Newly Wed-nesday: The Recycled Bride...well it used to be.

Do you have 150 mason jars left over from your wedding and no future plans to put up any peaches? Well, I have found a website that is perfect for you to make a little cash back on your wedding left-overs. The website Recycled Bride is now called Tradesy.com. Originally, it's format was like an online classified to allow newlyweds to unload their used wedding decor and apparel. Now, Tradesy.com has expanded to a full fashion site that allows you to sell clothing and accessories in unlimited posts.  So, whether you are looking for wedding decor or a new outfit for the rehearsal dinner, you can get a super bargain. Not sure if you can afford those Jimmy Choo's for your wedding day? Clear out your closet and list a few items and you just might be able to pay for those glass slippers after all.  If you want to learn more about just how it works, click the link below for a short video! Happy Selling! Ta!

Tradsey.com Video

Gifts For Guys: Get Personal With Books

Valentine's Day is around the corner. Let's be honest, there are hundreds of ideas and marketing campaigns targeting women, but finding a unique present for your guy may find you kinda stuck. I think the most impact a gift of any kind has on its receiver is making it truly personal. Valentine's Day is a time to show your fella that you have been paying attention. Ask yourself, what is important or interesting to him? Now, how do you translate that into a gift? The answer is a book. The possibilities are endless. Even better there are gazillion beautiful collectible or "coffee table" books. Not only are they wonderful to explore, they can actually be displayed in your home, in the man cave, or in his office. I checked out a family owned book shop, The Morris Book Shop in Lexington, KY and here are a few suggestions:

The Fender Telecaster: The Life & Times of the Electric Guitar That Changed the World

Star Wars Art: Illustration

Whiskey Opus

The Art of Video Games: From Pac-Man to Mass Effect

Cycling's Golden Age: Heroes of the Postwar Era, 1946-1967

Car: The Definitive Visual History of the Automobile

Brought to Light: Photography and the Invisible, 1840-1900

Motorcycle: The Definitive Visual History

The Great American Cereal Book: How Breakfast Got Its Crunch

Thats just the tip of the book stack. No matter the topic, I am certain there is a fabulous book out there that is a perfect token of your affection. Shop local, if possible, you will enjoy the experience and they will be happy to help you find exactly what fits. Finally, whenever I give a book I always write a message inside. For years to come, your Valentine will read the inscription and appreciate that you took the time to get-him.  “We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” ― Winston Churchill. May the love of those closest to you be the biggest gift you receive this Valentine's Day. Ta! THM

Happy Alert! Free Episodes of Downton Abbey!

Now keep your hair on. Amazon®.com announced that they are streaming "Downton Abbey" including season 3 and they are available in HD. No need to wait. Here's the skinny. Need a quick fix? For a limited time, Amazon® is offering a season 1 and 2 recap and a season 3 preview for free. Join Amazon Prime and you can watch instantly season 1 and 2 FREE. If that wasn't the bees knees, purchase a TV Pass and you can watch season 3 (original UK version) for the entire season at a special rate. The first three weeks of season 3 are currently available at $1.99 per episode. The new shows will be available one day after they air. Bob's your uncle its a piece of cake! 

Etchings From The Man Cave: The Super Bowl Party Playbook

Meatloaf Sandwich

Having the gang over on Sunday for the big game? Here are a few rules to keep from getting a personal foul on the host/hostess:

1. Its a Super Bowl Party. You will most likely have guests that fall in one of two categories. The Game Watchers and The Commercial Watchers. As hostess, it is your job to run interference between the two. Identify ahead of time the possible issues. For instance, if you know that your friend has no clue what a first down is and prefers to talk about Beyonce's outfit for the entire first quarter, be prepared to redirect. Maybe she has a skill that you can ask for help with like making the bean dip, etc.

2. Be Ready for Kick Off.  Serious Game Watchers want to be BIS (bum in seat) by the coin toss. Have the  seating set up, TV on, and first round of snacks ready to go. Tell your guests the arrival time is 30 minutes prior to the game.

3.  Football Food not Fu-Fu Food.  This is not a cocktail party. The tradition of the tailgate is good comfort food that is easy to grab and eat. Fancy has no place here. Now I'm not against adding a couple healthier options like Chicken Chili, but I wouldn't take it too far. Stick with the classics and make sure that you have plenty of it. Consider that your guests will be attending for approximately three hours, which is why hearty snacks are the MVP.

4. Don't get stuck in the locker room. When planning your menu give yourself time to relax and enjoy the party. Stay away from dishes that need to be prepared at the last minute or require a lot of constant attention. I like the idea of food that guests can eat throughout the game. Some of my favorites are the good old deli bar or different flavor wings and baked potato boats. You can't go wrong with this plan because everyone create what they like. Don't stand over the grill making burgers for everyone. Instead, make a couple of  meatloaves (make Turkey and Beef  if you want to throw in a healthy variety) ahead of time, slice them up and serve as meatloaf sandwiches with lots of different toppings. Meatloaf is awesome because it will be yummy hot or cold.

5. The Pee Wee League. Sunday afternoons, food and football are family traditions. If you have the kiddos attending keep in mind that they may not be as fixated on the game as the Varsity kids.  Have activities planned in advance to entertain them. Remember, it's not fair to expect the kids to sit quietly and color while the grown ups are jumping and screaming at the TV. Find ideas that are active but not distracting to the others. Give them bingo cards to play during the commercials. Include topics like cars, soda, fast food, etc. Set up a table for them to play origami football or make their own pom-poms and banners. If you have a  teenager at home who could care less about football, hire them to be activity director.

