stars – Page 2 – Elizabeth Smillie

our 4th

July 11, 2013 Elizabeth Smillie

Our 4th of July celebration was a bit low key this year, but we sure did celebrate!

John had to work for most of the day, so the kiddlets and I enjoyed a quite day at home – PB&J for lunch and some wading pool fun! Olivia played in the pool for the first time ever and really enjoyed herself :)

After late naps {to ensure cheerfulness for a late night of fireworks!}, the kids and I met John at his parents’ home where we spent the rest of the evening. We had some delicious BBQ and a full spread of summer foods – even star topped deviled eggs! Olivia was worn out by all the fun and put herself down for a pre-fireworks nap :)

Ian got to experience his first sparkler {he LOVED it!} and Emma Grace kept asking when it would be dark, and at one point even asked if I could “set the timer for it to be fireworks” – darling girl! It’s so hard to wait when you’re 4 {or 27 :)}.

The fireworks were well worth the wait – in Indiana you are allowed to shoot off some really fun ones! Emma Grace and Ian were excited to wear some ear protection {Em: “mine are pink!”} and we sat around a bon fire as my brother-in-laws masterminded the show.

All in all, it was a quiet, relaxing day. I thought a bit about freedom – how it is so easy to allow it to be eroded until the the very word is only a hollow husk, and how both as a nation, as individuals we must be vigilant. And how I am extremely grateful for those who have sacrificed for my freedom, for the One who died for me to be forever free.

How about you? Did you have a chance to celebrate this weekend?

a darling, starry nursery for a baby boy

customer love – nursery edition

July 5, 2013 Elizabeth Smillie

Each time a customer leaves a comment saying how much they love their purchase, it makes my day. I especially love it when they tell their friends and send me photos of how they have used the things that they have bought!

A few weeks ago a mama in Australia ordered our Red, White and Brown Stars Garland to accent the room she was preparing for her baby boy, and she was kind enough to share a photo of how the room is coming together:

Isn’t it too sweet?! I love how the red stars tie in with the hearts and the cars, and the brown is the same shade as the cars in the wall hanging! She’s definitely pouring love into this room for her wee man, and it shows :)

Do you have photos that you’d like to share? If so, you can either email them to me at elizabeth@pltmarket.com or tag them with #thepathlesstraveledmarket on Instagram – we’d all love to see your ideas!

{by the way, did I mention that I often send “thank you” coupons to the lovelies who let me share their photos with you? Yep, I do :)}

Happy Friday! Are you thinking about placing an order this weekend? Don’t forget to use the FREE shipping coupon code of JULY4TH when you do! It’s good on any order of $5 or more and

Extra Large Red, White and Blue Star Garland from the Path Less Traveled

the giveaway is ending soon! :)

June 29, 2013 Elizabeth Smillie

just popping by to remind you – the giveaway ends tomorrow night!

So if you wanted to enter but forgot {or would like to add another entry?}, don’t dilly dally – it’ll be over and the prize on it’s way before you know it!

Cars themed party from the Path Less Traveled

a little boy Cars party {sneak peek}

June 24, 2013 Elizabeth Smillie

Well, as you’ve heard, our little boy had a birthday {he’s 3!} which, of course, means that we had a party :)

Emma Grace loves parties, and being the awesome big sister that she is, she took on helping Ian “plan” his party months in advance – “So, Ian, you like cars? Hm, you want a Cars party?!” To which he {of course} replied, “YES!!!” So we’ve been talking about the Cars party for months.

For planning purposes I had been putting the ideas I’d found all over the interwebs onto a Pinterest board, and then {just like for Em’s party} closer to the day I narrowed down what might be feasible. Here is a quick peek at how it turned out!

some DIY signage over the snack/dessert table – and lots of cars and stars!a view from the front room to the back of the house: we chose to have an evening party for family, so the kiddos needed to have a light dinner before everyone arrived – they really enjoyed waking up from their nap to a decorated home and eating dinner at the “road” table!

the back yard – we had a few showers, but all in all in was a beautiful evening for a party. I’ll be showing you a full tutorial tomorrow on how I made the balloon garland over the inside table – be sure to check back!

All in all, not too shabby for a 3rd birthday party! Especially considering that the mama had rolled in late the night before from the Hobnob Summer Market, and most of the prep happened on the morning of the party. :) I love it when a plan comes together!

Have you had a chance to enter the Red, White and Blue Giveaway yet? I hope your Monday has been lovely, and I’ll see you here tomorrow,

time for a giveaway!

June 22, 2013 Elizabeth Smillie

Yippee – it’s time for a giveaway! This time I have a sweet set of 4th of July themed goodies for one of you darling readers!

This awesome prize packet includes one of my newest garlands – the Large Red, White and Blue Star Garland! – and a dozen of our classic {for good reason – they’re so darling!} Red, White and Blue Star Cupcake Toppers. Wouldn’t these be the perfect ouch for your 4th {and pretty much any Summer party}?

To enter, use the Rafflecopter widget in this post {email subscribers will need to click over to the blog} and follow the prompts.

