Frenchie and Flea

WE HAVE MOVED!

2010-06-29T12:13:00.000-07:00

This blog has moved.

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO BE REDIRECTED TO OUR NEW SITE.

Make sure and update your browsers:
http://frenchieandflea.com/blog/

xoxo,
f&f

ENTER TO WIN!

2010-06-22T10:17:00.000-07:00

DONT FORGET TO ENTER TO WIN!
Click HERE for details on this fab giveaway.
Also make sure you change your Reader feed settings to our new blog URL:
http://frenchieandflea.com

A 300th Post Celebration: ACME Party Box Giveaway!

2010-06-21T03:00:00.000-07:00

AND...
A NEW WEBSITE!

If you haven't heard about the brand new eco-friendly company, ACME PARTY BOX COMPANY, then run, don't walk, over to our NEW WEBSITE and read all about them! We are SO thrilled to be celebrating our 300th post today! So go enter to WIN!!!!

P.S. Please make sure to update your readers with our new blog URL:
http://www.frenchieandflea.com

My Dream Home: La Petite Bastide

2010-06-17T03:00:00.000-07:00

This is my dream house. I am madly in love every last detail...the colors, textures, finishes, furniture, and the lighting fixtures....ooooh the lighting fixtures! Bonus - it's in France, near the the village of Lourmarin in Provence. La Petite Bastide is for rent by the week, and I have officially announced to my hus and my family that we will all be vacationing there next year and to start saving their pennies. Thank you to Lake Jane and Desire to Inspire for sharing this perfect home...and now I leave you with the most amazing interior design & architecture I have ever drooled over.

{all images from La Petite Bastide's website}

P.S. I just wanted to throw a big early Father's Day shout out to all the dads out there....especially Poppy, who is the world's best father to my sister's and me...WE LOVE YOU, Pops!

{a little Father-Daughter photo booth fun from my wedding last fall}

Wedding Wednesday: Dessert Tables

2010-06-16T09:18:00.000-07:00

Today I thought it would be fun to share some idea for creating a unique DIY Dessert Tablescape by just adding a few finishing details to fit you style!

{images: Top Image, Bottom image}

{images: Top Image, Bottom image}

Get the perfect finishing touches here:
flag banner, bird cake toppers, birch vase, cupcakes, ribbon, cake stand, chalkboard

Remember to stick with your theme, use your venue as a backdrop to make it all come together perfectly and always choose the perfect balance of treats to serve your guests! Enjoy!

- Megan Shuler, Forget Me Knot Weddings

P.S. f&f would like to give a big thanks to Ez over at one of our all time favorite blogs, Creature Comforts, for re-posting our Easy Fabric Corsage DIY! If you don't already follow her blog, it's a must-ad to your blog roll.

Aparment Therapy: Small Cool 2010

2010-06-15T06:00:00.000-07:00

In case you missed this fantastic Apartment Therapy House Tour last week, I had to share some of my favorite photos (all shot by my fabulous friend, Jess Watson, of The Wife of an Artist) with you! This charming 1930's Sausalito, California cottage is only 365 square feet! Owner, Beth, won this year's Small, Cool 2010 contest with her creative, eclectic and functional design, and this home tour is probably one of my favorite's from AT.

For more on Beth's stylish hideaway, click here. All photos by Jess Watson.

Real Wedding: Mike & Maya in Sacramento, CA

2010-06-14T12:29:00.000-07:00

I just love this simple & elegant wedding by Ellie Grover Photography which took place in Sacramento, California. It's bright, cheerful, and just lovely from start to finish. I adore the colors (obviously - YELLOW), and the flowers are gorgeous. For more, check out Ellie's blog!

{all images by Ellie Grover Photography}

Friday: Fabulous Finds for Your Summer Wardrobe

2010-06-11T06:00:00.000-07:00

Hello, lovelies! It's time for another edition of Friday: Fabulous Finds with Lauren Noel! I'm basically IN LOVE with the style board she put together this week - these pieces are definitely worthy of summer! Thank you Lauren!

***
Summer is here and I’m swooning over all the lovely things I have been seeing lately! I am currently obsessing over floral prints and nautical patterns. I just can’t get enough of either, which is unfortunate for my wallet… I found some adorable items that are just perfect for this sunshine season! I especially LOVE this Vera Bradley floral clutch! Aren’t the bold bright colors and sweet floral print a great combination!? I think everyone should add some of these great prints and patterns to their wardrobe! Happy shopping!

1.Geo-Floral Scarf 2. Nautical Striped Top 3. Vera Bradley Poppy Clutch 4. Floral Knit Skirt 5.Grey Slouchy Rolled Shorts 6. Wild Pair Nautical Flats

- Lauren Noel, San Francisco Style Unveiled

***
Have a fabulous weekend, everyone! See you Monday!
P.S. Thank you so much to to Ana of Live & Enliven for posting our Home Tour on your lovely blog!
P.P.S Today is the LAST DAY to SUBMIT YOUR PHOTOS for the Couples Casting Call!!!!!!

Obsession: Dottie Angel

2010-06-10T09:26:00.000-07:00

Have you all seen Dottie Angel's work? I'm sure you have (Down, Out & Chic just posted about her and I was SO delighted I had to share!), because she's so incredibly talented and takes the most GORGEOUSLY styled photographs. I am mildly (ok majorly) obsessed with her style, her work, and...well....her! You MUST check out her flickr stream, her blog, and of course her Etsy shop so you can pick up a lovely for yourself! I'm eying these for my home...

Are you swooning? Do you not LOVE her color choice and her eye for detail? Sheesh! I'm in love!

Wedding Wednesday: Color Inspiration

2010-06-09T08:00:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone and happy Wednesday! Can I just say again I am so happy to be sharing wedding inspiration with all you on Emily’s great blog! Today I have a some fun color inspiration to share with all of you. Since summer is here (well for the most part) I am in the mood for bright, colorful and all around cheery color palettes. I hope you enjoy these unique color stories and they bring inspiration to you for your celebration!

Pink Lemonade
Palette: Lemon, Cotton Candy Pink, Pale Blue
1. Paper Rosettes 2. Bouquet on books 3. Mini Cake on plate 4. Favor boxes & paper straws

Summer at the Boardwalk
Palette: Yellow, Cream, Blue
1. Tent 2. Vintage Suitcase 3. Wedding aisle with lemon 4. Bride and Groom & Bouquet on chair

Antique Turquoise & Yellow
Palette: Golden yellow, Turquoise, Burlap
1. Tablescape 2. Escort Cards 3. Porcelain Nesting Bowls 4. Dresser Knobs

- Megan Shuler, Forget Me Knot Weddings

Calling All Couples!!!!!

2010-06-07T10:22:00.000-07:00

Frenchie & Flea is styling an upcoming wedding/bridal shoot with the wonderful Untamed Petals and extremely talented Gina Maxine Photography! It will be in August on the Central Coast, CA.

I am looking for real couples who would love to share their REAL love in front of the camera! Married, engaged, dating - whatever - we want to hear from YOU! So if you're in love and want some amazing photography to keep forever, please send your photos and a little bit of info about your love story to emily@frenchieandflea.com.

The shoot will most likely fall on a weekend in late August. We will take "model" applicants through the week and be in touch by early next week with more details! Thank you!!

DIY: Ribbon Embellishments & Monograms

2010-06-04T08:00:00.000-07:00

So you may remember the Fabric Covered Kraft Letter project I did for the baby shower a couple months ago...well, this is another spin on those! I am obsessed with these Kraft letters from Paper Source, and think there are SO many creative ways to decorate and use them! I LOVE giving them as gifts, and these two were recent presents for my flower girl, Sophia, and her new baby brother Carlo! (Ok, I know the C is slightly girlie for a little boy - what can I say, I love yellow and I tried to make it boyish with the brown, OK?). You can use whatever paper, fabric, and ribbon you have in your craft cupboard and create the ultimate personalized monogram present! I covered these in gift wrap sheets from Paper Source, and did the edges with chocolate brown grosgrain ribbon (and a hot glue gun). Now lets get to the embellishments...

Cut four strips each of a wider ribbon and coordinating thinner ribbon in the same lengths.

Trim the edges if you'd like...

Start layering them on top of each other in a cross pattern...

Use a dab of hot glue in the center between each ribbon layer.

After the 4 layers are cris-crossed and glued together, find a button to affix to the center.

Then cut two longer strips of the wider ribbon to make the hanging ribbon pieces (is there a name for those?) and attach to your letter. These are also GREAT package toppers, pins, or would be adorable affixed to a homemade greeting card.

For a super easy and more feminine embellishment, just find a bunch of coordinating ribbon in different colors, textures, and widths (I used some tulle ribbon, the same chocolate gingham, mint green vintage seam binding ribbon and some hand dyed pink silk ribbon) to create a fabulous layered ribbon.

Tie them all together in a lovely bow and use a dab of hot glue to affix to your letter!

Seriously, these would be adorable hanging on bedroom doors, above a bed, or on a bookshelf.

Semi-Homemade Cookie Sandwiches

2010-06-03T11:00:00.000-07:00

Semi - homemade Funfetti Cookie Sandwiches = EASY + DELISH! I made these last week, amidst moving boxes and kitchen disaster, and found that you can totally be Sandra Lee and make yummy stuff in the kitchen that's not entirely from scratch (but still looks/tastes kind of scratch-ish). So I bought some Funfetti Cookie Mix and Frosting...

And had some Rainbow Nonpareil Sprinkles and Guittard (YUMMMM) white chocolate chips....

And made these little sandwich cookies that are slightly reminiscent of circus animal cookies (did you love those like I did?). All you need to do is follow the cookie instructions, use the frosting in between two cookies and gently smoosh together. Then melt the chocolate with a TINY bit of cooking oil (makes it more smooth and drizzly) and drizzle over the top in a criss-cross pattern. Sprinkle away with rainbow nonpareils (or any sprinkles!) and you have easy and QUICK cookie sandwhiches. These are great for a party, gift, shower, or to take to your kids school or to the office for a birthday. Enjoy!

PS I stilllll haven't unpacked my camera charger, sorry again for the lame iPhone pics. Hey, I try ;)

Wednesday: Weddings - Bridal Shower Inspiration

2010-06-02T09:10:00.000-07:00

f&f is thrilled to another edition of Wednesday: Weddings with Megan Shuler today! She has created some amazing bridal shower (or even wedding) inspiration boards for your next soiree! I especially love the Pancake Breakfast (click here for all the lovely details from Design*Sponge) and the DIY Paper Pennant Garland (click here for step by step instructions on how to create your very own!). Loving these inspiration boards...enjoy!

Hello lovely readers!
Today I am excited to share some bridal shower inspiration that
is easy to create for your next event...

Antique Dream Party
images via:

Vintage Dresses: http://timmelideo.tumblr.com/post/607418866/lovely-bridal-shop-west-village-ny

Flowers with vintage camera: http://greylikesweddings.wordpress.com/2010/05/24/diy-hot-air-balloon-kits/

Table Decor: http://www.stylemepretty.com/2010/05/20/eclectic-wedding-shoot-by-jessica-zais/#comment-109511

Place card: http://www.flickr.com/photos/amysmiffy/4599910024/in/set-72157624058219930/

Tea Cup: http://www.myvintageparty.co.uk/

Vintage Garden Party
images via:

Pink flowers: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mbeasoap/4359921079/in/set-72157621770464268/

DIY Lighted Paper Pennant Garland: http://www.oncewed.com/12961/diy/decor/diy-lighted-paper-pennant-garland/

Gift with clothes pin: http://www.flickr.com/photos/taraanderson/4541591723/in/set-72157614651231191/

Table Decor with pancake plate: http://www.designspongeonline.com/2010/04/beyond-the-big-day-a-pancake-breakfast.htm

P.S. Check out Salt & Prep today for an AMAZING feature for Gina Maxine Photography & f&f's styling!!! We are beyond flattered that they included our "how to style your shoot" tips!

