Perfect Blooms & Decor Tuesday - St. Patrick's Green

How about a DIY project today?
How does a personalized shamrock boutonniere for each of your invited guests sound like? Isn't it lovely (away from the usual name tag sticker at most social events)?

Here's Martha Stewart's Shamrock Boutonniere How-to.

Next up, let's dress up party accessories with shamrock motif or real shamrock leaves! It can be shamrock-stamped napkins, coasters, skewers for fruits, or a real shamrock leaf embellishment on napkin ring.

Martha Stewart St. Patrick's Day Crafts and Decorations

Irish Napkin Decor from Better Homes and Gardens (BHG)

To complete your tabletop decor, a simple flower arrangement in shamrock shape can be used as centerpiece for the dining table - a combination of naturally green Prado carnations and regular white carnations that are dyed green. You can make it a floating one by placing the flower arrangement in a bowl filled with water too.

Here's Martha Stewart Shamrock Arrangement How-to.

Flower is not right for you? I think some different green glasses and bottles will be great for you too. You do not necessary have to buy new green glasses; any green beer bottles (such as Heineken) will do the job very well!

Green Glasses from BHG

Even though you are not living in Ireland, you can still celebrate St. Patrick's Day by filling your house/room with all decors we mentioned above, as long as you have a little Irish at heart ^.*

Happy Tuesday everyone!

Fashionista Monday: St. Patrick's Green

Happy Monday to all my dear readers out there! Did you have a fun weekend? I hope you did. I personally had a fun and busy weekend started from Friday night - ladies cooking/baking night (learned the making of German Chocolate Bars), grocery shopping with the girls for all things dessert (made a Tiramisu cake on Saturday night), attended a tabletop decoration class at Pottery Barn on Sunday morning (including Easter Dining Table and Farmhouse Brunch decor), went to the gym, and ended with Wedding Sunday (WEtv) last night. Love it!

For first half of the week, we are going to focus on Saint Patrick's Day celebration! We will be exploring the green outfit, green decor, green beer and Irish coffee, all things GREEN. Later of the week, the inspiration from real wedding/party will come back into place.

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St. Patrick's Day (a.k.a. St. Paddy's Day), an annual holiday celebrated by the Irish (originally) and people around the world (the holiday has become one of the biggest one-day celebrations worldwide).
An elaboration from Wikipedia:

St. Patrick's Day is named after the Saint Patrick, the most commonly recognized of the patron saints of Ireland. It began as a purely Christian holiday and became an official feast day in the early 1600s. However, it gradually become more of a secular celebration of Ireland's culture.

One of the well-known scenes in the Midwest during St. Patrick's Day/Parade is the GREEN CHICAGO RIVER. Yes, they dye the river into green color! See photo below.

Photo Credit: Jaunted

In terms of outfit, you will see people wearing green, adorn with shamrock accessories, and some even dress like a leprechaun (a mischievous elf in Irish folklore). And there is a fun fact for not wearing green on St. Patrick's Day in the United States traditionally - that is - those who are caught not wearing green will be pinched affectionately.

So ladies. I bet you wouldn't want to be pinched nor wearing like a real leprechaun, and yet you want to feel like you are being part of the celebration. I created two fashion-inspired style boards via Polyvore for you from day to night.


First style board
Mood: Casual, Fun midweek working outfit
Color: Navy, Green, Teal, White, and Cream

I figure out St. Patrick's Day might not be a major holiday for some of you (still need to work from 9 to 5 as usual). Therefore, wearing green from head to toe does not sound right (imagine a walking green bell pepper in the office). So I put together a navy blazer, teal tank top, white skinny jeans and a pair of navy open-toe sling back heels for you. Since it is going to be in the office setting, you probably want to minimize the amount of jewelry, other accessories and make-up. And hence, a few strings of apple green pearls, a cream tote, and some green shades make-up will be perfect for this outfit!


Second style board
Mood: Grecian, St. Patrick's Party
Color: Sage Green, Black, and a touch of Gold

Tik tak tik tak...it is 5pm and it is party time (happy hours) on St. Patrick's Day! Head to the party right away from your workplace and do not want to have bunch of hassles to pack your party outfit in the morning?

