Party Time Thursday: Kim Kardashian Wedding Details

Reality star and entrepreneur Kim Kardashian will be marrying NBA player Kris Humphries this weekend at an exclusive event in Montecito, CA.  Given the starlet’s taste for all things luxurious, I’m super excited to see how this wedding will turn out!

The extravagant affair will be uber stylish and sophisticated, just like Kim.  Since we often see her in signature black or white outfits, I predict that we’ll see those colors in her wedding, as well, taking a modern approach to classic and traditional wedding staples. 

Even though this is the second marriage for Kim, I think she’ll feel the pressure of the reality spotlight on the event, and will go all out, creating a lavish experience for her guests.  From the elegant hematite crystal studded wedding invitations, to the sure-to-be-fabulous gown that Vera Wang is designing for Kim, this event will be nothing short of dazzling!

Here are just some of the looks I’m expecting to see once photos are released.

Sources:

Vera Wang Wedding Gown with Black Sash

Black Swarovski Crystal Earrings

Actual Wedding Invitation

Black and White Anemone Boutonniere

Christian Louboutin Black Lace Shoes 

Black and White Favor Boxes

Black and White Five Tier Wedding Cake

Black Crystal Chandelier

Black and White Wedding Cake with Black Bow

Black and White Floral Print Bridesmaid Dress

Black Chivari Chair Cover

Black and White Anemone Bridal Bouquet

Black Damask Table Linens

My congrats to them both, and may they always celebrate in style!

Cheers!

Betsey

Whatever Wednesday: A Birthday Girl's Wish List

Hello and happy birthday to ME!  Yes, that’s right, today is my birthday, and while some might find it rude to just announce your birthday all over the interweb, here at b.bar, celebrating unabashedly is encouraged!

But worry not, for there is still time to get me that perfect gift!  Here are three suggestions that I’m ogling today.

I first spotted this chair yesterday and haven’t stopped thinking about it ever since, and I continue to picture how utterly fabulous it will look in every room of my house.  I’m too scared to actually register with the site to find out the price of it, but I’m sure it’s well worth every. single. penny.

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And what pretty birthday girl doesn’t need a pretty pink hat to wear to the party?  Which is why I’m nuts about this magnificent piece.  Isn’t it delightful?

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And last, but certainly not least, while I’m sitting in my pretty chair with my pretty hat, I would like to be rockin' this beauty.  Sure, I could rent it from Bag Borrow or Steal, but I’d much rather have it gifted to me so I can use it every day!  Any takers?

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And since it’s my party and I can be a self-indulgent birthday girl if I want to, I can’t let this Whatever post go on without mentioning my sheer glee about all the celebrity wedding rumors… Jessica Simpson?  Brangelina?  ACK!  These weddings are what event planners dream about at night!  (And while they are supposed to be working on other things during the day.)  Stay tuned for my predictions on what their big days will look like.  And in other celebrity marriage news, boo to J.Lo and Marc… but hey, I’m all for a divorce party!

Cheers!

Betsey

Make It Monday: Bubbles of Fun!

I double dog dare you to celebrate summer with this easy Make It Monday project for giant homemade bubbles!

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I spotted this idea from Down Memory Lane over at the lovely Kirstikoo blog.  It looks like it would be so simple, and so much fun!  Click here to see just how it’s done.

And in other Make It Monday news, it’s Make It Madness week at Michaels, with great deals each day this week.  You can check out their specials and project ideas here!

Cheers!

Betsey

Party Time Thursday – A Sunny Soirée

Nothing makes me think of sunny days more than the color yellow, which just happens to be trending this season!  Incorporating this vibrant hue into your summer party is easier than you think… check out these sunny inspirations.

Flowers just might be the simplest way to bring yellow to your celebration.  Display in clusters around the party, or accent with a single bloom in a pretty vase.

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If flowers aren’t your style, try filling clear vases and jars with sliced lemons or candy.  Save the empty vases and jars you have around your home, or stock up at your local thrift store.

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Adorn your desserts with yellow touches, too!  This wedding cake seen at The Knot is lovely, but you could do something similar on a smaller scale.  Try displaying cupcakes in yellow baking cups or add yellow royal icing flowers to them.  

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And don’t forget the party favors!  A pretty favor will allow you to send the sunny party home with your guests.  Both of the favors shown here are handmade and available on Etsy.

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If yellow by itself is a little too much for you, try pairing it with another color.  Yellow and aqua together feels sort of vintage, while yellow paired with grey or yellow and black seems very modern.  Don’t be afraid to play with this fun color – it really can add so much to your next celebration!

Cheers!

