Tag: All

  • HOW TO – ARRANGE FLOWERS

    HOW TO – ARRANGE FLOWERS

    There is nothing like having a fresh bunch of flowers in your home. On your desk. On a table. Anywhere.  Everywhere.  However, you don’t want those flowers to appear as if they have been haphazardly thrown into a vase.  Each and every flower should look like it is exactly where it is intended to be.  Here’s how…

    {You should have two pairs of cutting tools… One standard pair of scissors [make sure they are sharp!] and a smaller [very sharp!] pair of pruning shears.  Also, have a vase waiting filled 1/3 full of water}

    {Purchase flowers in a single hue… White is always fresh and looks classic.  Arranging buds in a single color takes less precision than a multi-colored arrangement… less room for error!}

    {Lay your flowers out on a clean and open surface and use your standard scissors to remove any wrapping and binding from the flowers}

    {Use your pruning shears [careful! they’re verrrry sharp!] to remove all leaves and thorns from flowers.  This results in a crisp looking flower arrangement.  Also, you never want leaves below the water level because they soak up too much water and then it doesn’t get to the bud}

    {Keep a bucket to catch all discarded greenery so you can dispose of it responsibly. Green waste! Compost!}

    {Cut all stems at a 45° angle… they soak up the water better that way. Also, cut the stem at a length where the head of the flower rests on the top of the vase}

    {Arrange the largest buds first.  They take up the most space and it’s easier to see where you can highlight your smaller [and usually more expensive!] buds}

    {Next… take your smaller flowers and fill in the gaps until the flower heads are tightly bunched}

    {Voila! A completed arrangement… Aren’t the ranunculus to die for?}

  • FABULOUS EVENT – A SURPRISE BIRTHDAY BRUNCH FOR MY SISTER

    FABULOUS EVENT – A SURPRISE BIRTHDAY BRUNCH FOR MY SISTER

    So, if you don’t know by now… I run a design house in Santa Barbara (see it here or here).  One of the things I LOVE. Love. love. is event design.  My little sister (and my best friend in the whole wide world) was turning 24… I thought a surprise brunch in her favorite color {green} at her favorite restaurant (Blush of Santa Barbara) was in order.  I whipped up a theme, stuck with the color scheme, did a little graphic design on some menus, and scoured the local Farmer’s Market so that I could put together the flower arrangements {my how-to on arranging flowers is here!}.  A party isn’t truly a party without some ridiculously fabulous people… we’re blessed with the most fabulous friends that life has to offer.  Needless to say, with the genuine surprise on my sister’s face as she walked in (whew! she had no idea!), the wonderful guests in attendance, and the bottomless mimosas (no better way to pass a Sunday afternoon)… the party was quite a hit.

  • HOSTESS? DRESS THE PART

    HOSTESS? DRESS THE PART

    Cardigan, Akualani. Dress, Bizz. Belt, Gossip. Pearls, F21. Shoes, Anne Michelle.

    A hostess needs an outfit that is functional (she has to be able to set up the party) and appropriate (a hostess’ outfit should perfectly suit the occasion).  I was throwing my sister a surprise birthday party (fun!) that was a semi-formal brunch (classy!) {see the event here!}.  A 50’s style cardigan and pearls provided the class, while a short dress and high heels complemented the feeling of celebration that accompanied the special occasion.

  • LUXE YELLOW

    LUXE YELLOW

    Sweater, Wet Seal. Scarf, Sequined Top, and Bracelets, F21. Denim, Red Engine. Shoes, Skechers.

    It was a chilly night… and it put me in a bit of a whimsical mood.  A simple yellow scarf adds a pop of color to a monochromatic outfit while also dressing down the sequins.  Don’t limit your “going out” looks to nighttime… just add some denim, sandals and a scarf.  Oh, and you can always add leopard print. Always.

  • RECIPE TO TRY – CONFETTI CUPCAKES

    RECIPE TO TRY – CONFETTI CUPCAKES

     

    I was in the mood to relive my childhood days.  The responsibilities of being an adult (yuck) were weighing heavily on my shoulders and I thought that a confetti cupcake was the answer (it was).  I wanted a quick fix and almost (gasp!) bought the box mix for funfetti cupcakes.  Instead, I took a deep breath and reminded myself that the extra 20 minutes it takes to make it homemade is so worth it.  I found the recipe here.  Next time, I would probably add 10 times (okay, maybe not that much) the amount of sprinkles because I LOVE the way the colored confetti pops against the vanilla cake.  I felt seven years old again… and it was blissful…. for the entire 10 seconds that it took me to inhale this to-die-for cupcake.

     

     

     

     

  • LAVENDER FATIGUES

    LAVENDER FATIGUES

    Camo pants = true love. They are comfortable, a true neutral, and are perfect for camping… working in the yard…  refinishing furniture… the list goes on.  The challenge was to make them feminine, fashionable (outside of the campground) and (the true challenge) appropriate for meeting my best friends for our can’t-miss mimosa brunch.  I added a plethora of bows, my new favorite color (lavender… wrote about it here) in the form of a cashmere sweater, and a little bit of sparkle.  Proof that true femininity is enhanced by a dose of grit.