I got you this simple three-in-one treat. A sage green chiffon dress, a pair of black with gold studs heels, and complete the Grecian-look with a pair of vintage-like earrings. If you happen to have a gold bangle or black leather bracelet with gold studs to match your party outfit, bring it on!

* Inspiration from Real Weddings Friday *

A RUSTIC Winter Wedding Inspiration Board to share with everyone tonight!

Color:
White, Woodsy Brown, Dusty Green, Lush Green (All the earthy colors, love it!)
Ambiance:
Giving you a cozy, down to earth feel!

Clockwise from top left: Nili & Anthony's Winter Wedding (Couple Shot & Bouquet) via Vermont Vows Wedding Magazine, Hydrangea Wedding Cake & Candy Olive Wedding Favor from Martha Stewart Weddings, Old Watering Can by Tre Bella Flowers, Birch Pillar Candles from Wedding Bells, Place Cards & Ceremony from Nili & Anthony's Wedding via Vermont Vows Wedding Magazine, Oversized Metal Lantern via Peach and Pearl, Wedding Reception Table via Veranda

This is our last post of the year!
Thank you all my family, friends, and blog readers for your unconditional support! All your advices and praises are well received and I truly appreciate it. We will keep improving our postings, blog design, and of course, the content of this blog (wedding-related, special-occasion-related, fashion, beautiful decors, flowers, interior design, photography, and many other inspiring subjects)!

Hereby, I wish everyone of you to have a GREAT, MEANINGFUL, and THANKFUL Christmas and New Year ahead! Love you all ^.* See you next year, we will be back on January 4th, 2010 (Stay tune for Fashionista Monday!).






RE: Yeah! Flying out of New York City on Christmas Day~ (Shh...I will have an exciting news to announce when I am back in January!)

Ceremony & Reception Venue
Kayla & Matthew Fall Wedding

Fall...season of the year with warm and bold colors. Orange, yellow, red, burgundy, brown, and other rich harvesting colors. You would love your wedding details that come with interesting texture and rich in colors.

First, think of a place where you and your fiance may exchange vows in front of the natural scene of harvesting season - giving an earthy touch to your wedding. There are a few options where you can choose from, depending on you and your fiance's lifestyle and preference.

What kind of setting appealing to both of you the most? What ambience you want to incorporate into your wedding? Is it an intimate or formal event?

• If your family has a farm/orchard available for your wedding date, why not having an intimate family and friends gathering in this private estate? If you have out-of-town guests, you can even organize a day trip at the orchard for the current fruits picking season before your wedding day. That is a good ice-breaking idea for family members and friends from both bride's and groom's sides who might not know each other.
• Secondly, what about a private backyard celebration at your grandparents' house? I am sure they will be very happy to have you there and that could be the something old and something borrowed for your wedding.
• Finally, if you and your fiance are wine lover, the first choice you will think of is the vineyard wedding. Never worried of running out of good wines for your celebration!

Vineyard wedding sounds interesting.
Let us draft a festive vineyard wedding for Kayla and Matthew* from West Des Moines, IA! Today is 8/23/09. It is about 14 months away from their wedding day. Perfect timing for the planning!

Wedding date: October 20, 2010
Ceremony and Reception: White Oak Vineyards Iowa
Theme colors: Orange, Red, & Green
Number of guests: 150

Venue:

White Oak Vineyards Iowa (WOVI)

WOVI is located 15 minutes from Des Moines and Ames; and 20 minutes from the west side of Des Moines. Nestled in the White Oak Creek Valley and surrounded by acres of vines, their winery provides a unique setting for Kayla and Matthew's special day. It has a banquet facility that holds 300 people and a tasting room that will hold around 75 people. Either room would work for ceremony and reception. Besides that, they also have a gazebo on the grounds that is available for outdoor weddings.

Congratulations on your engagement, Kayla and Matthew*!
I look forward to planning your fall wedding!
More wedding details coming up next, stay tune.

*For a more personal approach, we made up a plan for our imaginary couple who will be walking down the aisle in October 20th, 2010.