Luna Lighting Collection at CORT Event Furnishings

Loving the Luna Lighting collection at CORT! While there's nothing new about lighted furniture, Cort's collection in a variety of colors, functions, and featuring brushed steel and acrylic tops looks more futuristic than dated. Why not break up the ho-hum holiday decor with something unexpected?  Check it out here.

A delicious twist on a classic fall treat at Debrand

The mere mention of caramel apples makes me flash back to breezy walk to the school bus, color coated New England landscapes, and crisp fall evenings. Debrand signature chocolate covered caramel apples are a decadent take on the apples of my childhood. All I need now is some warm apple cider, a scarf, and a hayride.

GO HERE TO ORDER! and to check out their other fall inspired chocolates!

Special Offer on New Gourmet Cherry Cordials from DeBrand

Go here to order!

Fall Decorating Class at Pottery Barn _September 12th

GO HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO FIND A CLASS NEAR YOU!

Gilt Groupe Love'n

Oh, Gilt Groupe. You beautiful website with all your fancy pants products at deep discounts. I am absolutely loving the collection of  Beauville Table Linens you have on sale until September 4th.

These are the kind of linens that instantly transform your space. They take you from Ikea worshiping college grad to classy world traveler in 30 seconds, or however long it takes you to dress a table. Beauvillé screen-prints cotton household linens feature vibrant floral, baroque and geometric designs based on over 200 years of French Tradition. This week Gilt is featuring their runners, napkins, table clothes, placemats, and tea towels.

Here's a peak at a few of my favorites:

Go to GILT GROUPE now to grab these and other fabulous linens before they're gone!

One Man's Clearance Rack....

A casual browse through Pier 1 earlier this week yielded some inspiration at major discounts. In a store known for it's worldly goods, their clearance rack can often be a random mix of interesting items. These three caught my eye. They were on clearance, but something about them made me think they were worth salvaging. 

I actually thought this little monkey holding a bowl was a bit scary at first. He definitely grew on me when I thought of him guarding the keys at a haunted house style Halloween Party or holding anything from mints to pocket change. It's a conversation piece for sure.

The faded paint and curved handles of this serving tray make it look extra special, like a piece that has been around for years. If you're into a more traditional Christmas decor, this would go great with holiday reds, gold, and green.

I really liked these initial mugs. The colors would go great for a casual fall or winter get together. I could totally see them full of hot apple cider or pumpkin spiced lattes on a brisk autumn evening. The font of the letters is like an old school typewriter. They could easily be worked into a theme for your next book club gathering or pop one into a care package for someone away at college.

If you like it, put a ring on it

Join Mervis Diamond Importers for their engagement ring and wedding band trunk show Saturday and Sunday, August 28 -29. This is a fantastic opportunity to save some money on your Verragio rings.

Mervis Diamond Importers
1900 Mervis Way
Tysons Corner, VA 22182
Click for Directions

Saturday 9-5pm   
Sunday 12-5pm

GO HERE TO RSVP

Single Girl's Supper: Shirmp, Feta, and Tomato Bake

A few days ago, I had a friend over that's visiting the states for the summer and I wanted to impress him with my ever evolving cooking skills. There's something about baking that makes a meal instantly seem ten times more complicated and special. So, I got my fabulous oven mitts out of the drawer and set to work making an extra special dinner of baked shrimp, feta, and tomato.

This meal may seem complicated but, with a few shortcuts, this puppy was on the table in about a half hour. 

I started with 3 servings of frozen shrimp that I thawed according to the package instructions. I seasoned them with a bit of chili powder, salt, and pepper and sauteed them for about 4 minutes. Next I prepared one package of Alexia Select Sides, Roasted Red Potatoes, and Italian Inspired Vegetables in a skillet according to package instructions.  (On a side note, I'm infatuated with Alexia's products. Their spicy sweet potato fries are a dream. Their select sides were launched earlier this year and I've tried every variety. They're super convenient and tasty.)