Betsey

Serve It Up Tuesday: No Bummer Summer Cocktails

Summer is officially here, and what better way to celebrate the sunny season than with delightfully simple summer cocktails!

 

  

It seems that lemonade is the official drink of the long, lazy days of summer, so here are two lemonade cocktails that you can make in a flash.

When Life Gives You Lemons, Just Add Vodka Cocktail

Make your favorite lemonade, either fresh with your own lemons, or with a powdered or frozen mix.  Pour ¾ cup of lemonade over ice.  Add ¼ cup of flavored vodka (strawberry, cherry, raspberry, etc) and serve.  Throw it in the blender for a frozen version!

Lemonade Sparklers

Mix 1 cup of lemonade with 2 cups of champagne or sparkling wine.  Add 2 tablespoons of cranberry juice and serve over ice.

For me, it’s just not summer until I mix up a batch of this peach sangria.  I received this recipe from a good friend (thanks, Helene!), and every single person who tries it asks for the recipe because it is just. that. good.

White Peach Sangria

Into a large pitcher, add the following:

• 1 (750 ml) bottle of your favorite white wine
• ¾ cup peach flavored vodka
• 6 tablespoons of frozen lemonade concentrate
• ¼ cup white sugar
• 1 pound sliced peaches, fresh or frozen

Stir until the sugar and lemonade mix have dissolved, then chill in the refrigerator for at least two hours, preferably overnight, for the flavors to blend together.  Serve over ice, and be sure to include some of the peach slices in each serving!

 

And what summer cocktail showcase would be complete without a watermelon recipe?  I think I could live off watermelon for the next three months and be perfectly happy.  Here’s a trick I’ve learned for picking the best one:  look for the one with the most scratches on it.  These are usually animal scratches, which mean those coyotes could smell just how sweet that watermelon was, and tried to get into it before you did.

Water You Waiting For Watermelon Margaritas

Before making the margaritas, you can prep your glasses by adding a sugar rim – just spread a thin layer of sugar on a small plate and rub the rims of your glasses with a lime wedge, then spin the rim of each glass in the sugar to coat.  If you do this first, your fresh margaritas won’t have to sit too long after they’re made.

Next, cut up a watermelon into small chunks, taking care to remove any seeds (or save yourself the trouble and buy seedless), until you have about 3-4 cups.  Add these to the blender, along with the following:

• ¾ cup tequila (more or less to taste)
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 1 tablespoon Triple Sec

Pulse ingredients to blend up the watermelon, then top off with ice, and blend until smooth.  Pour into your margarita glasses, which are ready to go with their sugar rim, and serve!

Cheers!

Betsey

Whatever Wednesday: Thursday Edition

You ever have one of those days that goes by so quickly that you’re crawling into bed when you realize something you forgot to do that day?  Well… yesterday was one of those, and it was about 11:00 PM when it occurred to me that I didn’t post for Whatever Wednesday.  Oops!

I think it’s only fitting that I say, whatever!  In my world, Whatever Wednesday can be posted at anytime, so here you go!

This will be the last post of 2010 (epic, I know) so I just want to wish everyone a safe and happy New Year’s celebration full of confetti and glitter!  See you in 2011 for more b.bar fun!

someday i'd like to see this in person!

 

Cheers!

Betsey

Make It Monday: Make It Organized!

Yesterday evening I sent Christmas packing.  We spent a delightful month together, which concluded with a fabulous Christmas celebration on Saturday.  But when I woke up Sunday morning and realized Christmas had no intent on leaving, I knew I had to take matters into my own hands.  That’s when I started packing Christmas’ belongings and sent him on his merry way.  Even though Christmas is festive and bright and magical and wonderful, he also leaves his stuff all over my house, which doesn’t lend itself very well to the whole ‘neat and tidy’ thing I like to have going on.  So, we said our goodbyes, and off Christmas went, leaving me with a home that’s almost back to normal.

I wasn’t always like this, all neat and tidy.  Ten years ago, when my husband and I first met, he claims he couldn’t even tell what kind of flooring I had at the time.

 

 

Over the years, I slowly evolved into wanting my home to be more organized, and it’s literally taken me years to get it right.  Or at least better.  Now that I run a business from home, I find that it’s even more important to keep my house clean and organized.  If it’s not, it becomes a distraction to me while I’m trying to work and I become far less productive.

If you haven’t jumped on the organization bandwagon just yet, I wanted to share three simple tips that have helped me become more organized over the years.

#1:  Seek (professional) help.

