15 Creative Ways to Use Balloons

Jul 29, 2014

Balloons are a fun and inexpensive way to add color and pizzazz to any event. And these days, they’re far from the cheesy kind we used to spot with clowns at kids’ birthday parties (thank goodness!). They’re colorful and come in tons of different shapes and sizes to fit whatever your needs might be. Check out these 15 tricked out balloons that are sure to make your next party totally pop!

1. Confetti Filled Sprinkle Balloons: Since we love both confetti and sprinkles, we couldn’t really resist the combo. (via Kojo Designs)

2. Balloon Burgers: Um, can you say BBQ season necessity? Before you flip your patties, flip a balloon on its side and make these tasty looking, floating burgers! (via Studio DIY)

3. Frozen Water Balloons: Cool off your summer cocktails with frozen water balloons. Frozen balloons are a much better idea than throwing some ice in your drink, because no one wants a watered-down beverage. (via The Kitchn)

4. Festive Balloons: We practice balloon decorating daily. Throw a party hat on yours or jazz it up with an attached planter. The options are truly endless. (via Brit + Co)

5. Balloon Drink Stirrers: These drink stirrers sure do make us laugh, but hey… why not! Have each guest pick a color so they don’t accidentally swap drinks. (via Studio DIY)

6. Chalkboard Balloons ($24): Personalize messages for any party with this fancy kit. And while you’re at it, grab the rest of your party must-haves from our shop, too.

7. Cupcake Toppers: What better way to trick out a balloon than with a cupcake? Balloons are already fun, but cupcakes make everything even more fun. Add one of these to your sweet treat and you will be ready to party! (via Lulu The Baker)

8. Ice Cream Balloon Weights: These are the easiest way to ensure that your helium-filled balloons don’t get “carried away.” Plus they just look plain adorable. (via Studio DIY)

9. Gold-Dipped Balloons: These gold-dipped balloons might be the easiest balloon craft ever! Add just a “pop” of color to make your balloons stand out in the crowd. (via Balloon Time)

10. Birthday Candle Balloons: How fun are these giant balloon candles? Now we just need a giant cake to go with them! (via Studio DIY)

11. Sparkly Balloon Streamers: How many times in your life have you been floored by the beauty of a balloon? If the answer is never, it’s time to change your tune. These streamers turn a plain old balloon into something absolutely stunning. (via Blue Eyed Yonder)

12. Balloon Invitations: Calling all party guests! There is a new invitation trend that will soon be hitting your mailbox. (via Style Me Pretty)

13. Ice Cream Cone Balloons: We all know that every good party involves ice cream, right? Well, why not add a few ice cream cone balloons into the mix? These super easy party crafts take less than 10 minutes and they look good enough to eat. (via The Chic Site)

14. Balloon Animals Cake Toppers: We dare you to find someone who doesn’t appreciate balloon animals. There are so many ways to use them, but this way takes the cake (literally). (via Studio DIY)

15. LED balloons: When the sun goes down, it doesn’t mean the party has to stop. Thank goodness for these glow-in-the-dark decorations! (via Brit + Co)

Which balloon trend will you use to make your next party pop? Blow us away in the comments below!

7 “Impressive” Whole Foods Deals Will Save You Major Cash On Your Grocery Bill

I truly feel like I’ve been living under a rock when it comes to what’s good at Whole Foods. Turns out, they’ve been hiding some really impressive deals on groceries in the shadows, but I’m here to shed some light on ‘em. Whole Foods offers savings every week, and I’m fully convinced that my local Whole Foods will be seeing a whole lot more of me from now on.

Scroll on for details on Whole Foods’ top deals to shop starting today!

Kaboompics / PEXELS

1. BOGO 50% off packaged soups (Tuesdays)

Tuesdays and Fridays are the main days of the week that Whole Foods offers savings on their groceries. The first amazing deal for Tuesdays is BOGO 50% off packaged soups – perfect for this time of year!

They’ve got every kind of flavor from minestrone and chicken noodle to Italian wedding and broccoli cheddar. Their packaged soups average out at about $9 per 24-ounce tub, so saving 50% on one when you buy one is pretty good, especially for meal prep purposes.

Lukas / PEXELS

2. $2 off classic and organic rotisserie chickens (Tuesdays)

You can take $2 off two kinds of Whole Foods’ rotisserie chickens every Tuesday. Their classic rotisserie chicken goes for $9 while the organic version sells for $13. I love using rotisserie chicken for soups, sandwiches, wraps, and pastas, so getting a whole chicken to use for recipes all week long for just $7 is so nice!

Nadin Sh / PEXELS

3. $8 large cheese pizzas (Friday)

Sometimes you just do not feel like cooking on a Friday evening after work – that’s where this Whole Foods savings hack comes in! Every Friday, you can get a large cheese pizza for $8. While there’s nothing wrong with a plain cheese pizza (nostalgia galore!), I’d take advantage of this deal then bulk up my slices with various toppings like peppers, pepperoni, and olives.

Nadin Sh / PEXELS

4. 12 for $12 wild caught oysters (Friday)

Ooh, fancy! Every Friday, Whole Foods’ wild caught oysters go for $1 a pop. Buy a dozen for just $12, and you’re golden. This deal would be perfect for a bougie at-home date night.

