chartreuse & a twist

to market

2013-05-24T03:36:00.001-07:00

Happy weekend, lovers!

Aren't you so excited for this holiday weekend??!!

I truly can not believe that it is Memorial Day weekend, already!

Where in the world did May go???

I am expecting to blink my eyes and then see Christmas!

(WHOA, Brynn! Slow down a minute...)

I think we are going to have a pretty amazing summer here in Seattle

& I intend on savoring every moment of it :)

Spring, so far, has been beautiful...the rain only just swept in over the last few days.

I am hoping it will cooperate just enough this weekend for to get a bicycle ride in

to Pike Place Market to pick up my weekly flowers!

And speaking of slowing down a bit,

my weekend is shaping up to be pretty sweet!

My only social activity is a BBQ for a friend's birthday on Sunday,

other than that I am taking this weekend as a Brynn weekend!!!

I have quite a few projects that I am working on at the moment,

so I am going to hole in for the majority of the weekend, turn up the music

& be in my happy place...

creating, designing, styling.

(I just got a little chill! I am so excited!)

How are you going to slow down a bit and savor the long weekend?

Whatever you do, enjoy :)

Happy, Happy

Brynn

p.s. umm, seriously can NOT get enough of the A Beautiful Mess App!
I was a little worried that some of the luster might wear off after some time, but it is just way too adorable!!!

eat well: cinnamon apple pancakes w/ lemon zest

2013-05-23T00:00:00.000-07:00

once upon a time I used to do foodie posts

& today i thought that i would re-explore that :)

every great once in a while (these days), i get a wild hair to get creative in the kitchen...

definitely something that was much more rampant in my past,

but let's be real...with the gazillion other things i am piling on my plate daily (excuse the pun),

it is just easiest for me to keep meals simple most of the time.

sundays have become an exception!

quite recently and by accident, really,

my husband & i have been making pancakes nearly every sunday

(honesty: HE has been making pancakes, I have been eating pancakes!)

but last sunday he was out of town, so i kept this new tradition flying solo...

and goodness! did i come up with something AMAZING!!!

to keep it a little on the healthier side, we have been doing buckwheat pancakes,

which i find to be hearty & delicious... but feel free to use whatever mix you fancy ;)

here's how you can get in on the scrumptiousness...

& start your very own pancake tradition!

PANCAKES

(serves 2 / makes 4 pancakes)

per directions on bag of mix:

2/3 cup buckwheat pancake mix

- i use arrowhead mills organic buckwheat pancake & waffle mix -

1 egg, beaten or egg substitute

2 tsp canola oil

2 tsp honey

3/4 cup almond milk

- almond milk is just my choice...use any milk variety you prefer -

1 tbsp coconut oil

my addition:

1 tbsp lemon zest

Mix all ingredients together.

Heat a little bit of the coconut oil in a pan over Med-Lo.

(I like to use a pan that is the perfect circumference to cook one pancake at a time)

Pour batter into pan.

Secret: Let one side cook until the top of the batter bubbles all over & then all bubbles pop,

then flip and cook the other side until done.

*This method makes the most perfect pancakes! Just practice patience ;)

Add a little coconut oil as needed - this will help to make tasty, crispy edges!

CINNAMON APPLE TOPPING

2 fuji apples, sliced into thin wedges

1 tbsp coconut oil

lots of cinnamon

Heat the coconut oil in a pan over Med-Lo.

Add apples to pan, keeping as separated as possible for consistent cooking.

Douse with a heavy hand of cinnamon.

Flip apples from time to time & cook until tender, but not soggy.

Serve those bad boys up on a warm plate, top with your tasty cinnamon apple topping

& add maple syrup (the real stuff, ONLY!) as desired - I definitely suggest it!

Now, bite. And drift away...to foodie heaven :)

So there you have it...

sorry to say though that you may not see another food post on here for quite some time.

Only if the mood strikes!

You never know... ;)

I hope you enjoy :)

Have a lovely day!

Brynn

soirée: dinner with the girls

2013-05-21T00:00:00.000-07:00

Hello loves!

Let's throw a brunch get together for our bestest of girlfriends!

We will need to set the tone with a pretty table...

First, we need to hop on over to the market to pick up some pretty blooms.

Then, we'll use a pretty striped scarf for a tablecloth...

& pull together some sparkly jewels to add a touch of glitz!

Remember these lanterns? Time to pull them out!

Spring gatherings call for festive lanterns ;)

Now, you just have to keep the wine & the conversation flowing!

And you are sure to keep your girls happy if you serve this (holy YUM is right!!!)

w/ this tasty slaw on the side...

and for dessert? This definitely gets my vote!

So, are you in?

You are invited ;)

Have a lovely day!

Brynn

let's create: pretty floral votives

2013-05-20T06:17:00.000-07:00

Hello & happy Monday :)

I wanted to kick off the week with something pretty!

I thought that I should take advantage of all of the spring flowers surrounding me,

before they make their escape for summer!

So, I thought...how pretty would a candleholder be with real flowers?!

It really didn't take that long to make, too...

I literally just plucked the flowers from my backyard,

picked up a paint brush & mod podge and went to town on a clear votive!

