You may have noticed a bouquet in the middle of the table for Clara’s party two weeks ago.
Well, sadly some of those blooms are no longer among the living:
But there are a few that are still going strong, so I decided to drop them into three of my favorite vases (from Ikea a while back) for this happy little effect:
And yes, they’re on the windowsill in our bathroom. Just because I realized that we have never had any flowers in that room (there are all sorts of “firsts” in this house for me – including flowers in the bathroom) so I had to revel in the first-bathroom-blooms occurrence. It feels good to get back to the whole budget blooms thing (since we shared them on a monthly basis for almost two years and somehow forgot all about them since moving). I guess getting back to it symbolizes some sort of feeling-settled-enough-to-stop-and-smell-the-flowers thing. What blooms are you guys bringing home these days? How do you feel about super bright flowers like these (when I dumped the water out of the original vase it was neon pink). I think I usually prefer less or no dye, but for the bean’s big birthday bash, they were kind of perfect. And her daddy picked them out for her – how sweet.
Bonus post extension (because it’s Fridaaaaay baby):
To pick up where I left off yesterday with my end-of-Oprah denial at the bottom of this post, someone recommended that I Oprah-fy myself here on Oprah.com. So I did.
And then I Oprah-fied John.
It’s really helping me cope. Sadly it didn’t work too well with Burger or Clara. But the John one kills me. Especially those earrings. Feel free to Oprah-fy yourself (and post them on our Facebook page if you wanna share the hilarity). I’d love to see what you guys look like with big Oprah hair. I can’t wait. Literally, I’m on the edge of my seat.
Dre says
You should try to press one of the flowers in a frame for your gallery wall!!
That pic of John is HILARIOUS!
Georgia Rowe says
I think John as oprah is the funniest thing i have seen!!!! its borderline autocorrect hilarity!!!!! haaahahahaa
Molly says
A nice and simple flower arrangement! Well done!
In my garden currently some of the heavy-scented English and Damascene roses are in full bloom. I always pick some of these and put them in front of the bathroom mirror. When putting my make-up on I can inhale this wonderful scent :)
Amanda Wells says
I can’t handle the oprah stuff. So hilarious.
Hydrangeas are my fave blooms to bring home, although they don’t seem to last too long.
http://www.amandadovewells.com/?p=585
Care says
Hahaha!! Joprah totally made me lol!!
And on another random note……last night I had a dream that I was some sort of newscaster with a camera crew walking around to people on the street and shoving a microphone in their face and saying…..”…and what do you use your dremel for?? ”
I guess that’s what happens when I read your blog before bed :)
YoungHouseLove says
Best. Dream. Ever.
xo,
s
Danielle D. says
John Oprah-fyed is pretty much one of the greatest things I’ve ever seen. I nearly choked on my tea. I’m LOVING those pink flowers in the ikea vases (good find!). I’ve never been much for the color pink when it comes to clothing, paint colors, or most accessories, BUT, I’m a sucker for pink flowers. Thumbs UP!
Gloria says
My yard is FULL of flowers I love it so much, and I didn’t even plan any of them! My peonies bloomed earlier this month and I put them inside a white ceramic fish vase which would look perfect in your ceramic zoo! It’s in the middle of this post.
Extra 15% off your curtains this weekend… but is that enough? They’re still crazy expensive!
YoungHouseLove says
Your flowers are lovely! As for the curtains, they’re gorgeous but still too steep I think. Someday I’ll settle on something! Haha.
xo,
s
Bre says
Those picture are too much, hilarious!! and creepy. :)
I love getting the little potted plants at Trader Joe’s, I put them in a cute teal ceramic pot and place them in my kitchen window. I’ll also buy the planted rosemary or basil and treat them like little flower for decoration. Bonus is you have fresh herbs on hand.
Melissa says
So, this comment isn’t about bouquets or Oprah or that amazing Michael Bolton-Lonely Island Boys song (pirates! Jack Sparrow!), but I saw this post on a friends’ blog for a super easy, recycled pillow case dress for little girls and thought you might be interested in it, what with your newly found skills for sewing!
http://simplelifemusings.blogspot.com/2011/05/farmers-market-dresses.html
(the dresses in the post have flowers, does that make this comment relevant?)
