On the Top

1 decorating genius
+ 1 gawkward jokester
5 FUN TABLESETTINGS

One Table Five Ways on Vimeo.

Don't try to do the math people. It'll give you a headache. It did for me anyway :)

Anyhoo, back to the video. Did you watch it? Note: I was sweating worse than a Biggest Loser contestant during their last chance workout. Seriously. I had to run up to reapply deodorant three times. And that was before the record button got pushed. Needless to say, I am no HGTV whiz like Sherry!

And if you are here from my house tour that featured on This Young House, WELCOME! A friend of Sherry is a friend of mine. My name is Katie. I am an equal opportunity jokester with a flair for celebrity jabs, cheesy jokes & potty humor. This is more of a warning than an AA intro. Be on your guard my fine friends because at some point while reading ABP, you will be given the opportunity to laugh at yourself. Go ahead and take it...cause afterall, laugh lines are the new skinny. It's like a full-body workout but just for your abs....if you know what I mean. Plus, you are in good company since I make fun of myself more than anything. And yes, I was teased as a child for my ginormous head :)

Oh and folks - stay tuned...this afternoon I have a fun dump in a bag for ya bag of fun to dump on ya....it's all the decorating goodies that didn't make the cut for our video....it's "Sherry Petersik's Picks". Meet ya here around oh-fab-thirty :)

15 Under 50

No, this isn't some post about the 15 hottest celebutards under the hill. This one is for my Atlanta peeps (but don't worry, if you are from somewhere else, this can be a good reference tool for you too!). Yes, my fine friends, here is my new latest Bower Powerful tool to help out you penny pinchers. It's called 15 under 50.


All you gotta do is click on the 15 under 50 button on the sidebar and it will take you to a Photobucket slideshow that contains this weeks top 15 Craigslist finds under 50 dollars. I plan on updating that weekly (but just like Britney's virginity promise, you can't hold me to it).

So let's just say you see something utterly fantastic - (or at least has fantastic potential) like this:


or these:


well, then pause the slideshow. Then run your mouse over the photo of the lovely desired item and above the said photo will appear the "GET LINKS" link. Click it and it will take you to the craiglist link....so you can actually buy it!

And for those of you that live outside of the great Peach state...too bad soo sad. SIKE! This is a great reference tool for you too! See something you like, then go scour your own local craigslist. Not only does it give you a price point but it gives you negotiating power with the seller.

Plus, I make notes on each photo - ways I would use it or things to redo or what style it would work with. So if you see something similar to that item lurking in your basement or stored in your attic, you immediately have some ideas on how to reuse, recycle, or repurpose! And isn't that the best way to be green?!?!

One stipulation...if you find something off of 15under50 and redo it, you must pinky promise me that you will send me befores & afters. Because you know there ain't nothing I love more than making over cheapo finds!

Hob-knobbin'

Nothing get's my heart throbbin' like an interactive online decorator. So naturally I am totally diggin' Anthropologie's Hardware Store. Experiment with different dressers or cabinets, change the color and add a few totally fun knobs and handles to create your own favorite look. It's more fun than Bengay on a toilet seat :)

Here are some of the ones I came up with:

Plant Encyclopedia

I am not plant savy.

In fact, for most of my life I thought that shrubs were non-flowering plants, that the majority of vegetables grew on small trees, and that succulent was a dirty word.

And seeing as how this spring I wanna grow stuff in the ground, I am so happy to discover an awesome gardener's tool over at Better Homes & Gardens. They have a Plant Encyclopedia!



It's a groovy little tool to make you into an elite green-thumber, tree-hugger and gardening-guru.

All you gotta do is type in your specific requirements of what you are looking for and BHG spits out the options to meet your needs. Check it out - all I did was type in perennials in my zone that grew in partial sun and under 3 feet tall:

And that is only the first 2 pages of options! Plus they give you additional planting information for each plant so gardening has never been this easy! So go on - play in the dirt again...

Sproost Style Quiz

Sproost.com has a find-your-style quiz available. And if I do say so myself, it looks to be quite accurate!



Those sproost folks gave me my results and as you can see, I am 41% Nantucketian and 41% Cottage Chic...with an 18% dash of Hollywood couture thrown in for kicks :)

Let me see here what I agree with...



Love the beach? check.
Coastal art & accessories? check
Natural fabrics, cottons & linens? check
Light wood & wicker? not so much
White, light beige, blues, greens, and greys? check check check check and check
Comfy furniture? check

So yeah - I can definitely say that I love being a Nantucket girl. Although I am not particularly drawn to light colored wood, I definitely am attracted to all the other aspects of beach life. Good Job Sproost!

Moving on to Cottage Chic...

