Saturday, December 22, 2012

Holiday Party Signature Drinks



Tiramisu Trippers 
  • 1/2  cup coffee ice cream
  • 1  ounce vodka 
  • 1  ounce coffee liquer 
  • 1/2  ounce creme de cascao
  • 1/2  cup ice cubes 
  • garnish with chocolate-covered coffee beans, coarsely chopped
Full Recipe Here
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Rosy Cheeks

  • 1/2
  cup whipping cream
  • 2
  ounces Chambord (1/4 cup)
  • 1 1/2
  ounces raspberry vodka (3 tablespoons)
  • 1  
ounce vanilla vodka (2 tablespoons)
  • 1/2
  cup ice cubes
  • 8  
fresh raspberries


Full Recipe Here
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Blackberry Lemon Gin + Tonics 
  • 12  blackberries
  • 20  fresh mint leaves 
  • 2  lemons 
  • 1/4  cup simple syrup  
  • 12  ounce gin
  • 1  tonic water
  • ice 
Full Recipe Here
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Chocolate Blitzen 
  • 2  ounces semisweet chocolate chips
  • 2/3  cup chocolate sprinkles 
  • 1  cup chocolate ice cream 
  • 2  ounces Irish cream liqueur  
  • 1  ounce dark cream de cacao 
  • 1  ounce vodka
  • garnish with chocolate curls or grated chocolate 

Full Recipe Here
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Sparkling Sangria 
  • 1  large English cucumber, thinly bias-sliced (3-1/2 cups)
  • 1  4-6 inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced 
  • 6  large radishes, thinly sliced (1cup) 
  • 1  cup grapefruit juice 
  • 1  750 milliliter bottle brut champagne or sparkling wine, chilled
Full Recipe Here
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Pomegranate Prosecco 
  • 1  cup pomegranate liqueur
  • 2  bottles Prosecco 
  • 8  sugar cubes
  • garnish with pomegranate seeds
Full Recipe Here
_____________________




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Friday, December 21, 2012

Emerald Color Trend of 2013










jcrew    




lanvin   















The Pantone 2013 Color of the Year is...Emerald!  I absolutely love the Emerald color trend...rich and classic, emerald works perfectly in all forms of art, fashion and design -- as seen above -- emerald exudes beauty and elegance. 



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Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Sage Wisdom



















Sage and Grapefruit Martini --  In a cocktail shaker muddle 2-3 grapefruit slices and 6 sage leaves.  Fill shaker with ice. Add a 1/4 cup vodka, 1/4 cup gin, and 3 tbsp. simple syrup.  Shake for 30 seconds.  Pour into 2 chilled Martini glasses.  Add a splash or 2 of Prosecco over each cocktail.  Garnish with sage leaves.

Sage Butter  --  This is the EASIEST way to create a delicious and visually pleasing spread.  Melt 1/2 cup of butter in jar;  cut about 10 leaves of sage into small pieces then stir into melted butter, add in a couple teaspoons of lemon juice cover and put in the fridge to harden.  A jar of fresh homemade Sage Butter will make a lovely gift to bring to a holiday party or get together.  I made a 'sage themed' basket to bring to a holiday party last week.  I included a tied bushel of freshly picked sage (which smelled amazing); a mason jar of sage butter, plus the ingredients for the sage grapefruit martini (gift basket pictured below)

learn more about the culinary and medical benefits of sage here + here





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Monday, December 10, 2012

Gift Ideas: For the Men in Your Life



1.  Yves Saint Laurent Le'Homme, available here  //  A fresh and masculine fragrance with unique contracts such as cedar-wood and basil flower that create a intriguing combination.  A gift that will benefit all parties involved.

2.  J Crew Cashmere Knit Tie, available here  //  Made in Italy this Cashmere tie has a color and texture that is paired perfectly with an oxford shirt or can be worn nicely with a sports coat and jeans.

3.  DVF Drew Suede Satchel , available here  //  Essential carryall bag...straight from the runway this suede satchel is perfect for a weekend trip, work, but is still casual enough to use to go to the gym.  The Chain Link hardware paired with the suede and leather contrast gives the bag great character.

4.  Antique Bamboo Bar Tools Set, available here  //  Crafted of eco-friendly bamboo the bottle opener and cork screw are a party essential.  Bamboo is a wood known to be full of strength, these tools are not only attractive but durable.

5.  Ray-Ban Folding Wayfarers Acetate Sunglasses, available here  //  Ray-ban is famous for creating classic unisex sunglasses.  While these sunglasses can certainly be worn by women the folding feature make them perfect for men. Stylish, clean, classic, and can easily fit in a pocket...which is definitely a plus since this will decrease the chances of losing them.

