Things I’m great at: making up words to songs when I don’t know them, eating Oreos, dancing like Elaine from Seinfeld.
Things I’m bad at: loading the dishwasher, remembering to get haircuts more than once every few years, and apparently doing monthly budget bloom posts.
I used to do them once a month for over a year, but then I fell off, struggled to get back on it six months ago with one measly post in February, and just never got it together in any sort of regular pattern. So here’s a random Budget Blooms post after over half a year of absence in that department. Won’t you forgive me? In return I played around with these sweet tulips that John brought home from the grocery store for $5 in not one, not two, but three different “vases.” That’s in quotes because only the first containment device is actually a vase…
It’s one of those free ones I got when a good friend of mine sent me birthday flowers a while back.
It was really simple and pretty, but then I broke out my metal thrift store pineapple urn, just because I thought the shape was sort of penny-tile-ish with that going on in the background.
Crazy diagonal shot:
Wannabe-artsy cropped shot:
And here’s my third “vase” – which is actually a tin lantern from HomeGoods a while back that usually lives on the dining room built-ins. It even came with a clear glass cup in the middle of it (maybe for a candle?) so it was perfect for tulips and water too.
Which one’s your favorite? And while I’m asking questions, is anyone else being better about treating themselves to inexpensive monthly budget blooms or doing some other monthly blogging feature? Have you ever done something for over a year and then just inexplicably gotten terrible at it? What’s my deal?
Psst- You can peruse a whole mess of Budget Bloom posts from the good ol’ days here.
Pssst- You might wanna check out the update that we added to the bottom of our homemade basket light. It’s such a small world!
Monthly blooms are a must! I love how beautiful and stylish they are! :) They can brighten up any room and don’t be so hard on yourself… Don’t fret about falling off the routine… same here! Guilty as charged! Which reminds me… I better get back to it. :)
Oh! I love having fresh flowers in the house, sadly it doesnt happen near often enough… if only I could keep my rose bush alive :)I havent been reading your blog long enough to see the old bloom posts but me likey. Maybe some holiday themed arrangements in your future? Fun!
I like the plain glass vase or the pineapple urn. It’s different and fun!
The clear one is my vote, with the pinapple in second…..(wishing it was silver though….)
I am not real good in the hair cut dept. Usually once a year for me.. Best part is I went to school for it. Everyone in the family gets the all the time..
As a former florist, I say “think scale” with all blooms, even budget ones! Tulips shine when they can show off their height! Vase 1 is best. That being said, you should keeps little floral oasis (foam) in the house ( its cheap), and use it for creating arrange,ends in non- traditional vessels. It will keep with your style and allow you to refresh arrangements with both hardy and more delicate flowers, allowing them to last longer.
Love that tip!
xo
s
Since you asked, my favorite is the pineapple one! And all the crazy shots THAT entailed. I was doing so good at my monthly chalkboard drawings:
http://www.chrislovesjulia.com/p/chalkboard-drawings.html
And then July happened. And then August happened. Meh.
Love your chalkboard drawings so much. Seriously, you’re so talented!
xo,
s
Pineapple is my favorite!
Sweet! Tulips are seriously so awesome and cheerful. I pass them (and all the pretty flowers) all the time at the grocery store, but I have a really hard time justifying buying flowers for myself. But I have a soft spot for violets, so we have a bunch of them scattered throughout the house. I’ve also been known to resort to faux plants for the dead zones within our house…
Love the Home Goods lantern! I want one! Haha
I like the lantern! I treated myself to some sunflowers this weekend :)
So, I was told that if you stick a penny in a vase with tulips it keeps them from getting droopy… I’ve never tried it but I’m so curious to see if it actually works. Have you ever heard/done that?!
