Wednesday (Easter) Weekend Warm Up

Strawberry Champagne Punch
This easy punch has just three ingredients: strawberry juice, champagne and fresh strawberries. Pour the mixture together and garnish with whole berries for a festive, nearly instant Easter cocktail.
Ingredients
  • 1 (12-ounce) can strawberry juice
    • 1 bottle Champagne
    • Whole strawberries
    Directions
    In a medium pitcher, combine 3 parts champagne to 1 part strawberry juice. Stir together well. Pour into punch bowl and stir in whole strawberries to suit. Ladle into glasses and serve. As an alternative, try substituting mango juice for the strawberry juice.
    *from: The Food Network

    {Tuesday Thoughts}

    “Friendship, love, health, energy, enthusiasm, and joy are the things that make life worth living and exploring.”
    ― Denise Austin
    *Thank you all for making it the best one yet! Love, Jami

    Makeover Monday: Insider Tips, Tricks & Expert Advice



    After receiving so many beautifully wrapped birthday gifts last week, I had to do a post on decorating with paper! Create a large impact on a small budget - get the tips:

    1) Create artwork to ooh and aah over by covering inexpensive 12-x-12-inch artist canvases with attractive paper patterns. Wrap the canvas like a present with a 1- to 2-inch overhang. Attach the paper to the front with double-stick tape, andsecure the excess paper to the frame's back with electrical tape.
    2) A clear acrylic tray provides a window of opportunity to showcase a paper print, bringing a dose of much-needed color to this coffee table. Attach paper to the underside of the tray using double-stick tape or, to keep your options open, simply lay the paper inside.
    3) Exotic Oriental papers transform the neutralfurnishings and blue walls of this apartment from bland to beautiful. The first project: Add glam to an inexpensive lampshade by attaching a wide band of colorful paper with glue. Smaller bands of paper around the top and bottom edges give it a finished look. Keep clicking for helpful how-tos for all the paper projects you see here.
    4) Don't forget to dress your accessories in personalized designs. It took just five minutes to wrap this journal with a paper belt and a few seconds more to slip a leftover paper scrap into a photo pocket on the album.
    5) Paper just isn't practical for some purposes, such as soft and comfy throw pillows. Enter heat-transfer paper, which allows you to tattoo your favorite paper designs onto fabric. A copy center will reproduce a paper image onto an 11-x-17-inch sheet of transfer paper for less than $4. Transfer the design to fabric using an iron and following the paper manufacturer's instructions. For an eye-catching change of scale, the patterns used on these pillows were enlarged by 250 to 400 percent before being copied to transfer paper.

    Happy {30th} Birthday to me

    Yup! I'm turning the big 3-0 this week! My present to myself is a week long sta-cation, where I'll be celebrating with my parents from Minnesota, a couple of special friends from out of town who are making unexpected trips to southern California to see me and all my favorite people. I'm a lucky girl and this is going to be such a fun-filled week! I'll be back next Monday! 

    Fresh Find Friday!

    Well now, wouldn't you like to lay your weary head under these lovely works of art? Holly & Gill's wall mounted headboards are lightweight and easy to install. From concept to conception, the headboards are designed and crafted by hand, with every little detail in mind. Available in a variety of colors in Feathers, Beaux RĂªves (sweet dreams) and Blossoms. Hand crafted in Montreal and are available for purchase on Etsy.

    fiddle-leaf fig

    I was just about to go to the garden center at Walmart to pick up another tropical houseplant, but then I saw this beauty. I haven't had much luck with palms inside my home, and a corner of my living room is needing a little love. I've been through about 5 palms in the last year and I was just thinking I needed something a little more sculptural. What do you think? I think it fits the bill. 
    *inspiration from: Elle Decor (thank you very much)

    Wednesday Weekend Warm Up (Shamrock Style)

    Happy St. Patrick's Day! Lets celebrate (even if you're not Irish)

    The Herradura 
    "Green Agave Cocktail"

    Ingredients:
    • 1 1/2 oz. Herradura Silver tequila
    • 3/4 oz. melon liqueur
    • lime
    Directions:
    1. Add tequila, melon liqueur and a squeeze of lime into a shaker with ice.
    2. Shake for 15 seconds.
    3. Pour into a chilled cocktail glass.
    4. Garnish with shamrock carved lime and serve.

