Floral Spotlight: Artichokes {Yes, Artichokes!}

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Not to be mistaken with succulents (to be featured soon!), artichokes are playing a role in more than just your favorite appetizer - via wedding florals {but keep reading, because I'm including a really good recipe at the end of this post}.  These lovely plum/purple colored blooms pair perfectly with the moss green leaves, and they hold a special place in my heart as well, as they were a favorite of my grandmother.

Artichoke production occurs year-round, but nearly one-third the crop is harvested between March and May, making this a very cool, accessible, affordable (and different) floral variety to include in your wedding decor.

Let's take a look at this lovely in action:

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And love how it's incorporated in to the design, of course.

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And how adorable is this artichoke bow tie!!

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Escort card holders

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Rustic and gorgeous

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LOVE the textures brought in to this cake!

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And more from this Temecula wedding from Hoffman Photography..

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And in decor...

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Loving all the details from this garden wedding via The Flower Kiosk

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And I would never leave you hanging on an artichoke post without a REALLY good spinach and artichoke dip recipe, of course!!!  This one is one of my favorites, courtesy of my friend Missy :)

Spinach & Artichoke Dip

Ingredients:

1 cup mayonnaise

1 cup sour cream

1 cup parmesan cheese

1 box chopped spinach (frozen)

1 small jar artichoke hearts

Dash of red pepper flakes (to taste)

Salt & Pepper (to taste)

4-5 cloves minced garlic

Directions:

Mix all ingredients and put in baking dish, bake for 20 minutes at 350.  Serve with tostitos or sliced baguette.

Enjoy!

Mason Jar Sunday: DIY Colored Masons from 100 Layer Cake

Scott Clark

I just spotted this DIY tutorial on 100 Layer Cake (it went up while I was on my honeymoon, hence I missed it the first time!) and had to share it for today's Mason Jar Sunday.

From 100 Layer Cake:

Supplies:
Mason jars or other glass containers
Spray paint
Masking tape (if you want to get serious about keeping the edges of the jars clean)

Scott Clark

Again, this really doesn’t need detailed instructions. You just set your jars outside on some newspaper and spray the inside of each jar until it’s well coated.

The only thing we want to make sure to point out is that some colors aren’t completely opaque. Which means when you fill them with water and flowers (and florist foam if you’re using it) the color will be darker than you planned, since you’ll be able to see the stems and water through the paint.

BUT, we have a solution that we only figured out once we were in the middle of arranging our flowers. If you choose a semi-transparent color (like the hot pink we’re showing), add a second coat of opaque white spray paint to the inside after the color coat is dry. We tested it after the fact and it works perfectly. Yay for solutions!

photo from 100 Layer Cake

And one final tip… when you’re arranging your flowers, be careful not to scrape the inside of the jars with the stems. The paint will come off!

Valentines Shoot Featured in Best Wedding Sites eZine!

Happy Saturday all!

I wanted to share with you something exciting - our Valentines shoot that I styled a few weeks back (in collaboration with Tara Lee of Cut the Cake Etsy/November 7 Blog {Paper Design}, Miriam Corona of Glam Candies {Sweets Inspiration/Creative Collaboration} and Gladys Jem {Photographer}) is being featured in Best Wedding Sites eZine!  Brenda has launched a new website and it's looking fabulous; go take a look!

The flowers on the cover were part of the design and you can see the full feature on page 10, with more insight on the recipe box that my father made (I mentioned it here, too).

You can also see my recommendations for items I "love" in the back of the eZine, along with Erin of Sparkle & Hay and quite a few other vendor suggestions as well :)

Have a great weekend!

Fleur de Sel Caramels - Winner

Congrats Amber - you won the savory little treats :)  Enjoy them!

Just Imagine Summertime...

I found this quote a while back and was playing around with illustrator today to make it look pretty.  And with the cold weather lingering in many parts of the world, and snowfall expected here in San Francisco, I wanted to leave you all with something to warm you up on this chilly Friday afternoon :)

Have an amazing weekend, everyone!
~jacin

A Lovely Engagement Story: Christy & Ercole

(c) Mike Ross Photography

I don't think I can tell you enough how much I love opening my email to find a note from a reader, whether it's just saying hello, asking for advice on how to decorate a space {or how to make homemade jam!}, or sending me their story along with lovely images to tell the tale.  When I received an email from Christy, I couldn't help but smile as I read the story of her engagement to Ercole.  I think I have a warm spot in my heart for these two, as they are fellow Connecticut residents, were engaged in Rhode Island {Block Island, no less, which is one of my favorite places on earth}, and their story just makes me feel happy.  And I just had to share this happiness with you to add to your Friday bliss :)

Here is their story, via Christy & Ercole...

For the past 10 years or so, Christy has been going to Block Island with her family, and in 2009, Ercole joined along. This was Ercole's second year, and it was definitely a special one. Ercole had brought his car onto the island which made things for him alot easier. The couple arrived the sunday prior, on August 1st. Throughout the week, many family and friends had visited at the house. On Friday the 6th, Ercoles parents came that morning to spend the night. That night, there was a party going on at the house with all friends from the marina. All the kids had spent the night which made Ercole's plans go accordingly. That morning, Christy had wanted to go and get the Island's famous donuts. All week when the two would go out in the morning, Ercole would tell Christy that she looked fine in her pajamas and she didn't have to change. On this day, she decided to take him up on that, but she was not expecting him to to tell her that he thought she should change into normal clothes. The kids requested to be brought into town for breakfast. Ercole and Christy were dropping them off, and picking up her cousin in about an hour. 


