Lifestyle

CARLE PLACE, NY – I always enjoy a good party, and with Thanksgiving just around the corner, on November 12, 2015 I was fortunate enough to help 1-800-Flowers.com host a “Bring Back the Centerpiece” party for local New York bloggers/writers. At the event held in the 1-800-Flowers.com Design Studio, each blogger was able to design their very own Thanksgiving centerpiece and add their own creative flair!

To further the bloggers’ floral design experience, I brought some help! One of our extremely talented 1-800-Flowers franchisee owners, AnnMarie of Imperial Florist in Baldwin, NY, joined the party to help the bloggers craft their masterpieces. AnnMarie is also part of the 1-800-Flowers.com Local Artisan program, which allows florists to showcase their truly original arrangements on the 1-800-Flowers.com site.

From Left to Right: Jane Morales, owner of Long Island Mamas; Alejandra Ramos, owner of Always Order Dessert; Julie Mulligan; AnnMarie, florist at Imperial Florist; Kimberly Thomas, owner of Valley Stream Mom; and Rachel Weingarten from Parade.com

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I’m still thinking about this whole feeling good and being happy thing. Of course, I immediately think of the power that flowers have on one’s well-being and state of mind, but there are so many little ways and things we can do each day to make a difference. Continue Reading…

Cupcakes, Cupcakes, Cupcakes!

I had such a great time last Friday afternoon at Hotel Giraffe in New York City. I had the opportunity to participate in a “Cupcake Party” to celebrate the launch of the NEW! Cupcake in Bloom from 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, as well as, the fresh baked and delicious edible cupcakes from Cheryl’s.

1-800-Flowers® Cupcake in Bloom

Everything Cupcake! – Birthday

Sometime ago, 1-800-FLOWERS.COM asked me if I would help design a floral cupcake. The Birthday Flower Cake has been such a success for so many years that I knew it was time for the 2.0 version – so to speak. Now that it was time to unveil my cupcake creation, who better to have a cupcake coming out party with, then some of the most diehard cupcake lovers. These cupcake lovers share their passion (or should I say obsession) of cupcakes with us everyday through their blogs. Some of the guests included: Cupcakes Take The Cake, the one and only Milwaukee Cupcake Queen from No One Puts Cupcake in the Corner, Melissa Cohen from MetalSugar and Lisa Lillien from HungryGirl.

There are so many aspects of the “Cupcake Party” that I would love to share with you, so let’s start with the decorations…

We started off with a theme and the location. What’s better than a chic modern hotel, such as, Hotel Giraffe in New York City? At this event, I worked with a great stylist, Laraine D’Elia. We wanted to keep the look of the party as simple and sophisticated as the room, but of course we wanted to add a touch of sweetness! One of the focal points of the décor was the oversized floral cupcake that I created. Here are some photos of the oversized cupcakes, as well as, other shots of the day.

The View from Hotel Giraffe



A Chic Cupcake Party with Oversized Cupcakes






Me with the Milwaukee Cupcake Queen



Rachel and Nichelle from Cupcakes Take The Cake with Elisabeth and Lindy from Cheryl & Co.



Melissa from MetalSugar and her cupcake tattoo!

I’ll be sharing more details from the party soon. I will give you details on how to make this oversized cupcake and some other great ideas for your next Cupcake Party!

SPOTTED NEW MOM: Dina from Momformation is dedicated to keeping parents informed on all things kids; from tips on parenting, to which shoes are best for your child. A great website for all Moms! Check out her blog.

I think Erin really hit the nail on the head with her choices for great Mother’s Day gifts that she as a new mom would like this year. My suggestion would be to give the lady what she wants – she deserves it! There are so many colorful and fragrant blooms in season right now, so you have lots of options and price points to choose from.

My top flower choices are:

Tulips
Lilies
Hyacinth
Lilac

You might even be lucky enough to have a lilac bush in your own backyard (or your neighbor’s or friend’s)! It probably has just started to bloom. Snip a few branches and put them in a simple container like this old blue Mason jar for a fresh and fragrant breath of spring!