Moving on...to the prepared vegetables, I added fresh chopped cherry tomatoes (that I'd picked up from the farmer's market that morning), and chopped fresh spinach. I mixed everything, the shrimp and the vegetables together and pour the mixture into a baking dish. 

Over the mixture I poured a little white wine and some olive oil. Then I sprinkled the dish with crumbled feta cheese. Finally I popped it into an over at 350 for about 15 minutes. You'll know it's ready when the cheese softens and starts to brown. I served it over brown rice.

It was absolutely delicious and only took 30 minutes to prepare. My guest went back for seconds and thirds!

Later,
Guru 

CORT Event Furnishings introduces the Endless Collection

Check out the beautiful new modular seating collection from Cort Event Furnishings. Designed with event professionals in mind, the Endless Collection allows you to mix and match ottomans in various shapes with high or low backs to create circular or serpentine sectionals.

I love how the image to the right captures how these crisp modern pieces can easily be used in a more classic setting. The backs almost have a tufted look to them.

The collection is now available nationwide, so head over to http://www.cortevents.com/!

New At Home Entertaining Collection from Pier 1

I was in Pier 1 Imports this weekend and fell head over heels for their new Tasting Party Collection. It features simple, chic pieces perfect for at home entertaining. The collection includes everything you need to make your next dinner party look like a catered affair.


Inspired by restaurants, the Tasting Party Collection's glasses, serving trays, cups, and platters are all miniature. Made of white porcelain or glass, and in classic shapes, each piece can easily mix and match with your existing dinnerware. The perfect thing to stock up on before the holidays!

Images from Pier1.com

Love it! I'll definitely be picking up a few items.
Go here and scroll down for inspiration and simple recipe ideas for your Tasting Party Collection!

Later,
Guru

Free Truffle Offer from DeBrand

CLICK HERE TO SHOP DEBRAND'S WEBSITE!

Creating your own unique textiles online

Image from KaramKraft.com

I recently stumbled upon the site KarmaKraft.com, a digital fabric printing company based out of Raleigh, North Carolina and Hangzhou (about 1.5 hours from Shanghai).  For all you would-be textile designers out their, Karma Kraft is just the site you've been waiting for. Design and print your own fabric! In minutes you can upload your very own design to their website, choose your repeat, choose your base fabric, and then decide how much fabric you would like to create...TA-DA....our very own custom designed fabric!

Karma Kraft also offers cut and sew services for items like pillows, pet beds, scarfs, tablecloths, or apparel. The prices are surprisingly reasonable from as low as $20 a yard. Just think of hanging curtains featuring your very own design or entertaining on your own custom created linens.

I also happened across another amazing site called Spoonflower.com. Create your own fabrics using a simple online tool.  The site hosts a weekly fabric design competition and you can even sell your fabrics or purchase fabrics created by other SpoonFlower members through the Spoonflower market place. Maybe you'll be the next Emilio Pucci!

Image from inmod.com

Interested in designing your own home decor but need a little help in the design department? Check out Inmod.com. It's a fun little site that offers a variety of trendy furniture, lighting, and decor products....lots of really amazing stuff. You can customize pillows and duvets by tweaking the colors and fabrics of their preloaded designs until you've created the prefect combination for your space. Pricing varies greatly depending on the fabric you use. I'm redecorating one of my most important venues...my very own bedroom and just might order one of the custom duvets. If so, I'll be sure to post a pic or two. The designs are lots of fun and so much more interesting then most of the stuff I'm seeing in the stores. 

Happy decorating!

Later,
Guru

What happens when graphic designers need a vacation

I'm all for simple, classic, elegance but this wedding invitation might just take that concept a little too far. When I stumbled upon this at Borders over the weekend, I could almost hear the shotgun in the background.

A born problem solver, I instantly went into creating scenarios on how this plain jane and utterly boring folded card could possibly work. Maybe personalized handwritten notes....swap out the envelopes for something a bit more creative...print the invitation details on a whisper thin silver linen paper and insert it into the card...have a seal or monogram created to add to the front...use a heart or letter shaped hole punch...or just burn the entire pack and start from scratch. Regardless, it would take some work to make these remotely personal.

