As days become longer and the weather slowly turns a little warmer (for some of us!) our eyes and hearts are set on spring!  And what is more ‘spring’ than florals?!?  We know, we know, “Florals?  For spring? Ground breaking.” as spoken from Miranda in The Devil Wears Prada.  But this year designers really have taken florals to a whole new level—specifically in the floral pant.  We remember when these floral pants (with stirrups!) were a hit ages ago and they are back this spring/summer in a major way!

H&M Floral Pant

1) Floral Pant – H&M 2) Floral Jacquard Swirls High Waist Skinny Jean – Reiss

Not yet ready to dive deep into floral skinnies??  That’s okay, you can tread lightly with these gorgeous floral patterned dresses, tops, skirts and accessories!

LOFT Floral Dress

Macy’s Rachel Roy Top & Skirt – available at select stores and Macys.com

Rebecca Minkoff Floral Print Dress

1) Blue Floral Tube Romper – Delias 2) Glitter Floral Card – Papyrus 3) Floral Stretchy Bracelet – Forever 21 4) Vivienne by Vivianne Tam Floral Print Dress – Dillard’s 5) Bucket Floral Shirt (for him!) – French Connection 6) Field of Flowers Wildflower Blossom Shampoo, Shower Gel & Bubble Bath – Philosophy

Create your own florals: Spring planting tips!

• Check your planting zone (you can Google an easy to read map) to see which flowers will grow best in your area’s weather.
• You’ll need great tools to get started (pruners, digging shovel, garden rake, garden hose and/or watering can).
• Spring is the best time to plant perennials so that they can get acclimated to their surroundings before the summer heat.
• Plant according to instructions provided by your local nursery.
• Plant when the soil and air are warm.
• Don’t over-rake your garden (this causes the soil to become too thin).
• Lightly water your soil one hour before planting.
• Add mulch to your garden to help avoid weeds, and to keep your soil and roots cool.
• Make sure there is enough drainage for your garden.

 Here’s to a colorful spring; both in your closet & your yard!

Kelli and Lisa

My daughter’s birthday falls on the day after Christmas, and you can probably imagine how difficult it is celebrating amid all the holiday chaos. We decided early on that we’d certainly make a big deal—with gifts and cake and all that—on her actual December birthday, but we actually hold a birthday party for her with all her friends later or March or April to avoid the holiday craziness. Ideally, it’s great to have a birthday in the summer, but we can’t push the party off that far.

As it turns out, we have a lot of family birthdays in January and February, so her party always gets scheduled later in the year. We’ve had a few of her birthday parties planned at the house, but you’re never sure how the weather will be in the spring. Last year, it rained heavily on the day of the party, so I had to make sure that I had enough indoor-appropriate activities for the girls to do.

Here are some fun and inexpensive ideas for indoor birthday party themes that we’ve either done or experienced. Of course you can do these outside, too—they’re perfect for any time of year!

Tea Party

Encourage everyone to wear their most fancy dress at this party for girls. Serve herb or fruit-based tea, juice, cookies, and little tea sandwiches with kid-friendly filling like strawberry jam and cream cheese, or peanut butter (or other nut and seed butters if you’re concerned about allergies. Try sunflower seed butter—it’s good.) Serve mini cupcakes instead of a big birthday cake.

You can decorate a tea party table with a nice tablecloth, flowers, and elegant paper napkins and plates for easy cleanup. Of course dolls, teddy bears, and other stuffed animals are welcome, too. Traditional party games like Pin the Tail on the Donkey and Hot Potato can round out the fun.

Paper Airplane Party

Aviation-themed decorations and activities make this a fun party for everyone. Have plenty of paper on hand for guests to make their own paper airplane creations. The classic paper airplane shape is fine, but you can find patterns and instructions for all kinds of different planes on the Web or at the library.

Make markers, crayons, and stickers available for everyone to personalize their aviation creations. When everyone’s done, it’s time to fly the planes. Race them and try different stunts and tricks.

Ice Cream Social

Who doesn’t like ice cream? My daughter attended a party like this last fall for one of her kindergarten friends. Offer up several different kinds of ice cream and toppings like hot fudge, fruit, whipped cream, crushed Oreos, and maraschino cherries. Serve the ice cream to your guests and pass around the toppings in little bowls. The birthday boy or girl gets a sundae with a candle in it. Delicious and fun!

