Winey Monday

Happy new week! I hope you all had a wonderful, romantic, fun, sweet, valentines weekend!

One of my readers asked me if I had any ideas on what to do with left over wine bottles and corks. We all have them, and I thought that there were probably more than one of your wondering what you could do with these items other than recycling them! So, here are a few ideas, let me know if you try one!

[ via ] point click home

These are really kind of cool, and how fun would they be to use at a wine party or tasting for your other beverage offerings. I found this easy 3-step process that uses tea lights and cold water for cutting the bottle!

[ via ] design fetish

Using the same process from above, you could cut off the bottom of the bottle and make these pretty lanterns!

Looks pretty simple. All you would need is a large clamp from the hardware store, and a little patience to carefully place the corks together. I have friends that did this, and they look great!

Finally, one of my favorite center pieces. It's quite different, but really sets the mood!

If you don't have perfect bottles, or want them to all look cohesive as one color, you could pick up some high lacquer spray paint from Home Depot and paint them to fit your desires!

Serving Up Sweetness

Friday I'm hosting a big dinner party, and I am really hoping to impress my guests with a great food presentation on my kitchen island. I've been looking for some great servingware and I came across this new collection from Rosana Inc. on Real Simple. Its all so sweet!

{via} real simple

One of each please!

A Few of My Favorite Things

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and enjoyed the time relaxing and eating delicious food!

Today is my birthday, so I thought it was only proper to share a few of my favorite things...

I am completely obsessed and consumed by Ina Gaartens home in the Hamptons. This open concept kitchen, living, and dining room is exactly the way I like to live. A room where everyone can be together, no matter what they are doing.  The kitchen, however, is the heart of the home. It seems to be the place where everyone gathers when entertaining. There is space for everyone in this kitchen, and plenty of space for me to cook to my hearts content.

Really, there are no words to describe the beautiful scent of a candle from Hotel Costes. It is one that will always remind me of Paris, and always make your home cozy. I promise all of your friends will rave about it. Find one here.

...Speaking of cozy, I love cozy nooks, with perfectly placed and decorated little tables, with lots of trinkets to explore, or fabulous flower arrangements like the one below, by Ken Marten for the Mayfair Hotel in London

A super comfortable but fantastically covered dining chair is not only a statement, but an invitation to linger at the table a little longer.

We all have to do daily tasks, the these products from Mrs. Meyes make each day a little more glamourous, and your house a little more pretty.

and last, but certainly not least, an inspiring place to work, I know, you have probably seen this domino picture a million times, but the combination of soft colors, the feminine accessories, and great gallery wall are show stopping.

I Want Invitations

In apology of my absence yesterday, I promise today will be full of many great goodies.

Those of you who know me, know that the deer head has become a symbol near and dear to my heart, so when I saw these, I was SO in love. Not only are the beautifully printed and cut, but the linen envelope is a fantastically different way to make a statement.

I found these via Twig and Thistle, but they are made by Chelle Paperie.

These were made as thanksgiving invitations, but the company offers SO many beautiful prints, or you can make your own!

Clearly Customized

Colors, and patterns, and prints galore! I love the Iomoi collection. They offer everything from custom stationary and invitations to ice buckets, trays, coasters and much more. They are the perfect pieces for adding a little punch to your living spaces, and having that something special for entertaining. Build your own pieces here!

That Little Something

I think a completely personalized little gift basket says a big thank you to whoever is the lucky recipient. I often do this for my friends, and they always love them. I put anything in there from household products I have that they have admired, to candles, to treats, but I am always looking for kitschy little things like these that I have found...

wouldn't parties be so much more fun if your h'ours dourves came on a sword?

patina

"Tools" for your bar 

zwello

M loves to save the wishbone for that extra morsel of luck, all the work of finding it is no longer needed thanks to

Site Design NYC

I couldn't resist, how delicious do these double chocolate cupcakes look?

godiva

wall chalkboards are fun to have, not to mention functional, but this one is pretty too.

Site Design NYC

Hostess with the Mostess this Halloween

photos courtesy of Country Living

Are you inspired to be the hostess with the mostess this halloween yet? Hopefully you are... here are some finds to make you the most popular house on the block!

 

pillows available at Target

 

beaded placemat and dinnerware along with napkins, napkin and place holders available at ZGallerie

frankenstine mug available at Patina

candle holder pumpkins from the Smith and Hawken line, available at Target

     knife available at Patina

 

recipes available at Hostess with the Mostess

whatever you may be doing to celebrate in halloween style, hopefully you can indulge yourself in one of these treats... Happy Haunting!

Fun Find

there are a million wine glass markers on the market, these wine glass tags declare what kind of wine is in your glass... or maybe what kind of person your guest is, you can be the judge of that!

find at Patina

Adding a Little Sparkle to Your Monday

  Z Gallerie is one of my very favorite stores, they have some fun "bling things" right now...

 

            

  

             
                 this cute little chandelier holds a tealight!

Hopefully this has brightened up your monday!

All items available at Z Gallerie