It is so nice to work with a great group of vendors on a photo shoot & see such lovely photos & write up on the blogs!  This week a Lace & Film Wedding Ideas photoshoot was featured on Ruffled blog and it is so lovely.  I love how it is a little vintage modern and not rustic!  The blacks and whites used in the stationery really popped and coordinated well with the vintage cameras, film canisters and reels.  It was perfect for this Los Angeles photo shoot.  Here are a couple of images – but check out the blog for the inspiration shoot and the diy posts on the escort & place cards, photo table runner and hanging light bulb chandelier.

Event Venue: Monk Space / Wedding Photographer: Krista Mason / Event Designer: Gianna SanFilippo of Chic Celebrations / Wedding Flowers: Heavenly Blooms / Wedding Cupcakes: Cupcakes Couture / Furniture Rentals: Found Vintage Rentals / Flatware, China, Glassware: Casa de Perrin / Wedding Invitations: AzulSahara / Calligraphy: The Left Handed Calligrapher

It is cold and rainy here (which I love personally), but I was thinking about my spring events coming up and thought I would finally sit down and share this wonderful event with you!  It was such a joy to work with Heidi of Zenadia Design on the calligraphy for the envelopes, menu, place cards, table numbers, and event signs for this beautiful San Ysidro Ranch Birthday party!  Everything was letter pressed and had a pink peony theme.  I addressed the invitations on an angle in the Talia script and a darker pink ink.  The result was stunning.

photo by Zenadi Design

Kacie Jean Photography provided the rest of the images from the event.  I could not be more thankful for receiving them!

This is the gorgeous centerpieces (and table numbers) as well as a shot of the room during dinner.  Love it!

Here you can see the menu and wine menu sign – lovely in pink!

My favorite part of the whole evening was the cupcake and candy table.  All pink themed with a ton of different cupcake flavors (I think there were 7!).  I Also loved the peony candy tags for a pop of white in all that pink.  And isn’t the hearth gorgeous?  I’m thinking someone can come and do mine like that all year round :-)

You may have also seen this on Oh So Beautiful Paper back in July (yes, I am that far behind on sharing) – Thanks Nole for sharing our work!

A few months ago my husband and I were invited to a first birthday party.  The parents asked for the guests to bring books for the birthday girl’s library collection.  I picked Kitten’s First Full Moon.  A caldecott winner with lovely illustrations and a cute little story, a book that I might have purchased for myself too :-)

To partner with the book, I decided to make some bookplates for for her.  I love how they turned out, simple and still young feeling with out being childish.

It’s hot, we are moving.
I want this straw to be ice cold delivering my water.
image via Design Crush and The Kitchen
Available at Always Brilliant for $8.99/pack of 4

Okay, my internet was down yesterday so todays post is full of the things I think are essential to hosting any party regarding your food needs. Most of it can be found at Macy’s or at Al-Clad

I love every Al-clad product out there, the serving platters are NEW!!!! (I have only seen them at Macy’s though) and the cheese board is NEW!!! as well (fanantics, time to add to the collection). The fondue pot is fun and fabulous with it’s removable ceramic dish for easy clean up and the coffee urn is to pretty to pass up for large gatherings.

Now, I love the Al-Clad chafing dish (how can you not except for the $600+ price tag); so for those of us not made out of money trees I included my next favorite the Cuisinart (available at Macy’s on-line). It is a real chafing dish, not a warmer and has the clean lines a serving dish should.

Hope you enjoy the “essentials” from today, tomorrow I think we will be looking at table decor so get ready!

Nicole

Just a little something if you need help getting through a day full of fun and family. I want to thank The Hostess With The Mostess for this one.

Ginger Snap Cocktail
Submitted By:
{HWTM} thebar.com

Servings:1

Ingredients:
• .75 oz. Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum
• .5 oz. ginger brandy
• 4 oz. eggnog
• 1 ginger snap (optional)

Directions:
• Add Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum, ginger brandy, and eggnog in blender
• Blend to desired consistency and pour into glass
• Garnish with ginger snap for dunking if desired

{recipe courtesy of thebar.com}

Today I brushed off my “tis the season” hat and went forth to bring some good cheer. Only to get dirty in the red tinsel. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE donating my time and supplies to a good cause, unfortunately sometimes I think about the supplies a bit late in the game and the get refused. Now, I know I should not take this to heart and think that my items are being rejected and getting their helpful hearts broken, but sometimes it can be rough to continue forward in the quest of lending a helping hand when they get rejected repeatedly. This is my problem, I did not plan.
So today, two days before the month long holiday season begins; I encourage you to plan for your giving this year. If you want to do something great and do not want to feel like you were left in Santa’s dust; make your arrangements early. You will be successful and your beneficiaries will also have good tidings. Otherwise you will be left with a 30 pound turkey in your freezer with no place to go.

Nicole

Well, the website has gone live and I now get to start blogging about the business. We shall see what comes of it.
Visit me at www.thelefthandedcalligrapher.com!

Nicole