Purple, Cranberry and Gray

Branches & Vines

MATERIALS: 13.5" cylindrical glass vase; 1 bunch deep-pink anemones; 1 bunch roses  1 bunch peach stock ; 2 branches flowering quince; 2 bunches grapes (1 red and 1 green); floral stakes; floral tape; two large rectangular sheets of contrasting paper (one patterned, one plain); 18' thin ribbon

EQUIPMENT: cutting board; heavy-duty pruning shears; scissors; double-sided tape; ruler

The quince shrub is one of the first to bloom and has come to symbolize the start of spring. If you need to force the buds to flower, branches should be cut on a diagonal with pruning shears and placed in clean warm water in a humid place, out of direct sunlight. When you are ready to prepare the arrangement, determine how tall you would like the branches to be (ours are up to 30" high) and make fresh cuts on the diagonal. Fill cylindrical vase halfway with room-temperature water and place branches in the vase.
Choose firm grapes with sturdy stems and cut into small bunches. Wrap 3/8"-thick floral tape around the stem and stake, smoothing the tape with your thumb as you go and continuing to pull it taut so it sticks to itself, binding the two together. You will need to wrap approximately 1" down the stake to ensure the grapes are truly secure.
Keep flowers tall (roses 15"; stock 20") and remove any ragged upper leaves. Add stems randomly to the vase—they should support each other by crisscrossing in the center of the vase.
Taller bunches of grapes (stakes cut to 20") should go in the center and sit up a bit from the rest of the arrangement; shorter bunches (stakes cut to 15") should be placed on the edges of the arrangement and tumble over the sides.
To make the decorative band that wraps around the vase, you need to create two rectangles using the colored papers: One should be 8" tall and the other 10" tall; width on both should match the circumference of the vase. Use double-sided tape to position the smaller rectangle in the center of the larger rectangle. Place tape underneath each corner of the larger piece and wrap the paper horizontally around the center of the vase, ensuring it is straight before affixing.

Orange, Fuchsia and Gray

DIY : Modern Chignon

This modern chignon is perfect for weddings and any other special events. 

I always suggest my brides wash and blow out their hair the night before the wedding. Freshly blown out hair on your wedding day can be harder to work with than "day old hair" and will have more fly away hair to deal with. When you blow your hair out the night before, it has a chance to calm down and settle, significantly decreasing your number of hairs gone rogue. If you think your hair will get dirty over night, a simple burst of dry shampoo on your wedding day will make your hair as good as new! 

Here’s what you’ll need to create this look:

TOOLS:  2 clear elastics, 5-10 large bobby pins, tail comb or teasing comb, firm holding hairspray and a hand mirror.

TIP: I always advise looking in a second mirror between each step to check your balance. You don’t want to get too far and then have to start over.

Nail Art Ideas

Love these two popular trends. Maybe not for the wedding day but super fun for the honeymoon.


#1 Print Nails 

Paint your nails with a base coat and two coats of light colored polish. Put alcohol(vodka works perfect)in a glass - just enough to soak your nails in.Cut small pieces of newspaper (large enough to cover your nail) When the polish is completely dry on your nails soak them in the alcohol. Cover your nail with the strip of newspaper and remove very slowly. Let dry and then apply a top coat. 

#2 Marble Nails

1. Fill your cup with some warm or room temperature water. If the water is too cold, the nail polish will seize up. 

2. Choose the polishes you want to work with; keep in mind the opacity of thepolish you are using, if its too sheer, it might not look right. 

3. I like to begin with the lightest color. Load up the brush and let a big drop ofpolish fall into the water. Continue with the other colors until you have a fewconcentric circles of polish in the water. 

4. Using the toothpick or orange stick, drag through the polish from the edgetoward the middle. Continue to drag the stick through the polish until you find adesign that you think looks pretty.

5. Optional: tape around the edge of the nail to protect your finger from becoming covered with nail polish. Scotch tape works perfectly for this. 

6. Holding your finger horizontally, dip your fingernail into the glass, making sure it is completely submerged. 

7. Use the toothpick/orange stick to trace around your finger, gathering up all theunused nail polish in the glass. 

8. Lift your finger out of the glass, and let dry before taking the tape off.

9. Continue with your other nails until you have a full set of beautifully watermarbled nails.

10. Slick on your favorite top coat.

Orange, Gold and Ivory Fall Wedding

Shabby Apple Summer Sale!

After years of not being able to find stylish dresses that covered enough skin to make you really feel comfortable (without wearing a tank top, cardigan or long slip), owners Emily and CK decided to do something about it.

They visited trade shows, marketplaces and designer studios only to discover the problem was not that department stores weren't buying the right dresses, but that designers weren't designing them.

Shabby Apple is proud to offer you fantastic dresses that allow you to look fabulous, without having to 

compromise anything else.Shabby Apple also focuses on helping women worldwide. Through our charitable work with women throughout Asia and Africa, we are able to convert dress sales into lifestyle changes for women and children.