What I mean by this is look for books, magazines, websites and stores that offer organizational tips and tricks that you can peruse to find inspiration that suits you.  Compile your favorites (neatly, of course!) so that you can refer back to them when you need motivation to continue this ongoing project.  Here are two of my faves:

The Container Store not only offers a fabulous selection of products to organize every space in your home, but their site features beautiful images of organized heaven in their Inspirational Spaces section, plus a whole section with expert tips and ideas to get you started.

I heart the arts and crafts closet from www.containerstore.com

 

I also love Get Organized Now!, a site created by professional organizer, Maria Gracia.  I’ve been following this site forever.  Do yourself a favor and sign up for the weekly newsletter for organizing inspiration delivered right to your inbox.  In addition to tips and tricks offered by Maria and her readers, one of my favorite features of the site is the monthly organizing checklist (click here to see what December’s checklist looked like).  It is my dream to one day complete an entire list within the month it’s featured.  I don’t know how she does it.  She’s seriously the Martha of home organization.  Adore.

#2:  Start somewhere.  Anywhere.

Now that you’ve found inspiration, it’s time to go for it.  I know the idea of organizing your entire home can be extremely overwhelming, but the thought of organizing just one junk drawer or just one closet shelf?  Not as scary.  My advice to you is to just start anywhere, and take on one little project at a time.  Here’s an example:  my refrigerator is a mess.  I haven’t had taken the time to clean it out for a while (no need to actually disclose how long it’s been), and now it’s a huge project.  So, rather than stressing over how much work it’s going to be to clean out the whole thing, I’m going to tackle one shelf or drawer at a time.  Today, I’m going to clean the top shelf.  See?  That doesn’t seem so bad!

#3:  Make it make sense.

This may be my most simple tip, but it has the biggest reward.  When organizing your space, be sure to put similar things together, and put them closest to where they’ll be used.  In my mom’s rather large kitchen, she has her plates and silverware in the cupboards and drawers closest to the dining room, for quick access when setting the table.  I have mine closest to the dishwasher because I’m lazy like that.  The point is, put the stuff where you’ll use it most, where it makes sense to you.  This will save you so much time in the end, from having to run from one end of the house to the other, trying to find what you need.

Wonderful organizing goodies from www.ikea.com

Now, you’re probably wondering what this all has to do with Make It Monday… the truth is, I just. can’t. make. anything else. this year.  So I’m inviting you to join me in making it organized instead.  No hot glue burns required.

Cheers!

Betsey

Party Time Thursday: Celebrate!

Today isn’t as much about party time as it is about celebrating.  I’m guilty of this, so I know that a lot of you must be like me – you get so busy working on your holiday projects that you forget to really celebrate the season.  So I just want to remind myself you to enjoy it.  And it doesn’t matter what you celebrate; what matters is that you take the time to do so.  It’s important for your health.  Doctors should prescribe this treatment.

I am celebrating today because I finished all four of my holiday gift projects just in time!  And I could not be more pleased with how they all turned out.  But I can’t reveal them – some recipients may be reading now…

So merry whatever, happy everything, and a joyous celebration to all!

Cheers!

Betsey

Serve It Up Tuesday: Festive Christmas Cocktails

This Christmas, while you’re opening gifts and making a delicious feast, why not enjoy a festive Christmas cocktail while you’re at it?  Try one of these simple, yummy concoctions to warm up your holiday!

Pumpkin Pie Martini

Mmmm… as tasty as the real thing, and no having to fight anyone over the last piece.

Photo from www.hgtv.com

 

Ingredients:

½ oz. vanilla vodka

1 oz. pumpkin spice liqueur

½ oz. Kahlua

½ oz. Butterscotch Schnapps

½ oz. half and half

Crushed graham crackers

Cinnamon stick for garnish

Add all liquid ingredients in a shaker filled with ice.  Shake and strain into a large martini glass rimmed with crushed graham crackers. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.  Makes one individual serving.

White Sangria

Because we all know how much I love sangria.  Easy to make, even easier to drink.

Photo from www.hgtv.com

 

Ingredients:

1 bottle chilled dry white wine

1 bottle chilled champagne

3 oz. Damiana liqueur (substitute Triple Sec and a splash of vanilla extract if you don’t have this)

2 freshly sliced pears

2 freshly sliced apples

20 whole cloves

1 tsp. ground nutmeg

In a large pitcher, add the pears, apples, cloves and nutmeg.  Add the Damiana and stir.  Add the wine and stir.  Refrigerate overnight to let the flavors soak into the fruit.  When you’re ready to serve, pour in the champagne, stirring it slowly into the mixture.  Serve over ice, along with a few slices of the pears and apples.  Makes 8 to 10 servings.

Cocoa Raspberry Heaven

Oh, I like the sound of this already.

