Kimberly Schlegel Whitman

Love Letter Art

2012-01-26T06:00:00.001-06:00

When I stumbled on this idea from Emily Johnston Larkin of EJ Interiors I couldn't wait to share it. I am so sentimental and I love the art of letter writing so this idea really struck a chord in me. In a nutshell, she found some old letters that her client saved and blew them up in size on a copier and framed them! So fantastic!

Check out Emily's Blog, Material Girls Blog, for more amazing inspiration!

After my grandmother passed away, my father found a box of letters that my grandparents exchanged many many years ago. I love that she saved them. It was so romantic. She had bundled them in ribbons and put them in the attic. I want to do this for my dad with his parents letters! What do you think?

Tablescape Tuesday: Pretty in Pink

2012-01-24T06:16:00.002-06:00

I adore this spectacular table set by Todd Events and coordinated by Mary Wright-Shah for eighty people at a rehearsal dinner. Isn't it to die for?
It was certainly a night to remember in a spectacular spring setting.

You Shoot the wedding video and let YooShoot do the Edit!

2012-01-23T21:04:00.000-06:00

I am so excited about the newest wedding video option available. Here is the concept: You and your guests shoot the video and let YooShoot do the editing!

Order the YooShoot video program and two days before your wedding, a package with cameras and all of the supplies you need will arrive to you so that you can start to shoot the wedding prep and the pre-wedding festivities. You can get up-close and personal and capture behind the scenes footage that only you and your wedding party could capture! Simply send the package back and a few weeks later you will have a wonderful edited wedding video unlike any other.

Even better, the YooShoot website is full of tips, techniques and how-tos for shooting a great video! You can also check out samples of their work.

The company will launch this weekend and the Dallas Bridal Show and you can meet and greet the team there. Print this coupon to save $2 on admission!

Here is what you get:

YooShoot "Wedding Kit" includes:

2 Canon HD (XA10) video cameras w/external shotgun mics
2 x 64Gb - HiSpeed SD memory cards per camera
2 Additional long life batteries & chargers
1 Tripod w/fluid head
Complimentary YooShoot T-Shirts for the Bride & Groom
Delivery (2 days prior to wedding) & Pick up
3-4 Day Rental of camera kit
Access to extensive library of tips, techniques, how-to videos and examples

$1495

YooShoot "Wedding Plus Kit"

Includes additional equipment plus everything in "Wedding Kit"

2 Additional Canon HD (XA10) video cameras w/ mics
2 - 64Gb - HiSpeed SD memory cards per camera
2 Additional Batteries & chargers

$2495

YooShoot "Videogram Kit"

Stationary set-up for video diary messages

1 Additional Canon HD (XA10) camera w/ external shotgun mic
1 x 64Gb - HiSpeed SD memory card
1 Additional longlife battery
1 Tripod w/fluid head

$495

How to Write a Thank You Note from Southern Living

2012-01-17T16:03:00.000-06:00

Click Here to watch my latest video for Southern Living

The Perfect Bag

2012-01-13T09:03:00.000-06:00

I have fallen in love with this bag by Alexander Wang! My sister, Krystal, carries it in a beautiful ivory color with pink gold hardware but I covet this neutral toffee color. The size is perfect for me because any great bag in my arsenal needs to be able to fit a few Spiderman coloring books and crayons in it! I also love that it has a two way zipper for the main compartment which makes it easy to get in and out of. For those who love quality, you won't be disappointed in the double rolled handles or the seam detailing. This bag is gorgeous! Click here to order yours!

Alexander Wang Emile Large Satchel

Rain Boots!

2012-01-11T10:12:00.001-06:00

I love the rainy season. There is something about working away on a rainy day that I find so memorable. It always makes me want to organize things around the house and write more on my book projects. It is hard for me to motivate and get outdoors though! When I do have to run around, I love to wear rain boots! Thank goodness designers are making them in great colors and styles. Here are a few of my favorites:

Original Hunter Wellington Rain Boots

If you are in a cold climate, add these cozy socks by Hunter.

Sperry Top Sider Rain Boot

Burberry Flat Riding Rain Boots

Marc by Marc Jacobs

Hunter Wedge Rain Booties

25 Rules for Mothers of Sons

2012-01-06T10:07:00.000-06:00

As the mom of a boy, I often marvel at the differences between the sexes! Although I don't always understand him, I adore my son and wouldn't trade him for the world! I was so touched by this amazing rules for any mom of a boy. Please check it out and pass it on! -KSW

25 Rules for Mothers of Sons

By Tab Studer

Inspired by a Pin I've recently seen about "rules for dads with daughters," I went searching for a similar list for moms with sons. This search was mostly fruitless, so I was inspired to write my own Rules for Moms with Sons. Granted, my list will not be conclusive and may not be entirely uncontroversial. So agree, or disagree, or take with a grain of salt - but I hope to inspire other moms who are loving, and struggling, and tired, and proud, and eager to support the boys in their lives. You are the most important woman in his life, his first teacher, and the one he will look to for permission for the rest of his life. From "Can I go play with them?" to "Should I ask her to marry me?" Its a big job, but as the mumma, we're up for it.

1. Teach him the words for how he feels.

Your son will scream out of frustration and hide out of embarrassment. He'll cry from fear and bite out of excitement. Let his body move by the emotion, but also explain to him what the emotion is and the appropriate response to that emotion for future reference. Point out other people who are feeling the same thing and compare how they are showing that emotion. Talk him through your emotions so that someday when he is grown, he will know the difference between angry and embarrassed; between disappointment and grief.

2. Be a cheerleader for his life

There is no doubt that you are the loudest person in the stands at his t-ball games. There is no doubt that he will tell you to "stop, mom" when you sing along to his garage band's lyrics. There is no doubt that he will get red-faced when you show his prom date his pictures from boy scouts. There is no doubt that he is not telling his prom date about your blog where you've been bragging about his life from his first time on the potty to the citizenship award he won in ninth grade. He will tell you to stop. He will say he's embarrassed. But he will know that there is at least one person that is always rooting for him.

3. Teach him how to do laundry

..and load the dishwasher, and iron a shirt. He may not always choose to do it. He may not ever have to do it. But someday his wife will thank you.

4. Read to him and read with him.

Emilie Buchwald said, "Children become readers on the laps of their parents." Offer your son the opportunity to learn new things, believe in pretend places, and imagine bigger possibilities through books. Let him see you reading...reading the paper, reading novels, reading magazine articles. Help him understand that writing words down is a way to be present forever. Writers are the transcribers of history and memories. They keep a record of how we lived at that time; what we thought was interesting; how we spoke to each other; what was important. And Readers help preserve and pass along those memories.

5. Encourage him to dance.

Dance, rhythm, and music are cultural universals. No matter where you go, no matter who you meet - they have some form of the three. It doesn't have to be good. Just encourage your son that when he feels it, it's perfectly fine to go ahead and bust a move.

6. Make sure he has examples of good men who are powerful because of their brains, their determination, and their integrity.

The examples of men with big muscles and a uniform (like Batman and LaMarr Woodley) will surround your son from birth. But make sure he also knows about men who kick a$s because of their brains (Albert Einstein), and their pen (Mark Twain), and their words (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.), and their determination (Team Hoyt), and their ideas (The Wright Brothers), and their integrity (Officer Frank Shankwitz), and fearlessness (Neil Armstrong), and their ability to keep their mouths closed when everyone else is screaming (Jackie Robinson).

7. Make sure he has examples of women who are beautiful because of their brains, their determination, and their integrity

The examples of traditionally beautiful women (like Daphne Blake, Princess Jasmine, and Britney Spears) will surround your son from birth. But make sure he knows about women who are beautiful from the inside out because of their brains (Madame Marie Curie), and their pen (Harper Lee), and their words (Eleanor Roosevelt), and their determination (Anne Sullivan), and their ideas (Oprah Winfrey), and their integrity (Miep Gies), and fearlessness (Ameila Earhart), and their ability to open their mouths and take a stand when everyone else is silent (Aung San Suu Kyi).

8. Be an example of a beautiful woman with brains, determination, and integrity.

You already are all of those things. If you ever fear that you are somehow incapable of doing anything - remember this: If you have done any of the following: a) grew life b) impossibly and inconceivably got it out of your body c) taken care of a newborn d) made a pain go away with a kiss e) taught someone to read f) taught a toddler to eat with a utensil g) cleaned up diarrhea without gagging h) loved a child enough to be willing to give your life for them (regardless if they are your own) or i) found a way to be strong when that child is suffering...you are a superhero. do not doubt yourself for one second. Seriously.

