Thomas Paul Whale Platter

I have often shared my love of both whales (here, here, and here just to name a few) and Thomas Paul products (here) so I suppose it's no surprise that when I ran into this Thomas Paul Whale Platter that I fell deeply in love. Yes, it is true that I don't really have any need for another platter in my life, but this guy was just too cute to not make him a part of my kitchen. Plus, with little kids I'm starting to become more obsessed with cool melamine dishware that is appropriate for kids, but still good looking. I found him at a new store in Portsmouth, RI called Corey Farms (much more to come on that next week), but if that isn't exactly local to you it can also be easily be found online. I wish I were entertaining tonight so I could use it. I might just have to invite someone over for cocktails tonight.

Jill Rosenwald Union Jack Lamp

We know Jill Rosenwald for her amazing pottery featuring fabulous ikat and chevron designs, but now you can add her to her go-to source for the ever popular union jack look without having to cross the pond. It would be fabulous in a boy's room, office or den, and I love the accent ribbon on the shade. Available at www.jillrosenwald.com.

Obsessed: World Market's Josephine Desk

Now that I've officially been working from home for 15 months, I'm starting to think that a nice little home office would be rather helpful to keep me more organized. Chances are you've seen this Josephine desk by World Market in many of the greatest looking home offices in the blogosphere, and while I'm not really one to follow the crowd, I am completely obsessed with it. I'm going to have a real problem when it comes to deciding whether to get the white or the blue. I think you could lacquer just about anything and I would want it. But typically this stunning look isn't always so affordable. At merely $199 for this beauty, it's impossible to resist.

Twisting Koi Candelabra

If you want to make a statement in your living or dining room this Twisting Koi Candelabra from Anthropologie ought to do the trick. I just love the juxtaposition of all the fish and flowers against each other, and it holds six candles so it would be great as a centerpiece or on a sideboard or mantle. If you love the look, but the price is a little too steep for you ($598) then you can also enjoy the single Twisting Koi candle holder which is also quite lovely.

Glassy Baby Will Light Up Your Life

I've seen many colored votive holders in the past, but very few have rivaled the beauty of the Glassy Baby. Perhaps it is the fact that with nearly 100 colors available, you can find exactly the shade of blue you're looking for or perhaps it is the fact that it takes four glass blowers to make just one of these glasses that consists of three layers of glass. No matter what the reason, they are sure to provide plenty of smiles whether you use them for votives, as a bud vase, or even to sip on something. Of course, something that requires such care to make isn't going to come cheap. The Glassy Baby retails for $40. That's each. HOWEVER, one of my most favorite things about this company is that they rent these beauties out for your special event at $5 apiece. If you are looking for an alternative to your typical table setting, these sure would do the trick to add that extra something. Oh, and just to make it even better-I bet you didn't think that was possible-Glassy Baby also donates a portion of their proceeds to charity. Founder Lee Rhodes developed the Glassy Baby while battling lung cancer and is using her product to give back to people in need. Be sure to check out GlassyBaby.com, and if you are in WA state or NYC, you can check out one of their stores too.

Thomas Paul Octopus Shower Curtain

Image via Design Sponge

There is no word other than AH-MAZ-ING to describe this Thomas Paul Octopus Shower Curtain. Happy weekend!

Sweet Dreams: Mood Rocking Bed

Move over hammocks, there's a new cozy indoor/outdoor lounge in town-the Mood Rocking Bed. This artful oval bed made from a carbon and steel frame and combined with rustic pine, oak, walnut and mahogany is giving me sweet dreams. Top it with a flow-through foam mattress and outdoor pillows and fabrics or bring it inside to rock yourself to sleep each night. Rubber stops will stabilize the bed when you want. Available in twin, queen and king sizes at Etsy.com.

Creating a Consistant Theme for a Wedding from Invitations to Favors

It may seem unnecessary, but creating a wedding logo for your big day really makes a statement. That's what we did for the lobsterbake wedding I did in June. I have to admit that I lucked out because the bride's brother is an amazingly talented graphic designer that did the hard work on it, but I also think that the fact that we carried the logo throughout the wedding really made a statement and actually made it a lot easier when it came to deciding how we were going display other things. The monogram surrounding the logo made it's way into almost all of the details of the day from the invitations to the favor.

I have to say that the place cards were quite possibly one of my favorite details. We struggled with how to fit everything on the cards when the sail of the boat stuck up so high into the place card, and then it dawned on me to add a burgee to the top of the sail, and I love it! Those who were allergic to shellfish also got a pirate flag on their boat. We used the same lobster graphic as we used elsewhere to denote who was having lobster for dinner.

Because there were so many out of towners traveling in from across the country, we knew there would be some people who had never cracked a lobster. Printing out diagrammed instructions framed by a border with our logo for each table helped out the guests.

