Pin Fails!

I don't know about you, but I like to keep a Pinterest board called "Pin Fails."  It's a good reminder to myself to not try stuff again, and a good warning for my friends so they can avoid impending DOOM!

Here's a peek at what I've tried and now consider to be "fails:"

"Healthy" Pancakes



"1 banana + 2 eggs = pancakes!" the description promises.  When you consider that there are only those two ingredients, they will not magically taste like pancakes.  These are banana-flavored eggs, people.  Adding "healthy" or "clean" to an old favorite like "pancakes" does not make it okay.

Hot Buttered Cheerios



Okay, so strike 1 is my fault:  I don't actually like Cheerios.  Since I can't seem to handle popcorn I'm always on the lookout for a good substitute, and this seemed promising.  Cheerios are pretty neutral, and all you're adding is butter.  How bad could it be?  It was hot buttered cardboard bad.  Like, there's a reason you haven't seen this recipe again since 1982 bad.  Just don't even go there.

Crock-pot Steak and Potatoes



Ah, the working person's dream:  a perfectly cooked dinner waiting for you when you get home.  If only!  This was a complete disaster.  The steaks were tough and dry, and the potatoes burned.  I don't even remember how the corn turned out because the rest of it was such a disaster.  AVOID!

...and...for dessert...

Chocolate Mousse Shots



Awww, this one had such potential!  I like chocolate and coconut--this should have been great!  Should have been...but wasn't.  It was so bitter and just tasted like it was trying to be something it wasn't.  I think I'll rename them "chocolate impostor shots."

This post was all in fun, because, let's face it--we all have disaster-in-the-kitchen stories.  The difference is that most of us don't share them online for the world to see.  I say if they're out there, they're fair game.

What are some Pins that you've tried that have gone horribly, hilariously wrong?

Adi

My Top 10 Pinterest Crafty Finds

Today I'm sharing some of the craft and decor projects I've found on Pinterest.  These are projects I've made and projects I've tried with some success.  If you'll click on the name of the project it will take you to the original project instructions.

In no particular order, here they are:

Erasable To-Do List



Sparkly Flower Headband



Bubble Decals



Riff Ram Canvas



Light Up Drive In Sign



Faux Built-In Bookcase



Simple Tie Top



DIY TCU Dress



Easter Egg Garland



Record Cake Stand



What are your favorite crafts and home projects?  Share your links in the comment section!

Adi

My Top 10 Pinterest Food Faves

I wanted to share some of my favorite Pinterest food finds.  These are ones I've tested and love!  You can click on the name of each recipe and it will take you to the link.

Here they are, in no particular order:

Peppermint Whipped Cream



Easy Pad Thai



Homemade Cheez-Its



Lemon Chicken Romano



Spicy Sriracha Ramern Soup



Tomato Basil Soup



Sour Patch Grapes



Summer Vegetable Tian



Berry Clafouti



Cherry'O Cream Pie (Maw-Maw's recipe!)



Go make something yummy this weekend (and share your favorite Pinterest recipe links in the comments)!

Adi

Bachelorette Party ("classy, not trashy")

Planning a bachelorette party?  Want to have some good, clean fun?  Here's a cheat sheet for you as you plan the big night!

Start with adorable invitations

We were going for the "classy" theme so I cut out black cardstock in a dress shape and embossed the great Coco Chanel quote "a girl should be two things:  classy and fabulous."  I finished it off with a beaded accent at the top and a strip of glitter at the bottom.

On the back, I cut a piece of silver cardstock after printing the details of the party.  (I covered up the address portion.)  In case you can't read it, it says at the top:  "Let's celebrate a lady who's both!"  At the bottom, it says:  "Wear your favorite little black dress...We're taking the bride out on the town!"  Then I glued the back of each of the invitations together.

One additional thing I placed in the envelope was a little cutout of lingerie, complete with rhinestone accents.  I added the bra size and gown size but I didn't want to give away the bride's secrets here!

Have a dress code

I don't mean in a junior high hemline three inches above the knee kind of way!  The invitation told everyone to wear their favorite little black dress, and I told the bride to wear white.  I also had a veil and sash for her to wear, just so everyone would know it was her special day!

