Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Image by Chocolate Creative Design

May your bellies be full of turkey..

and

your hearts be filled with family and friends!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Chocolate Therapy #146

Print by Oh My Deer at Etsy

a New York State of Mind...

Image by Tomek R.

Some may have left their heart in San Francisco

but I...

I am in a perpetual New York State of Mind...

Having lived there, worked there and loved there..

New York City will forever be in my veins..

It has made me who I am today..

and

as Miss Bradshaw so eloquently put it..

 "If you can only have one great love,

then the City just may be mine"

So when Red Envelope came knock knock knocking on my door to collaborate on a UTTERLY FABULOUS contest that just so happened to take place at The Empire State Building..

This NYC girl couldn't possibly say no...

Having lived a couple years a block away from the Empire State Building and having walked past it at least 4 times a day to get to work..

I am definitely quite familiar with this Art Deco beauty...

Forget Paris..

NYC is THE most romantic city I have ever known... 

So...

The thought of being able to get married atop the Empire State Building on Valentine's Day 2014..

Makes me weak in the knees..

So all you brides and grooms out there...

you have ONLY until December 5th

to submit a creative proposal detailing your personal love story for the chance to have your dream wedding atop

the Empire State Building.

Thanks to the folks over at Red Envelope and 

The Empire State Building..

Someone's dream could actually come true!!

So if you won..

what would your dream wedding be?

Personally...
I would be inspired by this grand deco dame..

Images from The Empire State Pinterest

Mix those gorgeous GOLDEN architectural details

with

a bit of BLUSHING bride

and you have magic...

Table Setting:Tinywater Photography at Style me Pretty

Dress: Maxine Gown at BHLDN Champagne image: Kristyn Hogan at 100 Layer Cake

Boutonniere image: Aaron Delesie at Martha Stewart

Bouquet: Clare Day Flowers & Ameris at 100 Layer Cake

Cake: Jan Kish at Brides.com Ceremony image by Crista Elyce

Love Poems by Pablo Neruda at BHLDN

But that's not all folks!!!
Red Envelope has an amazing WEDDING GIFTS page to die for...
It makes me want to get married ALL over again...

 Start a Kitchen with Animal Wood Cutting Boards
Keep a Ring with Initial Valets
Host a Party with the Glass Dome Serving Tray
Grow a Tree with the Tree Growing Kit
Have a Picnic with the Bicycle Wine Rack
Save a Memory in the Personalized Leather Album

So before you fill up on turkey and settle in for a LONG winter's nap..
Enter the  
Red Envelope & Empire State Building
LOVE ABOVE ALL contest..
Who knows...
you too could forever have a New York State of Mind..
 

Tuesday Typeface...Mug it..

Limited Edition AND Golden...

What could be better than these Monogram Mugs from Anthropologie??

a little glitter to start your week...

I'm afraid I have hopped on the golden bus when it comes to decorating the home and the holidays...

This metal Antique Bloom wreath from Terrain is absolute perfection...

Golden, whimsical and will only get better with age..

Sounds like someone I know..

Just in case you need a bit more sunshine...

Terrain has these FABULOUS Gilded Floating Candles..

They could turn any turkey into a magical one..

Velvet, Chocolate and Soap...

 

YUP..

It's that time of year again...

 the

Velvet Mill's Open Studios and Holiday Show!

Miss Moira of Faire Ivy Soap and I will be in the Chocolate Creative Design studio this Friday November 22nd from 5-8pm

with bells on our toes and glitter everywhere!!

Food from Zest, Wine from Saltwater Farm Vineyard, Beer from Beer'd and a Mill teaming with artists..

What more could one want to kick off the holiday season?!!

Hope to see you there!!

Chocolate Therapy #145

Image by KUSHANDWIZDOM

Tuesday Typeface...Stop it...

A delicious bottle of Merlot and one of these lovelies would make any Hostess for Thanksgiving..

Thankful!!

Alphabet Bottle Stoppers at Pottery Barn

a little glitter to start your week....

This is from one of my absolute FAVORITE photoshoots EVER

with

THE most talented ladies EVER!!

Styling & Art Direction : Sarah Crawford, Valentine

Image: Heidi Murphy, White Loft Studio

Flowers: Becca Olcott, Petal Floral Design

Paper: Lucinda Wesson, Chocolate Creative Design

 Why not add a little glitter to your Thanksgiving table this year?!

 How AMAZING would these Gold Glitter Teaspoons from Leif look next to the perfect slice of pumpkin pie?!!!

Chocolate Therapy #144

Print by Little Minnow Designs on Etsy

Tuesday Typeface...Glow...

It's time to talk Turkey...

Hostess Gift..

or perhaps...

Stocking Stuffers???

Heck..
I got the Restoration Hardware gift catalog before Halloween...
so this Turkey is starting early!

Mercury Glass Alphabet Votive Cups at Pottery Barn

Ladies in Waiting...

Image by the69th

We ALL have those days, weeks, months and sometimes even years when absolutely nothing goes our way...

It can literally stop you in your tracks..

and

at some point..

you might want to throw in the towel..

call it a day..

drown your sorrows in ice cream..

or

my personal favorite..

hide under the covers..

I've had 3 weeks of this..

I am partial to blame..

I come up with these crazy ideas for my clients and it's up to me to actually produce them..

Yes, failure is part of the creative process..

but..

in this particular instance..

I am thinking the universe had other plans for me..

I am not a quitter..

In fact..

I am so stubborn that

sometimes I need to just give up once in awhile...

Just ask the Tall One..

I can't help it..

It's the lioness in me..

So I choose to persevere..

I'm not saying that I didn't throw anything 

or

pull a few strands of hair out..

I just won't give up..

This morning was no exception..

rainy, blustery, damp day that it was..

got into my bones and a little voice said..

give up..

give up...

but then I walked Mr. G around the yard for our billionth time..

what did I see??

Images by Chocolate Creative Design

I saw my Ladies...

Lady Rose,

Lady Geranium,

Lady Snapdragon,

Lady Phlox,

Lady Verbena

&

Lady Impatiens

all smiling at me..

All whispering..

Don't Give Up..

Don't Give Up...

How could I not be inspired...

Mid November and THEY are persevering...

So..

I choose to..

NOT GIVE UP!!

Chocolate Therapy #143

Image via behappyme

Tuesday Typeface..Knock Knock...

Sadly, we don't get any Trick or Treaters knock knock knocking...

BUT

the holidays are rapidly approaching

so it's definitely time to finally dress up our door!!

Monogram DoorKnockers at Anthropologie

a little glitter to start your week...

Perfection!

a little soutache here..

a whole lot of glitter there..

Twinkling at Twilight Dress at Modcloth