Inspired Occasions: Porch Parties

2010-06-01T13:47:00.000-07:00

Welcome back from the holiday weekend! Did you enjoy your 3-day break? I hope so! Inspired by the BBQ's and summer weather that are now upon us, I decided to put together some Porch Party Essentials for this summer season. These are just fabulous...

1. Eco-Friendly Reusable Outdoor Straws from Pottery Barn - $15.00 for Set of 12
2. Mason Jar Drink Dispenser from Pottery Barn - $69.00
3. Porch Parties: Cocktail Recipes And Easy Ideas For Outdoor Entertaining by Denise Gee, Chronicle Books - $16.95
4. Biodegradable Bamboo Plates & Flatware from Sur La Table - Starting at $12.00 per Set
5. The Bailey's Citronella Candle from Terrain - $25.00
6. Teahouse Lantern from Sundance - $35.00
7. Rex Olive Faux Wicker Arm Chairs & Eddy Round Outdoor Table from CB2 - Starting at $69.95
8. Basketweave Placemats from CB2 - $2.95 Each'

Happy June!

Friday: Fabulous Finds for Dads & Grads

2010-05-28T03:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday! Today I am so excited to introduce our guest blogger, Lauren!

Lauren creates style boards for The Lounge at San Francisco Style Unveiled, a fabulous inspiration site/blog for stylish and savvy brides and beyond! Above are two of my faves she did recently for Earth Day. So, we asked her to put together some gift guides for Dads & Grads exclusively for f&f...and next week she'll be bringing us some summer must-haves!
Get excited, this girl has got some great taste...

Dads
Father’s day is approaching quickly and it is time to celebrate that very special man in your life! Here a few things to show your dad that you love him and appreciate him! I am thoroughly amazed by the Kindle; it is SO cool! I think anyone would love to have one of these! I also came across this unique little item, whisky rocks! I have never heard of them before… but it is a GREAT idea! They keep your drink cold without diluting the flavor. Yes that simple. I also love Tom’s shoes, not only are they comfy and stylish but the profits go to such a great cause! You can read more about that here (link). I just wanted to share a few ideas to get you thinking about dad season!

1.Grid-It Organizer 2.Logitech Harmony One Remote 3. Tom's White Bimini Stitchouts 4. The Kindle 5. Teroforma Whiskey Stones

Grads
Graduation is such a big day and what better way to celebrate this milestone with something special! I came across a few gift ideas for all the graduates out there. I have officially discovered Pat Says Now, I only wish it was sooner! Look at these trendy and cool laptop cases they make, very stylish! And what could go better with a laptop than these Memory Men USB drives. Can you say ADORABLE!? I want them all…

1. Ipod Touch 2. Sunnan lamps 3. The Flip Camera 4 Laptop Sleeves 5. Triangle Frame Bike Bag 6. Memory Men

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND!!
Enjoy the three days with friends and family...see you Tuesday!

DIY: A Fabric Birthday Corsage

2010-05-27T03:00:00.000-07:00

I had a hankering to craft a birthday gift for my dear friend, Molly, who came up to the city last weekend to stay with me and celebrate. When I was in NYC earlier this Spring, I went a little CRAZY buying fabric with Amanda of Untamed Petals. So I have stacks of this gorgeous fabric and am not sure what to do with it! I decided it was time to get to work and USE my lovely yards of NYC fabric for gifting...so I created a quick and easy fabric strip rosette corsage. I know there are TONS of great DIY tutorials on how to make fabric pins, but here's my super fast version. Forgive the image quality, I can't seem to locate my camera charger (moving, boxes, you know how that goes) so I was stuck with the iPhone to capture the project.

Start by cutting strips (they do not have to be perfect or totally uniform in width, just keep them relatively the same in length) of fabric. It doesn't take much to make these, so it's great for using up scraps you have lying around. You can also mix and match fabrics too!

Layer the strips in a criss-crossed manor...I doubled up two strips per layer, but there is no rhyme or reason to how you do this step.

Once they're all layered, do a big pinch to gather the layers together. I use a couple dabs of hot glue to keep the layers in place before I did this. Then get out a needle and thread for a really quick rough stitching...

I just did a couple of big stitches where I had the fabric pinched to hold the gathers and pieces all together. Then I repeated the entire process with a coordinating fabric...

I made the complimentary rosette slightly smaller than the original (just cut shorter strips). Then hot glue the rosettes in a cluster onto a pin, and cover your glue with a piece of fabric backing for a finished look.

I used a pieces of chip board, cut down to size, to create a backing for the pin. By punching two small holes, I slipped the pin through and attached to the backing. I also punched two more holes to tie a bow through, then stamped the front with HAPPY BIRTHDAY and the back with my "HANDMADE BY" stamps (both from Paper Source). And, voila! The pin is complete, perfectly packaged and doubles as a gift and birthday card all in one! It probably took me about 20 minutes total to create this Birthday Corsage...these also make great package toppers or can be attached to a headbands or handbags for a different look. So versatile and easy!

Wednesday: Weddings

2010-05-26T03:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Wednesday, lovelies! Today I am so excited to have the oh-so-fabulous Megan of Forget Me Knot Weddings guest blogging here. Megan, pictured below on her totally charming DIY wedding day (which was featured on 100 Layer Cake!), is a recent newlywed, lives in the Bay Area, and has jumped wholeheartedly into the world of Wedding Planning, Design & Blogging.

{Check out her gorgeous wedding photos by Kate Harrison Photography}

We just love the inspiration Megan brings to the wedding and blog world, and are thrilled she is here today to share some of it with all of us! Thank you, Megan!
And without further ado, here is this weeks edition of...

Hello Everyone! First off, I want to say a huge thank you to Emily for having me this week and I'm thrilled to be guest posting here on Frenchie & Flea! Today I want to share some fun style inspiration for you on your big day. It is all about finding your style as a bride and with so many great options out there, the choices are endless to find that perfect look.

This first look has a sophisticated, vintage glam feel that would be perfect for an evening event. Images {Bracelet, Clutch, Heels}

This second look has that bohemian, laid-back vibe that would be perfect for an outdoor venue. Images {Earrings, Flower Ring, Clutch, Sandals}

This third look has a bold modern vibe with a twist of glamour. Love the fun shoes!
Images {Necklace, Clutch, Heels}

The last look is one of my faves with the natural, vintage feel that is fresh and feminine.
Images {Cardigan, Bracelet, Clutch, Ballet Flats}

A Fanciful Kind of Friday

2010-05-21T08:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday everyone! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Ballerinas in the Countryside Shoot Credits:
Photography by Gina Maxine Photography
Second Shooter: Tamara Lalanne Photography
Art Direction, Hair + Makeup, Set Design & Styling by Frenchie & Flea
Assisted by Annie Baker
Adornments & Accessories by Untamed Petals

Easy Picnic Ideas for Memorial Day Weekend

2010-05-20T08:00:00.000-07:00

With a three day weekend in our horizon, I thought I would post a little picnic inspiration for an doable but still an inspired occasion! You can get this look on a budget, and probably even have a lot of this stuff lying around your house already! Whip together a magazine-worthy backyard bash that's easy as PIE!

Start with some red & white gingham table cloths and a cute galvanized silverware caddy {$14.95} from Sur La Table. Layer some cute place mats or scraps of burlap as runners for centerpieces! Another SUPER easy way to add depth to a table top is to cut squares of brown kraft shipping paper (use just like you would fabric!).

Hunt down a couple cute vintage wooden food crates and fill them with goodies, from bagged chips to fruit to napkins...the possibilities are endless! Everything looks cuter in a vintage container right? Buy root beer kegs for a kitschy and unique touch.

Serve some PIE!!! These adorable A La Mode Pie Dishes from Crate & Barrel come in both the regular pie-size and minis! Depending on the size of your soiree, you can pre-make individual pies for dessert OR dinner...the recipe for homemade Chicken Apple Rosemary Pot Pies pictured above would be such a fun treat. In lieu of firing up the grill, have a meal that's pre-made or potluck so that everyone can enjoy time together socializing and eating instead of cooking or playing grill-master.

Gather a bunch of glass vessels, from mason jars to drink containers from your garage, thrift stores, ebay, or places like Cost Plus World Market. You can use jars as centerpieces filled with flowers and tied with rope or twine, as glasses {use our printable download for some cute tag/place card ideas to tie around the lip of jars for signature cocktails or each guest's place setting}, or fill jars with candles! The possibilities are endless with glass containers and jars, you can mix and match all shapes and sizes...you can even use them to hold your napkins from flying away in the wind (above). I also love the idea of using fresh produce (apples, limes and radishes above add pops of color) as centerpieces or decor...all you need to do is raid your fridge or fruit basket and scatter citrus, fruit, veggies on the tables for texture and color.

I just LOVE this menu from Satsuma Press! Its such a cute way to display the meal and ties the mason jar look together.

Use paper and fabric scraps to create drink flags and paper bunting..Get inspired by Sweet Paul. You can also use our download to print and cut out your own drink flags. Fold them in half and glue around a toothpick or straw and write names or menu items/flavors on them! Cut the ends like the flags above for a finishing touch. I also love these pies from Williams Sonoma. If you feel like splurging on a Bubby's Pie from NYC, you can order these DELISH desserts directly from the WS website to be delivered to your door - arrives fully baked - now that's easy as pie, right? You can also download our round Menu Tags below and skewer them with a toothpick like the image above and fill them in with menu details! OR, you can punch a hole in them and tie them with twine onto serving pieces, glasses, or use as napkin rings or place cards with guests names.
Picnic Printable
1. Sur La Table table cloths {$29.95 - $39.95} 2. silverware caddy {$14.95} 3. vintage wooden food crates {$20 on Etsy} 4. root beer kegs {$20 at BevMo} 5. A La Mode Pie Dishes from Crate & Barrel {$19.95 for the large and $6.95 for the mini} 6. Chicken Apple Rosemary Pot Pies {from Frolic!} 7. Mason Jar Centerpieces & Glasses from Oh, Hello Friend & Style Me Pretty 8. Beverage Buffet & Fruit from Aly's Wedding, photos by Ellie Grover 9. Menu via Style Me Pretty by Satsuma Press 10. Party by Sweet Paul and Pies from Williams Sonoma.

Emily's Moving

2010-05-19T10:35:00.001-07:00

Please pardon the lack of posts this month...f&f is moving, in the process of catching up on wedding orders AND hopefully bringing some new members to the team!
xoxo,
f&f

{photo from Emily's Wedding by Cameron Ingalls Photography}

Love Shoot: Brooke & Auston Part II

2010-05-18T10:19:00.000-07:00

I am so excited to finally be posting part II of this CRAZY awesome Love Shoot with Brooke & Auston, shot by the ever-talented Gina Maxine! I must admit, emailing back and forth with Brooke prior to the shoot made me nervous and excited to style this artsy and daring couple...she mentioned nude underwear, Lady Gaga, and lizards all in one sentence and my chin probably dropped! Needless to say I was completely thrilled to work with a fierce couple - they were willing to express themselves and be completely raw and honest in these photos. It turned out to be SO EASY to style a shoot featuring a couple that were so unbelievably authentic. I LOVED IT!