Although this beauty is really good for just an evening of use,

I think it is well worth it for the ooos & ahhs :)

Though, it is still pretty once the flowers are dried & probably could get an extended use

if you like that look... it is just that once the flowers dry, they shrink and leave sparse areas.

But, I am thinking that if you were to glue more flowers onto the sparse areas,

then it would be much more abundant after they dry and you could get more miles out of the candleholder!

Have a lovely day!

Brynn

flashback: 1994

2013-05-17T00:00:00.000-07:00

Hello, loves!

So, this post is a little impromptu...but I swear that I felt compelled to share these photos!

I don't ever participate in throwback Thursdays or flashback Fridays on Instagram...

mainly because I just don't really have a lot of old photos

(which totally bums me out! must hunt for more, stat!)

BUT, recently, a lot of memories and conversation have taken place over these photos

from my family trip to Madríd in 1994.

So I thought I would share my own little flashback Friday with you all :)

These photos came up in conversation when I was face-timing with my mom on Mothers Day.

Then the thought of them were triggered again within the same week

when I read Albertina's post yesterday about a gorgeous Madríd apartment...

There is a photo toward the end of the patio, which looked so much like a patio I was sat upon.

It brought back such a vivid memory of a beautiful evening spent with family and new friends,

eating the most gorgeous home cooked paella I have ever seen & tasted!

My family so blessed at the time to be able to take a 3 week trip out of country to visit

my aunt and her artist boyfriend who were living in Madríd at the time, while he was painting.

That top photo is me sitting next to our dinner party host, Manuel, while he serves up the paella.

I even got to drink a little wine with dinner!

(blaming this on my wine-o-holism...& my undying love for Spanish reds!!)

This trip was such a big deal to me and such a fond, fond memory...

SO COOL at any age...but especially at 12 years old!

I have since been able to travel Madríd again, as an adult,

and have nothing but pure love for this incredible city!

This, my friends, is my ode to Madríd.

(warning: having a slight case of wanderlust!!!)

Have a wonderful weekend :)

Brynn

a post, long overdue (delighted, gatsby-style!)

2013-05-16T00:00:00.000-07:00

Hello, friends :)

I have a long overdue post to share...

a while back, Amanda from Delighted Magazine

(a favorite online magazine of mine!)

reached out and asked me if I would be interested in contributing to her Spring 2013 issue!

Right off the bat, I was excited to say yes,

but when she explained that I would be curating a collection of Gatsby-inspired goods,

I shouted to the rooftop YES, YES, YES!!!

First off, The Great Gatsby is hands down my favorite classic novel,

Secondly, I was ecstatic to see the film - I mean, HELLO! The combination of the greatest classic American novel + the genius filmmaking style of Baz Luhrmann meant a great deal to me!!

And let me just say... that film absolutely did not disappoint!

I was mesmerized the whole way through and can not wait to see it again! (and again, and again...)

Check out my Great Gatbsy inspired picks below & be sure to check out the full issue here...

you will love the magazine, I just know it :)

Have a lovely, lovely day :)

XO Brynn

Perk up your paper bag!

2013-05-15T17:32:00.000-07:00

Hello, loves!

You know, paper bags can make really great gift wrapping...

all they need is a little pep added to their step ;)

I kind of still can't help but have a thing for my circle punch!

I tell you, every crafter should own one!

I also found a new use for washi tape :)

So, you want to make your very own??!!

It's super easy!

Just get that circle punch out, along with your tissue paper,

washi tape and a little double stick tape...

You can make all sorts of patterns & designs :)

Oh! And if you like the little tissue mum flower,

you can refer back to this post.

One more thing...you like those little clips?

I picked them up for pennies a piece at the Container Store!

Have a lovely day :)

Brynn

catch up: april travels

2013-05-14T06:45:00.000-07:00

Hello, loves :)

Well, today I thought that I would catch you all up on life happenings,

as of lately... I left the blogging world for far longer than I intended to

& thought that this post would help to fill you all in!

Last month, I decided to skip Seattle's April showers and take on some

April travels instead!

It all started with 2 of our best friends deciding to elope & plan a mini-wedding for 8 in Big Sur, CA...

that, of course, was the top secret project that consumed my March (not complaining - I LOVED it!)

- more to come on the wedding as soon as I have all photos in hand! -

So, my husband and I decided to road trip down from Seattle (one of our favorite long distance drives).

We met up with our friends Steph & John, who flew in from Seattle for the wedding, in Monterey.

Please note that the top cliff/hot tub photo & middle hot tub photo are courtesy of and copyrighted to Jazzwall Arts

When we arrived on site at Big Sur (the estate rented for the weekend & the big event)

we were in AWE!!!

The property was on a cliff overlooking the beautiful Pacific Ocean and the Central California rolling hills in the backyard.

This place was absolutely incredible - the photos say a lot, but this is something I recommend that everyone sees in person at least once!

The bride & groom wanted to keep the party going post-wedding,

so off to Calistoga we went!!!

Pool time, delicious food & lots of wine was just about all that was on the menu...

no complaints here ;)

A week before we left for California, my friend called & convinced me to fly out of Cali to NYC to surprise my best friend, who was celebrating her birthday there from Los Angeles...

so, I said 'sure, why not?!'

So, my husband dropped me off at the San Francisco airport and I continued on to eat, drink & celebrate some more!!!

