D.I.F.Y. Cupcake Pick-Me-Up

Today’s D.I.F.Y. (Do It For Yourself) post is all about indulgence – we were having one of those crave-days at SF and decided to treat ourselves to a little afternoon delight. Always remember there’s nothing wrong with breaking the diet once in a while and indulging in a little sweet treat during the day. One word: Yum!

D.I.Y. Cinco de Mayo Mango Margarita

Whether you are planning on celebrating at your favorite Mexican restaurant or spending the night in, what better way to get into the Cinco de Mayo spirit than with a delicious mango margarita. If you are feeling adventurous, try our favorite D.I.Y. mango margarita recipe that’s sure to dazzle and delight.

Top it off tip: To give your margarita that extra wow factor, don’t forget to rim your glass with a little bit of lime and dip it in fun flavored cocktail crystals. Be sure to check out your local grocer or specialty wine shop for a variety of rimmed flavors.

The Love of Mother’s Day

Each year, on the second Sunday of May, we dedicate the day to mothers everywhere. There is no greater life celebration than motherhood and with Mother’s Day just around the corner we wanted to honor mothers and their influence in each of our lives. Stay tuned for our SF team’s mommy love stories coming next week…

If you have a mommy love story you would like to share, we would love to hear it! Please send any stories or photos to ideas@somethingfab.com

Fashion Forward Friday: Bridesmaid Edition

Shopping for bridesmaids’ dresses has never been so fun. With so many new styles, bold colors and alluring embellishments to choose from, this season’s bridal line-up is sure to make a statement.

[Photo credit: Cynthia Rowley | BHLDN ]

Check out our top 5 favorite trends that are sure to take the cake this wedding season:

1. Color-Me-Pretty: Don’t be afraid to explore your colorful side. Tangerine may be the color of the year, but sunshine yellow, hot pink and electric blue follow closely behind. With so many beautiful bright colors to choose from, your wedding is bound to make a bold statement.

2. Style Throwback: While the calendar may say 2012, the runway screams 1950. From sea-foam green and pillbox hats to lace detailing and swing-style dresses, classic trends have resurfaced and are making their way into your bridal lineup.

3. Trendy InterMix: Why choose one bridesmaids’ dress style when mixing it up is way more fun. Play around with different hemlines, fabrics, colors, and even shoes. This intermix of style options creates a distinctive yet cohesive looks. Our trendsetting tip? Try a canary yellow dress with a beautiful teal shoe.

4. Adore Your Adornments: Sashes, broaches and embellished belts are all the rage, and brides will have it easy this season as the details are already in the design. When looking for the perfect bridesmaids’ dress, don’t just think about the color; think about the detailing that will make your girls shine.

5. Individual Glam: Every girl has a different style and body type – why not let their dresses reflect their personality? Try giving your bridesmaids an option within three styles, such as off the shoulder, strapless and v-neck; your bridesmaids will thank you knowing that they will be comfortable and confident in the dress that best suits their figure.

However you choose to mix-and-match, bridesmaids are sure to stand out at any “I Do” celebration.

[photo credit: Nina Ricci ]

D.I.Y. Asparagus Bruschetta

When we came across this delicious D.I.Y. we knew we had to share it. Nothing is more tasty, not to mention economical, than to incorporate fresh Farmers Market vegetables into your meals. Check out this easy-to-follow recipe from our dear friends over at Event Trender, they always keep us on top of the food trend. This Farmer’s Market inspired Asparagus Bruschetta is a perfect (and in season) patio appetizer that is sure to become a household favorite.

Start by chopping some fresh asparagus, boil and drain in ice water.

Slice heirloom tomatoes in small quarters.

Prepare grated fresh lime…

Chop, mince and slice fresh garlic, basil and green onions…

Mix all ingredients listed below and add olive oil and balsamic.

Slice a french baquette and brush a small amount of olive oil on the bread.  Place in the oven for about five minutes (400 degrees) until lightly toasted.

Spoon asparagus mixture on each toasted baquette and sprinkle with gorgonzola cheese

Are you hungry yet?