9. Teach him to have manners

because its nice. and it will make the world a little better of a place.

10. Give him something to believe in

Because someday he will be afraid, or nervous, or heartbroken, or lost, or just need you, and you won't be able to be there. Give him something to turn to when it feels like he is alone, so that he knows that he will never be alone; never, never, never.

11. Teach him that there are times when you need to be gentle

like with babies, and flowers, and animals, and other people's feelings.

12. Let him ruin his clothes

Resolve to be cool about dirty and ruined clothes. You'll be fighting a losing battle if you get upset every time he ruins another piece of clothing. Don't waste your energy being angry about something inevitable. Boys tend to learn by destroying, jumping, spilling, falling, and making impossible messes. Dirty, ruined clothes are just par for the course.

13. Learn how to throw a football

or how to use a hockey stick, or read music, or draw panda bears (or in my case alpacas), or the names of different train engines, or learn to speak Elvish, or recognize the difference between Gryffindor and Slytherin, or the lyrics to his favorite song. Be in his life, not as an observer but as an active participant.

14. Go outside with him

turn off the television, unplug the video games, put your cellphone on the charger, even put your camera away. Just go outside and follow him around. Watch his face, explore his world, and let him ask questions. It's like magic.

15. Let him lose

Losing sucks. Everybody isn't always a winner. Even if you want to say, "You're a winner because you tried," don't. He doesn't feel like a winner, he feels sad and crappy and disappointed. And that's a good thing, because sometimes life also sucks, no matter how hard (as moms) we try to make it not suck for our kids. This practice will do him good later when he loses again (and again, and again, and again, and again.....) Instead make sure he understands that - sometimes you win - sometimes you lose. But that doesn't mean you ever give up.

16. Give him opportunities to help others

There is a big difference in giving someone the opportunity to help and forcing someone to help. Giving the opportunity lights a flame in the heart and once the help is done the flame shines brighter and asks for more opportunities. Be an example of helping others in your own actions and the way your family helps each other and helps others together.

17. Remind him that practice makes perfect.

This doesn't just apply to performance-based activities (like sports and music) but also applies to everything in life. You become a better writer by writing. You become a better listener by listening. You become better speaker by speaking. Show your son this when he is just young enough to understand (that means from birth, folks - they are making sense of the world as soon as they arrive), practice trick-or-treating at your own front door before the real thing. Practice how you will walk through airport security before a trip. Practice how you order your own food from the fast food cashier. Practice, practice, practice.

18. Answer him when he asks, "Why?"

Answer him, or search for the answer together. Show him the places to look for the answers (like his dad, or grandparents, or his aunts/uncles, or his books, or valid internet searches). Pose the question to him so he can begin thinking about answers himself. Someday, when he needs to ask questions he's too embarrassed to ask you - he'll know where to go to find the right answers.

19. Always carry band-aids and wipes on you.

especially the wipes.

20. Let his dad teach him how to do things

...without interrupting about how to do it the 'right way.' If you let his dad show and teach and discover with your son while he is growing up, some day down the road (after a short period of your son believing his dad knows nothing), he will come to the realization that his dad knows everything. You will always be his mother, but in his grown-up man heart and mind, his dad will know the answers. And this will be how, when your son is too busy with life to call and chat with his mom, you will stay connected to what is happening in his life. Because he will call his dad for answers, and his dad will secretly come and ask you.

21. Give him something to release his energy

drums, a pen, a punching bag, wide open space, water, a dog. Give him something to go crazy with - or he will use your stuff. and then you'll be sorry.

22. Build him forts

Forts have the ability to make everyday normal stuff into magic. Throw the couch cushions, a couple blankets, and some clothespins and you can transform your living room into the cave of wonders. For the rest of his life, he'll be grateful to know that everyday normal stuff has the potential to be magical.

23. Take him to new places

Because it will make his brain and his heart open up wider, and the ideas and questions and memories will rush in.

24. Kiss him

Any mother of sons will tell you that little boys are so loving and sweet. They can be harsh and wild and destructive during most of the day. But there are these moments when they are so kind and sensitive and tender. So much so that it can cause you to look around at the inward, reserved grown men in your life and think, 'what happens in between that made you lose that?' Let's try to stop the cycle by kissing them when they're loving and kissing them even more when they're wild. Kissing them when they're 2 months and kissing them when they're 16 years old. You're the mom - you can go ahead and kiss him no matter how big he gets - and make sure he knows it. p.s. (this one is just as important for dad's too).

25. Be home base

You are home to him. When he learns to walk, he will wobble a few feet away from you and then come back, then wobble away a little farther and then come back. When he tries something new, he will look for your proud smile. When he learns to read, he will repeat the same book to you twenty times in a row, because you're the only one who will listen that many times. When he plays his sport, he will search for your face in the stands. When he is sick, he will call you. When he really messes up, he will call you. When he is grown and strong and tough and big and he feels like crying, he will come to you; because a man can cry in front of his mother without feeling self-conscious. Even when he grows up and has a new woman in his life and gets a new home, you are still his mother; home base, the ever constant, like the sun. Know that in your heart and everything else will fall into place.

12 things happy people do!

2012-01-03T18:27:00.002-06:00

I just love this article about the 12 things happy people do differently. Check it out!

Q by Equinox

2011-12-29T17:06:00.000-06:00

I loved being a part of the Q by Equinox blog with my holiday wish list. It was a fun opportunity to share some of my favorite things: Jewels by Cindy Chao, Linens by GAIA, and the North Texas Food Bank Food 4 Kids Campaign that I am co-chairing for the second year.

Are you finished with your Holiday Shopping?

2011-12-23T10:10:00.000-06:00

Now it is time to wrap! Check out my tips for fun and easy gift wrap ideas on the Today Show!

Holiday Mantle Decor at the Nate Show!

2011-12-23T10:05:00.000-06:00

I love visiting Nate on The Nate Berkus Show and I was thrilled to be able to decorate a mantle with silhouettes and Tartan this year. Watch it today or click here to watch it online!

Stocking Stuffers on Today Show!

2011-12-19T17:28:00.000-06:00

Stuffing the stockings is my absolute favorite thing to do at Christmas. I loved presenting Today's Stocking Selections under $20. What are you stuffing your family stockings with?

What is your Holiday Table Style?

2011-12-14T10:40:00.000-06:00

Take a peek at some of my favorite styles in this Southern Living Holiday Video.

Gift Guide

2011-12-05T22:59:00.000-06:00

Dear Modern Eve and Krystal Schlegel,
Thanks for including The Party Planner in your gift guide!
Merry Christmas!

KSW on The Nate Show!

2011-12-05T22:36:00.000-06:00

I had a great time on The Nate Show! Could Nate Berkus be any more charming? You can watch my segments by clicking here.

Top Chef Texas

2011-12-01T16:15:00.000-06:00

We had the best time hosting the Top Chef contestants and judges at our home for last nights "Progressive Dinner Party" episode. It was a once-in-a-lifetime evening! Here is what Top Chef judge Gail Simmons had to say about it on her blog:

Gail Simmons

Hostess with the Mostest

Gail Simmons describes the chefs' new environment in Dallas.

November 30, 2011

Bravotv.com: After a difficult Quickfire, we’re onto the Elimination! I’ve never heard of a progressive dinner party before. GS: It seemed like a fun idea. I had never attended one until that challenge though. I imagine you need a staff if you’re having one. If you’re at someone’s house having appetizers and yourhouse is where the main course is supposed to be, it’s hard for you to be eating in one place and cooking in another. Which is why we had the chefs do it for us!

I think the funniest moment in the whole episode was when I jokingly asked, “Oh did you have like 700 people at your wedding?” and one of the ladies said, “Actually 1,200.” And she wasn’t joking!

Bravotv.com: “Who knows 1,200 people?”GS: Right?!! I will say they were the sweetest people. We had a really nice day with them. Kim Whitman is the bomb. She was awesome. I loved her. She is smart as whip, and I really enjoyed talking with her.

Bravotv.com: So let’s start with the appetizer house, which actually had the winning dish which was Paul’s, and Sarah’s, which was in the top as well. GS: Yes, Paul’s was the winner because it had so much texture and he used ingredients that the diners didn’t know they liked, but when they tasted it they couldn’t help but fall in love with it. It was the right size for an appetizer. It was appropriate. What Paul said at the beginning I think was so right on: “Listen to the woman of the house.” You are catering an event for a dinner party, and especially a dinner party for a woman like Kim Whitman, who is very particular, entertains a lot, and is considered somewhat of an expert on the subject. Do what she says -- not too little and not too much. The guys will go along with it. And he was right in this instance. He did something that the ladies enjoyed because it had great vegetables, it was light, but it had some depth. The grilled prosciutto was delicious. It was the right size. It was easy to eat. It was absolutely delicious.

