tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6630693829980806122012-02-16T05:28:38.475-05:00Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.comBlogger841100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-29182909624733959862012-02-11T10:25:00.002-05:002012-02-12T21:38:45.034-05:00

Ever seen those cute paper party balls hanging from the ceiling at an event? Paper party balls easily transform a space into a celebratory venue and aren't as standard as let's say balloons. If you purchase paper party balls at the store they will run about $5 each. Here's a way to make your own party balls and the materials should come out to about $1 each! You can make smaller ones to put on

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-43995685131814087672011-10-30T22:25:00.000-04:002011-10-30T22:25:23.332-04:00

Happy Halloween from Caroline's Pink Envelope!

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-17278139388853415892011-10-16T20:36:00.002-04:002011-10-16T20:40:36.704-04:00

After a weekend apple picking in Vermont, it was time to bake something with my loot! Instead of a pie this year, I decided to cheat and just make an easy apple crisp. I got the recipe from a very special Vermont grandmother :) It was almost as great as my apple pie and it took a quarter of the time! Why not try to make this very simple and delicious seasonal dessert for yourself. Go on and try,

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-16936772307064913672011-08-01T19:26:00.007-04:002011-08-01T19:26:00.137-04:00

I’ve always loved the look of lined envelopes but I‘ve never known how to do it until now. I received a pretty card in the mail with a gorgeous lined envelope and I decided that my cards deserve lined envelopes too! To teach myself how to do it, I headed over to Paper Source in Brooklyn. The sale girls are great about teaching me new projects and showing me what supplies I’ll need. I purchased a

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-56959543629025355912011-07-28T19:07:00.004-04:002011-07-28T19:17:21.608-04:00

Oh my goodness, I am almost embarrased to post this recipe because it's kind of Sandra-Lee-esque, BUT it was so yummy and so darn easy that I have to share it with my little working Marthas out there! I took a recipe that I found online and skipped half the steps to create this super easy recipe. No baking working ladies haha!! These fresh creamy tarts look so pretty and taste just as sweet!

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-29521766416623740082011-07-07T08:10:00.005-04:002011-07-07T08:24:13.516-04:00

How many times have you been in a store and seen a home decor item such as a pillow and purchased it only to bring it home and realize that it doesn't quite match the colors that are already in your room? Shoot this can be so annoying when you are tryng to decorate a room using multiple fabrics and you want everything to blend nicely. Unless you are purchasing your entire living room from page 4

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-71652306523947363692011-07-04T08:00:00.001-04:002011-07-04T08:00:02.462-04:00

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-42198366713315686532011-07-01T10:30:00.001-04:002011-07-01T10:57:51.982-04:00

What could be sweeter than a diaper cake for a mom to be? Traditional diaper cakes are made using dozens of pins to hold the diapers in place, as if these moms don't have enough to do! Here is an easy way to create a beautiful and easy to disassemble diaper cake for that special mom to be!  1) This may seem redundant but find out what diapers the mom to be prefers. Some ladies are picky these

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-29468004561037679922011-06-28T10:52:00.001-04:002011-07-01T10:57:01.158-04:00

 Looking for an excuse to send a note in the mail? Look no further because it's summertime!  The very best cards to receive are those that are unexpected, so take the time to send a special note just to say "Happy Summer" to someone you haven't seen in a while. Grandparents would love something like this! Happy Summer everyone!

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-10334290406210824162011-05-03T22:44:00.007-04:002011-05-03T22:56:23.069-04:00

I recently co-hosted a baby shower for my sister and made cupcake party favors for the guests. I started with my infamous cupcakes in a pink frosting with white nonperils. (She's obviously having a girl!) I ran out of my usual solo cupcake holder boxes and so I hurried over to the box store in Gramercy and bought a dozen plain brown small craft boxes. Shoot these weren't as cute as the ones I

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-84822714791407194502010-12-24T10:07:00.000-05:002011-05-03T22:46:00.470-04:00

I am reposting my most popular post ffrom 2009 "Footprints of Santa" Enjoy! For those of you lucky enough to have little believers around, I thought of some clever ideas to keep Santa's footprints alive! -Most of you do this but bake cookies for Santa and leave carrots for the reindeer, if Santa comes, there should only be crumbs left on Christmas morning! -Sprinkle some of the ashes from the

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-17780863902794317342010-12-23T16:14:00.001-05:002010-12-24T11:34:50.597-05:00

In August I attended my cousin Lindsey's wedding. It was a beautful beach wedding and starfish was a theme in the decor. There were starfish everywhere, the bridesmaids even wore starfish necklaces! My aunt who is also very crafty decided to use starfish to hold up the place cards. She positioned the starfish popping out of the sand holding each guests name with their table number. It was really

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-7284853752854014972010-12-22T16:29:00.001-05:002010-12-23T16:33:28.967-05:00

Here are some of my Christmas cards this year!

