In the midst of all the craziness that has surrounded my pregnancy with my sweet boy, it’s been hard at times to hold on to the wonder and joy of this special chapter of life. I had been so looking forward to the magic of pregnancy that I usually feel, and yet I’ve felt it slip by in a flash this time around. That’s why I was so touched and appreciative when a few of my closest girlfriends offered to throw me a baby sprinkle! For those of you who haven’t heard the term, a Sprinkle is just a mini Baby Shower, with fewer people. Normally people have them for subsequent children! I never had a shower or sprinkle when I was pregnant with Major, so this felt extra special. My friends also managed to pull off the most beautiful, thoughtful, and chic celebration with the cutest theme: La Dolce Eva! Playing off of my Italian roots (and La Dolce Vita), this Sprinkle celebrated all things Italian and Summery. It was such a special afternoon for me, and I’m so excited to give you a glimpse of it today.
First of all, the decor was just beyond beautiful. My sweet, gorge girlfriends (Julia, Alex, and Sarah) held it at Amis Trattoria in Westport, which was perfect for the Italian theme. The room had a long table, adorned with the loveliest place settings and GORGEOUS flowers by On A Lark. They had even dropped off flower crowns from the florist for Marlowe and I to wear…and a sweet boutonnière for Major. The table also had some really pretty menus with everyone’s name on them, a pretty coral gingham printed napkin made from Persifor fabric (Alex’s clothing label), and a bottle of Essie Nail Polish at each setting. And the polish was another extra surprise: it was the cutest shade of coral, named “La Dolce Eva”! Beyond special.
When I walked into the room, I was greeted by all my girlfriends standing there wearing masks of my face. LOLLLL. It was beyond hilarious, a little creepy, and the perfect way to start the party. I definitely had to put the mask I took home in a drawer because it scares me…but my kids love playing with it. hahaha. We all sat down to lunch, with delicious Italian courses coming out and served family-style. There was a signature “Dolce Eva” cocktail, a mocktail, and champagne. Then I got another surprise, which was so meaningful to me, and something I haven’t stopped thinking about. All my friends went around the table and shared either a special story or something they admire about me as a Mom and Woman. We were all crying throughout, and I truly felt my heart swell and fill. It’s not every day that you get the chance to hear from women you admire so much all the things they love and appreciate about YOU– and it really meant so much. It was the best gift of all!
Eventually, Marlowe and Major showed up being their cute little selves and hanging with me and all my friends. They are so close with the girlfriends who were at the party, and it was really special to watch them being loved on and feeling so safe and happy around my community of Mamas. Generally speaking, it was a total lovefest, and I left my Sprinkle feeling beyond lucky for the community I have of incredible women– and so excited to welcome this baby boy into it! I still can’t believe he’s almost here!
Photographs by Julia Dags
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I love a brunch for Mother’s Day– delicious, foodie-worthy bites, some yummy cocktails, and great company. What’s not to like? This year for Mother’s Day I’m prepping fab three course lunch that can be served family style and is totally easy to pull off. I made all three of these dishes for the shoot! I wanted a menu that was so yummy, and complex enough to be interesting but not at all your run-of-the-mill brunch vibe. I decided to make Apple Glow Pancakes, Fried Egg Toasts With Herb Butter, and a Sweet and Salty Salad. I’m going to be sharing all three of the recipes individually today so be on the lookout!
In terms of decor, I was going for a really feminine and floral vibe– lots of pinks, whites, and a beautiful china shape with a gold edge. I balanced the feminine with a cool linen pinstripe napkin and a small bloom tucked under it at each place. I think that Mother’s Day is the perfect time to celebrate the divine feminine within each of us– no matter whether we are Mothers or not. And for me, pink is where it’s at! I just love fresh flowers and wanted to mix a few of my favorite blooms for the occasion. A white dress topped off the ethereal vibe.
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Entertaining for the Holidays is my favorite kind of entertaining! But I know it can be a bit overwhelming to come up with a fresh take on holiday decor. This Thanksgiving I just wasn’t feeling traditional Thanksgiving colors. I don’t know if you can tell by the palette I decorate with generally, but I’m more in to a cool color palette than a warm one. When I was growing up, our entire home was decorated in very autumnal colors– all orange and red errythang! As a result I think I kind of overdosed on that color scheme. LOL. I wanted to re-envision a Thanksgiving table this year to be a rich jewel tone palette, with the same lush feeling as a more traditional fall tablescape. I also wanted to create something very special for my most loyal followers!
For my table, I chose jewel tones, with gold accents. I just love these dahlia placemats and coasters by Chilewich– they’re elegant but also modern, and require zero laundry! I finished off the table with place settings by Williams Sonoma, and gorgeous jewel toned flowers. Then I designed my own menu cards and place cards! And everyone who is signed up for my newsletter is going to get the files sent to them to download so you can print these menu cards and place cards for your own holiday table! I hope you love them as much as I do.
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I also get a lot of messages about the basics of setting a formal table for the holidays, so I wanted to give you an easy-to-reference guide right here. Cross check your table setting work with this guide if you ever need to double check cutlery or glass placement!
Do you like to decorate with traditional fall colors for Thanksgiving, or do you prefer a more modern flair? Let me know in the comments below!!
Photographs by Julia Dags.
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I really love making subtle changes to my home decor according to the seasons. I gave my outdoor space a more Summer vibe for a few months, and then I always go all out for Holiday decor! But I haven’t really shared how I like to make little updates here and there for the Fall season. Today I thought I would show you some of my favorite ways to get in the Autumnal spirit with some chic decor pieces that are anything but cheesy.
I love finding chic autumnal objects to make my spaces more festive. These are gorgeous enough to show off, but still get you in the cozy spirit.
I’m all about faux florals recently, since they take zero care and they look amazing year-round. And faux florals have come a long way! I have some in my home that people constantly try to smell and compliment me on. They can’t even tell they’re not real when they’re right in front of their faces! LOL. Now that’s impressive.
When setting a Fall table, especially for Thanksgiving, it’s nice to decorate your table with seasonal pieces. I love these pieces that are very holiday friendly but also feel so modern.
We always light fires in the fireplace during the cooler months, and I love snuggling on the couch with a glass of red wine and a fabulous, cozy throw. Switching out your throw for one that’s a bit heavier and more cuddly is my favorite thing to do for Fall!
There’s something so romantic about Fall, and adding some gorgeous candles to your decor is a great way to play it up. I love using ones with warmer colors and cool, natural textures.
Switch out those vases on display to reflect your Fall foliage! With just a few textural changes, a whole display can look completely updated for the season.
Changing a few pillows on the couch can really transform the mood of a room. Add some deeper colors, or sweet messages, for a Fall update to your design scheme.
