pretty flowers + perfume bottles

Whether on your vanity, bedside, or in a powder room, luscious blooms and crystal perfume bottles always add a beautiful touch. Happy weekend wishes to all!

images via Country Living

M.I.A

SO SORRY I have been M.I.A this week! I am super busy with getting Lilee's closed (the last day is next Thursday! YAY!) and working on my new business, Luxe Wedding Lounge. It's all so exciting and my head has been spinning here lately! Again, I am sorry that I have not been able to post. My mind needs retreat and rest and these beautiful bedrooms definitely take me to another place!

 I love them all... 

Candice Olson

Phoebe Howard

I am OBSESSED with this bedroom!  Phoebe Howard

 

Sunday Scrumptious Sauce Satisfier

I hope everyone had a beautiful weekend and an even happier Sunday!

Today's Sunday Satisfier recipe comes from my Nana who taught my mom, who then passed on to me, how to make basic red tomato sauce. This sauce is so great and can be used as a basic red sauce for many pasta dishes like lasagna, chicken parmesan, stuffed shells, etc! I made it for the first time by myself a few nights ago, added some meatballs, then tossed over some thin spaghetti noodles and it was so good...and SO EASY! There is nothing better than homemade red sauce! Try it... you will be surprised at how easy it really is!

Easy Basic Red Sauce

Olive Oil
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 lg. can tomato paste
1 can tomato sauce
Salt and pepper, to taste

Pour just enough olive oil to cover bottom of skillet. Warm olive oil; add onions and garlic and sauté until translucent. Add tomato paste and stir with onions and garlic; mix well. Add 1 can of water (using tomato paste can). Add tomato sauce to mixture; stir well. Add 1 can of water (using tomato sauce can). Cook for 20 minutes and add salt and pepper, to taste. Continue to cook on low, uncovered, for 1-2 hours or until sauce is thick enough to your liking. *If it is too tart, add a little sugar to cut the tart flavor.

image via Flickr

One word: OBSESSED

Ever since seeing these gorgeous Louboutins on This is Glamorous, I have been so obsessed that I can't stop looking at them! I even put the picture as my cell phone's background...(so sad) A girl can dream right!? They are so chic and the pale pink + platform can truly make a girl like me go crazy!

Bella Cupcake Couture

The name alone is so sweet! Bella Cupcake Couture sells posh and chic textile-inspired

cupcake wrappers to hide the crinkly, translucent paper they're baked in. The stylish

designs add a touch of sophistication and elegance for any special occasion. The wrappers,

which are printed with soy inks on recycled paper, are perfect at weddings, bridal and baby

showers and as birthday gifts, or a little treat for yourself!

SO PRECIOUS! As if I didn't already like cupcakes enough... ;)

images via Bella Cupcake Couture Blog

Shade + Crystals = LOVE

AHHH, I love these chandeliers! So girly, so chic and so ME! I am looking for a chandelier to replace one that I sold in my store... I definitely think I am going to go with a shade + crystal style chandelier. I just love the look of crystals peeking out from under the shade... So gorgeous! Which do you like best?

Luna Bella

Shades of Light

Horchow

Horchow

Overstock.com

Overstock.com

Crystorama

Crystorama

Neiman Marcus

Sweet Snail Mail

I got the cutest card in the mail today from a sweet, long time friend, Ashely. It's called the Dandelion Karma Card and it's so cool because these cards are perforated down the middle so that the recipient can re-use the front of the card as a post-card! I also love the motto: Get Love and Give Love. So cool! Check it out here. Thanks for the sweet note Ash! Made my day! ;)

SUNDAY SWEET TOOTH SATISFIER

I can't believe it is already Sunday! This weekend flew by! I hope everyone had an wonderful and relaxing time with family and friends! Today I want to share one of my favorite dessert recipes... Gooey and rich, Mississippi Mud Cake! I just made it for Easter dinner and it was pure chocolaty goodness! Enjoy!

Mississippi Mud Cake

1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup butter
4 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
4 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 (10.5-oz.) bag miniature marshmallows

Place pecans in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 8 to 10 minutes or until toasted. Microwave 1 cup butter and semisweet chocolate in a large microwave-safe glass bowl at HIGH 1 minute or until melted and smooth, stirring every 30 seconds. Whisk sugar and next 5 ingredients into chocolate mixture. Pour batter into a greased 15- x 10- x 1-inch jelly-roll pan. Bake at 350° for 20 minutes. Remove from oven, and sprinkle evenly with miniature marshmallows; bake 8 to 10 more minutes or until golden brown. Drizzle warm cake with Chocolate Frosting, and sprinkle evenly with toasted pecans.

Chocolate Frosting

1/2 cup butter
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/3 cup milk
1 (16-oz.) package powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Stir together first 3 ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium heat until butter is melted. Cook, stirring constantly, 2 minutes or until slightly thickened; remove from heat. Beat in powdered sugar and 1 tsp. vanilla at medium-high speed with an electric mixer until smooth.

PRETTY PINK WALLS

HAPPY FRIDAY!

I hope everyone enjoys their weekend!

I love this gorgeous dining room, and the pink walls even more!

New Venture: LWL

You know how the old saying goes, "When one door closes, another one opens...", it's so true!

