Favorite Four

This week was wonderfully normal...so thankful for that every once in a while:) Looking forward to a night out with the girls tonight in the city and a low key rest of the weekend with my boys.

My favorite four from this week(clockwise from top left) 1- Hitting up the Macy's flower show 'Brazil Gardens in Paradise.' It is so beautiful every year...and it is always in the ladies shoe department so that is awesome!
2- Discovering Burt's Bees lip balm in Pomegranate. I had tried the original flavor before and never been a fan but then I tried the pomegranate this week and wow...I am in love! 3- It is definitely peek tree flower blooming week in Philly. It is too beautiful! 4-Finding a new fabric shop with a huge inventory and incredibly reasonable prices.

Have a great weekend!

Thirty and a Half

Tomorrow I will have been thirty for 6 months! It was my golden birthday last September 30th (30 on the 30th) so I made a big deal out of it. I started the planning 6 months in advance. I always love a good party and planning it is most of the fun for me.

I started with a color scheme...magenta, of course, and decided to throw in gold for the golden birthday aspect. Then I had to find a venue...after much research I decided to have it at our loft. It is a large open space and after all the money we would be saving on not renting out a space we could spend the money on food and drinks.

Being a designer I couldn't do anything but paper stationary. And since I was going all out I decided to make it cocktail attire...it's fun to get dressed up now and again.

With the help of a few friends to help me clean, make the food and decorate the night was a huge success. Thanks for everyone who came out to party! Here are a few pics from the night...xoxo


The party at our loft.


The invites I designed: gold envelopes, magenta paper and gold confetti inside.


Some of the decor: home made garland, lots of magenta flowers, gold 30s all over the place.


The desserts: cupcakes, Oreo truffles with gold dust and strawberries.


The food: bruschetta, hummus and pita chips, fruit kebabs, cheese and crackers, tomato/basil/mozzarella sticks, and veggies.


Nic working hard all night making delicious drinks, he used LOTS of limes with the seven signature cocktails being served.


Blowing out 30 trick candles!

Spring Chill

After having such warm weather the last 2.5 weeks I was a little thrown off by the 50 degree weather we had this weekend. It seemed so cold I went straight for a sweater vest and boots. Here is what I ended up wearing...and check out the beautiful flowering tree! xoxo





(all pieces are from previous seasons...this lent practice is killing anything new in my wardrobe...sorry!)
Dress: H&M, Sweater: Old Navy, Leggings: NY & Co., Boots: JCPenney, Purse: Target, Key Necklace & 'B' Ring: Flea Markets, Sunglasses: Kenneth Cole Reaction, Nail Polish: Rimmel London 60 Seconds in 'Rapid Ruby'

Cookie Bowls

I saw this idea on Pinterest to make little ice cream bowls out of cookie batter. I was super excited about this...it looked delicious, cute and really how hard could it be!?

Well boy was I wrong...this was a total flop but thought I would share with you the results I got. Here is the Wilton site where the idea was pinned from...maybe it will help you make better cookie bowls than I did.

After reading through the actual directions (which I didn't do the first time... mistake) was that it is actually sugar cookies, I used chocolate chip cookies. Not sure if this would make a difference but I think I am going to move on from the cookie bowl dessert idea. Good luck to you though! xoxo


My ingredients...I decided to just use a small box mix for my test cookie bowls. I figured I would make them from scratch when I made them for guests (which I won't be doing after all:)


Putting the batter on the upside down cupcake pan ... ready for baking.


How they came out of the oven...whoops! In the Pinterest picture they turned out as PERFECT little bowls.


After I put the ice cream in the bowls and covered them with chocolate it didn't look quite as bad and they tasted delicious!

Terrarium Workshop

I hope you all had a good weekend...possibly going to see the The Hunger Games or watching the Season 5 premier of Mad Men!?!