It was an amazing trip and my best friend was truly surprised - she had no idea that I would be there :)
Oh! & I got to meet up & swoon with this favorite girl of mine for lunch!!

Oh, but wait! There's more...

From NYC, I jetted off to Scottsdale, AZ.

Nothing fancy to report here - it was a trip for work...

which is why I only have this one photo from the airport ;)

So, friends, there you have it!

I was gone from home about half of April & it has taken me

3 weeks just to get my life somewhat back to normal!

Let me tell you, though, that I am ECSTATIC to be back...

missed you all!

My life, while full & blessed,

just is not complete without this community!

Have a lovely day :)

Brynn

A Glossy, Charming Twist: DIY challenge part 1, florals

2013-05-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

Hello lovers!!!

I have finally returned :)

I'll catch you all up on life lately tomorrow...

but thought it would be fun to kick off the week & my blogging return

with a fun DIY challenge that Emily of Isn't That Charming and Alyssa of The Glossy Life approached me with...
the idea is that one of us picks a theme each month and we each create our own DIY for $25 or less!
fun, right??!!

The first challenge, from Emily, is florals (one of my personal faves!)

I, of course, put together a floral inspired table setting for an ice cream social :)
(you know how I love table settings!!!)

Take a peek...

I wanted a bright & fun setting that would be perfect for a springtime ice cream social :)

DIY: floral garland centerpiece

To put the garland together:

* for tissue paper flowers, you can refer here for DIY instructions.

* simply arrange tissue pom-pom florals in a snake formation - or how ever you see fit!

(make sure to make it pretty from all sides!!!)

* add in a simple vase of gorgeous REAL blooms for extra texture & a kick of au natural

* add in little extra details...i popped in some balls that i had in the same color

just for a kick of extra fun!

* voila! easy peasy floral table setting just in time to finish out spring ;)

my total cost:

Technically i spent $20, if you count the peonies ;)

But, the diy portion was technically free for me because i already owned all of the supplies
If you did this yourself, your total cost would probable end up just under $25 -
you would need fringe scissors (about $15) and tissue paper (you might spend $10 on a couple packs)

You can look forward to these challenges once a month!

I'm already excited for the next!

DO make sure to check out Emily's post here

& Alyssa's post here

And I can't wait to catch up with all of you!

Missed you & blogging so, SO much!!!

Have a lovely Monday :)

Brynn

top secret project: reveal!!!

2013-04-09T07:24:00.001-07:00

photography by jazzwall - the coolest photographer. ever. he is a friend of the groom

(also click here to like him on facebook)

yesterday was the most beautiful monday i have ever seen. EVER.

two of my very best friends were married in an intimate setting of 8 of their closest friends

in big sur, ca...

celebrity style, seriously! they were married at anderson canyon,
which just so happens to be the same wedding location for both Natalie Portman & Anne Hathaway!

this wedding was one of the most beautiful that i have EVER seen -

beautiful couple. beautiful location. perfect day

congratulations mr. & mrs. garner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i could not be more filled with more joy for this gorgeous couple :)

XOXOXO

so, friends...this amazing event is my top secret project!

it was a secret elopement / mini-wedding & i was not allowed to say a peep!

when they asked me to plan & style their event, i was over the moon...

ecstatic with joy!!!

this was the ULTIMATE dinner party...
i poured lots & lots of love into it - making napkins, locating the perfect table,
hand selecting the dishes (thank you very much anthropologie!), painting rope... the list goes on!

i can't wait to share more photos...once I get my hands on them!!!

i was - of course - running around like a crazy lady getting everything set up

and majorly failed on the photo front!!

so, more to come soon!

we leave big sur today and are heading to finish out the week in napa!

there is much more celebrating to be done!!!

so, i most likely will not be back on the blog until next week...

unless i decide to squeeze a post in between all of the wine ;)

have a fabulous day, lovers!!!

brynn

our wedding story : the reception, part 1

2013-04-05T07:40:00.000-07:00

we decided to hold cocktail hour in the winery's gorgeous barrel room

while the tables were being set outside for dinner...

a picnic table filled with fun, interactive goodies was at the entrance of the barrel room

~ like our hand-watercolored "guest book" post cards, a lomography camera for fun shots & our lovely wedding cd w/ awesome packaging designed by my lovely friend, tarah ~

i wanted the decor to be kept pretty simple for cocktail hour - the barrel room was simply gorgeous even when naked... so, we utilized barrels for cocktail tables and april flowers (my rock star florist) placed beautiful dahlia bloom into my vintage stacked bowl.

oh! and that's me w/ my auntie jen :)

oh, goodness...now we come to my absolute favorite part...

the part that takes my breath away again & again!

i will let the photos speak for themselves & i'll meet you again at the bottom with a few words :)

the dinner reception is where i truly poured my heart & soul, blood & tears into...

as you may know, i am a diy girl...this wedding became my diy-ness on steroids!!!

i went insane...to the point of driving myself insane...but that is neither here nor there anymore.

the point is that it was ALL worth it!

here is a little run down of the many diy projects (and some non-diy) i undertook

(thank goodness for the helping hands of amazing friends & family members - and my husband!!!)

