Feelin' French

Hello and happy Friday! Finally! Right? Which means it's time for my Martini Moment!

Being French is quite an obsession in the U.S. right now that's for sure. There are all of these books on how to be Parisian, what the French think, French beauty secrets. Don't get me wrong I love France, I've been to different parts and loved them all. But, the one thing I thought the entire time while there is "How are you so skinny but eating a baguette out of your handbag?!". 

I've been missing Europe a lot lately so today I'm sharing five major yet simple French women rules and of course a French cocktail!

1) Find your perfume by the time you are 30 and wear it forever! Mine? Co Co Mademoiselle hands down.

2) This is my favorite. Always wear good lingerie...just in case.  

3) Rock stripes as often as possible!

4) Have a great and chic pair of flats.

5) Be a lifelong learner. Always look for new things to learn, be intellectually rich.

Now on to this absolutely delicious martini! Seriously try it! All you do is take the first three parts and mix it in a mixer of ice. Then, just top with sparkling wine. Maybe add some berries. So perfect!

Cheers! Have a wonderful weekend!

xoxo

Hotel Heaven

I've stayed in hotels all over the world, who would have thought our best experience was in our own back yard. The Kimpton Hotel Monaco Pittsburgh was absolutely amazing! I was completely blown away by the décor and hospitality. Not only did they roll out the red carpet for us but also for our dog Perla Blue. 

After I was able to stop looking at the beautiful floral chandelier I could then focus on the other décor. I should have known by the incredible hallway that I was about to walk into something amazing. Never, ever, have I been so impressed with how a hotel looked. It was bold perfection to say the least. The beauty of this place is inspired by Pittsburgh which made my heart swell with pride to be part of such an eclectic city. So yes I'm biased with the room because I love green so this headboard was basically made for me. But this very gorgeous bed and uniquely complimentary birdcage light was the right amount of quirky chic. Perla approved. The details were all so amazing! Everything about this hotel was my style.

Have you ever stayed at a boutique hotel? You should. Even though the Kimpton is a chain, it truly feels like you are staying somewhere where everyone knows you and is happy to see you. It was so great to have Perla with us and believe me when I say everyone had a treat ready for her while we were out and about. AND there were treats with a sweet note for her waiting in our room upon arrival. Talk about going the extra mile. While we are talking about going the extra mile there was a wine hour! I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. Free wine for an hour where Perla was invited. We chatted with so many people and met lots of pretty dogs. 

What's behind me you ask? That is where the wine lives...

We had plans of getting wine and pizza in the room and we were not disappointed! Heart shaped pizza, with wings and wine, it truly was the perfect date night!  

I have always felt to give credit where credit is due and The Kimpton deserves all of the credit! Trust me friends, if you are planning a stay in The City of Bridges, you need to stay here!  

Happy Thursday!

xoxo

The Need For Blooms

Happy Monday All!

Every Winter, usually in January I have a desperate need to have fresh flowers in the house. Don't get me wrong there is never a bad time to have fresh blooms in the house but in the cold it's a must.  I certainly won't pretend to be a florist because those people are down right talented. But for those of us who just want something pretty to look at here are some tips for making your arrangement very pleasing to the eye.  

First get your chosen vase and using regular scotch tape make vertical and horizontal lines about an inch or two apart depending on the size of your vase. 

Greens are the nest step. Choose your fillers and start placing them in your grid randomly. 

Make sure you always trim your stems on an angle. This makes it easier for the flowers to drink the water. Also when trimming hold the flower next to the vase so that you can see where it will hit. Your "Face Flowers" are next. These are the big super pretty ones. Pick three or five. Try to picture where they will go in your arrangement. Cut them at different heights so that there is dimension. Keep spinning your vase to decide which way looks better to you.  

Next is accent flowers, use a lot or a little. I used complimentary colors (opposite side of the color wheel).

Fill in any and extra space with your greenery or more accent flowers.  

Fast Tip: You can cover the walls of the vase with greenery or make sure you clean off the bottom of the stems and crisscross them for a more polished look.

I hope your coffee is extra hot on this freezing day!

xoxo