I hope these ideas inspire you to hold your own fun birthday party, whether it’s indoors or out.

With a lack of {fash-inspiration} tailing from the Golden Globes and SAG Awards of 2012, it finally all went down in a BIG way this past weekend at the 2012 Grammy Awards. Leave it to the wack-a-doo musicans to {bling it on}, take risks, and leave us countless viewers feeling like we finally got our moneys worth… !

BLACK AND GOLD:

Certainly nothing new on the color wheel, but on this red carpet, it was the accentuation of gold sharp accessories that brought this trend home into 2012 futuristic territory. This is all we have been asking for! Take something we know that works: THEN give it a 2012 spin! Thanks to thin laser cut gold jewelry in bold shapes, this effortless pairing of lady’s most crutch of a tone and world’s most coveted metal can confidently hold hands again and skip into 2012 as the most popular duo in town.

“Twinzies!!” RIHANNA (in Giorgio Armani) and GWYNETH PALTROW (in Stella McCartney)

ALICIA KEYS (in Alexandre Vauthier)

GIULIANA RANCIC (in Georges Chakra)

ICE’D OUT CUT OUTS:

It was by mere miracle that metallic sequins have found a way to reinvent themselves for 2012. By end of 2011, The Jersey Shore female cast made it quite clear to the world that sequin dresses had been banned to society and only allowed on their cast members. If you didn’t get the memo in your highly reputable local newspaper, it took only one short viewing of The Jersey Shore to understand why the ill-fated trend was…ill-fated.

Until, that is, the gods of creativity shinned down on the Grammy’s of 2012… and shockingly reinterpreted the very same ill-fated moment into a new era of imagination. As I call it, the Ice’d Out Cut Out! Sequins line futuristic shoulders while skin peaks from geometric cut-outs!

TAYLOR SWIFT (in Zuhair Murad)

JESSIE J (in Julian Macdonald)

 KELLY ROWLAND (in Alberta Ferretti)

The leading ladies have spoken. They’ve made it clear. Musicians creatively dictate fashion! 

xoxo,

elshane

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is in full swing! And while we can’t all be in the front row at some of the hottest shows, we can still find Fashion Week inspiration all around us. We took to our local malls to find our own inspiration. What better way to be inspired than great window displays?! Consider this your front row seat!

Since their sole responsibility is to draw you into the store- like a fashion show, window displays have one shot at a great first impression. Consider us impressed!

Nordstrom is drawing us in with their spring fashions. With shorts, wedges, platform sandals, floral patterns and rich colors right around the corner, Nordies is getting us ready to put a little spring in our step! In case you can’t read the ad lib in the background…”He said will you text me later? She said, I would but I might chip my polish.” We’ll have to remember that one!

Here’s some more eye candy courtesy of Nordstrom…

We love that these displays are taking things to a bold level. With a mixture of swimsuit styling, hot colors and boho-chic, these looks will leave you dressed to impress for every occasion!

Forever 21 is all about color blocking with their spring window displays. And let’s not forget about oxfords…in a variety of colors. Just one of the many fabulous trends that has us excited for spring!

Ann Taylor takes their own stance on bright colors and bold patterns. Buttoning things up a bit, these looks are focused on the working woman. After all, if the world is your runway, then that includes the office!

If you missed out on Fashion Week this year like we did, we hope these displays fulfilled your fashion inspiration needs! There are so many great trends for spring in stores now and we can’t wait to see the fall trends that hit runways this week!

Work your runway,

Kelli & Lisa

When it comes to Valentine’s Day, everyone loves a sweet treat, especially when it involves chocolate. These decadent, gooey, baked brownie cups are as fun to make as they are delicious to eat, and of course the kids can pitch in in the kitchen and help make them, too!

We found some cute heart-shaped ramekins that are absolutely perfect for baking and serving these brownie cups—and are totally appropriate for Valentine’s Day. This dessert has the rich chocolate flavor of your favorite fudge brownie. The top has a chewy crust that gives way to a rich, dense, pudding-like interior.