Carefree spirit? check
Appreciate modern art & hip treasures? check
Love old and new? check
Light background? partially check

While I love to swim in a modern and chic world free from florals and cheesiness (except my jokes, of course) I can appreciate a warm chocolate room or some black painted floors (like the photo above). I only wish that this description gave me more clue on what the particulars of cottage chic were.

Finally my smattering of hollywood couture...



Sparkly crystal? love looking at it - not lucky enough to own it
All things flashy? Not so much.
Sense of opulence? I wish.
Rich feeling? yes please.
Over the top with livability? how is that possible?
Luxury? I am begging.

So overall, I definitely agree to the mix of these three styles as something that would be an accurate representation of me. Sure, it isn't always possible to make your home a complete reflection of you...especially these days with different trends flying in and out the door with ludicrious speed or when you try to make sure any home improvements are appealing to the masses. But it is definitely helpful for the next time I go shopping. It'll help me reign in the brain and focus by chanting "nantucket, cottage, hollywood".

So ya'll...what's your sproost style? Do you agree with the sproost assessment? Or is it whack like crack?

Costume Time

Guess who this is?

Well, let me tell you. Sit down and prepare yourself for a shocker. It is Mr. Incredible and Rainbow Brite. Just kidding - that is me & Jeremy two years ago. I had to scavenge to find these pics but for a mucho importante point - Halloween costumes are very serious here at Bower Power. We do not take dressing up lightly. In fact, we make our own costumes for accuracy sake. And being that it is October - we are behind on our plans for this year. I usually like to start planning in July. Seriously.

So I thought I would put it to you (and if all five of you vote for one costume - then score!)

(please note that I would never wear this particular costume - too much bootie exposure! I would go with the skirt instead)
I would be Ronald - Jer would be the King :) Or we are open to other options - but I need to decide quick...like yesterday quick. HELP!

Virtual Yard Sale

Ever go to a yard sale and see some great item that it just up your alley? Ever lowball a Craigslister hoping that you aren't paying more than what they got it for? Ever wanna just have braggin rights about your genius negotiating skills and eye for style?


Well, have I got the feature for you! And I think this will be a lotta fun if you all play along. I am going to do my little internet exploration in search of great home decor items. Then I will post a picture of them here. It's like I am hosting a yard sale and you are interested in what's on the table. Here's how the conversation goes -

Me : Welcome to the Bower Power yardsale! If you see something you are interested in just let me know.

You: Thanks! I will. Ooh nice ___________! How much do you want for it?

Me: Well, make me an offer.

You: Ok well I see it's brand new, so I figure you paid $_______ and a fair price is $______.

Me: Actually I paid $_________. And no you can't have it.

See? So it is a guessing game really. But about home decor. you in?

And what is at stake? Well, not much. EXCEPT YOUR PRIDE! And you will get braggin rights and everyone will want to go shopping with you cause you know your shizzle.

Here are the items - you let me know what you think they cost and what you would pay for each.

#1

#2
#3
#4
#5

Oh yea - the one that comes the closest to the actual prices (diffences calculated & no cheating) will be announced in three days! Let the guessing begin :)

Jack Johnson

Blogging is powerful. Don't believe me? Well I blogged about this and my lovely husband surprised me with my very own Volunteer Tee earlier this week. Thank you baby - now I am ready for Neyland Stadium :)

**notice the olympic style hand flare - and a little open mouth celebration too (again!)

So just in case the hubbie wants to cross another wishlist item off the list - here is another item that I have been eyeing :)

Jack Johnson's In Between Dreams

If you haven't danced to Better Together with your own special someone - well - it's not too late! It can totally change their mood :)

For All Ages

Yearbook Yourself is a hoot! If you are having a rough day - nothing can cheer you up like a little afro with your face. How about Orange turned me on to this internet laughfest.

Check me out through the decades -

1952
This sock hop is the boss!

1960
My Daddie-O - he's the ginchiest!

1978

I feel tha funk!

1982

This hairstyle is the bombdigity!


1994

Tightrolling is all that and a bag of chips.

Lickable Wallpaper

From my time in elementary school all the way through highschool, I have been obsessed with hiding candy in my bedroom. I think I got if from one of The Babysitter's Club books. One of the girls was apparently brillant in stashing all sorts of goodies in random places. It is really quite unhealthy.



Also unhealthy but delicious idea - lickable wallpaper - curtesy of Willy Wonka -





lick a pear ("it tastes like a pear"),


lick a raspberry ("it tastes like a raspberry"),


lick a schnozzberry ("it tastes like a schnozzberry...there's no such thing as a

SCHNOZZBERRY!")