I love the clean lines and the timeless feeling of there clothing and with 20% off almost everything on their site there has never been a better time to shop! Get that classic style made popular by Princess Catherine this summer! Coupon code is SUMMER20

You don't have to know how to hula to feel like a South Seas princess, just slip on this sunny, sophisticated frock and you're well on your way. The woven cotton poplin/spandex blend fabric combines with a fitted skirt and bodice to create a sensuous silhouette.  An eight inch ruffle at the waistline adds the perfect feminine flare.  Look out Audrey Hepburn, there's a new starlet in town. This dress is made from a leightweight, delicate fabric and FITS GENEROUSLY on our fit guide.

A thicket of pleats descends from the drop hemline of the sophisticated Glacier dress, made from the sturdiest, no-fuss poly blend.  Delicate pinstripes cascade down the princess-seamed bodice and fitted half sleeves, while a waist-accentuating adjustable belt bedecked with two tortoise shell buttons cinches the deal.  A delicate balance between sophisticate and flirt, the Glacier will take you from the office to a night on the town with ease.

Look white hot all summer long in the cool swiss-dot Bianca dress.  Awash with vintage-inspired touches, from the shirtdress styling to the wide cape collar, to the sweet slightly flared sleeves, the Bianca is a go-to for everything from weekend getaways to play dates to summery office party. Made to flatter every figure, the Bianca is fitted with just a bit of elastic at the back and a tie waist and is fully lined in lawn cotton.  Wear it alone with beloved leather sandals or dressed up with bangles and jewels, just don't leave home without it.This dress is made from a leightweight, delicate fabric and FITS GENEROUSLY on our fit guide. Dress made from 100% Cotton Swiss Dot with Cotton Lawn Lining. 

Create some velocity in the smoke grey 2300 & 38 inches dress (a shorthand formula for "full speed ahead"). This fierce,shape-loving silhouette cut from the finest crepe de chine silk drapes beautifully into a full skirt from the banded waistline where a swath of color draws the eye to the slenderest part of the figure.  An exposed metal zipper runs the length of the back, and the high collar is finished with four covered buttons, the same that finish the billowing sleeves at a slender wrist.  Paired with a sleek sweater and some she-means-business stilettos, the 2300 & 38 inches really puts the pressure on. 

Taupe, Gray and Ivory

Navy Blue and Gold

DIY Herb and lily arrangement

MATERIALS: household can (we used a 1 lb., 12 oz. tomato can); 4–6 floral tubes; 4–6 floral wires; 1 bunch yellow calla lilies (8 to 10 stems); 1 bunch cream stock; 1 package fresh rosemary stalks; 1 package fresh sage; 1 package fresh thyme; 1 package fresh bay leaves

EQUIPMENT: pruning shears; cutting board

Strip the ends of the rosemary, thyme, and sage sprigs of leaves and wrap small bundles (a little of each herb, including a bay leaf) together using floral wire.

Fill floral tubes three quarters of the way with water and cut a crosshatch into the hole so you can easily insert the bundles of herbs. The tubes will keep the herbs fresher by ensuring that they get the water they need.

Fill the can halfway with water before arranging the flowers. We cut the lilies and stock to 8" to 10" for a can that stands 4" and 3/4" tall. Place stems randomly in the can—taller stems in the middle, shorter stems on the sides.

Add the bundles of herbs to the arrangement and fill any gaps with additional sprigs of rosemary.

The perfect addition to any table, this unassuming arrangement makes creative use of a found household object—I love cans with graphic vintage-inspired designs and prefer ones with images printed directly on the metal. The bundles of fresh green herbs add an intoxicating savory scent to a bright centerpiece of yellow lilies and cream-colored stock.

DIY Peony and Artichoke Arrangement

MATERIALS: 2 cube glass vases, one large (6") and one small (4"); 1 small square (approximately 4" x 4" x 3\8") of floral clay; 4"-square flower frog; 5 floral stakes; 2 bunches peonies (approximately 10 stems) in two shades of pink; 1 bunch of lilacs; 1 bunch of miniature kale; 2 bunches of thin asparagus; 5 baby artichokes; 2' pink and green ribbon 

EQUIPMENT: cutting board; pruning shears; scissors; ruler; awl; chef's knife; double-sided tape

Place the floral clay in the center of the larger vase and the smaller vase on top of the clay.

Asparagus stalks should be cut to approximately 5" before being placed in between the two vases. Use a pick or skewer to scoot them closer together. Add water to the outer vase so all stalks are covered by at least 1".

The flower frog—a heavy piece of lead with small spikes that sits at the bottom of the vase and holds the flowers in place—is next placed inside the smaller vase

Cut off the stems of the artichokes. Push floral stakes deep into artichoke centers so their weight will be fully supported. If the artichokes are very hard, make an initial hole using the awl.

Fill the smaller vase halfway with water (2"). Cut peonies, lilacs, and kale to 8" to 10" and slot them randomly into the flower frog so they stay in place—longer stems should be in the middle so they stick up, shorter stems on the sides so they curl under.

