04-02-2013

Welcome to Washington

Good Morning from Washington, DC!

Today is my last day here in DC.  It is a gorgeous, sunny morning and I am a little sad that I will miss the peak of The Cherry Blossoms that is now set to take place this week.

 The National Cherry Blossom Festival is going on and there are so many fun traditions and the city embraces the magic with clever cocktails such as Old Ebbitt’s Cherry Mojito and this Japanese Cherry Blossom Margarita! 

The images in the board above and a ton of other Cherry Blossom Wedding inspired images are here on our Cherry Blossom Wedding Pinterest Board .

Until next time, Washington stay gorgeous!

Posted in dc, inspiration, Spring, wedding | Tagged , , , , ,

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04-01-2013

Roll On!

Today I am attending the 135th Annual Easter Egg Roll at The White House with my son, Jack!
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I LOVE the Obama’s Theme this Year; Be Healthy, Be Active, Be You!

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Obama Easter Egg Roll

All Images via Associated Press, and The White House

It is a gorgeous sunny day here in DC and the perfect way to spend our last day of Spring Break before heading home to Chicago tomorrow.  Follow me on Twitter for pics from our adventure today!  PS- Check out ALL of these ” Be Healthy, Be Active Pages” and Follow Michelle O’s campaign run Pinterest page here. 

1600 Penn, here we come!  Thanks, Molly!

 

 

 

 

 

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03-12-2013

Signature Sketchbook


Signature Sketchbook

 

Here are a few fun inspirations and pretty realizations from my wedding this past weekend at The Chicago Racquet Club with Hello Darling!  While we are looking forward to the professional photos arriving in the next few weeks, Natalie is not only an incredible floral designer and artist, but equally good photographer.  I snagged a few of her shots of the best of details and put them into this pretty post.   The mantle was so stunning, I could not resist drawing it after the party!   Such a cute keepsake for my wedding sketchbook!

More before and after’s to come!

 

Posted in Signature Sketchbook |

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02-01-2013

For the Love of Pink, host a dinner party!

 

All Images via this Food and Wine article, Martha Stewart, and Faire Frou Frou

It’s February and I love the romance and colors of this month.  Winter’s last embrace before we are looking for signs of Spring.  I adore the romance of a dinner party “just because”.   Pick some Valentine’s be it a girls night in, your favorite couples, people you keep telling “we have to get together” and do it!  Just because!

  • Send a handwritten invite on a notecard- tell your guests to dress up for a special night “at home”.
  • Mix up your guest list – go outside of a clique.
  • Plan a seasonal menu- have a few little bites pre- dinner set out, and offer a classic cocktail.  A simple mesclun salad with mustard vinaigrette followed by a warm beef bourguignon is easy t.  Offer Bubbles, Red and White to accompany your feast.
  • Pull the good stuff – raid your sideboard and those registry must haves still in boxes or your favorite champagne coups.
  • Take a great (bowl, urn, or vase) from your home to a local flower shop and have them create a special arrangement, or make them yourself.  Little compotes in the foyer, powder room, cocktail table can be simple and easily done in tiny votive cups.
  • Tall taper candles make a gorgeous centerpiece just like Jackie’s!
  • Rent a single table linen- see how the pink and black above make the white plates, or flowers pop!
  • Wear a special family piece of jewelry or something you don’t normally wear out.
  • Make sure your co- host looks equally dapper and get him something special to wear like cool colored socks or a tie.
  • Have a few extra blooms or petals to put on dessert plates, or hors d’oeuvres trays.
  • Simple sweets are often more appreciated in the living area with port, scotch, or dessert wines.  A few cheeses, chocolate, macarons, and pate de fruit are perfect.

 

Image Credit: Jackie Kennedy at home in Georgetown, 1954 | Posted in entertaining, inspiration, Winter | Tagged , , , , , ,

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01-10-2013

My Year in Instagram

I am in love with Instagram.  It takes five seconds to be inspired by all of the lovely creatives that I follow all over the world.  Whenever I need a little break in the day, I share or look for a warm smile, a happy detail a simple pleasure.  Looking back on the little life moments of my year on my Instagram last night I decided to create this little recap of “postcards” from my 2012 experience.  Life is truly about the little details and this sums up some of my favorites… enjoy.

I fired up this app last year at the ALT Summit in SLC.  Here below is my first ever Instagram pic!JANUARY1916602779_n

 

Cupcakes at the many coffee breaks at ALT- we were seriously spoiled!FEBRUARY_3333656699862_628121143_n

 

A February Blizzard in Chicago.MARCH62_n

 

It’s still cold out, but Spring cleaning and fresh faces are calling.MAY_4063181937537_468996333_n

 

A heat wave in Chicago brought us an early teaser of a Spring.  Everything bloomed it was  unheard of.  Here is my sweet, charming Chicago Street.JUNE751603_13267072_n

 

I break out the grill and make a smore’s bar in the garden.  My son Jack and I entertain constantly. 
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My cocktail of the Summer… Watermelon Margarita’s with Smoked Black Sea Salt.

