Saturday, June 16, 2012

Our New Outdoor Living Space + An Impromptu Dinner Party

You guys....I'm probably going to get some hate for this, but I have to admit - summer is not my favorite season. I'm really more of a winter girl. The summer gets freaking HOT in the Bay Area, and I'm really not a fan of anything above 80 degrees. With that being said, though I *do* love summer nights. We entertain all throughout the season with lots of backyard barbecues and potlucks, and love hosting Fourth of July for family and friends.  In the back corner of our yard we have a little raised gazebo and quite frankly the area was looking sad, drab and ignored. It needed some color STAT! (I should have taken a before picture, but trust me - it was looking ugly!) Fortunately, Cost Plus World Market is only a few minutes away and has a TON of great items to bring lots of color to our backyard.

Just the other day, the fam and I headed to Cost Plus to check out all of the goods. Tony and I did have a little bit of a fight over what theme to go the gazebo - Rio, Bali, Americana?? Too many fabulous options, but in the end we went with a lot of items from the Rio collection. 



We picked up pillows, lights, a fabulous outdoor rug (for only $20!!), plates, wine, (and a bunch of other fabulous things that we didn't need!)

The damage...

As soon as we got home we set it all up.



I really love how it came together, and gave our sad gazebo, and beaten up furniture some new life. Tony and I were loving it so much that we decided to throw a little dinner party at the last minute to show it off.

We kept it really simple, since it was so last minute. Sliders, mini sausages and chips + salsa for dessert, and a simple taco salad for dinner.




 Pretty drinks that I make just about every other day (raspberry pineapple water, blackberry lime water, mint limeade)


And old school ice cream treats from Target for dessert.


Voila. Dinner party thrown together in under an hour.

Speaking of Cost Plus, they are having an amazing promotion right now - when you spend $20 you'll get a coupon for 15% off a Southwest flight, now through July 13. Plus, they're having a fabulous sweepstakes right now, where you can win a trip to ANYWHERE Southwest flies, hotel accomodations  or a $500 World Market gift card (they're giving away four trips every week, people!!) Enter on their Facebook page!



You can find Cost Plus World Market here:

SHOP  *  FACEBOOK (don't forget to enter the sweepstakes!)  *  TWITTER


Random question, but if you shop at Cost Plus World Market, what do you call it? I've always called it Cost Plus, but have a good friend who calls it World Market. Then there's those people who call it Cost Plus World Market. Let's discuss.....

This shop has been compensated by Cost Plus World Market, but all opinions and extreme love for their products are my own. Seriously, have you been there?? It's amazing!


23 comments:

Rachel @ Polka Dots and Lemonade said...

So cute!! I can't wait to be in a permanent oplace so that I can decorate my backyard. Back in Texas, we always called it World Market...not sure what to call it now that I'm out here in California!

LittleGreenThread said...

I'm right there with you on the dislike of summer. It's just too dang hot. I'm much more of a Fall girl :) I love the way your outdoor space turned out. It looks so cheery and inviting now!

joen said...

Sorry to say we do not have a Cost Plus World Market in my area, however, I did check out the on line store!!

Krulls in Haiti said...

I have always called it Cost Plus too. I love it! thanks for sharing the info... I need to buy some plane tickets and love saving money on them!

Denissa said...

It looks SO good!! I want those plates and pillows! I'm on a peacock kick lately :)
I'm right there w/ ya! I DO NOT like summer! And it gets even hotter in the central valley..ugh
I need to make that water, is there a special recipe?
And I've always called it Cost Plus..haha. I don't even think they added world market until just a few yrs ago, right?

Amber said...

omg what a cute space!!
and now I want to head to Cost Plus and get a new FUN outdoor rug!
i happen to love the store because they have a grand assortment of unique & eclectic items and that just makes my day!
wish I lived closer to see it all up close!!

Maria said...

OMG how beautiful!!

DO you have a recipe for your drinks?

jaquelyn {mama thoughts} said...

Ooh, love how it turned out, Heather! Unfortunately, we don't have that store near us...the closest is like 2+ hours away! :(

Unknown said...

yeah! i want recipes for those drinks!!! :)
everything is so pretty, friend!!
love you!

Erin Redmond said...

Looks fabulous! We are re doing our patio and I didn't even think of going to Cost Plus. Now I will. I also hate summer and its miserable out here in Fresno.

Anonymous said...

very cute! i love World Market!!!
i wish we had one closer to us (it's 45 min away). i never knew they were cost plus world market until the other day, when i looked for them on ebates. i've lived in FL and VA and both places we have called it World Market :o)
jenn g.

Meghan said...

I didn't even know Cost Plus was part of the name! haha, It's a fairly newer store around here(and even then it's an hour+ away), so maybe I'm just not so familiar with it?

Love the rug!

xoxo

Rags to Stitches Blog said...

Your outdoor space turned out amazing! I think I might need to make a trip up to the Bay area so you can make those drinks for me too. ;)

jacqui said...

love how your yard turned out! so fun & perfect for entertaining!
we used to call it Cost Plus, but then in IL they cut the name to just World Market so that's what I call it now. Looks like they're adding the Cost Plus back on in a lot of places near us (well not near us...since you know...i live in the woods!)

Megan, TfDiaries.com said...

amazing space! backyard envy :D

Xo Megan

Object of Maya*ffection said...

Looks FAB!! Love how cute and inviting the patio looks! And lemme tell you - those fancy picks are the cats pajamas!! Please share you delish water recipes!!

MonogramWedding said...

Looks great! We call is World Market. No matter what's it's really called.. - I love that store!

MonogramWedding said...

Looks great! We call is World Market. No matter what's it's really called.. - I love that store!

Anonymous said...

Here in the St. Louis area we call it World Market. Love that store!! I redid my entire living room with that place an really loved how it turned out. I enjoy your blog so much!

Lauren D.

Brittany@Love Stitched said...

wow it looks amazing! Love that rug! I call it cost plus too but I know many people who call it world market! but we don't have one close to me in utah :( and I miss it! sad

Sheyb said...

Looks cute! And girl... I HATE summer time. LOL! 115 degrees... can't do anything outside... even at night. :( I rarely ever go to this store, but they have some cool stuff. I call it World Market. Enjoy your outdoor space! It's lovely. :)

BusyWorkingMama said...

Great area you created! I love the colors and the fun mason jars to cups!

Kimberly said...

This looks super fun.

 

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