This glamorous Peacock/Bird Tree was inspired by my love of birds, bird decor, and teal. Do you have themed Christmas trees?

If you’re looking for inspiration, look no further than the things YOU love. Christmas is another perfect time to express your personal style. What do you collect? What colors speak to you? Christmas doesn’t have to be about Red & Green anymore… get bold, get creative! A Mermaid tree perhaps (I’ve done this one in the past, it’s so whimsical).

Themed Christmas trees also give you a purpose while ornament shopping. A fun way to go on the hunt for your perfect style expressions. Think matching wrapping paper, too… Ho.Ho.Ho!

Tis the season…to be fabulous! 

Boo! Are you DYING to have a Halloween Party? Then check-out my  Spooktacular Dinner Party……if you dare…mwwwahahahaha!

Candy & Libations bar was a monstrous success…

Spiked Fruit Punch for “Blood” and Margarita’s for “Witches Brew”

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Brain Jello Mold & Spaghetti for Worms = an eye popping centerpiece

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For the sit down dinner we served lot’s of FINGER food!

A Ghoulishly good time was had by all….

My In-laws had just returned from an Italian holiday, celebrating their dual 60th birthday’s. Upon their return, they spoke fondly of Tuscany… the food, the ease of life, the romance of it all. And thus, my inspiration for their California-Birthday-Bash was conceived. With a few easy decor staples, I effortlessly transformed our backyard into “An Evening Under the Tuscan Stars”. 

Each place-setting received a mini-bottle of Aged Balsamic Vinegar. While multi-colored napkins, clean, white plates & a stripped runner (cut from the fabric store) helped to complete the look. Arrangements: fresh sunflowers and ivy placed in Italian pottery, that I purchased at a local pottery store…no trip to Italy required I finished-off the tables with bread sticks, olives, Olive Oil, blu’ Italy mineral water and of course, Chianti…and “perfecto” a quintessentially Tuscan table emerged!

We had personalized wine labels made with a picture of the Birthday Couple from their trip to Tuscany. A neat touch. 

Tuscan Decor: Add whole lemons, to well, everything. Including your chilled wine.
Lemons are my styling staple! 

String some lights, cue the Opera singer, uncork the Chianti…. & you’re transported. Even if it’s into your own backyard! Bellissimo! 

Robert Evans Photography

• Spray Muffin Pan 
• Chop your favorite Organic Veggies. I like to use: Zucchini, Onion, Broccoli, & Mushrooms (if you have extra time, and want to add a more complex flavor, sauté your veggies first)
• Pour into muffin cups- 100% Organic Liquid Egg Whites
• Add Veggies (raw or sauteed) 
• Pour a small amount of your favorite Salsa into each cup
• Evenly cut and disperse ONE wedge of laughing cow cheese for all cups. I use only one wedge for all cups…you can certainly use more. (Adds a trivial amount of fat)
•  Bake: @ 350 degrees for 35 minutes
• So EASY! Make them the night before, cover muffin pan in foil and refrigerated over night
• Reheat just before your brunch, remove from muffin pan (they should slide-out easily) & serve                                      

Every year my husband and I have the tradition of looking through our wedding album & reminiscing on that magical day, eight years ago, that united us. My husband is a willing participant in this tradition. And by willing I mean, I open the album and from the first page I am transported. Instantly recalling the feelings I had the night before, or the way it felt to slip into my wedding dress. And he, well, he graciously nods. It isn’t until we stumble onto a picture of him that he’s activated. Leaping to take a closer look at the page, he usually remarks at how young he looked, or how much hair he had. Speaking as though it were “back in the day,” when there was none of this fan-dangled technology and life moved at a different pace. Really?! It was only eight years ago. Not eighty. In fact, I remember it  like it was yesterday….

That moment when we were introduced for the first time as Husband & Wife, was electric. Clasping hands, we swiftly entered into the magnificent ballroom of The California Club. The room was grand. Exquisitely appointed. With paneled mahogany walls that made you want to stand a little taller. A space reminiscent of an era gone by. Just as I envisioned. A room like this could hold its own. Bare. Untouched. It need not dress for the occasion. But where’s the fun in that? To enhance the rooms already majestic presence, I chose rich deep complimentary colors. Raspberries, burgundy, rich reds, and deep pink, all accented with shades of gold.

Each centerpiece arrangement was an abundance of hanging amaranthus, grapes, roses and tulips all in shades of pink to deep red presented in different styles: overflowing from concrete urns or wrapped in moss with spiraling branches. The tables swathed in raspberry linens and gold tasseled napkin rings were accented by embossed menus outlining a five-course, wine pairing dinner. 

I remember stopping in the doorway. Taking in a breath. Looking out over our guests. Drinking in the room. This moment, I would remember. Even if the rest of the night was a blur. This was the realization of a little girls dream. This was the manifestation of six months of planning (sans a wedding coordinator). This was my vision, come to life.

My eyes danced around the tables. They were all aglow with candles, and crystals. Dripping with flowers and colors and details…details that during the planning I easily got lost in… only to eventually find myself. So there I stood, relishing in the “feeling” my design had invoked. I closed my eyes for a split second. Was this real? Then my husband squeezed my hand and whispered softly in my ear, “they’re playing our song.” And with that, we floated onto the dance floor….The rest of the night was filled with laughter, family, tears, friends, love, beauty, and hope for the future.

We pause, marveling in the magnificence of it all. We close the Wedding album. Sitting in the totality of our eight years, we’re reminded that much like that magnificent day, our life has been filled with laughter, family, tears, friends, love, beauty and hope for our future. 

Eight years later, I still find myself lost & found in the details of designing my life. And while moments in time take my breath away, some feeling less like a fairy tale…I’ll close my eyes, take a deep breath and think “is this real?”
Then my husband will squeeze my hand, whispering softly in my ear…and we dance!

We fell in love, in a love-at-first-sight-soul-mate kinda way. Had a sweeping romance, a fairy tale wedding, and an extended honeymoon phase. But life is not a fairy tale. This is the tale of two love birds…brought together by fate, held together by faith…

Maybe we should’ve been committed to the coo-coo’s nest after this massive undertaking. A record 40 day complete remodel took this dated home out of the dark ages & into the present. Thankfully, it didn’t ruffle our feathers too much. (Bare with me… you’re in store for a few more “Birdisms”…ya know, being that it’s called The Nesting Bird and all )

By opening-up hallways, removing unnecessary doors, raising ceilings, adding wainscoting, crown moldings, a traditional banister, recessed lighting, new air ducts, hard wood floors, carpet runners, paint (let me catch my breath! This was just the hallway people…) this staircase/hallway was truly transformed.

The living room underwent a similar transformation: hard wood floors, crown moldings, teal walls, imported Italian sconces, and a new gorgeous custom mantel, with carrera marble fireplace surround…to finish this transformation, we chose custom fabrics in teals & gold accented by a BIRD motif. But wait, there’s a story… This entire room was inspired by teal & bird antique ginger jars that were given to my Grandmother as an engagement gift. When my husband and I got engaged Nana passed these beauties on to me (flanking the mantel) and so the inspiration for this bird inspired living room was born!

For the birds? Well, it seems to stem from childhood… when I was born my Father named me the Blue Bird of Happiness, and throughout my life the nickname “Blue” sorta stuck. Which may explain my penchant for birds. You see, I’ve always been a  collector, whether it be antique bird art (featured on these walls) or bird fabrics (featured on the pillows & hassock) I’m inexplicably drawn to the elegance & simultaneous whimsy that birds invoke. So as you can imagine, I couldn’t wait to tastefully transform this room into an elegant & whimsical Bird Room, in my very own nest…