6.  Brooks Brothers Saxxon Fisherman Crew neck Sweater, available here //  Knit from Saxxon wool this sweater looks so inviting and comfortable.  It is available in Natural or Navy.  I love the natural color (pictured above) and Aran cable knit pattern...it reminds me of the beautiful Irish sweaters my Nanny's knits.

7.  Mulberry Cross-Grain Leather Card Holder, available here  //  Card holders are becoming increasingly popular over a traditional wallet...the slim width allows for more comfortable storage in pants pockets.  Subtle and understated it is an ideal everyday accessory for the gentlemen in your life.

8.  Lanvin Engraved Rhodium-Plated Cuff-links, available here  //  Lanvin is France's oldest couture house still in operation...so the name Lanvin always means strong quality and detailed focused aesthetics.  These particular cuff-links have an elegance combined with a textured finish that allows them to be very versatile.


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Friday, December 7, 2012

Gift Ideas: For the Design Enthusiast



1.  Elephant Salt + Pepper Shakers by Kouboo, available here  //  Ever since returning from Asia I have become obsessed with elephants seen in decor, print, or fashion...these lovey pewter elephant shakers are so cute anyone would love them!

2.  Agate Coasters by West Elm, available here  //  Agate is a form of chalcedony quartz that's being seen a lot lately in home decor and accessories.  These gorgeous blue gems are sliced making each piece one of a kind....the agate coasters are a perfectly unique gift for almost anyone on your shopping list. 

3.  Custom Address Stamp, available here  //  Etsy is always a great go to site for really special gift ideas.  There are many shops on Etsy that make custom stamps...search the site and you can find a shop that has a style that fits your gift vision.

4.  Shine Necklace by Ily Couture available here  //  I love the story behind the founder and designer for Ily Couture...I became introduced to her jewelry through her blog www.hellofashionblog.com (fashion enthusiast will love this blog).  The Shine Necklace is the perfect statement piece...looks great layered too. 

5. Malin + Goetz Candle at Barneys available here  //  Love, love, love this geranium leaf candle, the fresh subtle scent is soothing and helps to balance the senses.

6. St. Jude's Ceramic Owl by West Elm available here  //  These adorable ceramic owls by west elm are not only adorable but are for a great organization!  For every St. Jude's® Owl sold, $5 of the purchase price will go to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. ®

7.  CB I Hate Perfume available here  //  I was introduced to this amazingly unorthodox fragrance gallery while on a trip in Brooklyn.  The gallery is located on 93 Wythe Ave. Brooklyn, NY -- you can also make purchases or find more store locations  here. With scents like 'Doll Head', 'Russian Tea Caravan', and 'Burning Leaves' the I Hate Purfume experience is a must...there is truly a scent for EVERYone. 

8.  Ikat Tea Set by CWonder available here  //  Seen in CWonder's Ikat Dinnerware and Textile collection.  The tea set includes a gold rimmed tea cup and pot.  This set is the perfect gift for the tea lover in your life.

9.  Metallic Chevron Pillow by CWonder available here  //  This pillow cover has a clean Chevron print paired with the metallic detail will add the perfect dose of glam to any space.   



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Monday, December 3, 2012

My Never Ending Tumblr Board



 







 




Please follow my Tumblr page Colour My Life....this is where I like to collect + add various inspirational images...from florals to fashions to foods to fabulous interiors...I like to think of my Tumblr as a never ending inspiration board....I just went on it (Colour My Life) today to pull images for an interior design project concept I'm working on for my dear friend.  I featured a few images from my collection above.  Enjoy + be inspired!

Here are some of the fabulous Tumblr pages I follow that inspire me:

vogue                                    designed for life
from me to you                      genius moments
we the urban                          harper's bazaar
jonathan adler                        my vibe life


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Thursday, November 15, 2012

Hillside Sustainability

























designed by SB Architects // photography by Mariko Reed


The hillside San Francisco home designed to perfection by SB Architects is the ideal balance of handsome clean lines with warm aesthetic finishes.  The home screams modernistic while still achieving a welcoming comfortable interior.  The four story home - beautifully faced with sustainable Western Red Cedar siding - is a testament of what is possible when combing high design with sustainability. 

The best part is the 'Hillside House' has recently received certification as the first LEED for Homes Platinum custom home in Marin County, and one in only a handful in all of Northern California.  Bravo!


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Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Fall/Winter 2013 Burgundy aka The New Black





           DVF FALL 2012





















The burgundy color trend for Fall/Winter 2013 is so chic, sophisticated, and wearable.  Burgundy was seen throughout Fall Fashion Week this September and has been quoted many times as 'the new black'.  Below are some street pieces with the gorgeous rich and vivid Bordeaux color.  Wear it casually or dress it up.  It is the perfect color for a holiday party or winter dinner get together. 
Alexander Wang shoes seen here






Nanette Lepore skirt seen here



Tory Burch clutch seen here







Zara pants seen here







Topshop shirt seen here





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