Totally works! I do it all the time! It usually takes 12-24 hours, but they perk up like crazy!
xo,
s
Okay, first: I spent all of my free time last week (except the weekend) reading your blog from start to now. I love it. It’s so inspiring to see other young people (I’m 24) such as yourselves following their dreams, despite the risks involved. Your home(s) is beautiful and I’m very jealous that you have that space to work with! It’s definitely motivated me to reassess what I can do with my rented apartment space (2br/1ba, first floor of a two-family, so it’s fairly big). My land lady may allow me to paint, as she’s already approved painting the chair rail in the kitchen, so I’m starting with that and a super limited budget. All of our furniture was previously owned or gifted from family’s attics or basements. I can’t even afford a slip cover for our couch, which it desperately needs, but that just gives me more time to figure out what color would be best :)
Second: The tin lantern is my favorite. Very Moraccan vibe.
Aw thanks Tasha! You’re so sweet. So glad you found our blog. And good luck with everything in your apartment!
xo,
s
Oh yes, and you’ve inspired me to pick up some blooms (er…next paycheck, maybe) for my one, owl-shaped vase (free from my grandmother). :)
Aw that’s sweet! Love the sound of that owl-shaped vase!
xo,
s
they are all pretty – so hard to choose. The third one (although georgeous) looks like it overpowers the tulips a little. The first one doesn’t have that YHL unique quality about it so I’m going with the second one.
My fave cheap flower to buy is alstroemerias-they are long lasting and a small quantity fills a vase nicely. But $5 for a bunch of tulips is a great price, especially this time of year! And my fave is the first one…simple and classic.
Yes I love those! We’ve had them last over a month from the grocery store!
xo,
s
The first is my fave – I like the way you can see the stems through the clear glass.
I’m glad you got back to this! I’ve missed the flowers.
Thanks Ginny! I hope I can stick to it this time!
xo,
s
So pretty!!! My vote, the clean lines one #1. :-) We used to buy flowers about every three weeks. We bought the Safeway or Walmart bouquets for $5.00. For some reason *maybe it is because we are wanting to buy our OWN RANCH STYLE HOUSE* we haven’t bought any for months. I DO miss the bright cheery colors. We tell ourselves every year, that we are going to plant wild flowers around the house, so that we can pick our own pretty bouquet. We DID plant some this year, but our growing season here in Washington is all messed up this year. Many of our garden veggies are not doing so well. There is always next year. :-) Those beautiful tulips, make me want to splurge tomorrow and buy some for myself. :-)
That last lantern would make some crazy pretty reflections with a candle in it! I WANT! :)
Really like the first one the best. When and where did you get that yellow fish vase on the shelf?
That was from Marshall’s a few months ago. I love sticking random things in his mouth like plants. Haha.
xo,
s
They are call gurgle pots!! I love them. http://www.gurglepot.com/
Oh yes, I love the gurgle!
xo,
s
Def the clear vase. Simple, pretty, and not trying to steal the show from your penny tile:)
Love the tulips, but also impressed with your use of the gurgle pot as a planter. Is that a real plant or fake? I totally want to plant something in mine now!
It’s an air plant! So far I haven’t killed it! You just soak it in water every week or so for about twenty minutes. I just drop it into a bowl of water in the sink when I remember. Haha.
xo,
s
I vote #2!
This time of year, I LOVE getting flowers at the farmers markets–usually it’s three big bunches for $15 and I can manage to split them up into a bunch of little “vases” (like you, they’re rarely ever real vases, but I think the improvised versions look nicer sometimes!). I did a whole post about flowers in my blog.
Plus I learned that a tiny bit of bleach and a little 7UP (or whatever combination of citric acid and sugar) makes them last longer and keeps the water clearer too. You still need to trim them every few days, but I can get a bunch to last about a full week now.
Flowers just make my home feel so much more put together, and since I don’t want to put a pretty vase of flowers on a messy coffee table, it also makes me clean :-P
Really fun tip about 7Up!
xo,
s
With all of the other patterns and colors I like the simple glass vase the best! It looks crisp + clean!
LOVE the pineapple urn! Too cool!
I love bringing flowers into the house too. I grew zinnias in my garden this year just to cut them and bring them inside. I have a few vases but my favorite is just a regular glass.. I agree with another commenter, I think it is the height thing!
