Lily Jane

Valentine Dinner, Julie & Julia Style

It's two weeks until Valentine's Day...do you know what you'll be doing this year?  Here's one suggestion: how about hosting a Valentine dinner party just like Julia and Paul Child did in the movie Julie & Julia?  The scene holds so much inspiration it's guaranteed to be a delightful evening.

{image via The Small Object}

Wouldn't it be sweet to do a take on the Child's annual valentine postcards for invitations?  Take a photo with your sweetheart and have all the party details printed on the back. 

{image via Vanity Fair}

On the night of the dinner, be sure to dress up for the occasion.  The hostess can wear her favorite strand of pearls while the host dons a horizontally striped tie.  Have big red paper hearts and straight pins ready for guests to put on when they arrive.  

{images via toccata, Zappos, this flickr stream}

Set the table with pretty goblets, blue and white dinnerware, and letterpressed heart place cards.  Decorate the center of the table with bunches of red roses and white tapered candles and hang red paper chains around the room. 

And last, but not least, the food.  I believe any of Julia's recipes from Mastering the Art of French Cooking would do splendidly (you can't go wrong with French food on Valentine's day) but for this particular menu I chose her infamous Boeuf Borguignon.  Finish the meal off with a slice of rich and creamy Reine de Saba.  Bon appétit!

{images via Missive, Burleigh, A Table for Two, Pottery Barn, Culinary School of the Rockies}

Gourmet Gelato Starter

How yummy is this?  Gelato starters from the Caffe d'Amore's brand new Bellagio Epicurean line.  Wouldn't this make a wonderful hostess gift for a warm-weather outdoor party?  I can't wait until spring starts to roll around again.

{via the dieline}

Happy Wednesday: Journal Giveaway

Have you seen the beautiful new blog, Penelope Loves Lists?  I was an immediate fan.  Not only is it written by another Meredith (who even spells her name the same!), but it's geared toward "the unapologetically organized," which I definitely have tendencies toward being.  She has so many wonderful tips and ideas for organizing your life.  And this week she has a giveaway!  This beautiful notebook by Chewing the Cud is up for grabs.  Head on over to Meredith's blog to learn more.  And be sure to add Penelope Loves Lists to your blog reader.

Ribbon Crush

I have a confession to make: I am a ribbon addict.  Perhaps you've never heard of one.  Allow me to illustrate.

I hoard ribbon.  I can't bear to see a piece of beautiful cloth ribbon go to waste, no matter how small it is.  I sometimes find it difficult to get my drawer full of ribbon scraps to close for all the abundance inside it.  I save my best and longest pieces of ribbon to wrap gifts to my own family so I can stealthily steal the ribbon back again when the gift opening is finished (okay, I'm not very stealthy...my husband knows all about my ribbon stealing habits). 

It's definitely an addiction and all the lovely and unique types of ribbon out there tend to fuel it.  

{images, clockwise from top left: Sundance Bakers' Twine; Ruffled Ribbon; Ribbon basket; Sundance Ribbon; Vintage Velvet Tangerine Ribbon; vintage ribbon spools}

Especially those fantastic vintage spools.  I think I'll start keeping my eyes open for them at local vintage stores and flea markets so I can wrap my own ribbon around them just like these.

John Murphy Frames

Aren't these resin frames by John Murphy lovely?  I typically stick to black or white frames, but I just adore the potential these have.  I'm envisioning them with black and white photographs, hung in a room with gray walls and a sleek chandelier.  Perhaps a bedroom or a dining room?  Maybe I ought to make it happen in my dining room...

{via design*sponge}

SS Cheese Table

I am blown away by the cheese table arrangement that Sunday Suppers just came up with for a feature in Martha Stewart's wedding blog.  And here's why...  Number one: I love cheese.  I could live on cheese.  Number two: it's just gorgeous.  Have a look. 

 

Not only does everything look delicious, Karen Mordechai's styling and photography is stunning. 

Also, check out Sunday Suppers' recipe for Fromage Blanc with honey and granola.  It almost looks too good to eat.  But I don't think I'll have a problem when it comes down to it...

{images via Sunday Suppers}

Polarn O. Pyret

Today I'm loving Swedish children's apparel from Polarn O. Pyret, who just opened a US based webshop.  Aren't their clothes just darling?  I'll take the checked shirt for my son and that sweet little shirt waist dress for my niece. 

Best thing of all?  They're having a sale.  Loads of their products are up to 70% off.  I'm feeling like this would be a great time to stock up on clothes for next year. 

Happy Wednesday: Valentine Printable

Is Valentine's Day on your radar yet?  It's kind of been in the back of my mind for a few weeks but when I saw my neighbor's red and pink decorations yesterday it really hit me - it's only a few weeks away!  Lucky for us, Two Brunettes has designed a free printable Valentine.  It has loads of vintage appeal.

And a matching envelope design to boot!  So sweet.  Head on over to Ruffled to download and print.

{images via Oh So Beautiful Paper}

March for Babies 2010

It probably won't surprise any of you that I've decided to participate in March for Babies this year...and next year...and probably for the rest of my life.  March for Babies is March of Dimes' annual fund raising event, held every spring/summer in cities spanning the country.  76% of the proceeds gained are used to fund research and other programs that help babies have healthy lives and offer support to families with terminally ill infants.  When we first saw Lily's 20-week ultrasound and learned she had holoprosencephaly, March of Dimes became a trusted resource.  Since her passing, it's become my favorite charity project.  My family will be marching on May 15th in Salt Lake City as team Lily Jane.  Our goal is to raise $500 by then.  Will you help us out?  I've placed a widget in the sidebar that will allow you to donate to our team and track our progress.  And, of course, we invite anyone who'd like to walk with us that day to do so.  Just join our team.  Or start your own where you live!

Get Dirty

I think Roland Tiangco's Dirt Poster is ridiculously clever.  And beautiful.  I'd love to have this hanging on my wall.  In order to discover its message you have to get your hands dirty.

{found via Design Mom}