tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-877141313085074936.post6453387797180369569..comments2014-01-17T00:48:27.180-05:00Comments on The Umbrella Treasury: Festive, Frugal, No-Fuss PartyJ.W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00471547517293434732noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-877141313085074936.post-28492057024598253152013-05-30T09:10:58.267-04:002013-05-30T09:10:58.267-04:00Looks awesome! I hope that you had a blast. $125...Looks awesome! I hope that you had a blast. $125 isn't bad at all considering that you had really nice food and décor.Holly@ClubThriftyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16943656467827987350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-877141313085074936.post-42399463521827621582013-05-29T12:38:57.433-04:002013-05-29T12:38:57.433-04:00Thanks, Lisa! I was so glad I was able to put tho...Thanks, Lisa! I was so glad I was able to put those signs to use after they'd been sitting in a drawer for so many months. It's fantastic when guests offer to pitch in. I used to insist on doing everything myself and would refuse any offers from guests to contribute -- but that's just silly!<br /><br />And I think it helped us enormously that we were able to we had so many "multi-purpose" ingredients. It really helped streamline the prep work, as well as keep the costs reasonable. <br /><br />J.W.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00471547517293434732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-877141313085074936.post-29476030044180624642013-05-29T12:31:56.350-04:002013-05-29T12:31:56.350-04:00Awww, thanks Tina! We like our little place. We ...Awww, thanks Tina! We like our little place. We feel like it has a lot of character, which is one of the great side effects of renting an old (ie, lower-cost) apartment! J.W.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00471547517293434732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-877141313085074936.post-1757004714187332052013-05-29T10:27:21.046-04:002013-05-29T10:27:21.046-04:00I love those little signs! I was just thinking thi...I love those little signs! I was just thinking this morning that we hadn't hosted a party at our place in a while, and I'd say most of the reason is the cost. These are great tips, and a good reminder that you don't have to go overboard, you just need a few hearty foods (you did a great job of using similar ingredients throughout the dishes), some diy decorations, and a willingness to say yes to guests who want to contribute! Lisa @ Elle Seeshttp://ellesees.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-877141313085074936.post-16801874388533665072013-05-28T19:18:54.479-04:002013-05-28T19:18:54.479-04:00Your place looks so cute! I'm going to steal s...Your place looks so cute! I'm going to steal some of your ideas the next time I have a gathering. I have avoided hosting parties due largely in part to the fear of cost, but I like your mix of convenience and frugality. Tina @ My Shiny Pennieshttp://www.myshinypennies.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-877141313085074936.post-11423803429195975792013-05-28T18:15:14.804-04:002013-05-28T18:15:14.804-04:00Thanks so much, Matt! Planning can be a bit stres...Thanks so much, Matt! Planning can be a bit stressful -- especially when the in-laws are coming! Once I gave up the "everything must be perfect" approach, it was a lot more fun. <br /><br />And I think you're exactly right re: the importance of balancing frugality with convenience. Since we didn't have to stand around grating cabbage or slicing cheese, we were able to make desserts from scratch, which ended up saving us a lot more money in the long run! J.W.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00471547517293434732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-877141313085074936.post-41453939591112486582013-05-28T18:10:24.236-04:002013-05-28T18:10:24.236-04:00Andrew, it's great that you're helping out...Andrew, it's great that you're helping out with some of the planning for your wife's baby shower! That's fantastic! <br /><br />In terms of the banner: the individual triangles are attached to string of twine. I just stapled the twine on top of the cardboard triangles. If you look closely in the pictures, you can sort of see the staples...but I don't think they were really visible since the banners were above eye level. Martha Stewart would probably disapprove, but it worked for me! When I hung up the Happy Birthday banner on the wall, I tied a little loop at each end of the twine, and then hung the sign with thumb tacks. It probably wasn't the "best" way to do it, but the signs seemed to stay put. <br /><br />In terms of the chalk signs/labels, I bought them from this seller on Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/listing/115533450/elegant-chalkboard-table-stands-with?ref=shop_home_active (although, they were a bit less expensive back when I bought them!!!) <br /><br />I did find this Etsy seller who seems to have lower prices: http://www.etsy.com/shop/BradensGrace?section_id=6879749<br /><br />Good luck!J.W.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00471547517293434732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-877141313085074936.post-66999273341667549282013-05-28T17:56:54.783-04:002013-05-28T17:56:54.783-04:00Thanks, Pamela! I love using chalk. I used a cha...Thanks, Pamela! I love using chalk. I used a chalk marker on these signs and it worked out great! If I make a mistake, it's so easy to correct it!J.W.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00471547517293434732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-877141313085074936.post-73380377223391972132013-05-28T14:07:08.737-04:002013-05-28T14:07:08.737-04:00Looks like an awesome spread! I like the mix of fr...Looks like an awesome spread! I like the mix of frugality with spending where it added convenience. Always nice to see a good balance. This is the kind of thing that would have left me confused and overwhelmed, but it looks like you guys handled it really well.Matt Beckerhttp://www.momanddadmoney.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-877141313085074936.post-49196578551904795322013-05-28T13:20:18.455-04:002013-05-28T13:20:18.455-04:00Looks like a great party! My wife's baby show...Looks like a great party! My wife's baby shower is coming up soon and the planners are from out-of-town or unable to take care of some of the issues so somehow it has fallen on my unprepared shoulders. So a few questions: How did you hang up the happy birthday sign? Is it like a clothesline and is there a hook on the wall or suction to hang it from? Also, the labels are a nice touch, where can you get them? Sorry, I haven't the slightest clue when it comes to this stuff...Thanks!!Andrewhttp://www.livingrichcheaply.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-877141313085074936.post-4732961644132387762013-05-28T13:11:56.613-04:002013-05-28T13:11:56.613-04:00I absolutely love the signs that label everything....I absolutely love the signs that label everything. For signs I usually use chalk so they can be reused.<br /><br />Looks nice! Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girlhttp://www.brooklynfarmgirl.comnoreply@blogger.com