I love the idea of pairing a few old transferware serving pieces and plates with Target’s new Liberty of London Dining collection. Not only would the mix of materials and patterns be fun, it would also be a great way to stretch your dollars. Ruby Lane, Tias.com, and eBay have plenty of listings for great antique transferware in pinks, blacks, and pastels. The problem is actually finding the Liberty of London collection in stores! To date, I’ve made two trips but the Target closest to me only has bedding and apparel in stock — some, like this dinner plate, are only available online. Having better luck? If so, what do you plan on doing with your new plates and bowls? Do they live up to the hype? — Sarah L.

Liberty of London is selling out of Target stores fast, but lucky for you, we’re giving away a whole set of goodies to Shelterrific Facebook fans! Click for the details!

Walking into Crate & Barrel, Williams Sonoma, or even Anthropologie, you’d think that an adorable apron is just as essential to making a good meal as an understanding of baking soda verses baking powder. They’re always displayed in fancy baking stores alongside the cash rack (primed and ready for impulse buys), as bright and cheery as a Doris Day movie. I, for one, love the bright pink apron that I wear on busy baking days, but can’t recall ever seeing anyone else (outside the movies) wearing an apron while they bustle around the kitchen. So how about it, readers? Is everyone wearing a cute apron while cooking or entertaining, or am I just watching too much Mad Men? — Katie D.

Nerds around the world, sharpen your pencils and shine your calculators — Pi Day is upon us again. Every year, 3/14 is a day we set apart to celebrate Pi, the mathematical constant describing the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter, because the first three digits are 3, 1, and 4. Last year, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a non-binding resolution (H.RES.224) recognizing the holiday, which is also Einstein’s birthday. That’s all the justification I need to party.

Because this year’s celebration, isn’t until next Sunday, we have plenty of time to get our pi-parations in order. Visit PiDay.org to learn more about the greatness that is Pi, or send your most deserving friends an e-card. Stock up on your Pi apparel, like this T-shirt from Neatorama or hoodies and housewares from ThinkGeek.

And get those Pi-cecubes a-chillin’ for their signature Pi-Tini, because once Pi Day eclipses, we’ve got 365 long ones until it’s here again. (Unless, of course, you count Pi Approximation Day on 7/22.) And if you need a little Pi year-round, check out Katie D.’s Pi dresser find for some furniture inspiration. — Sarah C.

There’s no better Sunday of the year than Oscar night (that’s right, I’m including the Super bowl in that statement). This year, I’m throwing an Oscar party, and have stocked up on these Academy Award-themed bingo cards from How About Orange. They’re very tongue-in-cheek and a welcome alternative to the boring old nominee ballots. Bingo is especially good for the non-movie buffs in the crowd whose attention is sure to wander unless they’re watching to closely see if they can cross off that “woman trips” square. — Katie D.

These little vellum lamp shades will transform any wine glass and votive into a pretty lamp (and any living room into a romantic honeymoon suite) and would also be a beautiful, easy centerpiece for unfussy brides. From the MoMA gift store, they are packaged in groups of three for $15 ($13.50 for members) . — Katie D.

When I was a kid, the snap-on hairpiece was the hottest commodity in our LEGO tub. My sister, brother, and I would fight over the premium parts (wheels, windows, flower pots) but I always went for the hairpiece, hands down.

Much development has been afoot since then. Today, a mere 811 pieces stand between this old-school builder and her very own replica of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater and LEGO kits encompass everything from Atlantis to Star Wars. And now they’re conquering new territory in my favorite dimension: board games, which we previewed at the recent International Toy Fair. On March 1, LEGO will launch the first five of 10 games with buildable boards (even dice) and changeable rules so no game is ever the same.

Each product has a different theme and plot behind the play. In Minotaurus, mythology buffs attempt to get heroes to the temple at the center of the labyrinth while avoiding the Minotaur and moving walls to keep other heroes at bay.

Pictionary lovers might enjoy Creationary, which challenges players to build items in four different categories while teammates try to guess the object.

And Harry Potter fans will also be pleased to race around the changing landscape of Hogwarts, collecting homework before their fellow wizards in a game that launches with the second wave, available August 1.

Visit LEGO to learn more about the first five games! Hairpiece not included. — Sarah C.

Balcony season will be here before you know it (promise). You don’t have to settle for cold concrete floors and and overhead porch lights! It’s easy and relatively inexpensive to add warmth, charm and style to your small outdoor space and turn it into more of an outdoor room.

Start with the floors! Try these simple suggestions:

· Tile “rug”: Interlocking tiles can look like wood or ceramic, and they interlock or stay put with a light adhesive. An added plus is that they can be made out of recycled materials.
· Weather-resistant rugs: Made of polypropylene, they can look like more expensive oriental or floral area rugs, and they come in many sizes and colors, like these Terra Mats spotted at ThisNext.
· Reed mats: For a more organic feel, anchor these lightweight mats with carpet tape. These should be used in more protected areas, but they’re also available in woven plastic for those preferring the organic look but need a more durable material.

Lighting is an often overlooked feature, both inside the house and out, but it’s one of the quickest ways to add ambience and warmth to any space. If you have a balcony or patio, one of these ideas could do the trick for you:

· Chiminea: Perfect for small spaces. If you aren’t allowed to have open flame on your balcony, add a string of white Christmas lights for a beautiful glow.
· Lanterns & Lamps: Hang colorful and inexpensive Chinese lanterns from your ceiling, or add a lamp on a small table. Floor lamps also work well in tight corners. Check out this DIY for the great-looking dotted tissue paper lantern at The Swell Life. For plug-in lighting, look for an IP rating of x3-x5 for maximum safety.
· Solar Lights: Place inexpensive solar lights in your planters for added subtle lighting.

Paying attention to a variety of lighting sources can really add a finishing touch to your outdoor decorating and create coziness to your seating area. And trust me, it’s easy, quick and inexpensive! — Jenny P.

In my house, Superbowl Sunday is the second biggest pig-out day of the year, eclipsed only slightly by Thanksgiving. The nacho platters seem bottomless, bacon accompanies everything, and there is a different flavor wing presented at the beginning of each quarter. (Shout out to third-quarter honey garlic!) However much I stuff myself, the game isn’t complete until my sweet tooth is satisfied. This year, I made these adorable chocolate football truffles. The recipe, nabbed from Bakerella, is incredibly simple with only three ingredients and no baking. The shaping and decorating, however, is a labor of love. If you have the time to devote to them, they’re as melt-in-your-mouth delicious as the Saints’ win will be. — Katie D. Click for the kick-off! (more…)

There are a few necessities I carry around with me during Chicago winters: tissues, an extra pair of gloves, and a deck of playing cards. Go ahead, check any of my purses. The playing cards really are for practical reasons — you never know when you’ll be delayed thanks to an incoming winter storm or a fun, on-the-town sort of night dissolves into a “Let’s just stay in, my eyeballs will freeze if I leave the apartment” sort of night. A good game of cards can pass those blustery hours. My new favorite deck of cards is a souvenir from the wildly successful Tim Burton exhibition currently at MoMA. Each card features a different Burton creature, part adorable and part terrifying. They’re an inexpensive treat at only $5 ($4.50 for members). — Katie D.

Placemats are hard to get right. The market is flooded with floral prints, boring woven varieties, and kitschy quilted disasters. On the other hand, these gorgeous wood veneer placemats, found on A+R Store, hit all the right notes — they look like high-end art pieces with the delicate feel of lace. Designer Sarah Finn brought a century-old German woodworking business into modern times with laser cutting techniques. The placemats are available in blonde maple or red mahogany veneer for $25 each. — Katie D.