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-69545546025190783812010-11-30T17:53:00.000-05:002010-11-30T17:53:37.473-05:00

I made these darling preppy ornaments based on inspiration I got from a Lilly Pulitzer designed Christmas tree. It was covered with lots of a adorable tiny Lilly shift ornaments and I thought it was the cutest thing I'd ever seen! I searched for the Lilly ornaments on the web and they were pretty pricey so I decided to make them on my own. I bought inexpensive scrap fabric from the craft store

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-25765307291349747262010-11-30T17:44:00.002-05:002010-11-30T18:05:27.964-05:00

Christmas is a crafty girls dream. There is lots of beautiful inspiration around and many reasons to create meaningful gifts and festive decor. This year I decided to sew stockings to match my apartment. Since I've been on sewing kick I figured this would be the perfect Christmas project. I chose a winter plaid fabric that wasn't too typically Christmas. (no red in it) The stockings were so easy

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-74371083084488347242010-11-30T17:18:00.001-05:002010-11-30T17:20:05.484-05:00

Have I been busy or what? To all of my readers out there I sincerely apologize for my absence these past fews weeks. While I haven't been blogging, I certainly have been crafting! Here are some comfy and pretty pillows I've made recently for friends and family. Pillows are the easiest place to start when teaching yourself how to sew. They are SO inexpensive to create yet tend to cost so much

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-57841518322287433722010-10-17T19:05:00.000-04:002010-10-17T19:05:02.008-04:00

Last weekend I went apple picking in Vermont. It was such a fun activity! I mean I really can't remember the last time I felt so young. It was like being in Disney World haha! Anyway, I picked tons of apples, some big and some small but all northern spies as they are called. When I got back to the city I searched through a ton of apple pie recipes online. If I was going to take on a pie, which I

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-29346320182464543932010-08-05T21:21:00.004-04:002010-08-05T21:28:44.068-04:00

Here are some pretty curtains I made for my friend Liz!Here are some of my tips for designing curtains: -If your windows are large and deep, try using a tension rod. Long panels can over power a room with large windows.-Tension rods should sit half way between the distance between the window and the wall. -If using a decorative rod, hang it higher above the window and wider than the window width

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-84174329924032016542010-08-02T18:32:00.003-04:002010-08-02T18:58:07.707-04:00

No, I am NOT passing along my infamous cupcake recipies, hahaha! However I AM posting a picture of a porcelian cupcake stand that I own filled with my delicious vanilla cupcakes. How pretty is this piece for entertaining? Whenever I host a party, I make my cupcakes for dessert and display them as decoration on this delicate three tiered stand. Behind the pretty cupcake display are little

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-70069524840616556012010-08-01T18:36:00.000-04:002010-08-02T18:44:58.267-04:00

Here is an engagement card I just made for a friend.The inside text reads: "Your Turn!"I just love this card. I mean seriously, could this card be any cuter?!!Congratulations to my dear friend Christine! xo

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-44435402562604330312010-07-10T20:29:00.004-04:002010-07-11T20:05:52.563-04:00

When I originally started this blog I was writing just for myself. I had recently shut down a cupcake catering business that became too difficult to run alone and I felt a creative void in my life. I started to fill my time with small art projects, random as many of them may seem, and I suddenly started writing about them... I didn't publish my blog for 6 months after starting it because I was

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-79443825350636897392010-06-27T20:31:00.003-04:002010-06-27T20:35:49.283-04:00

I just had to share a photograph of my open shelving solution in my bathroom. Open shelves can easily bring clutter into a room so figure out a way to display attractive items while concealing unattractive items. Shelves can be a wonderful focal point in a room if items are arranged properly. Try using baskets to hide items or even create a little custom curtain as I have done using a small

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-49686269263222791332010-06-27T20:13:00.007-04:002010-06-27T20:33:11.796-04:00

