Garden Party on the 16th Floor

Last Sunday I had very small intimate Easter dinner. For my party I kept it simple and casual, I wanted my guests to feel at home in their surrounding and linger for long hours of laughter.





I planted hyacinth bulbs in moss covered oasis for my window decor, I like that these have a different aesthetic than regular ceramic pots.

I have a fabulous New York City view so I did not want to put anything too large that would block it.

I covered the rest of my flat in white and blue hydrangea, to create that feeling of a garden party.



A gracious guest brought over these adorable Easter cookies for everyone, which I quickly snatched up made them into my napkin décor. Don't be afraid to be spontaneous it ususally works out to your benefit, as it did here for me.

For appetizers I served shrimp and more shrimp, fine hummus, and spicy guacamole.

The main course was lamb, chicken and mango glazed pork ribs, julienne carrots, fancy potatoes, string beans with almonds, and a variety of gourmet breads.

The star of the show was dessert of course!
We had cupcake spread consisting of cupcakes from 3 of my favorite places in the city ( yes 3), Billy’s, Magnolia, and Cupcake Bakery.

On top of that we also had banana pudding, truffles, chocolates and pralines oh my!


Here I am serving my guests a refreshing tropical smoothies with coconut milk, orange and lime juice. I always have fresh fruit smoothies at my dinner parties it is a great pick me up.

We also had 2 types of cider which were a total hit! They are definitely not traditional but trust me just as delicious!

Wassail
1/2 gallon apple cider
15 whole cloves
4 cinnamon sticks
2 cups pineapple juice
2 cups orange juice.

This is good without the pineapple juice and orange juice too. Put everything in a pot and bring to a simmer ( don't let it boil)

Spicy Cider
I am not crazy, this is good and definitely unexpected.
1/2 gallon apple cider
about 5 Serrano chilies

Put them in a pot and bring to a simmer. If you add a little lemon juice you will have Hot and Sour Cider.

Finally to set the right relaxed mood we listened to Madredeus and Jorge Drexler, perfect with our NYC backdrop.

InStyle Weddings

I know this is shameless but have to do it!

Pick up the new InStyle Weddings this month, it is beautiful like always- love love love them!

don't forget to stop on my page while you are flipping through all the other gorgeous ones.

They have also gussied up their website and you know who is on it....

Oh I am terrible. http://www.instyleweddings.com/weddings

CHICKS!

Easter is such a fun and colorful holiday to decorate for; it’s the big kickoff for spring. After weathering the winter doldrums, we are all more than ready for it!




This year my team came up with “Easter Chicks” for our theme. We made little, floral peeps using styrofoam eggs that we shaved into baby chick shapes, then we glue-gunned tiny silk flowers onto the basic shapes to resemble their fluffy feathers. Their adorable feet are made from shaped wire wrapped in raffia.

You can use these chicks for many different areas in your Easter décor. Put them in your children’s Easter baskets, in nests around the house, or use them as accents to your centerpiece.





This is a great and whimsical alternative to your standard “flowers in a vase.” For our centerpiece we created a lush, miniature landscape for our chicks. We used a basket as our base, lined it with plastic and filled it with pre-soaked oasis. Then, with our trusty glue gun, we embellished the outside of the basket with green silk leaves. We trimmed our basket with a plush fringe of cascading succulents which gives it a very organic appeal. Finally, we stocked our mini-garden with our favorite Spring flowers.


At this time of year the flower markets are teeming with delightful, fresh colors; they all scream, “Spring is coming! Spring is coming!” So, don’t be afraid to play with color and make a bold statement.

Oh, and these Easter Chicks make ideal pets for the kids; no food, no coop, and no messy clean-up. Easy!

Paris

I am so sorry I have been MIA for the last month! I have been traveling which I am going to tell you all about starting with my favorite city PARIS. I went to Paris to visit with a lovely Princess to discuss an upcoming event. Mum is the word on that for the moment.

I was lucky enough to be able to stay at the Ritz for the duration of my stay. They are in the process of a renovation and I cant wait to see the results. If you are lucky enough to visit this beautiful city be sure to check out the Ritz; it is the ultimate destination for luxury. I was really impressed with their extraordinary customer service. I arrived early my room was not ready, so they arranged a complimentary massage for me while I waited. How fantastic is that!

http://www.ritzparis.com/

While in Paris I attended The Swarovski Paris Bridal Event. http://www.swarovski.com/

The exhibit was breath taking and inspiring. For all you brides to be out there I have to tell you about one of my favorite pieces, as crystal-beaded bridal gown by Monique Lhuillier. http://www.moniquelhuillier.com/
I’ve always been a big fan of her work. She is a pure genius when it comes to tailoring to a woman’s body, her dresses are art!

While strolling through enchanting installations the funniest thing happened
A very lovely fan ran up to me screaming “ Colin Cowie, Colin Cowie! I have all your books I am such a huge fan!”
I almost fell over I was laughing so hard and to be honest I think some of my employees did!
She was a very sweet girl and it turned out she was a fan of mine as well as Colin’s. Needless to say, she was mortified, but I assured her I was flattered all the same and we all had a good laugh. Since I have returned home I have told this story to almost everyone and it has been a hit. Mistaken identity has its perks, though; this charming young lady sent me a wonderful surprise gift when I got back home.

Pret-a-Porter was also underway during my trip, and as I am sure you can imagine it doesn’t get better than Fashion Week in Paris. I love going to Couture shows; the art and glamour of fashion is awe inspiring. http://www.pretparis.com/

Paris is a city full of inspiration included are some of the photos I took while exploring the city. You can find inspiration everywhere you look. Here are a sample of some of my inspiration images.

Don't forget to check me out on one of my favorite websites for weddings! InStyle Weddings!
http://www.instyleweddings.com/weddings/gallery/0,,20168858_20385958,00.html