Fashion Fav’s – Oscars 2013

After a weekend packed with festivities and fun, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to snuggle with The Babe and relax as Hollywood’s royalty showed us their best at the 2013 Academy Awards.  Here’s a quick round-up of my favorite looks of the evening:

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Naomi Watts was very involved in the design process of her striking Armani Prive gown.
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Kerry Washington (I’ve got a bit of a crush on her at the moment) looked sensational in her bold coral Mui Mui dress.
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I loved the muted tone-on-tone look of Jessica Chastain’s Armani Prive dress.  The bold lip was instrumental in keeping the old-hollywood glam look current.
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Halle Berry made up for past offenses in this strong Versace look.
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Oh Man!  The first time my heart skipped a beat for dashing Eddie Redmayne was in My Week With Marilyn – and the mild obsession seems to have continued.  I thought he looked so perfect, as a modern gentleman dressed in Alexander McQueen.  Loved the loafers, too!
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Jane Fonda looked smashing in this gorgeous yellow Versace gown!
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And while cutie Leslie Mann didn’t walk the red carpet, I was a in love with her Vanity Fair party look, dressed in Andrew Gn.

Real Wedding: Lindsay and Philip

It’s been a while since I’ve had the opportunity to properly post, let alone share some wedding photos.  I have found myself with a few bonus minutes and felt compelled to share some photos from one of the more romantic weddings of my year.
Lindsay’s inspiration was pure romance, a la Romeo and Juliet.  The bride loved lush, gardeny wild flowers and arrangements that were loose with layers of texture and movement.  Jesse Deckard (formerly of Event Creative now of BLISS!) helped us pull it all together with beautiful floral, lighting and fabric treatments.
From inspiration (board) to reality:
The stunning bride dressed in a suite at The Ritz, while the groom spent time at home with some buddies.
This was the private moment where Lindsay and Philip met up for the first time on their wedding day.
The girls wore gauzy barely blush dresses and carried bouquets of garden roses, astilbe, fragrant freesia, dusty miller and lisianthus.
Both the ceremony and reception took place at one of my very favorite venues, The Ivy Room.  The seriously gorgeous weather cooperated for their outdoor ceremony, held in the charming courtyard of the venue.  
Guests moved inside for dinner and dancing where a beautiful restaurant – style meal awaited them, compliments of Entertaining Company.  Soft chiffon curtains were added to frame the beautiful Juliet-style doors.  Taupe linens were paired with rustic farm-chairs.    
Two centerpiece designs adorned the dinner tables.  A single low, lush and gardeny arrangement in worn silver footed bowls graced one half of the tables while brushed silver candelabras and smaller, varied arrangements were displayed on the alternating tables.  Flowers included garden roses, delicate chamomile, privet berries, garden stock, astilbe, lisianthus, andromeda and hydrangea. 
 A single ivory majolica spray rose accented each napkin.
The bride loved daisies and had Sarah’s Pastries create the whimsical confection (this was Sarah’s last weekend of producing wedding cakes, tear).
The couple and their LOVELY families enjoyed every minute of their féte, dancing the night away to a unique playlist from Front of House packed with loads of salsa and latin-inspired tunes.
Unlike the brides’ initial inspiration, this love story has simply one of the happiest of endings.

Kate Spade Steal!

Kate Spade is hosting a surprise sale today and tomorrow and I stumbled across this darling locket.  For a whopping $35(!!), it may be the perfect gift for your bridesmaids or besties, as it’s inscription reads: 
partners in crime
Quick!  Pop on over to the Kate Spade website!

Wedding Weekend

It’s my first wedding back after becoming a momma and I couldn’t be more excited!  And it’s quite clear why:  a gorgeous, fun couple, a truly amazing family and [from what I’m expecting] some of the coolest guests around.  
It’ll be a lovely day, a traditional ceremony at Old St. Pat’s followed by an evening of celebration at The Ritz.  Beautiful stylings of Jesse [formerly of Event Creative…now…of…BLISS!], one of the best bands around, Larry King Orchestra, custom linens, a delicious restaurant-style meal and heaps of surprises and details awaiting throughout the evening.
I love loved the inspiration for M&T’s wedding.  After tossing around a handful of color combinations, we landed on a wintry collection of neutrals including whites, cremes and champagnes paired with the mixed metallic tones silvers, golds and rose golds.  This was the inspiration board I created months ago and I can’t wait to share the results!
I will be SO seriously sad to let these clients go!
Xx!