Last weekend Ben and I took a terrarium workshop. A gift I gave Ben for his birthday and something he had wanted to do for the last 4 years. Here are a few pictures of the class and at the end a 'how to' guide in case you want to make one of your own.


Our local shop where we took the class.


Wine and cheese to start the class along with the example terrarium.


Our terrarium containers.


Picking our plants.


Working with moss.


Everyone hard at work.


The finishing touches.


The finished terrariums.


The official 'how to' guide we got in the workshop.

Favorite Four

It has been a great week in Philly with beautiful weather and lots of birthday celebrating. The celebrating will continue this weekend with other friend's parties, March is a crazy busy birthday month. Tonight we are planning to see The Hunger Games...I haven't read the books, Ben has, but it seems to be the thing to do this weekend so...haha! Oh and let's not forget the much anticipated return of Mad Men this Sunday...it has been way too long.

(clockwise from top left) 1-A new package of Sharpies...oh they make me so happy! 2-New rings from the Brooklyn Flea Market. A magenta agate and a tiny little pinky finger ring with the letter 'B'. Ben bought them for me with his bday money so I don't think it goes against my lent practice:) 3-Flower shopping at Produce Junction...great selection and prices. 4-Going to a flower planting workshop at the amazing Terrain at Styers. Just being at Terrain makes me happy and then playing with dirt and flowers while there...perfection! If you haven't been there you need to get there ASAP, it is a magical place.

Have a great weekend! xoxo

Ceramics Class

The last 10 weeks I have enjoyed taking a ceramics class at the local art center. I loved going every week and making art...it was a nice creative escape. If this is something you would be interested in I would recommend you check out the local community/art center in your area. Here are a few pics from class...


The clay I started with.


Hard at work.


A few things I made...pre glazing.


Glazing.


Tea bag holders (favorite thing I made!)

Nautical Spring

(once again all pieces are from previous seasons..sorry)jean jacket/stripe shirt: Marshalls, leggings:Forever 21, boots:Cole Haan, socks:Loft, scarf:Francesca's, necklace:Old Navy, nail polish:Rimmel London 60 Seconds in 'Rapid Ruby'.

Rock Scissor Paper

With all the spring birthdays coming up I was perusing the card section at Target and came across these fabulous cards from Rock Scissor Paper that totally caught my eye. I felt like I was at Paper Source looking at the $5+ cards not at Target. I couldn't resist and ended up buying many of the designs just because I loved them and knew I would be using them soon. With a price tag of only $2.99 you can't go wrong. Thanks Rock Scissor Paper for coming to Target!

Art for Berlin

Hope you all had a good weekend! It was a crazy/fun/busy birthday weekend for us. We did a few things I am excited to blog about; a terrarium class, a few recipes, and exploring Brooklyn for the first time (can't believe we haven't done that before-we LOVED it!)

Today I am posting about a little art project I did for Berlin's food space...happy Monday! xoxo


The supplies: canvas, paint and a brush.


Painting the canvas.


The finished product...I used a Sharpie for the writing so I could have more control than using a paint brush.


Berlin's food space before and after.


Berlin checking out the new art addition.

Favorite Four

Happy Friday! Its been an incredible weather week here...hoping it continues! This weekend I'm looking forward to the terrarium workshop Ben and I are taking, spending his birthday with friends and then possibly heading into Brooklyn to explore on Sunday...who knows:)

(clockwise starting in the top left)...1)I found these beautiful budding trees while walking around the city. 2)I've been working with the windows open and the warm breeze sweeping over me...heaven! 3)Love finding random new art in the neighborhood. 4)Painting outside with the little girls I nanny...I love this weather!

Have a great weekend! Xoxo

B&W Stripe

Sweater: Urban Outfitters (old), Jeans: Urban Outfitters(old), Boots: Urban Outfitters, Belt: Forever 21, Clutch: Nine West (old), Earrings: Nordstrom Juniors (old), Bracelet: Francesca's (old), Nail Polish: Rimmel London 60 Seconds in Deliciously Dark