08/13

spread the love…and the pesto

This summer, I’ve been obsessed with fresh basil. I’ve always loved it, especially fresh pesto. Basil has been one of my successful herbs in the garden this summer, so I’ve experimented with pesto recipes, and since this week is all about the garden, today I’m sharing a pesto recipe and how to make it a lovely hostess gift, or party favor. Because who wouldn’t love fresh pesto and an easy, already-prepared dinner for a gift?

{Sandy’s basil plant}

Basil, Spinach and Walnut Pesto
yields 1-2 cups
{I usually make Pesto with basil and pine nuts, but since I was out of pine nuts and I wanted to add Spinach for the kids, I modified it}
Ingredients
2 1/2 cup fresh Spinach
1 1/2 cup fresh Basil
1/3-1/2 cup Olive Oil
1/2 cup walnut
2 garlic cloves
1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese
Salt and pepper to taste

How To
Add basil, spinach, garlic, walnuts, parmesan cheese, and olive oil in a food processor, then add salt and pepper.
Puree until smooth.
Find a cute mason jar or small container for your homemade pesto, and if you want to dress it up a bit, add a bow and a label or Kraft paper like I did with ‘grazie’ stamped on it.

 

Other DIY Garden-Inspired Hostess Gifts
Give an upcycled mini herb garden.
This Lemonade Summer Cooler idea is absolutely adorable.
Personalized Coasters is a lovely gift and a fun DIY project for fresh drinks from the garden.
We love this hand-tied bouquet, wrapped in a nice tea towel.
Hot pads with fresh baked bread is yummy and useful.
DIY homemade Lavender Linen Spray sounds blissful…and necessary for my bedtime routine.

{images via Tutto Bella}

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07/31

welcome bags…to do or not to do

Weddings are expensive. Plain and simple. Flowers. Photographers. Food and Drink. The Dress. Reception Site. The list goes on and on. So, many ask, “Is it necessary to give guests welcome bags at our wedding?” We are no Emily Post when it comes to etiquette, but having worked in the industry a little, and meeting with brides at Fleur de Lis on a daily basis, here’s our opinion. No, welcome bags are not necessary. It can be another expense, and often a logistical nightmare.

However, if the budget allows, it is a nice gesture, especially when you are having a destination wedding. Plus, we {especially me} are obsessed with the ‘little touches’ at weddings, so we believe a welcome bag is another opportunity for the bride and groom to share their personalities and relationship with their guests, it’s another chance to be creative and its a way of doing something special for your guests who traveled to attend your wedding.

If you’re getting hitched soon, and are contemplating gift bags, here’s some useful tips when putting it together.

IT’S ALL IN THE PACKAGING
Everything looks better and more beautiful when it’s in a pretty or cute package.

{images via destination tote bag: LH Calligraphy, roots wedding tote: Wedding Chicks, Wrapped frame art-print: Martha Stewart}

MAKE IT PERSONAL
Add a personal label to items {hotel door hanger like below}, share your favorite restaurants or things to do in the town of your nuptials, include a personal hand-written note and homemade treats {banana bread and honey butter or vanilla extract with a family tradition recipe like below}.

{images via…door hanger: Fleur de Lis, a paperie, banana bread: Everyday Occasions by Jenny Steffen, vanilla extract and recipe: Snippet and Ink}

INCORPORATE LOCAL FAVORITES
Highlight the towns best treat, and buy from local companies. It will give guests a taste of the town, and a deeper appreciation for it. And, be sure to include items guests will need/enjoy related to the town’s activities and weather.

{images via Martha Stewart, Real Simple, Miami tote: Jesi Haack Weddings, boston: Style Me Pretty}
INCLUDE ‘NECESSITIES’ FOR SURVIVING A FUN WEEKEND
Guests will likely enjoy a cocktail or two, so make sure they stay hydrated and you provide hangover essentials.
{images via…Hangover Kits bags: Jennifers Cookies, Martha Stewart, Newlywish}

INCLUDE THE WEEKEND AGENDA
Make sure to include an itinerary of the weekend, tips on how to stay warm or cool, what to wear, who to call – the who, what, when, where and how of the weekend.

{images via Good Morning Newsletter: Martha Stewart Weddings, Oh So Beautiful Paper}

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07/30

cereal-ously, the possibilities are endless

Honey Nut Cheerios. Life. Frosted Flakes. You name it, my family likes it. Though cereal is not an everyday occurrence in our house, for me, it’s been a weird craving lately. All I want at 3 in the afternoon is a bowl of Nature’s Path Organic Flax Plus Pumpkin Raisin Crunch with a large handful of raw pumpkin seeds and chia seeds added to it, and then Soy milk to top it off. Yummy.