napkins - i sewed 60 cotton napkins (yes, i am crazy) & dip-dyed each one individually to give it that beloved sun-washed, ombre effect (thank you to lyndsey & tara!!!)

table runners - with the help of my aunt-in-law, i sewed 6 10' table runners!!!

vintage milk glass & vintage colored champagne glasses - collected for over a year, hand selected via local thrift shops & etsy... ended up having a traumatic experience when i shipped the milk glass to my florist - i lost nearly half of, no thanks to the us postal service. thank god for april (florist), who saved the day by substituting with her own collection of milk glass. thank you, april!!!!!

hanging fabric banners - thank you to katie, lyndsey, tarah, mom-in-law and aunt-in-law for your help in shredding yards & yards of fabric and tying onto 100 ft. of string :)

menu - thank you tarah, you graphic genius, you! you totally nailed it :) favorite menu to date!

tables - yep, you read it right...my husband is a real estate broker, but for the wedding he learned to be a wood-smith. i was so determined to have a specific type of table that there was no other way than to build them ourselves... so, my husband with a team of helping hands, built 6 10'x4' doug fir tables. i wasn't too involved with the construction, but did help to sand them down, paint the table edges & oil them up :) then, we shipped those babies 1000 miles south of seattle to our wedding venue!

florals - not my diy, but that of my wonderful florist that i just can't stop talking about!!! my first time talking to april over the phone i absolutely knew that she was my girl! she completely got me & my vision, there was no question about it. i could not be happier with the cheerful, fresh-picked vibe of the gorgeous floral arrangements that just bring the tables to life! and the sprigs of herbs set atop the napkins...mmm! and the bowls of fresh citrus...delightful :) thank you a million times over, april!!!

that pretty much sums it up friends! next week will be the last wedding story post (sad!) where i will be sharing a few events that happened over dinner & of course, the dancing photos!

all photography by allyson magda

well, friends, tomorrow i am headed off on a secret road trip to a secret location that has to do with my top secret project!!!

just call me secret agent B...i am keeping so many secrets these days it is killing me!!!

it is almost here & i can't wait to share!!! thank you again for your support & patience with me...i know i am dropping further & further off the map, but it is almost over!!!

i hope to return to normal posting soon, but it will be a little choppy still as i am traveling over the next couple of weeks.

i hope you all have an amazing weekend planned :)

have a lovely day!

brynn

our wedding story : the ceremony

2013-03-29T06:37:00.001-07:00

details that make me smile :)

the besties!

the cousins :)

my wonderful brother escorted me down the aisle...

& i love you all so much, that i am even sharing my crying photos with you ;)

i had held it together right up until this moment...

& then i was just one big weepy baby!

one of my absolute favorite moments of the day -

we were very intentional in the friends & family that we invited...

we only wanted the people closest to us.

it was a destination event for just about everyone, so to walk down that aisle and see all of these wonderful faces who came from distances to celebrate with us was just surreal...

so, so special :)

& then, to see my husband to be standing at the end...

WOW!!!

open the flood gates!

i love these before & after shots -

there were many, many tears of happiness wept throughout the beginning of the ceremony...

these shots were taken during the vows - probably one of the teariest eyed parts -

UNTIL

my husband got towards the end of his, where he vowed to "always smack that ass"

no joke :D...he has been smacking my ass for over 14 years now & has no intention of stopping...

i consider that a very good thing ;)

later, he admitted he wasn't sure if he should actually say it...

but his timing was impeccable & everyone was in need of a good, solid laugh!

well played, hubby!

happiest moment . EVER. :)

i love the shot on the right - we were caught red-handed!

in one of our meetings with our dj's - a local seattle couple - they gave us one of the best pieces of advise we had ever heard...

they said -

after the ceremony, run away!

go some place hidden from everyone else & make-out for 15 minutes!!!

we totally took that advise...& then our photographers totally caught us!

oh...i have goosebumps just looking back on this moments!!!

the whole day was surreal, but i have to admit that the ceremony was truly one of the most surreal parts.

i think i have perma-smile now just thinking about it all :D

goodness! can you believe that friday has finally come??!!

i hope you have something awesome planned for the weekend :)

i will be a busy, busy bee trying to finalize projects for the top-secret project!

enjoy, friends :)

have a lovely day!

brynn

all photography by allyson magda photography

all floral styling by april flowers

top secret project: teaser

2013-03-28T06:17:00.001-07:00

hello, my loves!!!

i am very off schedule this week & know i have been very absent in general lately...

i am in lock down mode this week & next to complete my top secret project!!!

so, you all have been SO wonderful to me throughout this crazy moment

& i wanted to reward you with a small teaser of a few elements and colors

i am playing with for my project ;)

can't say much more than that...

but definitely can NOT wait to share the full thing!!!

i will be back tomorrow with more wedding photo goodness...

it's all about the ceremony!

i hope you are all well!

missing you XOXOXO

have a lovely day!

brynn

our wedding story: the first look

2013-03-22T06:11:00.000-07:00

happy friday, loves!!!

i thought that i would change up the friday flavor just for a bit

because i am WAY too excited to finally be able to share official wedding photos with you all!!!

we recently received the hi-res files and i have been reminiscing about that

wonderful, wonderful day as i filter through the hundreds of images!

i have edited down to a few handfuls of favorites

& thought that i would take the next several fridays to tell our wedding story piece by piece.

let's kick it off with getting ready & the first look!

while it took me & the girls hours to get ready,

daniel & the boys managed to keep busy ; )

i was so excited to do the whole first look bit...

i couldn't imagine waiting until the actual ceremony!

just waiting for this moment was nerve-wracking enough!!!

this was a happy, happy, very surreal moment

i have to admit that being photographed professionally did not feel natural to either of us at all!

our photographer, allyson magda was awesome, though!