All week, Christy wanted to go for a ride around the island, and Ercole thought this was the perfect opportunity. While they were driving on one of the most beautiful days, Christy was angry that she didn't bring her camera. Thats when Ercole, the amazing person he is, took her camera out of his pocket. Christy began taking pictures as they drove around. Ercole mentioned he had never been to the Bluffs and that he wanted to go check them out. Christy tried to discourage him by reminding him about all the stairs they would have to walk down and up, but he insisted it was ok. When they made it to the bottom, the two stood for about 20 minutes taking in the beauty. Finally, when they were ready to go back up, Ercole decided he wanted to take a picture with the self-timer, something the two of them never do. Little did she know, Ercole had it on video. A woman coming down, offered to "take the picture", and after hesitation, Ercole agreed. After pretending to take a picture, Ercole began to tell Christy what he was really doing the week before, and got down on one knee. Christy repeatedly asked Ercole if he was kidding, if he was joking, and then finally said YES!! 

Personal picture from the day {Christy & Ercole}

When they made it back to the top, Ercole told Christy that his cousin (who "missed" the ferry) never missed the ferry and was in town. When they arrived in town to pick them up, Christy was brought to tears when she saw all of her best friends standing there too! 

The girls had on custom made tank tops and were just as excited! 

The day consisted of champagne, family, friends, and celebrations!

It was the most heartfelt engagement and Christy and Ercole couldn't be happier to begin their lives together!

Christy and Ercole had their engagement session at Chamard Vineyard in Clinton, CT and Mike Ross {of Mike Ross Photography} took some amazing shots that I am also excited to share.

Lastly, there's even some video footage of the lovely couple, courtesy of Zip06, starting at 6:52 minutes in {and you will see the lovely Alia and Scott in the beginning, too!}

All the happiness to you both, thank you for sharing with us!

Happy Friday, everyone :)

Anthropologie Mugs - Winner

Congrats to Nicole-Lynn of Seaside Smitten, you won the coveted Anthro mugs :)

Congrats, use them in good health and happiness :)

2 more giveaways to go!

Fleur de Sel Caramels

Mason Jar Tote

Bridal Beauty: Inside and Out

The lovely Jennie Fresa is back to guest blog again for this month's "Bridal Beauty" feature!

As a beauty professional, it’s my job to help brides look their absolute best on their wedding day. I do so by designing makeup looks that enhance rather than transform! When I meet with brides for a trial, we discuss their personal style and the style of their venue. This information allows me to create a look that is not only appropriate for the occasion, but also perfectly suited for the bride.

Beautiful makeup starts with perfect skin. What goes on inside definitely reflects on your face. Proper nutrition and exercise are equally as important as maintaining good skin care habits! In the months preceding your wedding day, brides should consider the following tips to achieve a flawless, glowing complexion.

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Proper Skin Care

Talk to your aesthetician or dermatologist about designing a skin care regime for your skin type. DO NOT try new products too close to your wedding day. For best results, start your program at least 6 months in advance. I suggest avoiding toners with alcohol in them as they dry out the skin. While moisturizing might seem counter intuitive for oily skin types, it will actually help to prevent excess oil. Look for oil-free moisturizers. Facial treatments are a smart idea! If you are having breakouts, a facial can help reduce breakouts and inflammation. Aside from skin-improving benefits, facials are also a great way to relax!

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Good Diet
Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Limit caffeine and sugar consumption. Green tea is a great alternative to drinking coffee. Speak to a nutrition coach about your goals. A certified nutrition expert can help you avoid a crash diet and deal with craving by offering you a holistic weight loss approach for LIFE--not just until the honeymoon is over. Eating right will contribute to the vibrancy of your skin and can keep breakouts to a minimum.

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Exercise & Sleep
The best way to reduce stress is by undertaking some form of exercise. Not only will you tone your muscles and look fabulous in your dress, you will also improve blood circulation which inevitably brings a fresh glow to your face! When it comes to rest and how it can effect our looks--remember, they don’t say, “get your beauty sleep” for nothing. A good nights sleep will reduce the chances of puffy, dark under-eye circles.

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Meditation/Yoga
Brides today are under a lot of pressure. Sadly, this pressure has a tendency to show up on your chin! Take a few minutes each day to find balance. A few seconds of quiet time, at the very least, or a yoga class will make a difference in how you look and FEEL!

At Jennie Fresa Beauty Library we are committed to sustainable beauty. In addition to our makeup and skin care services, we offer nutritional coaching to brides throughout the country.

Jane Ashley, founder of Beautiful Body—Beautiful Bride: Nutrition Coaching for brides-to-be, is an innovator in bridal nutrition and holistic weight loss. In addition to her one-on-one coaching practice, Jane is a regular contributor to the Jennie Fresa Beauty Library blog and is a sought-after speaker in the community. Learn more about Jane at: www.jenniefresa.blogspot.com

If you would like more information on a holistic-diet program or skin care advice, please contact us at 860-664-3923. We are delighted to answer any of your questions or concerns!

XO

Have something you'd like Jennie to address next month?  Contact us and we'll be sure to include it!