2011 Oscars Fashion

Jennifer Hudson in an Atelier Versace Gown

Helen Mirren look great in a bodiced, silk grey gown
by Vivienne Westwood

Hilary Swank in a a sequined and feathered strapless

Gucci Premiere gown accented with ostrich feathers.

Natalie Portman in a violet off-the-shoulder Rodarte gown.

Happy Hour Friday - Espresso Martini

Espresso Martini
- Shot of espresso
- 1/2 oz. Three Olives Chocolate Vodka
- 1/2 oz. Godiva dark chocolate liqueur
- 1/4 oz. Amaretto
- 1/4 oz. Kahlúa
- Baileys to top off

Shake ingredients with ice. Rim the glass with shaved chocolate. Strain cocktail and top with Baileys, whipped cream, and cocoa.

SOURCE: David Feuer, Deco, in Houston

Shoe Fetish

Badgley Mischka

2011 Color of the Year - Honeysuckle

The Pantone color of the year for 2011 is Honeysuckle. According to Pantone Honeysuckle is a Color for All Seasons.

Courageous. Confident. Vital. A brave new color, for a brave new world. Let the bold spirit of Honeysuckle infuse you, lift you and carry you through the year. It’s a color for every day – with nothing “everyday” about it.

Honeysuckle emboldens us to face everyday troubles with verve and vigor. A dynamic reddish pink, Honeysuckle is encouraging and uplifting. It elevates our psyche beyond escape, instilling the confidence, courage and spirit to meet the exhaustive challenges that have become part of everyday life.

Tuesday's Thoughts

Love at first sight is easy to understand; it's when two people have been looking at each other for a lifetime that it becomes a miracle. ~Amy Bloom

Inspirational Mondays - Dianne Valentine

Happy Hour Friday - French Cosmo

The French Cosmo
3 oz. pineapple juice
1 1/2 oz. vodka
1/2 oz. cassis
Garnish: pineapple slice or leaf

Shake all the ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled stemmed glass. Garnish with pineapple slice or float a leaf from the fruit in the drink.

SOURCE: Joe Reiser, at Woo Lae Oak, Los Angeles

Tuesday's Thoughts

A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person. ~Mignon McLaughlin

Happy Hour Friday - Amore Vietato (Forbidden Love)

Amore Vietato (Forbidden Love)
2 oz. Hendricks gin
1 oz. blood orange juice
Dash simple syrup, 2 strawberries
4 slices of cucumber

Muddle fruit with simple syrup, add gin and blood orange juice. Shake and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with strawberry, cucumber spiral and orange peel hearts.

SOURCE: Wendy Verdel, Zeffirino, The Venetian, Las Vegas

Chocolate Dipped Marshmallow Hearts

Chocolate Dipped Marshmallow Hearts

Bag of marshmallow hearts (Jet-Puffed by Kraft)*
3 ounces white chocolate (I like Baker’s white chocolate squares)

3 ounces semi sweet chocolate

Melt each kind of chocolate in a microwave safe bowl for 30 second intervals, stirring well after each interval. Place a marshmallow heart into the chocolate and cover with chocolate. Use a fork to pull the marshmallow out. Shake off excess chocolate. Place on a parchment lined baking sheet. Repeat until chocolate is gone. Refrigerate until set. Eat the rest of the marshmallows.

*If you are unable to find the heart shaped marshmallows, you can cut the marshmallows into hearts with a cookie cutter.

Source: Babble

Rose Colors and their meanings

Valentine's Day is fastly approaching. Today's post is rose colors and their meanings.

Red: Love and Romance
One of the most universal of all symbols, the red rose represents true love. It has also appeared throughout history and across cultures as both a political and religious symbol.

Yellow: Friendship, Joy, Get Well
Throughout history, yellow has been closely associated with the sun, making these roses excellent for cheering people up. Yellow roses send a message of appreciation and platonic love without the romantic subtext of other colors. The color represents feelings of joy and delight.

Pink: Love, Gratitude, Appreciation
Pink carries with it the connotation of grace and elegance, as well as sweetness and poetic romance.
Dark pink roses are symbolic of gratitude and appreciation, and are a traditional way to say thanks.
Light pink roses are associated with gentleness and admiration, and can also be used as an expression of sympathy.

White: Purity, Innocence, Sympathy, Spirituality
Early tradition used white roses as a symbol for true love, an association which would later become the hallmark of the red rose. Also known as the bridal rose, the white rose is a traditional wedding flower. In this sense, white represents unity, virtue, and the pureness of a new love. White roses are also associated with honor and reverence, which makes them a fitting memorial for a departed loved one.

Orange: Desire, Enthusiasm and Passion
A literal mixture of yellow and red, orange roses were seen as a bridge between friendship symbolized by yellow roses and love represented by red roses. They can be an expression of fascination, or a gift to say 'I'm proud of you.'

Lavender: Enchantment, Majesty, Love at First Sight
The color purple has a traditional association with royalty. In this regard, shades of lavender roses suggest an air of regal majesty and splendor.

Tuesday's Thoughts

Marriage is that relation between man and woman in which the independence is equal, the dependence mutual, and the obligation reciprocal.

~Louis K. Anspacher

Inspirational Mondays - Preston Bailey

Today's inspiration is decorating with LED or battery operated candles. LED or battery operated candles are a great to decorate with the illusion of real candles. This option is also great when you have children attending your event or if your venue does not allow open flames. These photos are from Preston Bailey's blog and can be found here.