Brooke and Auston are both Cal Poly students, and chose the fabulous Poly Canyon location for their shoot. If you haven't been there...you MUST go. It's eerily amazing, has lots of great natural elements juxtaposed against cool architectural structures, and was perfect for photographing. Brooke also mentioned that she and Auston loved modern designs, bold colors (especially green), oddities, contrast, action shots & wanted to throw paint on each other. Can you say AMAZING?

Yes, Brooke totally climbed to the top of this massive structure in 4 inch high heels and a full length gown. Fearless? Indeed!

Ok, the photo below is definitely one of my favorite shots from the day - doesn't it scream Vampire/Twighlight?! Her make up and complexion are to die for (pun TOTALLY intended).

This shoot was invigorating and refreshing. I loooove working with great clients! Thank you so much, Auston & Brooke (and of course your pet Lizard) for being so much FUN! I hope you are as inspired by your photographs as I was by YOU!

Photography: Gina Maxine Photography
2nd Shooter: Kim Seidel Photography
Styling & Art Direction: Frenchie & Flea,
Make Up & Styling Assistance: Brooke Robinson
Hair: Frenchie & Flea
Location: Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, CA

Calling All Summer Brides!

2010-05-13T11:25:00.000-07:00

Sneak Peek - An artsy Love Shoot, complete with lizard!

2010-05-11T10:05:00.000-07:00

Here is a sneak peek of f&f's most recent styling project with Gina Maxine Photography. It was a Love Shoot with a crazy-awesome and artsy couple (Brooke & Auston) who loved to push the envelope (and who also brought along their pet lizard)! It was a TON of fun and I can't wait to share the rest of the photos with you!

Photography: Gina Maxine Photography
2nd Shooter: Kim Seidel Photography
Styling & Art Direction: Frenchie & Flea,
Make Up & Styling Assistance: Brooke Robinson
Hair: Frenchie & Flea
Location: Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, CA

Easy Salsa Recipe

2010-05-10T11:50:00.000-07:00

For Mother's Day I made my Mother-in-Law's favorite salsa recipe to take as a gift/appetizer. This is a SUPER easy recipe and most of the ingredients you can keep in your pantry to have on-hand. To dress it up as a hostess gift, use my favorite Weck Tulip Jar, a cute tag and some jute twine to tie it all together. Voila! Serve with your favorite tortilla chips...

Weck Jars are AWESOME! They come in great sizes and shapes. I loved the Tulip Shape I used because you just take off the lid and it's the perfect size for dipping right into! I purchased mine at Heath Ceramics in San Francisco, but they also sell them online here and here. I just love the metal clasps, don't you?

Hope all of you Momma's had a GREAT day and were loved and pampered by your kids and hubby's! Happy Monday!

Ballerinas in the City Part II

2010-05-05T09:38:00.000-07:00

Here are the final images from the Ballerinas in the City Shoot. First off, I would like to say happy birthday to Bianca! And I would just like to thank these girls for being SO wonderful to work with, especially when they had a HUGE ballet show they were preparing for (Michelle was the LEAD!). Finally, I must admit I am SO excited that Brittany is moving up to SF! You ladies were AMAZING!

Photography: Gina Maxine Photography
2nd Shooter: Kim Seidel Photography
Styling & Art Direction: Frenchie & Flea,
Make Up & Wardrobe Assistance: Brooke Robinson
Hair: Frenchie & Flea
Accessories: Untamed Petals
Location: Downtown San Luis Obispo, CA

New in the Shop...

2010-05-03T10:48:00.000-07:00

So I'm moving to a new flat in SF this month and I'm cleaning out my workspace! There are lots of new goodies in the shop, and I'll continue to add more all month long as I FINALLY force myself to take photos of all the crafty goodness I've been meaning to create and sell! From supplies like envelopes to packaging to tags and labels...even some vintage finds!

Kid's Shoot for Clementine Rose

2010-04-30T12:58:00.000-07:00

HAPPY FRIDAY! Didn't this week take forever to get through?! Well, I hope you are all doing something fun and relaxing this weekend!!! Here are some photos from Gina Maxine Photography of a kids shoot I styled for Clementine Rose - an online boutique for Moms & Babies/Kids. Enjoy the kiddos in all their cuteness!

For more photos check out Gina's blog post today!
HAVE A FABULOUS WEEKEND!

Happy Birthday f&f!

2010-04-29T14:32:00.000-07:00

Today (well, actually yesterday) marks F&F's 1st Birthday! I can't believe its already/only been 1 year! Soooo much has happened over the past 12 months, and this wonderful blog has captured it all. First of all, THANK YOU to all our readers, clients, followers & fans. We are so lucky to have such a fabulous support group, and we love to share with you and hear from you every day. We are SO inspired by your blogs and shops and creativity! As our brand and business grows and evolves, we will strive to give you fresh inspiration & ideas. There are some big projects on the horizon...and we cannot WAIT to share them with you!

Secondly, f&f is busy as can be (yay!)! So we are currently looking to expand our team with an intern/contributer. We haven't quite hammered down the job description or details, but if you are at all interested in being part of the f&f team, please email me!

THANK YOU, LOVELIES! We wish we could serve each of you a REAL cake cookie to celebrate!

{photo by Ellie Grover Photography}

Ballerinas in the City Part I - Michelle

2010-04-29T10:13:00.000-07:00

Here are few shots of Michelle from the Urban Ballerina Shoot F&F styled for Gina Maxine Photography. Isn't she beautiful? For more check out Gina's site today!

Annie's Senior Design Show - SUCCESS!

2010-04-27T12:28:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm back from San Diego where I attending my sister, Annie's, Senior Design Show! It was SUCH a great weekend and I'm beyond proud of my sis! She and I had so much fun putting the finishing touches on her installation...it was styled gorgeously and her work was FABULOUS! She is so talented, it's insane! Here are some pics we took before the show opened...

She made a beautiful coffee table book using the images from Gina Maxine and Frenchie & Flea's Ballerina in the Countryside photo shoot.

I LOVED the mugs she design for "Baker Brewhouse"

And my favorite pieces of all - custom cut grip tape and hand painted skateboard decks! Are these not beyond fantastic?! I can't wait to hire her to make one for our place!

I LOVED this coloring book she created. The illustrations inside were amazing - I see this being sold at Anthropologie!!!!

I helped whip together their BBQ Reception tablescapes with a punch bowl full of Otter Pops, kegs of Root Beer, and some mini cupcakes from Heavenly Cupcake in San Diego.

THE GRAND OPENING!!!!

So proud of you, sis!

Sneak Peek - Ballerinas in the City Shoot

2010-04-23T12:20:00.000-07:00

Here is a sneak peek of the shoot I did last weekend with Gina Maxine Photography. It was Part II of the Ballerina Series, and I can't wait to share more photos with you next week!
Happy Weekend! I'm off to San Diego for my sister's Senior Design Show!!!

Untamed Petals Spring Collection in Full Bloom

2010-04-22T10:26:00.000-07:00

Well, the much anticipated new line from Untamed Petals is finally HERE! Yep, you can shop to your heart's content in her new online shop, and drool over this amazing eye candy from her Spring/Summer 2010 Collection!

I have been fortunate enough to be able to help Amanda with her photo shoot and branding/graphic design, as well as use her fabulous pieces in the recent ballerina shoot I styled. I also adorned my entire wedding party in her one of a kind pieces! Needless to say, I'm a HUGE fan (can you tell?).

Amanda shared her inspiration for this collection with me:
"I was really inspired by all of the fresh colored floral silk prints I was seeing on the runways and in look books. The collection is feminine and romantic with a slight edge."

When I asked her what her absolute favorite piece was, she responded:
"My favorite piece is the full bloom blush sash. I see it on a wedding gown, with a pair of jean shorts with a tucked in white tee or as a sash on a vintage silk dress! I wanted all of my pieces to be really versatile so customers could wear them again and again."

Amanda's fashion philosophy is simple:
"I think the main thing for me is expressing your personal style by adding a bold accessory. It's such an easy and accessible way to make your look unique."

Are you swooning?!?! Make sure you check out her amazing feature on Ruffled Blog today as well! There are plenty more fabulous photos over there, as well as a GIVEAWAY and a Ruffled Reader's discount code so you can get to shopping at Untamed Petals! Spring is in full bloom, now its time to make your wardrobe reflect that! Happy shopping, lovelies!

Inspired by Chemistry

2010-04-20T16:46:00.000-07:00

Maybe it's because I just watched Seasons 1 & 2 of Breaking Bad (any readers out there fans? BRILLIANT - I tell ya!) or because I saw this post on See Saw today in my reader, but I'm really into vintage chemistry/science bottles, beakers & test tubes as decor. Don't you love these!?

All images (and lots of amazing vintage wares + photography) can be found at ethan ollie's etsy shop & flickr stream.
***
For a chemistry inspired wedding, check out this post from Amorology.
For a DIY Test Tube Vase tutorial from Design*Sponge, check out this post.
For a gorgeous science-inspired wedding photo shoot (seriously the tables are AMAZING) from Wiley Valentine, click here.

Spring Giveaway - WINNER!

2010-04-16T17:23:00.000-07:00

And the winner of the Liberty of London for Target Tote is.......DRUMROLL........

#60 Kellie!!!!

{winner chosen via random.org}

CONGRATULATIONS! Please email me directly with your shipping info and I'll send your lovely Liberty tote right along! ENJOY!

Happy weekend, readers!

Untamed Petals - OBSESSION

2010-04-14T17:00:00.000-07:00

Untamed Petals is about to launch her AMAZING Spring/Summer 2010 Line and a BRAND new website. This photo, a totally gorgeous teaser, was taken at the photo shoot I was lucky enough to help with last month in NYC. Seriously, people, get excited. This new stuff is LEGIT!

Yellow Love

2010-04-13T16:59:00.000-07:00

When in doubt, I turn to YELLOW. It is my most favorite of all favorite colors! Tell me, lovelies, what is YOUR go-to color?! Do you obsess over green or blue or pink or white like I do over yellow?!

{Yellow Converse Clad Wedding Party on Style Me Pretty; Image by Kate Webber}

{Yellow Chevron Striped Wall Coverings from Michelle of Lonny Magazine NYC Apt.; found on Decor8; photography by Patrick Cline}

{Michael Musser's Kitchen Re-Do found on Design*Sponge - I LOVE the butcher block counters!}

{An ADORABLY styled Love Shoot on JL Designs; photography by Gabrial Ryan}

{Yellow chair (and awesome kitchen sink!) found on These Favorite Things}

{Bright & airy blooms from Martha Stewart Magazine; found on Dress, Design & Decor}

{Yellow Wedding Booties - YES PLEASE - found on Ruffled; photography by Adam LeSage}

Spring Giveaway

2010-04-12T09:45:00.000-07:00

In case you didn't make it to Target to snatch up some of Liberty's AMAZING pieces, you're in luck! Today F&F is giving away OUR favorite piece from the Target Collection: The Poppy Tote! It's coated (aka waterproof - think oilcloth), the perfect size and shape for carrying a laptop, books & mags, or an iPad (if you are a lucky owner!), and the multi-colored Poppy floral print is so bright and FUN for Spring. Sure beat's the April Shower blues! Enter to win! You have until the end of the week (5pm PST on Friday the winner will be announced! SEE DETAILS BELOW).

ALSO, make sure you head over to In Honor of Design today! Anna was kind enough to feature F&F today...and if you aren't a follower of her lovely and inspiring blog, add her to your reader! F&F has a special offer for her readers over there for this week as well!!!

HAPPY MONDAY!