Your wedding is a big day. Take more than 5 minutes to choose an invitation that reflects you and your future spouse. There are interesting and affordable options out there if you're willing to roll up your sleeves and get a little crafty.  However, if you do some soul searching and still feel that "WEDDING" on a folded white card is how you want to alert your nearest and dearest of your very special event, more power to you. They're available at Borders in packs of 8.

How would you salvage this ho-hum invitation?

Later,
Guru

Easter Fun at Pier 1

The Easter Bunny made a stop Pier 1 and left them all decked out for the holiday. They have some really fun products including a variety of place settings, decor, guest gifts, toys, and lawn displays. I just had to snap a few images!

Inauguration Party Ideas

With over 4 million people predicted to descend upon DC in celebration of the Inauguration, it's no surprise that many locals are forgoing the mall for at home viewing parties. So, I've scoured the internet in search of products to make your Inauguration soiree just as memorable as any official gala.

Invites: Customizable backstage pass invites from Party 411 are unique and professional looking. They can be laminated and put on lanyards for guests to wear to the event. Evite has also created a variety of Inauguration theme templates , like the one to the left created by Steve Lu, and with their online RSVPs managing your responses has never been easier.

SWAG: There is no shortage of Obama related products. Depending on your budget, gift bags could include t-shirts, wrist bands, hats, or just about any patriotic item you can get your hands on. During the election I found these fantastic photo cookies from TastyPrints.com. They come in a boxed set or individually wrapped in clear bags. These would be great take away items or a tasty addition to your buffet.

What official political function would be complete without patriotic buttons? These from the PoliticalShop.com are excellent ways to mark the occasion and will become keepsakes for your guests. Even the Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC) has joined the merchandise bandwagon by opening up their own online store at InauguralCollectibles.com. The site boasts a variety of art, jewelry, clothing, and other collectibles.

Décor and Activities:

White House Theme-Transform your party space into the White House lawn by creating a White House backdrop like this one from Atlantic Special Events. Recreate by using a cardboard or fabric base. Stencil on columns and windows and decorate with light weight bunting. Another simple idea would be to rent a projector and cast an image of the White House onto the wall. Tie in the theme to other areas with White House cutouts from Paper Toys or this pop up version from Popular Kinetics.

Reuse your 4th of July Decor- Whip out those stars and stripes from last year's picnic. You can't go wrong with red, white, and blue.

Photo Ops- Create your own photo op with this life size (6ft1) Obama cutout from Amazon.com. With a digital camera, photo printer, and customizable event photo folders from Style Studio, guests can to take home their event images as a special memento.

Party Patrol- What official Inaugural event would be complete without the proper security? Follow these simple Secret Service Costume instructions and recruit a few good men to create your own well dressed agents.

Trivia- Test your guest's knowledge of the Presidency, the Inauguration, and the new first family.

Menu: Serve up a menu reflecting Obama's diverse background. Try Chicago style pizza, an Hawaiian salad, a traditional Kenyan dish of samosas, or whip up a big batch of Chili, a reported favorite of the incoming President. Since the swearing in ceremony begins at 11:30am, either a lunch or brunch menu would be appropriate.

For more event planning tips and inspiration, visit me on Examiner.com.

Guru

Inspiration: A shiny New Year

New Year's Eve is almost here! What better time to look and feel like a rockstar. Here are a few ideas to get your place ready for the big countdown as well. Whether you're entertaining 2 or 200, simple touches of silver, glitter, and mirrored surfaces will help keep the holiday spirit going long after the clock strikes 12.

