A First Birthday Brunch

Our beautiful little Oliver turned one last week.  I'm still in a bit of shock that he reached this milestone already.  In honor of his special day, we invited a few friends over for a Sunday morning brunch.  I decided to keep the decorations simple with white balloons and streamers to reflect Oliver's soft,  laid-back nature.  And chose to accent with gold to add that little sparkle that we see in Oliver's eyes when he smiles.  The mommy's and daddy's sipped on Mimosas and the children filled their tummy's with pancakes and sweets.  It was a wonderful morning and thank you to our dear friends who joined us to celebrate Oliver's first birthday! 

 The adorable monkeys and clown faces you see on the cake banner and party favors were downloaded from Sweet Paul Magazine.  A wonderful source of inspiration for your future celebrations. 

Show yourself some love this Valentine's Day

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If you're anything like me, you feel it is absolutely acceptable to buy yourself presents for holidays!  And Valentine's Day is no exception of course.  It is the holiday of love after all.  So this Valentine's day treat yourself to something special.  Here are a few LOVEly ideas!

Happy Birthday Oliver

Happy first birthday to my baby boy Oliver.  Your loving nature and beautiful smile have filled my life with joy.  I love you.

Chic Bar Accessories

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 To me, nothing is more glamorous in a home than a fabulous wet bar.   I find these often small spaces can have a huge impact if treated thoughtfully.  I've put together a collection of chic bar accessories that can add style and glamour to any home.  I hope to add a few of these items to my collection for entertaining this year.

For the Love of Color: Indigo

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In a previous FOR THE LOVE OF COLOR post I talked about my love of Emerald Green.  As much as I love emerald green, I don't have the same strong feelings for other shades of green like I do for the rich jewel tone emerald.  One color that I do love in all its various shades and intensities is blue.   I'm not alone with this. Blue is overwhelmingly considered the most favorable color of both men and women.  When I imagine how I would decorate my dream house (as I often do), I always envision shades of blue used throughout the rooms.  I find it to be a soothing and serene color that is both masculine and feminine.  And being that I live in a house with 3 boys, I need to consider all of us when choosing colors.   I'm currently decorating with lots of blue in our home here in Cayman and I don't think I will tire of it very easily if ever. 

Indigo, a very intense shade of blue, is a great color to decorate with.  Just like emerald green, it can have a strong impact whether used in large quantities or in small bits as an accent.  If used as the only color in a room along with white, it will create a very bold and graphic look.  It also pairs easily with other bold colors and mixes with most metals and natural finishes.  It works well in very modern spaces and creates an extra special dynamic when used in traditional spaces.  So tell me, are you feeling blue?  I know I am.  Here are a few indigo items on my living room wish list...

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Resolutions...or rather an annual to do list

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I hope you all had a joyous new years eve and day!  We had a wonderful family celebration this year with apple spritzers for Leo (Oliver will have to wait until next year to indulge)  and champagne for the adults while watching the local fireworks display from our patio.  New Years day was spent relaxing and playing with new christmas toys.  I have to be honest, I couldn't have asked for a more perfect celebration.

I managed to find some time on New Years day to write my annual "to do" list.  Something I do every year.  I'm not one for making resolutions, but I am without a doubt, a master at writing "to do" lists.   I always write a huge list at the beginning of the year, broken down into categories including family planning, health and fitness goals,  personal aspirations and of course organizing and decorating ideas for our home.  I find my organizing and decorating list this year focuses on creating more play spaces for Leo and Oliver that will inspire learning and creativity and a big wish list for our master bedroom with the intentions of creating a  more serene space where Charles and I can retreat to escape the chaos that seems unavoidable in the rest of the house.   Do you have a decorating to do list for the new year?  If so, I would love to hear what you will be searching for. 

Here's to a happy, healthy and decorative 2014!

Happy New Year!

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December 25th

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Wishing you and yours a happy, healthy and peaceful holiday filled with joy and love! 

Gift Guide: The Hostess

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The holiday season often means a calendar full of parties.  And a list of gifts needed for the hosts.  I always try to find a gift for the host or hostess that is practical yet stylish.  Here are a few things I was looking at this year. 

Gift Guide: The Traveler

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Being that many of my family members and friends seem to always be on the go, I usually scour the internet looking for great travel accessories while doing my holiday shopping.  Here is my gift guide for the traveler(s) in your life. 

Oh Christmas Tree Oh Christmas Tree

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Yesterday we picked up our Christmas tree from the nursery.  This means it is time for the holiday decorating to begin.  I absolutely love this festive time of year and tend to go a bit overboard on the decorating, baking, gift shopping, etc.  As I'm deep in Christmas mode, from now until the end of the year I will be writing about all things Christmas.  Happy decorating!