(if you are getting married in the central california region -

or anywhere for that matter because she will travel! - i completely recommend allyson!)

she helped us to make it look effortless ;)

and i loved that this time gave us plenty of time for talking & laughing!

stay tuned for next friday where i share the ceremony pics!!!

are you excited for the weekend?!

it's like, duh! right?!

i definitely am & i hope you all enjoy it!

have a lovely day & an amazing weekend!

brynn

CREATE: bracelets made to party!

2013-03-19T00:00:00.000-07:00

well hello there, dahhhhhlings :)

oh, i am so happy to be here today!

while i am loving my top secret project, i am certainly missing more regular blog posts!

well, i have something a little different for you today...

as you probably know, my content focus is on parties & entertaining.

but as you see, today, i have chosen to fiddle around with jewelry...

out of the party box & into the jewelry box ;)

truth be told, i don't generally enjoy making jewelry because of all the tiny bits -

seems strange maybe? considering that i am a crafty girl who loves working with her hands!

but there is just something different about jewelry... anyways, putting all those feeling aside today!

i guess that if inspired enough, i'll do what it takes!

so, i was actually in search of the perfect bracelet to wear with

a dress that i am wearing to an upcoming party. in that search i found this beauty!

well, as much as i was in love, i was not about to fork over $300...no way, jose!

not when i am on shopping lock down!!!

but i did get inspired to create my own version with my favorite parts...

the mint green tassels with the gold (go figure!) bracelet :)

so, i grabbed whatever gold bracelets i had in my bracelet vase

and in the end, decided to go with the bangles (so hard to go wrong!)

then, i headed to the fabric store & picked up some embroidery floss & gold beads

& went to tassel making town!

(all for a mere $2.80 + tax - since i already owned the bracelets & jump rings)

here is how you can make your very own...

embroidery floss in color(s) of your choice - i liked the idea of a contrast, so chose a dusty peach to go with the light mint green // gold bangles - though you should feel free to choose your own variety if bangles aren't your thing // jump rings (those little metal rings that connect pieces together) - the size you use will depend on your design // small beads of your choice - this is completely optional, but i just wanted a little extra flair! // scissors // jewelry pliers/tool - a small pair of needle nose pliers from the toolbox would also work!

1// leave the paper labels/bands around the floss to start - at one of the looped ends, attach a jump ring in the center of the loop by prying open with the pliers, encompassing all threads & closing the ring again with the pliers

2// cut a piece of floss (in coordinating, contrasting or same color - your choice) to tie around the top of the threads, close to the jump ring. tie around, tightly, 3 or 4 times & then knot to secure.

3// cut the threads to your desired tassel length. if using an accessory bead - cut another piece of the floss you used to tie the tassel top & tie once around the accessory bead. if not using an accessory bead, continue onto no. 5

4// tie the thread & bead around the tassel. to keep the bead flat (depending on the type of bead you choose) thread the floss through the bead and tie around to the back of the tassel, knotting to secure

5// i chose a bangle with a convenient wire that runs through the middle as the one to attach my tassels to - i suggest choosing a bracelet style that is easy to connect to with jump rings, otherwise you may need to adapt your design -

attach a jump ring to the one holding your tassel and then attach to your bracelet from there.

i chose to attach to just the one bracelet and then to stack with the remaining bangles,

but by all means, go crazy if you wish!

and that's it! now you are ready to party!

shake those pretty little tassels all about...it's fun, i promise ;)

have a lovely day!

brynn

party favorites, vol. 4 : so much talent!

2013-03-15T08:07:00.001-07:00

happy friday, loves!

you know, i am constantly in awe of how much talent is out in our blogging community...

not surprised...no, definitely not

but just completely in awe...it's the kind of thing that gives me that warm & fuzzy feeling :)

so, i thought that i would give back to a few of my favorites today!

these girls are all super creative & always shining in their love for parties, food, diy projects, etc.

i would be happy to be entertained by any of them :)

do you know megan & colleen?
these two sisters are a dynamic duo & are always inspiring me with their projects!
did you ever see megan's girly valentine's brunch set up?

it was completely gorgeous...you must check it out over on their blog, two delighted

michaela always has something good up her sleeve!

this week she posted a recipe for a beautiful bouquet...

how cute is that?!

check it out here

and alyssa...well, this girl could cook for my anytime!

i have tried a couple of her recipes and was WOWed!

this week, she posted a fun diy chalkboard cheese tray...

love it!

stop over to glossy musings to take a peek!

i hope you all have had a lovely week!

mine has been nuts, but that is to be expected right now ;)

the truth is that i kind of love it anyways!

happy weekend!

i'll return tuesday :)

brynn

it's okay...

