PINSPIRATION SATURDAY: A Girly Girl Room For Two

In last week's PINSPIRATION SATURDAY post, I mentioned that we're hoping to be in our new house in about a month.  I spend a lot of my time these days picking finishes, hardware, paint colors, floor stains and more, and while it's a lot of fun, it's also a little stressful.  What if I pick the wrong thing?  What if I don't like my choice in six months?  Is this tile too trendy?  This wallpaper too grandma?  Will it all go together?  Without look too matchy matchy?  As you can tell, I'm taking these decisions very seriously!

The girls' room will be one of the biggest challenges since we'll be decorating from scratch now that they've kind of outgrown everything from their old nursery and their space in the house is a lot bigger than it was in our condo in New York City (yay for the 'burbs!).  So of course I've been pinning ideas like crazy for inspiration.  Here's a look at a few of my favorite finds:

I love everything about this room by Palmer Weiss, featured in Lonny.  Everything.

My pin from Caitlin Creer Interiors

This bed by the Project Nursery team is beyond swoon-worthy

My pin from Project Nursery

This is almost the exact color I picked for their room.  

The contrast with the white moulding is so pretty!

Pin from Deapatz.tumblr.com via RubyJu

Can you tell I have a thing for patterned headboards?  I think they look great in pairs too.
My pin from Decor Pad

I adore the hot pink dresser and the bold mix of patterns and colors in this space.

My pin from Decor Pad

How great are these refinished nightstands?
Some furniture re-purposing is definitely on the horizon for us!
Pin from Natty By Design via Cheryl at Tidy Mom

This is such a great example of how to mix patterns and create a room little girls can grow into.

My pin from Effortless Style

Could you just die from the cuteness?  Gabrielle and Alaina's room just got painted and I chose the fabrics I want to use in it last week so I'll post some sneak peeks very soon.  In the meantime, tell me - what does your little girl's room look like?

For more kid's room projects and ideas, follow my Decor for the Kiddos board on Pinterest, and if you're on Pinterest, post a link to your profile or your user name so I can follow you too!

25 More Awesome Ideas for Easter {FREEBIES}

I shared 25 Awesome Ideas for Easter yesterday and it was so hard for me to narrow down the list that I've got ANOTHER 25 awesome ideas for you today.  From crafts for the kiddies to sweets for your sweetie, I'm sure you'll find something fun on this list that you just have to try! 

1.  Plastic Egg Crafts from Make and Takes

2.  Free Printable Spring Flags Banner from Sandy Toes and Popsicles

3.  Carrot Cupcake Shooters from Celebrate Today the Superchick Way!

4.  Peep Cake Bunting from No Biggie

5.  Easter Bunny Suckers from The Mother Huddle

6.  Beribboned & Bejeweled Easter Eggs from Delish

7.  DIY Easter Peeps Garden Centerpiece from Celebrations at Home

8.  Don't Eat the Peep Printable Game Board from My Little Gems

9.  Easter Bunny Bottles (with Free Printables) from Happy Clippings

10.  Easter Basket Cupcakes from Family Fun

11.  Egg Carton Chicks from Paper, Plate + Plane

12. Easter Cookie Basket from Pizzazzerie

13.  Peep Nests (with Free Printable tags) from The Crafting Chicks

14.  Easter Cone Critters from The Crafting Chicks

15.  No Sew Bunny Washcloths from The Stitchin' Chicken

16.  Easter Thumbprint Art from Sweet and Lovely Crafts

17.  Free Printable Bunny Cupcake Wrappers from Skip to My Lou

18.  Peepcakes (aka Peep Pancakes) from I Eat Ice Cream

19.  Handprint Bunny from Meet the Dubiens

20.  Retro Jelly Bean Bracelet (with Free Printable Bag Topper) from Gourmet Mom on the Go

21.  Homemade Easter Candy Corn from Cakespy

22.  Mock Carrot Favors from Bird's Party

23.  DIY Felt Bunny Ears from Martha Stewart

24.  Easter Bunny Cupcakes from Shindig Parties to Go

25.  Free Printable Mickey & Friends Easter Egg Face Stickers from Disney Family

Still not sick of Easter goodies?  Check out my Easter board on Pinterest for a whole bunch more!

How to Throw the Ultimate Sesame Street Party! {Part 1}

I've gotten quite a few e-mails over the past few weeks asking for inspiration for Sesame Street-themed parties.  Well, as Abby Cadabby might say, your wish is my command!