Photo from www.hgtv.com

 

Ingredients:

1 oz. plus 1 tsp. raspberry liqueur (Chambord is lovely)

1 oz. white crème de cacao

8 oz. hot cocoa

Whipped cream

Fresh raspberries for garnish

Pour raspberry liqueur and white crème de cacao in a mug.  Add hot cocoa and stir.  Top with a dollop of whipped cream.  Drizzle the teaspoon of raspberry liqueur on top of the whipped cream and top with fresh raspberries.  Makes one individual serving.

Caramel Apple Pie

Yes, please, I’ll have that.

Photo from www.hgtv.com

 

Ingredients:

1 ½ oz. vodka or tequila (love the variety!)

1 oz. Butterscotch Schnapps

1 ½ oz. apple cider

1 tsp. fresh lemon juice

Apple slice for garnish

Crushed graham crackers

Add all liquid ingredients in a shaker filled with ice.  Shake and strain into a glass rimmed with crushed graham crackers. Garnish with an apple slice.  Can also be served over ice.  Makes one individual serving.

I found these Christmas cocktail recipes on HGTV.com, and featured the ones that seemed to be the most simple and most tasty!  For these recipes, and several more, you can see the article by clicking here.

Cheers!

Betsey

Whatever Wednesday: Holiday Card Displays

The holiday cards are arriving in full force!  If you’re tired of the old “cover the entire fridge in cards” technique for displaying these sentiments, then you might try something different this year.  Here are three simple ways to display your favorites:

Just by embellishing a pretty ribbon, you’ll have a super simple way to show off those cards.  Click here to see how this was done at She’s Crafty.

Photo from www.choosecraftiness.blogspot.com

 

Try this festive way to display cards on your kitchen cabinets, which almost makes the cabinets look like gifts, too!  Click here to visit Tres French Hens to learn how.

Photo from www.tresfrenchhens.blogspot.com

And how could I have a holiday feature without a wreath?  Well, Martha Stewart’s got one!  I love how easy this wreath is to put together, and how functional it is this time of year.  Click here for Martha’s instructions.

Photo from www.marthastewart.com

 

How will you display your holiday cards this season?

Cheers!

Betsey

Make It Monday: Pretty Tulle Wreath

Happy (Make It) Monday!  Today’s project is a super simple, super pretty wreath (and we all know how much I love wreaths!) that you can easily make in time for Christmas day.

I first spotted this wreath over at Flamingo Toes, where she made a very cute black and pink version for Halloween.  What I love, love, LOVE most about this wreath is how versatile it is.  Inspired by a black tulle wreath for Halloween, I made a white tulle wreath for the winter holidays.  But I could see this made with pink tulle for Valentine’s Day, green tulle for St. Patty’s Day, red tulle for the 4^th of July, gold tulle for Thanksgiving… you could even make one in your wedding colors, add a monogram, and use it as part of your wedding décor!

So, let’s get to it!

I should start by saying that I know I mentioned that this project was super simple, but I should probably add that it is time consuming, so make it for someone you really like.  I made mine for my sis in law, so it was time well spent. 

First, start off with a basic foam wreath base.  Mine was green foam and I purchased it at the dollar store.  I then wrapped an inexpensive white ribbon around the foam just so I’d have a white base to start with, without actually having to break out the spray paint.  Hot glue and pin the white ribbon in a few spots as you wrap the wreath, just to make sure it stays put. 

Then, start cutting your tulle.  I had a roll of 6” wide tulle that I found in the bridal section of my craft store, and I think(?) I used about 75 feet of the 100 foot long roll – more or less.  Cut pieces into 13” lengths.  You’ll need a lot of these.  Like, a LOT.  So just start cutting, and then keep cutting, and when you think you have enough, cut some more.

Then, start tying!  Tie each piece of tulle onto the wreath with a basic knot, spreading out the ends of the tulle as you go.  Continue tying the tulle onto the wreath, pushing the pieces together to fully cover the wreath form.

Eventually, after much cutting and tying, you’ll have a beauty like this:

 

I have to admit, I love the wreath just like this – it has a simple elegance that I adore.  But I wanted to make it extra special for the holidays, so I added three shimmering snowflake ornaments to it.  All I did was hot glue a small safety pin to the back of each snowflake ornament, and then stuck the pin right into the tulle.  This way, they can repositioned, or removed altogether.  You could use this same trick to add other holiday ornaments, a ribbon, a feather boa like at Flamingo Toes, or whatever else you’d like!

I love it so much that I’m considering making one for my very own!  If you want to make your own, but need a little more instruction, just click here to see the great tutorial provided by Flamingo Toes.

Cheers!

Betsey