YoungHouseLove says
Obsessed! Thanks for sharing.
xo,
s
Elizabeth says
My sister has made a dress like that for my niece…soooo cute! She also made these pants out of bandanas…
http://alturl.com/nimwf
There are lots of instructions for them on the web.
YoungHouseLove says
Adorable!
xo,
s
peggy says
I have those vases too. I love them!
Jessi says
OK, we did it…here’s me oprah-fied: http://imgur.com/YGRaf
so funny!
YoungHouseLove says
Hilarious! There are a ton of funny ones on Facebook too. Best Friday ever. You guys are so much fun.
xo,
s
Nicole says
I have, and love, those ikea vases. Mine are on my kitchen windowsill with little peonies in them. Never thought to put them in the bathroom…thanks for the idea! Nothing like springtime flowers!
Rachel says
My hubs and 19-month old son were trimming our big climbing rosebush and clipped off several buds for me to put in a vase. They are sitting on my kitchen counter in a pint mason jar with river rocks in the bottom, and every time I see them I think how sweet it was when they told me they had gotten me flowers . . .
Shelley says
Too funny – John kind of looks like John Ritter in that picture!
Amy @ This DIY Life says
Just when I thought that you were spying on us, I’ve changed my outlook. I’m going with the “Great minds think alike” philosophy. It’s less creepy ;) I love the flowers in our half bath because even though I know they are there, it’s a little something unexpected when I walk in.
http://thisdiylife.wordpress.com/2011/03/30/happy-wife-happy-life/
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I love it!
xo,
s
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I love it.
xo,
s
skye says
I love cheap flowers and I have definitely been guilty of buying fake {gasp} flowers because I can kill anything including cacti.
I’m not Oprah’s biggest fan – the whole denunciation of Jesus thing just didn’t sit well with me… but the pictures of you two are hilarious! and YES John does look a bit pirate-esque. Which now has me picturing him as a combination of John, Don Draper, Oprah and Jack Sparrow. :) Quite a combination if I do say so myself! HA :)
Torrie @ a place to share... says
OMG. Doing it right this second. First, I gotta “like” your page :).
Jennifer says
I was just given one of my Grandma’s tea cups…I’ve been filling it with cut flowers from our garden…it’s on the fireplace mantle and looks really cute. Our lilac is just about to burst open so I plan on filling it with that this week end since the tulips that are in there now are just about to go.
It was a really cute way of displaying a little something from my sweet little Grandma.
Ana Brightful says
OMG! The John one needs to be made into a greeting card. ASAP! “Joprah”
Katie says
Since it’s a Friday, just wondering if you guys are having Clara photo-day withdrawal at all? I swear I’m not a crazy person, but I’m definitely going to miss those weekly pics of the bean!
YoungHouseLove says
Yes. Completely. Thank goodness we took all of those fun swimming pics (that we uploaded to Flickr) or we would have really been sad. Haha. Is it June 14th yet?
xo,
s
Katie says
Cute pics! Your trip to the pool looks like a lot of fun!
Holly says
Don’t fresh flowers add so much to home decor? I looooove them, and I try to avoid the dyed ones as well. They are kinda icky, but they are sometimes funny too. A hot pink carnation with glitter? Don’t mind if I do!!
Molly says
I LOVE the shoulderpads!! :)
I love to by lillies- they smell wonderful, and they last for quite a while. I also love big bunches of the same kind of small flowers, in the same color.
Kelly says
How sweet. I love the bright flowers against the more neutral vases. And the little vases are perfect. Whenever I buy flowers, I always get a bunch for the kitchen, and a bunch for the bathroom. If guests are staying at the house, I always get a bunch for the guest bathroom, too. :)
Adriane Wacker@FortheLoveofPainting says
I love the vibrant colors of those flowers against the window with the greenery in the background! The scene from your window looking out has a very homey feeling…I wish we had more greenery where we live…Silly Nevada!
