The Tiniest Bling Ring

You know all those TV shows where the girls with the big hair get together for lunch so they can ooooh and ahhhh at the size of their newly engaged friend's rock? This is not that. The girl who wears this gorgeous little number has more style savvy than that. I wholeheartedly approve.

One For The Inspiration Files!

Two of my favourite wedding entities, Casa de Perrin and Utterly Engaged have collaborated on a New Year's inspired shoot, and it's going straight to my inspiration files! I adore pink glass (let's not get started about the obscene collection downstairs) and I love the hits of pink used throughout this stylish party scene created for Utterly Engaged's eMagazine. The issue is out now, and if it's half as good as the last issue {drool} then we are all in for a treat. And I have to say, if this table is any indication, it's got to be better than good... Here is a peek!

Face Delish! Cosmetics from French Ladurée

If you are at all familiar with luxury sweets, you will know that the king of the French Fete is the Ladurée macaron. The Paris-based company, famous for taking decadence to an entirely new level, including the packaging, branding and boutique shops that sell the patisseries, is set to launch their new cosmetics range in February. Developed with Albion Cosmetics, the line of 20 blush colours pressed into delicate cameos, Faberge-ish eggs containing cream blushes as well as lipsticks and liquid foundations are in keeping with the brand's lavishness. Strange that there are no eye pigments, but I imagine that to follow. In the meantime, you will have to hit up Japan for these goods, as they won't be available here anytime soon. Europe follows in fall of this year and the U.S. shortly after.

Les Merveilleuses de Ladurée follows the company's decision to enter the cosmetics industry in 2007 with a beauty line comprising items such as face and body cream using almonds (a key ingredient of their macarons) to moisturize the skin, as well as selling home fragrances and candles.

CHEERS! Gorgeous Party Drinks

It's New Year's Eve, and you know what that means... CHAMPAGNE! Or, in our ever PCer world, sparkling wine. Because you now cannot call champagne champagne unless it comes from Champagne, France. Which is fair, 'cause if I were from the place that made it all happen, I might be offended by an imposter... maybe. Or I might just adore the fact that my namesake had become associated with the most awesome alcoholic beverage on earth in global style. Just sayin'.

Aaaaaanyhoo, I am here to tell you that the champagne cocktail IS the drink for this evening. I know, there are some pretty awesome martinis out there, and if you are pulling a Bond party, go for it... but really, NYE is synonymous with a bit of bubble to go with your sparkle, so why deny ourselves!? I personally love just saying Prosecco, but you can also try Asti Spumente (which is now just Asti, just to keep you on your toes), or the perennial sparkling favourites like Moet, Dom Perignon, or Cliquot in your flute.

I have a Pinterest board (of course) of lovely liquids that you can peruse if you feel so inspired or are looking for inspiration before heading out to shop for a bottle or two. If you are lucky enough to find dried hibiscus that opens when you get it wet, that would be my pick for the evening... it's like those white tea balls that open in your cup as you drink, but PINK! (It's also my favourite infusion both because of it's fruity flavour and also because of a certain trip to Mexico that I associate it with.) Yes, I know... always something new and exciting... and how brilliant would THAT be at your soiree!

If you don't have access (like me) to gorgeous flowers that open in your drink, frozen berries of near any sort have a recipe to go with, so you can match your sipping to your colour palette. Apple slices also make the list, as well as the original sugar cube soaked in Bitters or even infused with fruits and such. Just click on the photo on the board to find (in most cases, some were pinned because I just love the flute or the photo) recipes! Whatever goodness you are inbibing, PLEASE drink responsibly and be responsible for those in your care AFTER they head out the door... we all seem to know this till the end of the night. Call a cab! And have the most glorious New Year's yet!

Cheers!

PS... scroll down a bit to the last post for a few ideas on how to glitz up your bar!

New Year's Eve Glitteratti

I have the perfect DIY for your NYE shindig! If you are going for sparkly and sophisticated, (of COURSE you are going for sparkly and sophisticated) then this is the most fun thing I have found yet as a New Year's party game. Fill it with gorgeous liqueur chocolate truffles wrapped in cello, cute matchbooks, Mardi Gras bead necklaces, tiny (unbreakable) bottles of booze, or any of these ideas from AT's list! Also throw in as much metallic confetti as you can handle for a real finale! They are available for purchase here, but are a crazy inexpensive and easy DIY (plus we are talking crazy rush charges to courier a pinata for delivery in two days!).

The sparkle goes remarkably well with our tassel garland DIY. This photo was actually from the Shelby, but it looks like whoever's home it was bought them at the same place the pinata is from. What a small world :)

Another cute idea to bring some glitz and glamour to the evening? How about glittering swizzle sticks? Trust Martha to have a tutorial on these cute and easy tinsel drink accessories! Use the same method with those metallic pom poms you find at the craft store to make an alternate type. AND of course the same DIY can be used with toothpicks for hors d'oeurves.

Send photos of your amazing soiree! I want to SEE!

Get Your Glitter ON!

It was a very cozy and low key Christmas around here. Just the way I like it. Normally by now I would be well on my way to being ramped up for New Year's Eve, but I'm stuck in cozy. Hmmm... well, I'm thinking that perhaps I can keep the cozy and just add some sparkle? What do you think? Possibly the time has come to tone it down just a tad for the countdown and just keep things a bit pretty...

PS... Find some shining examples in our DIY list for your own New Year's Fete. There are a few ideas that would be perfect for adding some sparkle to your decor!

Winter Wonderful....

Winter up here should be looking a lot like this right now... we have an awfully pretty town and when it snows en masse we get something like a winter wonderland happening... which makes me wonder why we don't see more of  ^^^this^^^...... Hmmm.... Maybe people just need some inspiration.