So, I got to thinking…cereal is such a favorite childhood treat/snack/meal, and it’s a favorite among adults too – so the possibilities for cereal being incorporated into other areas of our life have to be abundant {and fun}?! I was right. Here are 10 ways to use cereal…other than in your bowl.

You can throw a party, like this fabulous one at Million Dollar $mile Celebrations

You can make it your menu items…literally…just like JacOlyn Murphy.

You can make jewelry like Armelle did here.

Cereal can be a prop in an invite like this one from Mer Mag.  

It can be the most adorable favor ever. You can buy the tubes here at Lola Loves A Party on Etsy.

And just when you thought it wasn’t for grown-ups or done in a vintage manner, think again. This couple featured on Wedding Chicks had a great cereal bar.

 Off Beat and Inspired shows us how to upcycle cereal boxes for lovely gift tags.

Cereal can be edible decor on dessert too, like these adorable sunflower cupcakes by Skip to My Lou.

And, let’s not forget cereal bars. This take on cereal bars, Blueberry Pecan Cornflake Bars by Momofukufor2, looks delish.

Before you throw the cereal box away, it can be re-used in such a clever way, a gift box…and its as easy as wrapping a standard boxed gift with wrapping paper. Learn more at Spoonful.

{images via Million Dollar $mile Celebrations, Jacolyn Murphy, Armelle, Mer Mag, Lola Loves A Party, Wedding Chicks, Off Beat and Inspired, Momofukufor2 and Spoonful}

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06/19

breakfast at tiffany bridal shower

Audrey Hepburn. Her famous quotes. Her style. Her beauty. Her grace. Her movies. When it comes to Audrey Hepburn, we love everything about her. Jenna has loved her forever, and my love affair is more recent. Seriously, we love her so much, I dressed my daughter like her for Halloween. She loved it, and still asks to wear her “Audrey Hepburn shoes and dress.”

So, when we saw pics of this shower, we were happy. Not only because it’s based on Audrey Hepburn and her fabulous Breakfast at Tiffany’s film and the precious teal-colored Tiffany box women swoon over, but because it had special touches throughout that made the day special for the lovely bride, Cori. And…I happen to know the pretty bride and her soon to be mother-in-law, and just love them!

Oh, and we also loved Cori’s dress, so if you want to know where to buy {like we did}, she found it at Urban Outfitters.

For all you future shower hostesses, take note of why this shower was so special, and how you can make your future shower unique. The party tip is in bold, and the details of this shower follows.
Create a party theme, and carry the theme throughout the shower: Breakfast at Tiffany’s
Ask guests to participate in the theme of the shower: Guests wore their best little black dresses and pearls like Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Guests also bought gifts related to the couple’s honeymoon, which were creatively placed in new Tumi luggage {a nice new gift from Cori’s mom and mother-in-law}.
Infuse touches of family mementoes throughout the shower and incorporate your mom, mother-in-law and other family members/traditions throughout the shower: A friend’s wedding gown was draped from the ceiling for decor and the delicious Quiche, fruit skewers and mandarin green salad was served on special china, crystal and silver serving pieces.
Incorporate the brides food preference/diet restrictions into the menu: Dessert was a gorgeous gluten-free dark chocolate cake filled with strawberries, covered with fondant in the shape of a Tiffany box. And, for those non-gluten-free gals, the hostesses served lemon-filled cupcakes with white icing and chocolate polka dots {provided by Shamane’s Bake Shoppe in Boulder.
Add a customized touch: Favors given to guests were cellophane bags filled with personalized M&Ms, Cori+Alex, R&R 08-24-13, and LOVE, in blue, white and silver. And, a photo of the bride and groom 7+ years ago when they first began dating was on display.
Don’t forget the small details: Breakfast at Tiffany was scrolling silently on the tv. And, a large canvas painted in Tiffany blue and tied with a white satin ribbon, with a tag saying, “Here comes the bride, darling” was displayed in the gathering room.
And for all you brides/mother of the bride/mother of the groom, remember to thank the hostess/hostesses: Andy, mother of the groom, gave the hostesses a small porcelain box from Tiffany for their rings.



There’s a really cute Breakfast at Tiffany invite at Fleur de Lis, a paperie on Etsy available now. Check it out here.

