Color Me {Pumpkin}

Thanksgiving is coming up this Thursday and I couldn't be more excited for one thing. The pumpkin pie! To me this is what Thanksgiving is all about…besides family and friends of course! I would (and will) consume pumpkin pie for dessert and breakfast, lunch, and dinner the next day. There is no other time of the year where this is acceptable, making Thursday (and Friday) absolutely perfect! But I don't just love pumpkin pie for the taste, but the color! It's a great harvest color that is ideal for decorating your Thanksgiving table. Accent colorful red and gold blooms with mini pumpkins and orange touches.  It's also a great color to bring new neutrals like silver and navy to the next level.

Tell me, what will you decorate your Thanksgiving table with this year?

Color Me {Halloween Horror}

Happy Monday dolls. I hope everyone had a relaxing weekend. Halloween is coming up this week and we spent the weekend getting in the spirit from decorating the front of the house to finally buying our pumpkin. All in all it was a pretty spirited couple of days that has me really excited to see all the trick-or-treaters on Thursday. To continue the holiday fun into the week, I put together a little board of spooky inspiration. Full of dark and doomy black with splashes of orange, this board is enough to inspired costumes and last minute bashes alike. Whether you've had your plans for months or are just now making them, I hope you have a scare-tastic week!

Color Me {Lord of Gourds}

I spent the day yesterday relaxing, crafting, and cooking getting in the spirit of fall. Around here, you have to make your own fall feel. With temperatures near where they were in April and May, it takes a world of fall inspired decorations and recipes to really get me in the mood, and what screams of fall more than gourds. It doesn't matter the shape, size or color, I put them everywhere. From a large bowl on the center of my dining table to mini ones turned into candle holders to a display on the front steps, you can find gourds hanging all around. While they are great for crafting and decorating, I really love them for their color. We don't get the changing colors of leaves in Florida, but the beautiful fall tones found naturally in gourds gives me the color shift I'm looking for. I plan on keeping the tones present throughout from now till Thanksgiving and know that it will keep my autumn spirit in tact!

The Happiest Hour {Orange Mint Mojito}

The herb garden I planted by my front door a couple weeks ago is finally starting to really blossom. The chives are growing like crazy. The rosemary is getting really tall, and the orange mint is taking over the whole pot! With so many fresh herbs now, I'm starting to get a little more creative with flavorings in my cooking like rosemary chive ricotta flatbreads and lemon parsley chicken. While I haven't done much experimenting with the mint, I have created a lot of this classic cocktail that is a light sipper on sizzling summer days. It's got a bit of flare because I planted an orange mint plant as opposed to your standard peppermint or spearmint. The mint isn't quite as pungent and has a nice light and refreshing flavor. It would also serve nice in a gin concoction if rum isn't your thing. But, if it is, here's my recipe for a crowd pleasing orange mine mojito...


:: Ingredients ::
5-6 Orange Mint Leaves
1.5 oz White Rum
2 oz Simple Syrup
1/2 Lime, cut into wedges
1/2 Cup Club Soda

:: Directions ::
1. In a cocktail shaker, muddle mint leaves and lime wedges with simple syrup. Add rum and shake vigorously.
2. Pour over ice and top with club soda. Sip and enjoy!

Have a happy Tuesday!

Color Me {Blood Orange}

On my first trip to Italy years ago, I fell in love with the flavor of blood orange. It's was so distinctive and flavorful and no where to be found when I returned to the states. Ever since that first trip, my love of it grew and so did its availability at home. Since it's my birthday week, I'm filling this week's posts with things I love starting with the color of blood oranges. It's bold, beautiful and different than anything else. With a single slice being an ombré of deep reds, oranges, and everything in between, the combos are sure to create a gorgeous event.

Love blood orange as much as I do? Tune in tomorrow for my blood orange margarita recipe!

Give Thanks

Thanksgiving is just a short week away, and I've got my table all planned out.  This year I'm going with a simplistic rustic feel. Thanksgiving is the ultimate holiday to go rustic in my book. A centerpiece of branches is perfect for guests to hang what they are thankful for on. I've laid out felt leaves in the middle of the table along with a silver sharpie so each guest can take one and write what they are thankful for and hang it on the branch. Somewhere towards the end of dinner, you can pick a leaf off and read what it says. I plan on setting up the meal as a buffet but by tieing guests silverware with a piece of twine they won't have to worry about carrying that on top of their already full plates. Keep the colors fall like and neutral using reds, oranges, and browns and whites. What I love about decorating for Thanksgiving, is you don't have to look farther than your back yard for all the items you need! How will you be decorating your table this year?

Color Me {Poppy}

As we move into the hottest part of the summer here in Florida, it can only mean one thing, fall is near. And with cooler temperature just a few short months away, I'm holding on to every last bit of summer I can get. I'm definitely not ready to trade in bright show stopping shades of summer for their more subdued counterparts. One color combination I've fallen in love with this year is the mix of bright pinks, oranges, and corals. These hues, when mixed together, remind me of none other than a field of blooming poppies, both of which just seem to bring a smile to my face. Even if you don't have a field of poppies near you, you can make the room pop by using the colors in centerpieces, invitations, and other decor items like balloons, streamers, and linens. This rather girly color scheme would be perfect for a shower, birthday lunch, or any weekend gathering! 

