Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Tablescape Tuesday: Carolyne Roehm

Carolyne Roehm is one of my favorite tastemakers.  She is so elegant and has impeccable style.  A career highlight for me was the day that I was able to help her fix her photo-slide show presentation before a speaking engagement.  Her keynote presentation wasn't working on the country club's PC computer system so I excitedly came to the rescue as I had stressed over the same issue just a few months before at a different speaking engagement!

If you haven't had the chance to hear her speak, please find a way!  Hunt her down! Stalk her!  Chase her until you find her because she is so inspiring! From fashion design to floral design, she has truly become a style maven!  

I first met her many many years ago when I was a teenager and she was giving a floral design presentation on a family trip we were on.  I watched her arrange flowers and knew then that I wanted to go to flower school in Paris just as she had.

I have bundles of each of her books, and I love giving them out as gifts.  Order them today if you don't already have them!
Photos courtesy of Carolyne Roehm
Here are some links to some of my favorite tablescapes created by Carolyne:



An Autumn lunch in House Beautiful.


A great collection of images on Stylish Serendipity Blog



A blue and white Alfresco Entertaining Story in Veranda



One of my favorites from The Enchanted Home Blog. 

Clearly, she loves blue and white as much as I do!

You can visit her website by clicking here.

Monday, July 30, 2012

Monogram Monday: Monogram Necklaces!

Happy Monogram Monday! 

Monogram necklaces have been all the rage for a while, but we have recently been loving the more modern take on them!



Katie, Krystal and Kim's picks are from Mrs. Polkadot's Boutique. Jessika's pick is from Von Eshna, and Paula's pick is from Be Monogrammed. They have everything from these fun monograms to name plates and crosses. Precious!


Friday, July 27, 2012

Guest Post: The fat that makes you thin! Hail Merry!

Hail Merry is a raw, vegan, gluten-free snack food company born out of the yoga culture. It is a category-redefining brand by way of taste, healthful benefits and philosophy. The raw plant-based oils offer an unparalleled taste experience and may assist in healing the body. Finally…(sigh) taste and health co-exist!


It is safe to say that we are fully obsessed with Hail Merry here in the office. If you haven't tried one of their decadent chocolate macaroons, you don't know what you're missing! Something else you may not know: Hail Merry was named 2011's Best New Vegan Product!

All that being said, you can imagine how thrilled we were when founder Susan O'Brien agreed to guest post for us! Today she is talking about coconut oil. Have you used it? From beauty to cooking, this really is the miracle do-all oil! So without further ado... Take it away Susan!

COCONUT OIL – The fat that makes you thin!

Dr. Oz did a segment on the benefits of coconut oil consumption on his popular TV show.  Finally more and more people will begin to understand and benefit from the positive research that is out there on the healing properties of coconut oil!  While there is still a lot to learn we can be happy that Dr Oz and others are blessing this incredible life giving energy source!

When I read the book The Coconut Oil Miracle by Bruce Fife I couldn’t believe what I was reading about the fat that was demonized as artery clogging for all those years. I also read an article about a study done on cows in the 1940’s who were fed coconut oil in hopes of fattening them up.  What the research discovered was that at the end of the study the cows had actually lost a lot of weight and had much more energy!  This study left me wanting more data.  So I started reading books by Sally Fallon and Dr. Mary Enig who where the actual whistle-blowers on the whole Trans Fats issue.  These two incredibly brave woman sent the food industry into a total frenzy (Oh how I love these powerful women)!

YES IT’S TRUE - coconut oil helps you loose weight! I know this all sounds too good to be true.  But here is the skinny on this fact.  When you starve yourself of fat, which so many women do today, it leaves you feeling depressed, too tired to work out, hungry and in search of carbs. Low fat diets also have a negative effect on proper hormone production and balance, which is why these diets can leave you feeling depressed. 

Too many carbs and calories are what make you fat.  Period!  When you consume good quality raw fats like coconut oil, avocados, nuts & seeds your body quickly feels satiated.  You feel full with less food, your happy, you have energy to work out, and you ultimately consume less carbs and calories.   Keep in mind that our liver can only process so many lipids at a time.  A handful of nuts is a good gauge per occasion.  There are 117 calories per one tablespoon of coconut oil just like olive oil.  I know this sounds high and especially when we have all been programmed to think saturated fats are bad. 
However, coconut oil is a medium-chain saturated fat that quickly converts to energy and is not stored as body fat or cholesterol!  Coconut oil comes from a plant so it has zero cholesterol. Only humans and animals make cholesterol.  As mentioned above, we must have cholesterol & fat in our bodies for proper cellular function, repair and hormonal production. It is vital!  The fats that our killing Americans are not raw plant based fats but oxidized fats from homogenized dairy, consuming too many cooked animal’s, and the heated polyunsaturated oils found in baked goods & fried foods. 

