Using manzanita trees to hang escort cards has been an extremely popular trend the last few years.  It looks so lovely and cool in photos that if you’re already using trees in your decor, its hard to pass up.
BUT, it does pose some challenges.  First, its not immediately clear to your guests that they’re supposed to take the cards.  Hanging on the trees, they look so much like decor that your guests don’t necessarily know that these cards are vital to your seating arrangements.
Also, your guests may not be able to find their names.  The pure simple beauty of cards displayed alphabetically on a table is that your guests immediately know what to do and how to look for their name.  That does not always translate to a tree.  There is no way to simply and easily arrange cards on a tree so that your guests merely have to skim through to find their name.  If just doesn’t work that way, nor can it.  Invevitably, they will be looking card by card until they find their own (if they find their own).
So then what do you do if you’re tied to the idea of using these lovely branches to arrange your escort cards?  Well…

• You can use the branches to ACCENT the table on which the cards will be displayed.
• You can label the trees to help your guests narrow their search.
• You can use small wire hooks to create more lateral space on the tree branches, thus making it easier to hang and remove escort cards.
• You can create a seating chart, break it up into multiple sections, and hang each section on the tree….labeled of course!  So instead of one huge 3′ x 4′ foam board you would have multiple 1′ x 6″ sections!

Just remember, when it comes to seating your guests it really must be functional.  Otherwise, your guests will be confused, have to be re-directed and a seating period that should have taken no more than 30 minutes will end up pushing 60!

Happy Planning!

It may sound like an oxymoron.  I mean most people think San Diego and have images of surfers, flip flops and an uber casual style.  But we sport some pretty world renowned golf courses in San Diego, so there are prepsters lurking around!  Now one of the joys of the preppy look is being able to play with colors.  Pastels and bold colors come together here and it can be so much fun!  Its even more fun if this is your guys style and he WANTS to go this route with his wedding day attire.  So this one’s for you polo wearing boys & girls!

Preppy Inspired Wedding Details

From Top Left Corner Across
The Bridesmaids Dress: The belted halter dress in a pastel is definitely a fun & classic way to go! Found on RalphLauren.com
The Table Linen: Go with a neutral color then play it up with a striped runner. Just make sure the stripes aren’t of the boring two-color nature. And if they’re at a diagonal…even better!   Found on PotteryBarn.com
The Guys I: The entire Preppy vibe hangs upon the guys. Start with pastels and maybe a white collar, then build the look from there! Found on RalphLauren.com
The Details: It doesn’t get more preppy than croquet!   Write guests’ names on these mini croquet sets and use as place cards.  Use one mallet per person or the entire set!  Found at Miniatures.com
The Location: Sprawling green lawns. That’s what its about. And no place has greener or more beautiful lawns than the Grand del Mar.
The Paper: Again…its all about the stipes! I love the color combo and of this set and the fact that they’re on the diagonal makes it perfect!  Found on WeddingPaperDivas.com
The Guys II: How do we get to San Diego from here…the flip flops! Now they can’t be your run of the mill beach going flip flops. This leather pair (with stripes) is the perfect look for wedding day chic. Found on RalphLauren.com
The Guys III: I can’t say it enough. To really pull this look together you need to pay attention to the details in the guys’ attire. Think bold bow tie (they have a pink one with white dots…can’t get more bold than that!) Found on RalphLauren.com

Most of us do not have the luxury of a temperature controlled wine cellar.  I don’t even have a wine fridge!  (I know that’s not as tragic of a statement as I make it out to be.)  So when it comes to serving wine I can find myself in a sticky situation.  I mean…what are  you supposed to do?  How are you supposed to know if the wine is at the right temperature for serving?  Well, when I took a tour of the Robert Mondavi Winery a few years ago, our tour guide gave us this quick tip!
White Wines are supposed to be served chilled (approx 45° F).  Not ice cold.  So refrigerate them no less than two hours prior to serving.  Then remove them about twenty minutes before you’re ready to serve them.
Red Wines are to be served just below room temperature (approx 64° F).  If you refrigerate them twenty minutes prior to serving, then they will be about the right temperature.
These are just handy tips.  For more specifics on serving temperatures for a particular wine, check out the recommendations by Master of Wine Jancis Robinson on Wikipedia.

