Spring fun with Valley & Co. and west elm

We are in full-on spring mode planting new pots dotted along our front porch and walkway, prepping thyme, Walla Walla sweets, beets and so many delicious delight. We’ve potted anemone, pansies, asparagus ferns and ranunculus so it’s beginning to look quite cheery around here! We recently hosted a Spring Social at west elm Seattle to celebrate this sunny season and their new gorgeous paper flower shop and that totally got us in the spirit! Here are some snapshots from the event; we showed the attendees three ways to use the paper flowers {links to two projects below} and Nick crafted a deluxe cocktail from a tasty hibiscus syrup. Yum!

These paper cherry blossoms are so funky and unique and make for perfect effortless centerpieces when nestled into old bottles or apothecary jars. 

 

Mr. Valley captured mixing up this tasty cocktail. He’s quite the master!

 

Here are two projects that we whipped up using the paper flowers: paper crocus stir sticks and rosemary wreaths. Enjoy!

 

 

 

Thanks to Megan Arpin for sharing this Instagram peek at us in action and to all who attended. What fun! Happy near-Spring, all!

 

PEOPLE Magazine’s 2013 Oscars Double Issue Fun!

It’s here! In case you missed it, we announced our Target gift card winner – lucky Jennifer Carver! – and the new issue of PEOPLE Magazine’s 2013 Oscars Double Issue is now on stands….so many of you had great guesses for who would grace the cover. The cover girl is Jennifer Aniston! The issue is one of Aleah’s favorite as it’s brimming with so many borrow-worthy ideas for weddings and parties. The Behind the Gowns section is fabulous and shows us the from-the-runway looks as well as what inspired the designers.

I kicked back with my issue just like this and it was heavenly!

 The Stars Who Shined is where I really fell smitten. Amazingly decadent gowns, delicate and statement pieces of jewelry and daring hair styles graced the pages. LOVE! Jennifer Lawrence had to be my hands-down favorite acress of the Oscars. PEOPLE Magazine named her dress Best Brocade and I concur! Jennifer did everything right {and she won an Oscar!}: she played with a classic Hollywood look, her gown was frothy and fun, her hair swept so effortlessly and that necklace…I can envision many a spring or summertime bride wanting to replicate this dreamy look. Not only was Jennifer polished, yet youthful, but she was utterly happy to be there!

Second up, I just adored Reese Witherspoon and Halle Berry. They are both so statuesque and a bit daring with the bold statement dresses they donned. Reese’s hair style was a huge hit and the definition of a Hollywood star. I was so happy to see them both as some of PEOPLE Magazine’s favorites. 

Designers A to Z was a fun piece to peruse as it mapped out so many delicious dresses in one section – from daring to sweet, romantic to angelic…and in so many fabrics and worn so many ways. I actually realized while perusing this piece that I completely missed seeing Amy Adams and Zoe Saldana – two actresses whom I adore! Their gowns are reminiscent of classic wedding gowns, don’t you think?

Finally, the All That Glitters jewelry features from the Oscars was one of my favorite stories. Emmy Rossum’s head piece? Too darling! I foresee head pieces like hers being a trend for 2013 – not only for awards shows, but for weddings and parties. They’re so dreamy and classically romantic. That’s my two cents! What are your favorite stories from PEOPLE Magazine’s 2013 Oscars Double issue?

Sweepstakes Info: Test your PEOPLE Trivia skills for a chance to win!
Enter each week for a chance to win one of hundreds of rewards cards!
Click the link to play now!

 This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group™ and PEOPLE Magazine but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #PEOPLEforOscars http://cmp.ly/3/8vNxcO.

DIY: Festive Cupcake Flags

Friends, we’ve missed you! We took a week off from blogging as we prepped for this past weekend’s incredible market-inspired wedding celebration and it feels wonderful to be back and sharing some festive delights. We’re aflutter awaiting spring’s arrival and some of our favorite fun holidays on the horizon, like St. Patrick’s Day… We’re into celebrating the holiday with a festive and authentic Irish dinner and brews and, tasty desserts {green, of course!}. Our easy peasy festive cupcake flags we made for a friend’s son’ s first birthday bash are a super cute way to dress up green cupcakes with a touch of gold. Did we mention they’re quite easy to make?