Here is the official how to…

• 1/2 pound fresh asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1/2 inch pieces
• 3 cups of water
• 2 cups of chopped heirloom tomatoes
• 1/4 cup minced fresh basil
• 3 green onions, chopped
• 3 tablespoons lime juice
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon of aged balsamic vinegar
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 1/2 teaspoons grated lime peel
• 1/4 teaspoon sea-salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 12 slices French baguette, toasted
• 1/2 cup crumbled Gorgonzola cheese

In a large saucepan, bring water to a boil. Add the asparagus; cover and boil for 2-4 minutes. Drain and immediately place asparagus in ice water. Drain and pat dry.

In a bowl, combine the asparagus, tomatoes, basil, onions, lime juice, oil, balsamic, garlic, lime peel, salt and pepper. Using a slotted spoon, spoon asparagus mixture onto toasted baguette slices. Sprinkle with gorgonzola cheese and enjoy!

Thank you e-trender for this tasty D.I.Y.

Creative Crush: Suzi Molak

As creative people, nothing inspires us more than chatting with other creative people around us. What better way to share our knowledge of the design and planning industry than to ask our fellow experts on what they do best. Today we are excited to share some tips and inspiration from Longview Gallery‘s Events Director, Suzi Molak. After working in galleries and events for six years in New York, Suzi transitioned to life in D.C. where she oversaw the construction of Longview Gallery and drew up a model for how the venue would host events. Suzi believed in “showing the D.C. arts scene that a gallery doesn’t just have to be a gallery.” Anyone that has done an event at Longview Gallery knows how unique this raw space is. Having just coveted the front page spot of BizBash D.C.’s “Innovation Issue”, we thought what better time to introduce Suzi to our readers and have her share her expertise.

Click here to view an electronic copy of this issue.

Below You’ll Find Suzi’s Top 5 Tips To Consider When Looking for a Venue:

1.  Initially – Be Brief
Your first contact with a venue should be in regards to cost and seating capacity.  If these two items don’t work, there is no reason to explore further.  Your time is precious and your list long – make it easy on yourself to narrow down your search.

2.  Don’t be scared of a Venue Fee
Remember that Venues price themselves to be competitive. An all inclusive hotel- when you get down to the final numbers – might be relatively the same cost as a Venue where all items are brought in.

3.  Have a Connection
You are going to be working with your vendors for a year or more.  Make sure that you feel comfortable that you can ask them questions and that they take the time to explain them in a way that makes you feel secure. Strive for rapport.

4.  Exclusive Vendors Should Not be a Deterrent
You want the best teams working together on your wedding or special event. If a venue has exclusive vendors, it means they have earned the right to be in that space, time and time again.

5.  Early End Times are a Blessing in Disguise
Often times venues require an end time of 11pm.  Moving locations later in the evening (hotel bar, or hotel suite fully stocked) will allow the guests who should go home do so, and the guests who should stay, continue your evening with you.

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With our Creative Crushes we love to ask what gets their creative juices flowing. See the inspiration board below to get a glimpse of what Suzi is loving this month:

D.I.F.Y. = Do It For Yourself – Cocoa Comfort

What better way to D.I.F.Y. on a cold, rainy Wednesday evening than to curl up on the couch with hot cocoa. We are loving this easy home-made hot cocoa recipe that is sure to warm you up for the night!

This hot cocoa recipe calls for two different kinds of chocolate and is whipped to frothy perfection with half and half cream for an extra rich cup of cocoa (marshmallows optional, but recommended for maximum tasty-ness):

Ingredients

- 1 cup milk

- 1 cup half and half

- 8 tsp sugar

- 1 oz semisweet chocolate, chopped

- 1 oz unsweetened chocolate, chopped

- 1 tbs brown sugar

- 1/2 tbs vanilla

Preparation

1. Heat everything in a saucepan, except the vanilla, until the chocolate melts and the sugar dissolves

2. Pour half into a blender and mix until foamy

3. Return to the saucepan and add the vanilla

4. Stir briefly then serve (marshmallows optional)

5. Enjoy!

D.I.F.Y. = Do It For Yourself – Botanical Edition

With Spring here, what better way to enjoy a day off than taking a friend, loved one or entire family to visit the United States Botanic Garden (USBG). Steeped in history, rich with tradition, the United States Botanic Garden is one of the oldest botanic gardens in North America. The Garden highlights the diversity of plants worldwide, as well as their aesthetic, cultural, economic, therapeutic and ecological significance. The diversity of form, color, fruit, and fragrance reminds us that plants make our lives possible and enjoyable. So why not take a day and D.I.F.Y. and see what’s in bloom at the USBG!

