Simple & Pretty ~ Cake Decorating Perfection

via on Pinterest

This cake needs to end up on my table.  One could plan a whole party around the style from this cake.  I just might have this bookmarked for a simple and pretty valentine's day dessert.  And it would be absolutely lovely for a shower.

Have you found yourself addicted to pinterest yet?  I am liking it a lot.  It is so fun that I thought about just pinning everything that I come across... but I am finding it more useful to edit myself and only pin those things that I really, truly, actually want to bookmark for future ideas.  I apparently am on a house and kitchen kick as that is what I am pinning the most. 

Simple & Sweet Favors

 

Confession, I really like candy coated nuts/ dragees.  And my favorite kind of favor for a wedding or celebration is something that one can snack on during the trip home.  Dragees have been a standby for favors for centuries and while there are all kinds of trends right now when it comes to favors, sometimes something as simple and sweet as a pretty box of dragees is the perfect touch.  A little glassine box with candy coated sunflower seeds tied with a pretty ribbon is timeless and something your guests will enjoy as a treat on the way home.  Keeping this age-old favor modern and current is all in the packaging... skip the tulle bag things and go with glassine or kraft packaging.

The nice folks at Superior Nut were kind enough to send me a sample of their candy coated sunflower seeds recently.  I don't usually do product reviews but I am always up for sharing a resource that I would actually use myself and this place fits.  Yummy! Both Dan and I would eat these by the handfuls!  And the price is definitely right.  One could easily package up simple and sweet favors or fill candy dishes for a holiday party for a reasonable portion of the budget with a couple of bags of the chocolate sunflower seeds...  Or mint lentils- yum!

Purple Buds for a Wednesday

Earth laughs in flowers.  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

I stopped by Sprout Home on my evening commute and was smitten with these lovely purple buds.  Wednesday must be the perfect day to get a single stem of a pretty flower that makes you smile. 

Happy hump day my friends!

Vintage Bottle to Bud Vase

Vintage bottles make such pretty vases.  The instant collection type of listings on etsy make it easy to aquire a little collection to become a charming addition to a tablescape for a party.  They are lovely grouped or scattered.

{bottles via Pages From the Past}

Dressing to be the DOC

I am trying to retrain my shopping style to think more about creating a wardrobe.  How will this fit into my lifestyle, with other elements in the closet?  Will this piece make it through a few seasons and dare we say a couple of years? Or is it simply a trendy item to enjoy for this moment?

I recently found myself in need of a dress that would work being in the role of Wedding Day of Coordinator.  So it would need to be comfortable enough to last for hours and be suitable for being on the job but also appropriate for being at a wedding (who doesn't want to have a pretty dress on at a wedding!).  As part of this Curated-Wardrobe-Thinking-Process one of the things I am trying to avoid is buying single-purpose clothing.  I wanted a dress that might have a chance of still being in rotation in a couple of years.

The simple yet elegant Carolina dress from JCrew delivered beautifully.  The pockets, silhouette, and ability to wear a "normal" bra make it extremely comfortable and functional... and the price is not too horrible.  But it is not all about practicality.  The shape allows it to be flattering for many body types.  The v-cut back is cute.  Add accessories such as fuchsia heels and a pretty necklace will take this dress from DOC to chic date.  This was a lovely find.

I selected black because lately that is what I wear... But they have quite a few lovely colors.  If I was planning my wedding for this summer (instead of two whole years ago) I would pick the pewter for bridesmaid dresses!