2013-03-12T00:00:00.000-07:00

you know that feeling after you have eaten a big meal...

that overstuffed, gross, full feeling?

every time i do that, i think to myself

"why the heck did i just do that??? i must be crazy!"

well, this also applies to how much i take on in life...

i have learned this lesson the hard way, many times over.

i feel like i know my threshold pretty well, but somehow i always push its limits...

today, i am making a bold move to step back & take a breath for a moment.

you see,

i have a (top secret) project so grand that has recently fallen into my lap.

i know it will totally consume me (it already has!)

and that i will struggle to keep up with life, work & this blog...

this blog that i pour my heart & soul (& oh, the time!) into week after week.

i had to cut something down at least a little.

so, i have decided that i have to cut back a bit on my blog posts,

at least for a little while until i complete this project.

over the next 3-4 weeks, i will just be posting on tuesdays & fridays.

& once this project is complete, i can not wait to share the end result with you all!!!

don't worry, my loves...i will still be around to say hello to you :)

i love my blogs & coffee time way too much to cut it out!

so, thanks in advance for bearing with me throughout the period.

i'm already looking forward to being back on a regular schedule!

have a lovely day!

see you friday :)

brynn

party favor(ite)s: etsy sure knows how to party!

2013-03-08T00:00:00.000-08:00

hello, hello :)

all i can say is YAY for the weekend!!!

other than that, it's onto this week's party favor(ite)s,

where i am sharing some of my newer etsy crushes...

jolly edition

in need of some really fantastic custom invites or stationary?

well then, this little shop is for you!

laura & tom, the adorable shop owners,

create bespoke illustrations that are equal parts whimsical & cheeky!

i just have to get that little dachshund card for my auntie :)

she has & is obsessed with dachshunds!

once upon a paper

i happened upon this beautiful little shop...

gene (owner & artist) & elena (artist) create unique, one-of-a-kind guest "books" for weddings

(as well as other watercolored beauties)

these are seriously gorgeous paintings that could be easily framed & hung post-wedding.

had i known about this at the time of our wedding, i totally would have purchased one!

especially, since we had a thread of watercolor throughout our theme!

knot & bow

this is a shop that you very likely have seen on pinterest & elsewhere.

this shop is where all of the coolest crafty kids hang out ;)

erin, the shopowner, carries some of the coolest & most wanted

packaging supplies (& more!) around!

and let me tell you - in case you didn't know -

packaging supplies & parties are like milk & cookies ;)

what are you up to this weekend?

mine should be pretty mellow yellow...

and let me tell you how happy that makes me :)

so, so in need of a happy, mellow weekend.

happy friday, lovers!

have a lovely weekend.

brynn

CREATE: tissue polka-dotted balloons

2013-03-07T06:24:00.000-08:00

well hello there :)

i have what might just be one of the easiest diy projects EVER!

seriously.

this little project happened upon me by accident.

i was actually trying to watercolor & tissue paper collage a balloon

(kind of like yesterday's gift tags)

major fail!

well, what do we do when we fail?

we most certainly do not give up! we try again!

so, then i noticed how cute & simple the little polka dots looked!

(can't get enough polka dots!)

i know that you can buy polka dot balloons, but this method is SO easy & customizable!

had i had a bottle of helium, i would have blown up a whole bunch and polka-dotted them all!

wanna know how?

just cut your tissue paper with your circle punch - cut several layers at once to ensure a clean cut -

and attach to the balloon with a small cut of double-sided tape (the only supply not shown)

& that's it!

you will have the most festive balloons ever!!!

have a lovely day!

brynn

CREATE: watercolor & tissue collaged gift tags

2013-03-06T05:59:00.000-08:00

supplies needed ///

blank white gift tags / watercolors in colors of your choice / jar of water /

round sponge applicator (optional - shown on next page) / triangular make-up sponges,

tissue paper cut into your desired shapes / mod podge

1. apply a watercolor base to the gift tag - you can choose to either color the entire tag or create a pattern, just go with however you feel! in this example, i applied watercolored polka dots

2. spot on some mod podge

3. place your tissue paper pieces - with the tissue paper, the shapes are up to you! i did triangles & circles - you could even just do torn scraps.

4. apply more mod podge on top of the first layer of tissue,

being extra gentle with the delicate tissue paper so that it does not tear

*note: if you have never used mod podge, it acts as both a glue and a sealant.

there are shiny & matte versions. i am using matte here, but either would do.

5. apply a second layer of tissue paper pieces

6. using the make-up sponge apply a layer of watercolor,

again being extra gentle with the delicate tissue paper so it does not tear

let it dry and you are good to go!

p.s. if you wish for the back to stay pure white, tape it off before painting the front.

otherwise, you could paint the back and then just use a white marker for your to/from :)

hello friends!

how are you today?

is it just me or is this week flying by?!

i can't believe that it is wednesday already!!!

so obsessed with watercolors...can you tell?! ;)

this little project is a simple one...

an easy breezy way to make a lovely tag to accompany your gift :)

well, that is kind of it from me today...

short & sweet!

have a wonderful day!

brynn

CREATE: watercolor gold-dipped lanterns

2013-03-05T05:53:00.000-08:00

supplies needed /// paper lantern (of any shape or size) / watercolors in 2 colors (i chose colors that would fade nicely into one another) / jar of water / triangular make-up sponges (best for blending) /

blue tape / gold spray paint

step-by-step

1. using the make-up sponge, apply your first color to a portion of the lantern (I went almost half way down) - if you haven't played with watercolors before, just dip the sponge in the water and then into the paint. the less water the more intense the color, the more water the more faded the color.

i like to have a combo of intensity & faded coloring.