Nicole says
I am super sad about Oprah. But that just leaves with more YHL time. Ever consider four posts a day?! :)
Nicole says
Love the bright pink blooms! In a few weeks or so I’ll have some vibrant pink peonies in my turquoise bathroom… it’s the only room in the house where I can stand the smell of them, but they’re too pretty not to bring inside!
Kimberly M says
Tell me more about the white frames with the coloured squares in them! I hope its not already been asked or answered :) Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
Here’s a post about that (the whole project was under $5!).
https://www.younghouselove.com/2011/03/five-dolla-art/
xo,
s
Megan Brewer says
How much do we love the simplicity of white vases? They look so sweet with those gorgeous flowers! I love Ikea too! Reminds me I need to make an Ikea run soon!
Oh Oprah! I can’t seem to erase the last three shows from this week. They were so wonderful! Especially the last show on Wednesday. I need to get my journal out and take notes on Oprah’s lessons.
Hey, I made an Oyster Shell Mirror today! Check it out:
http://cottagebluedesigns.blogspot.com/p/decorating-projects.html
Have an awesome weekend!
Megan
YoungHouseLove says
Awesome project!
xo,
s
Sarah says
Those photos are funny … although it’s a bit racist. Yikes.
YoungHouseLove says
The “Oprah-Fy Yourself!” program that we used is actually created by Oprah (if you follow the link it’s on Oprah.com) so I definitely don’t think they meant for it to be perceived as racist or offensive. It’s just funny to see yourself with Oprah’s big hair and shoulder pads! I miss her already.
xo,
s
Amanda says
I used to work at a florist. To make the delicate blooms (like hydrangea and roses) last longer, put them in ice cold water after you cut them and if you have room, put them in the fridge at night. (They like low temps and high humidity.) Also, the flower food you get with bouquets will prolong their life. Also, beware of the lilies!! The pollen will stain your clothes if you try to wipe it with your fingers… use a pipecleaner or a dry paper towel to brush it off.
Hope it helps!!! ;)
YoungHouseLove says
Love the tips!
xo,
s
Mary says
I recently picked some Lily of the Valley and they smell wonderful in my living room.
http://lifeon19th.blogspot.com/2011/05/if-you-cant-beat-em-join-em.html
Connie says
Those IKEA vases are my favorites too.
Lauren says
Sherry – In your row of 3 vases, what type of flower is the one in the middle?? I see them all over, but no one knows what type it is! Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
Is that a spider mum? I’m terrible at these things. Anyone know?
xo,
s
Lauren says
Yes, I think you’re correct! Thank you!
Julie says
Speaking of the bee theme fir next year, I thought if you when I saw these! http://www.etsy.com/listing/74282076/summer-cookie-pop-bouquet
YoungHouseLove says
Those are so sweet! Thanks for sharing the link!
xo,
s
Marcia V. of Precious Style says
Love the hot pink flowers…and the news segment of you all which I just saw on Fox 2 News in Detroit!
YoungHouseLove says
No way! They said it might get syndicated (it was filmed for DC). Crazy!
xo,
s
Erin says
My husband just sent me a bouquet of 20 tulips to work. His note read that he hoped these flowers would represent our future gardens that we want so badly to have one day (We’re currently in a condo and dream of having a few acres and a big family in the future). It was so sweet.
YoungHouseLove says
Wow that’s cute. Enjoy those babies!
xo,
s
Courtney Mora-Ludwig says
I haven’t watched a lot of Oprah lately as my life is just too busy. However, I was in the audience for one of her shows when I was a little girl. You might not think this is a big deal – but it was before she went National. It was an all kids show – kid panel – kid audience – no parents. Back then it was called “AM Chicago”. The really cool part… I was noticed by a production assistant in the green room before the show for a busted finger that made it hard to clap. I was seated at the end of the row. To my surprise, Oprah asked me a question on air. She asked “What is happiness?” and I replied “When people cry.” It made sense to me ! I meant when people are so happy that it brings tears to their eyes but I must have sounded like such a dummy. At least I can blame it on being 6 years old !
