend Elissa (who told me about this) also has a great page... She has been doing this much longer than me, so she definitely has some GREAT pins to check out! Here is the link to hers as well:
http://pinterest.com/elissab/

P.S. Check back shortly for some pictures of our holiday decor here in apartment 2!

 

 

Catching up.

Sorry to all you fellow followers for being so MIA the last few weeks! It's Allie here, and I've been staying busy with my classes at the Art Institute. For all you that haven't heard, I am going back to school for Interior Design! Shouldn't come as much of a surprise if you've been staying up-to-date with our blog entries. I think I have finally find a 'calling,' if you will, that I am beyond excited about pursuing! I also just got back from my brother Nick's wedding in  Puerto Vallarta, MEXICO! What an amazing time we were able to spend with friends and family-- please check out some video's/ pictures either on my facebook page, or at http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickandsam/. Here is a little snapshot of the paradise we were able to enjoy over the week.

Real Del Mar

Pool at our Casa Amanacer

"The Wedding Tree" Site of ceremony location @ Real Del Mar Beach Club

Cutting of the cake!

Congrats you two!

Decorative Pets.

Taking inspiration from this [incomplete] wall art seen at a small gift store in Colorado Springs, CO last Spring, I knew I wanted to replicate it in some way in a future home.

But then we were torn with what to do after seeing these adorable little scrapbook paper birdies over at Ashley Ann photography

So we used a combination of the seperate canvas' (one for myself, one for Jess), fabric leaves, and a little DIY work, and came up with this whimsical artwork to hang in our living room. We can't have physical pets here at apartment #2, but that won't stop us from creating our own version of some household pets. Names for these cute little tweeters to come... Any ideas?

Winter Wonderland

As we all know... Winter Wonderland is just around the corner! I am excited for the warm apple cider, Christmas trees, cinnamon & evergreen scented candles, Christmas dishes, twinkle lights around the city, snow, pine wreaths, the list goes on and on for me!

One of the main reasons why I love this time of year is because it reminds me of the memories I have with my family an friends! And many of those memories are wrapped in winter fun activities. There is so much to do in the city during this time, and its time for you to take advantage of what Minneapolis - St. Paul provides us with!
Here are some of our winter to-do's:
1) Reindeer Run - around Lake Harriet, check out the photos from past years! I am sooo looking forward to this!
2) Winter Ski Weekend - I am thinking Lutsen Mountain Ski Resort
3) Saint Paul Winter Carnival - I haven't gone in years and I am looking forward to going and seeing the ice castle!
4) Holidazzel Parade - Some may say its overrated... I say it's festive!!!
5) Curl up, read a book and enjoy a good latte or mocha! One of my favorite places do this is at Swede Hollow in Saint Paul.

What are your winter activity goals??

This picture was taken last winter in Keystone, CO at our favorite local bar, Kickapoo Tavern!

A Stylin' Snuggie

Want the comfort of a snuggie, but the stylish look of a trendy poncho or sweater? Then this Bobeau Asymmetrical Fleece Wrap Cardigan is a MUST HAVE for this fall season and upcoming winter. I purchased mine last week (after debating the purchase for about a month-- Did I really need another cardigan?!) But, HALLELUIAH-- this thing is glorious! It's easier than wearing your pink snuggie all day-- and it looks just as fashionable buttoned as it does left open. Jess saw mine and instantly said "OK, get me one now!" You like? Let Allie know, or come visit me in the Point of View Department at Nordstrom, and I'll hook you up with one of your very own! The link on the nordy website only shows the color black, but in the store we have it in brown (what I own), olive green, charcoal (what jess has), blue, and black... take your pick! 

Traveling Goals

Hello All,

As many of you know... I will be traveling around the United States for the National Guard FLW College Fishing Regional Championships. Because I have to be away from my family & friends for a total of 25 plus days... I made a few goals for myself for the upcoming days!

Jess' Travel Goals:
1) Try something new everyday...
2) Only eat meals at places where you cant go to at home.
3) Find one sight-seeing activity!
4) Work out... either running (training for the Turkey Trot) or Turbo Jam in my hotel room!

I hope to be able to keep you all updated with my travels and experiences. This past week I was in Sacramento, Cali for the Western Regional Championship, where the first woman qualified for the National Guard FLW College Fishing National Championship... this lady Allison Shaw from Chico Sate showed the guys that fishing wasn't just for guys! As much as it was a very very busy week with the kick off of our regional championships... I was able to do a few fun things!

My first stop was to Pinkberry :) My favorite yogurt place ever... seriously! I even had lunch there one day... and it covered goals # 1 and 2. If you have never been to a Pinkberry I highly recommend it!! Unfortunately for me the find the closest Pinkberry store nearest you... and Sarahlee, you probably wont need this as they are surrounded by you! Lucky lady!

