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How to be an Elegant Guest:

Great Gift Basket Ideas

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 Are you staying with family or friends this season? Want to bring something special to someone hosting? Show your appreciation with a thoughtful gift basket. The gesture will ensure you receive an invitation next year. I have created two baskets filled with goodies that are easy to find…most of these items are available at your local grocery store, Target or Amazon. All it takes is a little pre-planning.

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This is a basket that should please most…a bottle of red wine, freshly baked bread, multi colored pasta, a bottle of organic olive oil, chocolate and a new set of dish towels. Other ideas to include would be bread dipping seasonings, nuts or cheeses. Simple, yet, thoughtful and they can re-use the basket at a later date.

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This basket has a more feminine color palette with the pink and gold theme…it is perfect for your mom, aunt or friends. I believe most would appreciate these thoughtful goodies. This basket contains a gold tea tin filled with your favorite loose tea (see here for ideas), a gold tea infuser, mug, pink champagne truffles (order an extra one for yourself because they are divine!), bottle of wine, facial sheet mask and set of masks from Eves by Eves.  All of the essentials for a little pampering!

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Once you return home, be sure to send a handwritten note thanking your host for their hospitality. You will certainly be considered an elegant guest who is always welcome!

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Bisous,

Rebecca

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Fabulous DIY Floral Arrangement

sReceive a last minute invite to a holiday party? Forgot to plan a thoughtful hostess gift? Hosting a party and want to create fresh flower arrangements for your decor? Don’t worry…we have you covered. 

When I attend a holiday gathering, I like to take something that I believe the host will enjoy…champagne, flowers or if I know them well, I may bring something more specific…cooking utensils, bath products or pet accessories.  If I do not know of anything specific, flowers are something I like to bring because they feel indulgent…most people do not buy them for themselves and they add beauty to any environment.  

If I am entertaining, I often keep it simple…real linens, candles and fresh flowers. Every time, I receive a compliments on the decor so if you want an easy option for your holiday party, this is the perfect option. Add some votive candles and you have a chic table. 

I found these fresh flowers at a local grocery store. I keep a few of these glass vases on hand. They are versatile and reasonable. Tarrangement includes 1 dozen of red roses, 1 dozen of white roses and one bunch of green hydrangeas. The flowers for this arrangement cost $45. If you have ordered flowers before, you will know that for this amount of flowers, $45 is an excellent price. Have two occasions? You could also break up the flowers and create two smaller arrangements.

Happy Holidays! 

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Bisous,

Rebecca

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A Chic Thanksgiving Table

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Next in our Thanksgiving series is our home feature.  While I absolutely love Thanksgiving, most of the decor associated with the holiday is not quite my style. I live in a high rise condo that is contemporary in feeling…our decor is a palette of grey, white and black so traditional autumnal tones do not complement our aesthetic. However, I wanted to create something chic and elegant so I decided to get creative.  I started with my favorite color palette for clothing…blush, white, black and rose gold and took it from there. 

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I already had the black Manta Placemats from Z Gallerie so I used those as a foundation. I then used these round white plates for the dinner plates and layered the shimmer rose gold salad plates on top of them, both are from Crate & Barrel. These gorgeous floral napkins from CB2 are really the statement piece and I used these wrap copper napkins rings from Crate & Barrel.  This rose gold flatware is positively stunning. The champagne colored pumpkin centerpiece was a gift from my beloved aunt and is available at Pier 1. The gold rimmed stemless glass is from West Elm. 

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I usually assign seating to ensure a good flow of conversation. The place card holders are from Crate & Barrel and the rose gold Sharpie is from Amazon.

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If you are entertaining this year, get creative and show your personal style in your Thanksgiving decor!

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Bisous,

Rebecca

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Marble & Copper Home Accessories

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sSometimes my fashion obsessions carry over into my home decor selections…so being that white, blush and rose gold is quite possibly my favorite color combination, it is not surprising that I gravitate toward it in home decor.  I was hosting friends for an afternoon chat and created this chic little edit of marble and copper accessories.  These pieces are far more versatile than I realized…and somehow make the food and wine look extra pretty.  

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MARBLE BUTTER BELL

This is a unique dish you often see in France so I was excited to find this pretty marble version…it is called a le beurrier. It is a dish used for keeping butter at room temperature so you can easily spread over delicious baguettes. You fill the crock with water and it keeps the butter soft and spreadable. You can keep it at room temperature for 3-5 days without refrigeration…just be sure to change the water so it stays fresh.  Available at www.williamssonoma.com.

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sWINE COASTER 

This stylish wine coaster is perfect for displaying a bottle of rosé for an afternoon of wine with friends. It complements the cheese board and knives beautifully.  Available at www.williamssonoma.com.  

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CHEESE KNIVES

This knife set coordinates perfectly with these pieces. The pronged knife breaks up hard cheeses, the tear shaped knife is for spreading soft cheeses and spreads and the plane is for shaving medium and hard cheeses.  Available at www.williamssonoma.com.