Giveaway Details...HOW TO ENTER TO WIN:
1. Follow F&F's Blog
2. Leave a Comment on this Post
3. Spread the word via Twitter or Facebook (and leave a comment telling us you did) for multiple entries and more chances to win!
WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN AT 5PM PST ON FRIDAY VIA RANDOM.ORG

Happy Early Weekend!

2010-04-08T12:54:00.000-07:00

Postcards & Pretties has posted the Ballerina Shoot today! We are tickled...thank you!

In other news, there are some BIG projects on the horizon here at f&f, including Part II of the Ballerina series! Next weekend we're gearing up for another day of shooting with the same lovely ladies - it should be fantastic! Stay tuned!
And please, enjoy your weekend. I am signing out today for a long 3-day weekend filled with Giants games, friends & family! My first weekend off in MONTHS! I cannot wait! See you Monday!

Love's Abloom!

2010-04-06T10:01:00.000-07:00

Spring has sprung and love is in the air! These engagement shoots in fields with yellow blooms and green grass are so REFRESHING! I loooove this time of year! Don't you?

{Images found on Forget Me Knot Weddings; photography by Sloan Photographers}

{Images by Ellie Grover Photography}

{Images by Christan P Photography}

Happy Opening Day!

2010-04-05T15:59:00.001-07:00

Well today marks the return of my favorite season of the year - BASEBALL SEASON!
Thought this adorable photo by Gina Maxine Photography was fitting. I styled this shoot...its for an AWESOME kids/maternity clothing e-boutique called Clementine Rose. More to come!

HAPPY OPENING DAY! Go Giants!

Ballerinas in the Countryside, PART II

2010-04-02T09:31:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday, friends! Here are more images from the GORGEOUS Ballerina Shoot. Again, I cannot express how fun it was imaging the sets & style for this shoot!

Thanks again, Brittany, Michelle & Bianca - Can't wait to work together again!
A special thanks to my mom & Carol of Old Willow Farm who helped me "Prop" this shoot, and again, thank you to Annie for your creative genius and to Amanda of Untamed Petals for providing the gorgeous blooms & sashes! All photos by the incredibly talented Gina Maxine Photography!

Spring Sponsors 2010

2010-03-31T10:29:00.001-07:00

The Details:
Banner Ad Size - 332 x 60 pixels
Sponsor Feature Post
Ads rotated weekly
Option to host a giveaway

Breakfast for Dinner

2010-03-30T14:26:00.000-07:00

Hello lovelies. Many apologies for being so MIA lately...its been HECTIC! One funny thing I notice about myself when I'm insanely busy is that I crave breakfast for dinner. I don't know why...but almost every night for the past 2 weeks I've either made pancakes or eggs! Which brings me to this random post on...pancake recipes I love! Strange? Well, if you try these out you won't think so!

First up: Oatmeal Cookie Pancakes from Joy the Baker:

Seriously these are delish!

Here's one I'm going to try this week...Cornmeal Molasses Pancakes from Joy the Baker:

And finally, from one of my favorite breakfast places in the country, Bubby's, their famous Sour Cream Griddlecakes Recipe. I am not kidding - these are HEAVEN on earth!

Pancakes are kind of awesome in the sense that you can add whatever you like to them to spice them up. All you need is a couple of pancake mixes on hand (if you aren't into making them from scratch) - I prefer Arrowhead Mills Buckwheat Pancake & Waffle Mix or Kodiak Cakes Frontier Flapjack & Waffle Mix.

My favorite thing to do is make "Protein Pancakes" (which I discovered in Scottsdale this month on a trip) which mix hi-protein granola into the batter and are stuffed with berries and bananas. AMAZING. I attempted to photograph my creation - however, it was one giant not-so-photogenic pancake (but it sure tasted FANTASTIC!). I even used fresh blackberries with a little agave nectar to make a fruit topping on the stove - delish!

{images 1&2 from: Joy the Baker, image 3 from terri tu}

Ballerinas in the Countryside, PART I

2010-03-25T11:00:00.000-07:00

Before I show you some more from the Ballerina Shoot...I would like to introduce you all to my sister, Annie. She is the newest creative member of the F&F team and was my right-hand gal on the shoot last weekend. This girl has insane talent and an eye for color, fashion & design that is out of this world! With experience at Anthropologie and Free People under her belt, she brought some serious creativity and style to this shoot!

The Ballerina Shoot in the countryside was beyond fabulous! The three girls, Michelle, Bianca & Brittany were gorgeous, wonderful to work with, and just plain awesome! Annie and I had a blast styling them from head to toe, they were great sports and totally into our vision. Gina, I mean, lets be honest here...her images are UNREAL. She totally captured the vibe of romantic and ethereal just beautifully. I still am in awe at how amazing her images turned out!
P.S. Can we please discuss how fantastic my new vintage bike looks in the image below? This is probably one of my favorite shots of the day...the composition, landscape, the bike, Bianca's look...SWOON!

Here is a look at one of the Mood Boards I created prior to the shoot. This one was particularly for texture, color and the actual fashion elements of the shoot. We were going for lots of soft textures: feathers, lace, tulle, etc. layered for depth...a muted color palette of romantic hues like purples, pinks, corals, peach, and grey. I also wanted to use Untamed Petals adornments as statement pieces that were oversized, whimsical and very Alice in Wonderland meets ballet.

Meet Brittany, Michelle & Bianca from the Ballet Theatre of San Luis Obispo:

These talented ladies will all be dancing in Coppélia on April 24-25 at the Performing Arts Center in San Luis Obispo. If you live on the Central Coast - this is a MUST-SEE!

The image above is probably one of my favorite scenes of the day. Annie and I had this idea of gypsy dancers...very bohemian...with an old trunk, lots of eclectic pillows, feathers and bird cages, vintage quilts...and somehow Bianca knew exactly how to work it sitting in this trunk! I just love the layers, colors, and the unexpected element of this look sitting on an old abandoned bridge.

MORE TO COME....check out Gina Maxine Photography for more images over the next several days and stay tuned for the same here on F&F!

Ballerinas in the Countryside Shoot Credits:
Art Direction, Hair + Makeup, Set Design & Styling by Frenchie & Flea
Photography by Gina Maxine Photography
Adornments & Accessories by Untamed Petals

Sneak Peek - A Ballerina Photo Shoot

2010-03-22T16:11:00.000-07:00

Well yesterdays shoot with Gina Maxine Photography was beyond successful!
My sister, Annie, and I had a blast trapsing around fields at the wee hours of the morning, creating & styling a whimsical and romantic "set" in nature for three GORGEOUS ballerinas!
I am so excited to be a part of Gina's Creative Team, she is insanely talented and this project was the PERFECT beginning to what I know will be an awesome partnership! Stay tuned for more!

P.S. Those are Untamed Petals adornments on the ladies...they were perfection for this shoot!

Inspired by...

2010-03-19T11:35:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday! It's been awhile since I've posted inspiration...but these engagement shots by Gina Maxine Photography were just the thing to leave you with for the weekend! This photographer, who, by the way, I'll be styling TWO shoots for this weekend, is BEYOND amazing!

Stay tuned for some awesome projects F&F will be working on with Gina.
And in the meantime, you must must must check out her website for more!

HAPPY WEEKEND!
{all images from Gina Maxine Photography}

WINNER: Amy Butler Giveaway by Small Grapes

2010-03-18T17:11:00.000-07:00

...drum roll please...

The winner of the Amy Butler fat quarter pack fabric giveaway is:

#9 - Aimee , who said "I like the Yard Park Fountains in Yellow. Perfect for my wedding!"

CONGRATULATIONS AIMEE!!!
And a HUGE thank you to Shannon of Small Grapes for this oh-so-lovely giveaway!
I LOVE your shop and will continue to buy fabric there for craft-loveliness!

{winner chosen by random.org; image from Small Grapes}

Brown Paper Packages Tied Up With Strings...

2010-03-17T11:40:00.000-07:00

Last night I packed up a very important wedding invitation suite for a bride! I love working with clients who opt for a little DIY action...basically I did the design, printing and ordering and send her a package filled with pieces to build her own invitations! It saves the client money, but still offers a one-of-a-kind design and some hands-on fun! PLUS - I loooove packaging supplies. LOVE!

I have these envelopes (and more) in the shop in packs of 10. I will add leftover supplies whenever I have them so YOU can have your own stationery and paper lovelies to craft and create handwritten notes and invitations at home!

Erin, if you're reading this, your package is on its way! I hope you get all your bridesmaids together for a girls night of crafting & wine!

Oh! P.S. HAPPY SAINT PATRICK'S DAY!

OH! P.P.S - Don't forget to enter to win Amy Butler Fabric complements of Small Grapes! Giveaway ends tomorrow at 5PM Pacific Standard time!

A Beautiful Idea: March 2010

2010-03-16T10:51:00.000-07:00

This months item for A Beautiful Idea is now in the shop! Last months Lace Tulle & Burlap Package Kit sold (thanks Untamed Petals!) and the money has been donated to World Vision!

For the next 30 days (or until sold out), Frenchie & Flea will be offering Hand Stamped Lace Floral Escort/Place Cards (in sets of 8)...

Color options include: Latte, Mustard Yellow & Peachy Cream (chocolate, moss & platinum also available!). This stamp is seriously adorable...dainty and vintage and PERFECT for a dinner party, shower, soiree or even a wedding! Hurry...there are only a few available this month!

If you are interested in donating directly to A Beautiful Idea, click here. There are still $944 to go to meet this month's goal! Also, make sure and check out all the other participating shops!

Thanks again to Evie at A Beautiful Idea for spearheading this WONDERFUL movement!

Back from NYC!

2010-03-15T11:29:00.000-07:00

{Photo from Integrity Studio}

I've been jet-setting around the U.S. the past two weeks...and now that I'm home, I have a lot of catching up to do! The NYC trip with Untamed Petals was a HUGE success! We worked all weekend on her new Spring collection's photo shoot, which, by the way was CRAZY awesome! I can't wait to share Amanda's talent and the fabulous photos that captured it all!

Happy Monday, lovelies! Don't forget to enter to win Amy Butler fabric from Small Grapes!

Also I'd like to give a shout out to the lovely blogs who have featured F&F, the Baby Shower and my Apartment Therapy house tour:
Love. Obsess. Inspire.
Ohdeeoh
Morning's Light
Inspired to Share
Apartment Therapy - Top House Tour!!!

GIVEAWAY: Amy Butler Fabric from Small Grapes!

2010-03-11T04:00:00.000-08:00

Today we are pleased to be hosting a lovely giveaway by Small Grapes - a fabulous Etsy shop which sells fabric and patterns...and where I purchased my Amy Butler Fabric from for the shower!

***

So let's meet the shop-owner, shall we? Meet Shannon:

My name is Shannon and I live near Seattle, Washington with my husband and our three children. I have a degree in Graphic Design but stayed home once our first daughter was born (long story short, I had preeclampsia and she was born at 28 weeks weighing 1lb. 12oz. She has right hemiplegia cerebral palsy).

{Bloom & Grow Fabric by Riley Blake}

On how her shop got its start:

I originally had a hand sewn goods shop on Etsy but when I discovered we were expecting our third child, I KNEW that there was no way I could keep sewing for customers and parent a new baby. So, I combined my love of fabric, design, and sewing into Small Grapes. It originally launched in July 2009 and has grown steadily since then.

{Retro Green Umbrella Fabric by Riley Blake}

Shannon's favorite listing in her shop:

My favorite shop item at the moment is this new fabric that just came in yesterday from Riley Blake called Retro Green Umbrellas. Maybe it is living near Seattle and having so much rain, but I love the greens and the umbrellas. It was just too perfect that I couldn't pass it up.

