906 E. Chic: May 2013

5.10.2013

how to: throw a fiesta inspired mothers day brunch...

usually i throw a mothers day brunch.

this year we are mixing it up a little bit

and going to other people's homes instead.

so i get the day off!!!

but that doesn't mean

i can't share with

all of you

what i would do

if i was throwing a brunch for mom.

Fiesta Inspired Mothers Day Brunch 101

tip #1

find an unusual location. you don't have to stay at home. find a public park or garden. there is no law against making your picnic a 5 star dining experience. see this post OH HAPPY DAY! on how to throw up a pop up dinner party in a pretty public spot.

tip #2

use pretty linens on your table! be creative i use old curtains, sheets, anything i can get my hands on around the house to make it look like something special. leave those plastic table clothes for kids parties. i love to find old curtains at Restore and Goodwill. a good cleaning with some oxy clean and lavender linen spray make a world of different. you have no idea the power of oxy clean and its ability of bringing old fabric back to life. i especially love lace curtains because you can layer them over a colored piece of fabric underneath- so chic!

tip #3

use succulents to jazz up your place settings. i am in love with succulents. i first encountered them on my cousin Jaci's beautiful deck- then we met again in the clearance section of Lowes this winter and we have been together ever since. you should hook up with them too.

you will be glad you did.

image source

tip #4

make some kind of taco

image source

tip #5

make a cake and a tissue tassel garland amigo! or just a tissue paper garland...

image source

tip #6

make sure to have a yummy fruity cocktail to celebrate the day.

10 Unexpected Brunch Cocktails: image source

tip #7

dress up some lindt truffles with a little crepe paper and ribbon as to-go favors.

image source

now you are all set to impress

mom with your mad

entertaining skills.

and you don't have to break a sweat planning it all.

i did it for you : )

5.09.2013

5 easy flowers to use for beginner gardener...

here is something

you probably didn't know about me-

i use to moonlight as a landscaper.

jack of all trade

ladies and gentlemen.

i was a personal assistant

for a super wealthy lady

who had a minor obsession

with buying $300-400 worth of flowers

every couple days.

i got to learn a lot about gardening

and got paid to do it.

i really did enjoy it.

there is something extremely satisfying

about planting and tending to a garden.

except i hate being hot,

so i like to do my work in the morning or evening

otherwise it becomes a chore

and not free zen therapy.

this year i am going with all purple flowers.

i like to use just one color when I garden.

i feel like this helps give a cohesive look

and has a really high visual impact.

this year our little grey house

was saying

"i need me some purple up in here!"

so i gave the house what it wanted.

{secretly hoping that maybe it would give me what I wanted-

a dishwasher-

but sadly it did not return the favor}

our house is kind of a cottage-esque

so i went with cottage garden flowers.

here is what will be blooming at 906 this summer:

petunias

these are easy, peasy, can't mess them up lemon squeezy. they grow like weeds, they flower for a loooong time, and you can forget to water them and they won't die too fast which can be a good thing for beginners.

purple petunias: image source

impatiens

these shade loving babies are great to do in clumps of 3-5, along borders, or even in container gardens.

they are cheap, easy to care, and look fantastic as they grow in, especially if you give them a little extra lovin' with some miracle grow.

variety of impatiens: image source

salvia

these purple beauties will give you some great height, color, and do good in dry soil. they attract humming birds and again {do you see a theme here?} low maintenance.

purple salvia: image course

creeping phlox

i love these cottage garden flowers because of their spill factor and ability to look like a mound of flowers which is essential to any cottage garden.

emerald blue creeping phlox: image source

hostas

while these are not purple-they are your best filler friends when it comes to low maintenance gardening. you plant them, you water them, they grow, and in a couple of years you divide them into 3 more plants- for FREE.

hostas: image source

so throw on some gloves and get in the dirt. it's spring ya'll and it's time to be outside. plus if you wanna sell your house and want some easy curb appeal-

landscaping is where it's at...