Such Pretty Things

The Pretty Party: The Flowers

So, "the party".  I really don't know even where to begin...there are sooooo many little details to share!  First, I should give you some background: The party was held in honor of a teen girl's birthday. It took place on a lovely June evening - on the grounds of a gorgeous historic mansion.  It was a seated dinner and dancing, so, in that respect, I suppose it was really more wedding-like than the typical "teen" party. The guest of honor was very involved with the party-planning process and she was certainly a young lady who knew what she wanted!  Lucky for me, she loves anything vintage, pastel, and floral - so we were a perfect match! There was no real party theme, per se, but picture romantic 1950's prom meets candy shop! The main colors were aqua blue and candy pink, with accents of mint green and lavender.

Today, I thought I would start off by showing you the flowers...

They were truly spectacular!  I had the pleasure of working with the incredibly talented Holly Heider Chapple.  Holly is based in Leesburg, VA and her beautiful work has been featured in countless wedding magazines, including Martha Stewart Weddings!

Given the setting, I knew I wanted to use flowers for the centerpieces, but I also wanted something with a whimsical, youthful touch - as this was a party for a young girl.  I decided that incorporating candy would be just the right thing.  I found some very pretty candy that matched our color palette perfectly and decided that we would use it to fill the vases. Holly worked with me to design the arrangements - we selected clear glass vessels to show off the candy and filled them with the most gorgeous pastel blooms - Peonies, Hydrangea, and roses!

I just love how they turned out!  We used simple white cloths on the tables - the perfect backdrop to showcase such beauty. :-)  If you are planning a wedding or special event, I cannot recommend Holly enough!  In addition to being a fabulous floral designer, she is one of the sweetest people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing!

I also want to thank our lovely and talented photographer, Beth Blinstrub, who did such a beautiful job capturing the flowers...and the entire evening!

I'll be back soon with a little tutorial on how you can make similar centerpieces yourself!

XOXO

Jessica

Pretty Shopping: The Gilded Bee

Today I thought I would share one of my all-time favorite shops with you. If you are not already familiar with Sasha North's jewel box of a shop, The Gilded Bee, than you are in for a real treat!

Sasha is an incredibly talented artist who creates the most beautiful miniature paper flower bouquets...

Aren't they stunning!

Look at Sasha's attention to detail...

In addition to her lovely paper flowers, Sasha's etsy shop stocks the most wonderful crafting provisions - from paper lace and colorful Italian trimmings to paper butterflies and candy-colored cabochons...

Sasha's work has been featured on numerous blogs and in national magazines including Martha Stewart Weddings and Bride's Magazine.

She also has her own beautiful blog, I am The Bee, so make sure to check it out!

Happy Thursday!

:-)

Jessica

A Little Picnic

It was a gloriously beautiful day today!  It is been super hot and humid around here as of late, but today was absolutely perfect! So, I grabbed the girls and we headed out for a little picnic...

It was a great opportunity to use some of my vintage floral cupcake picks, my new Cath Kidston-esque napkins (HomeGoods), and my newest melamine pink polka dot plates (Pottery Barn Kids). It's amazing how the littlest details can elevate a simple picnic into something special...

For dessert, we had to have some cupcakes..with sparkly sugar crystals and a pretty posy, of course!

I just took some basic iced cupcakes from the bakery and embellished them a bit.  The girls went crazy for them. :-)

And since that just wasn't enough sugar for us, we indulged in some mini "ice cream" cones...

These were made of yummy marshmallows - perfect for a warm summer day, as they didn't melt in two seconds flat!

So, maybe not the healthiest picnic around, but definitely a delicious one. :-) And what a pretty, pretty day we had!

XOXO

Jessica

 

Target Tuesday: Pretty Plastic Glasses

I am loving Target's latest version of my favorite plastic glasses...

They are perfect for summer gatherings and outdoor entertaining.  I bought the goblets, but they also come in a tumbler size ($2.99 to $3.99). They are very elegant given that they are made out of plastic and really look like real glass!

I rimmed mine with some pale green sugar.

Now they match my new napkins from Shabby Chic Couture.  And you know how important that is! ;-)

Happy Tuesday!

XOXO
Jessica

Pretty Places: The Sagamore Resort

After the crazy busy few months I just experienced, I wanted nothing more than to get away with the family to somewhere quiet, relaxing and pretty.  The Sagamore Resort couldn't have been a more perfect choice.

Situated right on Lake George in the Adirondacks, the Sagamore was originally built in 1883. It has been operating as a resort for over 100 years now.  Since it is located on a small island, you are completely surrounded by beautiful vistas of the sparkling blue water with the verdant mountains beyond.

The architecture is absolutely stunning.

There are pretty flowers and rolling green lawns everywhere you turn.

...and I just loved how the resort was all dressed up for the Fourth of July!

The Sagamore is definitely elegant, but also very laid back and family-friendly (i.e., not stuffy). There are numerous excellent restaurants in and around the property and a myriad of activities to partake in - even croquet on the front lawn. The girls especially loved the outdoor pools and the nightly bonfire (s'mores!).

I think my husband and I most enjoyed the evening cruise on the resort's own boat, the Morgan. There is nothing like sipping a good glass of wine, feeling the breeze on your skin, and gazing at a postcard-perfect sunset...

This was our first trip to the Sagamore and I really can't recommend it enough.  We will definitely be going back...hopefully soon!

XOXO

Jessica