My second stop was to Tex Wasabi's Guy Fieri's Southern BBQ and California Style Sushi. Such a great restaurant... so tasty and unique! As I walked in the door I knew it would be a great restaurant because they have a wall of T-shirt of other restaurants and "The Nook" was on there!

And lastly, I was able to enjoy a nice run around Sacramento State's campus. As a proud alumni of the beautiful Iowa State University and very fortunate to have been surrounded by a beautiful campus for four years of my life. I was very surprised that "Sac State" (what the locals call it) was so beautiful. I am pretty sure they have every kind of tree that there is on their campus, from palm trees to pine trees to maple trees to oak trees.

Well that's all for now :) Take care and good night!

Like Vintage?

If you like fashion, anything vintage, and live in the Twin Cities, this is the event for you! If I weren't working all weekend, I'd be here in a heartbeat! The Twin Cities Vintage Clothing & Jewelry show is taking place this Friday and Saturday at the State Fair Grounds... someone please go and tell us all about it, please?!

HOORAY!

A special shout out and THANK YOU goes out to our friend, Elissa Braun, over at ebb & flow for using her design/blogger skills to help us out with a new header! At last, our blog is coming together little by little... Make sure to check out her blog, too. It is definitely one to bookmark!

Chalkboard in the Kitchen

Jess and I have been looking for a corkboard or chalkboard to put in a certain area in our kitchen for awhile now, so THANK YOU goes out to my Aunt Lindy who invited my mom and I to the Umaga gift mart yesterday, where we were able to get all sorts of gifts and home decorations at wholesale cost! Woodwick candles for $1.50, picture frames for $4... heck yes! This is where store buyer's go to purchase all of the inventory for their stores. Needless to say, it was very dangerous... but, of course, we had lots of luck! Below is just a sample of a few of the things we picked up!

Already looking forward to decorating for Christmas in Apartment #2

It's a good thing we didn't purchase THIS at Target last week... this find at the gift mart yesterday only cost us $6!

Zombie Crawl

Well, its official. This weekend I (Allie here) participated in the strangest thing I have ever done. A couple friends and I got all dressed up for the Zombie Pub Crawl 2010. To any visitors that may have been driving around Minneapolis last night: I hope the 10,000+ zombies creepin' around the Cedar Riverside bars didn't scare you away for life... we hope you may return to the state of MN again. Despite what you may have seen- we are some cool people, we just like to dress up a little. Anway, here is a little taste of what it looked like last night:

Two months later...

After a great find at Hunt & Gather down the street nearly two months ago, operation "recover our bar stools" is complete! If you don't know who Amy Butler is, and you're thinking about doing a DIY project of your own, you must visit her website, Amy Butler Design. Please ooooh and ahhh a little bit over her fabrics. We're also in love with her wall art!
 Living in the Twin Cities? We found a great selection of her fabrics at Sewtropolis in South Minneapolis-- what a creative concept behind this business!

BEFORE: Yes, that is burlap someone used to recover these seats. All that can be said about that is OUCH.

AFTER!

Kinda wish we would have bought a third... but at least there is one for the each of us, or a couple guests that want to watch us cook :)

October already?

I suppose now that it is October, it means we should be busting out all our Halloween decorations and go buy our pumpkins! Well, for those of you who don't like this holiday, or the witches, ghosts, and spider window clings that come along with it- here is a tasteful way to celebrate the Halloween & Fall season without going overboard on the haunted house inspired home decor.
DIY supplies needed:
Pumpkins, gords etc. (real or fake... we chose fake so they would last longer)
Decorative napkins of your choice (tissue paper would work well, too)
Mod Podge (You got it. We're decoupaging again!)
Sponge paint brush

Cut napkin into strips for easier application

Ta da!

What's your Design Personality?

If you watch Oprah, then I am sure you are familiar with designer & Minnesota native,  Nate Berkus. Well, it looks like he is another example of the "O" effect, as he is now hosting his own television show, The Nate Berkus Show. If you haven't seen an episode yet, it airs weekdays at 10am (central time). Want to know your design personality?  Do you like Modern? Vintage? Traditional? French Country? Global? A little bit of everything? Take this quiz to find out your design personality.

Turns out, I have a "split personality" when it comes to design...I  like to mix and merge different design styles for a unique look. I tend to go for the one-of-a-kind looks, so it doesn't surprise me that this was the result of the quiz for me... Take the quiz and let us know what you find out!

Shop Ruche.

Thank you, Sarahlee Sommerfeld. We are in LOVE with this website she introduced us to... great pieces of clothing and accessories, and even greater price points. For all you cupcake lovers: be sure to click on the 'decadent ruffles' tab... so clever.

Happy 1st day of Fall!

It is our absolute FAVORITE time of year here in Minnesota. Here is to the crisp autumn air, vibrant colored leaves, pumpkin spice lattes, candy corn, pumpkin patches, and of course, all the cute fall clothes!