The whole every-day-for-a-year-and-then-suddenly-stop thing reminded me of sports in high school. I ran xc and track and then a marathon in college, and stopped running regularly for about 7-8 years. Now I’m back at it again and back in love with running. I think it’s the kind of thing when something gets boring or mundane it’s not fun anymore and so you stop.. I’m sure you’ll start up when you feel inspired, like today!
I love the pineapple one! But I sort of have a thing for pineapples…kind of like you and ceramic animals. Still, I think it’s a great balance of color and texture in that spot.
I have a story about a regular feature on my blog/sticking with a regular project. In 2009 I attempted to take a daily photo of myself. I did miss a few days but had nearly 300 pics by the end of the year. Here is my final month of posting on my blog http://petroliagirl.blogspot.ca/2010/01/this-is-my-final-month-of-photo-of-day.html and a video that I compiled of all of the pics. http://petroliagirl.blogspot.ca/2009/12/2009-started-off-with-me-deciding-to.html It was a fun project over the course of the year.
That’s awesome! What a cool project to commit to!
xo,
s
I like the lantern the best. Also, with tulips, if you poke a hole with a pin in the stem right below the blossom, they will perk up and last longer. I do this and it always works, something about drawing the water up into the stem because the stems are hollow.
I use a penny in the water! So funny how they perk right up!
xo,
s
Number 3 is definitely my favorite! Very unique and beautiful at the same time!
I agree with the earlier poster about scale. My blooms are usually too short for my containers, so I give them a boost with clear marbles.
Another cool effect for clear vases is to wrap flower stems in a large leaf (I used hostas) – I think it was a Martha Stewart idea that I stole. Beautiful!
Love those tips!
xo,
s
Ooh clear marbles, what a great idea! Thanks, I’m going to remember that!
All I could think this entire post was “want to pet penny tile. pretty pretty penny tile.” I obviously have an obsession.
Also, tulips are my mom’s favorite flower and it’s definitely made me love them too. :)
Ooh so much fun with vases! My favorite is the last one, the lantern. Looks like a moroccan spin on the dutch flowers ;) And it’s funny because I finally just treated myself to some budget blooms this weekend! I love them so much that I vowed not to go so long between flowers again!! Is hard in Oklahoma where almost no flowers are fresh from here :| http://house-capades.blogspot.com/2012/08/flowers-mason-jars-and-driveway-sales.html
So pretty!
xo,
s
Actually, the pineapple vase is my favorite!
How could you go wrong? (I would have tried them in the yellow glug jug myself!)
The First One!!
The tulips are so pretty on their own, they don’t need anything to compete with. As much as I love the pineapple and the lantern, the tulips look so much better by themselves.
I totally agree, Lindsay! I WANT to like one of the fancier vases, but the tulips are just SO beautiful on their own, why compete?
(Of course, I could be biased, as they’re almost exactly the same as the tulips I had my bridesmaids carry…)
Definitely love the clear vase best. I like the pineapple but not the brassy color of it. The third vessel is beautiful but I think it’s overwhelming when paired with the flowers.
Sherry, you must go to the thrift store every week to collect all the loot you’ve got! ;-)
Haha, I actually go about once a month. And wherever Katie B and I are together, we go! I found that pineapple one with her when she was visiting us in Richmond a while back!
xo,
s
#1 hands down. The others detract too much from the flowers-which are beautiful by the way!
I couldn’t even pay attention to the vases because I am so in love with gurgle pots right now. I want one! Love the yellow one in the background.