I recently made a trip to M and J Trimmings in New York City in search of special ribbon for invitations for a bridal shower I helped plan. This store has virtually every type of ribbon that you could possibly desire and they also carry hundreds of styles of trim for sewing projects. While I was purchasing the ribbon for the invitations, I came across some pretty white cotton ruffle trim. It was

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-45775869242627198142010-06-13T15:35:00.000-04:002010-06-13T15:35:52.669-04:00

I was out in East Hampton again this weekend and I couldn't help but stop by a yard sale at our neighbor's house. I went over a little late by yard sale standards (the early birds usually get all of the good stuff) but I scored with a silver tray that I snagged for only $1! The nice thing about going late to yard sales is that people are basically giving away their stuff at the end. The tray was

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-20577316204989372612010-06-11T00:22:00.003-04:002010-06-11T00:26:37.199-04:00

I can't help myself from blogging about my new silver trays. I just love the look of pretty silver and antique pieces are my absolute favorite. I guess every girl has a little grandma in her, haha! I have been eyeing two gorgeous (and tarnished) sterling silver trays in an antique shop on my Upper East Side street. Last weekend I decided to make a move on them. After a weekend of bargaining,

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-8424824503458697462010-05-31T19:55:00.001-04:002010-05-31T19:56:38.417-04:00

I spent a lovely Memorial Day in East Hampton and while I was in town, I passed by a cute little monogram shop with a variety of monogrammed items. In the window I noticed a monogrammed mirror that I knew I could replicate when I got home. I figured that my glass etching technique would work on a mirrored surface as well. I got to work right away after arriving back to the city. I cut out my

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-90107933486413229002010-05-27T20:16:00.000-04:002010-05-31T20:17:13.953-04:00

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-83032508121013301902010-05-09T10:45:00.000-04:002010-05-09T10:45:19.057-04:00

Happy Mother's Day to all of the wonderful moms out there. This weekend I traveled home to spend time with my mother. Whenever I come home, I walk around our house and see if I notice any changes. I always find something new. This weekend, I decided to make my own changes to the house by sewing, yes sewing my mom some simple valances for the breakfast nook. We headed over to the fabric store and

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-79382514183449584792010-04-10T15:14:00.001-04:002010-04-12T15:50:11.840-04:00

In addition to my previous post on Chandelier Heaven, there's another way to bring the light of a chandelier into your space. I framed this photograph of a beautiful shabby chic chandelier from a decorating book I own. Hung above a sweet shelf, this picture actually sparkles! Framing light fixtures can give the illusion of more light in a room, try it!  

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-69889823354371929772010-04-10T15:03:00.000-04:002010-04-10T15:03:39.895-04:00

While I was home for Easter, I rummaged through my parents' attic for antique wooden picture frames. I found a few that I painted a crisp white and when I got back to New York I assembled them on a large blank wall in my living room. I will eventually add more white frames to my wall and I'm hoping to find an oval shaped one at the antique flea market. Below is the result so far, simple and

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-85134269164168366422010-04-10T14:49:00.006-04:002010-04-12T15:55:06.997-04:00

Decorating a wall using pretty plates is simple and beautiful. I love collecting china, especially antique china. I chose several walls in my apartment to decorate with plates! Tips for hanging plates: • Generally plates should be about 3-4 inches apart from each other when you are grouping them together. • Use plate hangers with a spring. Make sure to buy the appropriate size hanger for each

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-49388087349982431642010-03-29T22:45:00.005-04:002010-06-14T21:07:59.627-04:00

You hosted a lovely party, you made delicious food and a guest has asked you for the recipe to that fabulous dip you served. Why not share your recipe by sending it in the mail? I created these darling (I must say so myself) recipe sharing cards.  They are personalized too, how cute are these!?! You can also use regular correspondence stationery to share your recipes. These notes make perfect

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-11787934143001620742010-03-29T21:52:00.001-04:002010-03-29T21:53:38.331-04:00

Once upon a time I attended a baby shower honoring my dear friend Alison. Alison has fabulous taste and I love visiting her home because I get to see her creative decorating ideas in action. I can't resist sharing one of her darling nursery decor ideas. Alison took one of her favorite books from her childhood, cut out some of the classic illustrations and turned a collection of them into wall art

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-85199039402894704952010-03-21T20:23:00.003-04:002010-03-21T21:52:14.148-04:00

I just love chandeliers! Chandeliers bring a lovely sense of sophistication to a space and also a sense of whimsy too. Even the smallest of spaces can seem grand and elegant with the touch of a chandelier. I used several chandeliers in my apartment. Below are some photographs of my chandeliers. I have one in my entryway. How inviting to welcome guests with the sparkle of a chandelier! I also have