Coconut oil is also anti-bacterial and anti microbial due to its high content of Lauric Acid.  Dr. Oz believes that these high amounts of lauric acid can actually help kill the Pylori bacteria that cause ulcers and ultimately lead to stomach cancer.  BIG NEWS!

Just remember folks.  America does not grow coconut trees.  We grow soybeans, sunflowers, and lots of corn.  That is why we were told for so many years that margarine was better for us.  These large food companies wanted you to believe that butter & tropical oils were bad for you.  They wanted you buying their polyunsaturated oils!  The research that was conducted on coconut oil decades ago was on the trans fat version of coconut oil.  These companies didn’t want you buying coconut oil from other countries they wanted you to buy that stuff that rhymes with FRISCO!  The ultimate trans fat!  Why did they alter these polyunsaturated oils in the first place? So they would behave more like a saturated tropical fat, which offers a longer shelf life.

BUTTER IS BETTER!  COCONUT OIL IS TOO!

The French have been eating butter for years and don’t have the obesity problems Americans suffer from.  Butter is actually a short chain fat, which converts to energy even faster than coconut oil. So enjoy some butter on your oatmeal, add coconut oil to your smoothies & raw desserts.  Your waistline will be glad you did.

Resources:
Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon
Eat Fat Lose Fat by Dr. Mary Enig and Sally Fallon.
Fats that Heal, Fats that Kill by Udo Erasmus
The Weston A. Price Foundation.

Interested in learning more about Hail Merry? You must check out their blog here or find them on YouTube!
Don't forget to follow Hail Merry on Facebook and Twitter for the best updates!

Thursday, July 26, 2012

I Heart Blue and White - Hermès Bleus d'Ailleurs

How amazing are these Bleus d'Ailleurs cups and saucers from Hermes? The collection is inspired by the journey between Europe and the Orient, and it is beyond gorgeous!

I'm in blue and white heaven! Here are a few more pieces from their collection that I'm loving:
         
So great, right?  I love the way they look layered on top of each other too.  Imagine them on a crisp and colorful table linen.  Yellow?  Hot pink? Apple Green? What would you put underneath?

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Tuesday Tablescapes: Sunflowers for Friends

When the weather is nice, and I am planning a lunch for friends, I would much rather dine al fresco than at a restaurant!

After inviting three friends over for a casual lunch, I picked up a big bunch of sunflowers at the market and set a simple table beside the pool, where we could enjoy the calming sound of the fountains. A large red wooden popcorn bowl from Crate and Barrel was the perfect container for these bright yellow stunners!
Woven square place mats framed each setting of simple white plates on a crisp and clean white cloth. While a formal silver set would have been too much for this table setting, the elegant, wooden swirl handles of my favorite flatware suited it to perfection. To pull the look together, sunflower print napkins trimmed in red from Porthault, were carefully placed on each plate. The green glasses with blue rim were souvenirs from a trip my parents took to Mexico!

Sending these simple yet lovely reminders out to my friends added such a wonderful personal touch!


Our lunch in the garden was perfection, and I will continue to make "reservations" at home when I get the chance to enjoy an afternoon with friends! 

Monday, July 23, 2012

Monogram Monday - Sandcastles

We left our beach holiday yesterday and, although it feels so good to be home, I will miss our daily beach walks.  On one of them, my sister and I came across this fantastic monogrammed sandcastle!  I knew it would be perfect for our monogram monday post so I ran back and grabbed my camera to snap these photos.


Isn't that precious!
Here is a detail of the monogram made from marbles:


And, just for fun, here are two little shots from inside the cottage.  We made a little collage near the entrance of photos from previous summers.  The sunsets are incredible and we take a photo of it almost every night!


On the mantle, a small collection of nautical antiques are displayed.


The rest of the house is filled with piles of books and games and big messes of toys so I can only share two photos!  

Photos taken on Instagram! 


Friday, July 20, 2012

Meet Jessika!

Hi Everyone! Happy Friday!
Please say "Hello" to Jessika, our resident Media Curator and Graphic Designer.

Photos courtesy of Jessika and Pinterest
If you could raid anyone's closet, whose would it be?
Kate Middleton! That woman is flawless!

You describe your style as...
Bright colors and classic shapes

Where can we find you when you aren't at the RSVP office?
Probably out getting an iced tea at McAlister's Deli. Im addicted!

When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A wedding planner

What's your favorite trend of the moment?
Mixing patterns! 

Who would play you in a movie about yourself?
Carey Ann Mulligan - She's effortless.

What are you currently obsessed with?
Caitlin Wilson fabrics! Oh and pinning recipes on Pinterest! It makes me think I'm so much more of a cook than I actually am. Etouffee anyone?

