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REVERIE LIFESTYLE: FLORENCE FINDS HOLIDAY PARTY TIPS

18 December 2012 | SEE MORE: Florence Finds, Lifestyle | Comments { 6 }

We know all of you are probably in the throes of finessing your holiday party plans, and with just one week away from Christmas, we asked our resident lifestyle expert, Rebecca from Florence Finds, for her tips on making your holiday party unforgettable. Take it away, Rebecca!

Reverie-Expert

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Have a Jolly New Year readers!

As it’s the party season, I thought for this month’s Reverie Lifestyle, I would compile my top tips for a festive feast. I love entertaining over the festive period and can’t wait to throw our New Years party on the 31st. Whether you’re holding a holiday drinks party, Boxing Day buffet or New Years celebration, follow my tips for the perfect party.

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1. Set the Scene. Everyone loves receiving mail and there’s nothing more special than a fancy invitation. If you’re short on time or planning a last minute gathering, Paperless Post have fine stationery designs for every type of party and if you do have time, many of them can be bought in paper format too.

Marshmallow chandelier // Cranberry Popcorn Garland // Balloons // Glitter decor

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2. Decorate. To get people in the mood on arrival, make an impression with your decor. Festoon a room with garlands that are budget conscious, made of popcorn or marshmallow. Float balloons, hang poms and add glitter accessories that you can pick up cheaply in the sales.

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Cocktail recipes and imagery, all from Spoon Fork Bacon

3. Fizz. Choose a signature cocktail or two with warm and rich flavours that reflect the holiday spirit and keep your guests warm from the inside out!

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Kate Spade Confetti Dinnerware // Charger table setting

4. Pile your table high. Christmas is about indulgence as Nigella says, so create a table fit for a feast. PIle your plates high – charger first, Dinner plate then side plate. Finish with a table gift or cracker and napkin. If you can afford it, splash out on gold cutlery and choose metallic accents on your glasses. Finish with a sparkling table cloth, fresh flowers, candles and baubles in toning shades.

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Party Hats (DIY Tutorial)

5. Add some Fun. Easy Party games are a great way of keeping people entertained and circulating. Try the old fashioned game of taping a person or object to guests backs that they have to ask other guests questions about to reveal their identity. If your guests are not the party game type, just add props for dress up fun.

Merry Christmas!

Reverie Magazine

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REVERIE LIFESTYLE: FLORENCE FINDS A MODERN NURSERY

28 November 2012 | SEE MORE: Baby & Pregnancy, Florence Finds, Lifestyle | Comments { 7 }

For our new lifestyle series Reverie Baby, we are all about functional-yet-stylish designs for the modern mom. So for our first feature on modern nurseries for Reverie Baby, there really was nobody more suited to recommend chic and creative nursery ideas that are also fabulously gender neutral than our resident lifestyle expert, Rebecca from Florence Finds. Now, over to you, Rebecca!

Hello Reverie readers! Rebecca here from Florence Finds, back to bring you your dose of lifestyle inspiration. In honour of Mary’s impending arrival, we’re talking interiors this month with nursery ideas. Being Reverie however, it had to be a special one and something different. Walk into any Mama’s and Papa’s store and you can get a cookie-cutter nursery to install in your home, but if you’re looking for something a little different, I have some modern, but no less child appropriate ideas for a nursery that fits with your style ideas too.


Rabbit lamp – White Rabbit England // Sleep set with Ears – The White Company // Tripod Cot – Funky Nursery // Snowy Penguin – The White Company // Wing back chair – John Lewis // Zinc House – Rowen and Wren // Knit print and whale print cushions – Heals // Children’s Tee Pee – Little Smiles // RAR Eames Plastic Arm chair – Aram Store

  • Try an updated version of the traditional cuddly stuffed animal with this transluscent white lamp.
  • Break away from the traditional wooden cot-bed with this modern tripod rocker
  • Every baby needs sleep suits and stuffed toys but keep the look chic (or gender neutral,) with cool and cosy greys.
  • Choose a nursing chair that suits your grown-up aesthetic and nods to childhood with grown up wingback features and a Dachshund print.
  • Soft furnishings don’t have to be cutesy with chunky knit prints and a quirky whale.
  • Forgo a nightlight with this zinc house to throw patterns on the nursery walls and use an LED candle inside for safety.
  • Rock baby to sleep in a design classic – what better credentials to start a stylish life?!

Have you seen any children’s decor ideas with great design that you love but they will appreciate too?