    from: lvweddingconcierge

    {Tuesday Thoughts}

    "I believe luck is preparation meeting opportunity. If you hadn't been prepared when the opportunity came along, you wouldn't have been 'lucky.'" 
    -Oprah

    {Tuesday Thoughts}

    "Luck is not a magical ability or a gift from the gods. Instead, it is a way of thinking and behaving."
    — Richard Wiseman, PhD

    Makeover Monday: Insider Tips, Tricks & Expert Advice

    In honor of St. Patrick's Day, lets decorate with green! I found this handy dandy little green guide over at Real Simple and I thought it was perfect for those of you who are thinking about adding some green in your home. Green isn't only for the Irish!
    How to Add a Little Green

    (Perk up a wallflower room with strategic hits of this vibrant color.)
    • Start with the floor. If you want one big burst of green, choose a rug. It is usually less expensive than other sizable furnishings and can be easily moved from room to room when you’re looking to shake things up. Opt for a style with multiple shades of green so it will better coordinate with the rest of your stuff.
    • Bring on the accessories. Just a few well-chosen pieces will give you a green fix. And you can add and subtract items depending on how much green you want.Real Simple placed a green runner on the console, set the table with olive-colored dishes, and framed scraps of green-patterned wallpaper.
    • Don’t forget the blossoms. Consider green (or greenish) flowers. Forsythia branches, which bloom yellow before sprouting bright green leaves, look great on the console. The Billy buttons, arranged in a light green vase on the table, can last up to two weeks. Also try Lenten roses, which have soft green flowers and foliage.
    How to Add a Lot of Green
    (An overwhelming task? Nah. Putting together an all-green room is easy, and the result is refreshingly chic.)
    • Mix shades. Paint the walls your favorite green, then introduce other tones elsewhere. “In music, you want harmony,” says New York City interior designer Celerie Kemble, author of To Your Taste (Clarkson Potter, $45, amazon.com). “It’s the same with decorating. If everything is one hue, it’s blah.” Temper strong greens with mild ones, says Guido-Clark. “Lime looks beautiful with forest or olive,” she says―as shown here.
    • When it comes to incorporating patterns, consider scale and motifs.Decorating with multiple patterns isn’t as daunting as you might think. To create a layered look (not an optical illusion), “combine large-scale prints with small ones, and florals with geometrics,” says Kemble. “It’s a game of balance.”
    • Vary textures. Heavier materials, like the velvet on the bench and the headboard and the rug’s densely woven wool, ground the busy patterns.
    • Add a natural touch. Place moss in a vessel lined with plastic wrap. It should last for several weeks.


    Four Gorgeous Shades of Green

    1. Ralph Lauren Paint in Sea Grass #ML15 (from $28 a gallon,ralphlaurenpaint.com for stores). You can’t go wrong with this understated green. Like beige with a twist, it provides a subtle backdrop with a hint of color. “Green is great for color-phobes, as it can be surprisingly neutral,” says Jessica Becker, a New York City interior designer with her own firm, Jessica Becker Designs.

    2. Valspar in Lovely Green #6009-9($26 a gallon, lowes.com). Slightly more saturated than option number one, this milky green tone would look fantastic in a kitchen with crisp white trim.

    3. Farrow & Ball in Minster Green ($80 a gallon, farrow-ball.com). Since this almost-black forest green is so dark and intense (and somewhat pricey), use it sparingly―on one wall in a powder room or a den, for example.

    4. Benjamin Moore in Spring Meadow Green #2031-40 ($57 a gallon,benjaminmoore.com for stores). The boldest of the bunch, this brighter variant of pea green is ideal for when you really want to make a statement. It pairs well with dark wood trim.


    For a natural look: Moss green and soft blue (shades reminiscent of forest and sky) are a terrific match. “When in doubt, stick with nature―bad color pairings don’t happen there,” says Laura Guido-Clark, a color consultant in Berkeley, California.
    For a soothing look: A lot of spas use sea-foam green and chocolate brown―for good reason. Try painting the walls chocolate and the trim sea foam in your bathroom or bedroom and rest easy.
    For a fresh look: Consider the classic Rugby-shirt twosome of Kelly green and bright white. “The green is such an exciting color,” says Guido-Clark. “And when you pair it with white for contrast, you give it a chance to sing.”
    For a playful look: Don’t worry about your room resembling the pages of the 1980sPreppy Handbook. This duo of lime green and soft pink brings a cheery, light-hearted appeal to a bathroom, a nursery, or a playroom.