And whether you are giving the new mom a full day of pampering or a gift certificate for a “mani/pedi” or a facial and massage, don’t forget to include a coupon for free babysitting services to be used during her treatments. Tie them around the vase or bouquet with pretty ribbons and you can’t go wrong! I sure don’t fall into the new mom category, but I’d love this gift myself – hint, hint, guys!!

Both color and scent have emotional components to them. They can help to cheer you up or calm you down. They can trigger a memory or help to bring balance to your life. Here are a few facts about various colors and scents that you might find interesting along with fresh floral examples of each.

COLOR

YELLOW

• Yellow wakes up the room like the rising sun and is the feng shui color of sunlight. It is cheerful and uplifting. Yellow always lightens and brightens any space, as well as creates a cozy and welcoming feeling.
• Any dull, dark room with little sunlight will greatly benefit from yellow. It can help compensate for the lack of light and bring in the gentle warmth of the sun.
• Color researchers believe the color yellow increases self-esteem and can strengthen the overall well-being.

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I recently had the honor and pleasure of hosting a Valentine’s event for 1-800 FLOWERS.COM at the Gibson Guitar Showroom in New York City. The event featured a performance by the Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter, Robin Thicke. Robin and I led guests through the essential steps for “Setting the Mood” for Valentine’s Day. We shared everything from choosing the right bouquet of flowers and divine treats, to creating romantic vignettes, and selecting the perfect love song that would sweep their Valentine off their feet.

During the event, we featured two star bouquets, The Sweetest Love, inspired by Robin’s hit song and one from my collection, True Love.

“The Sweetest Love” is a classic, yet modern, bouquet that is combined with contemporary and trendy packaging. It consists of one dozen red roses, presented in the hand-tied European tradition and accented with hypericum, plumosa and salal. “The Sweetest Love” bouquet has attributes that appeal to all.

My “True Love” bouquet gives a nod to the ever-growing tattoo trend. A ceramic heart “tattoo” is tied around a graceful black matte ceramic vase with a silk cord. The design of the bouquet of romantic roses, lisianthus, and orchids follows the graceful lines of the vase. This arrangement speaks to both the soft and the more rebellious side of love!

Take a look at my photo album from the evening and check back for Valentine how-to’s that I shared at this event and other ideas for setting the mood!

Click below to see a video from my evening with Robin Thicke!

Romantic Dinner Ideas

Isn’t it wonderful that Valentine’s Day is in the middle of the winter? It’s such a great excuse to shut out the rest of the world and create a sanctuary where you and your loved one can reconnect. One of the most romantic ways to do this is by creating an indoor Garden of Eden. While this can be put together at the last minute, the more prepared you are ahead of time the better it will be in the end.

Here is a list of items that will make for a smooth romantic evening set in your very own Garden of Eden (fig leaves optional).

Important elements:
Picnic basket
Blanket
Oversized pillows
Plants
Flowers
Candles
Champagne or wine
Ice bucket
Glasses
Music
Sensuous finger foods

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Mother’s Day is coming soon! To build excitement for Mom’s favorite holiday, we’ve come up with a fun way to get excited and celebrate Mom’s everywhere!

We’ve collaborated with nine fantastic blogging friends who have each submitted their nomination for The Best TV Mom! Click on over to the 1-800-FLOWERS.COM Facebook page, click on the “asked” button in the upper right hand corner of the “quesitons” tab,  to vote for your favorite TV Mom as nominated by these blogs. Which mom do you think is the most iconic Mom ever to grace the television screen?

Here is a sneak peak of the nominated TV moms and which blog to thank for their nominations!

Today I’m spotting a Sentimental Mom. Her name is Jennifer and she is from the blog Balancing Beauty and Bedlam.

Jennifer is a girl after my own heart when it comes to her love of flea market finds and creating something beautiful out of found objects!  This enamel pitcher is one of my all time favorite finds. I have had it for over ten years and have used it so many times. I could have paid hundreds of dollars for it, instead of the $25 that I did pay, and still have gotten my monies worth.  It looks great all by itself, but drop in a few stems of seasonal blooms or flowering branches and you have a look that’s priceless.  This bouquet of white peonies flowing from the pitcher would look perfect on Jennifer’s mantel, along with her other all white fabulous finds.

