I’m excited today to share a recent project that I wrote and styled for local women’s magazine, Today’s CNY Woman. With Mother’s Day just around the corner, the feature is all about planning the perfect little Mother’s Day brunch with a few pretty details and little to no fuss. Just how I like it! You can see the complete feature online for all of my tips and ideas. If you’re in the Syracuse area, the print issue is available next week so be sure to pick it up! And just for fun, I’m sharing some behind the scenes photos below, Instagram style.

{Today’s CNY Woman, May 2012.}

We shot on location at The Barn in Caz, one of the coolest places I’ve been in a long time. Jean, proprietress extraordinaire, curates the most beautiful collection of vintage and antique furniture and household accessories. Once a month she opens the doors of the barn to live music and eager shoppers who scoop up her treasures. Also an interior designer, Jean works closely with design students from Cazenovia College to style the sweetest vignettes throughout the space, which definitely lent inspiration to the shoot. You can follow The Barn on Facebook for updates on their upcoming sales and events.

A vintage patio table is set with colorful dinnerware and draped in a vintage hand-embroidered table cloth. The linens were a vintage find at a garage sale that I picked up for $2 a couple of years ago. The two colors of green set the stage for the rest of the design.

Two big bunches of white stock set in a tall cylinder vase created the perfect centerpiece. I wrapped the vase in jute webbing from BurlapFabric.com for an easy way to personalize the look. Just attach on the backside with hot glue or safety pins and it’s that easy!

Want to keep it super simple? Dress up a pretty fruit tart or cake from a local bakery by serving it up on a rustic cutting board. Here I also used an antique silver pie server – love the combination of the patina against the wood!

Layer patterned dessert plats atop everyday white dinnerware for a dressed up look that doesn’t break the bank. There’s no need to have a bunch of fancy china laying around, just score pretty things as you see them at garage sales and pair them with what you already own.

How fancy does lemonade look served on a tray and paired with paper straws? You can find these straws from Shop Sweet Lulu (a sponsor of The Sweetest Occasion). The tray is a piece I scored at Target a few years ago and regularly put into action whenever I can find a good excuse.

{Photos by Cyd Converse for The Sweetest Occasion. See the complete feature in Today’s CNY Woman.}

Today I’m absolutely loving these beautiful images from Lauren and Dean’s wedding captured by Tegyn Friedman. Lauren and Dean were married a the Los Angeles LDS Temple and then celebrated with family and loved ones at a reception in Long Beach. Along the way, they captured these gorgeous photos. I’m personally in love with Lauren and Dean’s impeccably elegant style. And Lauren’s gorgeous lace dress? Absolute perfection.

Vendors -
Photography: Tegyn Friedman Photography / Ceremony: Los Angeles LDS Temple / Event planning: Lemons and Lace / Reception venue: / Hair + makeup: Hair and Makeup by Kaylene / Cake: Sealed with a Cake

{Photos by Tegyn Friedman Photography.}

I am so excited this week to help spread the word about Sweet Designs, the newly released work of genius by the lovely Amy Atlas. Over the last few years Amy has become known as a guru in the event design world. Those beautiful dessert buffets that have been popping up everywhere? You have her to thank for those. She also just so happens to be one of the friendliest and sweetest ladies I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet. I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy of Sweet Designs, which I have been eating up ever since. Loaded with designer tips, recipes and styling ideas, it may just be your new best friend. Pop over to The Sweetest Occasion’s facebook page for the full review and more images of all the goodness inside.

{Photo by Cyd Converse for The Sweetest Occasion.}

Today’s post was inspired by a reader who shot me an email asking for ideas for what to wear to a wedding with a “semi formal garden party attire” dress code. This was a challenge I was happy to tackle! I actually pulled together two looks – one for day and one for night. The fun thing about a garden wedding is that you can get away with playing with color and pattern. For day, think feminine fabrics like silk chiffon. To crank up the elegance a notch for evening, go full length and add in a touch of metallic with your accessories. A cropped blazer or a pretty cardigan is perfect for throwing on later in the evening if it gets a bit chilly. Many thanks to Kelsey for inspiring this week’s post!

{Shop: By day | Sunglasses / coral dress / nude pumps / clutch / scarf / earrings. | By night | ombre dress / drop earrings / jacquard blazer / studded clutch / platform pumps.}

by Chelsea Costa

It’s that time of year! The time when the weather is warming up and people are just itching to socialize. So the next time you’re playing hostess to the gang, whip up these little swizzle sticks and pop them in everyone’s drink. Undoubtedly, you’ll be the belle of the ball.

Supplies -

• barbeque skewers
• scissors
• cardstock
• 1-inch circle punch (optional)
• ModPodge
• glitter
• paintbrush
• sewing pins

Start by either punching or cutting out 1-inch circles from the cardstock and cutting the barbeque skewers in half.

Decide the color you’d like the dots for your swizzle sticks. Each stick will need two dots, so glitter accordingly. Spread a generous amount of ModPodge on one side of each dot and sprinkle with glitter. Let dry and retouch as needed.

Once the dots are dry, take one dot and spread ModPodge three quarters of the way around the edge on the unglittered side. Attach the matching dot. On the edge with no glue, place a pin inside to hold the space open. Let the dots fuse until the glue is almost dry, then slip in the end of a barbeque skewer. The fit should be snug. Finally, spread another layer of ModPodge over the glitter to finish.

Now pour the drinks and swizzle away! And the bonus of doing a rainbow like I did is that no one will ever lose track of their drink. Brilliant, huh? Have fun, party animals! xoxo

{Photos by Chelsea Costa of Lovely Indeed for The Sweetest Occasion.}