Pick a fun place for dinner

The bride helped with this one but we went to a fun Mexican restaurant and got a big, round booth that was perfect for our little party.

Go on a scavenger hunt

There are a couple of ways to go about this:  couple-themed or destination-themed.  If the town or area where you're having the party is special to the couple, make a list of places that were meaningful in their relationship.  If you're doing more of a destination party, just create a list of fun things to do around town.  (That's the one we chose!)

Here are some ideas:

• get a guy to propose
• get someone to serenade the bride
• make a public toast to the bachelorette
• take a picture with another bachelorette
• take a picture with a groom at his bachelor party
• find a guy with the same name as the groom
• get asked for your ID (thrilling after 30!)
• take a picture with an animal
• keep a souvenir from a bar or restaurant
• pose with a server or bouncer
• a picture of the sign at each place you go

We did this as a group since there were just 5 of us but if your party is big then you can make it a competition.  

Wrap it up with a lingerie party! 

I can't explain it, but girls just like to buy pretty, frilly things for their friends.  We headed back to the house for some girly fun.

At this point I introduced lavender into the color scheme and used it as an accent throughout the party.

An easy-to-personalize polka dot banner:

Coordinating napkins:

Party favors!

Mason jar glasses with purple and white polka dot straws and lavender milk (okay, milk I colored purple):

 

More purple decorations:

Homemade mousse martinis!

Time to open presents!

We displayed them on a clothesline, complete with purple sparkly clothespins!

We had so much fun celebrating the bride.  There's still time before the wedding...maybe we should do it again!

Adi

Graduation Party Ideas

Last week I received an invitation to my cousin's high school graduation.  Is she seriously that old?  I wasn't too far from my own high school graduation when she was born, and since I'm still 21 in my own mind that means she's definitely not old enough to graduate...

It seemed like a good time to post about some of my favorite ideas for a graduation party.  I joined Pinterest after my last grad school final (the carrot at the end of the final-master's-course-stick, if you will).  My own party was the first thing Pinterest ever helped me plan, and I used it to help with my little sister's graduation from the same school a few years later, too.  A lot of the ideas are blue and gold, but of course you can adapt these ideas for your own mascots and color schemes.

We had the party at my house and I kinda regret doing that.  My mother-in-law had offered to host it for me but since I was graduating in December I turned our annual Christmas party into a graduation party.  Between finals, graduating, and hosting, it turned out to be a bit much and by about 9:30 I was ready for everyone to go home so I could go to sleep.  I am SUCH a party animal.

My mom made me a cool cake with my school's logo on the top.  I loved it!

I made sugar cookies with sparkly icing showing the school nickname and year.  These keep well so I was able to make this ahead of time, which was helpful since the party was the same day I graduated!

These "diplomas" are actually those Pepperidge Farm cookies that come in a canister.  (You just tie your school's color of ribbon on them.)  Yum!

Our families pitched in with the rest of the items:  7 layer dip, mini sandwiches, meat and cheese rollups, etc.  I definitely needed their help and I'm so glad they were willing.

One perk to graduating in December was that my party supplies were bought in June for next to nothing.  If you're fortunate enough to graduate at a weird time of the year, keep an eye out for decorations during the previous "traditional" graduation time in the late spring/early summer.

Looking back, the mix of graduation and Christmas decorations kinda makes me giggle.

I put out little buckets of color-coordinated candy.  I found these candy sticks at Cracker Barrel (they have all of the colors!!) plus butterscotch disks and Hershey kisses with blue wrappers.

Somebody though Cleo needed in on the festivities.  Poor dog.

A few other ideas:

If you're able to, borrow the whole graduation getup from a friend who graduated from the school a term or two ahead of you.  Take fun pictures around the campus that you can use with your invitations!

Me and Willie the Ram:

Posing at the entrance of the alumni building:

The invitations I made were actually wedding invitations.  I had already had two graduations before this so I was over the traditional invitation thing.  I love how they turned out!

Have you thrown a graduation party?  Share your favorite ideas here!

Adi