CasaSugar

Etsy Finds: Scrabble Outside the Game Room

CasaSugar — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 11:00:35 -0700

I admit, I am a huge Scrabble nerd. Recently, when my car was broken into, the item that I lamented missing the most was my travel Scrabble set. Since so many people are fans of the word game (word nerds unite!), I thought I'd offer you some other ways to incorporate the game into your home, besides the game itself. From the fridge to the coffee table to the sofa, see how you can display your Scrabble love throughout your home.

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DIY: Scrabble Coasters

CasaSugar — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 05:15:29 -0800

If the words "Triple Word Score" mean anything to you then this project is for you. You can put a retired Scrabble set to work by recycling it into coasters. If you don't want to part with your beloved Scrabble set, you can purchase batches of Scrabble tiles on eBay for little more than five bucks.

Supplies:

Scrabble tiles (64-100 for a set of four)
Cork board or cardboard and felt
Hot glue gun with glue sticks
Mod Podge or a stronger sealant (polyurethane)
Grosgrain ribbon (the width of a Scrabble tile's height)

To learn the steps, read more

Here's how:

Take out a pen and paper and brainstorm some four- or five-letter words related to drinks (wine, cafe, pinot, etc.) that you'd like to use on your coasters. Play with their configurations, and come up with a blueprint for your letter arrangements, either 4-x-4 tiles or 5-x-5.
Measure the dimensions of your square of tiles, and cut the corkboard or cardboard accordingly.
If you're using cardboard, cut a piece of felt to the same size and glue it to the cardboard base.
Glue your Scrabble-tile arrangement to your base. Let dry.
Seal the top of the tiles with Mod Podge. Let dry.
Glue the grosgrain ribbon around edge of the coaster. Let dry.
Uncork some vino and drink up!

You can also purchase new Scrabble tiles from Hasbro, but it's best to recycle! Try thrift stores, yard sales, and eBay for vintage ones.

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Open House: What Are Your Thanksgiving Plans?

CasaSugar — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:30:39 -0800

This Thursday, friends and family will gather to socialize, give thanks, and stuff themselves silly. Whether you're hosting or putting in a guest appearance, there's always a lot of preparation and work that goes into every Thanksgiving gathering.

This year my husband and I are driving from Berkeley to Whidbey Island, off the coast of Washington, to stay with his family. We're driving because we're also traveling with our two dogs (I know, it's going to be quite the road trip). Once there, we'll help prepare the Thanksgiving meal, take lots of walks in the foggy forest and on the shore, and, I'm sure, play many, many rounds of Scrabble with my mom-in-law.

My favorite part of Thanksgiving is getting to visit with so many loved ones, and to contribute to a meal, and an experience, that would be impossible without many hands. Tell me: what are your Thanksgiving plans, and what are your favorite parts of the holiday?

Source: Flicker User Lane & Anne

Open House: How Are You Observing Earth Hour?

CasaSugar — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 10:30:34 -0700

Earth Hour, a global event on climate change, is a World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) initiative to "turn off the lights" in cities around the world for one hour. Earth Hour encourages businesses, communities and individuals to take simple steps needed to cut their carbon dioxide emissions. This year, Earth Hour has the goal of asking one billion people switch off their lights, and thus far, over 74 countries and territories have pledged their support to do just that.

How are you observing Earth Hour? I love Solarina's Scrabble game by candlelight, but since the weather has been mild here, I think I might take a night walk in my neighborhood. Or perhaps I'll garden by moonlight. Do you have any clever, fun ideas for celebrating this eco hour?

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Open House: Keeping Costs Down and Fun Levels High

CasaSugar — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 12:00:18 -0700

I've been taking some steps to try to cut back household expenses. Some of my friends, who've recently been laid off are employing similar tactics.

Sure, the going-out-on-the-town budget has shrunk, but I'm gaining more quality time with my friends and family. For instance, instead of going out to dinner and a late movie the other night, my friends and I opted to make food together, and then play board games at home. Not only did we have a great time cooking and hanging out, but we had more fun at home than we would have in a loud restaurant. Since then, I've been playing board games, such as Scrabble, at least a few times a week.

While other strategies such as planning affordable meals in and keeping the thermostat turned down are effective and practical, the new board-game nights are my favorite way of economizing. They don't use electricity, are cost efficient (you can pick up additional games at garage sales or borrow from friends), and provide a lot more family interaction than movies do.

Have you found any fun ways to economize?

