Easter Table Decorating on Keep it Local

On Tuesday, I had the opportunity to design an Easter Table for Portland's Koin 6, Keep it Local I was super nervous but everyone at Koin was so nice and patient with me! The 5 minutes actually went by really fast!

My table was designed around an Easter Brunch, with a vintage rustic theme. I started with a burlap tablecloth, (which is impossible to iron!, if anyone has tips I would love to hear them), I used my grandmother's china that has a gold trim and bird and butterfly motif. The two twig servers did double duty as decor and a place to hold the breakfast treats. I was lucky enough to have Lisa Martin of Studio del Fiore, to do the floral design right on set. She even used items that are readily available at the store, so viewers could do it themselves. I would never thing of using dill, and it was gorgeous added to the lilac, daffodil, and kale. Check out the centerpiece on her blog here. She also designed the sweetest little votives filled with wheatgrass, birdseed eggs and flowers.
At each placesetting, I printed menus on bakery bags and then filled them with the cutest scalloped Happy Easter cookies from Truly Scrumptious Bakery. For the adult guests, I made homemade granola packaged in cellophane bags. For the children, they received a little glass vial of sour jelly beans and a muslin bag full of recycled egg crayons from local Etsy store, Chase Dreams. She has some seriously cute fortune cookie crayons in her store right now!

Check out more pictures from the segment and floral inspiration at the Studio del Fiore Blog.
Thank you Lisa for taking all the great photos too!!
To see the segment head on over to the Koin 6, Keep it Local site.

By the way, wearing my new favorite stella & dot necklace, the colette.

Images: Studio del Fiore

Easter Garlands

Fun spring garlands for your Easter festivities this weekend!

Spring Garland by June craft
Egg Garland by Martha Stewart

Easter Cocktail: Blushing Mimosa

I'm more of a Mimosa gal than a Bloody Mary gal, so I thought this twist on the classic Mimosa would make a lovely Easter brunch cocktail. How about you, Bloody Mary or Mimosa?

Blushing Mimosa

Prep: 5 min. The classic mimosa is equal parts orange juice and Champagne. In this recipe, pineapple juice and grenadine add a twist of flavor and color.

Yield: Makes 6 cups

Ingredients

• 2 cups orange juice (not from concentrate)
• 1 cup pineapple juice, chilled
• 2 tablespoons grenadine
• 1 (750-milliliter) bottle Champagne or sparkling wine, chilled*

Preparation

1. Stir together first 3 ingredients.

2. Pour equal parts orange juice mixture and Champagne into Champagne flutes.

*2 (12-oz.) cans ginger ale or lemon-lime soda may be substituted.

Melanie Bacon, Shreveport, Louisiana, Southern Living, JUNE 2007

Networking Night!

I'll be heading to a girls night out networking event tonight in Vancouver. If you are in the Portland/Vancouver area stop by and say hi!

Real Soirées: Vintage Circus Birthday Bash

Every little detail of this Vintage Circus Birthday designed by photographer Aly Medina for her son's 2nd birthday, makes me want to squeal with happiness! How about that cake? To die for!!! I want that cake for my birthday. Lots of great inspiration from this party, and don't forget to check out all her gorgeous pictures on her blog! Thanks Aly for the Monday inspiration!

Images: laLuz photography

CB2 Outdoor Entertaining

I look forward to all the new outdoor furniture and decor every year. Although, by the time its warm enough to use it around here, all my favorite pieces are sold out. I can't wait for warm nights on the deck with a corona and lime, which would work well with CB2's outdoor color palette this year. The lime cart and white planters are definitely on my list! Check out the whole collection here.

Candyland First Birthday Party

Of course, I was very excited about this first birthday party! A CANDY theme and the sweetest little fella ever!! How cute is he in the photo booth? The cute little stickers and cupcake signs were from Mckennalayne Designs and the fabric pennant banners in the photo booth were from Possibly and Perhaps. The lovely cake and cupcakes were from Portland's Helen Bernhard Bakery.

New color for the perfect backdrop/shower curtain!

Dying to use this Anthropologie shower curtain for a photo or dessert table backdrop, and now it comes in a Smoldering colorway! Love it!

Image: Anthropologie

Oh So Chic Made by Girl Wedding Prints

Love these new custom wedding prints from Made by Girl! So sweet by the dessert or cake tabke. For more information or to place an order click here.

Image: Made by Girl

Have a Nasty Cold and Craving Chicken Soup!

Sorry, I've been MIA with a nasty, nasty cold! This soup sounds really good
right now, with just enough kick, to kick the cold! Yummy! Be back soon!

Time: 20 minutes.

Total Time: 20 minutes
Yield: Serves 4

Ingredients

• 1 can (14 oz.) coconut milk
• 1 can (14 oz.) reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 6 quarter-size slices fresh ginger
• 1 stalk fresh lemongrass, cut in 1-in. pieces
• 1 pound boned, skinned chicken breast or thighs, cut into 1-in. chunks
• 1 cup sliced mushrooms
• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
• 1 tablespoon Thai or Vietnamese fish sauce (nuoc mam or nam pla)
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon Thai chili paste
• 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro

Preparation

In a medium saucepan, combine coconut milk, broth, ginger, and lemongrass and bring to boil over high heat. Add chicken, mushrooms, lime juice, fish sauce, sugar, and chili paste. Reduce heat and simmer until chicken is firm and opaque, 5 to 10 minutes. Discard lemongrass. Garnish servings with basil and cilantro.

Recipe and Image: Sunset Magazine

Sparkling Sea Breeze

A perfect brunch cocktail or punch from Coastal Living Magazine.(love this mag!)

Substitute a lemon-lime carbonated soda or club soda for the vodka and wine to make a nonalcoholic version. Prep: 4 minutes.

Sparkling Sea Breeze

Yield: Makes 8 1/2 cups

Ingredients

• 2 cups cranberry juice cocktail, chilled
• 2 cups pink grapefruit juice, chilled
• 1 cup cranberry vodka, chilled
• 1 (750-ml) bottle sparkling white wine, chilled
• Garnish: pink grapefruit wheels or wedges

Preparation

Combine first 3 ingredients in a pitcher or punch bowl. Gently stir in sparkling wine. Garnish, if desired.

Image: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Recipe: Coastal Living

Sweet Bumble Bee Birthday from scissors.paper.cake

Australians know how to throw a party!! This gorgeous Bumble Bee 1st birthday party by scissors.paper.cake (great inspiration on this site!) was featured on one of my favorite blogs. Imprintables. Love the pale yelow and white palette and definitely one of my all time favorite dessert tables. Just look at that backdrop! Dying to know how that was created. For more information visit the Imprintables blog.

Kate Kelly Photography Spring Mini Session

I am lucky enough to be able to team up with Kate Kelly Photography again on April 18th for a Portland mini session at Laurelhurst Park. Great opportunity to get a fabulous photo session without breaking the bank. For more information and to sign-up, click on over to the blog.

Oh, and those happen to be my fellas on the right, just itching to jump into that mud puddle!

Image: Kate Kelly Photography

NW Brides: Giveaway from Absolutely Captivating

Diana of Absolutely Captivating Photography is giving away a wedding package to one lucky couple in Oregon or Washington! How fabulous is that? Head on over to her blog for all the yummy details and to peruse the wonderful eye candy. Be sure to check out the pictures from her Jose Villa workshop in Tuscany. Gorgeous! Contest ends March 28th so hurry on over to enter!

Image: Absolutely Captivating Photography