2. using the same techniques, apply your second color. because i wanted my colors to blend into each other, i applied the orange on top of the pink as well. use more water to blend as needed, but be careful with the delicate paper of the lantern! leave a portion of the lantern unpainted if you intend to gold-dip. otherwise, if you want it all watercolored, go for it!

you could even get crazy & blend a third color if you would like ;)

3. once your paint has dried (or if you are impatient like me you don't necessarily have to wait on this part!) apply a strip of blue paint. i found that it did not want to stick too well, so I wrapped a piece nearly all the way around, leaving the back open.

4. tear a smaller strip of blue tape and tape to close the taped ring.

5. (not pictured) spray away!!!

hello loves!

happy first week of march to you all :)

so, i am on it with spring projects...i just can't stop!

i find myself working on lots of diys, kind of stock piling some goods

for future soirée posts that i am planning ;)

this little project was so easy! it took me less than 30 minutes per lantern!

and now i am antsy for the weather to get better so that i can hang them outside :)

they have become the inspiration for this year's patio setting!

i am filling this week with a couple more projects...hope you don't mind ;)

i kind of couldn't stop with the watercolors once i got started!

and then have kind of a random, silly project as well.

i can't wait to share!

have a lovely day!

brynn

(exhale) bye, bye february, hello march!

2013-03-01T07:26:00.001-08:00

hello, loves!

i recently acquired a new water bottle that i adore.

i have purchased a handful of bkr bottles as gifts, but this is the first that is my very own.

what i did not realize when i made this purchase is that it came with some very clever text on it.

perfect. absolutely, brilliantly perfect!

the timing really could not be any more spot on.

this bottle & i were meant to be.

fate.

it has been a heck of a week, so i am keeping it pretty short today.
just taking a deep breath & letting it all out...

i feel like i am constantly trying to get my s* together

& i have been devising a plan on how to accomplish that a little more.

march is the month!

bring it on.

(& warmer weather, too!!!)

what does march mean to you?

i'll be working on some exciting material this weekend to bring you all next week :)

what are you up to this weekend?

happy friday & a lovely weekend to you all!!!

brynn

create: a cheerful spring wreath!

2013-02-27T05:53:00.001-08:00

well, hello there friends :)

soooo, i hesitated for a moment on sharing today's diy...

first, i thought - hmm, is it a little premature to put a spring project out there already??

but then i said screw it! i am SO ready for spring to be here!!!

& it seems to be the consensus out there that everyone is very over winter!

so there you have it.

secondly, i was little weary just because i know that the diy world

is so over-saturated with paper flowers...but i can't help but adore them :)

so, determined to do it all on my own (without looking at others' directions)

i took my own spin on pretty paper flowers

& created my own tissue paper version that i am really excited to share with you all!

so, there is that.

let's get to it, shall we?!

creating the wreath structure (the base) & greenery

you will need: wire hanger, pliers, ribbon & tissue paper of a similar color, scissors & a hot glue gun

to make leaves - choose your favorite shade of green tissue paper
> i chose a chartreuse-y green, naturally ;)

i free-handed my leaves & it was super easy - just cut paper in kind of an almond shape, as shown

it is okay if they are not all the very same! in fact, it is more fun if they are not :)

1. wreath structure - i simply used a wire hanger (straight from the dry cleaner's) & bent to create a circle...i could not get it completely round for the life of me! it's okay though... it will be completely covered in leaves and will appear perfect in the end! once your circle is created, use pliers to bend the ends to hook together (see up close in image no.2)

2 + 3. i chose to wrap the ring because the tissue paper is so sheer that you would see the darkness of the wire underneath - to wrap, choose a ribbon of a similar or lighter shade of your leaves. hot glue the end of the ribbon to the wire and begin to wrap the entire ring, hot glueing at 3-4 other spots along the way. then, glue at the end to secure.

4. attaching the leaves - start on one side of the wreath and begin to hot glue directly onto the ribbon.

layer leaves on top of each other - kind of like scales - slightly alternating the direction of the leaves to keep wreath full & in a circular shape.

note: you will want to leave a large enough space open for placing your flowers

petal pusher flowers (with glitter!)

you will need: a 2 1/4" circle punch, a 1" circle punch, tissue paper in color of choice, cardboard, glitter, spray glue

1. punch your tissue circles (i probably used about 15 or so per flower) - tip: you will need to punch multiple layers (4-5) at once, otherwise the tissue gets caught in the punch & won't cut.

then, fold the circles and cut the top as if you were cutting a heart shape. leave the bottom round.

not pictured - use the 1" punch, to cut the cardboard (this will be the base of your blooms)

2. hot glue on top of the cardboard base & lay down 3 petals. glue on top of that & add one more layer of petals.

