Wonderful Wednesday – some notes about the goodness!

Happy Holidays!  A few things, my lovelies!

After an overwhelming request to include my own photography on the blog, that will begin in the new year.   I am by no means a professional photographer, but I just got my first mack-daddy digital SLR (I am old school – I have Diana LOMO cameras, non-professional digital cameras and my iPhone, iPad and Blackberry), but now that I am focusing on words like “bokeh” and “aperture”, you can expect much more artful content.

Many of you emailed our office about how to make those gorgeous Tory Burch gold cupcakes (perhaps with your own logo or monogram or wedding/party motif), so we’ll be posting that today.

Are you vegan?  Experimenting?  I made a vegan soup last night that was so rich and satisfying, you would not ever know it was vegan – it’s a roasted tomato and butternut squash soup and it’s easy-peasy.  I’ll be posting the recipe and a photo of the soup – next time, I’ll do that lovely step by step photo thang that food bloggers do.  Let’s just say an immersion blender is the best $50 you’ll ever spend (and brides, register for one!).

Holiday Color Wheel continues with ORANGE today.

Are you fed up with gift guides?  I have a great last minute gift guide for today.  You’ll love it.  Truth be told, I need to attend my little girl’s holiday sing and get a much needed mani/pedi (what color, what color???), so you’ll be seeing the blog posts later.  In the meantime, please enjoy your coffee or as I am, some lavender Earl Grey tea – or get started a little early on the eggnog.  Cheers!

Fresh and Beautiful Gifts for Bridesmaids.

Here at F4 (or DP, really), we carefully and lovingly curate and shop for bridesmaids gifts on behalf of our brides, have them wrapped gorgeously and have hand-calligraphed notes prepared for each recipient.  But YOU (as the bride) know your girls, and know how much they are doing for you during your engagement, so it’s incumbent upon you to select meaningful gifts.  As a bridesmaid myself, I’ve received many wonderful and touching gifts – I love love having creative friends.

In general, I frown upon a “one-size fits all” gift – much as I do the dresses for your besties, so my advice is to purchase something meaningful for each – or at least vary the color, the style, etc.  And throw in a copy of the DVD of “Bridesmaids”.  Why the heck not?  It’s such a treat.

In rounding up this list, I realized we would do this each season, but these are some of the things catching our eyes right now.

For the Techie:  The Tory Burch Metallic “Robinson” eTablet Carrying Case.  Now, this comes in black and red as well, but I love the pop of this color – Moss Gold.  Not too disco ball – just the thing.

Photo Credit: Tory Burch

For the Girl Who Switches Cell Phone Covers as Often as Her Lingerie:  J’adore these cute, monogrammed cases for iPhones (3, 4) by Clairebella.  See all designs here.  Very affordable and oh, so chic.  We cannot decide and may get them all.

Photo Credit: Layla Grace

For the Gilded Swan:  I am superbly in love with all things gold (works for all coloring), but especially rose gold.  Why not try these elegant rose gold hoops from this wonderful Etsy seller, CrazyDaisyDesigns?  She has other gorgeous jewelry as well.  Rose gold is THE thing.  And much better than forcing your maids to wear matching pearl earring and necklace sets.  Think “what would she wear on a daily basis?”.

Photo Credit: Etsy/CrazyDaisyDesigns

For Miss Park Avenue – you simply cannot go wrong with the iconic, affordable, Tiffany & Company change purse in signature robin’s egg (Tiffany) blue patent leather.  This is from the new leather range at T&Co., designed with the help of the fine folks at Lambertson Truex (love).  She can repurpose it for business cards, spare jewelry, credit cards, or her secret Champagne allowance.  It’s also a “something blue”.

Tiffany & Co. leather coinpurse with Kiss Lock.

For the Workaholic or Lounge Lizard:  Who doesn’t need a fabulous new robe?  And no, not ones with a rhinestone “Bridesmaid” emblazoned across the back.  That goes for brides, too, with tracksuits, lingerie, etc.  No “Future Mrs. Tacky”.  Instead, gift your girl or girls with these gorgeous cotton voile robes, lounge dresses and pants/tanks from Plum Pretty Sugar.  I couldn’t choose just one, so click around the site.  Sort of the robe version of my now ten year long obsession with Bedhead Pajamas.  I still have those Ming Green ones with yellow piping.

Photo Credit: 1313 Photography

For the Bohemian Princess:  Serena & Lily is my go-to for my kids’ linens, the Moroccan pouf in my office and some fabric for the chairs in my dining room.  Also great for Moses Basket gifts for expectant pals.  Now, while this bag MAY be a diaper bag at heart, it’s totally cool to use as a real bag and it’s just beautiful. Presenting the Peacock Gypsy Tote.  Just take out the changing pad OR, perhaps don’t.  She’ll be a Mama one day.   I am showing the image with the baby so that you can see the scale/size of the bag.  Would totally fit a laptop or a tablet, too.

Photo Credit: Serena & Lily

For the WASP-chic Palm Beachy Gal:  I could not decide will all of the delight on the Jonathan Adler site.  I’ve professed my love of him before (and DO go to his SoHo flagship store if you get a chance) and he does NOT disappoint here.  I mean, needlepoint?  Ping Pong?  It’s like chocolate and peanut butter, I tell ya.  Buy 2.  Palm Beach girl will adore.  Oh, psst – he’s got tennis racquet covers, too.

Photo Credit: Jonathan Adler

There are a few more ideas percolating.  Tell us, what was your favorite bridesmaid gift to give or receive?  Worst?  Tell us here on the site.  Tomorrow?  Guide to Groomsmens’ gifts and of course, #TuesdayShoesday.  We have a winner of the gift card giveaway, so we’ll announce that as well.

Toodles – L