 

decorative paper || toothpicks || a pencil || hot glue 

 

Step 1. Lay your paper pattern side down and trace out your flags with a pencil, starting with the left edge of the paper. Make a hash mark about 1″ from the edge and trim towards that. You may use a ruler if you need, but it should be one snip of the scissors.

Step 2. place your triangles pattern down again and lay the tootpicks on top, about 1/8″ from the edge.

Step 3. Gently bend the paper around the toothpick and secure with a line of hot glue. 

Darling, aren’t they? It’s a great project for the kiddos and can be customized for all special occasions: birthday parties, baby showers and Easter brunches. Not to mention, it’s an inexpensive project that has major impact.

Photos and DIY: Valley & Co.

How are you celebrating St. Patrick’s Day? We’ve been known to go with traditions {Aleah is half Irish} like stewing up corned beef and cabbage, making soda bread and planting clover. Really – it’s become something so fun that we look forward to!

Oscar Weekend Giveaway with PEOPLE Magazine

It’s Friday, friends! It’s also Oscar weekend, which means we bring out the big popcorn bowl and the bubbly to watch the red carpet magic and root for some of our favorite movies and stars!

Aleah’s looking forward to watching the Oscars {and subsequently checking out the winning movies we may have not seen! We haven’t seen Le Miserables or Silver Linings Playbook yet, so we’ll be excited to check them out post-Oscars}! I’ll also be following up with the fashions {I often get inspired for our late summer and fall brides!} and checking out PEOPLE Magazine’s 2013 Oscars Double Issue, out on stands March 1st.

I’ll be watching eagerly and also flicking through the pages of the issue mixing and matching my favorite hair styles with fresh baubles and textures and colors of gowns {last year Maria Menunous wore this stunning sea foam frock that we used in a design for bridesmaids!} and I adored Octavia Spencer’s timeless look with the perfect amount of sparkle. Seeing if my favorite stars made the best dressed list is always fun!

Octavia Spencer || Maria Menunous

This year PEOPLE Magazine is coming out with their Oscars Double Issue and, in celebration, we’re giving away a $20 Target gift card so you can scoop up your own! The PEOPLE Magazine 2013 Oscars Double Issue will be on sale starting March 1, 2013 and it will only be available until March 18, 2013.

To ENTER the giveaway: Leave us a comment telling us which stars/celebs do you want to see on the cover of this year’s PEOPLE Magazine 2013 Oscars Double Issue Campaign?

You can also enter by liking us on Facebook or Twitter and telling us so in the comments! We will draw our winner on Wednesday, February 27th!

Sweepstakes Info: Test your PEOPLE Trivia skills for a chance to win! Enter each week for a chance to win one of hundreds of rewards cards! Click the link to play now!

“This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group™ and PEOPLE Magazine but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #PEOPLEforOscars http://cmp.ly/3/8vNxcO.”

 

DIY: Paper Crocus Swizzle Sticks

Last week we had the super fun pleasure of hosting an event at West Elm in Seattle where we demonstrated not one, but three charming little paper flower-inspired DIY projects and one delicious cocktail recipe made by Mr. Valley. The new paper flower shop is brimming with beautifully delicate roses, crocuses and snow berries and cherry blossoms, all made by hand. We created some darling rosemary wreaths dotted with cherry blossom bloom, indoor paper flower terrariums and these Paper Crocus Swizzle Sticks. They’re so easy {shhh…we won’t say anything!} and would be perfect in a springtime cocktail presentation. You could also dress up a spring cake or cupcakes!

kewers || paper flowers {we used crocuses} | hot glue | twine

Step 1. cut your crocus down about 2″ from the base off the leaves and disassemble.

Step 2. draw a line of hot glue on the skewer and place the crocus on the skewer, pressing gently {*keep the head of the crocus above the top of the skewer}.

Step 3. take each leaf and glue to around the stem of the flower, holding in place as the glue dries.

Step 4. wrap about 6″ of twine around and around the base of the crocus, securing with hot glue.

DIY and Photos: Valley & Co.

What’s in your spring entertaining or DIY repertoire?