I loved Sarah’s artichokes too, and I really liked Lindsay’s salad, but we thought Paul’s just embodied what we asked them to do the most and was done with the most… finesse.

So then we went to the main course house. And the main courses were mostly disappointing. Beverly’s was pretty good. Nyesha wasn’t bad either, but a lot of them were just way too big, way too bulky and clumsy. If there was just one main course or two that would have been one thing, but no one scaled his/her dish to be appropriate for the venue and the challenge. Not a single one of them scaled back the size of their portion or the scope of what they were doing to accommodate for the fact that we were eating four or five main courses. Of course you want it to feel like a main course, but, especially Ty-Lor’s and Chuy’s, were mammoth. I mean they were bigger than massive. Bigger than Texas-sized portions even. And because they were so big, they felt sloppy and disproportionate to everything else. That was our first issue.

Guest Book Garland

2011-12-01T05:37:00.007-06:00

Click here to watch my video about the Guest Book Garland!

Tablescape Tuesday: Dessert Buffet

2011-11-29T07:27:00.000-06:00

Justin and I love to host our friends during the holidays but it is often so difficult to find a night that suits everyone's schedules. After battling the busy holiday calendars we all have, Justin and I settled on hosting a Saturday night dessert party that started at 9 p.m. and continued on until midnight. It was a great way to meet up with friends after they had attended the dinner parties, office parties and children's parties that they had committed to. Here are a few of the details:

We decorated our dining room table with Vintage Santa Claus figures in shades of pink and red. They are so charming! We also wrapped a candy covered garland around the various desserts.

I filled silver bowls and serving pieces roses in shades of pink, red, and peach and also stuck giant Christmas Lollipops into the oasis as if they were a natural part of the arrangement.

Vintage Christmas trees, some in pink and some in green, were scattered down the middle of the table for height. Various sizes and heights of serving pieces were used to display all of the desserts which ranged from pies and cakes to candies and cookies.

Christmas crackers were handed out at the door. They were filled with candy (as if our guests needed any more sweets) and good luck charms.

A big bouche de Noel was added to honor my husband's French heritage.

Southern Living's Holiday Appetizer Trays

2011-11-28T17:28:00.000-06:00

There are some easy and wonderful tips for creating the perfect appetizer tray on this Southern Living video. I hope you enjoy it! What do you put out when guests are coming over?

Click here to play.

Holiday Gift Guides: The Personalized Gift

2011-11-26T00:40:00.001-06:00

I love ordering personalized gifts for the ones I love on my Christmas list. There is really nothing like it! I appreciate that it forces me to go through my list early and check some names off of it. I also think it shows the recipients that I put careful thought and consideration into their present. Here are few of my favorites:

These monogram Wellies might just be about the cutest things I have ever seen! If you know your friend's shoe size, they would make an awesome gift! p.s. I am a size 8.5 ;)

Personalized Post-It Notes: My mom gave me these in my stocking a few years ago and I just love them! They come in so handy and I think of my mom every time I open my drawer and see them. (10 pads for $27)

These notes, with patterns on the corners, make a fantastic gift for a friend or teacher. (12 pads for $40)

I love monogram necklaces and I have always wanted one! I hope my husband reads this! Some of my favorites are:

The large monogram necklace from West Avenue Jewelry. They come in Silver or Gold and you can select from lots of variations on style.

I love Heather Moore's personalized charms for necklaces and bracelets. She is coming to Ylang 23's amazing boutique in the Galleria soon! Sign up for my email campaigns to get an invitation to meet her and get her advice on designing your necklace!

Aren't these pillows adorable? They are made for indoor or outdoor use and I love the colors!

Smythson products are a favorite in my family. My sister's and I are obsessed with their notebooks and have been using them for years. I adore the color of this fantastic luggage tag. Smythson stamps their products.

I would love to give these personalized toiletry bags (isn't the shape just perfect?) to all of my girlfriends!

Personalized Stationery is always a hit! I love these Chevron Stripes from Boatman Geller.

Boatman Geller's note-tote is so great for the gal who has everything!

These adorable playing cards would make a great stocking stuffer.

The Pleasure of Your Company is Requested for Tea!

2011-11-23T08:52:00.000-06:00

You are cordially invited to

Holiday Tea at Arlington Hall

Thursday, December 1, 2011 at 1:00 p.m.

Champagne Reception, High Tea and Holiday Cheer
Conservancy Member $65 * Non-member $75

Table for Ten $600

Arlington Hall at Lee Park

3333 Turtle Creek Boulevard

Complimentary Valet

Featuring

Kimberly Schlegel Whitman

As seen on the Today Show

Editor at-large, Southern Living Magazine

"Holiday Entertaining: Greeting Your Guests

with Style"

RSVP to 214-521-2003

or reserve on-line

With a talent for making the ordinary extraordinary, Kimberly has taken her original and clever take on parties and created an entrepreneurial empire. In 1998 Kimberly launched her own event company, RSVP Soiree Luxury Event Rentals, and, after building up a wonderful business, she sold it in 2006. She also took the century old RSVP Social Calendar online in 1999 and continues to maintain this comprehensive list of Dallas' finest charitable events atwww.rsvpcalendar.com. Her success in this field led to the publication of four books on entertaining, countless television appearances, most recently as a Today Show guest, and a daily radio segment on Dallas' number one morning show. She is also Editor at-large for Southern Living Magazine.
For more information about our special guest, click on her photograph to visit her website.

Join the Lee Park Conservancy and save

on other event and program tickets, plus

enjoy many other benefits of membership

5 Reasons to use your good dishes:

2011-11-23T08:21:00.000-06:00

-They can bring a little smile everyday! Add little luxuries into your every day life and treat yourself! Find joy in the simple things like setting a beautiful table, whether it is for two or twenty!

-Although I am a big advocate of using the good things everyday, there is no better time to start the habit than the holidays. Check out my Thanksgiving Tablescape on The Today Show and see how I incorporated Blue and China into a Harvest Table. Using your best china, crystal and silver will make your guests feel even more special.

-These beautiful things were meant to be used. Don't you think the designers and artists behind the hand-painted china would be sad if they knew it wasn't really being used?

-Coffee tastes better out of a beautiful porcelain cup than an old souvenir mug.

-The number one reason people give me for not using their fine china is that they fear it will chip or break. I have squashed that excuse by telling them about Replacements, Ltd. They have a warehouse the size of seven football fields that houses replacements pieces for over 350,000 patterns! So, you don't need to worry! If something breaks, Replacements, Ltd. can send find you a new one!

Thanksgiving on The Today Show!

2011-11-22T12:41:00.000-06:00

Did you catch me sharing Thanksgiving Tablescape Ideas on the The Today Show yesterday? I hope they helped you with your weeks celebrations. Please send me photos of your table this year!

Today Show Tailgate Recipes

2011-11-18T12:45:00.001-06:00

Did you catch me on The Today Show this morning? I had a great time with Hoda, Kathie Lee and, our surprise football legend, Frank Gifford! It was a blast!

Click here for the recipes we shared on the show.

Click here for details on the tailgating fashions.

Click here for a link to the Astroturf invitations.

Happy Tailgating everyone!

Gilt City Party with Moi!

2011-11-14T11:29:00.001-06:00

I am so excited about the party that Gilt City is hosting for The Party Planner!
I hope you can join us on November 30th at Frederic Fekkai!
The tickets are $35 and include:

• Passed hors d’oeuvres
• Salon smooth-outs, polish changes and makeup applications (first come, first serve)
• Gift bag
• A copy of “The Party Planner”
• Complimentary valet parking

Event takes place on November 30, 2011, from 6 – 8 PM at Frédéric Fekkai Dallas. Must be 21+ to attend.

Here is what Gilt City had to say:

Why We Love This

“The Party Planner” by tastemaker and luxury lifestyle guru Kimberly Schlegel Whitman will inspire your big soirées and small gatherings, just in time for the holidays.
Whitman’s know-how is first-hand. After planning her own Idlewild debutante ball years ago, she launched a successful party rental and planning company and has written five books on entertaining.
Frédéric Fekkai also is a pioneer of style, known for innovative cuts and premium hair products. There are only seven exclusive Fekkai salons, including this one in Highland Park Village.

It’s an idyllic kick-off to the holiday season: fine primping, passed apps and a luxe celebration of Kimberly Schlegel Whitman’s new book “The Party Planner.”

