HAPPY HALLOWEEN

I usually don't dress up for Halloween but I also have never lived in NYC where they have one of the biggest, and from what I hear craziest, Halloween celebrations ever. It's my understanding that there is a parade in the West Village that is insane. So, I have to partake. My costume, well, The Queen of Hearts. Finding this Alice and Olivia dress was a score! I love to find things I can wear again that aren't a costume, put instead a practical accessory to the costume.

 

Then of course there were the shoes, and they had to be red. These Michael Kors are perfect, and I can wear them again in the Spring... 

 

There is this gorg necklace that is from Amanda Pearl, from her Fall Collection. I love the edge that it gives the outfit and it represents the tough side of the Queen of Hearts, at least in my mind. 

 

Every Royal needs a septer and I am making a twist on a crown with this whimsical butterfly headband from Amanda Pearl and a few Queen of Hearts cards. I love the fact that it brings in the whimsical side of Alice in Wonderland and incorporates it in a fresh way. 

 

I love red lips, but glitter lip tatoos? Supposedly they last for eight hours. We'll see. And, of course, any girl loves some fun lashes.

.  

To finish it off, a gorg clutch of course in red filled with kisses to pass out. This clutch, yes, again one of my faves Amanda Pearl. 

 

I just happened to have this ring in my collection and the white and black stripe is a belt I'm adding to the dess:

This weekend I had to transform this costume in to a True Blood Costume. Some feather eye lashes, fang bites on my neck and the dress and shoes, done and done. 

 

 

Happy haunting today!

HALLOWEEN COSTUME TEASER

I am not a huge fan of dressing up in costumes for Halloween but this year I am attending a party tonight that is thrown by some folks that throw a huge party at Burning Man (I want to attend one year) and this soiree has art cars, sculptures, dance performances and installations by local NYC artists. As it is my first Halloween in NYC, I thought I would join in the fun and participate. So, here is a hint for my non-costume...

 

Full details on Monday! Have a very happy weekend. XO

LAST MINUTE HALLOWEEN IDEA - THROW A PROM

If you are looking for a last minute Halloween party idea why not throw a prom. I actually threw a prom a year ago for a friend who is from England and had never been to one and all of the guests came in their favorite era. It was actually featured on Apartment Therapy!

And here are some of my favorite pics from the party (thanks to Drop it Modern for the Great Backdrop)!

 












Of course here I am with my date...

And, believe it or not the dress on the left that my friend is wearing is mine from high school...

We also shot a DIY video, so if you want to check that out, here it is..
 

NEW TABLETOP DESIGN

As I said in my last email I am working on my next tabletop design for a dinner party I am throwing for 16 guests. I am inspired by Bergdorfs holiday windows every year, and last year they used almost entirely paper to deck the halls. So, I am using that for inspiration and in my research I came across this amazingly talented paper artist Lornalee Anderson of LoveLee Flowers. Check out some of her work:

 

I am definitely going to work with her to incorporate some of her work!

Now, off to find the paper container for these beauties.  Also, working on the final color palette. The theme is  twist on a traditional Thanksgiving - thoughts on palette?

CHIC PAPER FOR THE TABLETOP

This weekend I was in Seattle, and took a break to peruse some new stores. In so many home stores I see the same things, however, this little gem was great because it had these Italian Rosette Serving Papers...

 

I had to pick them up, wait until you see the next tabletop I am designing for a dinner soiree on the 5th. Looking forward to playing around with a few of the creations from Cake Vintage Table and Home. I have seen these before in the foodie world - but I think I will deconstruct a few of these and play around with them.

 

Some very charming real world applications...

   

 LOVE this....

 

I think I will use the windows from Bergdorf holiday from last year as my inspiration - almost everything was paper!

 

Can't wait to start creating!

CONTENT CONTEMPLATION

Okay, I need your help. I have been slacking this week in posts because I am in a contemplative mood about
content for my blog...

   

 ...so I thought I would ask you - my readers - do you prefer posts on design and entertaining that are generic tips, pics of things I love, etc.,  OR video and posts of real life parties and projects that I am working on. I sense by my demographic and responses to posts that you like the behind the scenes and pics and video of what I am actually doing or working on in life. Let me know what you think.  I promise things will be back to normal next week, working on an overhaul of the blog and site and wanting your input!