Love these tulips
XOXO,
http://outfitidentifier.com/
All 3 vessels are pretty…I can’t choose! Please don’t make me! :)
I especially *love* how the colour of the tulips goes so perfectly with the colours in your lovely masterpiece above the stove :)
xox
I try to write up a post on flowers each time I get given a bunch (i.e. a couple of times a year… boyfriend isn’t perfect in that regard;), this is my last one: http://bunniesandstripes.blogspot.fr/2012/08/fluffy-flowers.html
I love finding different arrangements and vessels as the flowers start drooping, though I wish they would last a little longer… what do you do to keep them fresh? Penny in the vase? Washing up liquid? I’ve tried both but they didn’t really seem to work…
Anyway My favorite has got to be the pineapple! So you!
xx
Caro
I definitely use the penny in the vase tip along with recutting the stems and refreshing the water every few days.
xo,
s
My first thought was that you should put the tulips in the yellow fish hovering in the background, and skip all the other vessels. How weird is that?
Every Sunday for the entire summer last year, I made a bouquet of flowers using only what I could find in my yard. If there was nothing blooming, I used twigs, leaves etc for my composition. It was a lovely way to stay in touch with the season as it changed. Don’t know why I stopped!
Have you done a budget blooms idea using what you can find in your yard or that naturalized area next to the house? That would be fun.
Haha, I thought about that but the fish is pretty little so I would have cut the stems down a bunch. Maybe for daffodils from the yard though! As for what we can find outside, if you check out our past posts, we definitely work in free things from the yard too!
xo,
s
It’s hard to choose but I really like the lantern! The cut-out pattern in the lantern kind of mimics the shape of the tulips opening up :)
I like the clear one, I think because it’s simple and I like seeing the stems. But mostly, I LOVE your kitchen! All that hard work you guys put in had some awesome results!
Aw thanks Paula!
xo,
s
i love all 3!!! But my fave is the pineapple urn – very cute! Goes with your tile too! As for flowers – i go for orchids – they hardly die, hardly get watered and gorgeous anywhere in the house. The only problem is when the bloom is gone your just left with some leaves, so I stick a plastic orchid in it (sssshhhh..)! :-)
Hahaha, nice trick!
xo,
s
I had a comment all ready that was all for mr. Clear vase. Took another look back up at the pictures and i am going with Moe ( moroccan, that is). I think Pineapple is a bit too tall and chunky for these delicate droopy budget blooms. Moe’s color is lighter and compliments the flowers. Enhances without competing. #my2cents :)
Haha, love that his name is Moe.
xo,
s
I like the first vase best – and I love flowers. I have always said if I ever become rich and famous (as most teachers eventually do :)) I would have fresh flowers in the house every day. Right now I settle for those I can gather from the yard. It is surprising how few blooms it takes to perk up a room. A handful of flowers from different parts of the yard can be beautiful. Yesterday I sent my daughter and her friend out armed with little vases and scissors and they filled the house with cute little bunches of flowers – great activity!
Aw that’s so sweet!
xo,
s
Would it be too horrible to say that I’m not really digging any of them so much. *sorry* MAYBE the pineapple – a distance shot would help me decide. but then maybe I’m taking my job as ‘vase’ inspector a little too seriously! ha!
RE: monthly, weekly, daily blog feature – I stink at scheduling my blogging. Really I just have issues I think with scheduling myself. I’m much more scatterbrained than that I think. ;-)
Haha, aren’t we all?!
xo,
s
Oh my gosh! Thank you so much for totally inspiring me to go cut some flowers out of my yard! How simple but totally spectacular way to freshen up my new kitchen. They’re quite pretty outside but make such a statement inside. This is why I keep coming back to your site every single day. I am beyond excited for the book to come out this fall so I can find another 250 ways to brighten up my tired space! You guys rock!
Aw thanks Louisa! I bet your kitchen looks amazing with your cut flowers :)
xo,
s
I used to always buy fresh flowers for the kitchen table when my one kitty was small and well behaved. Then I gained another kitty, and a husband, and all sorts of well behaved went out the window with our crazy lifestyle. So with kitties who will now very happily eat and then barf up anything that is green, and a husband who keeps us busy and on the go, I don’t do fresh flowers anymore. :-(
But I would if I could!!! And if I could I would put them in the glass vase, but only because I love seeing the graceful stems of tulips. They are just as pretty as the ends to me!!
In that setting? The clear vase works best to me.