Budget Martha (II)

Ok, so before we get into the finger foods, I want to present the most darling, useful and inexpensive part favor I've ever used.

#2 The Favor

Little baggies were purchased at the local craft store (approx $3 for 20 bags) and the cherries were from Fresh and Easy (about $1.50 a lb)

Step one: Buy materials.
Step two: Stuff.

See? EASY

Budget Martha (I)

So I threw my good friend Jen a graduation party a few weeks ago and was on a very tight budget. Overall I spent less than three hundred dollars to accomodate about twenty people. I decided that this frugal Franny should share with the world some sure-to-please party ideas.

#1. The Drink

I figured that buying several types of beers, wines, spirits, etc would set me back a little so I decided to stick with one staple for the night and make a lovely summer sangria.

Summer Sangria How-To (serves about 8)

What you'll need:

-A big bowl
-Wooden spoon
-Three oranges
-Some sugar
-A little bit of brandy
-Wine (1 bottle; very dry, red & chilled)
-Two lemons
-A few pineapple rings
-Some club soda
-Ice
-About $25-35 depending on how fancy of brandy and wine you chose. I used the generics because the fruits are really the stars in this and will outshine the alcoholic ingredients.


Step one. Slice two oranges into halves and juice 'em.

Step two. Scoop up about 1/2 a cup of sugar and pour (along with the juice and 1/4 a cup of brandy) into your big bowl.

Step three. Mix and stir with your wooden spoon until sugar has dissolved all the way.

Step four. Add wine.

Step five. Slice lemons & orange very, very thinly. Watch those pretty fingers!

Step six. Add lemon and orange slices along with pineapple rings into your big bowl.

Last step. Let your potent potion marinate for six to twelve hours and chill. Before serving, add 2 cups of club soda and ice. Voila!



Okay, stay tuned for recipes for budget party eats.

Inspirations

Wow, I have probably spent a total of twelve to sixteen hours on Apartment Therapy, Design Sponge, and Martha Stewart Living these past few days and have filled my mind and my hard drive full of inspiring pictures and ideas. I wanted to post my favorites here.

Photo credits: Apartmenttherapy.com, Designspongeonline.com, MarthaStewartLiving.com

June 6, 1932 - November 10, 2008

So the time has come for, I suppose, a bleak blog post. My late father's birthday is tomorrow and I am missing and ache for him evermore. There's so much to be said about such an amazing father, husband and human being. He was such a close friend and father to me, and having him in my life for such a time I have come to realize was a gift and so special. He taught me so many things about culture, life and love. My dad gave me the most support a dad could ever give in anything I wanted to pursue or believe in. I hope he knows, where ever he is, that I wholeheartedly appreciate and love him. (Sorry Joel,) I can never love a man like I love my daddy. Happy birthday, old man. Nagyon szeretlek.

R.I.P.

I love the idea of play cameras. I'm no advanced photographer by any means but last summer I found a passion for Lomography's Fish Eye camera. Too bad it croaked two months ago on my trip to Yosemite. The little winding 'majig that advances the film decided to retire from advancing to the next frame altogether. It's literally stuck. If anyone knows how to fix this other than buying another one of these hipster cameras, please let me know. The roll of film is still in the thing half-used and depressed.

Pictured here: Markie, Cass, Brett, Martin

The Glory of the Scarf

Stay tuned for steps for turning a bad hair day right-side up.

Moo moo

Okay so last year, in celebration of my work's one year anniversary, we hired a DJ, had a catered lunch and a lucky few of us got to play dress-up to inspire customers. I was chosen to model a few outfits and this one ended up being my favorite one, though it's not something I would've picked out for myself initially. The lighting is pretty horrible but who gives two hoots anyway? This loud, lime green, leopard print muumuu was something everyone at work shunned but alas, after seeing it worn cinched with a neutral belt and topped with a fresh jacket it ended up acquiring a tinge of appeal.





Head to thigh H&M (Divided Collection), vintage basket shoes.

It Takes Tutu Tango

Extracurricular activities were a constant in my childhood. I would say starting from age four (swim class) to about age thirteen (retired from martial arts, finally) I was always found myself on the road to my next lesson, class or tutor session.

List no. 3 & 3.5

MY TOP FIVE FAVORITE CHILDHOOD ACTIVITIES
1. Tap dancing (For some reason, tap dancing always made me feel girly but also empowered at the same time, unlike ballet. Ballet just made me feel fat.)
2. Art projects (I attended childrens' art school for a few years and during that time I explored many mediums and ran into so many inspirations. My favorite material I discovered during that time was foil and I was 9.)
3. Swimming (My glorious, most gratifying swim memory was racing my dad off the coast of Maui and for a second forgetting that I was deeply petrified of being attacked by a creature of the sea)
4. Saxophone-ing (I remember my parents having me play as entertainment at their famous dinner parties, I felt like Kenny G with a vagina. Of course, I never sounded like the Master of Sax but I did feel like him, no doubt.)
5. Golfing (Okay, this one I slipped in because I mainly only like the outfits.)

MY TOP FIVE CHILDHOOD ACTIVITIES I STILL CRINGE ABOUT
1. Piano (6 or 7 years down the drain. I don't want to think or talk about it. But this is number one. P.S. Teachers beating their pupils still equals abuse!)
2. Tae Kwon Do (Ok, I secretly love saying to people that I have a black belt and knowing it's the truth. But God, did I loathe Master Yoo yelling at me three times a week. Oh- and the conditioning was too painful)
3. Violin (So it was a short-lived experience, but after a few lessons, my instructor advised my mother to perhaps have me learn how to play piano instead. Apparently she was able to see whether this, then 5 year old, girl was going to be a gifted violinist or not.)
4. Ballet/ Jazz
5. Math tutoring (Is this technically considered an extracurricular? I don't know. I just know that Miss Samantha- despite her friendly mid-90s Mariah Carey-inspired hairdo- was an upright bitch and made me feel dumb on purpose. Looking back, I can recall some of the things she would tell me and now recognize the inappropriate qualities.)

1.
2.
3.

1. Tap shoesies found @ deaconandreggie for Etsy.
2. Swim cap found @ Planetclairevintage for Etsy.
3. Ingenius golf ball wine stopper @ ikcdesign for Etsy.