Artichoke stakes should be cut to 9" or 10½" and inserted so they sit higher than the flowers. 

Choose a ribbon that pulls together the colors used. Attach double-sided tape to the back on both sides and wrap around the square vase, ensuring it is centered before affixing.

DIY Natural Beauty

Skin not looking as glowing a radiant as you would like for your big day? Try these Toners, Scrubs and Masks with items straight from you pantry.

Parsley Cleanser

Here’s the mask to use when you need a fix-me-up before the big day. Parsley is a natural cleanser and helps to release impurities from skin. Honey imparts hydration while  milk gently removes dead skin. Together, the trio nourishes, heals and gives skin a pre-party glow.

Here’s what you need:

• 1 tablespoon minced parsley
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 tablespoon whole milk

Mix into a thin paste, apply to a cleansed face and relax for 20 minutes. Rinse and follow with a clarifying toner and moisturizer.

Banana Cleanser

This is a good mask for sensitive and dry skin. Oatmeal gently cleanses and heals, bananas infuse vitamin A, eggs offer lecithin as a natural skin emollient and honey maintains the natural acid you need for balanced PH.

Here’s what you need:

• 1/2 mashed banana
• 1/4 cup oatmeal cooked with milk
• 1 egg
• 1/2 tablespoon honey

Mix ingredients. Massage onto face and neck in a slow, circular motion. Chillax for 15 minutes. Rinse and dab on moisturizer.

Tone and tighten with this cosmopolitan astringent! Vodka is a natural preservative and an effective pore minimizer but if you have dry skin, cut back or skip it altogether. However, if you do skip the vodka, use within a day or two. Witch hazel helps to sooth and shrink swollen tissue. An natural antioxidant, cranberry will give you skin a kiss of protective nourishment.

Crantini Toner

Here’s what you need:

• 1/2 cup vodka
• 1/2 cup witch hazel
• one shot of 100% cranberry juice
• fresh lemon wedge

Pour vodka and witch hazel into a glass Pyrex measuring glass. Add the shot of juice and a twist of lemon. Apply to skin with clean cotton ball. Pour into a glass bottle or spray-top bottle for storage.

Blackhead Buster

Old-fashioned potato salad just isn’t the same without a snip of fresh parsley. But what you do with a whole bunch of parsley when only need a snip? Use it clear your pores of course. Parsley has natural cleansing and softening properties that help naturally dislodge blackheads.

Here’s what you need:

• A fistful of fresh parsley

Wash parsley thoroughly and process in a blender or food processor just until smooth. Prepare a facial steam by bringing a pot of water to a boil, removing it from the heat and allowing it to cool slightly. Apply the green gunk to a clean face, focusing on areas prone to blackheads like forehead, hairline and nose. Drape a towel over the pot and steam your skin over the pot for about 5 minutes. Rinse off the mixture and use an exfoliating facial scrub to gently break up dead skin cells and dislodge blackheads.

Scary Hair Repair Mask

Scary hair beware! This super simple, spa-sparked recipe banishes lackluster tresses with just two ingredients. The avocado gives hair a surge of nourishing vitamins, essential fatty acids and phytochemicals. Whole eggs in the mayo give hair a powerful punch of protein while the oils give it a long tall drink of hydration. Go for the natural mayonnaise if you can for higher quality ingredients (plus, it makes your tuna salad so much healthier!).

Here’s what you need:

• 1/2 ripe avocado, pitted and peeled
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise

In a small bowl, mash up the avocado with a fork. Add the mayo and blend until the mixture is smooth. Apply the mask to dry hair, starting at the scalp and working it through to the ends. Cover your head with a plastic shower cap and wait at least 20 minutes. Rinse, shampoo and lightly condition hair. While shampooing, give yourself a scalp and lower neck massage to seal in the nourishing vibes. And for an extra dose of shine, use bottled water for the final rinse.

Orange Crush Body Peel

This invigorating scrub is great for shedding that outer layer of dulling, dead skin cells. The orange peel conditions skin while the salt and oil mixture reveals your true inner glow. Shine on!

Here’s what you need:

• 1/3 cup of fine sea salt
• 1/3 cup of safflower oil
• Zest of one orange
• 2 to 3 drops orange essential oil (optional)

Mix salt, oil and zest in a bowl. For an extra punch of fragrance add a few drops of orange essential oil, which has astringent and skin conditioning properties. In the shower or bath, use all over the body but avoid face and sensitive areas or open cuts. Focus on elbows, knees and feet and never shave before using a salt scrub, only after.

Country Wedding

Designer Spotlight: Farah Agsana

Farah Angsana’s “Indonesia” theme presented in her RTW Spring 2011 line afforded the designer a lot of room for variation from piece to piece. The colors on the runway included light blues, bright greens, soft pinks, golds, as well as solid whites and blacks. Such a diverse palette was used, according to the press release, because “The spirit, warmth, and life of Indonesia and its people are united in brilliant sweeps of color.