From left to right, top to bottom:
Target's large mirrored candle holder: Perfect for a mantle or tablescape.
Silver ivy panel from A&R: These easily hook together to form a room divider, curtain, or table runner.
Maxfield Charger from PB: Add a little shine to your holiday table while giving guests another place to check their makeup
Jeweled napkin ring from Nordstrom's: These napkin rings can read Hollywood or Victorian. Either way they're absolutely beautiful!
Countdown mantel display from Martha.com: This is a fun little project from Martha's site. to recreate this look at home display a collection of different clocks on your mantle in front of a large mirror. Surround with candles and you've created a fun focal point.
Party City glitter horn: Ring in the new year with these super inexpensive glitter-covered party horns.
A&R table grill: This stainless grill can go from the kitchen to table top. What a fun way to add a little something special to your party. The handled, dishwasher safe bowl can also be used as a serving dish or ice bucket.
Star candle holder from Target: Create a subtle glow with these tea-light candle holders
Martha.com's midnight countdown party flutes: I love this idea! Go to Martha's site to learn how to decorate your champagne flutes with adhesive numbers for a fun way to countdown to the New Year.

For more at home entertaining inspiration and to hear about New Years Eve events throughout DC, check out my posts on examiner.com.

Self-serve holiday bars

No one wants to be stuck serving up drinks at their own party. So, if you are unable to hire a bartender, here are some ideas on how guests can feel free to serve themselves.

Tray Bars

If you don’t have tons of space for one large bar, why not put together several smaller bars on trays throughout the room. Feature a different specialty drink on each with all the necessary ingredients and instructions, or keep it simple with just a few bottles of wine on ice. Have glasses located in a central location and then guests can tour the room trying the different drink options.

Pre-Mixed Cocktails and Specialty Drinks

So simple it’s a hostesses dream. Many companies are coming out with cocktails that are ready to chill and serve. Smirnoff has a line of pre-mixed cocktails that include cosmos and mojitos. They’ve gotten mixed reviews online. You might want to try them for yourself before serving them up for your guests. Include touches like mint leaves and fresh fruit.

You can also mix up some old standbys ahead of time. Many vodka drinks get better as the flavors are allowed to sit for hours or even days. Heat fresh cranberries with sugar until it turns into syrup and then mix with vodka for a classic and seasonal favorite. Let it sit for a few hours, strain, and serve from a decorative pitcher along side fresh cranberries lightly coated with sugar. Sangria is another drink that gets even tastier with time and, with winterized variations, it’s not just for summer anymore.

For more ideas like these and for video instructions on how to make a delicious holiday sangria using apples and dried cranberries, CLICK HERE!!!

Later,
Guru

Inspiration: A Fuchsia Christmas

For the scoop on where to find these candy colored holiday items, visit me on Examiner.com.

Inspired Holiday Party Themes

Holiday party season is in full swing and, for those of you not in the running to be the next Martha Stewart, there are plenty of online resources eager to help you celebrate the holiday in style. Celebrations.com, your one stop shop for entertaining how tos, is all decked out for the holidays! They’re offering up a myriad of suggestions on how to add a little sparkle to your next event. I was particularly drawn to their article Christmas Party on A Budget. Perfect for a time where creativity and inspiration seem to far outweigh expendable income.

Here are some simple, budget conscious Holiday Party tips of my own:

Invites: For casual events, email invitations are just fine. I know some planners shutter at the thought, but sites like Evite and Sendomatic are offering up a variety of new designs and some even allow you to upload your own images. These sites can often save you time by taking advantage of RSVP services and reminder settings. For the Photoshop savvy, create your own email invite by adding text to an image and inserting it into the body of the email or as an attachment. If you’re planning on hand delivering invitations, why not insert a simple printed flat invite into a fillable ornament or miniature gift box along with a few pieces of chocolate.

Try these prefilled Wonka Christmas Ornaments. They're only $19.20 for a set of 24 at CandyWarehouse.com.

(image from candywarehouse.com)


Food and Drink: Keep it simple! I recommend leaving the main dishes to a caterer or local restaurant. Just display on trays or platters to match your décor! If you pick it up instead of having it delivered, it should come out to just about the same as buying groceries to make your own and in the end it saves you tons time. If your mom has a fabulous soup recipe or friends love your veggie lasagna, stick to what you know! Serve up your favorites even if they aren’t the cliché holiday spread. How much ham can people eat anyway?

Party Favors: Try to keep gifts inline with your theme or your décor. They needn’t be expensive. Check out sites like OrientalTrading.com where many of their cute little mementos come by the dozen. For a custom gift, personalize ornaments with a permanent marker.