Pretty simple! I’ll announce the winner on Monday, July 1, 2013 and mail the prize as soon as they confirm their address.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

note – this giveaway is open to readers in the United States only

Chair Garland Decor Ideas {a continuing series}

June 20, 2013 Elizabeth Smillie

Have you heard? The chair garlands in the shop aren’t just for decorating chairs!
When it comes to using these petite garlands, there are so many options that chairs are only the the start! This is a continuing series {see more posts here} where I’ll share some of my ideas with you {and, if you’d like to share some of yours, I’ll post them as well!}

For the Summer holidays – Memorial Day, Ian’s birthday, Flag Day, the 4th of July, etc. – I am decorating with lots of red, white and blue. {those balloon in the reflection? they’re left over from Ian’s party :)}

This vintage mirror lightens a corner in our dining area downstairs, and as I was decorating for our little guy’s birthday I decided to see if one of the Red, White and Blue Chair Banners would fit across it to add an additional pop of color – and look at that, it fit perfectly!

How about you? Have you tried using one of these sweet, short lengths of garland in an unexpected spot? Share your ideas in the comments!

our little buddy is three

June 17, 2013 Elizabeth Smillie

oh my, our little buddy is three! I know it’s a bit cliche, but when I look at him I wonder, “how is it even possible?! Where did these few years fly to?” He’s such a sweet – and yet rambunctious – darling! gah! his eyes slay me – full of the joy, enthusiasm and tenderness that are his trademarks, they, combined with his long lashes, will make your heart melt <3

Ian requested a car themed party, and I did my best to pull it off. Only a few of my ideas actually happened, but, as you can tell from his expression, he was thrilled!!! I’ll be posting more about the party in the next few days :)

Happy Monday, Lovelies!

Instagram bits

May 26, 2013 Elizabeth Smillie

the photos that I capture on Instagram are just little bits and pieces of our life, and it’s really interesting to see what moments I capture {and which ones I don’t} – of course, it seems as if {since I instagram from our iPad} I only capture the things that stand still. Which of course explains why Emma Grace, Ian and John don’t show up very often, but flowers, projects and Olivia do. :)

This week’s post is kind of a catch-up – so you get two weeks rolled into one. Enjoy!My Mother’s Day rose bush is looking so lovely <3 I’m a rose lover! Especially the soft colors – pink, white, even gray and soft purple – and the full, blowsy cottage types. :)
I asked – and you answered! This storage dresser in the sewing room might be getting a do-over, and many of you chimed in with your color suggestions. Thank you! A sweet color combo on the It’s A Girl! cupcake toppers – I normally stamp the girl version with pink ink onto either vintage or white paper, and this customer asked to add some pink on pink – they turned out super darling! our darling baby being her sweet little self <3 It’s graduation season! These purple stars are the size I normally carry in the shop, and the large gold ones are coming soon! a custom bouquet of “Congrats Grad!” and “Class of 2013” dessert toppers

John had a week of vacation, and we spent most of it at home {or with my in-laws}. We did get away for an overnight, though! Brown County is Indiana’s largest state park, and quite lovely {and quite!} this time of year. We took the kiddos to Story Inn for the night, and then for a bit of an explore in the park itself the next day. They loved being on an “adventure” so much. A sweet color combo! These purple and pink butterfly toppers are on their way to a baby girl’s first birthday party :) And my baby girl just keeps getting bigger! She’s a roller now, and loves to roll her way across the room. She started out on the blanket in the lower right, and made it all the way to my stash of baker’s twine on the other side of the sewing room. :)

How about you – you Instagram? What do you find shows up as a recurring theme in your photos?

Also, don’t forget to use the shop’s free shipping coupon if you’re planning on stocking up on any summer party goods! It expires tomorrow night, so don’t dilly dally too long :)

Memorial Day Sale! free shipping this weekend <3

May 24, 2013 Elizabeth Smillie

It’s a Memorial Day Sale! {and it’s coming just in time for you to stock up on summer party essentials :)}

Red, White and Blue Star Garland

Yeppers, in honor of Memorial Day, I’m offering free shipping on orders placed here in the shop this weekend <3

Red, White and Blue Star Cupcake Toppers

Use code “memorialday” when placing your order to receive free shipping – and this is good on any order from the shop!

Red, White and Blue Star Chair Backer

Did you notice that I’ve added a suite of Red, White and Blue Star items to the shop? Yes, I did! They’ve been in my Etsy shop for a while, and I’ve finally added them here, just in time for this sale and your summer party and BBQ season. :)

remember, the code to use for free shipping is “memorialday“! Enjoy! and have a lovely, relaxed and blessed weekend,

{coupon expires midnight of May 27}

customer love – parties edition!

May 10, 2013 Elizabeth Smillie

Amber shared her little guy’s incredibly darling first birthday with us last month, and a few weeks later she sent me another photo to share – this time a close up of her marshmallow pop display!

Amber used the Red, White and Blue Star toppers to add the finishing touch to her super cute idea, as she says: “I put some florist foam in the boxes and stuck the cupcake toppers on the foam.” Great job, Amber! And thank you again for sharing! The star toppers were the perfect finish to your display :)