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-74780076615003603702010-03-21T13:41:00.009-04:002010-03-21T21:48:26.989-04:00

As promised, here is my Victorian silhouette wall collage. I opted for basic frames rather than ornate frames to modernize the antique look.  I love the idea of painting the center mat a bold color. It anchors the collage and makes the black silhouettes really pop. I purchased a Benjamin Moore bright pink paint sample (only $3.50) for the project. I also used the pink paint in another unexpected

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-6764526474033274262010-03-07T23:35:00.006-05:002010-03-09T20:06:53.174-05:00

Since we all have a little Martha in us, let's share the joy in our hobbies by joining a club. Chances are you'll have to start your own club so here are a few ideas I have to help you get started. 1) Knitting Club: Needle pointers will get invited to join too. Ladies mingle and swap project ideas and stitch lessons or just socialize while working on their time consuming projects.2) Dinner Club:

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-71417198412904693372010-03-07T22:53:00.000-05:002010-03-07T22:53:05.647-05:00

Yes it's true. I just confirmed that March is indeed national craft month! This means that all of our favorite craft stores are running sales and promotions. Stock up on your art supplies and get crafty this month. Many stores offer free how-to classes too, how nice! In the true spirit of this national holiday, let's get crafty!

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-7924286784990809182010-02-21T23:40:00.017-05:002010-03-21T13:47:50.476-04:00

This time next week I will be blogging from the Upper East Side. Yep, that's right I'm moving and that means I'm going to write a lot of posts on decorating! Well, I FINALLY decided on my design scheme for my bedroom. I went back and forth because I love so many styles, but I'm thrilled to announce that I'm designing a Victorian bedroom. I chose Victorian style because it's just so pretty and

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-13246296490672317482010-02-10T22:12:00.001-05:002010-02-22T00:01:25.580-05:00

Still making cards over here... haha well, it's a snow day so I have the time! I used this scratch off embellishment product on several of my cards and envelopes today. My friend Kristen purchased it for me as a birthday present, she knows me too well! I gave it a whirl and it was fun and easy and the embellishments look great! The scratch off embellishments can be purchased at any craft store.

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-69812229615187686692010-02-10T21:31:00.006-05:002010-02-11T01:15:54.285-05:00

Today in New York City it's the snow day of all snow days. The schools are closed and my work is even closed, wow! This morning when I peered out my window to watch snowflakes fall and see just one car move slowly down the street, I couldn't help but feel delighted that today I was going to take time to make my valentine cards and no one was going to convince me to leave my cozy little apartment

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-49722881896209299642010-02-07T15:46:00.004-05:002010-02-07T22:58:08.796-05:00

It's Superbowl Sunday and naturally my roommate Kate and I are having a few friends over for football. We have chili, dips, chips and snacks galore and best of all... we have end zone brownies! They are easy to make and super cute to display. Just use a simple boxed brownie recipe, whip up some colored buttercream frosting and go to town decorating. Here's the frosting recipe and other things

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-12960113246164485752010-02-01T21:38:00.003-05:002010-02-11T20:44:10.555-05:00

Hold on a sec, are you sure you want to throw that away? Recently I decided that I wanted a new winter coat. There was nothing wrong with my old coat but I was itching to get a new one to wear. After browsing the pathetic looking sales racks, my guilt set in and I decided against buying a new coat just to satisfy the itch. Instead, I decided to make my wool coat feel "new" by simply changing the

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-55613595075732057912010-01-22T16:46:00.003-05:002010-01-22T16:52:23.118-05:00

I recently googled how to etch designs onto glass and to my delight, the instructions looked very simple! So I decided to give it a whirl and monogram the letter "c" for Caroline on a glass candle jar that I already owned. Here's what I used (all of these supplies can be found at any craft store): -Clear glass surface -Shaped paper cutter -Vinyl that is sticky on one side -Petite paint brush -

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-28582146683920650932010-01-17T16:00:00.000-05:002010-01-17T16:00:02.277-05:00

We all have small matchboxes laying around the house. Use these empty boxes to create cute Valentine treats for your friends. Fill the empty matchboxes with small candies, gum or mints. Wrap the boxes with pretty paper and ribbon. Have fun with it and be creative. They make great little Valentine gifts!   