Love,
Rebecca

 

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HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

20 November 2012 | SEE MORE: Lifestyle | Comments { 4 }

Somehow, yet again, the holidays have snuck up on us. But this particular holiday, is oh-so-special. We absolutely love how it brings together the family, whether it be a small get-together of expats living abroad or a family reunion, or just you and your partner savoring the downtime together. And of course we love the carte blanche policy to eat anything – and everything!

We’ll be closed for the Thanksgiving holidays at Reverie HQ this week but will be back with more goodies to share in a week’s time. For now, we’ll say Happy Thanksgiving to all of you with some delectable finds that are sure to make your feast the talk of the town!

 

The above – our all-time favorite – pumpkin pie… with hazelnut crust.

German chocolate pecan pie bars.

Feel warm + fuzzy with cider punch.

Pumpkin-chocolate swirl buns.

For the veggies, roasted kabocha squash soup.

Umm, we want. In tummy. Now. Pumpkin white chocolate vanilla swirl cheesecake bars.

Exotic mushroom gravy to pour over that turkey.

Herbed chestnut stuffing to, you know, stuff yourselves silly.

And topping it with orange-scented cranberry sauce.

Balancing the meal with lemon garlic brussel sprouts.

A killer barbecued corn on the cob, Mexican-style.

Savor the ultimate in fusion food! Pumpkin pie wontons.

Finally, for the morning after… Cinnamon pancakes with a cinnamon roll glaze.

 

Feeling thankful + blessed,

MLH & KT xx

 

{ Image via Good Things Grow }

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DREAM. FIND. DO…

2 August 2012 | SEE MORE: Florence Finds, Lifestyle | Comments { 6 }

We couldn’t let the week pass without telling you about the newest venture of Rebecca from Florence Finds. As a member of Reverie’s extended ‘family’, we couldn’t be more excited for her as she kicks off her new project with Michelle from Pocketful of Dreams.

Dream. Find. Do. is a new blogging masterclass and website for folks new to the blogging world. So if you’re thinking about starting a blog to keep track of your wedding planning progress, or you’re itching to support your new business venture with a kick-ass blog, then Dream.Find.Do. is for you.

The Dream. Find. Do. workshop will lift the lid on those all-important techniques needed todevelop a hobby or business blog. With tips, advice and support from two bloggers who have been there, done that and learnt a lot along the way.

With an emphasis on practical skills, the full weekend workshop will cover everything needed to get started or improve an existing blog. Laying the foundations with the basic essentials every blog should have, the team will cover everything from photography and Photoshop know-how right through to advertising, monetisation and PR guidance to take your blog to the next level. Attendees will learn key skills and techniques to take away and use to develop their blog, in a fun and friendly environment with the support of the Dream. Find. Do. team.

And Michelle and Rebecca understand the importance of community and collaboration so the weekend isn’t just all about learning. It’s also a chance to meet like-minded bloggers, to network, build contacts and make new friends. At the end of day one attendees are invited to kick back and relax as the team host a relaxed evening of friendship building and informal contact building,(included in the course fee.)

To find out more about this wonderful opportunity, and to read the brilliant Dream.Find.Do blog that’s chock full of blogging tips and resources, simply click HERE.

Image credits: Leo Bojesen.

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REVERIE LIFESTYLE: FLORENCE FINDS 5 FAVOURITES FOR SUMMER ENTERTAINING…

30 July 2012 | SEE MORE: Florence Finds, Lifestyle | Comments { 8 }

 

Hello Reverie seekers! It’s me, Rebecca, popping in again from Florence Finds.

I’m so distracted by the beautiful weather that’s fleetingly returned to our lovely country that all I can think of is outdoors entertaining. After last months post on Festival Chic, I thought we could go a little more sophisticated this month and plan the ideal dinner party.

‘Dinner party’ sounds a little formal for the way I prefer to entertain, with sharing plates heaped with food for everyone to dive into, but occasionally I want to flex a little culinary muscle and gussy up for an evening of elegant entertaining. It’s not often I get to dig out these recipes, but here are 5 of my favourite for when the temperature rises and the nights are balmy.

 

 

Do share your favourite recipe here today and enjoy the rest of the warmer weather.

 

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REVERIE LIFESTYLE: FLORENCE FINDS FESTIVAL CHIC

25 June 2012 | SEE MORE: Florence Finds, Lifestyle | Comments { 2 }

 

Hello again! It’s Rebecca here, stopping in from Florence Finds with festival chic to brighten up your summer.