{Fresh Picked Pincushion Pattern by Heather Bailey}

What inspires Shannon:

I'm lucky to be able to work out of my home with three kids running around on acres of land within close proximity to the Puget Sound. I'm inspired by nature, by my children's different personalities, and by the water. I also spend far too much time online scouring crafting blogs...I love hand thrown ceramics, stained glass windows, and typography. I have a collection of tattered Moleskine journals chock full of sketches for quilts, clothing, handbags, and fabric lines.

{Amy Butler's Midwest Modern II Collection - Fat Quarter Pack}

So, in honor of the Kraft Letters I covered for the baby shower, Shannon offered to giveaway 1 Fat Quarter Pack of the Amy Butler Midwest Modern II fabric I used (pictured above)!!!!! Yes, that's right...if you win, you will receive:
Fat Quarter - Honeycomb in Sage
Fat Quarter - Park Fountains in Yellow
Fat Quarter - Optic Blossom in Olive
Fat Quarter - Martini in Blush
Fat Quarter - Trailing Cherries in Sand
= 1 1/4 Yards TOTAL

ENTER TO WIN:
Visit Small Grapes shop and leave a comment here with your favorite fabric she carries and how you would like to craft or sew with the giveaway prize!
Make sure you're a follower, too.

{If you want extra chances to win, spread the news on twitter or facebook.
Leave a comment for each thing you do & share the link in your comment!}

Giveaway ends on NEXT Thursday, March 18th at 5pm PST.
Winner will be announced on Friday, March 19th!

Baby Shower Project: Fabric Covered Kraft Letters

2010-03-10T09:00:00.000-08:00

Another project I did for the shower was covering kraft letters in matching Amy Butler fabric to spell out Baby Zenna's name. I had these on the present table, and they looked SO CUTE! And of course, they were also a gift for Zenna (I love how a lot of the things I could make to decorate for the shower would end serving a double purpose and decorate Zenna's nursery).

Here's what I used for this project:

Kraft Letters from Paper Source (you can order these online in either capital letters or lowercase letters. Note that a lot of the letters - like the lowercase "e" - can't stand up on their own, so you may have to hang them with ribbon or attach them to a wall).

A fat quarter pack of fabric in coordinating colors/prints. I ordered an Amy Butler Midwest Modern pack from Small Grapes on Etsy and had plenty to do 5 lowercase letters.

And to finish the edges I used 1" Grosgrain Ribbon in chocolate from Paper Source. I only needed about 8 yards (2 yards per letter) and there are 10 yards per roll. But any 1" ribbon would work!

The nice thing about using the Kraft Letters is you can cover them in ANYTHING you'd like! Fabric is definitely time consuming and labor intensive...but you can also use paper, scraps (decoupage), embellishments, rubber stamps. ribbons, trims, etc. and create a custom work of art that fits any style or theme!

Here is a link to the HOW TO guide on Paper Source's website...there are videos showing you what to do, and also a list of tools you can use to create amazing Kraft Letters! And they have instructions for covering the letters in glitter, here, on their blog.

P.S. Make sure to check out the shower, featured on ohdeeoh today!!!!!

Baby Shower DIY - Circle Garland with Stickers!

2010-03-09T10:44:00.000-08:00

How To: Circle Garlands made with Stickers!

I learned how to do this from the manager at my favorite store in the world: Paper Source! (I worked there over holiday just to be inspired, crafty, and have fun with fellow paper loving gals!) This garland is SO easy, because you use sticker labels instead of having to cut and sew or glue! Here are what you need:

2 1/2" Round Printable Labels
(Yes, that means you can PRINT on them before you make the garland if you want!!!!!) Each pack has 60 labels, so one pack will make 30 of the larger circles on a garland. To make about 5 8' garlands, I went through 4 packs of these.

1 1/4" Round Label Sheets
Each pack has 240 labels, so one pack makes 120 small circles. I only used one of these packs.

You can use any thin ribbon, twine or string. I used packaging string AND thin ribbon for mine. Just depends on what color and look you are going for....

Cut your string to the length you want. Then press string onto center of circle sticker...

...place same sized sticker onto other side (sticky sides together) to make a sandwich with the string running through the center. EASY AS THAT! Alternate small and large (I did small, large, small, large on half of my garlands and then TWO small, ONE large, etc. on the other half for some variation).

The finished product is a fabulous garland that is SO easy to make. It is time consuming, but definitely not difficult. You can hang them from the ceiling, in a door way, or on tables to add color and festivity to any space for any party!

A Birds & Butterflies Baby Shower for Zenna Reese!

2010-03-08T03:00:00.000-08:00

A Birds & Butterflies Baby Shower for my dear friend, Sue. This day was PERFECT! The weather was beautiful, the company was delightful, and celebrating Sue and her baby girl {on the way} Zenna Reese with lots of girlie goodness was just so wonderful!

Stay tuned this week for more, including vendors I love and DIY projects from the shower!

EVENT DETAILS:
Event Design & Styling: Frenchie & Flea
Photography: Ellie Grover Photography
Venue: Bistro 33 in Davis, CA
Flowers: F&F
Dessert Table: F&F
Fabric for Table Runners: Amy Butler
Name tags, Butterflies & Garland Supplies: Paper Source

Baby Shower: Sneak Peek

2010-03-05T03:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday, lovelies! In lieu of my usual round up, I am going to leave you with a sneak peek of the baby shower photos! I will post the whole she-bang on Monday! In the meantime, have a wonderful weekend (can you believe its MARCH?!)! I'm off on a "business trip" with my friend, Chelsey. See you Monday!

{image by the oh-so-wonderful Ellie Grover}

Workspace Makeover: THE FINISHED PRODUCT!

2010-03-04T13:45:00.000-08:00

Well, without further ado, here it is! My new kitchen nook / workspace! Its a small little space but its filled with inspiration and organized supplies for easy access and crafting time!

I bought all my white storage containers and files from The Container Store, the shelfing unit from IKEA (now only $69!). I used apothecary jars to hold my labels and paint brushes, and repurposed candle sticks (made by my friend Ellie) to hold my twine & string. I reused one some of my wedding decorations to hold cards and paper goodies I've collected...and I framed some Kraft paper and use drafting tape (easily removeable) to create inspiration boards that can change on a whim!

This table is something I found at the fabulous Alameda Flea Market the first time I went with Allegra. It's a vintage card table from London and is one of my favorite colors! I love that it can fold up if I need extra space too....oh ya, and it was only $40!

How cute are the Emerson Made flowers I won?!?!?! I'm mildly obsessed...

Make sure you check out our House Tour on Apartment Therapy today for more pics of our little city nest! The wonderful Jess Watson has taken the most fabulous photos of our home! THANK YOU JESS!

{all photos by Jess Watson}

Workspace Makeover: More Before Shots & A Preview!

2010-03-03T03:00:00.000-08:00

So tomorrow is the Big Reveal of my Workspace Makeover! Not only that, but our entire place will be featured on Apartment Therapy!! Crazy, right!? Well I have been styling and cleaning and organizing like a champ to get my workspace AND home in photo-ready condition. So make sure you check in tomorrow for all of the amazing photos (shot by photographer & blogger extraordinaire, Jess Watson).

In the meantime, here are some before shots of the space. And by before, I mean before I even moved in and cluttered it up!

It's basically my kitchen nook. You see, in SF, square footage is hard to come by (and expensive), and storage is basically nonexistent. So you have to get creative....

Above: BEFORE I moved in
Below: AFTER I moved in (and before the GIANT overhaul)

And finally, here is a sneak peek at the finished product....siiiiiigh. I am in love with this image, and there are MANY more to come tomorrow! Stay tuned!

{photo by Jess Watson of The Wife of an Artist and Apartment Therapy}

New in the Shop: Tea Party Invitations

2010-03-02T03:00:00.000-08:00

New in the shop this week: Tea Party Invitations! I designed these for a fabulous client, Kelly, who is hosting a bridal shower at the ADORABLE Crown & Crumpet Tea Salon in San Francisco. Inspired by the venue's decor (see below....beyond whimsical and CUUUTE!), we decided on pink & mint green! Now these invitations are available in the shop in sets of 25!

Here are some images from Crown & Crumpet....LOVE THIS PLACE!

{images from Crown & Crumpet}

I LOVE Emerson Made.

2010-03-01T11:50:00.000-08:00

So I was the LUCKY winner of the Emerson Made giveaway on A Lifestyle Thing I mentioned awhile back. I was THRILLED, to say the least, because I have been a HUGE fan of Emerson Made for awhile now. Her styling and photography is so inspiring...and her creations are simply delightful! So when I received my package I was super duper excited to open it. Of course I had to take pictures, because, as you'll see, Emerson Made puts a LOT of time and thought into her packaging. It is a total experience opening something from her...

Packaging and branding are EVERYTHING...and it this girl has her brand perfected! Everything from the ribbon to the business card to the sticker is cohesive, charming and just plain LOVELY. I was especially excited to see the little "extra" flower pin she attached to her business card. As if I hadn't already won enough goodies...I get a free pin too?! YAY!

Ok so this is the part I loved MOST. Emerson wrote the sweetest thank you card (YES A THANK YOU....because, you know, I WON this gift....and she still writes a thank you?!?!?! That is just class!) telling me a little more about whats to come with her company and thanking me for posting about the giveaway on F&F, etc. Handwritten thank you notes take time and thought, and it speaks volumes about her brand, company & character! I looove her!

And these are the fantastic pins I won: "I Adore You" 3 Pin Bouquet. OBSESSED! I wore them to the baby shower over the weekend and also had them proudly on display in a photo shoot I styled (images and details about THAT biggie to come later this week!). Seriously, this girl has her niche nailed down. Her creations are as amazing!

Thank you SO much to A Lifestyle Thing for hosting this giveaway! I have never been more excited to win something in my life! And to Emerson Made, your brand and company are just marvelous and I can't thank you enough for my prize.

Inspired by...

2010-02-26T03:00:00.000-08:00

For this week's round up, I only have a few GORGEOUS shots to share with you. There are many, many more images I want to show you, but I will save them for next week :) So in case you missed these beauties in the blogosphere this week....enjoy!

{A gorgeous Marin Headlands Engagement Sesh by Kate Harrison}

{A Green Wedding in Washington from Style Me Pretty; photos by Josh Kill}

{A MOST beautiful Elopement from The Bride's Cafe; photos by Simply Bloom Photography}

{And because this photo shoot was TOO fabulous to choose just one image....I had to post the entire thing from Once Wed. Photos by one of my faves: Jose Villa}

Birds & Butterflies Baby Girl Shower: Inspiration

2010-02-25T03:00:00.001-08:00

The baby shower is THIS weekend! I cannot wait to celebrate my dear friend Sue, and her little baby girl on the way! There will be some fabulous photos to come...I can't WAIT to share all the details! Here was a little bit of my inspiration for the overall event design...

{image credits: row 1 - F&F, Kara's Cupcakes. row 2 - Paper Source Butterflies, Amy Butler Fabric from Small Grapes, Bird Cage Decor from Ruffled. row 3 - Cherry Blossoms from Good Housekeeping, Pink Dessert Table by Amy Atlas from Papery & Cakery. row 4 - Vinyl Wall Decals from Love Mae, Love Bird Crib Set from Target}

Recycled Gift Wrap + New Felt Package Toppers!

2010-02-24T03:00:00.000-08:00

New this week in the shop: Felt Poofs + Gift Tags for your packages!
Perfect when paired with Kraft Paper Gift Bags, recycled grocery bags and newsprint (The Trader Joe's Fearless Flyer is great for this!)!