{images via Andy, mother of the groom}

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04/24

shannon + jay

We’ve wanted to feature this beautiful wedding for more than a year now. So, today we are thrilled to feature this Vail, Colorado winter wonderland wedding. Last year, the mountains didn’t get a lot snow…the snow gods waited until Jay and Shannon gathered with their friends and family in January 2012 to say I do to let the snow fly. And fly it did – it dumped snow – which made for the perfect backdrop to this bride and grooms fairytale day.

This wedding is near and dear to my heart because Jay and Shannon and good family friends of ours, and Jameson {my son} was a ring bearer. Jay, the groom, has been my hubby’s bestie since they were 3! I first met Jay in high school, spent time with him on weekends when I visited my husband at college, and he stood by Tommy as his best man at our wedding {best best man speech, btw}. I love Jay. When I first met Shannon, I knew I wanted Jay to marry her…and I wanted to be her friend. Such a kind, fun, genuine, sincere and outgoing woman. I’m happy they found each other.

From the gorgeous bride, Shannon…I am not one of those girls who has known forever what their wedding day would be like, but it turned out to be exactly what I wanted. The only thing I knew going into the planning process was that I was wearing boots {cowgirl of course} and I wanted a winter wedding! We kept the theme very simple, wintery, and elegant, and tried to include as many “Colorado” touches as we could.

Jay and I both wore boots to the wedding and the reception. I am a huge boot fan, so my custom Liberty and Co. boots with my new initials will be a forever-loved item in my closet and a special reminder of our wedding day. I picked an all lace dress by Alvina Valenta because it was wintery and romantic, and also had somewhat of a country/rustic look to me. My fur shoulder wrap was a life-saver, as my wish for a “white wedding” did come true and it started snowing about an hour before the ceremony and didn’t stop until Sunday! My girls wore full-length Amsale dresses in chocolate brown with boots. They looked so gorgeous. And the boys equally as handsome in tuxes and for some, boots as well.

For the flowers we chose white flowers with natural accents of pods, twigs, and greenery, and of course lots of candlelight to give the room a warm glow. My favorite part about the flowers were the pheasant feathers that we included in my bouquet, the boutonnieres and the centerpieces. My dad and Jay are big bird hunters, so their contribution to the flowers was finding me some beautiful feathers to have our florist incorporate. A nice way to make the men feel involved. 🙂

We used all local vendors to support the Vail area, and they were all fantastic! My caterer is a rock star. Our menu reflected our Colorado roots and love for great cuisine. We served a split plate of Colorado trout and beef tenderloin with fresh veggies and risotto.

Nothing beats Willie Nelson for a first dance, someone who we really felt was a perfect artist to represent both of our styles of music. Jay loves to play this game where he asks the five musicians you would see live and Willie was one of mine, so years ago he surprised me with tickets. We took weeks of dance lessons to master our first dance as a married couple and the funniest thing in the world to me is that Jay drew our dance out on a post it note about a week before the wedding so he wouldn’t forget it. So darling.

For the favors we wanted to do something that wasn’t just chocolates or midnight snacks. I love to cook and so I visited my favorite spice shop in Denver, Savory, and had them put together spice packets that were the perfect mix to include in Jay’s favorite burger recipe. We included the recipe for “Juicy Jay Burgers” with the spice packets as a thank you to guests for being a special “ingredient” in our day.

The best part of our wedding was that we were surrounded by our incredible friends and family. It’s amazing to me to look at the friends we have made along the way, the friends we have had since we were two, and the family that has supported us the whole time, and know that they were there for each moment and by our sides for our wedding. Our friends and family are simply the best, and we are so incredibly blessed to have such love and support.


VENDOR LOVE
Photographer: M Todd Thiele Photography
MakeUp: Glo makeup, Laura Anzalone
Catering: Foods of Vail, Tracey Van Curan
Wedding Coordinator/Tuxes: Mountains and Meadows, JoAnn Moore
Ceremony Site: The Chapel at Vail
Reception: Donovan Pavilion
Ceremony Music: Pat Hamilton Music
DJ: A Great Time DJ
Reception Decor and Lighting: Pink Monkey Solutions
Flowers: Rose Petals
Hair: Inga Cox Hair, 970.471.9820
Transportation: Turtle Bus
Liquor: West Vail Liquor
Bridal Gown: anna bé, dress designer is Alvina Valenta
Bridesmaids Gowns: Amsale, worn with own boots
Bridal Boots: custom-made by Liberty Boot Co., from Cry Baby Ranch in Denver
Escort door: courtesy Tutto Bella gals!

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