DIY gift: 6 colorful ways to spring

Today we’re sharing a DIY project that makes a lovely gift to send to a girlfriend, or bring to the hostess on Easter morning. Or, fill the eggs with school-related items {paper clips, eraser, chalk, etc} for a spring teacher gift or kid-friendly items {stickers, candy, chalk, money, etc} beginning the Monday of Easter week, and it would be a fun countdown to Easter morning.

Ingredients:
Plastic Eggs
Nail Polish {purple}
Sunflower Seed Packet {yellow}
Jelly Beans {orange}
Lipgloss {pink}
Gum {blue}
Starbuck’s Via Packet {green}
Hot glue gun and glue
Free Fleur de Lis printable {Like Fleur de Lis on facebook to get the free printable below}
NOTE: make sure all your color coordinated ‘ingredients’ that go inside the eggs are smaller than the egg, so it fits in the egg when closed.

How To:
Line up the eggs in the order you want, then use a hot glue gun to glue them together.
Be sure to place the hot glue dot under the ‘egg’s closure seam’ so you can close the egg and it stays shut.
Add the color coordinated items to each egg.
Place in a bag or use clear cellophane to wrap the eggs and add a bow.
Write a note, and attach the tag and you’ve got yourself a lovely and affordable gift.

To receive the FREE file via email {without the Fleur de Lis copyright on the file}, just like Fleur de Lis on Facebook with Rafflecopter below, and you will receive the file via e-mail within 48 hours.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy Spring.

{image via Tutto Bella}

spring fever

Spring is here! And, we all know Spring can bring uncertain weather, the feeling of rejuvenation, blossoming buds, muddy shoes and the anticipation of that warm summer breeze against our sun-kissed skin.

I know I’m happy Spring is here. I also know there are many brides who are anxiously awaiting their beautiful spring wedding day {and praying for good weather}. Here’s 11 beautiful ways brides can infuse a ‘touch’ of Spring to their wedding day.

1. Pack a pair of Hunter Boots
you can purchase here

2. Don’t forget a pretty Umbrella to waterproof your wedding day look
you can buy or rent umbrella’s at Bella Umbrella

3. Add Spring’s favorite flower, the tulip, in an all Tulip centerpiece
this centerpiece is definitely pretty in pink

4. Hold a romantic bouquet with peonies and soft colors

5. Ask your cake designer to add delicate sugar blooms to your cake

6. Give your guests some fresh greenery to take home

7. Make sure you and your bridesmaids get ready in style with a colorful Plum Pretty Sugar robe that sings spring

8. Add a vintage touch with antique watering cans filled with white flowers

9. Nothing says spring like an antique birdcage. Add a birdcage to the gift table, dessert table or specialty tables for an added spring, vintage touch

10. Take the time to smell the blossoming trees…and don’t forget to take a photo surrounded by the blooms too

11. Add fresh leaves and flowers at each place setting – we love the idea of designing fresh greenery {in this case, leaves} under a clear plate as a unique charger

{hunter boots image via Style Me Pretty, umbrella image via Green Wedding Shoes, tulip centerpiece via Epicurious, bouquet image via One Wed, cake image via 100 Layer Cake, green favor image via Grey Likes Weddings, robes via Plum Pretty Sugar, watering can image via Santa Barbara Chic, birdcage image via Style Me Pretty, blossoming crab apple trees via One Wed Bliss, leaves and fresh flowers image via Preston Bailey}

julie + joe

There’s only one word to describe today’s wedding feature: Fairytale.

As little girls, we dream about the perfect fairytale wedding.
We dream of the most beautiful dress. We dream of wearing diamonds that sparkle from head-to-toe. We dream of being swept away by our handsome prince and living at a castle. And the flowers… oh the flowers!

We dream of weddings like these…

Congratulations to Colorado Wedding Company for winning the People’s Choice ICON award for Julie and Joe’s fairytale wedding!
Thank you, CC, for sharing the amazing photos with us!

{images via Colorado Wedding Company}

VENDOR LOVE

Planner: Colorado Wedding Company, CC Dick & Paige Reberry
Venue: Cherokee Ranch and Castle
Photography: ZS Weddings
Floral: The Flower House
Cake: Elegant Bakery
Bridal Gown: Anna Be, Vera Wang ‘Haley’

all you need is love

I always love when my beautiful friend Leigh calls me and says, “Jenna, I have a party idea … can you help me with invites, favors, and water bottle labels?!?” I love getting calls like this! Especially from Leigh, because I know when she throws a party, she does it right to the very last detail, and she does a beautiful job. It is so fun for me to be creative and help people plan a party with the papers they need to make it happen.
From the party planner and bride’s friend, Leigh:
Rachel and I have been best friends since our sophomore year of high school, so I was truly honored to host her shower, with the help of Liz and Kisa, and be a part of her upcoming wedding day. Since Rachel’s shower was only 2 days after valentine’s day, February 16, I thought I would do an ‘all you need is love’ theme for her.
We used design and paper from Fleur de Lis for the invite, water bottle labels, candy bag labels, gift bags (I had a ‘ring scratch’ game, and the 3 people who won received a bag from Fleur de Lis filled with napkins and a candle.
Guests enjoyed strawberry punch in mason jars, a mimosa bar (I didn’t take photos of that…ugh!), and brunch. I had each guest fill out the card about Rachel and  put them all in a book and presented it to her at the end of the shower. I ordered all her engagement photos for the shower and used frames from Michael’s and placed them throughout the house. Obviously, the candy station was the most fun.
 

VENDOR LOVE
invite, water bottle labels, candy bag labels and gift bags: Fleur de Lis, a paperie
cupcakes: Mulberries

{images via Leigh, party hostess}

gluten free quinoa cakes

All three of us are gluten free {most of the time} so we are always looking for yummy recipes the whole family will enjoy as well. My family is obsessed with Quinoa. We eat it with stir-fry, chicken and veggies, chili and even as a complete meal with a dish like this.

When I told my husband I was attempting this recipe for breakfast this weekend, he had a skeptical look on his face, like “where’s the bacon?” But, after one bite, he quickly changed his mind and enjoyed several of them. This recipe is so easy, healthy and gluten free. Enjoy!

Quinoa Cakes
recipe adapted from a friend
yields 8-9 cakes

Ingredients
2 cups Quinoa, cooked and cooled
2 eggs
1/2 cup Parmesan
1/2 cup gluten free bread crumbs {if you are not gf, you can use regular bread crumbs, or even parmesan Panko bread crumbs}
1/4 cup fresh Parsley, chopped
Salt and pepper to taste
splash of milk or cream
1/4 shallot, finely chopped
1 tbsp pressed garlic

Directions
Pour all ingredients into a medium size bowl and mix together
Form into small cakes, about 2 inches diameter

Saute on the stove in olive oil until golden and crispy on each side, about 4-5 minutes {if they are not golden, they will fall apart easily}

Top with an over-easy egg with cheese melted on top and slices of avocado

{images via Tutto Bella}