Class it up with Candlesticks

Decorating on a budget can be challenging. Decorating on a thirft shop budget can be even more challenging. Sure, you can make a list of the types of things you want to find but as most thrifters will tell you, the minute you start actively looking for a specific item, they disappear off the shelves never to be seen again!

Decorating on a budget takes an open mind. You need to be able to see what random items are available and then sort through them in your psyche, determining how they'll be used. 

I recently came across a couple of great scores for this year's murder mystery party. We do have some specific items on our list that we're looking to pick up for a dime. However, these items weren't on any list, I spotted them and knew they'd be perfect for the party. 

These candlesticks will add some much needed height to any area we need to spruce up. They're heavy cast iron and the details will add to our fancy carnival theme.

Great detail, eh? These little feet look like they might come to life and start dancing around... not that I've been watching any Disney movies lately, mind you.

This next pair of candlesticks are awesome and will look great in a different location from the first pair. I wouldn't put them together because the colors, heights and shapes are just too different.

Look at the details though! Wow! Nothing to do with a carnival/circus at all. But I think they'll work! They look old and interesting and that's what I'm going for. Of course, if I did find some candlesticks with marching elephants or something it'd be like hitting the jackpot!

But I love the medieval look going on here and think they'll make a great addition to the party decor. I can't wait until we actually get to set up for the party and can show you some shots of all these vintage and thrifted decor items coming together to give our themed party a real feeling of authenticity! 

A Piano playing Blacksmith

Every time we start to write a new murder mystery game the first order of business is to come up with an idea that the game and characters can revolve around. Back in 2005, we wrote my favorite murder mystery game, Boomtown. I had so much fun writing this game because it revolves around an old western town. We created Boomtown as the backdrop for some of the most sinister and conniving characters around. We researched all the old western folklore that is so prevalent in the southwest and decided to take bits and pieces of our research and combine it with our fictitious characters.

One such character is Hans von Dietrich, a piano playing blacksmith that runs a smithy in Boomtown and plays piano at the saloon every night while tossing back whiskey shots. A great way to start planing a costume for Hans is to look at pictures of notorious figures of the old west. I enjoy putting my costumes together taking details from any pictures I find and using what I might already have at home or thrifting for items at local thrift stores.

Here is a great example of what was found online.

Taking that information, here is what can be put together with thrifted items and clothes that might already be hanging in your closet.

You can see that by throwing on a pair of worn jeans with a white button down shirt and topping it off with a red vest, garter and bow tie he has the perfect look for a piano playing blacksmith that fits right in with the Boomtown theme.

When the Carnival Comes to Town...

....there will be elephants! I've been scouring thrift shops for items we can use to decorate our carnival-themed party this year. So far I've found a couple good contenders!

This large red and grey elephant appears to have been used to hold some sort of mammoth candle. I'm thinking of using it to hold a bright candy dish. He'll look wonderful on the table with his incredibly large ears and rearing trunk.

This next elephant is very small. I'm not sure where or how I'm going to display him yet. The detail is amazing.

This elephant is far more somber. He's looking at you out of the corner of his eye right now. The bloke riding him looks nice and relaxed. Way to hitch a ride, buddy. My favorite part is the draping over the elephant is the small bird. For some reason it just ties the whole design together. The smallest details are often the most important!

A big congratulations to Scarlett Loves Elvis who won the murder mystery party giveaway! Yay Scarlett!

Linking this post up to Apron Thrift Girl's Thrift Share Monday!

Punch Up Your Party

When's the last time you attended a party where they served punch? If you take a look at vintage entertaining cookbooks, they all have variations of recipes for punch. They were prominently displayed as a centerpiece. Usually with decorative ice cubes or mounds of floating sherbert. Maybe punch has fallen by the wayside at parties, but I say bring the punch back!

Personally, I like my punch spiked while others may prefer virgin punch. Either way, this recipe is sure to please. I really love making this punch since it only has three – that’s right THREE ingredients! If you’re like me and want to spike your punch then technically there are four… but who’s counting. I like to serve the punch without the alcohol and have a bottle of coconut flavored rum next to it for anyone who wants the option to spike their own punch.

Here's what you'll need.

One carton of orange juice, a 64 oz. bottle of cranberry juice cocktail and a 2 liter bottle of lemon-lime soda. Feel free to get creative and use any cranberry juice cocktail blend that you like. I like to use cranberry-pomegranate, but the cranberry-blueberry is also amazing.

