Finally, a color sheme

Finally. I've come up with a color palate for the master bath in our new home. It's based on this gorgeous shower curtain I found at Bed Bath & Beyond.

I'm not one to do crazy colors all over the house, so I decided that when we do paint, we'll do neutrals in the living areas and fun colors in the bathrooms :)

Walls will be Plum

While bathroom accessories {towels & rugs will be grey}

And, I'm obsessed with this chandelier I saw at Lowe's which is too mini for the dining room area, so I think I'll hang it in the bathroom instead. I just must have it!

I'll accent with a basic brushed metal bath ensemble similar to this.

I'm so ready to get into this house. I may not have much else planned, but at least the master bath will look kick ass!

xoxo

The Few Things I Miss.

The move from Philadelphia to Charleston was huge! I don't miss Philadelphia: the traffic, the people, the crazy sports fans. But, now that I'm planning a trip to PA in March with a pit stop in Philadelphia, I'm thinking of those few things I miss and can't wait to partake in :) Since Philly is a popular place for PA folk to visit, as well as out-of-staters, here are my top 5 things I miss {which means if you're visiting make sure to check them out!}

My shopping Mecca. King of Prussia Mall How I miss you Bloomingdales, Sephora & Nordstrom. If your unfamiliar and live in PA this is so worth the road trip! Just look online at their map and it will give you the chills.

From the college days. A delicious Larry's Cheesesteak. By far the BEST in Philly. Right by SJU off of City Ave. UH-Maze-ING! I will be stopping out of my way for one of these babies when I hit the town. Pats & Geno's are in no comparison, who wants WIZ on their cheesesteak? Nasty! Not this girl.

It's not technically Philly, but the Jersey Shore was a close drive away. You probably don't want to admit it, but these people are entertaining as hell. And yes, for those of you who haven't been to Jersey, this is the real deal.

I love Charleston, but it's skyline can't touch Philly. I used to drive into the city when working for Philadelphia Magazine and see this everyday and night for many hours while sitting in traffic. 

Last but not least, probably my most missed item. Steven Starr Restaurants My favorites are Buddakan{pictured} an amazing Asian fusion restaurant & Alma De Cuba {sadly one of the last places we ate before the move}

I'll also leave you with a recipe for one of my favorite cocktails from Continental Midtown 

The Buzz Aldrin

4 parts Tang
2 parts Peach Vodka
1 part Triple Sec

Combine ingredients in a shaker and shake over ice. Strain into a Tang rimmed cocktail glass and enjoy!

Cheers! XO

Obsessed.

I have a problem. Or just an obsession. Here's how the story goes: when first moving to lovely Charleston in August 2009; my hubby and I were walking down the street and stumbled upon a brand new store near the market called Sally Bettes . It didn't look like a normal store on the market, more high end and stylish & the windows were calling my name! We walked in where I met Justin {my other husband, but he's gay}. From that day forward I knew I had a best friend in Charleston, and a new store to shop.

Here we are just a few weeks ago at my 25th birthday bash!

Anyways.. he owns this fabulous store which has been closed due to relocation for a few months {my wallet has thanked me!} but now he's reopened and more fabulous then ever! Here are a few of my favorite picks:

Chan Luu Wrap Bracelet

Escapada One Shoulder Dress in Navy

Hayla Dewitt Jewelry

For those of you that are locals, Sally Bettes is having a Grand Re-Opening on Friday, January 14th from 6-8pm which will include trunk shows from Escapada & Halya Dewitt Jewelry along with delicious bites from Newton Farms Catering . It's an RSVP only type thing so e-mail sallybettesboutique@gmail.com to get on the list!

January: The Month of Champagne

For those of you that don't know me, I'm a HUGE champagne drinker. In our household, we don't just bust it out for special occasions, it's more like our drink of choice.