Make sure you serve these while still warm, preferably topped with a dusting of powdered sugar; although if you wanted to go all-out you can top it with some vanilla ice cream, but we think they’re rich enough on their own.

Ingredients

• 4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 stick unsalted butter
• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• ½ cup cocoa powder
• 4 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup sugar
• Powdered sugar for dusting

Directions

Preheat your oven to 350º. On the lower rack, place a baking pan half-filled with water.

In a medium bowl, place chocolate chips and butter. Heat in the microwave for a minute on high to melt. If not completely melted, cook for another 20–30 seconds. Set aside and let cool a little.

Sift together all dry ingredients into a mixing bowl, except sugar. Set aside.

Beat the eggs and sugar together in an electric mixer fitted with a wire whisk attachment, beat the eggs and vanilla until frothy and light. Add the sugar and continue to beat until fluffy.

Stir in the chocolate and butter mixture, then fold in the dry ingredients. Pour into ramekins—you’ll be able to fill 4 to 6, depending on the size.

Place ramekins in the water-filled baking pan already in the the oven. The water should come up about halfway up the sides of the ramekins.

Bake for 30 minutes or until brownie cups have risen up above the tops of the ramekins and the tops are cracked. The tops should be firm to the touch.

Let brownie cups cool for 5–10 minutes. Dust with powdered sugar and serve.

I might be the utmost qualified ladylove to touch in on this subject; I cry at every Zales commercial ever aired.

The elshane motto of a brighter life is woven stems from catering {lewks} for specific celebrations, and Valentine’s Day is high up on the mega list of favorite holidays to play dress-me-up.

And why is this night different from all other nights, we ask? Because on this night, we dress for our significant other(s) (it’s 2012, peoples!), or the imagination of one(s). Trends are left in the dust of classic sex appeal. Edginess may have gotten you the date, but your inner {Sofia Vergara} is paying the bill tonight…

(Jennifer Behr for DVF turban; DVF maxi; vintage necklaces and handbag; TopShop boots)

****

Table For Two…

Steak and Martinis? A dress, of course, is required. Red, of course, is required. Leave the cliché comments at the babysitter’s door. Tonight you are dressing for the ultimate date night of 2012. You are your best self: the dress, the hair, the makeup, the shoes. Leave no step behind. Take the diamonds out of the safe. Bat those lashes and deserve that second drink without a peep…

“Roughing It” with Ham Sammies? A more low-key dinner out is often preferred by most Valentine-goers because of the clockwork overpriced holiday menus. {Ru-uude!} Doesn’t mean your wardrobe should reflect that change of sassy pace. On a night like Valentine’s Day, the fantasy of romance is between you and your partner– there is no one else in the room tonight! Stand out with a body-con pencil skirt and low cut printed top. Add a bright heel to keep your partner’s eye wandering…from head to toe.

Posing as Chef Betty? Nothing says female empowerment like a home cooked meal! Light candles, dim the lights, and serve up your famous Saucy Special in a dramatic non-formal maxi dress (chiffon, silk, or cotton). And, don’t forget the heels! If you are bringing the restaurant “home” into the kitchen, keep all restaurant rules in play tonight. Last time I was in a restaurant shoe-less was, well, last week in Tokyo, Japan… So unless you’re searing sea bass and slicing sashimi, stay stiletto strong!

The Brooding Bunch? For every whimsical Sally running through daisy gardens with effervescent fervor, there is a crew of {hit the beat, DJ!} To All My Single Ladies! who will gather together this evening and reflect on bad dates, celebrating their fabulousity! {You go gurl!} Forget red and black: go bold! This is your time to celebrate yourself: go Green {with envy} for your untouchable swagger cool. GAP and Joe’s Jeans make green denim that skinny-fy any leg and add a winter zaa-zaa-zoorific to a snowy or shiny backdrop. Bring the look home with a wildly entertaining top and rewarding accessories.

And what will I be wearing? I’m going Chef Betty on this holy night. Meaning… while my Beef Tenderloin Tips and Truffle Mac n’ Cheese are a-roastin’, I’ll be doing a swift oil-proof rapid quickfire change into a beachy chiffon pink snow leopard maxi and tough chick booties. Hair long and wavy, heavy on the eyelash, and strong on the ’07 Malbac.