Whitman has a stylish take on parties regaled by Vanity Fair, Elle, Vogue, The New York Timesand The Wall Street Journal, among others. Her daily morning lifestyle segments on 103.7 Lite FM’s Gene & Julie Show keep it real, with tips on everything from spring cleaning to modern-day etiquette.

Leave the evening with a Fekkai gift bag and a signed copy of “The Party Planner.” Also yours: the upcoming party season armed with Whitman’s timeless tips and a bit of indulgence from Fekkai’s trained staff.

About Whitman, Dominick Dunne has said, “Kimberly Schlegel Whitman is my favorite kind of public speaker. She doesn’t put on her glasses and read a long typed speech from the podium. She understands that public speaking is a form of entertainment. She is intelligent, witty, a gifted raconteur, and a bono fide member of the world about which she speaks.”

— Rebecca Sherman, Gilt City Editor

Tablescape Tuesday: Harvest Heaven

2011-11-08T07:00:00.000-06:00

Last Minute Halloween Decor Tips!

2011-10-31T16:40:00.000-05:00

Check out my last minute tips from the Today Show!

Tablescape Tuesday: Halloween Tablescapes

2011-10-25T08:00:00.000-05:00

You all know how much I love tablescaping! Here is the Halloween table that I set for my sister, Kari's, supper club dinner this week. We had so much fun setting the table together. We started with a black lace spider web lace tablecloth. It was the perfect back drop for the orange plates that she already had. Halloween bandanas from the craft store were used as napkins and we added little glittered insects to each place setting. She served her famous turkey chili which she renamed "brain soup" for the occasion. The centerpiece was made up of two black glitter candleabra and some Martha Stewart brand glittered skulls and bones. No flowers were needed here! Send me photos of your tablescapes....askkim@kimberlyschlegel.com.

What do the North Texas Food Bank and the Duchess of Cambridge have in common?

2011-10-17T09:36:00.001-05:00

They both love Katherine Hooker!

I hope you can come by DUO, an amazing culinary shop that will knock your socks off, on Wednesday to meet Katherine and order one of her spectacular jackets or coats!

To learn more about Katherine Hooker and her designs, check out http://katherinehooker.com/

Wedding Wednesday: Marry This!

2011-10-12T06:00:00.000-05:00

I love the super simple guides put together by the three girls at Marry This! They are great style guides to help any bride plan the largest and most important party she has probably every put together! At $30, they are a steal! It is like having a stylist put together a mood board for you and tell you what and how much to order! If you don't want to splurge on a wedding planner, consider ordering your Marry This Guide today!
They launch a new one every month so if you don't see the style you are looking for today, sign up to see the new theme launched every month.

Travel: Charleston

2011-10-11T15:08:00.000-05:00

The weekend in Charleston was amazing! I was there to present at the Taste of Charleston for Southern Living. The weather was wonderful, the food was fantastic and the people were so delightful. Here are a few of my favorite photos from the wonderful weekend:

Boone Hall Plantation hosted the Taste of Charleston Event and our Southern Living Team.

These are the old slave homes on the property of the plantation.

Isn't this tree-lined lane way amazing? The drive up to the old plantation home was so incredible! The Oak Trees were planted in 1743 by the son of Major John Boone.

I presented three holiday tabletops: Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. I am going to do posts on each of them so check back in for details. This image is from my Saturday presentation.

Here we are back stage prepping for James Farmer's presentation on Fall Flowers. Rebecca Reed, from Southern Living, was all smiles as they prepped!

This was taken moments before my Sunday presentation.

Details of James Farmer's amazing florals which he named Austin, Houston and Dallas!

Here I am with James right before our presentations. His smile is always on his face! He is so charming and a delight to be around. Pick up his new book: A Time To Plant from Gibbs Smith Publishers.

Although I didn't have time to eat there, HUSK was located just next to my hotel and I could see it's charming facade out my hotel window. It is getting rave reviews and all of Charleston is buzzing about it!

There are so many fantastic antique stores on King Street and Niche was one of my favorites.

These are the stairs leading up to John Pope Antiques. I found some real treasures here!

These amazing porcelain vegetables and the Jane Hutchison for Gorham enamel flowers above are at Vieuxtemps, a gorgeous store at 180 King Street. They have a beautiful china room in the back! Don't miss it!

More of James Farmers flowers backstage. Gorgeous!

The Longhorn booth at Taste of Charleston - they were all so delicious!

This was the presentation tent and we loved meeting all of the wonderful visitors.

This fantastic sweetgrass basket was left as a welcome gift for me in my room. So wonderful! You can't leave Charleston with out a sweetgrass souvenir!

We had a delicious dinner at McCradys! I can't wait to go back and visit Charleston again.

Tablescape Tuesday: Haunted Mansion Halloween

2011-10-11T04:00:00.000-05:00

I set a fun Haunted Victorian Mansion table for my demonstration at Taste of Charleston last weekend. It was such a blast and I wanted to share some of my fun ideas with you!

You can see all of the holiday tables I set in this image but it also shows the layers of lace and crochet that were torn and ripped that we used for this table. Halloween is a great opportunity to use an old lace tablecloth that might have a tear or a stain on it.

I used beat up pewter plates and added red fabric paint to an old napkin. The napkin already had a small tear so I added more tears and wrapped it up with a piece of chain that I bought at the hardware store.

I made this mummy glass by wrapping it in medical tape. You could do the same for kids by wrapping up a juice box and adding some googly eyes!

The gorgeous flatware is from World Market. I would use it any time but it worked for this haunted mansion table because of the pretty black lace design.

Silver candle sticks were placed around the table with black and grey candles in them and spider web around them. I also covered a dollar store black crow on a bed of moss under a cloche for a creepy touch. The pumpkins in the background were cut off flat at the top and we placed two trays of moon pies on them. It is a great trick for adding height to a buffet table.

The place card was made by the Left Handed Calligrapher with white ink on black paper. I burned the edges and nailed it to a small white pumpkin.

Book Signing for James Farmer

2011-10-10T12:28:00.001-05:00

Come out to meet my friend and fellow Southern Living Contributor, James Farmer, at his book signing tomorrow. He is wonderful and his book is so beautiful!

Fantastic Pumpkin with out the mess!

2011-10-03T10:00:00.000-05:00

If you are like me you are dreading cleaning up the pumpkin carving mess that will certainly happen when the jack-0-lantern carving begins. I knew that there must be an easy way to avoid cutting into our pumpkins all together this year so I have explored a few options. Take your pick and please send me photos of your pumpkin art!

-Kids will love the Mr. Potato Head Pumpkin Kits! They are soooooo cute! The kit comes with everything you will need to make pumpkin pirate, princess, ninja, witch or clown. They retail for anywhere from $9 to $12 which is a bargain in my opinion because there is no clean up! You simply stick they eyes, nose, mouth, ears and meet into a small pumpkin and, voila, a mess-less jack-o-lantern!

-If you love a traditional Jack-o-lantern but don't want to carve then pull out the black duct tape and cut away! Using sharp sewing scissors, cut the duct tape into the shapes you need: two triangles for the eyes, another for the nose and a crescent shape for the mouth. It is easy and simple!

-Turning a pumpkin on it's side is perfect for those of you who like to color outside the lines. Grab some permanent markers or paints and turn your pumpkin over so that the stem is facing you. Using the stem as the nose, paint eyes and a mouth on your pumpkin. You could top it off with a set of mop strings on top as hair.

-Remember the plastic spider rings that we all used to wear as kids? They make perfect pumpkin decor now! Make small one inch slices into the pumpkin and insert the rings into them so that it looks like the spiders are crawling around it. Top it off with some fake spider webs and you have a creepy crawly pumpkin!

-Stencils are a great way to go if you don't have a creative bone in your mummy....uh, body! Try using a template that you can purchase at the craft store or on line. You can also use a doily! I couldn't find a source for this image but it is so cute!
-Check out Southern Living for more ideas!

Southern Living Style on Good Day Atlanta

2011-09-27T18:11:00.000-05:00

I had a great morning in Atlanta at the beautiful Fox Studios. The team at Good Day Atlanta is so gracious.
Here is the segment we did featuring affordable design tips from Southern Living Style.

New York Book Signing

2011-09-23T10:53:00.000-05:00

I had such a great time celebrating The Party Planner in New York at MacKenzie Childs! You can read more about it in Dori's World on Haute Living's site.

Child Friendly Decor from Southern Living Style

2011-09-15T11:31:00.002-05:00

Did you catch my segment on Good Morning Texas yesterday? If you missed it, you can watch my child friendly decor tips here!

Child Friendly Decor from Southern Living Style

2011-09-15T11:31:00.000-05:00

Did you catch my segment on Good Morning Texas yesterday? If you missed it, you can watch my child friendly decor tips here!

