5 bright hues, 70 paint chips, 70 thumb tacks… making an amazing rainbow pattern instant wall art – priceless!

photo c. stacy anne longenecker via flickr, spotted on slipcoveryourlife.com

a beautiful yellow floral foldover note download from Miss B of the Blah Blah Blahg. Print 2 per 8.5 x 11 stock sheet. Sure to bring smiles and great for so many different occasions.

www.leblahg.com download here

Take a cue from the classroom and download these free school house inspired envelope wraps and oh so pretty pastel graph papers courtesy of Miss B over at The Blah, Blah, Blahg.  Enjoy the weekend back-to-school shopping everyone!

envelope wrap, download here & graph paper, download here

This is the perfect time of year to bring a meal outdoors… whether it be a romantic outing for two, a family style shin dig, or a fun day at the park with friends.  Here are a few great ideas for making your picnic experience a pleasurable one. Get a handle on your wines using a square tablecloth that duel purposes as your sitting blanket.  Make up a batch of memorable totes that guests can use long after the celebration. Cook up a great pasta salad sure to be a crowd favorite, and invest in the best reusable flatware made of organic bamboo.  The ants should be the only ones left off the invitation!

1. Bottle Wrap, instructions included marthastewart.com, 2. DIY lunch favor bags, instructions included, stylemepretty.com, 3. orzo salad, photo courtesy of goodhousekeeping.com, 4. Bambu all purpose Veneerware, bambuhome.com

Greek Orzo and Grilled Shrimp Salad with Mustard-Dill Vinaigrette, from the kitchen of Bobby Flay, foodnetwork.com

Ingredients:

• 3/4 pound orzo, cooked al dente
• 1 large cucumber, seeded, quartered lengthwise, and sliced
• 3 green onions, thinly sliced
• 1 pint grape tomatoes, halved
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh dill, plus extra for garnish
• 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
• 3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 1/2 cup olive oil, plus additional for brushing shrimp
• Salt and freshly ground pepper
• 3/4 pound feta cheese, crumbled
• 16 medium shrimp, peeled and de-veined

Directions:

Combine orzo, cucumber, green onions, and tomatoes in a large bowl. Place dill, vinegar, and mustard in a blender and blend until smooth. With the motor running, slowly add the olive oil and blend until emulsified. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Pour the vinaigrette over the orzo mixture and stir well to combine. Gently fold in the feta cheese.

Heat grill to high. Brush shrimp with oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill for approximately 2 minutes per side or until just cooked through. Divide orzo salad among 4 take-out containers or plates and top with 4 shrimp. Garnish with additional dill.

Yesterday I celebrated one more candle added to my cake.  In honor of my special day I am going to share with you all a few of my birthday favorites.  First item on the list is birthday garland.  The above is an easy DIY template available by who else but MarthaStewart.com.  I downloaded the whole alphabet in black letters and use them for all occasions: showers, new year’s, birthdays, etc.  I love that they can look very different pending the paper choice and trim treatment.  When cutting, I like to use pinking sheers, and fun decorative scissors.  Also, your ribbon selection and how you tie the banner together can make quite a statement.  Note: punch holes on either side of the cards so the letters stay facing forward.  The best part is the banners could even be reusable if you store them well.

Let metal be your muse, because it never hurts to shine!

1. & 5., Donna Karan, Spring 09 RTW, photos IMAXTREE, spotted on elle.com, 2. Rozae Cuffs, DANNIJO, 3. Platinum Grain Dinnerware, Calvin Klein Home Collection, CalvinKlein.com, 4. Auge, Arnica and Amanda cushions, Giorgio Armani’s 2008/2009 Home Collection, photo John Bessler, spotted on verdana.com, 6. Golden Forest Dinnerware, Dibbern, NeimanMarcus.com, 7. Silver Stiletto nail lacquer, Sally Hansen Salon & Gold Get ‘em nail enamel, Revlon, spotted on glow.ca, 8. Gold Wristlet, Marc by Marc Jacobs, MarcJacobs.com & Pebble Giant Weekender Balenciaga Handbags, Balenciaga.com, 9. Shimmering streamers, DIY instructions, MarthaStewart.com

I am traveling to Massachusetts for 4th of July festivities this year.  I saw these posts on diy 4th of July projects and just had to share.  If you are hosting; Twig & Thistle’s sparkler cards, matchbook wrappers and straw tags are festive and fabulous, and if you are a guest like me; why not bring your host a gift that carries Erin Vale’s clever and holiday appropriate thank you.

Twig & Thistle, printable PDF and instructions twigandthistle.com

Erin Vale Design, Holiday thank you tag, printable PDF erinvaledesign.com