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CHEESE BOARD

The pièce de résistance of this edit is the gorgeous cheese board.  This lovely piece is incredibly substantial and has a nice weight. It is perfect for serving delectable apps or a cheese and charcuterie platter. Available at www.westelm.com

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sThe holidays are around the corner…these pieces would make a fabulous gift for family, friends…or yourself. 😉 

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Bisous,

Rebecca

 

 

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Healthy Mid Year Resolutions

I enjoy making New Year’s resolutions…there is something enjoyable thinking about the year ahead, the exciting things that will happen and the goals I would like to achieve. I recently reviewed the goals I set for this year and realized I have accomplished some of them but am WAY behind in others…the main one being to take care of myself, get back on a regular workout and a healthy eating program. All of those areas are inconsistent at best right now and I know that everything else will become easier when I carve out time for these. 

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I realize I need to lay out a better strategy in order to achieve these goals. So, I started researching meal delivery services, fitness apps and when I learned about the Fiji Water Home Delivery service, I knew this was something that would help me stay on track. I love living a healthy lifestyle, I just need to help streamline the preparation it takes.  

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Hydration is essential for health and beauty. I try to drink a gallon of water a day but have been falling seriously short of that, so I need to make it as effortless as possible.  If I were to have delicious bottles of Fiji Water delivered to my doorstep and I would be reaching for them frequently without thinking about it.  So, in addition, to liking the smooth taste of Fiji Water the most of any water…they offer free delivery and 20% off when you subscribe. Sign me up! 

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When I am hitting my goal of drinking a gallon a day, I like to create different flavors and use my Drop bottle to to infuse the Fiji Water with fun flavors…the one featured here is apple, lemon and orange. 

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If you are in need of something to help support your healthy lifestyle or simply want to have the convenience of water being delivered to your door, give Fiji Water Home Delivery a try…you will be delighted.

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Stay hydrated, friends!

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Bisous,

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Rebecca

Photography by Erica Dunhill Photography

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July 4th Outdoor Tablescape

The time for for family, friends and fireworks is almost upon us…if you are hosting this season, we have created a simple and patriotic July 4th outdoor tablescape for your gatherings.   

I like to use “real” everything…plates, glasses, flatware. Sometimes that is not ideal while all of these are made of shatter proof materials (think acrylic and melamine), they are far more elegant than drinking from a plastic Solo cup.  

This navy and white striped tablecloth has openings to accommodate umbrellas.  The red napkins add a fun pop of color and the understated silver napkin rings finish off this table with the just the right detail. Finished but not fussy. The tablecloth, napkins, plates and serving dishes are available at www.crateandbarrel.com  and are now on sale! The star napkin rings are available at www.amazon.com.  I added gerbera daisies for some extra cheer. 

If you are in need of recipes, try our Summer Sangria , Asparagus Salad or  Sorbet recipes for your parties.

sHappy hosting!

Bisous,

Rebecca

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DIY Floral Arrangement 

I LOVE fresh flowers. They make any space feel more lovely and are the most elegant decor for entertaining.  Fortunately, I have a husband who frequently comes home with flowers “just because” so we often have fresh flowers in our home. I find myself taking a mental break to just stop and enjoy their beauty.  

When entertaining, flowers are one element you can easily add to your gathering that make it feel special. It can reinforce a color scheme or provide a pop of color.

If you are including a floral arrangement on a table where people will be eating, I STRONGLY encourage you to keep your arrangement low. There is nothing more annoying than moving and straining your neck while trying to converse with others.  

Here are the basic steps in creating your own DIY Floral Arrangement.

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Step 1: Select your flowers…you can pick one type of flower in a monochromatic color or variety of flowers and colors. Have fun-the options are endless! For this arrangement, I chose to mix colors and the types of flowers.  Here I am using a mix of roses, hydrangeas and peonies.  Try to ensure one variety of the flowers you are using has leaves long enough to wrap around the base of your arrangement so you can hide the stems. 

Step 2: Select a vase. I keep a few of these square vases (found at Amazon) on hand for last minute floral arrangements. If I have a separate appetizer or dessert table, I will add a coordinating arrangement (usually a bit taller). I will also add a small arrangement…even just a few roses in a small bud vase to the powder room. 

Step 3: Measure how much you need to trim the stems of the flowers in order for the arrangement to be at the correct height. Cut the stems and be sure the arrangement is not so high that it will tip the vase over. If you are unsure, start by cutting less than you think you need as you can always cut more. 

Step 4: Use thick rubber bands (I usually use 2-3) to keep all of the flowers together. You  may have to adjust the position of the flowers

Step 5: Use a leaf to line the vase so that you do not see the stems.

Step 6: Place arrangement in vase, adjust as needed and then add water. 

Not only does this make a beautiful centerpiece for your table, it also makes a lovely gift.  Good luck creating your own DIY Floral Centerpiece! 