Little Spaces: Imagination at Play

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As the mother of two young boys, I'm often creating spaces in our house that will encourage imaginary play.  Maybe it's the decorator in me, but I feel quite strongly that children are affected by their surroundings and when put in a creative space, their imagination will start to run wild.  Not all children are destined to be the next Monet or Picasso, but I think most enjoy getting messy with paints and glue at some point.  As my 3 year old son Leo is starting to show more interest in crafting, and I've realized how much he can actually learn from it, I've been working on creating a space in our home that encourages him to sit down and express his artistic side whenever he gets the whim.  Here are a few amazing children's spaces I've come across that will certainly inspire young imaginations.  And some great art tables that are available to help you create the perfect space for your children no matter how big or small of an area you have. Let the mess begin! 

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Happy Thanksgiving

| Image Via Nest of Posies |

Wishing you all a very Happy Thanksgiving.  Eat until you can't eat anymore....

Happy Birthday To My Hubby!

| Leo's Airplane themed 3rd Birthday Dinner |

Today is my wonderful and amazing husbands birthday!  Although he is not one to make a big deal of his birthday,  the boys and I love parties and look forward to celebrating him on his special day.  We decided we will have a party this weekend when we all have more time to enjoy each other.  According to Leo, a party is not a party without cake and balloons.  So we will be sure to have them during our celebration on Sunday.  And maybe even party hats too! 

Happy Birthday My Love!

How To Make Cooking A Turkey More Enjoyable

| Mixing Bowls | Mixer | Apple Peeler | Apron | Pie Crust Cutters | Rosting Pan | Oven Mitt |

As thanksgiving quickly approaches and I get ready to cook another turkey, I've thought about some of the fancy (and stylish) tools available that I would love to have in my kitchen.  Although using these tools can't guarantee me a perfect turkey, I know I would smile while roasting the turkey in this beautiful copper roasting pan or have a blast preparing the apple pie with this fancy apple peeler and corer.  What tools would you like to have in your kitchen this thanksgiving?  Here are a few on my wish list.

Setting the Perfect Thanksgiving Table

| Soup Bowl | Placecard Holder | Gravy Boat | Candlesticks | Flatware | Tumbler | Turkey Platter | Napkins | Pie Dish | Carving Set | Napkin Rings |

One of my favorite moments of thanksgiving day is seeing the dining table beautifully set with the whole turkey in the center just before it is carved.  Although I'm usually a bit frazzled after trying to get the turkey and dressings on the table at the same time all piping hot and perfectly cooked, I like to take a moment to enjoy the well thought out table setting and lovingly prepared meal that our family will soon enjoy.  This year I'm very excited to have the addition of a beautiful Carrol Boyes gravy boat my mother-in-law sent me from South Africa as an early Christmas present.  And I'm hoping I can add an olive wood carving set and chic metallic napkins to compliment our flatware.  Is there anything on your wish list to set the table with this year? 

Happy Halloween

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The Wet Bar

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Every year as the holiday season approaches, I find myself looking for ways to enhance our entertaining spaces and collections.  One of the prime entertaining spaces in my house is the bar counter that separates the kitchen from the living room.  It is where the guests always gather as I'm preparing the food in the kitchen and where my husband often enjoys a pre-dinner cocktail.  Although it is not technically a wet bar (since it doesn't contain a sink),  I like to treat it as one.  This is one of the few places I can furnish for adults only. Although lately my 3 year old son Leo enjoys climbing up on the bar stools to order his snacks and beverages from me since I'm often standing on the other side prepping dinner. 

When we first moved into our home 3 years ago, we had so many spaces to furnish that I neglected this special area.  But I now realize it is one of those small spaces that can make a big impact if accessorized the right way.  It is central to our main living areas and it is one of the few places I don't have to make child friendly.  So, as our shopping list of "big items" gets smaller and smaller, my list of accessories is getting bigger and bigger.  I've put together an inspiration board for myself and now will begin the search for great bar accessories and glassware.  And I will soon be posting a few more chic bar accessories I've come across.  Do you have any small spaces in your house that can have a big impact if given the attention it deserves? 

Working In Style

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As I'm busy shopping for the perfect desk accessories for my two desks at home, I thought I would share some of the chic desk accessories I've discovered.  As far as I'm concerned, if you have to sit at a desk and work, it might as well be a beautiful desk.  Have a great weekend!

For The Love of Color: Emerald Green

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I've always been drawn to rooms with dramatic color.  Strong colors, whether used in abundance or as an accent, can really give an interior a distinguished look.  For those of us who are not afraid to commit to color, painting the walls, ceiling or millwork a bold color can easily make for a space with a custom look.  If you are hesitant to make such a commitment, you can accomplish the same thing by adding pops of color with accents.  For an even more dramatic look, pair a strong color with an unexpected accompaniment such as a metallic or another strong color.

One of my favorite colors is emerald green.  I find this rich jewel tone can add flair to a room like no other color.  I love when it is used in contrast to a neutral or black and white palette. Or when paired with gold, silver or other jewel tones.  It is one of those colors that adds a brilliant quality to both traditional and contemporary spaces.  And it works in just about any room in the house.

While I dream of one day having my very own emerald green office, I will settle with adding some of these fabulous emerald accessories to my life.  What color would you like to bring more of into your life?

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