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-85068917669829014732010-01-17T15:49:00.003-05:002010-01-17T16:06:15.972-05:00

I just created this cute ribbon for a gift I am giving. It was so simple to make. I cut by hand felt shapes that relate to the gift. I secured the felt shapes to a long ribbon using a glue gun. I tied the ribbon around the present and added a cute embellishment. You can add an ornament, bells, feathers, artificial flower, cookie cutter or anything small that can be easily attached and relates

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-80832918613037860082010-01-02T15:34:00.003-05:002010-01-02T15:36:07.114-05:00

Before heading back to work on Monday, you may be taking time this long weekend to put away the holiday décor, take down the tree and get your home organized and cleaned. Here are some useful post holiday cleaning tips. -Store ornaments in egg crates. The separate compartments will keep them from breaking. -To remove the remnants of candle wax from a glass votive, freeze the votive and the wax

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-23078381108985120672010-01-01T10:18:00.003-05:002010-01-02T14:46:05.915-05:00

Alright, enough of the same old resolutions... Let's think differently this year. What do you love, love, love to do? Whatever it is, make a resolution to devote more time to that activity in 2010. You'll be excited to follow through and the positive change will come easy! We are conditioned to think of resolutions as difficult, often insurmountable tasks.  Why does a resolution have to be

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-4541832904206023632009-12-26T09:43:00.009-05:002009-12-26T10:20:13.885-05:00

The gift giving is over and the thank you note writing begins. Growing up, my sister and I used to keep a list of family and friends who had given us Christmas gifts. We would split the list right after the holidays and write thank you notes on behalf of each other in our breakfast room. Jenny hated this chore so I usually ended up writing most of the notes, but it started a good habit in both of

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-3519549013845287182009-12-19T16:55:00.002-05:002009-12-19T16:59:47.182-05:00

Snowflakes are falling in New York City and I'm having a craving for hot cocoa. I just tried this recipe and it's very creamy and very delicious! Ingredients: 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 3/4 cup white sugar 1 pinch salt 1/3 cup boiling water 3 1/2 cups milk 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 cup half-and-half cream Directions: Combine the cocoa, sugar and salt in a medium sized

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-16159478315740141882009-12-17T19:19:00.010-05:002009-12-19T16:57:52.190-05:00

My roommate Kate is responsible for this little rule: When signing a card from a family, the order should go: mother's name, father's name and then the names of children in birth order. You can always just sign from the whole family too! Pictured below are some Christmas cards I made this year, enjoy!

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-36397512082710975902009-12-17T09:14:00.005-05:002009-12-19T16:09:08.578-05:00

Glitter looks beautiful on holiday cards, however it can also make a huge mess. I discovered this amazing product last year when I visited Paper Source in Boston. The ladies at the store introduced me to Ranger's Glitter Glue! It quickly became the answer to all of my glitter woes. After the product is applied to a paper surface, it dries quickly and holds the glitter in place. Its fine tip

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-64662875926794341282009-12-15T00:54:00.000-05:002009-12-19T16:58:39.373-05:00

This post is proof that it's all in the envelope! How much fun is it to find a greeting card envelope in a pile of junk mail? I always save my cards to open last! Your envelopes can stand out even more with a little creativity using some of these ideas. -Use gold or silver paint pens to write the address and return address -Create clean and easy polka dots, snowflakes or swirls using glitter

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-91283991622277734642009-12-11T14:52:00.008-05:002009-12-13T21:29:10.775-05:00

This idea is courtesy of my friend Julie. She found this idea online, created it herself, and it was the hit of the party. It's an edible Christmas tree centerpiece made from broccoli, a foam craft cone and other raw veggies. It serves as a classic appetizer staple and a festive work of art! Here's what you'll need: -4 lettuce leaves -8 cups broccoli, & broccoflower heads blanched -1 cup petite

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-52536836272709973922009-12-10T00:09:00.005-05:002009-12-13T21:29:55.283-05:00

Nope, not a baking post! But this post is still sweet (no pun intended). One of my dear friends Christine, AKA "Martha", threw a fabulous little holiday get together last weekend and luckily her cute ideas were documented. Check out some of these ideas! Thanks Martha, oops! I mean Christine:)

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-76573270493507696662009-12-06T23:35:00.022-05:002009-12-19T16:31:20.233-05:00