YoungHouseLove says
Oh my gosh that is so cute! And the concept of the show sounds really fun!
xo,
s
Kate says
I just found your blog; love it! I just had to pull apart a fading bouquet the other day, although I didn’t have a set of vases, so I made do with some old mis-matched lidless salt-and-pepper shakers. I love how you arranged them on the sill; simple is sometimes the best — especially with flowers as bright as those!
I’ll keep checking back :D
Tia says
ahahahahahahahahahaha!! I can’t stop laughing at the Oprah pictures!!!! I’m going to do that when I get home. To my husband of course =) Enjoy the long weekend!
Tonya says
Bahahaha…love the Oprah-fization….
Kerry Rossow says
OMG- The Oprah-fy yourself sent me into a fit of giggles! I am going to Oprah-fy everyone I know!
Thank you for the fun and lovely posts!
Kerry at housetalkn.blogspot
Sandra says
My budget blooms are always in the spring only (the rest of the year my garden is pretty but not the ‘cut-flower’ kind). I love to bring in my lilacs and lily-of-the valley. They are so pretty and smell AMAZING!
isabel says
it may be because there were so many other things going on at the bday table, but i actually like the flowers better on their 2nd reincarnation!
alg says
I don’t know if there’s any REAL benefit to this, but I’ve always done it & people always comment on how much longer my cut flowers seem to last, so…
I just trim off the yucky, decomposed inch or so of stem at the bottom of my flowers every day & change the water in the vase.
My logic is that the stem is like a straw & that when the end gets all goopy, the flower can’t drink its water properly. By “clearing the obstruction” I figure the flower can get a good, full sip when it needs one.
And at first, I just started changing the water in the vase every day so my arrangement looked nicer, but it seems to help the flowers last longer too. Happy discovery! Maybe b/c there’s more oxygen in water right from the tap than in stagnant water???
Who knows.
At any rate, as my flower stems get shorter I always need to switch them to a smaller vase. And as long as I’m doing that, I might as well move them around the house too, right?
So thanks to my cheapness & determination, it always looks like I get 3 or 4 different flower arrangements out of one bouquet! Score!
Might be worth a try, plus, I’d LOVE to know if it actually works for everybody, or if I’m just fooling myself!!!
YoungHouseLove says
So smart! I love it.
xo,
s
allison says
I love to get plants instead of cut flowers since they last (a lot!) longer but there is something more romantic about a pretty bouquet:) The pop of pink with the little white vases is so cheerful!
Summer says
On the birthday theme, but not totally related to this post, the newest issue of Country Living has an article about how to make a pinata similar to the one you guys made!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yeah the bees one? I looove that one. Might just make it for Clara next year!
xo,
s
donaville says
Loving the vibrant pop of color of the blooms you salvaged :) So friendly and fun!
kimmie says
Wow, Clara’s birthday party looked amazing, and so nice that you were able to enjoy the flowers just a little bit longer :) I was sent a link to your blog today and I just spent the last hour combing through your archives and looking at house tour pictures. I’m so inspired by your blog to spruce up our house! Keep up the amazing work! :)
www.StarHughes.com says
Love the big pom pom decorations! And the brightly colored cupcakes. Too cute. I have a birthday party for my little (almost) 1 year old cousin and might draw some inspiration from this color scheme!
XO Star
Star Hughes Living
Jen @ Bungalov says
Hi Sherry! I stumbled on our blog back in the winter and have been an avid reader since. I’ve even made some comments before. I wanted to let you know that your post about Clara’s party was an inspiration to me and helped me generate some ideas for my little Katie’s 3rd birthday. I like you baked a bunch of cupcakes and displayed them out for everyone to see. I even went on a thrifting hunt to find some pretty treys and stands. I would love for you to check out my post about “Yummy Cupcakes” at http://www.chicagobungalov.com.
ThI truly thank you and John for being such a wonderful inspiration and sharing all your great tips! I would even love to some day share my house with you if you ever make it out to Chicago!
Thanks!
Jen
YoungHouseLove says
Um… yum. Those cupcakes look amazing. What a sweet party! Love how festive it looked with all those goodies and your daughter is too cute! Thanks so much for the kinds words.
xo,
s