Please Join Me at a Booksigning

2011-09-15T07:00:00.000-05:00

Pizzazzerie!

2011-09-02T14:46:00.001-05:00

I am honored to be interviewed on the adorable Pizzazzerie site! It is a great resource for party inspiration and tips and Courtney Dial is about to be fellow Gibbs Smith Author! I can't wait for her book to come out in March!

She is giving away a copy of my book so get on her blog and leave a comment right away!

KSW for GAIA!

2011-08-30T11:34:00.000-05:00

I am thrilled to launch my KSW collection for GAIA at my book signing on Thursday, September 1st from 4-6 at Madison in Highland Park Village! I love the concept behind GAIA: Each of the items is made from vintage fabrics by ladies who are talented and in need of work. You can read each of their stories on the hang tags attached and, I promise, you will be moved. I am so proud to be a part of this amazing project and my friend, Paula Minnis, deserves a round of applause for her hard work and the gift she is giving these women.

Get Creative!

2011-08-30T08:00:00.000-05:00

I love this list from www.peekofperfection.com

The Party Planner Book Launch - Dallas

2011-08-29T17:42:00.000-05:00

I am really excited about the launch of The Party Planner! I hope you can join me at my book signing on Sept 1st at Madison in Highland Park Village from 4 -6.

Bottle Vases

2011-08-22T22:22:00.000-05:00

I was so excited when my friend, Katherine, shared this fantastic idea for flowers! She and her young daughter took white spray paint and thoroughly coated each of the glass bottles they were planning to recycle and gave them a new purpose. The result is so stylish and dramatic. Thanks for sharing Katherine!

Back to School Checklist

2011-08-22T22:06:00.000-05:00

I love Mom Adgenda Products. I have spoken about them before on the Gene & Julie Show but I always follow their new items and keep an eye out for things that might be helpful. They often offer free downloadable checklists and worksheets and they are fantastic! The latest free help sheet they have created is a fantastic Back To School Checklist. I also love their Goal Sheets and helpful Holiday Lists.

I also love their School Years Portfolios. They are fantastic journals to keep photographs, write down memories, and record your childs height, weight and other details. There is a space to store a report card, a few art or project samples and some writing samples. It is the perfect book to hold everything you need to keep for an entire school career! It comes in Aqua, Sage and Rose. The owner and founder of MomAdgenda says that if her house ever catches on fire, the School Years Portfolios are the first thing she will grab!

Summer Style

2011-08-15T14:57:00.000-05:00

I love hanging out at our summer house in Canada. This is where I do most of my writing for my book projects and I am now trying to finish up my next book on weddings before the September 1st deadline. Wish me luck!
The high here this week is 75! It sure beats Dallas' 100+ degree summer! Here are some of my favorite simple summer style tips:

Ultrabraid hat by the San Diego Hat Company

-Wear a big hat! I used to blow off sunscreen and hats but I started getting sun spots on my face and arms a few years ago. Now I won't go outside with out a wide brim!

-I put on a Roberta Roller Rabbit Kurta almost every day when I am here. I don't know why I bother to pack anything else! I throw on a pair of white jeans under and wear it as a top for dinner.

-I always wear big shades because I love the way they look. These square sunglasses by Chloe are the perfect shape for my round face and I have managed to hang on to them for several years now!

-I wear my Jack Rogers Sandals almost every day in the summer. I've been a fan for years but I am even more loyal since they made a donation to the North Texas Food Bank Campaign I am co-chairing!

-I always wear a big heavy cable-knit sweater on the plane. I like the loose kind I can zip or tie around my waist.

Back to School Style

2011-08-13T09:00:00.000-05:00

Upwardly Mobile Satchel in Oxford University

I love back to school time! Tune in to 103.7 Lite FM next week to hear some of my favorite back to school tips! In the meantime, I had to give you a link to the fantastic back-to-school bag! It is perfect for a student or a car-pooling mom like me!

LOVE This: Lady Like Canvas Espadrilles

2011-08-10T07:45:00.000-05:00

I love these comfy and chic canvas espadrilles from Castaner. So chic!

You can order them at La Garconne. LOVE!

Red Carpet - Seven Days In Utopia

2011-08-09T18:28:00.001-05:00

The premiere of Seven Days in Utopia was fantastic! Check out my Red Carpet Coverage for Southern Living. I had the honor of interviewing actors Academy Award Winner Robert Duvall and Lucas Black as well as PGA golfers K.J. Choi, Stewart Cink, Rich Beem and Rickie Fowler.

Beat the Heat Beauty

2011-07-25T13:47:00.001-05:00

I love visiting the amazing team at Good Day Dallas. Here is the segment I did this morning on Beat the Heat Beauty!

Summer Entertaining Do's and Don'ts

2011-07-25T13:41:00.000-05:00

Check out my video with Summer Entertaining Do's and Don'ts on SouthernLiving.com.

My List: Reichenbach

2011-07-20T17:41:00.000-05:00

I adore these amazing tabletop shapes from Taste by Paola for Reichenbach. They are made in the German town by the same name and are available by special order from www.TabulaTua .com Can't you just picture them holding a fantastic summer soup? Gorgeous!

My List: Lace Plates

2011-07-18T17:55:00.000-05:00

I adore anything for the table-top and I also adore anything made by hand so when I found these amazing lace plates by Brazilian artist Caroline Harari I went crazy. They are so gorgeous!

Harari imprints gossamer Lace on clay and the plates she creates are gorgeous!

$25 each on Ecostasy.com

Vintage Cowgirl

2011-07-18T17:39:00.000-05:00

So many friends ask me where they should go for Cowboy boots when they come to visit Dallas. I haven't ever had the perfect answer until now! I love Cowgirl Cuties, Lisa Gillham's company that sells and embellishes vintage boots!

Lisa lives in Rockwall and sells boots from the '70s and '80s that are in like-new condition.

But that is not all! The icing on the cake is her "bling boot" service! You tell her your color preferences and she will add Swarovski crystals along the boot stitching!

Shoot her an email to get started: lisagmom3@sbcglobal.net

Happy Trails!

My Five Favorite Drugstore Beauty Items

2011-07-13T08:00:00.000-05:00

I am such a product junkie and I love nothing more than heading down the aisles of the drugstore looking for new treasures at token prices. Here are five of my favorite drug store products. I would love to hear about yours!

1. I have tried just about every foundation under the sun and I finally found the perfect match for my combination skin in L'Oreal's True Match Super Blendable Makeup. I use Buff Beige - N4. After spending thousands trying every expensive option on the market, I have fallen head over heels for a makeup that costs less than $11!

2. I know it is made for babies but I can't resist using Johnson's Baby Lotion. I use it on my toddler and myself. I actually don't know if I ever stopped using it! I try other lotions because I think that maybe I could use a more sophisticated fragrance every once in a while but they just don't measure up. It really does continue to keep your skin baby soft!

3. I have super long hair and I love wearing it down but my husband love is when I wear it up! I am certainly not a master at the up do but these Goody Simple Styles Spin Pins have really changed the way I wear my hair. I throw my hair up in a ballerina bun or a sleek chignon and then spin a pin in. It really does hold my fine hair in place all day long. They truly disappear and two spin pins hold better than two dozen bobby pins!

4. I use Neutrogena Body Clear Body Scrub all year long but it is especially effective in the hot Texas summers. I love the grapefruit scent and the refreshing feeling it leaves. The Salicylic Acid in it fights acne so I especially love to use it after a work-out. I apply a little bit to a sponge and scrub-a-dub!

5. I noticed every time I had my makeup done by a pro, they used L'Oreal's Original Voluminous Mascara. I thought it would would merit a try after seeing it so many times and I am now addicted! I used to spend over $30 for a mascara that I thought I could not live with out. Because mascara has a short 3-month shelf life, it was really adding up! At $7.29, L'Oreal's Original Voluminous Mascara is a steal in comparison.

Five Simple Summer Essentials

2011-06-21T22:48:00.000-05:00

Happy First Day of Summer! Here are my five simple summer essentials. What are yours?

1. Aviator Sunglasses make me feel like a movie star even when I have skipped my make up!
Ralph Lauren Women's 0RL7002 Aviator Sunglasses

2. White Jeans are a summer staple. I pair them with everything from simple striped tee-shirts to lacey tops and heels for the evening.
AG Denim Belle Low Rise Five Pocket Jean in White

3. I wear Jack Rogers sandals almost every day in the summer! They are so comfortable and have a very Jackie O in Palm Beach look so I don't feel sloppy. Jack Rogers - Palm Beach Navajo Flat

4. I use the classic LL Bean totes all summer. They are great for travel and they make a fantastic beach bag!

5. Even when I am not there, I love to smell like the beach! Bobbi brown makes the most amazing Beach fragrance and I love the body scrub and soap bar too! Bobbi Brown Beach Body Scrub 6.9 Oz.