Happy Monday!

Some women have all the luck!

Barbie was born looking young and fabulous and at fifty she STILL looks young and fabulous!  Now, there are questions about whether the woman has had work done (look at how shiny and plastic her face is…botox anyone?), but you have got to admit that if she’s had work done she found herself the best doctor to do it!

Gowns by Vera Wang, Monique Lhuillier and Reem Acra

So as she comes upon her fiftieth birthday it is only right that we celebrate the magnificent history of this woman. She’s been an astronaut, a president, Cher, Audrey Hepburn and Lucille Ball! She’s been a trendsetter since the fifties and has had couture designers design specifically for her.  She even had an entire show devoted to her image at New York Fashion Week!  Love her or hate her - she’s an icon.

With so much already accomplished and so much style one has to wonder how exactly she will celebrate the big 5-0. Well, if I was planning Barbie’s 50th Birthday Bash here are some things I would do:

• I would go classic with just a dash of glam. She’s already a glamorous gal and SHE should be the focal point of the party.
• She’s an All-American gal that’s traveled the world (haven’t you seen Scotland Barbie!) so the cuisine should reflect that.


The Barbie Show at NY Fashion Week

• For cocktail hour I would do All-American comfort foods with a Gourmet Twist: Mini Mac & Cheese with Bleu Cheese & Chives, Kobe Beef Hamburger Sliders with an Aioli, French Fries with White Truffle Oil.  The bar would feature classic fifities cocktails, which call for GIN: Singapore Sling, Sidecar, Gin & Sin
• The main meal would be several courses of a varied cuisine.  A mini chicken bisteya, Micro Greens Salad with a Thai Vinaigrette, Chilled Gazpacho, Lamb Chops with a mint sauce paired with French and Spanish Wines
• Dessert would actually be a “display”…the counter would be a sleek and modern soda fountain setup and the menu would be an assortment of shooters: root beer floats, milkshakes, malts
• Decor….no pink.  She’s too mature for that.  Let’s go with black and white with punches of color.  We want to explore her style with the color, but black and white is the unifying element of the whole shindig!  Cocktail Hour we would accent with deep shades of red, for the Dining Room we would go with Orange and Yellow accents for a slightly more exotic look, then the dessert and dancing room would be aqua!  (isn’t there a band by that name?)
• The crowning element would be a Barbie and the Rockers Cover Band (okay…may be a bit over the top…but I couldn’t help myself)

What would you like to see at Barbie’s 50th Birthday Bash?

The birthstone for March is Aquamarine so I thought it would only be fitting to feature one aquamarine inspired board this month!

Aquamarine Inspiration Board

From Top Left and Across

Moschino Shoes: Most brides choose to maximize their accessories these days…especially the shoes!  Found on Zappos.com

Twiggs Cake: Coordinating with colors does not mean soaking your event in that color.  Accenting your cake like this one creates the perfect combo!  Found on Twiggs Website - San Diego Bakery

Smock Paper Invitations: White Invites with the most lovely shade of blue…eco-friendly too!  Found on Smock Paper Website

Tiffany’s Aquamarine Pendant: Our source of inspiration!  This bauble is the perfect piece of jewelery to tie your color scheme to your wedding day ensemble!  Found on Tiffanys.com

J. Crew Bridesmaids Dress: A wonderfully simple silhoutte in a fantastic color.  Loving J. Crew!!  Found on J. Crew Website

Paper Candle Holder: When you think of paper you don’t think of candles…but LED candles are all the rage these days and work perfectly with these lovely candle holders!  Found on Cultural Intrigue Website

Lounge Appeal Furniture: The right combination of furniture and lighting makes for great ambiance.  Found on Lounge Appeal Website

Cultural Intrigue Vase: A perfect cocktail table accent!  Fill with flowers or candles…you can even alternate between the two!  Found on Cultural Intrigue Website

“Grace Ormonde Wedding Style” Anguilla Wedding: The balance of color between the table linens, chairs, flowers and place settings is divine!  Found on Wedding Style Website Photo Credits: Location, Cake and Caterer: Cap Juluca Maundays Bay, Anguilla; Florist: Black Orchid Florist Anguilla; Photography: Garrett Nudd Photography Chattanooga, TN and Orlando, FL