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November Must Haves

CasaSugar — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 03:07:00 -0700

November is Hibernation month here at CasaSugar. All throughout the month, we'll be bringing you projects and products that will make your home cozy. For now, I invite you to curl up with a recycled cashmere Sun Moon Lake quilt.

It's definitely chilly enough now to change your sheet set to the flannels.

There's nothing nicer than sprawling out on a cozy shag rug as winter approaches. Well, maybe wrapping one around you would be better. Either way, it's requisite furnishing as the temperature drops.

Diptyque's gingerbread scented candle is delectable and beautiful all at once, with its textile-inspired packaging and spicy aroma. It will surely set a snug, wintry mood in your home this month.

With Thanksgiving fast approaching, pick out some fun games for your guests to play while waiting for the turkey to roast. I love Scrabble, and this deluxe wooden set is the ultimate in game boards for Scrabble nerds like me.

Speaking of Thanksgiving, domino magazine has some great table centerpiece ideas using vegetation as decoration.

Cast some light on this daylight-deprived month with some lovely silver pendant lamps.

Link Time!

CasaSugar — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 14:00:59 -0800

Filippa Knutsson, one of the two founders of Filippa K, shares her home. - The Style Files
Here's a perfect desk for small spaces. - Shelterrific
Take a tour of Lush Bella's studio. - PoppyTalk
Find out why one woman sticks notes all over her house. - Simply Stated
Take a voyage to Bangkok. - SFGirlByBay
Try a woodworking project for newbies. - Charles and Hudson
I love these Scrabble-inspired cushions. - Craft
Oil prices are tanking, but so is the economy. - Forecast Earth

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Park(ing) Day: 10 Hints For Your Own Park

CasaSugar — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 07:00:12 -0700

Last week, I told you all about my plans for Park(ing) Day. Now an international event, Park(ing) Day turns parking spots in urban areas into temporary parks, as a way to highlight the need for green spaces in cities, as well as to show how much physical room cars take up.

My Sugar friends and I had a great time at Park(ing) Day! Since several of you told me that your interest was piqued, and that you might want to participate in this event next year, I thought I'd give you some tips on how to make your Park(ing) Day as easy and stress-free as possible.

To see my tips, as well as a huge gallery of photos, read more.

Educate yourself on the history of Park(ing) Day before you're at your park. Here's a good place to start.
For step-by-step directions, download a PDF manual.
Be friendly! People may know what your park is about, or they might have no idea why you're putting down sod in a parking spot. Tell them about the reasons behind Park(ing) Day, and invite them to join you.
Make friends with traffic cops and meter maids. The friendlier you are, the harder it will be for them to be stern. And in fact, the traffic cop across the street from my park was incredibly nice and loved the park!
Sod is heavy. And dirty. Plan accordingly. You should wear something that can get grubby, and also bring gloves. Make sure to lay down a tarp in your parking spot before you start rolling out your sod.
Activities are fun, but you might spend nearly the whole day talking. I brought Scrabble and bocce ball to my park, but most of the time I was explaining Park(ing) Day to people or shooting the breeze.
Bring friends! Not only will this divvy up your workload, but it will leave someone at your park while you run to the bathroom or grab lunch.
People love treats. I brought a ton of candy with to the site, but the big hit of the day was a bowl of tomatoes that had been picked fresh from my garden. Another park was making fresh smoothies!
Have a plan for your sod. I posted the sod for free on Craigslist, and almost all of it was taken away by the man that responded to my post.
Make sure to have change for the meter, and most importantly, remember to have fun!

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Open House: House Play

CasaSugar — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 08:15:38 -0700

Yesterday, I talked about one designer who advocates play in public, but today I'd like to focus on play at home. At my house, there's always a deck of cards and a Scrabble board on hand, if not littering my coffee table, and one shouldn't be surprised to find trails of paper penciled with hangman games throughout my home. And there's always play going on when my dog, Ozzie, is in the room (or the backyard). What about you? Do you still play? Is there a designated area in your home for games? Do you have a card table? Do you have a swing set? An indoor swing? Where do your kids play? Do you play sports in the yard? At the park? Tell me by commenting below!
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Link Time!

CasaSugar — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 09:15:08 -0700

Charles and Hudson has an eye on the Mad Men kitchens.
PoppyTalk looks glorious in Fall colors.
You Grow Girl blooms with red and white sweet pea flowers.
AT:NY says DIY some pet furniture.
SavvySugar explains some reasons why people don't use automated bill pay.
AT:SF has a before and after of free thrifted plates.
Dwell discovers an adorable modern cuckoo clock.
Craft shows you some Scrabble-inspired napkin clips.
The Style Files chalks up blackboard walls.

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