Fashion Friday: Garden Party

It’s wedding season, and I’ve been searching for an outfit that I can wear to an outdoor affair in October for the past few weeks. Since I’ll be  out of my element — The event is in North Carolina — I decided a long dress is probably my best bet to keep me from freezing in the 60 degree weather.  I’m from Florida — Anything below 85 calls for a sweater. After a quick search on Keep.com, I put together a garden inspired outfit that can go from an outdoor ceremony to twirling (Gone with the Wind style) in the reception.

{image source: dress, clutch, shoes}

Hello, New York

Last month I attended a PRSA/Regan Communications conference in New York City for work. The conference was about media relations and best practices and was a great escape from the SoFL sun.  I’ve visited New York a few times but never stayed in the City for more than a few hours.

Luckily during this particular work trip, my husband tagged along and we spent whatever free time we had exploring the city. Normally, I am not a fan of walking anywhere, and living in South Florida, walking is something you do at the mall, the beach or if your car runs out of gas on the side of the road… but there was something magical about walking down the streets of Union Square. I think it was a mix of the history, culture and pure adrenaline of those walking around you. Everyone was stylish and had a sense of urgency.  It was an eye-opening experience and made me realize that I’m not meant to live in a boring suburban neighborhood working a non-creative 9 to 5 p.m. job.  So, I’m on a mission to make a few changes. I’m not sure what kind just yet, but I’m going to start exploring my options.

Here’s a few highlights from my trip:

Hyatt Union Square: We stayed at the Hyatt and I was really happy with our choice.  Everyone was friendly, the rooms were comfortable and the hotel was very chic. Plus, we were pretty close to everything.

 

The Spotted Pig: Our first foodie stop was the Spotted Pig in the West Village. Since we arrived a little late, the menu options were limited.  We both ordered the cheeseburger and shoestring fries.  Although I wasn’t super impressed, the burger was good and the restaurant was very cool.

Spice: We stumbled upon Spice, a Thai food restaurant, by accident.  The food was amazing and they have a few locations throughout the city.

Max Brenner: A friend recommended this restaurant and we’re glad we listened.  Max Brenner’s is a sweet lover’s dream and they serve food, drinks and of course dessert.  We ordered the sugar waffles with vanilla ice cream, but if we had more room to indulge we would have opted for the fondue.

Big Gay Ice Cream Shop: We stopped in for a delicious vanilla ice cream cone and of course snapped some photos.

Katz’s Delicatessen: This place is iconic and worth the crazy lines inside, if you’re a fan of pastrami sandwiches.

 

We definitely didn’t get to see everything we were hoping for, but we did pretty good for three short days.  I’m already planning my next trip, and hopefully, next time I’m there it will be for an interview.

What’s your favorite place in the city? I need sightseeing and restaurant recommendations!

 

 

 

 

 

Baby Got Back

Before you pick the dress of your dreams consider this – The back of your dress will be with be the focal point for a good portion of your wedding. Take a look.

1) Ceremony

2) First Dance

3) Father – Daughter Dance

4) Bouquet Toss

5) Cake Cutting

Which means, your photographer will probably snap a few shots of you from behind. To ensure your backside is ready for its close up, pay attention to one important detail that sometimes gets forgotten. The back of your dress.

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Happy Planning. xoxo

Dirty Thirty – The Big Bash

A few weeks ago I hosted a 30th birthday bash for my husband.  The fiesta inspired soiree was a huge hit thanks to all the little details and the steady flow of alcoholic beverages.

Here’s a few pictures from the big bash! enjoy!

{Dress festive. Sombreros and mustaches will be provided}

 The table was set with a burlap runner, colorful margarita glasses,  and each chair adorned with a sombrero. To create an outdoors feel inside,  streamers and lights were draped across the room. It wasn’t Mexico…but it was close.

{Nom Nom Nom}

The night started with light snacks which included Corn Salsa, Beer Cheese Dip, Salsa, and Guacamole. To add a festive flair,  I  created a make shift menu board using the black background of a huge picture in my dining room.  I also posted a smaller menu on one of the tables.

The corn salsa and beer cheese dip appetizers were both a huge hit and the recipes can be found here and here.

For dinner we made delicious tacos thanks to the two recipes I found on How Sweet It Is blog.  We served Crockpot Beer Cheese Tacos and BBQ Pulled Pork Tacos. They were both amazing! And How Sweet It Is blog is a must read for any fabulous foodie.

On another note -I highly recommend Crock Pot cooking for a party – you basically just throw a bunch of stuff in a pot, turn on the heat, leave it for a while, and when you return a delicious meal is ready to be served.  Genius!

{Cheers}

A small bar was sent up using the “Bar” sign I created in my last post.  I strategically mounted each letter to the wall using Command Restickable Hooks. I also used the restickable hooks outside to hang the lights and streamers. When you remove them they leave no marks, so you don’t have to worry about ruining your walls.

{Say Queso}

A DIY photo booth was set up using a piece of Damask fabric from a local fabric store and….

Hand made props were set up on a table for guests to grab and strike a pose!

{Hit me with your best shot}

We couldn’t have a fiesta without  a pinata! It was filled with candy, toothpaste and erasers….Random. But funny. Especially when everything fell to the floor.

{Sweet}

For dessert we served cake, of course! Plus root beer floats, ice cream, and cupcakes.  I’m not sure if carrot cake is a fiesta staple but that is what the birthday boy asked for and that is what he got.

The night was a lot of fun.  We incorporated a beer tasting with four craft beers, one was a maple bacon doughnut beer that everyone was really excited to try.  At every party I like to add an element that allows everyone to interact somehow.  We tried to have a dance off, but only one person was brave enough to break out their moves.

At the end of the night the 30th birthday fiesta was a huge success and worth the weeks of planning.   Everyone had a great time and I can’t wait to plan the next party!

Happy planning! xoxo