With the weather warming up, we’re already dreaming about spring trends and colors! A must-have accessory that every stylish trendsetter should have this spring 2012 is a cute picnic basket to take out on those sunny days at the park or beach. We’ve always wanted a picnic basket since we were a young girl in tutu, and now would be the perfect time to get one. Here are our favorite pics for stylish, retro-inspired, and affordable picnic baskets.
1. Chateau Medley 2. Sutherland 3. Picnic Cooler 4. Household Essentials 5. Piccadilly Willow 6. Laura Ashley
Option #3 is great for those last minute picnic adventures and easy to transport, while Option #1 or #4 would be the perfect touch to a romantic sunset getaway with your main squeeze. We love the unique shapes that Option #2 and #6 come in! A heart shaped picnic basket is different and would be so cute to carry around. Option #5 is an adorable classic picnic basket–awesome for a retro photoshoot or day in the sun!
Half the week is over and we couldn’t be more excited! To celebrate we’re suggesting easy recipes to make an apricot champagne sangria to drink with prosciutto stuffed mushrooms! (Ah.. so yummy!) Since prosciutto is an Italian based cut of meat, we figured, “Why not enjoy it with some homemade sangria?” We found a great prosciutto-stuffed mushroom appetizer from Food Network and a very easy apricot champagne sangria recipe for you to make in your own kitchen. Have a great hump day happy hour!
Prosciutto-Stuffed Mushroom
Ingredients
3 (8-ounce) packages fresh baby bella mushrooms, wiped clean
2 tablespoons butter
1 (5-ounce) package prosciutto, chopped
1/4 cup minced fresh chives
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/2 tablespoon lemon zest
1/4 teaspoon dried tarragon
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Remove the stems from the mushrooms. Finely chop enough mushroom stems to equal 1/3 cup. Discard the remaining mushroom stems.
In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the prosciutto, chives, and chopped mushroom stems. Cook, stirring frequently, until the prosciutto is crisp and the stems are tender, about 6 minutes. Reduce the heat to low. Add the cream cheese, mustard, lemon zest, tarragon, and pepper, stirring until the mixture is combined. Remove from the heat.
Spoon the cream cheese mixture evenly into the mushroom caps; place on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake 20 minutes. Serve immediately.
Cook’s Note: Mushrooms can be stuffed 2 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate.
Apricot Champagne Sangria
Ingredients to make it:
One bottle of your favourite kind of well-chilled Champagne
Two apricots, with the pits removed and all sliced up into pieces
One ounce of apricot brandy
One quarter of a cup of white sugar
Apricot Sangria
Putting it all together:
Pour the chilled champagne into a pitcher, and then add in the diced up apricots, apricot brandy, and the quarter cup of white sugar. Mix well and serve it immediately so the champagne doesn’t lose its fizz factor. It can be served over lots of crushed ice to make it even colder!
Thanks to Food Network and Mulled Wine Recipe for the ideas and instructions!
0 What are your plans for this year’s 2012 Valentine’s Day? Got a hot date? Or maybe you’re banning together with other independent ladies for an Anti-Valentine’s Day bash? Whatever your plans or personal feelings about the holiday (is it a real holiday?), Wedding Elegance has the perfect outfit for the evening! Pairing some sleek “little black dress” action with chic accessories, will take you from classy to showstopper in seconds. We created this inspiration board to help you figure out the year’s second most romantic night–the first being your anniversary, of course!
{Maggy London Dress, Marc by Marc Jacobs Earrings, Alexis Bittar Bracelet, Sergio Rossi Pumps, Kate Spade Clutch}
We’re loving Maggy London’s lace ruffle dress as a romantic LBD option. The gold bracelet paired with the nude pumps offer just enough sparkle for the evening, and the Kate Spade clutch is just too adorable. If you’re wondering where all the red is–well just make sure your date takes a closer look of you when you wear the Marc by Marc Jacobs earrings 
. These cute small red heart earrings also work well for those who aren’t big on wearing red on Valentine’s Day. The best part of this outfit? Everything can be purchased at our second home– Nordstrom.
Love is in the air… Happy Valentine’s Day 2012!
Thanks to our friends over at VeeV Acai Spirit, we’re highlighting this great low-calorie drink for our 2012 brides to consider. This sunny drink goes perfectly with spring or summer weddings. Served at cocktail hour as a signature drink or something to complement the palate during dinner, it really invokes images of summery nights outdoors. It’s also a happy hour and TGIF-friendly cocktail to have after a long work day with your coworkers or best buds!
1 1/4 oz VeeV Acai Spirit
2 lemon wedges (squeezed)
1/2 oz Natures Agave Raw
Club soda
Sprig of mint or basil (optional)
Squeeze the lemon wedges and shake all ingredients well with ice. Strain into ice-filled rocks glass, top with club soda. Garnish with mint!
So easy to make a skinny acai lemonade drink–easy on the taste buds and calories!
0 The 46th Superbowl is taking place on February 5, 2012 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN with the New England Patriots taking on the New York Giants. We found some great ideas to use if you’re hosting a football or Superbowl party at your home. Just because the sport has been traditionally male dominated doesn’t mean you can’t put a creative and festive twist on a Superbowl party!
{Cake Pop Basket, Patriots Cookies, Giants Invite, Ticket Invitations}
We are totally digging the idea of football themed snacks! They’re fairly easy to make, and great finger foods. Chicken fingers, buffalo bites, french fries, chicken wings, quesadillas, salami and cheese crackers, deviled eggs, and our favorite: chili in mason jars! Pictures courtesy of Hostess with the Mostess.
Nahid Farhoud founder and owner of Wedding Elegance by Nahid is internationally recognized for combining passion for design and décor with her extensive knowledge of different cultures, to create wedding events that are unique, festive and memorable.
Rasm E Mehndi is one event in the many celebrations of Pakistani weddings. The literal meaning is “Henna Party” or “Henna Ritual.” This event is traditionally thrown by the bride’s family (as it is mainly a women’s only event), but trends have recently changed allowing the groom’s family to do Read more →
FACEBOOK
TWITTER
PINTEREST
INSTAGRAM