    *all content from: Real Simple, photos by: David Prince

    Fresh Find Friday!

    Aren't these the loveliest glass bowls you've ever seen? I want one on my dresser. Love them.
    "Unique handcrafted work in glass. From a belief that people still want special things in their homes and in their lives, each piece is made with care and integrity."

    garden inspiration

    Our outdoor living spaces could use some sprucing-up. I've been looking online for plants and inspiration images. This one from Sunset caught my eye. I love the living centerpiece on the table and the foliage that lines the narrow space. This would be perfect I'm thinking on the side of my home. 
    "This simple outdoor dining area gets a punch of personality with an evergreen, moss centerpiece made from floral moss and a votive tray of succulents." (Photo: Andrea M. GĂ³mez)
    Here's some more garden inspiration for those of you getting ready to make some changes in your own backyard, or simply longing for summer.

    from: Sunset, garden collage from: Sunset

    Wednesday Weekend Warm Up

    Sip on this while rooting for your favorite basketball team this Selection Sunday!

    Slam Dunk

    Ingredients 

    1.5 oz Southern Comfort
    1.5 oz Orange Juice 
    1.5 oz Cranberry Juice

    Method: On the Rocks
    Glass: Old-Fashioned
    Pour all ingredients in a glass filled with ice cubes and stir.

    photo from: Azure cocktails, recipe from: My Best Cocktails

    {Tuesday Thoughts}


    “A strong positive mental attitude will create more miracles than any wonder drug.”
    ― Patricia Neal
    *image found at Restart My Heart

    Makeover Monday: Insider Tips, Tricks & Expert Advice

    Today's advice is very simple: get inspired!
    Yesterday we spent the day in San Diego, celebrating a best friend's birthday. One of our stops along the way included a new "hush-hush" bar called Noble Experiment. I'm not going to spend much time on the decor of the venue, but focus more on what our server had to say when I asked her what the story was behind the wall of gold skulls. She simply stated that they were inspired by Gold Bar in NYC and that was it! No huge story, which was honestly very refreshing. So go get inspired! If you're re-doing a room in your home, flip through a magazine and tear out images you like and are attracted to. Study the image and bring it with you next time you're out and about shopping for your home. 
    Wall of gold skulls at Gold Bar in NYC
    Wall of gold skulls at Noble Experiment in San Diego
    *top collage are my own photos (sorry about the quality - they don't allow flash), Gold Bar photo found here, Noble Experiment photo found here

    Fresh Find Friday!


    Another marvelous print collection from Thomas Paul. If you didn't get enough during the first round, Thomas whipped up another set of iconic patterns for your enjoyment. Fun, fresh and fabulous! I'm digging the pretty, little octopus. How about you? Which one would you love to see in your home?

    Want more of Thomas Paul? Check out his website for more fresh finds and fan him on Facebook for all the latest from Thomas Paul!

    found at: Decorati

    in like a lion and out like a lamb


    *images from: Fashion Squad, Fine Art America, Sisters in Black Frocks

    Wednesday Weekend Warm Up (Oscar's Style)

    Good news! We've got a lot of celebrating to do this month... the Academy Awards, March Madness, St. Patrick's Day AND my 30th birthday (yikes)! I'm presuming most of us are not going to be attending the Oscar's, so why not throw your own Oscar viewing party?  I've got you covered...

    The Red Carpet Fizz

    Ingredients & Directions
    1/2 oz Pomegranate Juice
    1/3 oz Orange Liquor
    Add Fresh Raspberries
    Top with Moët & Chandon White Star Champagne
    Be sure to check out the Oscar's "party kit" on the Oscar's website including appetizer, entree and dessert recipes!

    {Tuesday Thoughts}


    “Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted.”
    ― John Lennon
    photo found at: Bella of Sweden

    Makeover Monday: Insider Tips, Tricks & Expert Advice

    Spring is in the air! And what better time is there to open up your windows, let some fresh air in and... get organized! This time of year is my favorite time to get my home (especially my workspace) in order. Spring is all about new beginnings and fresh starts, and where I like to start is in my office. As for most of you, so much of my time is spent in front of my computer at my desk and the only way for my to be productive is if my surroundings have a sense of order. I know I'm not the only one out there with the need for an organized and inspiring workspace to be productive. Take a look at the photo collection of workspaces I've acquired in the past couple months. Don't they make you want to clean up your space?