A Father's Day Tablescape

2011-06-17T14:30:00.000-05:00

What are you doing to celebrate Father's Day?

Here is a tablescape that I set and is included in my book, Tablescapes : Setting the Table with Style.

Our table was set up in the library next to a window with a fun view. I used a folding table and rental chairs to make the extra dining area. The room was perfect because it had a masculine feel anyway! I purchased the fabric for the table cloth from an inexpensive shop that sells fabric for men's clothing. It is a hounds tooth that would have been great for a suit!

The napkins were made from men's shirt fabric and we folded them to resemble a shirt pocket.

The overlay was made from a garbage bag full of ties that I picked up at the local Salvation Army for a few dollars. We sewed them together to make an overlay that would really honor dad! We wrapped gifts in the stock pages of the Wall Street Journal and curled strips of the paper to make a "bow."

Style Icon: Ann Bonfoey Taylor

2011-06-16T07:00:00.001-05:00

I adore the amazing Charlotte Moss and I love the article she contributed to the Wall Street Journal about Ann Bonfoey Taylor. She was part athlete and part lady but she was always styled to perfection. Click here to read the article.

My List: Summer Watches

2011-06-15T13:06:00.000-05:00

I love selecting a fun summer watch to add as a bold accessory every year. Here are a few of my favorites:

Michael Kors Ladies Glitz Chronograph Black Dial Watch Black $225

Nixon Time Teller P Watch $60

Michael Kors Rose Gold Watch $250.00

Swatch SVCK4038G Midsize S Full Blooded Silver Chronograph Watch $108

Summer Style: A Long White Dress

2011-06-12T12:32:00.011-05:00

I die over this long white Halston Heritage Long Pleated Dress in White ! What a gorgeous crisp summer look. Just remember that you can't wear white to a wedding unless you are the bride or Pippa Middleton!

Another gorgeous option is this Graham & Spencer One Sleeve Long Dress. Isn't it chic? You could take this one to the beach for a night out or a gala with an amazing necklace!

This option looks so comfortable and elegant. Add a fantastic pair of earrings and this ADAM Chiffon Dress with Lace Yoke can be worn almost anywhere!

Take your favorite white t-shirt and add:

2011-06-11T14:45:00.000-05:00

1. Earrings by Kendra Scott 2. Alice & Olivia Long Skirt 3.Natasha Babushka Ring 4. Pour La Victoire Jaclyn Espadrille Wedge Sandals 5. Andara Turquoise and Crystal Teardrop Bangle 6. Cleobella Mexicana Clutch 7. Ray-Ban - 3025 Aviator

2011-06-09T23:26:00.000-05:00

With Sara Evans on the Red Carpet at the CMT Music Awards

Did you catch my interviews for Southern Living on the Red Carpet at the CMT Music Awards? Here is a highlight reel! I loved asking Country Music's biggest stars about their favorite southern dish, advice from their mothers, and their favorite southern traditions. Sara Evans, The Band Perry, The JaneDear Girls, Kristen Chenoweth, Laura Bell Bundy, and many more had a great time sharing! Enjoy!

With Hunter Hayes on the Red Carpet at the CMT Music Awards. He is about to go on tour with Taylor Swift!

With Laura Bell Bundy on the Red Carpet at the CMT Music Awards.

With Ludacris on the Red Carpet. His performance with Jason Aldean was amazing!

With Jerrod Niemann on the Red Carpet at the CMT Music Awards

Sail Away Summer Tablescape

2011-06-09T08:00:00.000-05:00

I can't believe how summer has flown by! It was a really busy one in the Whitman household! We spent as much time as we could at our house on the beach in Canada. It is the home that I lived in until I was eight years old and moved to Texas! We love living in Texas (as my mother always quotes "I wasn't born in Texas but I got here as fast as I could!") but I must say that our Canadian summers are a great way to beat the heat.

In my book, Tablescapes: Setting the Table With Style, I featured several tablescapes from our beach cottage. I thought it would be fun to post the photos here and maybe they would provide some inspiration for you!

Most of the time, we have wonderful weather in Canada and we eat on the deck but there are always a few evenings that require us to move inside. The extended family and guests always gather around this antique Mennonite farm table. It is so charming and has so much character because it is full of grooves and dents. As we don't use this table daily, the sailboat in the center of the table is always left there for decoration. Antique pine chairs line one side of the table and the long antique Mennonite bench (maybe from a church or community centre?) provides flexible seating on the other side. When the table is not in use, we turn the bench around to face the seating group on the other side of table. When dinner starts, we remove the sailboat and set it on a side buffet so that we can see each other across the table.

Selecting the table arrangements is one of my favorite things to do. I find it so relaxing and it is a great way to exercise my creativity! I chose raffia placemats (from the flea market in the South of France) because I wanted something neutral to frame to amazing vintage plates that my mother found several years ago. They were created for some sort of sailing ship and the crest has an S on it....perfect for my "Schlegel" side of the family! The blue glassware is extremely inexpensive (about three dollars a piece!) from Pier One but it adds a fantastic dramatic punch to our fairly neutral tablesetting. The navy and white geometric print napkins from Madison add a bit of a modern touch to to the vintage table and the navy handled nautical flatware is from Pottery Barn.

Although our entertaining at the beach is very informal, we still like to put place cards out when we have guests. We like to ensure that our friends will get to know our family and the best way to do that is to mix up the seating plan! These place cards have a navy border and gold sailors knot.

For our salad course, we used another set of vintage plates that my mother found. This set has a nautical crest in gold at the top. I love the way the navy rimmed plate underneath it frames the white plate and the raffia placemat highlights the gold crest.

I would love to see photographs of your Tablescapes! Email me at askkim@kimberlyschlegel.com.

Style Icon: Mrs. Kennedy

2011-06-05T13:06:00.000-05:00

I just took a few minutes to browse through the addition to the JFK Library's Website of 30 images and descriptions of Mrs. Kennedy's dresses. It is a lovely walk through history! Thanks to my friend, Lori, for sharing it with me! Click here to view and let me know what you think!

Monogram Mania!

2011-06-02T08:00:00.004-05:00

I recently finished a photo shoot for the August issue of Southern Living that reminded me, once again, of how much I love monograms! I had the idea for the table down and I knew what I wanted but as I set the table out in the days before the shoot, I realized that it still needed a bit of a punch! I was excited about using crisp white linens but I just felt that something was missing. I meandered in to one of my favorite stores, Madison, in Highland Park Village and discovered just what it was! A monogram! Madison rushed and made me the perfect monogram in green and white stripe thread and in an over sized design. You will have to wait until August to see it but I promise it is worth the wait! Thank you Madison!

Marking your linens goes way back to the medieval times when many generations of a family might reside under the same roof. They would mark their initials on their linens so that they could keep track who owned what on laundry day! Doesn't sound very glamorous!

In the 1950's there was a resurgence of monograms because technology allowed sewing machines to make them. Everything from poodle skirts to cardigans was monogrammed just because it was the popular thing to do!

Today, the monogram is a lovely way to personalize your things when so many of our things seem mass produced. It is a simple luxury and one that I love from a design perspective too!

I love anything monogrammed. Here a few of my favorite things:

Sandals from Jack Rogers $158.00

Bloomers and Diaper Covers from The Monogram Shop $45.00

Bed Linens from Leontine Linens (prices at www.LeontineLinens.com)

LL Bean Boat & Tote Bags (Starting at $17.95)

What do you have monogrammed?

Father's Day Gift Ideas

2011-06-01T14:37:00.000-05:00

My first Father's Day suggestions require a bit of planning and pre-ordering but I hope you see that as a way to get ahead on your to-do list!

I love the customized bobble heads on www.Headbobble.com. They are so great because they use a 3D computer to transform your photographs in to a Bobble Head!

Check out www.pinholepress.com for some amazing Father's Day photo-gifts. The designs are amazing and their gift suggestions will impress even the most design-snobby dad!

Check back in next week for some additional suggestions!

LONG!

2011-05-31T07:51:00.004-05:00

There is a major trend that I have fallen in love with: The Long Trend!

I love the look of a long gown for a gala but I also love the long skirts that have made their way back into our everyday attire. Last week, I got to meet the amazing Rachel Zoe at my friend, Neiman Marcus creative director, Ken Downing's home. She was, of course, wearing a long dress!