Start by mixing the juices in a large container, then add the lemon-lime soda. Transfer the mixture to a punch bowl or a beverage dispenser with a spigot, whatever you're using to display the punch. You could add some sliced fruit for some color or float a ring of ice with frozen fruit.

Remember to set a couple bottles of booze next to the punch so your guests have the option for a non-alcoholic punch or something with more of a zing. Time to enjoy!

Bearded Lady Costume

I'm a little obsessed with facial hair. I love it when my boyfriend grows his beard out, and I try to encourage him to go longer and longer (which never works!). I'm a huge fan of Whisker Wars, which is my favorite new TV show. I'm just obsessed! Which is why I'm so very, very happy about putting together my Halloween costume for this year's murder mystery party. As previously mentioned, we're putting on depression era carnival this year and yours truly is going to be the Bearded Lady! I am so freaking excited!

So here is a little research! I checked out some true Bearded Ladies from back in the day. Some of whom lead astonishing and inspirational lives.

I really love the fullness of this beard and the elegantly trimmed mustache.

This beard is a little short and thin for my tastes but I really love the dress she is wearing. Especially the sleeves and the neckline. I might look for something similar that I can put together.

So after doing a little research, I wanted to check out my options. I could buy a pre-made costume but that's never much fun.

Besides, this costume is super sleazy. It's so LOOK AT MY BOOBS! How could anyone even notice that I have a beard with those bazongas in the picture? Pass!

Now here are some really great options!

This handmade beard created by CynCerelyCrocheted on Etsy sells separately from the Viking hat also pictured. I love the length and fullness of this beard but it might be too hot for the night of the party. I don't want to suffocate myself. I know the party is at the end of October, but sometimes in Arizona it's still over 100 degrees in October! This beard would be so perfect for a chilly night though.

I like this bushy beard created by PoorGirlCouture, but unfortunately it comes attached to the beanie. This would be a great way to wear the beard.. but I'm going for high-class, elegant lady with a beard. Not a bearded lady lumberjack.

Ahhh... this might be the one! This is the Bearded Lady by TheMonkeyCannon on Etsy. I wish it were a little longer and fuller, but I love the bushiness and kind of whimsical feel to this beard. It ties at the back with a strap, so I don't need to wear a hat AND it nearly matches the color of my hair. Ladies and gentlemen, I think we're in business!

Going Vintage

When you're throwing a party one of the most important elements is decor and creating the right atmosphere. You don't need to go out and spend a lot of money on decorations or hire a designer or a party planner. This ongoing series of blog posts will be about creating a party atmosphere on a budget.

This October, we're throwing a murder mystery party set in a depression era carnival. Since we're looking at the early 1930's, we're incorporating some vintage pieces reminiscent of that time period.

These fantastic vintage glass insulators are a perfect small detail that will add to the overall atmosphere of the party.


Check out the scallop detail on these insulators, the varying colors and the raised glass lettering. All these little details, while they might seem insignificant really add to the overall feel that we're trying to create.

What do you like to do or think about when creating a party atmosphere? We'd love to hear your thoughts.

Thrift Shopping for a Costume

One of the best parts about throwing a murder mystery party is putting together a costume. If you’re short on time and creativity, you can always rent a costume. All the work is done for you and you’re ready to go. But if you have the time and inclination, thrift shopping is absolutely the most exciting and creative way to put together a costume. During the next few weeks, Jay and I will share with you how we put together costumes as avid thrifters.

The first step in the process is finding the thrift shops near you. Checking out the local Goodwill or Salvation Army is great - but there are always smaller, hidden thrift shop gems just waiting to be discovered. Most thrift shops are charity based and don’t have big advertising budgets - so you’ve got to seek them out. Thankfully the internet has come to the rescue. The Thrift Shopper is an amazing resource for anyone who loves to thrift. You can pop in any zip code or city/state combo and BAM - you’re provided with a list of all the thrift shops near you. I’ve discovered so many great thrift shops using this great site!

Hopefuly we’ve encouraged you to get out there and thrift your Halloween costume this year! If anyone is putting together a thrifted costume, we’d love to see some pics!

Don't forget to enter our murder mystery party game giveaway! You could win an evening of diabolical fun with your friends and family!