Ambiance and all smiles.

xoxo,

elshane

Valentine’s Day is hands down one of our favorite holidays. Who doesn’t love celebrating love?!  But sometimes searching for the perfect gift can make you just go… blank.  Well, we’re here to help give you some tips and inspiration!

Valentine’s Day is definitely one of those times when you want to put in the extra effort to make your gift really thoughtful and unique—this always shows that special someone how much you adore them!  Our fav way to make our valentines feel like we’ve gone the extra mile is by giving two part gifts.  Don’t just take your date to dinner, go above and beyond and buy her a dress to wear to dinner too!  And that photo book you put together for him, add on a helicopter or boat tour; something fun to add to the memory book!

Dress: French Connection Ribbon Knit Sleeveless Dress, Beach Bag: Rebecca Minkoff, Striped Canvas Diamond Tote, Cover-Up: Splendid Carnival Cover Up, Straw Fedora: Reiss Weston Straw Hat, Round Dice: Z Gallerie

Other combinations we love:

• Memory book with a helicopter ride
• Flowers with Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb Parfum
• A new pair of shoes and dance lessons
• Humidor and a night out to a cigar bar
• Set of wine glasses and a day trip wine tasting
• Scented candles and a cooking class for two

1) Rebecca Minkoff Best Friends iPhone Case Duo 2) Benefit Benetint Rose Lip & Cheek Stain 3) Reiss Leaf Detail Stone Ring 4) West Elm Felt LOVE heart ornament 5) World Market Pink Velvet Cupcake Mix 6) Philosophy Sweet Talk High-Gloss, High Flavor Candy Hearts Lip Shine

Let us know what you’re doing to win spouse of the year this Valentine’s Day!  Now go out and spread some love!

xo

Kelli & Lisa

In our home, the kids love to make their own greeting cards to give out on birthdays and holidays. Valentine’s Day is of course no exception, and this year we created cute and classy heart cards using homemade stamps cut out from vegetables.

Yes that’s right: vegetables. A russet potato, in fact, although you can use other dense and smooth-fleshed veggies like turnips or large carrots. If you can cut a design into it, you can use it!

This card project is really easy and fun, and the kids think it’s neat that they’re using something they usually eat for dinner to create a craft.

For this project, we gathered up:

• 2 or 3 potatoes
• Assorted small heart-shaped cookie cutters
• A sharp paring knife
• White and colored paper
• Paint in assorted colors
• White glue
• Foam craft brushes
• Glitter

To create your potato stamp, cut a potato in half cross-wise, so you have two halves, each with a round end. Push a heart-shaped cookie cutter into the flat round surface of the potato half. Make sure it goes in at least half way so you can get a good heart shape that stands out.

Leave the cookie cutter in place, and, with the paring knife, cut away the potato around the outside of the heart. Leaving the cookie cutter there will assure that you don’t cut through your heart shape. When you’re done, you’ll have a heart standing out from the potato, as in the accompanying photo. Needless to say, these steps should be done by grownups.

Now, you can either cut the heart stamp off the potato (which makes it easier for little fingers to grip) or hold on to the potato half and use the whole thing as the stamp.

Dip a brush into the paint of your choice and lightly brush paint onto the heart shape, then press it onto the paper to make colorful hearts. Make sure you give it a little pressure to thoroughly apply the paint. Alternatively, you can brush the stamp with some white glue, stamp the paper, and then sprinkle with glitter for a beautiful glittery heart.

Let the kids be creative and use their imaginations to create their own unique cards. It may take a little practice to get the technique down, but once you figure it out it’s fun and the cards are really beautiful.

Dear Mirror,

I’m so tired of my earthy eyeshadow, rouge blush, and mauve lips. The makeup consultant at my department store beauty counter says these are my only colors. So, gasp! I cannot change my colors. I cannot alter my routine! I cannot dare to follow the beauty trends of the 2012 runways! Not me! No way!

Sincerely,

Stuck in my Dried Out Mascara Tube

***

Tears… The saddest Dear Mirror entry I’ve ever read.