AN AUTUMN LUNCHEON

While we were in Wesport it happen to be my friend Gretchen of Gretchen Aubuchon Design's birthday, so we threw a little impromptu birthday Autumn luncheon. Of course everything starts with the table for me, and since it was such a beautiful morning we decided to eat outdoors,and I set a casual buffet. I started with two sugar pumpkins that I found at Trader Joes along with two oversized rustic lanterns that the house had on the ground outdoors. Then added some rustic colored daisies (I tend to break pre-arranged flowers up and put them in to bouquets that are in one color) and then my friend Bill and I pulled from the dried hydrangea and berries in the yard. Bill added a few pieces of foxtails from the grass, and I filled the lanterns with dry hydrangea instead of candles since it was an afternoon affair.

 

I am a huge fan of not seeing stems in the containers (learned from a florist friend of mine) and we wrapped the clear vases with hydrangea leaves on the inside.

 

Voila! My Autumn table was complete...

   

 Of course, if you are a regular reader of my blog you know I don't cook, so Cynthia from The Daily Basics gave me a short lesson around the cream sauce for the pasta. She is a true Italian who has been cooking all of her life so she fun to learn from.

   

 Some of our guests, my friends Bill Kapfer and Eric Baker..

 


Jessica from The Entertaining House, brought the most beautiful bouquet of flowers as a hostess gift.

 


 John Turner, who is one of the most interesting people you will ever meet in color development, he is working with my favorite paints - Benjamin Moore!

 


 He brought fresh baked bread with two homemade spreads - the bread was still warm when he arrived!

 



One of my newest bff's, Lucy, you may recognize here from Project Nursery Fabulous (her mom is actually Gretchen of Gretchen Aubuchon Design).

 


Hiding from the camera was Stacy of the blog Quintessence , and Will Aubuchon running after two little boys (but he is THE Will Aubuchon from Aubuchon Hardware and Hardwarestore.com). Then of course there was the birthday girl herself, here with Cynthia and little Lucy.



 

Today happens to be her actual birthday, so Happy Birthday Gretch! Love you, and have a great day. She loves it when I tell the world it is her birthday, not. But you have to celebrate those you care about and that care about you. As you can see we did in a very casual way, and I hope that you will too.

A WEEKEND IN WESTPORT

This weekend some friends and I gathered in Westport, Connecticut, to break bread (freshly baked) and share bottles of wine. The house we stayed was 5,000 square feet, with a swimming pool, outdoor seating are (look at those leaves!), hot tub and all.

 

 

The house was designed by Menton Interiors, by Cindy Karen and can be rented from Cindy. She is amazing and SO helpful. Each room was inspired by a different fashion designer.

 The game room, Dolce Gabbana...

  The Burberry Room...

 

The Gucci Room...

The Fendi Room...

 

The Louis Vuitton Room...

 

 

And finally, the Chanel Room...

 

 

 There were framed Hermes scarves in the Living Room...

   

I love how the chairs circle the coffee table, it made for easy and intimate conversation...

 

The detailing on the pillows - the mix of fabrics added a nice infusion of texture on the leather sofa.

 

Cindy is from LA so there are black and white photos that represent that golden Hollywood era.

   

 I need this one, it reminds me of the end of the night at my parties, just a bit less dressed up!

 

The chandelier that hangs in the foyer is stunning at night...

 

The dining room table is huge, and I would love to throw a dinner party around this sometime soon.

   

 The kitchen table was made of a vintage find...

   

 And I adore the chandelier above the table in the kitchen too...

 

The kitchen would be amazing for any chef to cook in, and of course it inspired me to at least try a little something...

 

I decided to try and surprise my friends and make cinnamon rolls, they know I don't cook so I thought I would show them that I can make an effort, here's my video clip. Go easy on me I just rolled out of bed, no hair and makeup team here!

Here is the finished product. Arranged on a pretty platter and honestly nobody would know they weren't homemade. 

Check back for tomorrow's post where I'll post pics from the luncheon that I threw...fall centerpiece and all!