Onto The Next

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With visions of sugar plums a thing of the past, visions of bubbly take over in anticipation of New Years Eve.  
This is the first year that we won’t be on vacation with my in-laws and I’m looking forward to an early dinner (have already warned J I’d like to be FANCY) and home in time to snuggle with our little man as we ring in Twenty Thirteen.  
Now…what to wear!

Merrier & Merrier

Well, as if you didn’t know…The Holiday Season is upon us.  
Although I have yet to begin Christmas and Hanukkah shopping, haven’t picked up our tree or even brought the decorations up from storage, I do feel as though it is time to embrace the charm and get captured by the inspiration that surrounds the season.  So, I’ve recently dipped my toes in, by lighting my holiday-scented candle during nighttime nursing sessions and, so, I’ve decided…I’m ready for more!
What gets you inspired for the season? 
(because I guarantee it is NOT the commercials that started to pop up months ago!)
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Is it a favorite wintry beverage?
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A date with girls for cookies and vino?
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Gorgeous ribbons?
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The idea of a cozy night in?
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A welcomed entrance?
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Treats to go?
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A snowy embrace?
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Festive Dress?
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Or the idea of starting new traditions?
Well, whatever gets you jazzed this season – I hope you’re off to a good start!
Xx!

Gifting – Perfect for New Parents

As a new parent, I have been overwhelmed and surprised by the generosity of family, close friends and even mere acquaintances.  There has been an abundance of lovely notes and gifts galore for our Sweet Baby C – everything including personalized blankets [so perfect for snuggles], to adorable outfits  [to make his mama proud], to extra large tubs of diaper cream [to ward off the inevitable tooshie rash] and everything in between.  …ALL have been so appreciated and completely unnecessary. 
[And I can’t even count the beautifully insane Gucci diaper bag from my best friend in Sydney…]
That said, one of my favorite, simple gifts was from a dear friend – someone with a pair of gorgeous kiddos of her own – making her know, first hand, what can be the biggest struggle of new parenthood:

Finding time to eat properly – [something that is not take-out, that is]!
Her easy and darling basket of goodies was delivered to our doorman [coordinating visits can be overwhelming with a newborn] and contained everything to help get mornings off to a smooth [ish!] start.
Here are some of the easy essentials:
A sweet note.  Caffeinated coffee!
Homemade muffins high in fiber and protein to help keep your energy up!  [Will try to get the recipe because they were truly delicious and SO hearty!]
Yummy granola that was good as a quick snack, added to greek yogurt or ice cream.
A chew toy for the first love of our lives and lovely teas.
The basket of goodies can be tailored for your friends tastes [swap muffins for cupcakes, granola for chex-mix etc.] and is sure to be appreciated by any new mom ,or perhaps just a friend with a lot on her plate!
It has honestly been so humbling to have received such support from friends and family – and I now feel like I have an endless supply of inspiration for future new mamas in need!




Little Thief

I can’t believe that my littlest peanut has been in our lives for nearly 5 weeks!  Oh, how life changes in a flash – what was it like before this creature stole my heart?  
Carter has been home with us, out of the NICU, for the last couple of weeks and seeing his daily progress, growth and continued strength is remarkable.  He has much ground to make up and is still quite fragile…we’re often reminded that he will hit milestones on his time, not ours…but this journey has  seriously been remarkable.  
We are so blessed!

Artful Affair

Earlier this summer, I planned a wedding that was so special on many levels.  The clients were a dream, a wonderful mother/daughter duo, that started as acquaintances and ended up lifelong friends.  Additionally, the setting was held at the Hinsdale Golf Club, the location of my wedding almost 5 years ago [and they got the gorgeous weather that Joel and I dreamed of!].  And finally, the couple was seriously in love – the kind of love that is so true and honest that it makes you thrilled to help them become partners for life.
For this classic and incredibly romantic wedding, we hired local artist, Elizabeth Dixon, to capture the evening on canvas, so that after the wedding the couple had this beautiful piece of artwork to remember the most special day of their lives.  This has become my favorite, fancypants version of a photo booth!

A Whole New World

While little Carter doesn’t know quite how easy he had it, he was just too eager to see the world and see  what all the fuss was about.  And so, despite being 6 weeks premature, the little bugger has already completely rocked our world, and stolen our hearts.  
He is still currently in the NICU, working on getting bigger and stronger by the day.  And although the process is painfully slow, we are dreaming of the day he joins us at home.