A winter wedding!!

For this winter wedding in Colorado, the bridesmaids carried nosegays of fir, wild pine, cedar, aspen twigs, and berries are swathed in houndstooth wool.

   ........snowbound, in silver Hunter boots.

a collection of ivory ranunculus, parrot tulips, and anemones, with accents of lamb's ears, blooming cotton sprigs, and tiny tallow-berry branches. To keep warm, she wears a faux-fur shrug.

Escort cards are nailed to a stack of firewood for their winter wedding in Colorado.

Vera Wang:the perfect whimsy dress

the perfect shimmering shoe

Read more at Marthastewartweddings.com

What are Sugar Plums?????

MAKES 75

"… while visions of sugarplums danced in their heads." The famous sugar plums spoken about in Clement Clark Moore's beloved poem, "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" were actually sugar-coated coriander. Later the recipe changed and included other spices and dried fruit. Dates are most commonly used .. wheres the plums?????

2 cups whole almonds
1⁄4 cup honey
2 tsp. grated orange zest
1 1⁄2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1⁄2 tsp. ground allspice
1⁄2 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
1 cup finely chopped dried apricots
1 cup finely chopped pitted dates
1 cup confectioners' sugar

1. Preheat oven to 400°. Arrange almonds on a baking sheet in a single layer and toast in oven for 10 minutes. Set aside to cool, then finely chop.

2. Meanwhile, combine honey, orange zest, cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg in a medium mixing bowl. Add almonds, apricots, and dates and mix well.

3. Pinch off rounded teaspoon-size pieces of the mixture and roll into balls. (Rinse your hands often, as mixture is very sticky.) Roll balls in sugar, then refrigerate in single layers between sheets of waxed paper in airtight containers for up to 1 month. Their flavor improves after ripening for several days.

DeLoop Fun For The Holidays

Some of my Festive new headpieces for Holiday Gatherings!  Don't forget to sparkle :)




Shimmer Pinecone Headband by DeLoop
http://www.etsy.com/listing/86199539/pinecone-winter-headband-christmas





Feather and Pearl Fascinator by DeLoop!!!  Tiny crystals shimmer for holiday glam :)
http://www.etsy.com/listing/87074848/sale-feather-flower-fascinator-red-and




My sweet niece wearing a Silver Poinsettia Headband by DeLoop
http://www.etsy.com/listing/86200939/sale-15-off-poinsettia-headband-silver





Dont forget to Accessorize ... Soft Whimsy Ostrich Feather Vintage Clutch with rhinestone brooch :)
http://www.etsy.com/listing/86576563/sale-15-off-red-feather-clutch-vintage






for the woodland gal a gorgeous holly berry and ivory blossom crown with little ices leaves and silver buds!!



Stay Cozy with this Faux Fur cream coat!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/86883082/sale-15-off-vintage-faux-fur-coat


The highlight of my holiday season is always going to see Christmas Songs performed by our Philharmonic Orchestra ... a great excuse to get dolled up in my fav holiday dress, have a bubbly poinsettia cocktail and listen to a full orchestra perform my favorite songs!  Cat wait  :) .. 

PARTY TIME!

Amazing dresses from the 2012 Jenny Packham collection have us REALLY wishing we had an upcoming ball to attend this holiday season. Aren’t they gorgeous?! So festive and just dripping glamour. Le sigh. Here are some of our Spring/Summer 2012 bridal favorites:

And her ready to wear collection:

Magnifique!

My Crown in Paris

Say hello to my lovely bridal crown in a Parisian photo shoot!!! .. ahhh, yes if only I could have packed myself into that box with my Lavina Love crown Id be sipping a cafe in the city of lights!!!!   ... 

Thank you to Béatrice de Guigné for the amazing photos!!

http://www.beatrice-dg.com/ *

Not only is did she photograph these lovely brides but she designed the dresses!!

www.comtessebetty.com

You can find my crown here

http://www.etsy.com/listing/85675411/wedding-headband-pearl-tiara-crown

A Halloween Wedding :)

Photography by Adorro Impressions Photography

click here for the full gallery of images!

Ultra Hydrating DIY Pumpkin Face Mask

Autumn brings a pumpkin extravaganza…pumpkin spice lattes….pumpkin-scented candles…even pumpkin-inspired beauty products. Ergo, an expensive organic pumpkin mask I recently spotted at the beauty store that inspired me to uncover this  homemade version. I learned that pumpkin contains enzymes that will basically slough off the dead skin cells leaving fresh, exfoliated, radiant skin in its place. Plus, pumpkin and honey are naturally hydrating, thus, providing smooth, supple skin. With this DIY Pumpkin Mask recipe, your skin will have that just-left-the-spa glow…

Ingredients

• 3 tsp. pumpkin puree (fresh or canned is fine but be sure not to use pumpkin pie filling with sugar)
• ½ tsp. honey
• ¼ tsp. milk (buttermilk or whipping cream can also be used for an even thicker, creamier mask texture)

Directions

1)   Combine all ingredients in bowl until smooth
2)   Apply the mask to your face and leave on 10 minutes
3)   Rinse and go

DIY BUTTERFLY LANTERNS & BOUQUETS

ok ok so these would be best to so around spring time ... but I just have to share these whimsical little projects ... 

Let a flock of colorful paper butterflies loose, and you'll instantly give party decorations a lift. Trace the template onto a folded piece of paper, cut out the shape, and unfold the wings. (For different sizes, photocopy the template, reducing or enlarging the image.) Attach some to paper lanterns with tape or glue dots (sold by the roll at crafts stores), then fold the wings upward for true-to-life flutter form. For topflight cocktails, make 2 slits in the center of a butterfly cutout, and then slide a straw through.

 

Laura Normandin fashioned her breathtakingly beautiful butterfly bouquet from silk and feather creatures secured on thin wires so that they float and flutter realistically.

Tools and MaterialsAssorted floral butterflies, floraltrims.com has a bunch of optionsWhite floral-wire stemsWhite floral tapeRibbon

Butterfly Bouquet How-To

Floral butterflies come on wires, making this project super simple. Tape the wires close to the butterfly bodies with white floral tape to cover them and create a uniform appearance. Then gather together a few butterflies and tape their wires together using white floral tape. Stagger the spacing, or tape the wires only at the ends so you'll have lots of wire to bend.

If the wires are short, or if you want the butterflies to be able to be bent farther apart, attach individual butterflies or clusters of butterflies to floral-wire stems (lay the wire from a butterfly alongside a wire stem with a 1- or 2-inch overlap, and tape the two together). Make several clusters, and tape them together to create the desired shape. Finish the stem by wrapping it in ribbon.

Tuscany Wedding ~ Color, Nature, Romance

Im totally in love with this wedding!!!!  I need to get married again ... gorgeous colors mingle with the beauty of nature .... and wine!

Photography by Aubrey Joy Photography