Flipping through a magazine, I came across this lovely disposable flatware set.  It was just so cute & fun!  I decided to seek out the website and see what the details were.  I never expected the website to be so delightful!  All sorts of randomness can be found at KikkerlandShop.com.  As their own website states

It’s no wonder that Kikkerland Design continues to offer the world’s largest collection of ingenious items combining form, function, and delight in equal parts.

Stumbling through the website I found this even more delightful “mini” chandelier, but the beauty of the site is that there’s something for everyone!  Gadgets abound for nearly any personality!  So,  if you’re ever in a rut as to what to get someone I highly recommend perusing the selections at KikkerlandShop.com…at the very least it will get those creative juices flowing!

Visit their website and visit the Kikkerland Shop:

It is an honor to be asked to give a toast at a wedding.  It means that the couple sees you as a rather significant person in their life.  So, for your part there is a certain amount of respect that is due.  That doesn’t mean you have to be boring, but there are some words of advice one should heed.

• Prepare for your toast. You don’t have to have a speech written word for word.  But at least write down an idea or two of what you want to say.  If you want to talk about that time at the place with the thing, then write it down!  Otherwise you may forget….which may lead to an off the cuff speech….which may or may not be a good thing.
• Keep it short. This isn’t your fifteen minutes of fame.  Its about the bride and groom.  While I’m sure the guests love you, they really want to get down to business (food, drinks, congratulations, dancing).  So, while you may want to tell everyone about all the milestones of your twenty year friendship with the bride, now is not the time.
• Watch what you say. Think to yourself, “would I want that said at my wedding, about me?”  If the answer is no, then don’t say it.  Remember, its not just you and your friend hashing over old times.  Its also 100 (or 200) of their friends and family who may or may not share the peculiar sense of humor that you two have.
• Don’t drink before hand…at least not too much.  If you feel like you’re jittery and nervous then be especially careful of how much you drink before your toast.  The last thing you want to do is be giving a drunken speech (and if you are that person…pray there is no video!).

And as someone who many moons ago committed all these follies as the Maid of Honor for my best friend, I beg of you to listen to me!  I was fortunate in that I didn’t say anything horrific, but I felt like a grand jerk the next day.  And I was even luckier that there was no videographer, so my lovely speech is not memoralized for anyone to relive.  But, you may not be so fortunate.

Please do as I say and not as I have done.  This is a one shot deal and you don’t want to screw it up.

Poolside at Se San Diego

Back in January I wrote a little piece on Se San Diego, which is a new Luxury Hotel in Downtown.  At that time the place was not entirely finished (pool bar and lounge, penthouse, and a few other elements).

Well its finished now!  I was invited to their Opening Reception last night and its fantastic!  The Pool Bar and cabanas are very chic and the lounge furniture is super comfortable.  I was having visions of myself lounging by the pool this coming summer!  There is also a lounge immediately off the pool which would make an awesome space for a cocktail party.

I have not even gotten to the food and drinks!  Don’t know the name of it but I had a sparkling wine and elderflower liqueur concoction…yummy!  The most popular drink of the evening was a blueberry, acai berry and vodka beverage.  Crab Cakes with Avocado Aioli, Bacon Wrapped Scallops, Cantaloupe and Lobster Mini Salad, Steak Canapes with Teriyaki Glaze….every bite was delicious!

One of the things I loved about the party was you still felt like you were in San Diego, but with a very hip luxe vibe.

Kudos to everyone at Se San Diego for not only throwing a fabulous party last night, but for being part of such a fantastic property!  Can’t wait to see more fab events there!

I majored in Art History in college (because I firmly believed I lacked any talent to be an Art Major).  So I get all kinds of kicks out of art inspired anything that you can really see what the source of inspiration was.  So rather than say “Hey!  Let’s do a Mondrian inspired wedding and use the colors blue, red and yellow!” these ideas actually use Mondrian-like prints and qualities.

Mondrian Inspiration Board

Center Photo
The Source of Inspiration: A painting by Piet Mondrian Found on Essential Architecture

First, let me say that my vision for this wedding be simple with pitch perfect details. The tables would be long banquets (no rounds!) with white linens and black runners. The chairs would be black chiavarris with white cushions. Then we would accent with a Mondrian print. The invitations and all other stationery would be white with a Mondrian block pattern and a black border. And then…

From Top Left Across
The Bride’s Dress: I know this may be “so last season” but it is beyond perfect for what we would want to achieve here. Its a structured Ralph Lauren gown (Mondrian had an architecture-like sensibility to his work) and the black satin trim creates an effect that evokes the painting. All the bride needs is a true red bouquet and she’s set! Found on ABC News / Photo Credit: Mario Anzuoni (Reuters)

Centerpieces: These would certainly be a splurge but would look extremely elegant on the tables.  There are actually three vase styles so you could alternate down the table!  I would also use smaller square glass arrangements in between to break it up.  Found on DotMaison.com

The Bouquet - Part One: This is the effect we want for the bouquet.  The solid black ribbon around the stems and one single flower in a single color.  As I mentioned before, for the bride I would punch it up and do red flowers!  Found on Martha Stewart Weddings

The Cake - LOVE IT!  You must go square for the cake.  Its all about the lines.  This bakery did a fantastic job in getting the pattern right…I would stick to the basic colors though (red, blue and yellow).  Found on Newport Weddings Blog / Cake by Cakes to Remember

The Bouquet - Part Two: Another fine sample of what we want to achieve.  Solid black band for the stems and a single type of slower in a perfect shade of yellow!  Perfect for the bride or the bridesmaids.  Found on The Bride’s Cafe

The Votives: So technically these are tumblers for drinking, but they would make perfect candle holders!  Use sparingly and sprinkle throughout the room.  You could also buy solid votive holders in blue, red and yellow.  But these are more fun!  Found on MoMa Store

The Bridesmaids: We really want a similar effect for the bridesmaids as we have fro the bride.  This ABS dress has a nice structure to it and the simplicity of it allows you to  accent it however you choose.  I would have each girl wear different colored shoes (one in red, one in yellow, one in blue).  Found on Bluefly.com

Photo Courtesy of Elle.com

I. WANT. ONE.

Partially because its Tiffany.  Partially because its unique.  Partially because its Tiffany.  Partially because they are Exclusive.  Did I mention its Tiffany?

So here’s the deal…the Tiffany Key Pendants (to my knowlege) are only available to select Tiffany Stores.  You can’t even find them on the website (at least I couldn’t).  BUT, one of the select stores is our very own Tiffany & Co at the Fashion Valley Mall.  Hurry before their all gone!  And pick one up for me while you’re at it