Perhaps you’re heading off to a festival this year or if you’re not that lucky, recreate the vibe in the comfort of your own back garden. Set up a tent, eat alfresco, lounge on the grass and soak up the vibe without any of the traveling chaos and washroom nightmares!


{ Image Credits: Bell tent – BellTent.com // Red paraffin lantern – SoulPad and Cream mini lantern – Laura Ashley // Bolster cushion – Plumo // Vintage floral cushions – Graham and Green // Moroccan Wedding throw - Try ebay, Etsy or Momo Interiors // Folk Picnicware – John Lewis // Portable BBQ – Bodum at John Lewis // Pom Pom Garland – find similar on Etsy // Wasp catcher – Graham and Green

 }

Florence’s Tips for Festival Chic:


Invest in a bell tent for stylish yet practical surroundings. They’re great for family fun or groups of friends and can sleep 6-8 around the central pole. If it’s just the two of you, spread out and properly set up home under canvas. 
Fill your new abode with piles of cushions and pillows, and keep stacks of blankets on hand to keep you warm around the camp fire as the night draws in. Choose a mismatch of patterns and prints for that eclectic festival look.


Don’t forget the food! Even if you don’t have to, it’s fun to eat alfresco.

Invest in a cheap portable barbecue and cook outside, or just use it to keep warm and toast marshmallows.

Decorate your space. Pick some garden stems and place them in a bottle on a table, hang pom pom garlands or bunting and use lanterns or strings of battery operated or solar powered fairy lights to light up your camp at night. It all adds to the magic and makes you feel at home.

Now all we need is some summer weather…

 

{ Find more finds from Rebecca on her blog Florence Finds }

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REVERIE LIFESTYLE: FLORENCE FINDS AN AMERICAN HOLIDAY

28 May 2012 | SEE MORE: Florence Finds, Lifestyle | Comments { 12 }


The [USA] Honeymoon Hot-list

In the UK the weather is finally playing ball and as I write this I’m currently in the good old U. S. of A. It’s left me feeling a little nostalgic about my honeymoon – a Californian road trip. Honeymoons to far flung beaches are ten a penny but America has so much to offer and my best holiday memories are scattered across the continent. In that spirit, for this months Reverie lifestyle offering I decided to round up a selection of hotels that I have stayed in or visited. A personal selection that you might bookmark for a future holiday or perhaps use if you’re planning a US road trip or honeymoon of your own.

New York
No self respecting Americophile can leave New York off their must-do list and it makes a great stop off point on route to the west coast, Caribbean or even a starting point for an East coast road trip.

Location is key, so stay on the edge of the East village, a couple of blocks across from NoHo, Greenwich Village, SoHo and the uber cool Lower East Side at The Cooper Square Hotel. Recently taken over by The Standard hotel group it’s design conscious and quietly luxe, with a great bar and an even better geographical starting point for your NYC adventure. Freemans restaurant is a must do for that ‘living like a local’ feel.

San Francisco


Ditch the tourist traps in the Union Square area and opt for the bay views from the Hotel Vitale. With an eco look to the decor and a focus on farm to table food, channel your inner self with the early morning Yoga classes watching the sunrise. Once you’ve done your good deed for the day, the hotel is located right next to public transport links or it’s a 15 minute walk to Union Square. The Embarcadero opposite the hotel has lots of restaurants (try The Slanted Door) and the hotel bar is bouncing for pre dinner cocktails.

The Pacific Coast Highway.
When I planned a West Coast road trip for my husband and I’s honeymoon we wanted a stop off on route down Big Sur that wasn’t a motel and this next recommendation was a real gem of a find.


At the lower end of Big Sur, it is drivable in a day (we came from Napa, although I’d recommend starting from San Framcisco or further south) and the welcome at the Anderson Inn at Morro Bay is legendary. We were introduced to the family in their restaurant, upgraded to a huge bay view room and ridiculously well fed in the family owned restaurant. One of the best independent restaurants we have stayed at, ever.

Los Angeles


For that characteristic design I always associate with the mid-century West Coast and California, the decor at The Viceroy is knock out. With sea views (one block back from the famous Santa Monica beach) and a cool pool side vibe for catching some sun, it’s also close to Third Street Promenade from shopping, eating and people watching. Try M Street Kitchen around the corner for anything from breakfast to cocktails and a great Californian fresh food style.

I hope you enjoyed my selection and please do drop me a comment below if you have any other recommendations for the readers planning A USA honeymoon or road trip!

Happy travels!

Find more Lifestyle advice and inspiration over on Rebecca’s blog Florence Finds.



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