A charity near and dear to your heart is...
The Children's Miracle Network

Thursday, July 19, 2012

I Heart Blue and White - Our Master Bedroom

I thought it might be fun to share a few images from our home with you!  I wanted you to see how I live with Blue and White:  
Designer Jan Showers helped us select the perfect shade of pale blue for our bedroom.  She also designed the canopy to cover up two awkward windows on either side of the bed. We hung a pair of antique mirrors, purchased at the flea market in Paris, over the fabric but behind the bedside tables to give the illusion of a window.  Justin and I both love the read so the bedside tables are typically covered in piles of books and magazines! It is funny to see the bedside tables so tidy!


 A piece by artist Rusty Scruby hangs over the white console, adding textural interest to the master bedroom.

Lola, our Chihuahua, in her favorite spot.  So sweet. 

Interior Design: Jan Showers and Assoc.
Art: Rusty Scruby
Stylist: Gretchen Leigh Clark for Jan Showers and Assoc.

















Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Style Icon - A Kennedy Family Portrait

Family portrait of the Kennedy's (notice her Jack Rogers white navajos!)


I just finished reading Mrs. Kennedy and Me by Clint Hill.  It was fantastic!  I loved reading about Jaqueline through the eyes of her secret service agent.  I always forget how young she was as first lady!

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Tuesday Tablescape: One Table for One Hundred

A rehearsal dinner is an important event for any bride and groom, and especially for a Mother-of-the-Groom, who is traditionally in charge of this celebration. I am lucky to have the chic, stylish and elegant Caroline Whitman as my mother-in-law. She had beautiful ideas for our rehearsal dinner and wanted to make it a night no one would ever forget.


Challenged with finding an intimate venue that would house a wedding party of 75, Caroline opted to host the dinner in a tent, as she was trying to create a setting that was cozy as well as elegant and ethereal. A beautiful white tent erected on a tennis court provided the perfect spot for one gigantic table to seat 126 people. 



The table was made of platform staging in the center with eight-foot by 30-inch tables placed all around the edge. Caroline turned to the talented floral team form Dallas' Bella Flora to help make the center of the table perfect. For such a massive space, she wanted a lot of drama without it feeling to overwhelming.


Todd Fiscus of Todd.Events thought we needed some drama in the tent and loaned us three massive white chandeliers.
She assembled a collection of large-scale blue-and-white containers, clear glass vases and Lucite museum stands; we borrowed from friends, family and our favorite florist! Some containers were simply left empty in the center of the table; others were filled with beautiful yellow flowers or lemons. Large branches with yellow blooms and potted yellow tulips added life to the massive white setting. 


The dinner was served on simple but elegant white plates that were placed on woven wicker chargers - they were such an important element as they framed the white plates against the background of the white table linen. Crisp and clean hemstitched white linen napkins sat on top of the plates, waiting to be placed in the guests lap. Silverware from Tiffany and Co. framed the plates to perfection, and beautiful but simple swirl stem crystal complemented the settings.


Each guest found his or her name in white ink on a blue place card. The menu, printed in blue on clean white paper, was placed in the center of each white plate. 


Even the servers wore blue ties to match!

The overall look was better than any of us could have imagined, but the most memorable part of the evening came as the toasts were winding down to a close. When it was Justin's turn to make his toast, he carefully and unexpectedly pushed his place setting to the side and hopped up onto his chair and then onto the table! The space between the centerpieces and the place setting formed the perfect walkway for Justin to make his way around the table and tell each person there how grateful he was to have them in our lives.


It was a perfectly magical moment that I will never forget, and it took place on one of the most beautiful tables I could have ever dreamed of! Thanks for taking this trip down memory lane with me!

Big Thanks to:
Bella Flora
Todd.Events
Stephen Karlish Photography

Sunday, July 15, 2012

I am picturing these gorgeous Eddie Borga Lotus pieces with a black dress and an up-do.  How would you wear them?





Earrings - $215

Ring - $500

Bracelet - $2040

Friday, July 13, 2012

Currently Obsessed: The Ultimate Kelly

Have you seen Hermes' The Ultimate Kelly bag? This one takes the cake!

Designer Pierre Hardy has crafted what may be the ultimate luxe version of the iconic accessory! The bag is rendered in rose gold and diamond that functions as both a handbag and bracelet. The diamond handle doubles as a cuff, while a detachable shoulder strap "brings the objet back to bag territory on demand!"

"I wanted to distill all the value of the leather bag into something small and precious, like the essence of a perfume," said Hardy. This gorgeous bag took over 1,200 hours to make, 1,600 diamonds and weighs in at 33.94 carats!

Photographed by Thomas Lagrange

Talk about show stopping! Should you want to be one of the few to purchase this coveted bag, you can do so by calling 800-441-4488. Then you better march strait over to our office and let us all see it!