Dear all Stuck in my Dried Out Mascara Tube-rs out there,

Hypnotized in a beauty routine? Plah-lease! If everyone had  just one beauty look that worked for her, wouldn’t actresses have the same “face” on everyday? Wouldn’t designer runways display the same beauty trends, season after season? Need one more analogy? Thanks. Staying on top of beauty trends is maja importante!!

For this installation of Beauty Supply, I present the perfect face for a paparazzi flash… The Cat Eye with the bold Red Lip… Sounds like the next Dr. Seuss book!

The Modern Cat Eye: Can’t remember the last day I left the house without my cat eye rolling deep. Sharp, quick, swift movements angling my upper eyelid towards my temple. Gorgi-lady alert!

1. Start with a clean, dry eyelid. Apply primer to the lid, followed by a sheer, nude base eyeshadow. {I like Stila Hydrating Primer}

2. Close the eye and lift eyebrow to reduce your skin around your eye from wrinkling together and causing uneven application.

3. Apply a strong, steady line directly above the upper lash line, working your pencil from inside out. {I like NARS powder liner} ** Pro tip: Liners come in many forms: Start with a liquid liner for a clean, sharp line. A powder line is slightly chicer, but takes some practice!

4. When you reach the outer corner of your eye, drag the line diagonally upward towards your temple, tapering the up-tick to a fine point. {This step gets REALLY fun once you’re experienced}. It’s an art!

5. Repeat step 3 to darken the sharp line. Avoid repeating step 4 if your hand is not yet steady– the up-tick of the liner is the most noticed part of the look, so a sharp, fine, unaltered line is key.

6. Take a pointed Q-Tip with Vaseline {world’s most friendly eye makeup remover} to shape up any mistakes.

7. Apply liquid or powder foundation to the face and neck. Follow with very light blush. *Note, this is a good step to do after the eyes. That way, if you make a mistake on your Cat Eye, you can wash your face without guilt. {I like Stila One Step bronzer}

8. Finish the face with mascara and a bold red lip with liner. But, make sure you preview your hue! Red lipsticks come in both orange tones and blue tones. Each gals unique complexion is best fit for one of these shades, but not the other. I’m an orange-red lip kinda gal! {I like Givenchy and Tom Ford lipsticks}

Both liners are Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil

Eye wear alert! For those four-eyes out there {me! me!}, a cat eye is the perfect makeup choice. This accentuates your eyes while keeping magnifying eyeshadow on the lowdown!

Fashionite alert! Color your cat eyes in your favorite new hue. Urban Decay is the king of colored liners!

xoxo,

elshane

It’s officially February, which means two things…we’ll find out tomorrow if we’ll be whipping out our sandals or keeping on our Uggs and, more importantly, it’s the month of love and time to show the people around you just how much they mean to you!

With most gift giving holidays, it’s the thought that counts. We especially feel that way about Valentine’s Day. The smallest, most thoughtful gesture will go a long way with your loved ones. And while most people focus on their significant others, kids and families, we like using this holiday to show our appreciation to co-workers, teachers, neighbors, clients, etc…

Some of our favorite small gestures:

• You nailed it, Valentine- nail polish
• Sealed with a kiss!- lip gloss
• Have a sweet Valentine’s Day!- bottled sweet tea
• I mustache you a question, will you be my valentine?- lollipop with a mustache on the stick
• I’m bananas for you!- candy bananas with a monkey made from paper
• I have a crush on you!- bottles of Crush soda
• I’m diggin’ you!- cellophane bag filled with M&M’s with a sand box shovel
• You rock!- bag of Pop Rocks

If you’re in charge of snacks for your office or kids’ school on Valentine’s Day, heart shaped ice cream sandwiches are the perfect touch. Simply buy several boxes of sandwiches and use a heart shaped cookie cutter to create heart shaped sandwiches.  Next, dip the edges in heart sprinkles.  Now you’re ready to spread the love!  You’ll definitely win their hearts over with this one.

You have two weeks left, so no excuses for making a last minute trip to the store. Remember, it’s the thought that counts so make it REALLY count!

We’ll have more Valentine’s Day ideas for you next Wednesday, so make sure to stop back by!

Sealed with a kiss,

Kelli & Lisa