Starfish Cottage

Dessert Platter

Not long ago, I had to bring treats to a meeting, so I decided to make a beautiful dessert platter, combining some homemade goodies with store bought items...here's how I did it!

First, I took inspiration from one of Ina Garten's (The Barefoot Contessa) cookbooks...isn't her dessert platter gorgeous?

Next, I assembled some yummy goodies, a large platter and some silk leaves.

I made this delicious pound cake (from scratch- thank you very much!)...

I also took some store-bought shortbread cookies and dipped them in chocolate to make them extra special...

and a batch of "box" brownies, for all the chocolate lovers!

Next, I arranged everything neatly on the platter...

Finally, I added some strawberries  and leaves for a pop of color.

Almost looks good enough to eat...

Hammocks...

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If you have ever spent any significant amount of time in a hammock, then you will understand this post...

I love hammocks swathed in white and sheer fabric...

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I love hammocks in the mountains...

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I love hammocks in the woods...

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but my favorite are hammocks by the ocean...

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Go find a hammock somewhere this summer with a good book and a tall glass of lemonade and you can thank me later!

 

Villa Blanca the Wine...

In my last post I forgot to mention that Villa Blanca has their very own private label wines...and they are so beautiful!

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I LOVE their design- beautiful label and the hand-dipped white wax sealer is so great...am I the only one who wants a bottle?

 

Villa Blanca the Restaurant...

If I could design a restaurant, it might look like Villa Blanca,

(you all know about me and the color white)...

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The entire restaurant is white!  (Very daring in the hospitality/food business wouldn't you say?)  The flowers are white, the tablecloths, and much of the upholstery and furnishings.  It has accents of beige and silver and crystal which are nice.  Also, it has a European/Mediterranean feel which is beautiful.  Here are some more photos...enjoy!

The designer is Lisa Vanderpump, notorious for her role on the Bravo Real Housewives of Beverly Hills...she has done a superb job on this restaurant, if you ask me...I would love to visit someday!  If anyone has ever gone, comment on this post and let me know how it was!?

(all photos courtsey the Villa Blanca website...link)

 

2012: A New Business Venture, Possibly a New House...

This year has been very busy indeed.  I am proud to say that I have launched a new business venture called Signature Scents Collection.  Click here for the link to the website.

The Signature Scents Collection is a line of luxurious home and spa fragrance collections inspired by beautiful places, we have coastal, highcountry, hometown and collegiate scents- all with custom labels.  The line is sold to exclusive retailers, shops, and hotels.  We have plans to expand into custom wedding candles, sorority and fraternity fragrances and many other exciting markets.

Our products are made in the U.S. with the highest quality natural ingredients and no artificial dyes or animal testing.  The soy based ingredients are highly fragrant and the labels are simple and elegant.  Every order is custom and made to order, so the products remain their freshest.

While I had hoped to get to the July AmericasMart Gift Market in Atlanta, I will probably have to wait until next January...in the meantime, the collection is growing steadily and we are pleased with it's reception in the marketplace.  If you have any questions or inquiries about developing a line of fragrances or becoming an exclusive retailer, feel free to contact me.

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That said, on a personal note, we are finally "under contract" to buy a wonderful coastal cottage...after looking for several weeks, we came back to a house that I have had my eye on for a long time.  Since the house is a "short sale" the process is taking quite a while to get final approvals, so I have had to be VERY patient and VERY optimistic...please say a prayer for me and cross all your fingers and toes it works out!  I will have SO MANY decorating projects and room makeovers to blog about if everything works out!!!  (YAY).  I can't wait to tell you all about it and show you all photos of it, but I have to be patient and wait it out!

So now you know why I have been a little absent from the blog earlier this year...a lot of balls in the air on top of my design business, clients, and family life...never a dull moment around here at Starfish Cottage, I tell you! 

(P.S.Thanks for listening to me ramble on about life...)

Bruschetta Grilled Chicken

I don't believe in past lives...BUT...if I had lived in a past life, I think I was Italian!  I LOVE Italian food...pasta, pizza, garlic, etc!  I also love super fresh ingredients and the combination of tomatoes, basil and garlic.  So this recipe is a real winner for me...Bruschetta Grilled Chicken. 

I am quite sure I did not invent the recipe, but I just whipped this up one day and it has been a real favorite...who doesn't need a new way to fix chicken?!

First, marinate boneless chicken breast cutlets in your favorite Italian dressing or marinade...overnight or for a day or two is great!  Then grill up your chicken and put on your serving platter.

While your preparing your chicken, make up a quick bruschetta- I use chopped fresh tomatoes, garlic, red onion, basil, then drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar (if you have it).  Add salt and pepper, and I always add a dash of sugar to sweeten the tomatoes...combine everything in a bowl and let it sit for a while to allow the flavors to "marry".

Top your grilled chicken with the bruschetta topping and garnish the platter with fresh basil.

I like to serve this dish with a fresh tossed salad and hot crusty garlic bread.

This is such a great summer meal- easy but elegant.

 The entire meal can be prepared in advance (marinate chicken, chop and prep bruschetta and salad) all you have to do is grill the chicken, heat up the garlic bread, dress your salad and you are good to go.  Enjoy!

Inspiration Tags

So file this idea under "simple but elegant"...I like to make little tags that have inspirational words, like "hope", "faith", "dream", "peace", etc... If you have stamps, you can stamp them, if not, just type and print them in an elegant font.  Then cut them into the shape of a tag- use a hole punch, and tie them to all kinds of things for a thoughtful, elegant touch.

I use mine for napkin ties...

They also make great wine glass tags...to help guests identify their drinks easily at a party...

these would be great at a wedding...

I also use them tied to a small gift for a special touch...

By simply changing the words, the font, the color of the papers and ribbons...these could be casual and cute for a BarBQue or more casual look...the possibilities are endless!

 

I (heart) Turquoise

We all know WHITE is my very favorite "color", but a close second is TURQUOISE...I like to wear it and decorate with it, and use it in all kinds of ways.

Maybe it's a favorite because it is the color of the ocean in the Carribbean...

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I love turquoise stones when paired with silver in jewelry...

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I love turquoise-inlaid western belt buckles...

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I love turquoise decor...

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and turquoise clothes like this fabulous tunic...

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There is even an entire blog dedicated to the love of turquoise... House of Turquoise...check it out for even more turquoise eye candy!

Mother's Day Gift Basket

This Mother's Day I put together a simple but beautiful gift basket filled with farm fresh produce...

 

The colors were so beautiful, all it needed was a cute cloth napkin and a little gift tag.

 

In the gift bag were some favorite recipies, a homemade pound cake, and some strawberries.

 

We fixed a great meal that night using all our farm-fresh ingredients- what could be more fun or healthy?

 

Happy Mother's Day everyone!

 

 

 

Top 5 Beach Totes-

When selecting a tote bag for the beach there are so many to choose from...here are my top five picks:

1. Classic Canvas Tote Bags- you can't go wrong here, they come in tons of colors and sizes, with monogramming too!

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2. Jute tote bags...I love this one with the anchor from Ballard Designs...jute bags are very lightweight but hold a lot of cargo!

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3. For a European look, go for a large woven french market basket like this...these are great because the sand falls right off- they look good at the beach, the pool, the market, very versatile.

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4. Colorful beach mesh bags- wonderful for carrying buckets and pails, since they are made of woven plastic, they are very washable and water-resistant.

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5. Designer beach bags- like this one from Vera Bradley- it even has a matching towel!

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Whatever you choose, I always say "go big or go home", I would rather lug one very large bag with everything to the beach than have to make several trips!  Happy Summer!