Here are some of the tips that make the long look work:

-Balance is key! If your skirt is full, wear a fitted top. If your skirt is fitted, wear a loose blouse.

-If you are tall, you can probably pull off a long skirt with flats or sandals but, if you are not, wear a wedge or heel.

-A dramatic accessory goes well with the dramatic look! A stack of colorful bangles or a pair of statement earrings are a great way to make a statement.

-For an evening look, your hem can go all the way to the floor. For daytime, the toe of your shoes should peek out of the bottom of your skirt.

Memorial Weekend!

2011-05-25T10:22:00.000-05:00

1. Ginham Napkin Rolls $35 2. Ceramic Stripe Drink Dispenser 3. My Tablescapes Book! 4. Striped Tee Shirt from Aubin & Wills 5. Red Boyfriend Shorts

Waking Up Your Coffee Table-Fine Living

2011-05-23T19:47:00.000-05:00

Your little Picasso

2011-05-23T08:00:00.000-05:00

I have such a hard time getting rid of any of my child's artwork. To me, every single work of his art is a masterpiece! They tend to pile up on the table or overlap on the fridge in our house! I think I have now found two solutions that might allow you to give each and every masterpiece it's proper respect!

Cuco Books are the perfect solution when you are trying to make space. Lyssa Orchid takes your selected art works, has them professionally photographed and sends the images back to you in a beautifully bound book. It is the perfect way to preserve and celebrate the art with out taking up any wall space!

The Great Remember offers another artistic solution. You can send them the artwork, outgrown clothing, or photographs and they will create an applique or mosaic suitable for framing! Of course, if you are crafty, you could try your hand it and make it a family summer project!

Summer Sipping

2011-05-18T10:36:00.000-05:00

Kate Headley Photography from RitzyBee.com

I just love the Up A Notch column in Southern Living! It has wonderful advice to make every day tasks just a little bit more special! The June issue really caught my eye and I enjoyed sharing the tips from Ritzy Bee Events in D. C. on my daily segment on the Gene & Julie Show on 103.7 Lite FM this morning. Kelly Seizert and Maria Cooke are featured in the magazine with tips to add a little garnish to your favorite summer drinks. They suggest that you build your own Herb Tower (They recommend one from Leaf & Petal 205/877-3030) and let your guests get to work by selecting a garnish of their choice for their cocktail. Check out their blog for some additional images of beautiful herb containers and check out the June issue of Southern Living for great summer sip recipes and five recommended pairings!

Cheesey!

2011-05-11T07:00:00.001-05:00

For tips on the perfect Cheese Tray check out Freckles and the Golden Goose!

Party: Leather and Lace Lingerie Shower

2011-05-05T22:12:00.000-05:00

I had more fun planning my sister's lingerie shower! It was such a blast! I hosted it with our younger sister, Krystal, and two other close friends. It was a girly Leather and Lace party that was so much fun!

Leather and Lace Invitations from HBDesigns set the tone for our pink and black evening.

The Bride has always resembled a Barbie Doll so I couldn't resist having these Leather and Lace Barbie Cakes made!

Lycheetinis, the Bride to be's favorite drink, were served.

The napkins and flatware were tied up with black leather and pink satin ribbons.

Of course, we had to serve whoopie pies!

This outdoor seating area in our hostesses home was a popular spot!

Clear acrylic frames were lined with lace and used as serving trays for the passed food.

Steps: False Eyelashes!

2011-05-03T08:00:00.000-05:00

After a minor disaster in the radio studio last week, I decided it was time to spell out the steps to applying false lashes. I hate to admit it but it was my wacky male radio pals who didn't apply the lashes right! They were inspired the Patrick Dempsey - False Eyelash news story and thought that they might look McDreamy if they wore them too! Let's just say that it was more like a McNightmare!

There are a few steps that can make applying false eyelashes an art you can master! I love the look for special occasions but it took me a while to figure out how to apply them like a pro. Here are the steps that can take your lashes from lovely to lavish:

Step 1:

Complete your eyeshadow application

Step 2:

Determine if the lashes you selected will fit your eye by lining them up with the outer corner of your eye with out any glue. You can bend them or fiddle with them to mold them to the shape of your eye.

Step 3:

Trim them if they are too long. Always trim off the thicker outside section and not the inside section.

Step 4:

Apply a thin layer of black liquid eye-liner.

Step 5:

Apply mascara to your natural lashes.

Step 6:

Apply a thin layer of glue to the stem of a q-tip (not the cotton part) or the dull end of your tweezers and then spread a thin and even layer to the edge of the false lashes. I like to use the black glue.

Step 7:

Sing the ABCs! Seriously! Wait for the length of the ABC song so that the glue gets a little bit tacky before you apply it to your eye.

Step 8:

Apply the lashes by lining them up with the outer corner of the eye and placing them along the lash line. You can fiddle with them and push them down using the back of your tweezers (never the sharp side!) or another firm object.

Step 9:

After it dries, go over the band of the lashes with another layer of black liquid eyeliner. This will ensure that the false lashes are not showing!

Derby Style Entertaining

2011-05-02T09:16:00.000-05:00

Louisville Stoneware's Homestretch Bowl

I just got back from a quick trip to Louisville to chat with NBC's Matt McCutcheon about Equestrian Style. It was my first television segment as Editor at Large for Southern Living and I truly enjoyed the opportunity to share the magazine's favorite finds live from Churchill Downs!
I am back home in Dallas now and wanted to re-create some of the excitement here! Why not host a Derby Party? Here are a few ideas to bring the spirit of Louisville to your home:

-I guess it goes with out saying that a hat should be required! Nothing can put you in more of a Derby mood than a wide brim flower topped hat! Click here for my tips on picking out the perfect hat.

-Celebrate the Race for the Roses by decorating with red roses of course! Red roses are typically considered the flower of romance but this the perfect opportunity to purchase some for yourself and decorate your buffet!

-Cover your buffet table in traditional Southern cuisine. In particular, you can celebrate with some traditional recipes that include Bourbon! Click here for recipe suggestions from Southern Living!

-You must serve the official drink of the Kentucky Derby for nearly a century at your party. The MintJulep is a refreshing drink make from whisky, mint, sugar, water and mint and it is served in a silver cup. The official recipe is here! Each year over 120,000 are served in the two days that make up the Derby!

-I love the history, style and practicality of Louisville Stoneware. A Derby Party must have: The Homestretch Bowl. It is so decorative on the outside and the inside but it is versatile too! You could fill it with red roses and place it in the center of your buffet or you could put it in the freezer for one hour before your party starts and then use it to chill your wine, no ice required!

Teacher Appreciation Week!

2011-05-02T08:42:00.000-05:00

Raoul Dufy painting from www.AllPosters.com

This is National Teacher Appreciation Week and I couldn't let it slip by with out offering up some tips on a few simply ways to say Thank You!

-Whether you have a teacher of your own, a teacher for your children or a teacher as a friend, take a few minutes this week to compose a note to them. Instead of a generic Thank You note, write out an example or a story of a way that you know the teacher has made an impact in your life, your child's life or the life of their students.

-Have your kids write their own notes to their teachers. You could start a few sentences for them and ask them to fill in the blanks (ex. I learned .......... from you!, Thank you for........, ) or they could draw a picture or make a craft for them.

-Work together as a class to present a full bouquet of flowers to your teacher. Ask each child to bring any flower they choose to class and put them all together in a vase to present a bouquet that represents the students.

Love This: Personalized Tray

2011-04-29T17:19:00.000-05:00

I just love this personalized tray from Fontaine Maury ($45). It is the perfect gift Mothers Day gift! To order yours, click here.

Do I Need and Umbrella?

2011-04-29T08:00:00.001-05:00

I am one of those people who keeps and umbrella in the car all of the time but never remembers to wear my raincoat. Uggggg!

I have now found one of the greatest gifts known to man on the Internet. I swear! This website is so easy to use and I am an addict this time of year! DoINeedAnUmbrella.com is a God-Send! You simply go to DoINeedAnUmbrella.com and type in your zip code and it will give you a very simple Yes or No to the question. It also gives you a mini-forecast but nothing complicated. Check it out as you are getting dressed or running out the door for the day and it might just make your day!

Stay dry out there!

The Royal Wedding's Dress Designer for a Princess to be!

