Kristin van Ogtrop's Blog, page 445

Amy Atlas Dessert Tables

There's no denying that New York City event planner extraordinaire Amy Atlas is taking over America with her fantastic dessert tables! What's next, Oprah? I'm willing to bet - Amy is a true talent. She creates themed dessert tables for a broad range of clients and each time I see one I ooh and ahh over how much I love it! She also creates them for editorial spreads in magazines because they inspire so many ideas for those looking to throw a dessert party of their own. Recently, Amy designed a...

Isabel Toledo + Payless = First Lady Style For Under $40

The First Lady Michelle Obama wears her designs and now you can too! Seriously...

Fashion designer Isabel Toledo--who created the First Lady's lovely lemon-grass colored Inauguration day ensemble- is partnering with Payless to bring us shoes and handbags that will retail for no more than $40!

Now if that's not presidential...monumental....or just all-around fabulous then I don't know what is!

 

Toledo, the Cuban-born and New York based designer, is renowned for the shape and attention to...

The Last of A Moveable Feast

Hi, Bookies!

Well, what did you think?

The thing that was really hitting me these last few chapters was how Hemingway and Hadley kept bringing up luck or "knocking on wood" as if he was trying to make it seem like his fate was really completely out of his hands and he had no control over what happened in their lives. He blames the "pilot fish" for the fact that he let himself become vulnerable to the charms of the rich. But even sadder is that he claims his falling for another woman is "the...

Do You Send Moving Announcements?

When I moved from Kansas City to New York, I sent moving announcements. But I'm debating whether I should this time or not. I do love sending and receiving mail, but I'm torn over whether they are worth sending this time.

Supposing I do decide to send them, I'll probably make my own, but I've been looking for inspiration, and here are some of my favorites:

 

Classy Just Moved Announcement from findyourhappyheart on Etsy

Boston Skyline Moving Announcement from Saddle Stitch Studio on Etsy

 

a

And the Answer Is...

Yes! Club member favorite Jodi Picoult topped the May poll with her 18th novel, House Rules. Please join us later this week when RealSimple.com blogger Kate Parker, our discussion leader next month, will say hello and talk a little bit about your next book.

Are you reading this via an e-mail or RSS feed? If you wish to comment, please click here.

How Do You Deal With Jealousy? Let It Out or Keep It To Yourself?

Most of us get the green-eyed monster from time to time. Whether it's merely feeling a bit covetous of a friend's adorable necklace, of a fellow new mother's sleeping-through-the-night infant, or having pangs of jealousy when a sibling or loved one shows off their enormous, new house.

I've always found jealousy to be one of the trickiest emotions (or sins, technically), and one that can really trip up even the healthiest of friendships. It's strange and unsettling—how can you be very close...

Vodka or Tequila?

Last week, the Real Simple food team had a whiskey tasting in the office hosted by the great grandniece of Jack Daniel. (Grand=2 greats the publicist explained to me. I'm still not clear on the genealogy even after looking it up.) As she walked us through the company's various spirits, a few of us were surprised to hear that more than 20% of Jack Daniel's Black Label whiskey was consumed by women. It seems I've been laboring under the outdated stereotype that women don't really consume "brown...

Luxurious Linens

Leontine Linens makes some of my favorite custom monogrammed linens around. And boy do I love a good monogram. Their punchy colors and tradition-with-a-twist lettering styles are swoon-worthy. If you're in the position to splurge on some gorgeous couture-quality hand-embroidered bedding, look no further. They can really pull a room together and give it that one-of-a-kind style...

Their table linens are so chic, so classic... 

 
 
 While the bedding prices are just a bit (ehem - understatement) ...

Headboard Wall Decals

If you're as indecisive about home decor as I am, you'll love these Mina Javid headboard wall decals. I'll spend months getting a room exactly as I want it and then a few months later I'll get the urge to change things up.

I've had the same headboard for a few years now, and while it took some time and effort to upholster the plain wood planks that came with the bed frame, I do think I'm ready for a new look...and I just may have found it. These fun and fuss-free wall decals come in a...

The Perfect Rug + Design Tips

I recently found a website called The Perfect Rug where you can design your own custom rug in a few simple steps. There is even a video online showing how it's done (click here to view it).

The Perfect Rug offers over 550 choices of materials and designs at affordable prices and gives you the chance to create a rug that fits your space perfectly and quickly - most orders take 5 days to ship and others up to two weeks but that's it - quick and easy. Do you need a wide runner? A square sisal...