Oh, it's just my favorite time of year. My planner is jammed packed with holiday get togethers. What a great time to catch up with friends and see everyone you care about just before Christmas! I have attended some fabulous gatherings already this season and I thought I'd share a list of some holiday party themes I've collected and a couple of my own ideas too! 1) Send a paper invitation if you

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-1180104012122923362009-11-27T00:46:00.012-05:002010-02-07T23:00:31.301-05:00

I often get asked about this, probably because I monogram everything (my mother always did it for us when we were little), so I figured I'd put my advice in writing so others can read too! Monogramming is a sign of personal identity. My motto has always been everything looks better monogrammed! It makes most clothing, household items and gifts seem more put together. Women appear poised when

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-59645418629188862192009-11-14T11:11:00.007-05:002009-12-11T17:07:47.997-05:00

Start making some homemade ornaments now! This terrific recipe is easy and fun and the holiday scent will last for years to come. CINNAMON SPICE ORNAMENT RECIPE (NOT EDIBLE) 1)1 jar cinnamon (approx. 4 ounces/1 cup) slightly more or less; start with approximately ½ cup 2)1–2 tablespoons cloves (use the larger amount for a darker ornament, and slightly decrease the cinnamon) 3)1 tablespoon

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-76996385437099474412009-11-10T10:26:00.000-05:002009-11-14T12:49:56.387-05:00

The Turkey is in the oven and the family has arrived. Here are some fun activities your family can do on Thanksgiving Day! (Besides watching football on TV!)-Art and craft project for the kids: Have paper placecards out and instruct the kids to decorate their own placecards for the feast. Have them decorate the adults' placecards too.-Have a bunch of fun dress up costume pieces out and ask the

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-80241162476293542702009-10-18T14:18:00.018-04:002009-11-14T12:54:16.707-05:00

Pumpkin carving is one of the greatest Halloween traditions. I collected some terrific tips to share this season:The Pick of the Patch! The best pumpkin for carving is one that is:-Large in size-Has a flat surface (shouldn't roll easily)-Has a sturdy stem (don't handle your pumpkin by the stem, it will weaken it) -Has a healthy looking bottom. (A punctured pumpkin on the bottom can have funny

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-17358163154349033252009-10-12T17:51:00.013-04:002009-12-19T16:32:06.102-05:00

Over the weekend my roommate was away and I decided to finish a few small projects around the apartment. I have been wanting to create a small space to do my hobbies. For years I have been living with my dear friend Kate in a two bedroom apartment in Murray Hill. Our furniture is small, our decorations are small and the space is, well small. Usually, I make my crafts on the coffee table, even my

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-22035471613985121822009-10-01T17:31:00.013-04:002009-11-14T12:55:23.719-05:00

Do you ever come up with a great idea and think to yourself How did that just pop into my head? I imagine that other creative folks think the same thing all the time too. The act of coming up with a creative idea is very exciting. I had lunch with my old co-worker Terrence this week and I asked him what his two little baby girls were going to be for Halloween. He wasn't sure so we began to think

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-54518535081110119152009-09-19T14:52:00.007-04:002009-09-19T15:06:08.309-04:00

On Wednesday my sister and Bill brought home an adorable cockapoo puppy named Winnie! Winnie is bringing joy to our whole family and last night I had the chance to babysit her while her mom and dad went out to dinner in the city. Winnie played all night and when my sister and Bill came to pick her up she was out like a light! Having Winnie stay with me inspired me to create some puppy thank you

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-41154116734849885912009-09-16T16:03:00.005-04:002009-09-16T16:16:50.941-04:00

The New York Junior League Homecoming theme this year is "Flappers and Dappers". Each party hosted by the Astor House Committee has a theme and it is one of the reasons why our parties are consistently a hit! Next time you throw a party, center it around a theme with the opportunity for guests to dress up if they want to. Last night at my committee meeting a bunch of us were discussing our

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-29664617016290913692009-09-09T13:38:00.007-04:002009-09-09T14:02:40.941-04:00

Sometimes when you are reminded just how precious life is, you begin to appreciate each happy and healthy day even more. Your very worst day is someone else's very best day. Never take life for granted and feel blessed for even the smallest of things in your life. Most importantly, tell those you love how much you love them and how grateful you are to have them in your life.-This post is

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-46299185005568108252009-09-08T16:38:00.008-04:002009-09-08T17:29:49.780-04:00