Color Me {Citrus}

Nothing beats the refreshing taste of homegrown citrus on a hot summer day. But, what's even more refreshing is the amazing color palette created by combining my favorite citrus fruits. When brought together, the bright shades of lime, lemon, orange, and grapefruit are eye catching and beautifully stunning. While the shade combination can be a bit overwhelming if you aren't a color aficionado, it's best to introduce the shades in subtle ways. Whether as a centerpiece, as your dinnerware, or as your food, these stunning citrus hues are bound to impress. If you are feeling bold, use any of these citrus shades as a main element at your soiree. You will be sure to turn heads wearing one of these colors and your tables will be the center of attention draped in citrusy orange, yellow, lime, or grapefruit. Whichever way you decide to use it, its a head turning refreshing color combo bound to make the perfect impact. 

Indulge In {Brownie Mouse Shooters}

Today's recipe truly is an indulgence. A chocolate lover's dream! This past weekend, I got this craving for some chocolate, decadent goodness. After finding a recipe for chocolate mouse, I decided to kick it up a notch by not only adding a splash of Grand Marnier, but layering it with dark chocolate fudgy brownies. Let me tell you, deciding to serve this in a shooter glass was the best decision I made all day. It's so rich and delicious that this small amount is all you need to enjoy the full flavor of this dessert. To play up the splash of Grand Marnier I added to the mouse, I zested a little orange peel on top for an extra pop of flavor. To make this, I made the mouse from scratch but used a simple Duncan Hines mix for the brownies. Here's the low down on the mouse...

:: Ingredients ::

{1} 9.35 ounces (265 grams) bittersweet (%70 cocoa solids) chocolate, chopped (preferably Valrhona Guanaja)

{2} 1 cup (240 ml) water

{3} 4 tbsp sugar

{4} Splash of Grand Marnier 

:: Directions ::

{1} Place a large mixing bowl on top of another slightly smaller one, filled with ice and cold water (the bottom of the large bowl should touch the ice). Set aside.

{2} Put chocolate and water (also sugar and/or liquor if you’re using) in a medium-sized pan and melt the chocolate over medium heat, stirring occasionally.

{3} Pour the melted chocolate into the mixing bowl sitting on top of ice and water, and start whisking with a wire whisk (or an electrical hand-held mixer) until thick. Watch the texture as you whip and make sure not to over-whip as it will make the mousse grainy. If the mousse becomes grainy (which is possible at your first try), transfer it back into the pan, reheat until half of it is melted, pour it back to the mixing bowl and whisk again briefly.

{4} If it does not get thick, put in the refrigerator for about an hour whisking occasionally. 

{5} Layer with brownie in shooter glasses, garnish with orange zest and enjoy!

Color Me {Tangerine Tango}

Tangerine Tango. Even the name has a certain vibrancy to it. With Pantone's 2012 Color of the Year spreading brightness all around, it's hard to ignore the utter excellence of this shade. While tangerine can be a hard color to wear (personally, it makes me look sickly), it's flexibility cannot be denied. Whether you are wearing it or decorating with it, tangerine is beautifully paired with bright shades of turquoise and hot pink or lovely toned down with slate and burlap.  Throwing a spring or summer wedding? Surprise guests with vibrancy. Tangerine tulips atop a natural wood table with pops of light aqua in the linens would make for a lovely soiree! Want to go all out? Consider using tangerines as escort cards or even placing them at each place setting tied with a dainty ribbon sitting on top of your light aqua linens. The possibilities are endless! 

Welcome to Fall

It is finally fall! And believe it or not, it actually feels like it! Maybe only for a week, but still. It's getting me excited for cooler, but not too cold, temperatures, pumpkin flavored anything, crisp apples, and cinnamon sugar toppings. I can't wait to throw an autumn bash, mainly because I'm really excited to make that pumpkin ice bucket. And even though I know temperature are going to reach the 90s again in a few days, for now I can get excited for shades of burgundy, gold, and oranges. And as excited as I am for fall colors to fill the air, I'm most excited about next weekend's trip to the pumpkin patch! What are you most excited about for fall? 

All Dressed Up

Perfect for any {orange} summer party, this look casual, comfortable, and stylish! 

*Dress: Rare

*Bracelet: R.J. Graziano

*Clutch: Juicy Couture

*Wedges: Diane von Furstenberg  

You're Invited!

Navy blue is a great neutral to mix with bright colors like orange.  It's a little less harsh than black and a little less Tennessee or Texas than white. By using the colors of your party in the invite, it gives the guests a little preview of what's to come at the party!

Color Me {Orange}

*From Top Left: Flowers, Orange Tea, Paper Lanterns, Gurgle Pot, Orange and Green Centerpiece 

Orange you glad we're here? Cheesy I know! But, today is the official launch of Events Uncorked, and I am excited to be bringing you all you need to know about throwing the perfect party! At Events Uncorked, our mission is to plan every party with impeccable style.  Remember, life's a party. Plan accordingly. Hope you enjoy! 

In honor of the unofficial start of summer, I have taken one of the season's hottest colors, orange (if you couldn't tell), and transformed it into a bright, fun bash.  Try this theme on for summer birthdays, graduation parties, weddings, or even to brighten up your kitchen for a couple months!