Blonder Ambitions

Beauty. Intelligence. Lifestyle.

Lust List – October

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1. Nautilus Shell Dress $67.99 Perfect for an autumn night date. 2. Crisp Lager Boots $728 They go with jeans, a coat, or a dress. So versatile. 3. Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Pur Couture $30 Red is the lip color for fall. 4. Illamasqua Nail Varnish in Scarab $14 Dark and pearlescent. Mesmerizing. 5. Juicy Couture Chiffon Bow Scarf $68 Cozy and fashionable.  The bow keeps it girly. 6. With a Smile ... Read the Post

Ten Drool Worthy Items This Month

Who Puts Books in a Bookcase?

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This bookcase was old and in a scrap heap ready to go to the dump.  It was dark wood with a ton of stains.  I added a coat of primer and then two coats of Rustoleum's Heirloom White latex in a can.  After I had a white bookcase, it still didn't have enough character.  I took some scrapbooking paper with a pattern that appealed to me and used double stick tape to adhere it to the back of the ... Read the Post

Okay, so I do. I love books. And a few are on this bookcase. But only the really pretty ones.

How To: Design a Tablescape

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My friends are always asking for tips and tricks on how to organize a fun and festive table.  First, pick your color scheme.  It can be anything.  Don't limit yourself to what you think should go together... Go with what you like.  For this table, I picked blue, pink, and bright yellow.  I also wanted the overall feel to be chic, yet whimsical.  To achieve a lighthearted feel, mix patterns.  I ... Read the Post

Tips and Tricks on how to design fun and festive table decor.

Kristin and Chad – The Wedding Gallery

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♥ Elysium of Santa Barbara (my company!) provided the decor for this Orange County wedding ♥ ... Read the Post

Elysium of Santa Barbara (my company!) provided the decor for this Orange County wedding

Kristin and Chad… Elysium Designs the Decor for a Gorgeous Wedding

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I was lucky enough to be approached by a young and very talented woman (she is an artist with hair and owns her own salon in Orange County!) to do the decor for her wedding.  She had a vision... In her words, "Shabby chic meets simple elegance."  The opportunity to expand Elysium all the way to Orange County (the ceremony and reception were hosted in San Juan Capistrano) was one that I could not ... Read the Post

Elysium of Santa Barbara... my event design and coordination company... put on this Orange County, California wedding.

How To: Make an Inspiration Board

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Inspiration boards are vital.  Visual imagery is an important motivating tool and can also instantly improve your mood, drive, and outlook... Take a corkboard, some images, quotes, photos, anything that you love and tack it up.  The beautiful thing about this is that your inspiration board can change daily.  Fill it with whatever strikes your fancy. I covered my board with some of my doodles, ... Read the Post

Always a good idea to have goals and things that motivate you. Bonus points if they're pretty.