Homemade Potato Chips

We are a family of DIY-ers. On vacation when we're not reading or relaxing at the beach, we generally make lots of homemade foods. Recently on the list were home-cooked potato chips. 

Step 1: Heat up a huge pot of hot oil.

Step 2: Use a mandolin to slice a million potato slices.

Etsy Pick: Julep Cups

As my dahlias are currently in full bloom I am making flower arrangements all the time lately. I love this pair of julep cups from etsy.com. Great little vases for short, full bouquets.

• Pair of Julep Cups - from Fawn and Filigree in Toronto - $50.28 

Some super cute uses for these bad boys:

#1) Use them to actually serve mint juleps!

Image c/o Pinterest

#2) Use them for groupings of white tulips or white hydrangeas

Image courtesy of Cupcakes & Cashmere

#3) Use them for planting succulents

Image courtesy of Ruffled. 

Marissa Webb S/S 2013

More runway coverage from yours truly over at Fashion Pulse Daily. I loved being a fashion week correspondent last week! Check out my post here or read on...

Fashion Pulse Daily runway correspondent

Marissa Webb Spring 2013

9/8/2012

Images via @SorrelliSparkle on Instagram

The Show: Marissa Webb Spring 2013

The Theme: Lady-like with an edge
The Color Palette: Stark whites, ivory, and black leather were brightened by teal batik prints, pops of neon, vibrant red, and turquoise sequins.
Best/Collection’s Signature Standout Look: Marissa Webb’s highly anticipated first collection did not disappoint. The former J.Crew designer showed lady-like pieces with the requisite amount of cool-girl edge.
An army green blazer muted a highlighter-yellow sequin ensemble, complete with a neon necktie. A feminine bow blouse in vibrant red was paired with cigarette jeans in the same flame hue and black leather accessories. Another favorite look combined a turquoise sequin shell and leather leggings. The looks were the perfect balance of tailored and edgy, and the shoes were the perfect accessories in shades of violet, flame, and neon. Swoon.

Image via MBFashionWeek.com

Image via MBFashionWeek.com

Image via MBFashionWeek.com

Etsy Picks: Masked

It's officially September, which means I'm thinking about Halloween already. I abhor the transition from Summer to Fall. Not even the September issues can comfort me away from my beloved summer. One of the only things that makes me excited about the changing seasons is the creativity and fun that comes from dressing up for Halloween. And I guess the autumnal leaves are ok. And yes, the layers in fashion are great. But really I just adore the summer and its sunshine and pool-side chilling and late nights.  

These are some great masks I found on etsy.com that could be the start to some amazing costumes.

• Woodland Queen Moss Mask - from Balmasque in Honolulu - $45 
• Rabbit Leather Mask - from Sundries and Plunder in Oregon - $63

NYFW S/S 2013

I love New York. I love fashion. Last week was a sweet sweet marriage of the two. Below is the visual recap of my New York Fashion Week S/S 2013 experience. 

Driving to NYC / Upper East Side view

Rachel Zoe presents the winner of the Supima Design Competition / Le Chev Sorrelli necklace with the Minkoff MAC clutch

Supima Design Competition: NYFW 2012

Last week I was in New York City covering fashion week for my dear friend Julia of Fashion Pulse Daily. The Sorrelli girls got the chance to attend shows and be FPD runway correspondents for the season. Check out my post here or read on...

Fashion Pulse Daily runway correspondent

Supima Design Competition

9/6/2012

The Theme: Rising talent from design schools across the country compete

The Color Palette: Yellow, peach, violet, burgundy

Best/Collection’s Signature Standout Look: Kate Wilkoff’s Futuristic Fringe

Supima Cotton hosted the 5^th annual Design Competition at Lincoln Center on Sept 6th, with Rachel Zoe as the host and an army of fashion’s elite judging the competition, including designer Tadashi Shoji and Gilt Group founder Alexandra Wilkis Wilson.

The contestants: 

Abigail Glass, a recent RISD grad, kicked off the show with plunging necklines in sunny hues with a  mature-Miami vibe. 

Kyle Pearson from FIT showed a lesson in pleats with leather cummerbund-wrapped dresses in coral and lime hues. 

Gardening: Flower Power

pink hydrangea, pink/white dahlia, white sedum, and blooming garlic chives

I made this floral arrangement and it was an instant mood-lifter. Pretty cool 'eh?! Plus, I grew all of the stuff in this little arrangement. Even cooler! 

Here's how it all looked outside before it was chopped off for my indoor viewing pleasure:

Blooming Pink Dahlia

White Sedum

Purple Sedum

Garlic Chives

Ok so forgot to photograph the hydrangea... whoops! Next time you've had a tough day take a walk outside. Sometimes an instant mood lifter is just a snip and a vase away. 

Gardening: White Tulip Plans

Van Engelen - Mt Tacoma Double Tulip     ::     Styled tablescape from Faded Charm Cottage

After living in our house for over 4 years I've finally decided to invest in some tulips for our front flower garden. I have a big patch of black-eyed-susans that come up in late June/July, but nothing really pops up in the early spring to greet us. 

I decided on a big patch of white tulips, as I love their sweet, almost generic beauty. I also love that the crisp white color can be picked for floral arrangements that seamlessly blend into any room of the house. Plus, don't they look gorgeous in the ground, especially en masse? 

I was told to hunt for tulip bulbs on VanEngelen.com (my mother the fabulous gardener swears that this site has the cheapest, most interesting varieties). I found the most beautiful options there. I'm psyched to get 100 of the Mt Tacoma "peony-like" bulbs and 100 of the Tulip Montreaux "intoxicatingly fragrant" bulbs in the next few weeks. 200 bulbs in total were only about $85. I plan to have a tulip-planting party with lots of wine. I'm going to need some help to get 200 of these bad boys in the ground. 

I seriously CAN. NOT. WAIT. to plant these. Spring is going to be so fabulous in 2013! Now I just need to paint more rooms of our house white to match :)