Fun and affordable gift ideas from OrientalTrading.com
Dominoes In Snowflake Case ($5.99 per dozen)
Plush Long Arm Reindeer (Only $7.50 per dozen)
Holiday Magnetic Travel Games ($9.99 per dozen)
Snowman Snowflake Ornaments ($7.99 per dozen) with a spot for adding names or a personalized holiday greeting. (pictured to the left)

Décor: Have fun with it! Don’t limit yourself to typical holiday colors. Experiment with color schemes like purple and silver or bright fuchsia. I stumbled upon some ultra chic serving trays and other decorations by Paperchase at Borders Book Store. They had the greatest little reindeer figurines available in a bright fuchsia as well as a sparkly black. Save money by focusing on putting together a dramatic table setting, bar, or buffet. A few eye catching pieces will have a better impact than covering your entire house in holly. Never underestimate the effect of fresh flowers. Stop by your grocery store flower department for deals. They often get flowers from the same farms as major florists without the heavy price tag.

(images from Paperchase's website: cut out pink stag and
glass bonbon dishes)

Christmas Crafts

I love the holidays!!!
GURU

Unique Lighting Ideas From A+RStore.com

I have some more phenomenal products to share with you from aplusrstore.com, a really unique little website featuring delicate metal pieces, functional art, and eye catching lighting. Let this place be the inspiration for your next home improvement project, event decor, or gift idea. A+R is not cheap by any means, but sometimes you have to pay for that one of a kind piece that's going to make a real statement. Even if you can't afford A+R's selection, their interesting point of view can certainly serve as a foundation for your next creative undertaking.

Here are a few of my picks from A+R's lighting department and some suggestions on making each look your own on a budget:

With Halloween right around the corner, I thought this candle holder would be a creepy little conversation starter. You could even make your own affordable version out of severed baby doll heads by inserting a small candle holder inside. I'd use the hairless variety and keep an eye out to make sure you don't have a flaming head on your hands!
Qubus Design's Little Joseph Candle Holder

Authentics' All-Wax Julia Candle

These brightly colored candles are all wax- tip to base! These would work well as a part of a table setting or adorning a mantle. Don't worry, each candle contains a metal plate which extinguishes the flame when it gets too low. The colors are so bold! I love it. Get a similar look by matching bright colored candle holders with tapered candles or spray painting the bases to match.

Tord Boontje & Artecnica's Icarus Light

Check holiday party lighting off your list with this elegant and spectacular design. Constructed from multiple layers of extruded polyester cut to resemble a bird’s wing, Icarus casts an unforgettable silhouette. Flawless! Another fun piece that can be recreated on the cheap by using some large feathers or angel wings from a crafts store.

Looking for something a little more traditional for your holiday party? Try this....

Tord Boontje & Artecnica's Garland Light

Can't you almost hear the choir singing? Imagine this handing over your beautifully decorated holiday table. The garland is pliable and comes flat for you to bend and shape as you'd like. Available in silver, brass, black chrome, and winter white to match any decor! Try this at home with some store brought garland ( they come in large rolls at the craft store) and basic white Christmas lights.

Suck UK & Tobias Wong's The Sunjar

This weather proof jar is literally charged by the sun! Its hidden nicad battery continually absorbs sunlight to charge three LED's and automatically begins to glow in darkness. I can totally see this lining the walkway to your front door on Halloween or speckled throughout an evening garden party. This is certainly a simple one to make or your own if you have the time. Just slide some led lights into frosted jars. You could even used colored lids, stencil on shapes, or use a variety of different jars to work in other elements of your decor.

Muuto & Louise Campbell's The More The Merrier Rubber Candelabra

This bendable candelabra is simple and classic but with a touch of fun and fresh modernism. The candle holders are made of soft, molded rubber and you can reconfigure the candles in shape you like. On a budget? Simulate some of the visual interest of this piece by joining individual candle holders together with wired ribbons.

Check out the site for yourself: http://www.aplusrstore.com/