Pixabay / PEXELS

5. BOGO 50% off packaged sushi rolls (Friday)

This is another great date night pick! Buy one packaged sushi roll, and get another 50% off on Fridays only. From rainbow rolls to California rolls, this Whole Foods savings hack has my cravings going crazy.

Minchephoto Photography / PEXELS

6. $10 family-sized tiramisu (Friday)

Got a hankering for a sweet treat? Don’t fret – you can shop a whole family-sized serving of tiramisu at Whole Foods for just $10 every Friday.

Kseniia Lopyreva / PEXELS

7. $12 bottles of prosecco (Friday)

The death of the work week and start of the weekend is obviously a cause for celebration, and Whole Foods has you covered with $12 bottles of Presto prosecco every Friday. Cheers!

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Elle Fanning "Uncontrollably Sobbed" During One Of Dakota's Movies As A Kid

As much as I love celebrity couples, I love celebrity sibling relationships even more. And Elle and Dakota Fanning are two sisters I've grown up watching since I first saw Dreamer in 2005. Considering Elle Fanning is only five months older than me, and I have a sister of my own, this is one relationship that feels particularly familiar. And while Elle has also watched Dakota Fanning act since we were kids, Dakota just revealed seeing Elle onscreen is just as special for her.

Here's why Dakota & Elle Fanning get emotional seeing each other onscreen.

Elle remembers "sobbing" during one particularly emotional Dakota Fanning movie.

“When Elle’s in anything, it makes me feel it deeper,” Dakota Fanning said at TheWrap’s Power Women Summit on December 3. “She never can fully disappear into a character totally for me as her sister. She obviously does an amazing job, but I’m always gonna see my little sister a little bit.”

And Elle is just as touched by Dakota's roles, and remembers "uncontrollably sobbing" after seeing Now Is Good, a movie where Dakota's character was dying of cancer. “Because it was my sister, I had a real traumatic reaction after that premiere and the screening,” Elle says. “Obviously the acting, but it was something felt on a deeper level.”

“I’m doing this job, I’m an actor because my sister started before me and I watched her,” Elle continues. “I wanted to do exactly what my big sister wanted to do.”

And their movies have also made an impact on everyone who watches them.

When Brit + Co caught up with Dakota Fanning at the world premiere of The Watchers, I had to ask about one of her most iconic movies: Uptown Girls. "I love it," she says of TikTok memes and edits giving the movie new life. "It's nostalgic for people who are kind of around my age, who grew up watching that movie, I think it's like a comfort movie for people. And so I love that people are still revisiting it and loving it. And maybe now that everyone's older [they're] understanding different things about it."

Dakota starred opposite Brittany Murphy, who also had roles in movies like Clueless, 8 Mile, and Girl, Interrupted. Brittany passed away in 2009 when Dakota was 15. "I loved Brittany so much and I still miss her," she says. "So anytime that she has, you know, a moment where people think about her is also nice."

You can see Elle Fanning in A Complete Unknown, in theaters December 25, and you can also stream Dakota Fanning's new show The Perfect Couple on Netflix now.

pop culture relationships celebrity

13 Yummy Christmas Cookies From Around The World

Heaping plates of Christmas cookies are synonymous with the holidays. It seems that nearly every country around the globe has their own variation on the holiday classic. In fact, some of these regions have been making their version of Christmas cookies for literal hundreds of years.

If you’re looking for a way to reconnect with your heritage, or maybe just want a little baking inspiration, check out our picks for the yummiest Christmas cookies from around the world.

The Noshery

Mantecaditos con Guayaba

These may look like ordinary thumbprint cookies, but these almond shortbreads from Puerto Rico are filled with a special guava marmalade. (via The Noshery)

Broma Bakery

Meringues

French meringues are a classic crumbly egg white cookie with a chewy interior. These get an extra European twist with the addition of Nutella. (via Broma Bakery)

Pretty. Simple. Sweet.

Alfajores

Deeply flavored dulce de leche, a caramel made from whole milk commonly found in Spain and many Latin American countries, is the key ingredient in these super pretty sandwiched Christmas cookies. (via Pretty. Simple. Sweet.)

Fancy Peasant

Melomakarona

These Christmas cookies that hail from Greece get their sweetness from a generous soaking of fresh honey! (via Fancy Peasant)

Very Eatalian

Baci di Dama

The name of this Italian treat translates to “lady’s kisses” — how adorable is that? These bite-sized cuties are made with ground hazelnuts and filled with a dollop of dark chocolate. (via Very Eatalian)

Cooking Classy

Linzer Cookies

These Austrian Christmas cookies are typically made with raspberry jam, but feel free to get crazy with a filling of your choice. Plus, the gorgeous windowpane look will make them a prize takeaway at your next cookie exchange. (via Cooking Classy)

Olivia’s Cuisine

Basler Brunsli

If you’re hanging out in Switzerland around Christmas time, you’ll definitely see these chocolate treats around. They’re often described as Swiss brownies due to their deliciously chewy texture. Perfect with a cup of eggnog or coffee! (via Olivia’s Cuisine)

Cilantro Parsley

This post has been updated with additional reporting by Meredith Holser.

Lead image via Pretty. Simple. Sweet.

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