Anyway - I am the kinda girl that has sweet teeth - not one but all of my teeth are sugary, highfructose corn syrup lovers. In middle school, we had to sell candy for junior beta club - I bought all 60 boxes with my birthday and christmas money. In college, I hot-glue-gunned hershey kisses to my walls. Now...I just try to keep it from my boyfriend's ever-chewing-pie-hole :)

So how am I going to tie this in with home decor? Oh - I am so glad that you asked.

Inhabit has these fabulous wall flats that are on sale right now. What is a wall flat? It is a thin wall tile made of molded bamboo paper pulp - with a sticky backside. They are 18" by 18" and the peel and stick back makes it so that you can stick it to your wall for an instant texturally design. Inhabit claims they are goof proof (but I beg to differ - I think there is always someone out there that is stupid enough to screw it up).

So how did I jump from wall tiles to candy - here is how...

I saw this -

and I thought this:

Seriously though. I think that some of their designed wall tiles would be uber-cool framed as wall art. Especially the samples that are on sale - since they are only $4.50 cause of dinged corners and such. Check out the Bud design and the Shangri La design.

Not only can you add a little pizzazz to your modern walls and get cheap art but this kinda wall won't give you cavities :)

Till Dance Do You Part

The bells, the chapels, the seating cards - YES - Wedding season is among us!




Today weddings are such a HUMONGOUS deal! Thousands and thousands of dollars are spent on impressing people (most of whom you don't really know but hey - they gave you a $50 fondue set). The ring, the cake, the heartfelt vows - all perfectly planned to wow the guests and leave a little tear in their eye. In honor of this hallowed event, I present to you the finest display of human skill and self-expression I have ever seen.


Yes - today I am featuring the ever popular "Wedding Dances".


Click on the links to ensue laughter, joy, and maybe you will leave a little teary-eyed as well :)


Five makes it Fun
Groomsmen Get Down
Jack(SON) Johnson ?
Couple Jams to Baby Got Back
and my favorite - (if you know these people - my name is Katie Bower & I want to be their friend)
Brian and Katie

So - have fun? Did you laugh out loud? I did. I also did when I got this photo back from my own wedding - that is my sister & me (please notice the openmouthedness that we both exhibit when gettin down!) Maybe sometime in the future I can have a post about stuff white people do when bustin a move. Now that would be funny :) Until then - keep on dancing!

Tag - I'm it.

Emily over at Imperfect is pretty much the most hilarious blogger I know. I find myself wishing she didn't have to go get married cause she didn't post a blog entry for like a REALLY long time. I recommend meandering over into her neck of the woods if you have a free moment. Oh but go to the bathroom first cause she could totally make you have an accident.

Anyway - she tagged me and now I have tell six random facts...so here goes.

1. I was born with an over sized head. The doctors actually thought that my head was large due to water on the brain. My mom (a responsible adult) took me to therapy for the mentally handicapped under the docs recommendation. She yanked me when she realized that I wasn't retarded. To this day I can't find a hat that fits.


2. I am very uncomfortable around people that put clothes on their pets. I find that usually it means that the person believes the animal is another human or an accessory...both which I find very disturbing. After all, I am a carnivore.


3. As a toddler I never developed the reflex of putting my hands out when I fall. My mom said that it was because I was overly lazy. I can believe that. Even now if you push me from behind, I am surfing the turf face first.


4. Every weekend in college I would make a batch of fruit punch koolaid and drink the entire thing. in. one. day. I don't know why.


5. This past year Jeremy and I hosted a Couples Halo Tournament. It was my idea. I even had a bracket system worked out for the fairness factor. It will probably be an annual event...hopefully.


6. If I could choose only one condiment to use for the rest of my life it would be mustard. It goes with everything. Lunch meat. Burgers. Hotdogs. Pretzels. I think every white shirt I own has a mustard stain on it. Maybe I could get Emily to get them out cause I don't know how.

Here are the tagging rules:

1. Link to the person who tagged you (i.e. me)

2. Post the rules on your blog

3. Write 6 random things about yourself

4. Tag 6 people at the end of your post and link to them

5. Let each person you have tagged know by leaving a comment on their blog

6. Let the tagger (me) know when your entry is posted

Here are the peeps I am tagging. Austin at Seminal Psyche, Lori at It Matters, Mrs. Rauth at The Rauths, Happy Mommy at Mommy Talk and More, Pink Preppy Party Girl and ETXWife at Life So Sweet.

Will that be one Dumpr two?

How About Orange brought this uber-fun time-waster to my attention. It's called Dumpr and you can upload a photo, choose some photo admirers and viola! You have a personal masterpiece showcased in a museum.

I used one of our wedding pics - cool huh?!