Q&A with Jennifer from Balancing Beauty and Bedlam

What is the greatest lesson your mom has taught you?

My mother quantified the epitome of a servant. Not “servant” as in “wash my clothes, make my bed,” but she demonstrated servant leadership where kindness, generosity and an open heart, open home mentality permeated our family’s legacy. Hospitality was a theme that ran through my childhood and to this day not a month goes by when their doors aren’t open to anyone who needs a place to stay.

What’s one lesson you hope to pass on to your children?

I would be honored if my children would receive the same lessons that my mother taught me. A “Welcoming Home” mentality is what I desire, and I hope that they learn what it means to make home a haven – emotionally, spiritually and physically. Putting others first, while demonstrating servant leadership, are seeds that I hope are slowly being deposited.

What’s your favorite Mother’s Day memory?

Breakfast in bed has traditionally been our Mother’s Day ritual, followed by what ever “mom wants.” A few years ago, my family surprised me by buying everything needed to develop and plant a flower bed I had been wanting to tackle for years, but had never found the time.  Every year, we add more flowers to that bed and it’s such a wonderful tradition.

Check out Jennifer’s blog Balancing Beauty and Bedlam and follow her on Twitter – @beautyandbedlam

Jennifer, Balancing Beauty and Bedlam – Sentimental Mom

Wow! I’m excited – I found a Green Thumb Mom. I’ve spotted Jane Marie from the blog Thyme-For-Herbs.

I know that Jane loves herbs, as well as cooking, baking, quilting, and reading.  I found out from her blog that one of her favorite books is “A Prayer for Owen Meany”.  This book is also a favorite of mine and my daughter Meggie – as well as the movie based on this John Irving novel – Simon Birch.

I am sure that making the time to sit quietly and read a good book is very important to Jane and a time that she truly enjoys.  To make that time even more relaxing and rejuvenating for Jane, I have designed this petite herbal nosegay nestled in a terra cotta pot.  While this arrangement is visually pretty its fragrance is what really makes it special.  The scent of the rosemary and lavender will make Jane feel like she is sitting on a veranda in the middle of Provence while she sits and reads her latest favorite book.

Q&A with Jane Marie from Thyme-For-Herbs

What is the greatest lesson your mom has taught you?

My mother taught me what sacrifice is all about when it comes to being a mother. She always put me before her own needs. My parents didn’t have much money, but my mother always found a way to let me do whatever creative thing I wanted. I took 13 years of piano lessons, clarinet lessons, and dance lessons. She was a stay-at-home mom (although we didn’t call it that at the time), but sometimes she would suddenly take on a part-time job. Now I realize that it was so she could pay for new piano music, buy material for a new prom dress, or to help pay for band camp. She rarely bought anything new for herself. I tried to follow in her footsteps in putting my children’s needs before my own

What’s one lesson you hope to pass on to your children?

My children are grown now, and have families of their own. I hope they have learned compassion, and tolerance of others. To date I have not been disappointed. Though they both have completely different personalities, they are equally very caring individuals who will do anything for a friend or person in need.

What’s your favorite Mother’s Day memory?

I remember being about 9 or 10, so it was around 1956. I had some money of my own, I’m not sure where I got it, maybe piggy bank savings. I lived in a city setting and we had some stores within walking distance. I didn’t tell my mother, but I went to the dime store two blocks away. I had my own little purse with me, and I felt so grown up. I bought a teapot that my mother had admired when we there together a few weeks before. I think it cost about twenty cents! She was thrilled with the gift, she used it often, and kept it on the kitchen table for a few years after that. I think that was the day I discovered how much fun it was to give rather than receive

Check out Jane’s blog Thyme-For-Herbs and follow her on Twitter – @pianananna

Jane Marie, Thyme-For-Herbs – Green Thumb Mom