Beautiful Be Mine On A Budget

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Sorting through all of the Operation Shower photos today to share with you all, and while I do, I had to share this adorable Valentine shoot and garland tutorial sent in by The Busy Budgeting Mama. Isn't it precious?
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Once again The Busy Budgeting Mama shows us how to create a lot of cute for a little cash.
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She even posted this sweet tutorial to show everyone how to make their own garland at home. I love the mix of the cut out hearts, circles and inexpensive doilies.
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Heart doilies are one of my favorite budget Valentine's day decor items. Love it when old is new again!
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Sophia sure seems to be pleased with mom's work!
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Pop over to see more photos and all the 411 on how to recreate all of this yourself for your own Valentine's party.
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Thanks for sharing!

We LOVE these Operation Give Thanks for Valentine's!

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All New 2011 Custom Printables From Some of Our Favorite Party Sites for Operation Give Thanks! We’ve once again teamed with some amazing party printable talent to bring you sets specially designed to benefit Operation Give Thanks.

For a small $5.00 donation, you can download these simply incredible sets for Valentine’s Day. For as little as $5 you can kick off an amazing Valentine's Day party and give back to some deserving military families at the same time!

Big kids or little kids...there is something for everyone with these sets. Just follow the links to the respective sites to download and donate. Or, donate here!

Take a look at the amazing sets by Paper & Pigtails and Bird Crafts.


Paper & Pigtails...perfect for a Girls' Night In! . .

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Bird's Party can Bee Mine anytime of year!

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In case you don't know... What Is Operation Give Thanks?

Operation Give Thanks is a nation-wide fundraising campaign to help Operation Shower continue our mission to throw amazing baby showers for military families to ease the burden of deployment. We are often asked how to best help Operation Shower. We decided that since Operation Shower gives back to our military families through parties, so can YOU!
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We are asking people across the nation to host parties, big or small, to raise money for Operation Shower. Already hosting a party for a holiday or special event? Why not simply ask guests for a small donation to Operation Shower’s Operation Give Thanks while you are it? What a wonderful way to express your gratitude and thanks at this special time of year — and have fun!
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Our long-term goal is to reach every military base in the nation. Our short-term goal is to raise $50,000 through Operation Give Thanks to enable us to shower over 200 more moms-to-be! That’s right, if you raise $250 for Operation Shower, that helps us to throw a full amazing baby shower with gifts for a military mom to be whose spouse is deployed!

Donate Now!

Huge thanks to Paper&Pigtails and Bird Crafts for creating these sets for us. Don't forget, you can still download the 2010 sets here. Many are still perfect for your next party!

Groovy Kind Of Love

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Just when you think you've seen everything, something like this comes along and makes you think "why didn't I think of that?" and "Abigail is lucky she is so awesome because I'm tempted to not like her right now." Maybe that last part is just me.

That would be Abigail of Paper&Cake and creator of this totally groovy printable collection that is perfect for a birthday, sleepover or a Valentine's full of love and peace.
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I mean, really, have you ever? This looks like a preteen or teen dream party. The bold colors and graphic designs just pop off of that white. Why not throw a Valentine dress-up party for the little girls in your life? They would LOVE you for it.
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Birthdays, too, of course. I mean Paper & Cake has already done so much of the work for you. The treat bags alone are almost too much for me to handle.
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You add in popcorn boxes, toppers, that to die for banner, labels and everything else in this collection and you've got quite a fantastic flashback happening here.
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Visit Paper&Cake for even more pictures and to get your own Peace Love printable collection.

Word has is that Abigail and I will finally get to meet in San Diego for the Operation Shower event coming up and that if a mere 3 people leave her a comment on her blog or Facebook page saying they saw this here, that she will volunteer to cut my meat for me at dinner.

I realize that makes sense to no one else but Abigail so trust that it is the funniest thing you have ever or will ever read. : )

What Is Your Intention?

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Far be it from me to start rushing through this year already, but it is time to start thinking about Valentine's Day. Don't blame me. Blame the calendar.
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Luckily Better Homes and Gardens has such lovely eye candy for us all that it makes thinking about the next holiday already a liiiiitle more bearable.
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All of these are simple and yet simply delightful ways to add a little love to your space. Now then, it's never too early to talk about that, is it?


Speaking of a New Year. I made one sweeping "intention" this year. (Last year I banished the word "resolution" in favor of the more optimistic and zen-like word "intention!")

My intention this year is to simply spend even more time doing things that really matter. I'm still defining what all that means to me, but I do know it encompasses giving even more, spending more time engaged in physical activity, spending more time reading, being more aware of food sources, taking more time for myself, spending more time having dates with my husband, spending more time on spiritual things. See how tricky I was? I made one "intention" that can cover so many things. In my head it makes it less overwhelming! Don't wake me from my delusion. I simply want to spend more time doing things that matter.

What is your intention this year?

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

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I just wanted to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and happy holiday season before I head out for a few days.
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I mentioned the "tablescape" here and thought there was no better way to wish you all the very best in each of your homes than to share a few scenes from ours this year.
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I also mentioned I went through a "lush" phase (no, not the too much wine drinking kind of "lush") this season. I typically skew more modern and Christmas is the time to bring out the peacock feathers and that color palette. Just felt like mixing it up this year and going a bit more rustic and wintery with hints of lime green. Twas a nice change of pace!

Speaking of... as the pace of the holidays leaves many of us frantic and worn out, I hope you each take time to relax and enjoy every minute of it.
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Soak it in. 2011 is on it's way. I don't know about you, but I plan on making it the best year yet!

Cheers,
Amy

Sweet Finds From Sweet Paul

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Just wanted to share a couple of finds from the Fall online issue from Sweet Paul that would be perfect for your Thanksgiving.
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I love the simple and rustic touches of the above. A cute play on the cookies and milk treat on the top right has won me over. Switch it up with different scrapbook papers and ribbons instead of rubber bands and the possibilities are endless.
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Originally part of a Halloween story, these white pumpkin decorations would make for a stunning and unique Thanksgiving table. An all white Thanksgiving with just a few pops of orange would be so fresh!

Much more to be seen in the Fall issue here. And, guess what? The Winter issues comes out today. I can't wait!

BOO! BHG To The Rescue

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Running short on time to prep for Halloween festivities this weekend? No worries. My friends at BHG.com have your sweets and treats covered with some simple, yet simply fantastic ideas.

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Need some frightfully good appetizers? Here you go.

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What about spooky sweets for all the guys and ghouls?

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There are more where those came from so be sure and check out all the Halloween happenings on BHG.com...if you dare!

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My new BFF, Brandy of Simply Creative Insanity, sent me these photos of her darling tablescape she did for the 4th. I just have to share.

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She did this all with items from around her house. What do YOU have lying around that you can use? Unfortunately I don't have a box of time lying around so thanks to Brandy and all of you that send in photos to share!

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Check out her blog for more photos, tips and to see just where she got the adorable printables. You, too, can have some!

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So you get why I had to share the photos...now the quick skinny on why she is my new BFF.

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Brandy and I were already bloggy acquaintances, but then Brandy sent me an email on my Reunited post below saying that, what do you know, we have a lot of mutual friends! She has known some of the people in my photos below since college. Small world, eh? I love that story. Tell it again.

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Okay, I won't.

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Have a wonderful and safe holiday,

Amy

Happy Easter!

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Just a few of my favorite Easter images from BHG.com. Enjoy!