So, I LOVE Trader Joe's. LIKE LOVE THEM. But I now am obsessed with finding ways to reuse their Fearless Flyer! Why? It's hilarious! The graphics are kitschy, vintage and FUN, and the colors are red + blue which is a great combo (and goes perfectly with the LOVE & XOXO Tags). It's easy to find ways to wrap a lovely package without buying rolls of gift wrap!

The Kit Includes Wrapping for 2 Gifts:
1 Medium Sized Red Felt Poof/Bow
1 Small Aqua Felt Poof/Bow
1 Yard of Jute Twine
1 XOXO Yellow Houndstooth Gift Tag with Red Ribbon
1 LOVE Grey Houndstooth Gift Tag with Red Ribbon

These are perfect for favors or parties! Let me know if you would like to custom order colors, sizes or quantities. Happy Wrapping!

Mickey & Minnie Mouse Cupcakes

2010-02-23T03:00:00.000-08:00

Ok, so before I begin this post, here is my photography disclaimer: all these photos are taken with my iPhone because my camera was dead. Sorry for the weird quality on them!

I was asked to bring dessert to a Mickey & Minnie themed birthday party. It was a fitting theme, for a twin boy & girl, so I decided there HAD to be boy & girl cupcakes, right?!

I used the Cake Mix Doctor recipe for doctoring up yellow boxed mix. I made 12 cupcakes in cute liners (double-lined) in extra big cupcake liners that had cute prints on them. I also made 12 smaller cupcakes that I just baked in silicone liners (to be removed) to use for extra cake for the tops. As I was hunting around the web looking for cupcake inspiration, I discovered that you can achieve that perfect domed cupcake top WITHOUT adding piles of frosting! You just add a little extra cake dome with a dollop of frosting in between the layers and frost away! AMAZING TRICK!

Then I used pink Tootsie Rolls to form little bows (1 tootsie per bow....and yes, you use your hands and squish away), and York Peppermint Patties for the ears!

I frosted a "crumb layer" first and let them set in the fridge before frosting the final layer and attaching the ears (smoosh them in really well, and use a little extra frosting to fill in the gaps they make). I baked one Oreo cookie into each cupcake bottom for an extra surprise. (Just fill the liner a little, drop a cookie in and fill to cover it up!). Then I crushed the remainging cookies (sans creme filling) and sprinkled them onto the "boy" cupcakes.....and.....VOILAH!

Aren't they cute?! I didn't even do ears on all of them (I ran out of Peppermint Patties) so you could easily save time and just add ears to some and crumble Oreos onto the rest.
They were a big hit!!!!

A Beautiful Idea

2010-02-22T10:29:00.000-08:00

Have you all heard about A Beautiful Idea? Well, I recently signed up to be a part of this AMAZING movement, created by one of my favorite bloggers and etsy shop owners: Evie Schaffer. She, like many of us creatives, has struggled with the burning question of:

"How can I use my creativity for a bigger purpose...How can I help change the world?"

To help answer that question and fulfill her desire to HELP, Evie founded A Beautiful Idea. How does it work? Artists partner with A Beautiful Idea and create a product(s). They sell product(s) and donate the money to the current charity via A Beautiful Idea’s donation center.

It is really that simple.

If you are an artist, create. If you are an art lover, support A Beautiful Idea by buying our artists’ products, donating to our current charity, and spreading the word.

F&F has teamed up with A Beautiful Idea, and will be selling something special in the shop every month for charity. Currently, all proceeds are going to one of my FAVORITE charities: World Vision to provide relief in Haiti.

I have created a one of a kind Gift Wrap Kit, made with burlap, lace tulle, vintage ribbon and a kraft paper tag. Hand crafted and hand stamped with LOTS of love...this kit will make any package beautiful! It truly is the gift that keeps on giving...I hope somebody out there purchases it and uses it for someone extra special in their life!

If you have an Etsy Shop, I urge you to create something wonderful and team up with Evie and A Beautiful Project. And for all of you Etsy lovers/shoppers out there, here is a link to all the participating shops!

To purchase the Gift Wrap Kit, click here.

Vote: The Lovelies!

2010-02-19T11:00:00.000-08:00

Hi, lovely readers! Don't forget to vote for F&F on The Lovelies!!!!

We are in the TOP 10 in both the Wedding Blog & Paper Blog categories.
Thank you, Jess, for nominating us!

HAVE A LOOOOOVELY WEEKEND!

Inspired by...

2010-02-19T03:00:00.000-08:00

{Vintage China Party by Lulaland, found on Decor 8 }

{Vintage Citrus Photo Shoot by Salt Harbor Design found on Snippet & Ink, photos by Millie Hoffman}

{Blossom & Branch DIY Flower Party styled by Jillian Event Design, photos by Scott Clarke; found on 100 Layer Cake }

{DIY Garland from Repurposed Magazines by Stylish Events }

{A Woodsy, Organic Wedding found on Green Wedding Shoes , photos by Jasmine Star }

{Giant Clothespin Table Numbers found on Style Me Pretty, photos by Amy & Stuart}

{DIY Pinwheel Tutorial + Template on Simple Blueprint }

{ADORABLE Proposal (we LOVE Dani from Oh, Hello Friend!) on Utterly Engaged , photos by Laurel McConnell}

{Spirograph Themed Party found on Forget Me Knot Weddings , originally from Design*Sponge, photos by Jen Curtis}

{An Engagement Shoot with rain boots & puddle jumping by Ellie Grover Photography}

Workspace Makeover: Closet into Office!

2010-02-18T10:51:00.000-08:00

My mom sent me a link to Country Living Magazine's closet into office How-To! IF I had a closet (which I wish did!) this is TOTALLY what I would be doing for my work space re-do. I mean, isn't this PERFECTION!? For all the DIY tips and instructions, click here.

Oh, and just to let you know, that desk was "custom made" (as in totally EASY DIY) using two of these filing cabinets from Staples:

Plus a can of this AMAZING "Catalina Mist" spray paint (ok, is spray paint the best, or what?!). Custom-made furniture that is the perfect color? Easy as that!

{images from Country Living}

Now in the Shop: Birds Baby Shower Kits

2010-02-17T15:25:00.000-08:00

Remember the Sneak Peek of the Baby Shower I'm throwing this month? Well I now have these invites listed in the shop as Semi - DIY Invitation Kits!

Basically you can purchase a kit to make 10 that includes:
10 pre-cut fabric/felt birds plus wings
10 pre-sewn & stamped enclosure envelopes
10 adhesive labels
10 envelopes
10 pre-cut envelope liners
10 pre-cut card stock backings
and a custom designed print-ready invitation file to print and assemble at home
(all you need is a hot glue gun and a glue stick or tape runner!)

Also in the shop this week are Logo Design & Business Card Listings, in case you're in the market for an identity re-brand for your shop or business, OR if you just need to order some hi-quality business cards!

My Workspace: Before

2010-02-16T10:37:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I have taken on a BIG project...organizing a workspace in my home. Please don't judge me as I share with you this lovely before picture:

Yes. That WAS the area I stored all my craft, design, art, gift wrap, etc. supplies (and the spare toilet paper, and the recycling, ooooh, and where we sometimes hang our jeans to dry). The hus decided I would enjoy living in our home more if we actually took this nook by storm and really transformed it into an efficient and inspiring work space for me. THANK GOODNESS! So it's been a couple of months since the awful picture above was taken...and I have since collected some inspiration from Real Simple, Martha Stewart & Design Sponge...

I LOVE organized spaces. LOVE LOVE LOVE. I decided I wanted my work space to be both inspiring and colorful, yet clean and very, VERY organized. This would make it a productive, efficient and wonderful place to create.

I just love the giant chalkboard calendar above! It's useful, graphic, and inexpensive to create! I also am a HUGE fan of monochromatic (in color and style) containers to organize magazines, files, supplies, etc.

I especially like the creative bulletin board alternatives above. On the left, carpet squares give a totally fresh and textural finish to cork board squares. On the right, clipboards are covered in coordinating graphic papers. Both super easy and inexpensive ideas!

Since I live in the city, utilizing wall space will probably be a necessity. Above, I especially like the floor to ceiling shelving as both storage AND desk space. Smart space-saving technique (and proves you don't always need a giant, bulky desk!).

Stay tuned for more photos from my before & after creative space re-vamp!

{image sources: 1 & 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6, 7 & 8}

Happy Hearts Day!

2010-02-14T03:00:00.000-08:00

{image from here}

XOXO,
frenchie & flea

Inspired by...

2010-02-12T11:06:00.000-08:00

{A DIY Love Note Music Sheets Pinata found on Ruffled, photos by John Schnack}

{A Manhattan Wedding found on Style Me Pretty, photos by Punam Bean }

{A GORGEOUS Table Top Design for the NY Post by Sunday Suppers, photos by Karen Mordechai}

{A Vintage Love Story found on Green Wedding Shoes, photos by Katie Stoops}

{An Winter Wedding found on Style Me Pretty, photos by Jessica Claire}

{Typography Save the Dates found on Oh So Beautiful Paper , by Kate Erands}

{DIY Lace Doily Runner found on Erin Ever After, photos & DIY steps by Ashley Ann Photography}

{Vintage Gold & Green Wedding found on Ruffled , photos by Darker Shades of Brown }

{Peacock Wedding Bouquet found on Lolliblog, photo by Christie Cham }

{Eclectic Backyard Wedding found on Ruffled, photos by Green Apple Photography}

{And because I'm a sucker for Gillian from The Bachelor/ette, her engagement pics found on Inspired By This, photos by Wedded Bliss}

Have a LOVELY 3 Day Weekend and Valentines Day! LOVE LOVE LOVE!

Valentines Day Baking

2010-02-11T09:48:00.000-08:00

Last night, I did some Valentines Day baking & crafting. When the husband is away, the kitchen gets MESSY! I pulled out my Grammy's famous Sugar Cookie Recipe (it's actually passed down from her grandma...and it's delish!).

Here's what you will need for the cookies:

1 Cup Butter (2 Sticks) at room temperature
1 Large Egg
1 Cup Granulated Sugar
2 Cups All-Purpose Flour
1 tsp. Cream of Tartar
1 tsp. Vanilla
1/2 tsp. Baking Soda
1/4 tsp. Salt

Mix:
Preheat Oven to 350 Degrees.
Cream together butter and sugar in mixer.
Mix dry ingredients together in separate bowl.
Add egg & vanilla to the butter mixture, then slowly add dry ingredients until well mixed.
Chill dough for 1 hour.

Roll & Cut:
On floured surface, roll dough to about 1/8" thick.
Cut shapes.
*Make sure your dough is thin enough so that the shape doesn't spread out too much while baking*

Bake:
Place on parchment paper-lined baking sheet and bake in 350 degree oven until golden-brown (about 9 minutes).
*Make sure to watch cookies so they don't burn!*
Let cool on cookie sheet then move to cooling rack.

Powdered Sugar Icing:
1 Cup Sifted Powdered Sugar
1/2 tsp. Vanilla
Milk, Orange Juice or Water
Food Coloring
In a small mixing bowl, combine powdered sugar and vanilla. Stir in 1 Tbsp. water, milk or orange juice (I just used water). Stir in additional milk or orange juice, 1 tsp at a time, till icing is smooth and creamy (A little liquid goes a LONG way...if it gets too runny, just add more sugar). Now add food coloring - for the light pink I made it took one drop of red.
Makes about 1/2 cup.