2011-04-28T20:54:00.000-05:00

Although we still don't know what Kate Middleton will be wearing on her big day, we do know that another Princess-to-be will be in Akris! Albert Kriemler of Akris has created the wardrobe for Charlene Wittstock, fiancee of Prince Albert II, for the Royal Wedding Festivities. Charlene is set to wed Monaco's Prince and the son of American Actress Grace Kelly this summer.
Ms. Wittstock will be wearing a dove gray silk dupioni evening dress with laser-cut silk organza applique and a silk chiffon stole to tonight's royal dinner.
For the ceremony tomorrow, she will wear a light gray coat and dress with a hat and crocheted gloves. She is also going to carry the Akris Allegra clutch in dove gray ostrich. I can't wait to see the photos!

Style Setters

2011-04-28T08:00:00.000-05:00

Jan Showers is one of my Style Icons. I have had the privilege of working with her and developing a relationship with her that goes beyond friendship! To me, she is like a super stylish aunt who always shows up just when I need her. She has taught me so much over the last ten years and I can't wait to learn more and more from her every day!
One of my favorite ways to keep up with Jan's style lessons is to read her "notebook." Leave it to Jan to give a blog a more stylish name! One of my favorite blog entries is about Style and Jan's favorite style influences and style icons. Click here to read it!

Steps: Arranging Hydrangea

2011-04-26T14:01:00.000-05:00

Photo by Krystal Schlegel

I love hydrangea. I would actually go as far as to say that they are my favorite flowers!

However, they are not easy to arrange or care for. Here are a few steps to help you keep your looking happy!

Step 1:

Choose flowers that are very open and look alive. They should feel a little bit papery if you touch the petals. I like every color of hydrangea so you can't go wrong mixing them or choosing to work with a single color. The blue varieties are my favorite.

Step 2:

Prepare your hydrangeas by slicing them above a leaf stem at a sharp angle with a knife. The more of the inside of the stem you expose, the more the hydrangea will get to drink. This is important because they are very thirsty flowers! You can also give them stem an extra little slice to allow more water to sneak in to the center. Place them back into a bucket of cool water after you slice the stem.

Step 3:

Condition your hydrangea by dipping the stem ends in to really hot water for about 30 second before you start arranging them in cool water.

Step 4:

Hydrangea are so lush and pretty and sometimes a single bloom of a jumbo hydrangea can be gorgeous in a simple container. Other times, I like to mass a bunch of them in various colors an oversize urn. They can also be torn apart and made into smaller flowers and stuck into hydrangea. Oasis can almost suffocate a hydrangea so don't expect an arrangement like this to last for long.

Check out my video where I show you the steps to make a square bouquet that included hydrangea!

You can also check out my sister, Krystal Schlegel's blog, for more tips on arranging hydrangea!

Easter Egg Hunt Tip!

2011-04-21T07:24:00.000-05:00

My clever mother-in-law, Caroline Whitman, gave me a genius idea for our Easter Egg Hunt last week. We had a variety of ages on the guest list and I was planning on making some of the eggs very easy for the 18 month olds to find. I was worried that the eager 4 year old guests would snatch up the easy eggs before the little ones got a chance at them. Caroline's solution was to hide the green and blue eggs in more difficult spots. We instructed the older hunters to look only for blue and green! It was great! Happy Hunting!

invitation etiquette

2011-04-20T07:00:00.001-05:00

I am crazy about this Guide to Baby Invitations by Tiny Prints ! Check it out for etiquette and advice on any Baby event invitation from a baptism to a baby shower.

How to make a Square Bouquet

2011-04-13T08:07:00.000-05:00

Charmed, I'm Sure!

2011-04-04T15:57:00.000-05:00

Hosting a birthday party for a friend is a blast! Finding the perfect gift can be a challenge though!
I was recently introduced to a new friend over lunch and I complemented her on her wonderful charm bracelet! I could not believe it when she told me the story about it! It is genius!

When she had a "big" birthday, her friends got together and hosted a party. Instead of sending everyone on their seperate way to find a gift, the hosts suggested that they purchase a charm for her instead! The hostesses bought her the bracelet and each of the guests presented a charm and explained why they picked the one they did. They suggested to each of the guests that they shop at a certain store which offered to keep track of the purchases so that there were no duplicates. She said that they laughed and cried and had the most memorable evening when each of her friends presented her with a story and a charm. Isn't that a lovely idea!

3000 Cupcakes!!!

2011-04-04T14:24:00.000-05:00

I am so thrilled to share the news that we sold over 3,000 Red Cross Red Velvet Cupcakes at Sprinkles last week! That means we raised over $10,500 for the American Red Cross Dallas Area Chapter. I am so grateful to everyone who showed up to indulge in some sweet treats for a great cause!

I also owe a huge thank you to all of the media who helped us get the word out! Thank you to PaperCity, Dallas Child, Good Morning Texas, Pink Memo, and The Gene & Julie Show!

Egg Hunt Extravaganza

2011-04-04T09:00:00.000-05:00

I must admit that my son's Egg Hunt got a bit larger than I expected it to this year. I got a little carried away! We had so much fun and enjoyed having so many families at our hunt! I made a little video about it that you can watch by clicking here. The trick to keeping little kids entertained at an event is keeping them busy! We had real live little chicks for them to hold, little bracelets that they could fill with Crayola Play Sand in bright colors, sand boxes with tons of tools, an entertaining Easter Bunny walking around, even coloring pages at their seats! Of course, I like to make sure that the parents have fun too! I want everything to be a feast for the eyes, even the buffet table! Instead of simply putting sandwiches out on trays, we first covered the trays with a layer of jelly beans! It was such a simple and fun way to add some color to our buffet table. We also had to beat the wind as our event was outside so we placed the paper plates and napkins in a basket that was just deep enough to protect them. I hope you enjoy the photos and the video! I would love to hear about your ideas for making an Easter Egg Hunt memorable!

Hats - Royal Style

2011-03-29T08:00:00.000-05:00

Hats! Kate wears them so well doesn't she? I love them and I had one made for a wedding that I went to last year! I felt so glamorous in it and I can't wait for an excuse to wear it again. Even though I will be watching the Royal Wedding from home, I think I will go ahead and put mine on again!

Here are a few tips for selecting the right hat for you:

-Select a hat that suits your body type:

Taller ladies should wear a short hat with a wide brim.

Shorter ladies should wear a tall hat with a small brim that turns up.

-Select a hat based on the shape of your face:

If you have a round face, choose a hat with a tall crown.

If you have a long face, choose a hat with a flatter crown.

-Select a hat that complements your dress.

Take a cue from the royals and select a hat the complements your dress instead of matching it exactly.

Sometimes it is easier to find your hat first instead of searching for a hat to match an outfit.

Red Cross Red Velvet Cupcake from Sprinkles and the RSVPcalendar.com

2011-03-28T21:38:00.000-05:00

Did you catch us on Good Morning Texas this morning? Here is the link! http://www.wfaa.com/good-morning-texas/Sprinkles-American-Red-Cross-Cupcakes-118778409.html

What do I say when a friend is grieving over the death of a pet?

2011-03-11T08:00:00.001-06:00

Kerry from Mesquite wrote to me with the following question:

One of my co-workers recently had to put their dog down. I am a dog owner but most of the other people in our office are not. They are not being very sensitive to her loss. Is there an accepted etiquette for condolences when it comes to the loss of a pet?

Dear Kerry,

What a wonderful question. We all know someone at some point who grieves over the loss of a pet. We go through the same grieving process with the death of a dog or cat that we do with the loss of a friend or family member. Although our grief over the loss of a family member is greater, our lives are still impacted when we loose a pet.

Here are a tips that I hope will help:

-Even if you don't have a pet or are not an animal lover, it is important to remember that your friend or co-worker who lost their pet will feel a void in their life. Be respectful of the love they had for their pet and send them a note of condolence or a card. Have patience with them while they grieve.

-Remember that their daily lives will be altered and they will go through an adjustment period. Imagine going home to an empty house at the end of the day instead of being greeted by a wagging tail and unconditional love.

-Consider sending flowers or making a donation to an animal charity in honor of your friend. The gesture will surly make them feel that you understand their loss.

Veggie Time!

2011-03-10T08:00:00.001-06:00

I am so excited about my new Editor-At-Large status at Southern Living. Did you know that MyRecipes.com has a lot of the Southern Living recipes? They answered the question below about one of my favorite things to eat, steamed vegetables!

Is it true that microwaving vegetables is healthier than steaming them?

Believe it or not, microwaving vegetables actually preserves more nutrients – and flavor—than steaming.

The best way to microwave most vegetables is:

* Cut them in evenly sized, fairly small (less than an inch) pieces

* Toss or sprinkle with 1 or 2 tablespoons of water.

* Cover loosely to trap the steam, which keeps the vegetables moist.

See our collection of Microwave Recipes for more tips and ideas for using the microwave.