LONG!

There is a major trend that I have fallen in love with:  The Long Trend!

I love the look of a long gown for a gala but I also love the long skirts that have made their way back into our everyday attire.  Last week, I got to meet the amazing Rachel Zoe at my friend, Neiman Marcus creative director, Ken Downing's home.  She was, of course, wearing a long dress!

Here are some of the tips that make the long look work:

-Balance is key!  If your skirt is full, wear a fitted top.  If your skirt is fitted, wear a loose blouse.

-If you are tall, you can probably pull off a long skirt with flats or sandals but, if you are not, wear a wedge or heel.

-A dramatic accessory goes well with the dramatic look!  A stack of colorful bangles or a pair of statement earrings are a great way to make a statement.

-For an evening look, your hem can go all the way to the floor.  For daytime, the toe of your shoes should peek out of the bottom of your skirt.

Memorial Weekend!

1. Ginham Napkin Rolls $35 2. Ceramic Stripe Drink Dispenser 3. My Tablescapes Book! 4. Striped Tee Shirt from Aubin & Wills 5. Red Boyfriend Shorts

Waking Up Your Coffee Table-Fine Living

Your little Picasso

I have such a hard time getting rid of any of my child's artwork. To me, every single work of his art is a masterpiece!  They tend to pile up on the table or overlap on the fridge in our house!  I think I have now found two solutions that might allow you to give each and every masterpiece it's proper respect!

Cuco Books are the perfect solution when you are trying to make space.  Lyssa Orchid takes your selected art works, has them professionally photographed and sends the images back to you in a beautifully bound book.  It is the perfect way to preserve and celebrate the art with out taking up any wall space!

The Great Remember offers another artistic solution.  You can send them the artwork, outgrown clothing,  or photographs and they will create an applique or mosaic suitable for framing!  Of course, if you are crafty, you could try your hand it and make it a family summer project!

Summer Sipping

Kate Headley Photography from RitzyBee.com

I just love the Up A Notch column in Southern Living!  It has wonderful advice to make every day tasks just a little bit more special!  The June issue really caught my eye and I enjoyed sharing the tips from Ritzy Bee Events in D. C.  on my daily segment on the Gene & Julie Show on 103.7 Lite FM this morning. Kelly Seizert and Maria Cooke are featured in the magazine with tips to add a little garnish to your favorite summer drinks.  They suggest that you build your own Herb Tower (They recommend one from Leaf & Petal 205/877-3030) and let your guests get to work by selecting a garnish of their choice for their cocktail.  Check out their blog for some additional images of beautiful herb containers and check out the June issue of Southern Living for great summer sip recipes and five recommended pairings!

Cheesey!

For tips on the perfect Cheese Tray check out  Freckles and the Golden Goose!  

Party: Leather and Lace Lingerie Shower

I had more fun planning my sister's lingerie shower!  It was such a blast!  I hosted it with our younger sister, Krystal, and two other close friends.  It was a girly Leather and Lace party that was so much fun!

Leather and Lace Invitations from HBDesigns set the tone for our pink and black evening. 

The Bride has always resembled a Barbie Doll so I couldn't resist having these Leather and Lace Barbie Cakes made!

Lycheetinis, the Bride to be's favorite drink, were served.

The napkins and flatware were tied up with black leather and pink satin ribbons.

Of course, we had to serve whoopie pies!

This outdoor seating area in our hostesses home was a popular spot!

Clear acrylic frames were lined with lace and used as serving trays for the passed food. 

Steps: False Eyelashes!

After a minor disaster in the radio studio last week, I decided it was time to spell out the steps to applying false lashes.  I hate to admit it but it was my wacky male radio pals who didn't apply the lashes right!  They were inspired the Patrick Dempsey - False Eyelash news story and thought that they might look McDreamy if they wore them too!  Let's just say that it was more like a McNightmare!

There are a few steps that can make applying false eyelashes an art you can master!  I love the look for special occasions but it took me a while to figure out how to apply them like a pro.  Here are the steps that can take your lashes from lovely to lavish:

Step 1:

Complete your eyeshadow application

Step 2:


Determine if the lashes you selected will fit your eye by lining them up with the outer corner of your eye with out any glue.  You can bend them or fiddle with them to mold them to the shape of your eye.

Step 3:


Trim them if they are too long.  Always trim off the thicker outside section and not the inside section.

Step 4:

Apply a thin layer of black liquid eye-liner.

Step 5:

Apply mascara to your natural lashes.

Step 6:

Apply a thin layer of glue to the stem of a q-tip (not the cotton part) or the dull end of your tweezers and then spread a thin and even layer to the edge of the false lashes.  I like to use the black glue.

Step 7: 

Sing the ABCs!  Seriously!  Wait for the length of the ABC song so that the glue gets a little bit tacky before you apply it to your eye.

Step 8:

Apply the lashes by lining them up with the outer corner of the eye and placing them along the lash line. You can fiddle with them and push them down using the back of your tweezers (never the sharp side!) or another firm object.

Step 9:

After it dries, go over the band of the lashes with another layer of black liquid eyeliner.  This will ensure that the false lashes are not showing!

Derby Style Entertaining

Louisville Stoneware's Homestretch Bowl

I just got back from a quick trip to Louisville to chat with NBC's Matt McCutcheon about Equestrian Style.  It was my first television segment as Editor at Large for Southern Living and I truly enjoyed the opportunity to share the magazine's favorite finds live from Churchill Downs!
I am back home in Dallas now and wanted to re-create some of the excitement here!  Why not host a Derby Party?  Here are a few ideas to bring the spirit of Louisville to your home:

-I guess it goes with out saying that a hat should be required!  Nothing can put you in more of a Derby mood than a wide brim flower topped hat!  Click here for my tips on picking out the perfect hat.

-Celebrate the Race for the Roses by decorating with red roses of course!  Red roses are typically considered the flower of romance but this the perfect opportunity to purchase some for yourself and decorate your buffet!

-Cover your buffet table in traditional Southern cuisine.  In particular, you can celebrate with some traditional recipes that include Bourbon!  Click here for recipe suggestions from Southern Living!

-You must serve the official drink of the Kentucky Derby for nearly a century at your party.  The MintJulep is a refreshing drink make from whisky, mint, sugar, water and mint and it is served in a silver cup.  The official recipe is here!  Each year over 120,000 are served in the two days that make up the Derby!


-I love the history, style and practicality of Louisville Stoneware. A Derby Party must have: The Homestretch Bowl.  It is so decorative on the outside and the inside but it is versatile too!  You could fill it with red roses and place it in the center of your buffet or you could put it in the freezer for one hour before your party starts and then use it to chill your wine, no ice required!

Teacher Appreciation Week!

Raoul Dufy painting from www.AllPosters.com

This is National Teacher Appreciation Week and I couldn't let it slip by with out offering up some tips on a few simply ways to say Thank You!

-Whether you have a teacher of your own, a teacher for your children or a teacher as a friend, take a few minutes this week to compose a note to them.  Instead of a generic Thank You note, write out an example or a story of a way that you know the teacher has made an impact in your life, your child's life or the life of their students.

-Have your kids write their own notes to their teachers.  You could start a few sentences for them and ask them to fill in the blanks (ex. I learned .......... from you!, Thank you for........, ) or they could draw a picture or make a craft for them.

-Work together as a class to present a full bouquet of flowers to your teacher.  Ask each child to bring any flower they choose to class and put them all together in a vase to present a bouquet that represents the students.