Homemade Holiday by Apartment Therapy

I really enjoy making homemade gifts for the people in my life but in most cases, the gifts I try to DIY end up costing more than if I just purchased already made gifts.  Since moving to Los Angeles (and having more fun on the weekends) my budget is actually pretty tight this year.  Thank goodness for Apartment Therapy's installation of Homemade Holiday Gift Ideas!  They are posting new ideas every day and I'm loving them all.  I have a very good idea of what I'm going to make for my friends already and it really will keep me under budget.

Here are just a few of the 13 they've already posted.

Clockwise from top, left:

Lace-Printed Plates

Hand-Sewn, Printed Tea Towels

Painted Tree Rings

Copper Bangles

Weekend Projects!

I love a good weekend project as much as the next girl, but my weekends have been booked full lately!  I'm not complaining...they've been awesomely fun (yes, I just said "awesomely"...live with it) but our apartment is not quite complete and we definitely need a few more chairs around the kitchen table.

My incredible deal-finder of a roommate Craigslisted this slightly used DOCKSTA Table and two URBAN Chairs for a mere $35 just a short drive away from our place!  We tipped the guy $5 for hauling all three pieces downstairs and helping us pack them into our tiny Los Angeles-sized cars like a life size game of Tetris.  If you're not as well-versed in the IKEA Catalog as we are...that's a retail value of $279.97 for just $40, Bob.  Cue the happy dance!

We're trying to figure out how to introduce a small, but standout pattern into our mostly neutral white and gold palette and maybe something like these DIY folding chairs will do the trick.  Featured on Poppytalk's 10 Summery Weekend Projects these Drab to Fab Folding Chairs are to die for!  I mean, come on...burlap with gold polka dots!?  See the full DIY's on Whipperberry and My Fabuless Life.

Tiki Birthday Celebration Recap

Thanks to my fabulous and super fun friends, my Tiki Birthday Celebration was even better than I could have imagined!  There were leis, grass skirts, and coconut bras aplenty and everyone had a great time.  Here are just a few photos from the evening.  Enjoy!

Mirror Mirror

I'm digging the DIY savvy that is P.S. - I made this.  Especially after this fun little project!  I think I may need to add some glam to my cubicle!

Check out the entire tutorial here.

Tiki Birthday Celebration: Part Deux

My Tiki Birthday Celebration is fast approaching and I cannot wait!  My roommate and I have been scouring the interwebs for vintage tiki inspiration and rummaging the 99 Cent Store and Target Dollar Spot shelves for supplies...we like to think of ourselves as the Real Life Two Broke Girls.  Also, the less we spend on decor, the more we can spend on food and booze!

1 Festive Tiki Time Cocktail Party - Hostes with the Mostess

2 Festive Drink Umbrellas - Martha Stewart

3 Leaf-Covered Candle Holder - Martha Stewart

4 Esther Williams Bathing Beauty - ModCloth

5 Tiki Bar Caddy - Hostess with the Mostess

6 Emily and Fin Bake Shop Dress - ModCloth