You can do it! This year your Super Bowl Party will be epic. "Winning isn't getting ahead of others. Its getting ahead of yourself." -Roger Staubach. Go 49ers! Oh yeah, I said it. Ta! THM

Design Day Friday: Breakfast in Tiffany Style

Northstar Stove

Its no secret that I love all things vintage, especially movies. You can't have a discussion about favorite classics without someone bringing up Capote's "Breakfast At Tiffany's."  In honor of the big awards season and just because a girl can dream, I have put together a few finds that add a touch of Holly Golightly to your morning. The color Tiffany blue is a movie star in its own right. Its not just on those heart stopping little boxes anymore. Some of the items, like the Northstar Stove above are luxury items, but I found a few yummies for those of us that do not have a Hollywood budget but still want a touch of Tiffany's in our world.

Sur la Table

Everyone loves the KitchenAid® stand mixer. Its not only a perfect pop of that signature robin egg blue for your counter top, but it is a worthy and functional investment in your cooking arsenal. 

Zazzle.com

"Oh Cat!" Don't forget your stylish furry friends. You can even have this one personalized. 

Etsy.com

Wall art is so critical in pulling together a finished look in any room. I love these prints because they add great pattern and big impact. You could go with an Audrey Hepburn canvas and that is perfectly fine, but its sometimes best to be less obvious and "theme-ish."  The look is more interesting.

Tiffany & Co.

Williams-Sonoma

Of course, this room is Tiffany inspired so how could I not select something from the mother-ship itself? This adorable platter is from Tiffany & Co. An homage to their unmistakable bow and box.  In keeping with Holly's famous opening scene breakfast,  it is only appropriate that you adorn this sweet platter with some wonderful pastries to accompany your coffee.  If you are not a baker, no problem. Williams-Sonoma offers several options and you'll think you just stepped out of a world class bakery. They even have packages delivered to your door once a month for you to bake and enjoy.

Portmerion Dinnerware Sophie Conran

As I always say, design is about surrounding yourself with what you love. Express yourself in your home decor and have fun with it. You should wake each morning look across your coffee and say "Did I tell you how utterly and divinely happy I am?" Wishing you the most lovely start to every day. Ta! THM

Newly Wed-nesday: The Borrowed Bridesmaid

Planning a wedding? By now you've rented a venue, rented tables, chairs, decor and maybe even a port-a-potty or two. It may surprise you at some of the other items you can rent. How about your bridesmaids dresses? Yep, sure can. Why not? Men have been renting tuxedos since the dawn of proms.  Just think about it from your attendants perspective. When we recently got married we planned a destination wedding. We kept our bridal party small. I wanted all of our family and friends to be there and enjoy the day with us without breaking the bank. Traveling and even attending a wedding is expense. Asking friends and family to pay for all the costs involved in standing up just seemed a lot to ask of them. Having said that, we all want those closest to us by our side on that special day. So, for your bridal party, no matter what the number of attendents, renting dresses is a long over due idea. Not only is it affordable but it's super easy and convenient. For bridal parties spread out in different areas its a welcome solution. The site I really like is littleborroweddresses.com. Here is how it works.

First, select your dress style and color, and yes, you can choose a different style for each attendant. They will send you a free swatch to ensure the color and fabric is to your liking. Then place your reservations. Next, the dresses will arrive two weeks prior to the event. In addition to your ordered size, they will send you a back up size with every dress ordered. That's genius. The dresses are designed to not require alterations and are quite forgiving. Finally, both the worn dress and the back up dress must be returned the next business day after the wedding. No need to clean. Send it back in their prepaid mailer and you are done. One tip. LBD recommends reserving three months before the event, but can accommodate last minute events. The cost per dress is approximately $50 - $75 depending on length and style. LBD does sell their dresses new if you prefer. Super simple. It's an option to consider. I mean, truly, they aren't going to wear those dresses again. Just sayin' Happy planning! Ta! THM

Miss Mash! Follow ups. Sticky Notes. Randomness.

Follow up! - In my post "Santa Gave Me An Upgrade," I let you know about the trade in program at Best Buy. Well, Score! My gamer hubs took some old Xbox and Wii games in and left with a $68 BB gift card! Also, other options for trade-in are Game Stop stores and online at Usell.com. In fact, Game Stop is offering  (until February 17) additional 25% trade value on games and $50.00 extra in-store credit on select game consoles.

More Rewards - If you have signed up for some of the programs from my "Getting the Most Of Your Healthy Food Purchases" Healthy Choice also has a rewards program. It's available through their Facebook page. This one is through a third party site, so it's not my fav but you can still get perks.

Sticky Note - Stock up. Heading into Super Bowl weekend is the time to grab snacks, frozen appetizers, condiments, deli meats, and Mexican foods. Use in store specials, bundle discounts and your coupons to save big.

Etchings From The Man Cave - Not a big newsflash but the old rule still holds true. The end of January and first part of February are the best time to buy big televisions. Found this deal at h.h.Gregg on a 55" LG for $799.

Stuff From The Closet - Not shy about my love for LC. You know I rave about her jeans. Check out her Spring collection "Paper Crown."

ReCap - New Additions launched last week! "Newly-Wednesday" and "Design Day Friday." Let me know what you would like me to cover.

Plug - I often post additional tidbits on social media so please follow me. Twitter: @The_HomeMaker. Facebook: The Happy Home Maker (make sure Home Maker is two words) and Pinterest: click on the link on my homepage.

Next! - More new features to come. I have some really wonderful interviews, guest bloggers and fun bits.

Thank you for growing with The Happy Home Maker. As with any family, it's good to know that we're in this together. Best to you my friends, THM