Frost & Sprinkle:
Spread frosting onto cookies (don't worry if it drips down the sides, these will smooth out and look perfect no matter what!). If you aren't getting the glazed finish, your frosting might be slightly too thick.
Sprinkle immediately with sugar crystals and place cookies on rack to dry.

Allow to dry and harden on rack overnight (or even up to 24 hours) so that frosting is completely hard before packaging.

Package:
Cellophane Bags
Card Stock in white and color of choice
Lace Tulle (or just lace, tulle or any sheer fabric of your choice)
Ribbon (I used Martha Stewart's Valentine's Day Ribbon Collection)
Scissors
Stapler
Hot Glue Gun

First:
Cut white card stock to fit into cellophane bag.
Place into bag and gently place cookie on top.
Cut a piece of colored card stock and fabric in the same size (I measured the width of the cello bag + a quarter inch for the width and 3" height - so 1.5" high when folded over)

Next:
Fold Cello bag over (you may need to trim the excess bag so it doesn't show) and place card stock and fabric over it.
Staple twice to close.

Finish:
Tie a bow with ribbon of your choice and use a tiny hot glue dot to secure to fabric/paper and cover the staples.

And there you have it! Perfectly packaged, homemade sweet treat for Valentine's Day!
Use them for your kid's class, your friends, a party favor, or give to neighbors, family, etc. to share a little sugar with the people you LOVE the most!

Happy Birthday Annie!

2010-02-10T10:05:00.000-08:00

Today is my youngest sister, Annie's, birthday! We celebrated her special day over Sister's Weekend with a Baker's Dozen of cupcakes from Miette Patisserie & Confiserie (one of our favorite bakeries...thanks Mom for ordering them for us!!!).

Miette has the CUTEST branding, packaging and sweet treats EVER! We definitely LOVE the Old Fashioned cupcakes: bittersweet chocolate with marshmallow frosting! YUM!

Happy Birthday, Sis! Wish we were still all in the city stuffing our face with cupcakes and celebrating together! LOVE YOU!

Real Wedding: Giselle & Fernando

2010-02-09T03:00:00.000-08:00

Well, today is a very exciting day as we are posting our very first Real Wedding from a bride we just adore! Giselle hired Frenchie & Flea to create her wedding invitations months ago, and we are just thrilled to be able to share her wedding photos with you today!

Here are some details from the gorgeous bride...
It took place November 15, 2009, it was probably the most amazing Sunday ever! The Wedding took place at Coral Gables Congregational Church, in Coral Gables Florida at 3:30pm. The Reception took place at the Red Fish Grill in Coral Gables, an amazing restaurant overlooking Biscayne Bay.

My dress was from Ever After here in Coconut Grove Florida. The designer was Ulla-Maija Couture. I was all about the traditional wedding, from the wedding music in the Church to the veil in front all the way down the Aile! My veil was created by a designer from Ever After.

I had my Groomsman in black ties and my beautiful bridesmaids in long, flowing
Eggplant dresses by Jim Helm.

My Flowers were created by Gil Sosa. I wanted something simple. My arrangements were domes of white Hydrangeas, filled with White Roses, and Cymbidium Orchids. He had willows in the middle of the dome, with hanging orchids. Amazing!!!

The Reception was everything I had envisioned and more! My high school friend Ursula helped me tremendously. There aren't enough THANK YOU's I can ever express to her for what she did for me...She did a lot of my DIY projects including creating my centerpieces for the cocktail hour. I had a table with all of our grandparents photographs when they got married. I also did not want favors, so we donated to Take Hope Against Cancer, in memory of my Uncle and my husband's Grandfather who passed away from cancer. On our tables we had your fabulous Menus, with an Orchid and my donation cards with a bracelet from our charity.

The linens were from A Touch of Class, also here in Miami. My cake was created by Nineta, she is actually a friend of my aunts who does not do this professionally, and did one heck of a job!!!! My cake was exactly what I wanted!

For our cocktail music, we had a Cuban (one man) Band, play "old Cuban music" (both our families are Cuban)...mostly music from like the 50's-70's, things our parents really could enjoy! My grandparents loved every minute of him, too! After, my very talented brothers (one sings and the other plays the guitar) played a song for my husband and I. AND, we also had a DJ!

And finally, Maloman Photographers...I have no words....Stephan and Candace (his wife) are a talented amazing team, and they were the first thing I booked 2 days after my engagement! I love them!

WOW! I mean this traditional & classy affair was just gorgeous! Thank you so much, Giselle, for letting us share your special day with our reader! We loved working with you and wish you and Fernando all the best!

Sponsor Feature: Style Your Life

2010-02-08T09:01:00.000-08:00

Happy Monday! Hope you all had a fantastic Superbowl Sunday and weekend! Today, we are featuring another lovely sponsor: Style Your Life!

The author of the fabulous style blog, Jennifer, is a seasoned fashion and interior style guru! With over 17 years experience, she has created a business that puts her passion to work and helps others find and cultivate their own personal style!

When we asked Jennifer what motivated her to start her very own business, she replied:
I have always loved clothing and decorating. As long as I can remember people have asked me where I get my clothes, and if I would take them shopping. So I figured why not get paid to do it? I have the BEST job in the world. It is so rewarding to help someone redo their wardrobe or home. It really has a big positive emotional impact on their life.

Now #1 by jrosson featuring Old Navy dresses

Items in this set:
Old Navy Womens Cross-Front Jersey Maxi Dresses, $30
Michael Antonio Nicolas - Brown, $85
Hue Tights - footless tights, textured, and opaque tights by Hue, $13
Old Navy Womens Lightweight Open-Front Wraps, $27
A Girl's Must Haves

Style Your Life is filled with outfits, ideas, style tips, and inspiration for everyday! Where does Jennifer go for inspiration? She says:
One of my biggest inspirations is shopping (surprise surprise). I also LOVE LOVE LOVE magazines and blogs. I subscribe to so many or both. There are so many amazing blogs out there, an amazing amount of talent, in the blogosphere! And the beach, I love the beach it is my natural inspiration.

megan 2 c by jrosson featuring Old Navy

Items in this set:
Old Navy Womens Perfect V-Neck Sweaters, $20
Racerback Embroidered Tank Top - Aéropostale®, $15
Gap Hip slung easy flare pants, $50
Mossimo Supply Co. Odell Ballet Flats - Pewter, $13
Women: Women's Blue Flower-Drop Earrings - Turquoise, $8.50

Jennifer's favorite article of clothing?
A black dress, it is a classic stylish piece. It can be worn casually with boots and sandals...Professionally with a jacket, hosiery and pumps...Dressed up with strappy heels and costume jewelry. It can be worn on a date, to a brunch, dinner party, business meeting, holiday event....

Frenchie and Flea by jrosson featuring Pierre Dumas shoes

Items in this set:
Leading Role Dress - Anthropologie.com, $98
Pierre Dumas Nelly-1 High Sandals, $20
Tiffany & Co. | Browse $150 & Under | United States
Lovely Clusters - Beautiful Handmade Items

We asked Jennifer, how does one cultivate their own personal style, both in their home and in there wardrobe? And she gave us this great advice in response:
Even if you have nothing else to wear with it our don't know where to put it in your home, you'll figure it out. I think a lot of my clients buy things because they need them. For example you have house guests coming and you hate your bedding, you rush out and buy something you don't love because you have to have something. Of you are going to a shower and run out last minute and buy a dress. Instead buy a piece when you are out and you just love it. Then your home and closet will be full of what you love instead of a mish-mash of things that you aren't crazy about.

Navy Dress by jrosson featuring Old Navy

Items in this set:
Old Navy Womens Pleated Floral-Print Dresses, $30
Old Navy Womens Roll-Sleeve Jersey Boyfriend Cardigans, $17
Envy Deni 13 Camel Gold Buckle Strappy Riding Boot - $53.00 : Fashion..., $53
Oops a daisy ring, $75
Gorjana Flora Small Earring, $50

Finally, we asked Jennifer for the one piece of fashion advice she would give everyone and she gave us this tip:
Don't wear or buy a trend because it is popular. Only buy something if you love it and it looks amazing on you!

Thank you Jennifer! We look forward to gathering much more style advice on your blog!

Inspired by...

2010-02-05T03:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday, Lovelies!

FIRST...the WINNER of the Dreams of France Burlap Pillow is
#5 Nicole-Lynn from Seaside Smitten
CONGRATULATIONS!!
{winner chosen on random.org}

And now for the weekly inspiration...

{A Bird Themed Baby Shower found on Hostess with the Mostess, photos by Jeanna Hayes}

{A GORGEOUS Engagement Shoot found on Simple Blueprint, photos by Sloan Photographers}

{Spring Bouquets found on The Bride's Cafe, photos by Open Air Photography}

{An Orchard Love Shoot found on Style Me Pretty , by Amorology}

{Wedding of the Week on Southern Weddings, photos by Millie Holloman}

{A Bride's Wedding Book Programs found on Green Wedding Shoes, photos by Eric Schneider}

{Awesome Succulent Boutonniere's from a Hamptons wedding found on Ruffled , photos by Amelia Lyon}

{A DIY Photo Booth Article found on Green Wedding Shoes, photo by Critsey Rowe}

{A Ticket Save the Date by Mae Mae Paperie, calligraphy by Anne Pages }

{A Maui Wedding that is SO not cheesy tropical found on Green Wedding Shoes, photos by Kevin Chin}

Enjoy your weekend and Superbowl Sunday!

Emerson Made Giveaway

2010-02-04T09:44:00.000-08:00

In honor of Valentine's Day, one of my favorite blogs - A Lifestyle Thing - is hosting an Emerson Made giveaway! If you are like me, then you probably swoon over Emerson Made's gorgeous creations AND her photography & styling! So make sure you check it out!

{all images from Emerson Made}

First Annual Sisters Weekend in SF

2010-02-04T03:00:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow, my two younger sisters arrive in San Francisco for the FIRST annual Sister's Weekend! My Christmas gift to them this past year was a weekend together in the city, and it's FINALLY arrived!

Lots of fun plans are in the works including celebrating my youngest sister's birthday, some SERIOUS eating (because in our family, food is a number one priority, let's be honest), shopping, laughing and just plain sister time! The hus has been kicked out of the house, and it's a 100% boy-free zone for the next 48 hours. HECK. YES.

We will hopefully have lots of pics to share next week, including a trip to the Alameda Point Antiques & Collectibles Fair, dinner at our FAVE restaurant, Superbowl Sunday Funday, and maybe even some thrift store shopping, crafting/baking, or sightseeing fun! I CANNOT wait!

P.S. TODAY is the last day to enter the giveaway, so make sure you enter to WIN!!

Sneak Peek....A Baby Shower is in the Works!

2010-02-03T03:00:00.000-08:00

At the end of this month, I will be hosting my very first Baby Shower for my wonderful friend Sue! She's having a girl, and I'm tickled PINK (yep, pun intended) for this fabulous celebration of all things GIRL! Here is a sneak peek of the invitations I sent out.Stay tuned over the next few weeks for more details!

Oh, and don't forget!!

Tomorrow is the last day to enter the giveaway!!

Happy Love Month!

2010-02-02T03:00:00.000-08:00

Let LOVE MONTH begin! I have grown very fond of Valentines Day over the past few years...yes, the cynic is dying and the craftiness is growing! This year I have been filing away all the cute supplies and DIY's to share with you, because I truly think that handmade is the best, most heartfelt way to say I LOVE YOU. Here are some of my favorites thus far...