Simple signs with the logo lets people know where they should leave gifts and cards.

And of course the favor couldn't have been any cuter with the logo on it. I LOVE these wine glass favors and they are super reasonable over at Favor Favor.

But you can't just hand someone a glass. We packaged it up with a cute little thank you tag with our signature lobster. It's the details that make the difference!

Newport Wedding: Sweet Berry Farm

Last fall a very good friend approached me about planning her wedding for her. She is the type who cares about the details but never bought a wedding magazine. She and her fiance gave me these simple guidelines: it had to be a clambake with lawn games and there must be dark and stormies and Narragansett beer. The rest was up to me which couldn't have been more fun. After taking photos at her family's summer home on Easton's Point, everyone headed over to Sweet Berry Farm in Middletown, RI for a beautiful ceremony against the backdrop of the orchards followed by lots of merriment. It is nearly impossible for me to pick my favorite photos (all taken by the amazing Maaike Bernstrom Photography) from the day so here is a series from the day that was described by guests and the couple as "epic". Throughout the week, I'll post many more pictures and discuss the details in more depth. Enjoy!

Flowers by Sarah Rodgers Florals.

Food by McGrath Clambakes.

Cake by It's My Party with fresh picked strawberries from Sweet Berry Farm.

*all photos by Maaike Bernstrom Photography*

Book Club Entertaining: The Help

Last night I hosted my monthly book club. This month's book was The Help by Kathryn Stockett. Everyone knows I love a party-no matter what the size- so I planned this little soiree for nine around the some of the little details in the book. It seemed impossible not to serve the food on silver platters as polishing the silver (and whether the maid had stolen any of fit) is regularly mentioned in the book. And if you've got it, you might as well use it. This of course meant that I was actually going to have to polish my silver-something I dread with a passion and one of the only reasons I don't have one of those fabulous displays of a silver collection in my house even though I really want to. I was really wishing I had some help myself. But it turns out that all along I'd always been using crappy silver polish. I called one of my friends who is skilled in these things and she told me to use Wright's Silver Cream. It works! And it was easy! I am now committed to polishing my silver and putting it on display. Grandma's tea set here I come! But I digress.

Next up was the food. I wanted to do something with Southern hints since the book takes place in Jackson, Mississippi. I decided to go with a bowl of fresh peaches, watermelon and feta skewers, bruschetta with a Bella Cucina spinach and artichoke spread, cucumbers topped with the world's best ricotta and dill, and Mixed Berry and Whipped Cream Biscuit Sandwiches.

I posted the recipe for the biscuit sandwiches over at Parentables if you want to check it out. They were a huge hit. And of course there was plenty of wine, lemonade, and co-cola flowing throughout the evening.

We certainly don't usually offer favors at our monthly meetings, but there was a passage in the book about how one of the woman had a neighbor who shared the fruits of her garden with her and that was the only way she could really eat a lot of the time. Since I happened to have a bunch of basil that had reseeded itself and was springing up in my garden I thought this was the perfect opportunity to share it, and so I potted it up into these little pots for each of my book club friends.

You don't have to have a big event to think about the little details that make a big impression.

Oh, and if you haven't read The Help yet, I highly recommend it. The group rated it a 9 out of 10, and I was so sad that it ended. I'll definitely be checking out the movie when it opens on August 10th.

Bright Idea: Crate and Barrel Mack Lamps

As I've mentioned in the past, I love the look of all the clear glass lamps out there, but one of my biggest pet peeves is the ugly annoying cord that nobody can seem to hide. At last, a fabulous solution to the problem. Crate and Barrel's Mack Lamp makes the cord an integral part of the glass lamp's design by adding a splash of color to it. While it might not be the look you're going for in every setting, it sure is the first attempt at fixing this "cord issue" and I think it would be quite fun in a lot of different rooms. I love good ideas!

The Peonies Have Popped!

The number one thing on my list of smile inducing objects that need to be a part of my home are peonies. I cannot get enough of them! In every state from bud to bloom they are just gorgeous. The only problem with them is that they never last long enough. I spend all year waiting for them to arrive and then they are gone before I know it. This year, I at least moved the ones that my dog kept digging in so I will have more than ever in bloom. I'm thinking of putting these pictures some place where they'll catch my eye every once in a while so that I can enjoy them all year long. But this week, if I'm a little extra smiley, it's probably because of these beauties in my garden.

Party with BHLDN

I have to admit that when Anthropologie launched their wedding site BHLDN a few months ago, it made me kind if sad that I'd already gotten married because there were so many things that I loved but had no use for. BUT, I can now rest assured that I too can use their amazing offerings as they've expanded their line into general party decorations and they are adorable! From pom poms and pinwheels to straws and cake boxes to garland and signage, there's a little something for everyone no matter what your budget. Party on!