First up - invitations.  You can go the DIY route and make something fun like these Cookie Monster invites from Jami at Freckled Laundry.

Can you believe she hand-made all of these from wash clothes?

And Libby at Libby's Little Addiction used a scalloped paper punch and other scrapbooking tools to make these adorable cards.

If you're looking for something a little less labor intensive, Etsy is filled with tons of fun printable options.  A few of my faves?  This colorful and modern take from Anders Ruff.

The sassy polka dot version from Less Ordinary Designs.

And this bright invite featuring the character of your choice from Shindig Parties to Go.

Once you've got the invitations squared away, it's on to the next piece of the part puzzle - decorations.

You can easily set the tone for the party from the time the guests pull up!  Kerri from Elle Belle's Bows cut out these Big Bird, Elmo and Cookie Monster tracks to lead party goers up to her front door.

And a client of Anders Ruff made this rainbow balloon wreath (here's a how to from How Does She) to welcome everyone....

To Owen Street. 

Notice the 1 on top for his first birthday.  Adorable!

What I love most about a Sesame Street theme is that it's based in bold, primary colors, which means you don't need to go over-the-top with decorations featuring the characters.  Take this bash thrown by Effi of Le Petit Party, which was featured on Amy Atlas. 

Most of the elements are done in simple, solid colors which you can easily create inexpensively on your own, allowing you to splurge on things like the Sesame Street cake and cupcakes.

Jenn from Hostess With the Mostess did something similar when she styled a party for Nancy O'Dell's daughter, Ashby's, birthday.

She created a giant candy buffet filled with solid colored treats, and interspersed framed photos of the characters as well as small plush dolls (similar ones can be found for $2 at Target) to bring in the theme.  I love how whimsical it all looks!

Even something as simple as grouping red, blue, yellow and green balloons like these from Lemiga Events gives you that Sesame Street vibe.

 
Want to add a little more pizzazz? Throw some polka dots into the mix too, like Jenny from Jenny Cookies did for her son, Hudson's birthday (she used the invitation from Less Ordinary Designs that I featured above, along with all of the coordinating printables).

Kate from And Everything Sweet used a solid backdrop, a polka dot garland and an assortment of rainbow colored tissue poms for her daughter's party. {learn how to make the poms here at Martha Stewart}

She also dressed up the kid's tables by adding colorful balloons and adorable DIY party hats.

Aren't they fun?

And while we're on the topic of tables, let's turn our attentions to what I think one of the most fun parts about a Sesame Street party is - the food!

It's so easy to stay on theme by serving items that the inhabitants of Sesame Street like to eat, like Eleven Cupcakes did here - goldfish for Dorothy, cookies for Cookie Monster and pizza for Elmo.  And the street sign labels she used are a wonderful touch!

Libby at Libby's Little Addiction used cookie cutters on the food at her daughter Caroline's 2nd birthday, which, appropriately, was being brought to guests by the letter C and the number 2.

She also cut the sandwiches into shapes.

At the Elle Belle's Bows bash, there were jars of Slimy's Pudding. 

And alphabet and number Jello jigglers.

And every party needs a signature drink, right?  So serve up some of this non-alcoholic Rubber Ducky Punch from Tidy Mom in Ernie's honor!

When it comes to sweet treats, Bakerella has a tutorial for these fabulous Sesame Street cake pops.

You can also make some cute character chocolate lollipops like these from And Everything Sweet.

And of course you're going to want some cupcakes!

Get the how to for these Cookie Monster cuties at Complete Deelite.

And Lovely Sprinkles has terrific tutes for almost all of the Sesame peeps, including my fave, Grover.

Now what are you going to do with the kiddos once they're hopped up on all of that sugar?  I've got tons of Sesame Street themed activities, plus fun favor ideas and more coming tomorrow in Part 2 of How to Throw the Ultimate Sesame Street Party.  You won't want to miss it.

And if you need help with a party theme, send me an e-mail at afomft@gmail.com and I'll see what I can do!


Images: Freckled Laundry, Libby's Little Addiction, Anders Ruff, Less Ordinary Designs, Shindig Parties To Go, Elle Belle's Bows, Le Petit Party, Hostess With the Mostess, Lemiga Events, Jenny Cookies, And Everything Sweet, Eleven Cupcakes, Tidy Mom, Bakerella, Complete Deelite & Lovely Sprinkles