{A Whole Lotta Lovin Stamp Kit from Paperfinger - found on Paper Tastebuds}

{No, But Seriously, I REALLY Love You Stamp from Paperfinger - found on Paper Tastebuds}

{FREE Printable Valentine Garland from Whisker Graphics }

{Felt Valentines Pins Tutorial from The Purl Bee - found on Erin Ever After}

{Lacy Votive Holders Tutorial from Martha Stewart - found on Erin Ever After}

{Conversation Heart Cookies Recipe from Martha Stewart - found on Jolie Jolie }

Siiiiiiiiigh.
All I want to do right now is bake, and sew, and stamp, and CRAFT some valentines for my family and friends!
Happy Love Month!

Dreams of France + GIVEWAY & DISCOUNTS!

2010-02-01T08:30:00.000-08:00

Dreams of France.

Who doesn't dream of France?
Pastries & Romance....there's not a whole lot better in our book.
Since we won't be going there any time soon,
we drift off to France in our thoughts when we visit our Sponsor's store!

Dreams of France is full of romantic treasures that will make you feel as if you have landed in Europe without ever leaving your home.{Carte Postale Pillow Sham ~ $50.00}

Jackie, the owner of Dreams of France, started her shop a year ago this month. "I have always wanted to own a little shop and bring beautiful things in to share with people ~ things that I would love to have in my own home," Jackie shares.

We asked Jackie to tell us what inspires her with her store,
"I am inspired by all of the amazing, talented women I have met through blogging and all of the wonderful things they do. My children inspire me to be a better person and to see the world through fresh eyes. My husband inspires me with his patience, kindness and support of me and all my endeavors. And overall, I am inspired by the beauty that is all around me…especially now that spring is around the corner!"

We love her answer and I think many of you would to! Blogging is a world of inspiration as are the people we love that surround us.

{Tea Dyed Towel ~ $12.00}

We appreciate unique shops, artists, bloggers. We love when people cultivate their own style and stamp of authenticity. We asked Jackie to tell us what three things are unique about her and/or her store.
She said:
"The items I carry are largely made by hand by friends or other women with small businesses. I like to support individual artisans as much as possible.

My shop is very specific to it's theme of Dreams of France - I'm keeping it small and focused to things I really love. Most of what I carry, I believe, reflects a French feeling. I do "dream of France"…and I am lucky enough to get to go there this summer!

One of my favorite parts about having the shop is taking pictures. I'm learning as I go about photography and am really enjoying being able to share that as part of what you see on the site!"

{La Lumiere ~ now $19.00}

Lastly, we wanted Jackie to share some words of encouragement with you. Are you dreaming of starting a store or something that just has you a little...scared? In Jackie's words,
" Just do it!! Seriously, I don't know a ton about business, but I would say, stay true to a vision, start small and let it grow naturally. I love what I'm doing and I am thrilled with every order I get - it's a blessing to be able to do what you love to do! "

Well, because Jackie is SO awesome, she's hosting a giveaway here!
She is giving away 1 of her Madonna Burlap pillow covers pictured below + the insert for it!

{Madonna Burlap Pillow Cover ~ $30.00}

To enter to win
Visit Dreams of France and leave a comment here with your favorite item in her shop!
Make sure you're a follower, too.
If you want extra chances to win, spread the news on twitter or facebook.
Leave a comment for each thing you do & share the link in your comment!

Giveaway ends on Thursday, February 4 at 5pm PST.
Winner will be announced on Friday, February 5!

Oh, by the way, Jackie is even MORE awesome because she is offering a 10% discount to ALL of you through February 28, 2010!
Enter this coupon code and check out to save: FF210

Inspired by...

2010-01-29T03:00:00.000-08:00

First of all...the WINNER of the 2 Card sets is
#7 Anna from In Honor of Design
CONGRATULATIONS!!

And now, back to our scheduled program:

{A San Francisco Wedding found on Green Wedding Shoes, photos by Lilia Photography}

{Amazing Table Decor found on Once Wed, photos by Lilia Photography, Bride's Etsy Shop: Lilmissi}

{DIY Citrus Centerpieces on Pretty Good, for Project Wedding}

{Inspiration to Reality Shoot found on Pretty Good, photos by Jessamyn Harris}

{Vintage Indie Wedding with mismatched Reception Chairs found on Ruffled, photos by BVA Photo}

{Idaho Barn Wedding found on Once Wed, photos by Jesse Leake}

{Gilly Save the Dates by MaeMae Paperie}

{A Rainy Camp Wedding found on Green Wedding Shoes, photos by One Love Photo}

{A Dreamy Engagement Session found on Green Wedding Shoes, photos by Denise Bovee}

{A California Coast Wedding found on Green Wedding Shoes, photos by Jen Rodriguez}

{Gorgeous Natural + White Wedding found on follow studio, photos by Mint Photography}

{A Pink & Black Party Photo Shoot found on Snippet & Ink , photos by Meg Smith}

{DIY Icing Tip Place Card Holders found on Once Wed, by Ashley of Dolci Odille}

Anthropologie Inspiration into {Affordable Fashion} II

2010-01-28T03:00:00.000-08:00

I already mentioned I was obsessed with the current toffee & olive line from Anthropologie.

And I meant it.

I have been on a mission to redefine the outfits into affordable and realistic.

This week I accomplished that goal
(And bought the pieces to make the outfit I might add-VICTORY)
So here it is:

THE {Anthropologie Inspiration} Outfit
Total Cost from Head to Toe: $462.00
And my take on it....

Pintucked Tunic Top~$59.50
vs. the $88 Anthro top

Button Cuff Roll Up ~ $14.99
vs. $58 Anthro version

Schoolboy Khakis (in grey) ~ $14.99
vs $88 Anthro pants

Blush Chiffon Flower Necklace by Untamed Petals ~ $52.00

We'll leave the shoes up to you!

FYI: If you have never shopped Gap Online before or have never used this code
GAP20
Enter it at check out and receive 20% off your entire order!
(Can't say we don't love ya!)

And in other F&F news....
F&F would love to be sponsored by your shop, blog, or business this February!

We are also accepting Feature Applications for upcoming posts.
Please contact us for more information.

OH! Don't forget--
it's the last day to enter the giveaway

We can't wait to hear from you!

Cooking with Trader Joe's

2010-01-27T03:00:00.000-08:00

During a recent visit with my cousin I discovered that Trader Joe's has a cookbook
(Well, two actually, however this is the one I really investigated){amazon for $19.77}

I realize some of you may not have a Trader Joe's near you or maybe you haven't even heard of Trader Joe's but I have to say that as a working Mom, Trader Joe's is many things dear to me.
a) Its easy!
I can buy frozen meals that are completely ready aside from a short amount of time with a frying pan.
b) It's healthy!
Many organic and fresh products means healthy.
c) It's affordable.

When I saw that Tracy had the cookbook, I became mildly obessed with scouring the pages.
I also took the time to write some down so I could test them before making the investment in the book.

I've tried cooking from cookbooks but I always need 50 ingredients that end up going bad before I can use them in another recipe. Not only have the recipes I have tried been AWE-SOME they have had minimal ingredients, have been beyond easy, and they make me feel both healthy & successful.
I'm pretty sure I just struck culinary gold!

Here are 2 recipes I tried and L O V E D.
You give them a shot and decide if this cookbook could make you feel like a brand new woman :)

Pasta Alla Checca
8 oz linguine pasta
1 8 oz container refrigerated Fresh Burschetta Sauce
1/4 cup grated parm cheese
1 8 oz container Ciliegine, fresh mozarella balls
1/4 cup chopped basil

1. Cook pasta
2. add burschetta and parm cheese. mix well to coat pasta evenly
3. Stir in mozzarella balls gently. Top with basil and serve

Chipotle Turkey Chili
1 1/4 lb ground turkey
1 medium onion chopped
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 tsp ground cumin
1 28 oz can diced tomatoes
15 oz can organic black beans
3/4 cup refried black beans
1/2 cup chipotle salsa
2 tbsp barbecure sauce
cheese

1. heat olive oil in medium saucepan over med heat. cook onions 5 mins. add ground turkey and cook until brown. add ground cumin and cook 1 min longer
2. add remaining ingredients. refried beans need to be broken up and stirred into the chili and dissolved.
3. when chili comes to a boil, lower heat and simmer for 10 mins.
4. garnish with cheese and serve.

Giveaway: {LOVE NOTES by F&F}

2010-01-26T03:00:00.000-08:00

Love Notes
Aren't they the best?
Whether we get one from a friend, family member, or our respective husbands, nothing quite beats a snail mail, hand written note.
(It's sadly a dying art.)

{You + Me ~ $8.50}

Well, we want to encourage YOU to send love notes to those you, well, love this year
and one of you will win these two sets pictured here!
Just leave a comment + make sure you're a follower to enter to win.
We will announce our winner on Thursday evening (1/28) and ship them to you in time to have plenty of time to send your love notes out!

{notebook pages - $9.50}

While only one person will win the two sets above, we have a special going for everyone!
Click the Buy 2 Get 1 Free link above and you can purchase the listing that includes
1 set of the Notebook Pages cards
1 set of the You + Me cards
1 set of your choice
(your choice includes picking another Notebook Pages set or another You + Me set)
all for $18.00 + shipping

So, what are you waiting for!
Enter to win your free Valentine's Day Cards.
(if you feel like sharing the giveaway on twitter, facebook, or blog, let us know for a bonus entry but it's not required!)

Anthropologie Inspiration into {Affordable Fashion}

2010-01-25T03:00:00.001-08:00

THE Outfit: Anthropologie
Total Cost from Head to Toe: $645.00
I covet this outfit in a dangerous way.
But seriously...buying most of these pieces is NEVER going to happen.
So, lets get down to business and make this outfit realistic.

Top from Gap: $29.50
apply the code SPRING20 and receive 20% off online

Treasured Trinkets Necklace from Anthropologie $48
Because this necklace is incredibly unique

Sweater from Urban Outfitters for $38.00
No, it doesn't have the stripes (boo!) but it's $230 less!

Ballet Flats $39.95
because I just don't do heels

So, my recreation outfit ends up at $155.45 (sans jeans)

And if you've been coveting Anthro's current toffee & olive outfit line like I have
check out Jenn's blog where she breaks down another Anthropologie outfit and creates an affordable alternative!

Weekly Inspiration

2010-01-22T03:00:00.000-08:00

{Love Shoot featuring accessories by Untamed Petals found on Green Wedding Shoes - photos by Caroline Tran}

{Shortbread Buttons Photo Tutorial found on forty-sixth at grace - ADORABLE recipe download here}

{Real Wedding in Illinois found on C&B Daily - photos by Jagger Photography}

{Real Wedding in Sonoma found on 100 Layer Cake - photos by Anna Kuperberg}

{Vintage Americana Engagement Session found on Ruffled - photos by Shannon Nicole Smith}

{FANTASTIC Invitation Suite found on You Are My Fave - by Erin Jang}

{A sweet Garden Wedding found on Green Wedding Shoes - photos by Poser:Image}

{DIY "Will You Be My Bridesmaid?" Cards found on Project Wedding - by Wedding Chicks}

It's Raining in Cali!

2010-01-21T12:00:00.000-08:00

Rain

I realize rain isn't that big of a deal to all of you who deal with snow,
but bear with us
because rain is our big deal!

If you're Emily, you're sloshing in the streets of SF on your way to work all wet.
If you're me, you battle keeping a toddler trapped inside.

So- I am on a hunt for rain boots.
Of course I found these that I love...but hate the price
Piperlime for $70.00

then I found an alternative which I can totally stomach
(although wish I had the others ;)

Target for $24.99

Who wants to go puddle jumping with me?