 After two and half years of opening my boutique Lilee's & Co., we are closing because it just didn't work out. I truly believe that God has something else planned for me and my future. Since announcing we were closing, I was presented with an opportunity to start a new venture, Luxe Wedding Lounge. I am extremely excited about planning and getting LWL and up and running in Jacksonville, FL! I can't wait to see what the future has in store! Please check out the LWL blog for more info and please keep me in your prayers and keep your fingers crossed! ;)

LUXE WEDDING LOUNGE

Tagged: The Preppy Mafia

Mrs. D over at the super cute, Pink Lemonade Blog tagged me in this fun little game, and I am excited to play along! And yes, if I was in any Mafia at all, it would probably be the PREPPY MAFIA! Thanks so much for thinking of me Mrs. D!

1. Who is your style icon?
It's a toss up between Carrie Underwood's feminine and pretty style and Tory Burch's classic, girly & elegant style. LOVE them both!

  

 2. What is your favorite socialite book?

To be honest, I don't really read books, but I do love books and magazines on decorating and entertaining.

3. What is your favorite party theme?

I love dinner parties and I love Mexican food, so probably my favorite would be a Mexican Dinner Fiesta! ;)

4. Go to Halloween costume?

Well I don't particularly have a "got to" but I loved being Snow White!

 5. Extravagance you cannot live without?

Great beauty products! I might be a poor newlywed, but I still have to have my good shampoo, soaps, face wash & makeup! They might be an indulgence, but I just can't stop using them!

6. Living person you most admire?

My mom. She is so selfless and beautiful on the inside and out. I want to be that way when I am a mother. And did I mention she is one heck of a good cook!?!

*she would kill me if I put up a picture of her!*

7. Greatest fear?

Losing my parents at the same time in a terrible accident. I don't know why, but I have always feared that it would happen!

8. Trait you dislike about yourself?

I hate that I get aggravated quickly in certain situations...

9. What talent would you most like to have?

I wish I had a natural talent for painting. Particularly with acrylics and watercolors like the talented and sweet Nancy Asbell.

 

10. Greatest achievement?
Probably being a first time home owner with my hubby! So exciting!

Your instructions:

If you're tagged, or even if you're not tagged you can still join in the fun!

Paste the Preppy Mafia picture (above) in your blog.

Tell who tagged you.

Answer the questions.

Pass it on to 10 bloggers of your choice and let them know they've been tagged.

TAG, YOU'RE IT!

Jen at Slumber Designs Blog
Blair at Delight by Design Blog
Kristin at Sparrow Branch Blog
Tara at Jimmy Choos and Tennis Shoes Blog
Greet at Belgian Pearls Blog
Amy at VARNISH Blog
Jordyn at Jordyn Jackson's Official Blog
Kayley at Tutti i Dolci Blog
Lauren at Our Journey Through Life Blog
 Camila at High Heeled Foot in the Door Blog

I can't wait to read your replies!

Our First Married Easter

H.E.L.L.O  F.R.I.E.N.D.S

I hope your Easter weekend was wonderful and relaxing! The sun was shining bright every day, making it one beautiful weekend! Barrett and I stayed at the beach house Friday and Saturday night with my family. It felt great to have a Saturday off and relax. Friday afternoon I left work early and went home to a brown box sitting by my front door! I was so excited to see what it was! I ripped it open to find Mrs. Meyers cleaning goodies from my sweet Aunt KBL!  I started cleaning right away! The sweet Lemon Verbena scent truly made my heart sing! My whole house smelled gloriously clean, even hubby commented when we got back on Sunday how great the house smelled! ;) Aunt K- Thank you so much for my Easter treats!

On Saturday, we went out cruising on the boat, so I was able to really enjoy the the Florida sunshine! It was so wonderful to be there with my entire family. Barrett and I even played a little game of "I Spy" on our way back to the house. We are dorks, I know...but it was fun! Saturday night we fried up some fresh Mahi Mahi and mom made her scrumptious grits! Dinner was so good, but I ate way too much!

Beautiful view of the Gulf from the house

gorgeous & peaceful

handsome hubby on the boat

Bailey enjoying the ride... looking sleepy!

Sunday we all woke and walked down to the beach for the Easter Sunrise Service at 7 am. That was the first time I had ever been to a Sunrise Service, and it was beautiful watching the sun come up as the preacher preached. It really made me think about the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and how awesome He is that He actually made the sun that rises and sets every single day! AMAZING!

Sun setting from the top deck...

After the service, mom and I made breakfast. Mom and dad also surprised us all with Easter baskets! Barrett and I received some Peterbrooke Chocolate (oh so good!) and a new birdhouse/ feeder for our yard! So cute! I can't wait to put it out and watch all the sweet birds indulge! We relaxed, ate Easter lunch, and then headed back to town. All the food was so wonderful, but I ate WAY TOO MUCH!

The BEST chocolate covered popcorn!

After getting back in town we went to eat Easter dinner with his parents. Yes, MORE YUMMY FOOD! We had about a 6 hour break from eating, so we were ready to go again! Dinner was fabulous, but my gosh was I full! They also had a big basket full of MORE Peterbrooke goodies, gift cards, and cute decorative accessories for our abode!

On top of all the goodies we received, Barrett and I also made each other baskets filled with more candy! Seriously, we have so many goodies we could fill a candy store! I love the basket Barrett got for me! It's trimmed with pink fur... lol! All in all, we had the most wonderful first Easter together! I look forward to many more fun filled Easters to come! Hopefully one day with little ones running around hunting for eggs! ;)

Thank you to our family for making our first married Easter so memorable and special! We are so blessed to have such a loving family that truly cares for us unconditionally!