Over Labor Day weekend I made my sugar cookies again (the recipe I posted in May from Mrs. Fields) This time instead of just adding colored sugar decoration, I added royal icing and they were deeee-licious!! You can use royal icing on cookies, cakes, donuts, just about anything you want and it works wonders if you are trying to make flowers or other intricate confections. Here's the recipe- it's

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-61396786068435642662009-09-01T19:42:00.010-04:002009-09-01T20:13:20.907-04:00

Last year I joined an NFL survivor pool through a friend of a friend. Basically I paid $100 to enter the pool of 80 and I took my chance each week at picking different winning teams to advance to the next week. I was eliminated by October but I had fun watching and caring about games I wouldn't normally give a hoot about. I had enough of a good time that when I got an email from the pool leader

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-86770277015462614902009-08-29T17:54:00.011-04:002009-08-29T18:31:38.787-04:00

It's that time of year... summer is almost over, vacations are taking place and people are getting engaged. Haha, well at least a bunch of girls I know are! Engagement cards are my favorite cards to make. There is something so fun about creating a card for a girl who is absolutely ecstatic. Just making the cards makes me ecstatic! Here are some pretty engagement cards I created for girls who said

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-1565673742653983642009-08-29T17:23:00.006-04:002009-09-01T20:04:33.027-04:00

This summer I have been so excited to have a "crew" of people to bake for! Upon request, I made peanut butter cookies for our Hamptons summer housemates. The cookies were a hit and traveled well too! Here is my very own recipe, enjoy!Ingredients:2 teaspoons vanilla1 cup creamy peanut butter3 eggs1 cup softened butter1 1/4 cups sugar1 1/4 cups dark brown sugar1/4 teaspoon salt1/2 teaspoon baking

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-42340768615479410812009-08-25T22:53:00.012-04:002009-08-29T17:54:13.210-04:00

My funniest friend Kimberly told me about this yoga studio that she discovered during a visit to New York City. "Yoga? Nah, that's not for me but thanks Kim." After only a few minutes of convincing on Kim's part, (typical sales girl) I found myself online and scheduling an appointment to check out the studio. It's called Pure Yoga and there are two in the city, one on the Upper East Side and one

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-79827519725301260072009-08-17T15:04:00.003-04:002009-08-17T15:27:06.657-04:00

Every girl has a time in her life when things aren't going quite her way. Over the weekend one of my good friends told me that she's going through a break up. Ugh, they are the worst... but having great girlfriends close by can make moving on a lot easier.A bunch of us met her for lunch today and I brought her a homemade card. The theme of the card is "bee happy". A card just like this one is

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-28234565152338993742009-08-12T16:41:00.016-04:002009-09-09T13:59:37.058-04:00

Last week I took the train to Boston to visit my dear friend Courtney. Always a hostess, Courtney put together some useful items that came in handy during my stay. She inspired me to share some ideas on being a fabulous hostess!Assemble a little pile of items for your guest to use during her stay. Leave the pile on the guest bed or if your guest is sleeping on the couch (ah um New Yorkers) put

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-39271262928069698552009-07-21T23:55:00.031-04:002009-08-12T16:39:40.063-04:00

Today, I was walking by a tableware boutique and saw a china pattern that reminded me of a Lenox pattern designed by Kate Spade called Larabee Road. I decided I wanted to buy the plates for a cocktail party I plan to host! I looked them up online when I got home and learned that Lenox had discontinued the design last year, oh shoot!! But to my delight, I came across a website that I wanted to

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-79796897552790327192009-07-19T20:59:00.011-04:002009-08-12T16:40:48.887-04:00

On the way home from work last Friday I stopped at the local bodega and bought myself two dozen white roses. They looked so fresh that I couldn't resist. I have this beautiful rose bowl that my mom bought for me from Kate Spade. It's one of the prettiest things I own. I just love it and I was excited for myself to have an excuse to use it. When my roommate Kate got home from work she exclaimed

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-8607162354477004812009-07-10T15:53:00.012-04:002009-07-10T17:12:11.108-04:00

Today I made a pit stop at J.Crew during my lunch break. I mean SUCH sales right now... Anyway, I got home and decided to take the plain white tissue paper that the sales girl used to wrap up my purchase and reuse it to create pretty tissue paper for gift wrapping. I did it by using a simple star shaped rubber stamp and gold ink pad. (Colorbox is my favorite brand of ink by the way) It is so easy

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-72145341495605916622009-07-02T14:18:00.011-04:002009-07-02T14:39:10.340-04:00