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I fall in love with Princeton University and stay at the pinch me cute Naussau Inn while planning a Black and White Ball wedding for October.  SEPTEMBER78_968706734_n

 

 

Back in Chicago and Back to School.  We enjoy this gorgeous month with meet-ups and playdates in Lincoln Park.OCTOBER08_298153533_n

 

October, I host my one and only sister’s bachelorette and shower in Washington, DC and have a ball with her and her fabulous friends.  
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Jack and I go to Grenada, WI for my birthday and bask in the sun.
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My sister gets married on Thanksgiving weekend on Maryland’s charming shore.  We planned it all together and it was the best life experience to share this magic and emotion with my sister.  46390_10200259320345302_1470665084_nJack and I have a cozy Christmas in Chicago.

Looking back on the year at the little “daily delights” reminds you what life is all about.  I am so grateful for all of it and excited for all to come.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in chicago, dc, family, inspiration | Tagged

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01-08-2013

Be Inspired.

Happy New Year!

I am excited to be back to blogging and the bridal business is buzzing with beauty everywhere!  Loads of glossies hot of the press, new engaged brides in a flurry to find their perfect planning team!  Here are SS we are so excited for 2013 and all of the fun, planning, friendships and style it will bring!

We wanted to start our year off right with creating the perfect environment to enliven and excite our clients and workspaces.  Here are some of the favorite images that we used to inspire our recent office and showroom make-over!

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The stunning shelves of BHLDN at 8 W. Walton in Chicago are one of my favorite places to party.. {and plan one}.

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I love this collage above via Design Darling.

Darcy Miller is in love with inspiration walls and image collections as you will see in this collage below.

Inspiration

1. Inspiration wall.  We love this image and just ordered our wall size board via .  {Cannot locate image credit}.

2. Darcy Miller constantly inspires her children with color, crafts and collages. via.

3. Shared spaces are much more dreamy with a wall of wishes in front of you.

4. We loved this over the desk wall with multiple boards, so we created one for each client.

5. One of Darcy Miller’s incredibly gorgeous collages.

6. Sweet style on the well edited side for the girl who goes to the corporate office.

7. A shadow box frames on shelves are chic decor and ways to show off your favorite things.

8. Bookcase heaven!  I did this in our space and I have to say I just sit and stare.

Inspiration is everywhere… pick a space to dream and design it.

These images and many more on our Offices to Envy Pinboard! 

Posted in decorating, home, how to, inspiration, Pinterest | Tagged , , ,

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12-05-2012

Now this is a Snow Ball….

All images taken with my iPhone

Want to take your Winter Wedding up a notch?  Be a Snow Queen and create a snow lounge with mirror table top bars and tables, white trees in mirror cube plants cascading with crystal stands, a  specialty snowball cocktail, gorgeous glassware, tinsel stir sticks, frosty uplighting, dangling starry candlelight, a forest of mirror tile escort cards, and oh yeah….

An elevated SNOW MACHINE!

No shoveling or coats required!

Posted in dc, inspiration, wedding, Winter | Tagged , , , , , , ,

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12-04-2012

Silver Belles

Sequin Chair, Ornaments, Cake, Cocktail, Blonde, Silver Dress at Bar, Bar Table, Bag in Chaise, Light Fixture, Silver Dress 

 It’s Christmas Time In the City!

Good Morning from Gorgeous Chicago!

I hope you kick off the season with last minute mischief, fun and cheer!

x Anne

Posted in chicago, entertaining, inspiration, Winter | Tagged , , ,

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12-03-2012

Inspiration to Realization

All images via Jenny Taylor Photography

This Fall wedding at River East Art Center in Chicago was perfection.  The teal and antique gold with hints of sparkle and fall.  The “sip and sample” taste of two cities cocktail hour, the gold lanterns and glittery pumpkins, the flip flop bar, the grandmother’s wedding cake recipe as the something borrowed.  The PEOPLE.  The entire day was perfection and certainly a vision realized.

Many thanks to the brilliant team of talent:

Renee Price, KEHOE Designs, Becky Levi, Food for Thought, Laura Kimmel, Tablescapes, BBJ Linen, and the photographer who captured it all, Jenny Taylor and her team.

Posted in chicago, events, Fall, food and drink, inspiration, wedding | Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

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11-27-2012

Making Spirits Bright

Home Bars, Bar Carts and Trays are hotter than ever right now!  So, we thought we would ask an expert… what do you really need to have a chic, functioning home bar?  Revae Schneider the fabulous Chicago Mixologist and owner of Femme de Coup provided us with a list, and helped us shop for the “best of bar” essentials.

Whether you are looking to Re-jigger, or Register, or just want to Rock Out with the Hottest bar of the Holidays, read on….

Revae says, for a well stoked home bar you need the following; a jigger, (she likes OXO), a good shaker, a pretty stirring glass, with an equally lovely spoon, a julep strainer, and ice bucket with a scoop.  Revae also loves vintage glassware, like the return of the classic coupe for a cocktail.  She recommends “a good rocks glass with one or two cubes resting in the bottom or a less than half full glass”, and lastly a Collins glass.

Revae and I both love the collection of glassware at Anthroplogie and these Bistro glasses from Pottery Barn which I own some of both.

I had fun trolling for gorgeous bar treasures from her list as well as some more.  Here is what is pictured above:

  1. Teardrop Barspoon $25.95
  2. Barney’s New York Martini Shaker $290
  3. Match Double Jigger $88
  4. Premium Julep Strainer $21
  5. Michael Aram Nut Bowls $119
  6. Ralph Lauren Broughton Decanter $595
  7. Anthropology Fleur de Lis Tumbler $8.00
  8. Mauviel Hammered Copper Champagne Bucket $299

 

 

 

 

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