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Bisous,

Rebecca

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Photography by Erica Dunhill Photography

 

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Five Tips for Spring Cleaning

Tomorrow is the first day of Spring, which means warm weather, vacations and summer holidays are around the corner.  Like you, I am busy…working, mom-ing and blogging. Keeping things streamlined and organized is key to staying sane.  I grew up in St. Louis where space was never an issue, but have spent most of my adult life in Florida. Alas, there are no basements in Florida, which means you have to get savvy really quickly because storage is minimal. We live in a condominium so space is even more limited. However, I like the challenge of trying to be minimal (shoes are not included in this minimality). It is amazing how many things you can truly live without.  If you are not naturally organized, we are here to help. Here are my Five Tips for Spring Cleaning. I like to do a major cleaning for Spring and Fall and then a smaller cleaning for Summer and Winter…since I have a good foundation of organization, it really only requires some touching up and cleaning of containers and cabinets. 

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1. SORT AND SEPARATE

As demonstrated above, keep things separate so you can see them. Previously, I kept all of my pasta in various bags and locations. I would constantly buy the same things over and over, forgetting I already had some. After sorting out what I had, it allows me to only buy what I need. 

2. MAKE IT VISIBLE

If you have something, make sure you can see it. If you need to pack things away in a storage unit, then clearly label and organize them, so you can easily identify them when you need them. If you cannot see it or find it, it is probably best to trash it because you will forget you have it.  

My kitchen cabinets are filled with the OXO Pop Up containers above and my refrigerator is filled with these Glasslock containers so that I can see exactly what is inside.  

OXO Containers available at www.containerstore.com

Glasslock Containers available at www.amazon.com

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3. LABEL

I am certain my husband thinks I am 100% OCD when I get out the label maker, but he is glad when is is looking for something in our utility closet and instead of opening up all of the drawers, he can just go to “screwdrivers” or “batteries” to find whatever he needs quickly. For me, I might mix up “steel cut oats” with “quinoa” if I am in a rush and cooking. Labeling my containers saves time so that I can avoid mistakes.  

Available at www.amazon.com.

 

4. DONATE 

A good rule of thumb for cleaning your closet is if you have not worn it in a year, it should go. Find a reputable charity and donate your unused things…there may be someone in need who could use something that is just collecting dust in your home.

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5. STAY ON TOP OF IT

Now that everything has a place and is easy to find, all you need to do is maintain. When you are finished using something, return it to the proper place. It only takes a few extra seconds but saves minutes when you need to find it. 

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Spend some time cleaning and organizing your home, I promise it will be worth it. We are all too busy to waste time! Best of luck.

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Bisous,

Rebecca

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Lovely Desk Accessories

For most, we spend at least forty hours per week at work…for others, it may be more. Why settle for standard supplies when there are lovely desk accessories that will make your workspace as chic as your wardrobe? There is something special about opening my agenda, using a high quality pen and reviewing my calendar. It allows me to approach the day with a sense of calm and the ability to organize my thoughts and schedule.  I also enjoy distributing a packet of documents with an gold or printed binder clip.  I work in fashion, so these details are appreciated. Some careers need to be more serious, but, your desk is your space and you can customize as it suits you.

Unique paper clips, binder clips and other supplies are abundant on Amazon.  Kate Spade offers a gorgeous collection of desk accessories, stationery…even file folders! Sugar Paper LA and Rifle Paper Company have a unique assortment of stationery and desk accessories.

Dress up that desk, since you will be spending a lot of time at work, you may as well make it as pretty as possible!

Bisous,
Rebecca

agenda, organizer, stapler available at www.katespade.com

gold binder clips, paperclips available at www.amazon.com

pen, cell phone case available at www.sugarpaper.com 

 The Return to Paper

Recently have felt overwhelmed by technology and all of its auto-reminders, beeping and vibrating and, in turn, have returned to using an agenda to manage my calendar and to-do’s. There is something enjoyable about looking at the days ahead and writing down plans over a cup of tea. I feel more present and focused managing my schedule this way.

The return to an agenda inspired me to start sending proper thank you notes rather than a text messsage. While the text message is certainly more timely and efficient, I like sitting down and thinking about the effort someone put into selecting a gift or hosting an occasion and, in turn, expressing my appreciation. In addition, I enjoy buying stationery and it gives me a reason to buy more. Two of my favorite stationery companies are Sugar Paper and Rifle Paper Company. Sugar Paper is a Los Angeles based company who believes that “love is in the details” and offers a beautiful selection of notecards, place cards, and other lovelies. Rifle Paper Company has a fantastic selection of notecards, iPhone cases, calendars and other paper items.

While the holidays can be overwhelming with the shopping, parties and travel, it is a time of year when people are hosting and giving…trying to make others feel special. Perhaps a thoughtul note of appreciation will bring a smile to their day.

 Bisous,

Rebecca

Agenda, Kate Spade, available at bloomingdales.com

Stationery, Sugar Paper, available at sugarpaper.com

Stationery, Rifle Paper Company, available at riflepaperco.com