Becky Beynon's Jello Pretzel Salad recipe comes courtesy of my dear friend Julie. The first time I heard about this recipe I was skeptical... when I think Jello, I think of the hospital haha! But no, this recipe was amazing! It's so easy to make and sure to be a crowd pleaser for your patriotic group! The recipe has 3 parts:2 cups chorsely crushed pretzels 3/4 c melted butter3 tbsp sugar*Mix

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-60724024478021108442009-06-24T17:04:00.018-04:002009-07-10T17:12:32.111-04:00

It's summertime and what's better than a day at the beach! Searching for seashells is a great beach activity for children and adults too! There are many craft ideas that incorporate seashells, but one of my favorites is picture frame making.During a recent trip to Sanibel Island in Florida with my family, I was wowed by all of the beautiful seashells. Together with my sister Jenny, we embarked on

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-18218752518942836622009-06-16T21:06:00.009-04:002009-07-02T14:37:39.893-04:00

Last weekend as I walked through the town of Southampton, I came across a young boy and girl with their mother selling lemonade and cookies. I couldn't wait to get my dollars out fast enough to reward the children for working hard, seriously God bless them! I took my cup of lemonade and watched the children happily collect their coins and dollars from other customers. Who knew this much delight

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-10469564793898855282009-06-14T22:52:00.016-04:002009-08-12T16:40:48.888-04:00

On the drive back to the city from Southampton, my summer housemate posed a question to the rest of us in the car: Girls, what can I do for myself in the next week to look and feel great by next weekend? (Susie was geering up for a trip to London with her man) The rest of us all shared our suggestions with her and I decided I want to pass our ideas along.Simple steps to feeling fantastic by next

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-73051480526968494302009-06-11T22:38:00.016-04:002009-07-10T17:03:57.659-04:00

There are so many ways to create beautiful fashion accessories on a dime. My favorite place to shop for clothes is J.Crew. Recently they have introduced several fun and flirty belts, hats and hair pieces with flower appliques. I was ready to buy one when I checked the price. A headband with a flower was, um $38? Okay news flash, we are in a recession. So I examined the headband to see how it was

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-44523424079613558712009-06-08T20:52:00.026-04:002009-08-12T16:40:48.888-04:00

There it is again! Everytime I go running I see more and more girls sporting the running skirt. Yep, that's right, apparently there's a new trend in womens running wear and it's the skirt. It is essentially a spandex skirt with spandex bloomers attached. Being a girl who loves to wear dresses, I had to get my hands on one to see for myself what the fuss is all about.I easily found one at

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-61207645405152878872009-06-06T10:43:00.017-04:002009-08-12T16:40:48.888-04:00

When is the last time you received a casual note in the mail from a friend just to say "hello"? I can't remember either! How nice would it feel to come home after a long day at work and get a card in your mailbox for no particular reason. I would be so happy to receive a note in the mail! Personal communication through handwritten mail is one of the easiest things you can do to make someones day.

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-80086666082186669092009-06-03T23:30:00.006-04:002009-06-12T00:01:08.918-04:00

A group of my friends were sitting around chatting one day about my love of arts and crafts. I was being teased because arts and crafts are kind of nerdy, but I didn't mind because I love my hobby! During our chat, my friend Julie (sorry Jul) "confessed" that she enjoys knitting. My roommate (sorry Kate) piped up that she loves needlepoint. What??? I was so excited to hear this!! Why are girls

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-35953870213337259772009-05-28T11:47:00.006-04:002009-06-07T22:25:52.299-04:00

I tried this recipe from Mrs. Field's Cookie Cookbook and it was a hitI tweaked it a little bit so that it's better for use with cookie cutters. Enjoy!Ingredients:2 cups all-purpose flour1/4 teaspoon salt1 cup white sugar1 egg1 teaspoon vanilla extract1/4 cup colored sugar for decoration3/4 cup butterDirections:1) Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).2) In a medium bowl combine the flour

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663069382998080612.post-39546951302122922172009-05-22T18:43:00.002-04:002009-06-07T14:14:42.253-04:00

It's here again! Father's Day is Sunday, June 21st. Before every Father's Day, I email back and forth with my sister Jenny about what to buy for dad. What pops to mind are the usual go-to gifts: the tie, the golf shirt, the pen... there have got to be some better gift ideas out there. There ARE better ideas and some of them are below.Create a basket of little things that Dad can do with daughter:

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09297108854388237606noreply@blogger.com0