Thursday, July 12, 2012

I Heart Blue and White - Nautical at Night

Photo credit: Scott Womack / Kimberly Babcock / C Design / Sweet Southern Charm

On an overcast or windy night at our lake house in Ontario, Canada, there is only one spot to eat - but its a great one! A simple and elegant nautical theme is perfect in this house with its pine paneling and lighthouse tower. 
White and navy bowls filled with white dahlias accented the sailboat on each side.
The dinner plates are decorated in navy blue with a logo from a cruise ship, and the salad plates have a small gold anchor in the center of the rim. The plates are on top of woven raffia place mats found at the Saturday market in St Tropez, France. 
Mixed with navy and white geometric patterned napkins from Madison in Dallas, and the life preserver napkin rings, they are the perfect touch! The nautical details like the silver monkey's fist knot and a vintage brand anchor are really what pulls the whole theme together. Even the salt and pepper shakers are shaped like lighthouses! 
How great are these carafes for lemonade and iced tea? They fit in perfectly with our nautical tablescape. I also can't get over that staircase! I love the rope that is zig-zagged down the banister. So great!

I cannot think of a better theme for a wonderful summer evening by the beach!

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Tablescape Tuesday: Breakfast in the Afternoon

For me, setting the table is a great creative outlet. I take every opportunity, even brunch with girlfriends, to do just that!  Here is a green and white table that was featured in my book, Tablescapes.
 "Tablescapes"
To set a ladylike tone,  I began with a simple white cloth and a Lily of the Valley-patterned overlay from Porthault.This is a set we use nearly every day - a green and white plate with tiny green flowers that we brought home from a trip to Paris and a smaller breakfast plate from Porthault with a border of green clover.

 "Tablescapes"
Ceramic bouquets of flowers from Christian Dior in Paris provided a special touch at each place setting!  Please please promise me that you will add a stop at the amazing Dior Boutique at 30 Avenue Montaigne to your Paris wish-list. It is my very favorite shop in the world!  It is filled with amazing Dior fashions and it has beauty area covered in smoky mirrors that is to die for but the area that really makes my heart stop is the home section.  From the hand-painted glasses to the cashmere throws, I promise you won't leave empty handed.

 "Tablescapes"
In the center of the table was a beautiful lemon topiary created by my friend Susan Spindler. Susan came over with a bag full of tools, I provided the lemons and off we went to create this long-lasting arrangement. Small pieces of hydrangea left over from another dinner party filled in the space and the topiary sprang to life!

 "Tablescapes"
We laid out cheerful silver flatware with an enchanting bird pattern and placed a vintage chick eggcup beside each juice glass.
Informal place cards in light green and white marked the seating. To add to the garden feel, I brought outdoor chairs into the breakfast room. 

 "Tablescapes"
The refreshing view out the window into the garden was the final perfect element and our breakfast in the afternoon was a relaxing time well spent!

Photography by Scott Womack  

Monday, July 9, 2012

Monogram Monday

I absolutely love Leontine Linens! Their signature line of monograms is absolutely fabulous!  They have everything from a classic to modern style, and you can even have custom designs made.

How bright and fun are the linens we featured on the Nate Berkus Show? These are perfect for bringing some Summer into your home!

Friday, July 6, 2012

Currently Obsessed: Good Karmal


I have had a craving for Good Karmals ever since my friend J.B. sent them to our house as a thank you gift after our Easter Egg Hunt.  My grandmother always kept a bowl of caramels on her coffee table but, they were nothing like these!  


Seriously, this is one of the best sweet treats I have ever tasted!!!!


Here is a little bit about my latest obsession:
Good Karmal wraps each handcrafted caramel with words of wisdom, and sends them out into the world. From their early start in a tiny Hollywood apartment, they quickly received national attention when Oprah Winfrey featured Good Karmal on her annual “Oprah’s Favorite Things” episode, sending their message out farther than they could ever have imagined!

Inspired by lives lived with bravery, compassion, and in harmony with nature, Good Karmal invests passion and integrity into every part of their business. Their caramels are made fresh from the finest all natural ingredients, without any additives or preservatives.

Believing that giving back to the Earth is the ultimate good karma, Good Karmal donates a portion of all sales to environmental charities. In addition, they strive for earth-friendly packaging, choosing either recyclable or reusable containers produced from renewable resources.
Images and bio courtesy of Good Karmal
How great would these be as wedding or party favors? With the ability to personalize them with your own color and style, these bite-sized treats will make for one sweet little gift!

Thursday, July 5, 2012

I Heart Blue and White - Irving and Fine

Irving and Fine is one of my all time favorite lines to wear! Here are three of their fabulous tops from their new collection! Aren't they perfect?
Irving and Fine


 

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