{I just needed to add in this throwback from 10.18.2008} Just see the smiles on our faces, obviously from the bubbles & getting married :)

Anyways... January is our favorite month, the month of Champagne! Even my favorite magazine Food Network Magazine decided to dedicate a page to the bubbles. Here are my top 5 favorite ideas for the month:

1. Make it Italian night: Order a take out pizza and pick up a bottle of prosecco
2. Use an empty champagne bottle as a soap dispenser; just buy a bottle spout for the top
3. Stay in for a date night with Giada De Laurentiis' champagne risotto Find Recipe Here
4. Top cupcakes with festive frosting: Whip two sticks of butter, 3 cups confectioners' sugar and a BIG splash of champagne
5. Serve champagne on a stick: Pour a mix of half bubbles and half fruit juice into popsicle molds; freeze.

Cheers!

I met the Blue Crew

I've been sick all day, the past two days. I finally rolled out of bed and showered to make myself feel better then we adventured to Lowe's to begin looking at items for our new home {fingers crossed we close the week of the 17th!} . Every time we go, I always find something new I want for the house.

Exhibit A: will look fabulous hanging above the bar area in the kitchen



My husband made me go to Sears. Not something I was particularly thrilled about, especially since I never thought purchasing clothes and appliances in the same place was a good idea. But, we finally found a washer & dryer that I love {since I do the laundry}

Did you know that they will comparison shop for you to get the lowest price? And.. you can price check two weeks after and if it goes on sale they pay you the difference? SCORE! I am officially a fan of Sears.

My goal this week is to color scheme the living room and bathrooms... I'm a busy lady and like to stay ahead of the game. Once we move in I'll know exactly what we need :) Color charts soon to follow. Don't be jealous.

Your new interior designer & lover of the Blue Crew,

New Year, New You!

 I'm on a roll with this blogging idea, let's see if I can keep it up. Here I am with my girls {you'll hear more about them later} Paris {left} & Ginger {right}

 I took some pictures I'd like to share with you from last night's dinner party. I'm quite impressed as to how great the dinner turned out and impressed with my table decor.

So, I decided to do a bow napkin fold. The bow reminds me of Gaga 2010. See comparision Below:

vs.

Close enough.

Gaga Napkin Bow Instructions can be found here

Here's the total tablescape. I even DIY'd my own centerpiece. We'll have a lesson on that later.

Happy Entertaining xoxo

Let's Get Serious..

Yikes. Let's get serious. My first post was LAME. This blog is about me! I'm excited to share some of my entertaining ideas { I love having guests } , easy dinners { I'm the daughter of a chef} , funny stories {I told you I work in the wedding industry} , fashion {i heart shopping}, decor {of our new home} and southern lifestyle {for a city girl}.

Let's get started!

It's NYE and instead of going out in all of the hustle and bustle, we're having house guests! I feel like I'm being somewhat {cheap} these days because I know I'm going to splurge once the new house purchase is finalized. Instead of doing $125 per head for hors d'oeuvres and crappy drinks, we're rolling in 2011 with high style.

NYE Menu:

Field Green & Spinach Salad with Feta, Cherry Tomatoes & Balsamic Vinaigrette
Lobster Tail & Asian London Broil with Sauteed Spinach & Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Cheesecake Factory Cheesecake {with my spin of Nutella & raspberry}
Oh.. and did I mention 4 bottles of champagne {I'm a junkie}

I'll start off with my first recipe {whoop!} it's an easy one that anyone can do. Just marinate the meat and let it sit overnight- done and done. Start off with a 2lb London Broil or Beef Tenderloin. I like London Broil as a cut a little bit better.

Whisk together the following in a small bowl: 1/4 cup Miran {found in the Asian section of the store}, 2 cloves minced garlic, 1/4 cup dry white wine {I use Sav. Blanc}, a few dashes of Low Salt Soy Sauce, 1 Tablespoon Wasabi powder {also found in the Asian section of the store}. Whisk! Place London Broil in a zip lock bag and drizzle in marinade. Let sit over night. Next day, let sit out 10 minutes before grilling. Grill to your liking.

Happy 2011 . xoxox