Category: Lifestyle

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 cupcakes from Cheryl’s.

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.

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!

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

SCENT

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!

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

I realized that I didn’t get a chance to show my lovely creation for Christine Young our latest Do-It-All Mom from the blog From Dates to Diapers.

In reading Christine’s “Top Ten Random Things You May Not Know About Me,” I learned that she loves the water (but has an intense fear of drowning) I think that this coastal inspired Nantucket basket with the beautiful blue and green hydrangea would be a perfect arrangement for Christine.

You can almost feel the ocean’s breezes and hear the waves lapping at the shore – with absolutely no risk of accidental drowning!  Christine is a mother of six children that she home schools on top of it. I know that Christine would truly appreciate having this type of floral arrangement in her home. It’s the type of beautiful visual that just naturally makes you stop, take a deep breath, and take a minute to appreciate all that you have.

Here’s to another week of spotting moms! I truly love this countdown to Mother’s Day.

Today’s spotted Mom is Dana Adams, from the blog Mrs. Moneysaver. I know that Dana would appreciate this stunning bouquet nestled in an old tomato can.  I think that it would speak to her frugality in a way that highlights the beauty of recycling and reusing.  A motto of mine is “If it can hold water, it can hold flowers.”  Once you start thinking outside of the box, you’ll soon realize that you can create beautiful arrangements for yourself or as gifts and never have to buy a vase!  Getting creative with the containers that you choose to put your flowers in makes the arrangement all that more personal.  The next time you make chicken soup for your “under the weather,” child rinse out the soup can and drop in a few stems of flowers.  Place the arrangement on a tray with the bowl of soup.  Your little one will feel better even before their first spoonful of soup!

Q&A with Dana Adams  from Mrs. Moneysaver

What is the greatest lesson your mom has taught you?

For a number of years, my mom has struggled with various health issues stemming from a serious car accident.  In the face of these trials, my mom has shown such perseverance.  Seeing my mom fight her way through life’s toughest moments has taught me the value of perseverance.

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

One lesson, among many, that I hope to pass on to my children is the importance of giving of both time and money.  It’s so easy and natural to go about our daily routines without thinking of the needs of others, so generosity is a habit of the heart that needs to be encouraged from a young age.

What’s your favorite Mother’s Day memory?

I have to say my favorite Mother’s Day memory is probably the first Mother’s Day after my oldest child was born.  Though we didn’t do anything particularly special that day, it was a special time to reflect on and soak in the role of being a mom.

Check out Dana’s blog Mrs. Moneysaver and follow her on Twitter – @MrsMoneysaver

Dana Adams, Mrs. Moneysaver – Traditional Mom

The 1-800-FLOWERS.COM Spot a Mom Campaign was so successful last year that we decided to host it again. I can’t believe a year has passed, but I am so excited to be “spotting” well deserved Mommy bloggers again this year!

My first “spotted” Mommy Blogger is Louise Bishop from MomStart. Louise truly is a “Do-It-All” Mom. She describes herself as “mother of two, wife, money saver, business woman, teacher/educator, house accountant, maid, nanny and author all wrapped up into one.” Not only is she doing all of that, but she is using her blog to help others. Louise is a mom to recognize!

For Louise, our Do-It-All Mom, I created a bouquet that is as spirited and vibrant as she is, and nestled it in a galvanized old fashioned tool box.  In the spirit of Rosie the Riveter and the “can do” attitude, this arrangement describes moms like Louise. They inspire their children to get things done, to do whatever it takes to make a change and to make their lives better or to make the world a better place for everyone.  Here’s to you Do-It-All Moms – keep encouraging and inspiring everyday!

This year I thought I would feature a Q&A with each of my spotted moms – I really wanted to learn about the lessons their Mom taught them.

Q&A with Louise Bishop from MomStart

What is the greatest lesson your mom has taught you?

The greatest lesson that my mother taught me would be, if you are unhappy with the way something is then do something about it. In high school I would complain to my mother about, my weight, the boys at school, my friends, or whatever I felt like complaining about. I think she was tired of me complaining and finally told me, do something then. This statement still rings true today.

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

I hope to teach my children to have strength and confidence in themselves. I want my children to be brave and face their fears and believe in their decisions.

 What’s your favorite Mother’s Day memory?

My favorite Mother’s Day memory was in 2006 it was right after my birthday and I just found out that I was pregnant. We were having trouble getting pregnant and had started seeing a fertility specialist and after the very first test/procedure I became a mother. It was the most exciting feeling I have ever experienced, well, until I held my child for the first time. That was even better.

Check out Louise’s blog MomStart and follow her on Twitter – @MomStart!

 

Louise Bishop from MomStart – Do-It-All Mom

And speaking of flowers in pitchers, have you seen the new 1-800-FLOWERS.COM commercial featuring the Make Lemonade in a Pitcher arrangement?

I love this product. It’s a bouquet of white and yellow daisies in a clear pitcher with floating lemon slices. It’s a fresh feel-good bouquet, which you can definitely see in the commercial. Flowers are a very simple and easy way to make someone feel better. Whether your problem is a Frank Lemon or a baby yellin’, flowers will bring a smile to your face.

Our “Warm Fuzzy Pay-It-Forward Experience” was a HUGE success. Everyone who attended really enjoyed themselves and best of all they will now keep that warm fuzzy feeling going when they share one of their floral creations with someone else. Conducting floral design workshops is one of my favorite things to do. I love introducing new people to the beauty of flowers and the good feelings they bring. I’m looking forward to hearing about everyone’s experience with paying it forward. I made a few arrangements myself that I will be dropping off to the Margert Community Corporation office in Far Rockaway, New York. Margert is an independent, nonprofit, charitable, community-based housing organization that provides neighborhood preservation services; housing assistance; energy affordability analysis; health & safety improvements; and client education and housing counseling to low to moderate income tenants, homeowners, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. When paying your basic bills is a challenge a fresh flower arrangement can be a luxury. I know these arrangements will definitely make a difference to a few families this holiday.

Here are a few photos of night’s festivities!