Boots McBlog

William Jefferson Clinton Presidential Library was the perfect summer backdrop for Kate and Kyle to tie the knot.  A marriage ceremony  on the back lawn of the library followed by dancing into the night  in the Great Hall made for one enchanted evening.    If you’ve followed my blog for long, you know that I am a HUGE fan of the details – the fashion, food, flowers that go into making a wedding day unique to the couple.  My partnership with Heather Owens  - Belle Vie Artistry- it is a great match for us – she captures what she loves on the big day – the people,  and I capture my favorite things – the details.  Here is a glimpse into all those months of decisions over the details Kate and Kyle made that came to fruition to make their big day a bright summer celebration.

The Dress

The Shoes:

Kate chose these Kate Spade Purple Satin wonders

And of course the necessary accessories

The Pearls

The Rings

The Shades

And the mini-Fans!

(given that it was unseasonably H-O-T  for mid June, these were a fantastic idea and counted as the brides “something blue”

The Bride & Groom

The Wedding Team

The Flowers

Phil Cato’s About Vase outdid themselves with these vibrant, happy arrangements of gerbera daises, roses, and fruit.

The Food

The Cakes ( with a side of gelato – yum!)

Of all the many decisions this couple made along the way,  it is obvious choosing each other was the best decision of all.

Kate and Kyle,  Thank you so much for giving Heather and me the opportunity to be part of your big day.   We wish you a lifetime of laughs and love together.

To see this enchanting event through Heather’s lens, click on over to her blog, Heather Owens Photography.

I’ve always been a hat girl. My first memories of Easter finery included a hat. Every year, we would shop for the dress, the shoes, AND a hat.

“When my Mother first dressed me in a hat as if I were a Lady, I owned the title.” – unknown

We attended a rather formal church where such accoutrements were not out of the norm. I wore them each Easter well into my twenties. I now attend a less formal church. Flip flops and jeans are acceptable for worship. Hats – well – that just may be TOO over the top. Still, I’m mad for a beautiful hat. They are the epitome of a lady. I often think of Eliza in My Fair Lady or Vivian in Pretty Woman how they were transformed with the right hat. Iconic pictures of Jackie O and Grace Kelly are of them in simple pillbox designs. Thankfully the new tradition of the First Lady’s Tea held at the Govenor’s Mansion each spring has given me new reason to find a fine piece of millinery. I was over the moon when my friend asked if I wanted to be part of the planning committee this year.

The event was held on a gorgeous spring day. Lady Grey Tea, Orange Blossom, and blueberry tea were accompanied with an array of tea sandwiches, tea cakes, and tarts. My wee contribution to the day was creating the “Forage through the Foliage” Garden Hunt that encouraged our younger ladies to explore the wonderous grounds our Govenor’s mansion: a family garden, a vegetable garden, the par terre garden blooming with roses, and the herb garden. Great fun was had by all ages. And I must say that although the roses in the garden were in full bloom, they paled in comparison to the beauty of the ladies in attendence in their gorgeous hats.

As for my hat, it was pink, ribboned, rose’d, and poofed. It is girly and I. love. it. So, for those flip flop wearing folks at my church, grace to you, my friends. I hope you’ll return the grace – I’ll be the one in the hat.

Un Noche Perfecto.   Flowers, Food,  Friends   –   ¿Que Mas? (what more?)     Last Friday evening I had the privilege of capturing how this seamlessly pulled together.   Inspired by Nature created a floral wonderland that would make anyone cry ¡Ole´!   The catering genius of Trios provided a Mexican feast that was beyond delicioso!    Even the mariachi band commented that the Chicken Enchiladas were the best they had ever had.  And don’t even get me started on the desserts.    Despite the threatening skies and the periodic torrential rains,  nothing could dampen the spirits and the love felt at this party hosted to encourage a young couple as they embark on their new life together.    Enjoy this peek at the fiesta!

Hats, gloves, and flowers is definitely my cup of tea.   I am honored and thrilled to be part of the committee assisting with the First Lady’s Tea this spring.     Delicious treats, blooms, artists, tablescapes to provide summer entertaining ideas and activities for the children will make for a lovely afternoon in the garden.    I hope you will invite your favorite ladies – young and old to join us.  www.friendsofthemansion.org

Sophisticated. Glamorous. Well-traveled. These are words that describe how I feel whenever I hear a Pink Martini tune.

Pink Martini is a 12 member group (sometimes more if accompanied by a string section or full orchestra) who has been bringing it’s vintage hollywood chic to the soundwaves since the late nineties. I recently discovered them and can’t get enough. It may be the perfect soundtrack for my peripatetic attention span.

The Toronto Star says their sound is “the type of delight that sometimes involves dressing up and carousing” – Did some one say dress up? Count me in!

Thomas Lauderdale the band’s leader describes their music as“ …a rollicking around-the-world musical adventure … if the United Nations had a house band in 1962, hopefully we’d be that band.”

I describe it as the kind of music that makes my work go faster. I’m more productive and happier when I have these tunes playing in the background. I samba from my desk to the kitchen. I merengue when I mop. ( ok, I don’t mop, but if I did I would listen to this to make it far more enjoyable). It’s perfect background music for cocktails and dinner with friends of all ages. And it makes me want to put on a tight waisted, full skirted knee length dress, Miss Cha Cha Louboutins and saunter the night away in a posh mid century nightclub. It spans classes, countries, ages. Slow ballads to fast tempo dances. My favorites include: the encouraging “My Little Tomato”, the hopeful “Over the Valley”, the romantic longing of “La Soledad”, the Italian lullaby Ninna Nonna, and the inspiring, “Lets Never Stop Falling in Love”

Once you take a listen to the group, you will fall in love and never stop listening.

Salud, Y’all!