Take the virtual tour to get a taste of what these grounds have in store for you!

Bridal Make-Up: Do You D.I.Y. or D.I.F.Y.?

To some brides, hiring a make-up artist for their wedding day seems like an unnecessary luxury.  However, it’s important to weigh the benefits before making a final decision. To help answer the question of, “Do I need a make-up artist?” we asked Ana Buitrago, an established make-up artist who freelances for Mac and also owns her own company. Ana is always up on the current make-up trends and was kind enough to share a few tips for our readers. If you have an upcoming wedding and are conflicted about whether or not you want a make-up artist, here are a few tips from Ana to help you make your decision.

[Photo credit: Ana Buitrago, MAC]

Six reasons you should D.I.F.Y. (Do It For Yourself) and hire a make-up artist for your wedding day:

• A make-up artist uses application techniques and products to ensure that your makeup will look flawless all day long
• A make-up artist will make sure all blemishes are properly covered, and can add a little extra to your look, such as faux lashes to bring out your eyes
• Your wedding day is a day to be pampered, and getting your makeup done should be a relaxing (not stressful!) experience
• A make-up artist will help you choose colors that best suit your skin tone and a style that fits your needs for your big day
• A make-up artist will only use makeup that looks good in pictures and won’t make your skin look washed out or muddy
• You’ve got your dream dress and you’re getting your hair done, so why not make sure your face is picture perfect also!

Should you decide to forgo hiring a make-up artist, here are some great D.I.Y. tips on doing your own bridal make-up:

• Choose a long-wearing foundation with good coverage that also looks good in pictures
• Choose an eyeliner and mascara that are waterproof just in case of happy tears
• Stay away from trend makeup for your wedding. Instead choose neutral eye shadow colors like bronze and mauve tones that never go out of style
• Use a lip liner before applying your lip color to add definition and staying power
• Use primers before applying your foundation and eye shadow to keep your makeup flawless all day

Should you have any questions you’d like to ask Ana, feel free to let us know or contact her directly:

www.anabuitrago.com | ana@anabuitrago.com | Facebook | Twitter

A Cherry Blossom Love Story

This week’s love story celebrates the centennial of the D.C. Cherry Blossoms! Originating from the 1912 gift of 3,000 cherry trees from Mayor Ozaki of Tokyo to the city of Washington, this annual celebration hosts more than a million people who admire the blossoming cherry trees along the Potomac tidal basin.

In honor of this fun time of year, why not add a little cherry blossom into your life.

Below are five great ways to incorporate the cherry blossom season:

1. Beautiful Bouquet: Can’t make it down to the cherry blossom festival this year? Fill your home with these beautiful blooms. If you can’t go to them, why not bring them to you.

2. Garland It Up: Check out etsy for paper garland cherry blossom inspiration! No need for it to be a party – why not celebrate the season for yourself. String these fun paper blossoms across your mantle, front door or chandelier to bring a bit of the cherry blossom festivities into your home. (Bonus feature: These blossoms have a shelf life of more than 7 days.)

3. Fashion Inspiration: If you don’t want to take a literal approach to the cherry blossom season, why not celebrate in pink tones. Cherry blossoms come in all shades – find your favorite chiffon or spring-flowing dress and incorporate the cherry blossom feel into your wardrobe.

4. Family Photo: Get the family dressed up and take a photo underneath the blooms. Not only is it a fun day out but it’s a lasting memory.

5. Plant a Tree: There is no better way to celebrate the season than to plant a cherry blossom tree for yourself or for someone you love. Check out your local garden center for information – we love Merrifield Garden Center.

Click here for a comprehensive list of all D.C. Cherry Blossom festival details!

[photo credit: left, top right, bottom right]