3. hot glue one layer of petals onto the bottom of the cardboard base to fill in the gaps and create a fuller bloom

4. for top layer of petals - for each petal, add a little hot glue to the inner crease at bottom & pinch closed. this will create a kind of butterfly effect, so that the petals are no longer flat.

*bonus* from there, if you decide to use glitter, hot glue a few blobs within the center of the bloom. sprinkle glitter to cover. then using a spray glue, spray the bloom from a distance. sprinkle glitter on top. shake the bloom to remove excess glitter.

in the end, you will have one beautiful bloom! (& you will be covered in glitter!)

pom pom flowers!

you will need: tissue paper in color of your choice, fringe scissors (i use these martha stewart ones), tape

1. cut a strip of tissue paper (approximately 3" wide and 24" long). using the fringe scissors, fringe away! tip: you can fold the strip in half and cut two layers at once.

2. fold strip in half (if you didn't do so already) and roll in up into a cone - see image for end result

3. using tape (i chose to use cute washi tape, but any tape will do since this part will not actually be visible) tightly wrap it around the bottom of the cone to secure.

4. snip the ends of the fringe as desired to create the perfect pom!

to complete: arrange your flowers as desired & hot glue into place

(easy breezy!)

note: i did not make the orange flower - it is actually a fabric flower that i bought ages ago -

i just wanted an orange flower so badly & didn't have enough orange tissue paper to complete it!

the fabric adds a nice additional texture, but a tissue version would be just as pretty!

so there you have it, lovelies :)

your first spring craft!

now, c'mon spring...hurry up & get here already!!!

i can't wait to see some real life blooms around this neck of the woods!

have a fantastic day!

(half way through the week - woo hoo!)

brynn

colour amour!

2013-02-26T00:44:00.000-08:00

it's funny how our eye can unknowingly be drawn toward various items that have similarities.

this reigns true again & again when i am pinning, generally in a color palette nature.

i will not even realize it until i go back and look at my actual pin page...

take for example all of the images above..

3 of the 5 were pinned one after another and the other two within just a day or so.

there were even about a handful more with elements in the same palette!

though, i must admit that this is the palette that steals my heart again & again...
(hello, wedding palette!)

anyone that knows me would confirm that these are the colors that sum up my style.

light to bright pinks, poppy corals & fresh squeezed orange...
pure divinity!

equal parts festive & feminine :)

do you have a color palette that sums up your style?

have a lovely day!

brynn

giving credit:

i recently discovered that i must have a piece of art from thérèse murdza!

did you see this gorgeous wedding featured on martha stewart weddings?!

WOW! is all i really can say about these rachel comey booties!!!

i once upon a time kept a swatch book of fabrics while in design school...

now finding myself re-inspired by this one by textile designer, hermine virginie van dijck :)

& seriously, how totally cool are those marshmallows?! big time props to kristin of idle wife!

supplies i can't live without...

2013-02-25T00:00:00.000-08:00

hello, loves! happy monday :)

in effort to recharge the batteries, keep things interesting

& give me more time to work on a semi-large project that is underway for this here blog,

i am changing up the typical routine this week, bringing you some new & fun posts...

including a DIY project i worked on over the weekend that i am especially ecstatic about :)

(to be revealed a little later this week!)

so, you know those "what's in your purse" posts?

well, i just love those...

it is so much fun to get a little sneak peek into the little pieces of

people's lives that we typically don't see.

well, i thought why not give you all a little peek-see of what is in my craft closet...

let me tell you...there is A LOT!!!

for years & years, i have been a collector of many things...

it drives my husband nuts how i save every little bit of scrap paper or smidget of fabric!

i am not a hoarder, you see, because i truly do make use out of what i keep.

honestly ;)

i just love to take it all out of the closet & surround myself with it until an idea sparks!

so here is glimpse of just a few "regulars" you will find in my supplies :)

i am in a rambling mood today.

i know it's monday and everyone is busy, so i won't be offended if you don't read on...
in case you are in the reading mood, though -
i just wanted to share a few thoughts with you all...
first of all, i just want to give a big shout out HELLO & WELCOME
(with a huge smile on my face!) to the many new faces i am seeing around here :)
thank you so much for reading...i am always so happy & grateful to meet new friends!
and to those of you who have been reading - thank you for continuing to make
my cozy little home here a daily place to stop in & say hello :)

if you have been reading, you may recall some of my blogging goals that i set at the beginning of the year. so far,
i have made some pretty big changes and great strides in the direction i want to go in.
hooray!
as we all know, a blog is a learning platform & is always evolving,
so thank you in advance for bearing with me in my evolution!
this journey so far has been incredibly eye-opening
and although i have always had something to say, i feel that i have truly found my voice.
i am planning to continue down the path i have creating -
sticking to parties, color, diys, etc...
but will be playing around & exploring some new avenues within those categories as well!
it's weird because i want to have a routine, but don't want to get too stagnant...
so goes the story of my life ;)
routine means going against the grain to me, as i have always been more of a free bird.
though, i admit that i love to challenge myself to grow in ways i never thought possible.
no matter what though, it will all be pretty & fun along the way!
because that is just the only way, don't you think?!

okay, i'll get off my soap box now ;)
i wish you all an amazing start to a new week!
(the last week of the month, which means that we are that much closer to spring - YAY!)

have a lovely day
XO
brynn