Laguna Culinary Arts

Summertime and the livin's easy

Nothing beats a sunset picnic on the beach of Santa Monica, with good girlfriends, good eats + drinks, live music, and ferris wheel lit up in the background. Every time I cruise along the boardwalk here I can't help but sing the catchy little tune "Come and Knock on My Door..." from my favorite show Three's Company.

Ed Hardy, please go away

You are super cheesy. You were never cool, you are not cool now, and I am sick of seeing you Ed Hardy. You have even sucked Madonna into your vortex of lameness!!! Please keep your hands on reality douchebags like Jon Gosselin, and leave everyone else who actually possess some style alone!

why don't you...

Pick up a copy of Downtown Chic: Designing Your Dream Home: From Wreck to Ravishing

by husband and wife and parents to 6, now 7 kids!!! Robert and Cortney Novogratz of Sixx Design in New York City. There creativity, passion, and love of design and family is inspiring. I couldn't set this down and read it cover to cover at the bookstore. You won't be disappointed.

Favorite Wedding Gift

My new mother-in-law graciously said for our wedding gift, she and my father-in law wanted to get us something special that we would have for years to come. Not an appliance or anything that would most likely break or would get tossed in a few years, but a piece of furniture . The first thing that popped into my head was a buffet. It offers tons of storage space for china, flatware, linens, and glasses, is a great for entertaining and serving dishes or drinks, and it can go anywhere in the home and isn't limited to the "dining room."

I first fell in love with a Jan Shower's mirrored commode while working at the David Sutherland Showroom in Los Angeles. It was Jan's Commode and I swore when I got married that I was going to have a few of her pieces in my home. In my search for the perfect mirrored buffet, that was a more affordable version than Jan's, I came across the Borghese Buffet at Z Gallerie and fell in love. It's priced at $1099.00 and if you ask, they will most likely knock off 10%. It's modern, yet traditional, holds all my pieces that I love to entertain with, and will always be known as my favorite wedding gift!

We're married!!!

We did it...and we did it our way!!! A picture is worth a thousand words, and by the expressions on our faces you can just picture the sheer happiness, love, and joy that my husband and I shared on our wedding day! It may sound cliche, but it truly was the best day of my life (so far)!

...We're off to Maui for a honeymoon in paradise, for some much needed lounging in the sun on the beach, sipping mai tais, and eating dessert every night!!!

I laugh when I see how serious our faces are in this one!!!

My mom had peacock feathers on her dress! She's quite the fashionista!

I wore my mom's veil, that we had re-worked and re-designed to be 2 parts (a long one for the ceremony, and a blusher to be kept on at the reception). My dressmaker was able to make a bolero to wear during the ceremony. I wanted a look reminiscent of an italian bride.

Surrounded by my older sister Dulcena (to the left) and my younger sister Chelsea (to the right) and all my best friends I have known since 7th grade.

All the little details...I love old fashioned candy and just had to have a candy bar in lieu of take home gifts.

The Ketubah with our monogram on it

It's all in the details...

My invitation was inspired by one I found in Martha Stewart Weddings. It was printed in gold and really sparkled. We carried the crown motif on to our RSVP cards and on the menu cards at each table.

A love note arrived with flowers and candles from my fiance while I was getting ready. He always sends me little "love notes" and this was a special one.

The Ketubah with our monogram

I found these Manolos at a Saks in Palm Desert over New Year's priced at $650 down to $183!!! Love a good deal!

I wanted all pink peonies (my favorite flower), but in March they're a little out of season, so my florist mixed in some garden roses. It complimented the monochromatic colors of the bridesmaid dresses.

My bouquet of white peonies and white garden roses. Simply stunning!

Dark pink, light pink, and white hydrangeas (my other favorite flower) were the centerpieces. I had long peacock feathers mixed in to give some drama. We also stood under a wrought iron archway filled with hydrangeas in the garden ceremony.

The cake had 5 different sized layers with 3 of my favorite flavors: Carrot Cake with a cream cheese filling, Red Velvet with cream cheese filling, Lemon with lemon curd and was frosted with Buttercream. It was so decadent and to die for! I chose fondant pearls to accent each layer and I found the vintage cake topper online!

"The Sweet Life," was appropriately the quote for our candy bags. Words to live by.

In lieu of take home gifts a vintage candy table was displayed for our guests. Chocolate covered strawberries and French macarons were also added to the desert table for them to enjoy!

Wedding Set List

As Guests Arrive

“Save A Prayer” by Duran Duran

“All My Love” by Led Zeppelin

“Sympathique” by Pink Martini – Best of Hotel Costes

“Sun King” by The Beatles

“Chapel of Love” by The Dixie Cups

“I Can’t Wait” by Andy Caldwell

Processional As Groomsmen and Groom Walk In (Groom with Parents)

“I Fall In Love Too Easily” by Chet Baker

Processional As Bridesmaids Walk Down Aisle

“J’Ai Deux Amours” by Madeleine Peyroux

Processional As Bride Walks Down Aisle with Father

“Café De Flore” (Trio Reprise from “Le Defi”) by Matthew Herbert

Recessional

“Sowing the Seeds of Love” by Tears for Fears

Cocktails

“Sympathique” by Pink Martini – Best of Hotel Costes

“Latazz” by The Funky Lowlives – Best of Hotel Costes

“L’Amour” by Rouge Rouge – Best of Hotel Costes

“Morenito” (Bossa Mix) by Stephane Pompougnac – Best of Hotel Costes

“My Funny Valentine” by Big Muff – Best of Hotel Costes

“Et Toutes Ces Choses” by Rouge Rouge featuring Karin Viard – Hotel Costes Vol. 9

“Dream Machine” by Mark Farina – Hotel Costes Vol. 8

“Think Twice” by Ralph Myerz & Jack Herren Band – Hotel Costes Vol. 8

“Lo Que Pidas” by Julieta Venegas

“Omerta Bossa” by Isabelle Antena – Issy Does It

“This Is Not A Love Song” by Nouvelle Vague – Nouvelle Vague

“Smooth Operator” by Sade – Best of Sade

“Hold On To Your Love” by Sade

“You Know I’m No Good” by Amy Winehouse

“Me Gustas Cuando Callas” by The Brazilian Girls

“Save A Prayer” by Duran Duran

“The Fez” by Steely Dan

“Kid Charlemagne” by Steely Dan

Bridal Party Grand Entrance/Bride and Groom Grand Entrance

“Viva La Vida” by Coldplay

Bride and Groom’s First Dance

“Where Do I Begin” by Shirley Bassey

Father/Bride Dance

“Desert Skies” by Marshall Tucker Band

Mother/Groom Dance

“Isn’t She Lovely” by Stevie Wonder

Cake Cutting Song

“Happy Together” by The Turtles

Bouquet Toss

“Rich Girls” by The Virgins

Garter Toss

“Boys Wanna Be Her” by Peaches

Last Dance

“Last Dance” by Donna Summer

Happy Birthday Valentine!

A big birthday wish to my sister and other half of this crazy train Miss Chelsea Valentine!!! She's the real deal behind Cuvee Chic, the blog she created as a lifestyle guide of music, fashion, fitness, design, and nightlife. She loves rose wines, French House and French Pop, foreign accents, and can explain everything that makes a bohemian a bohemian (her favorite book is the Bohemian Manifesto by Laren Stover, mine's The Bombshell Manual of Style), she's an Aquarius, she's a very stylish girl, she lives in a Hollywood studio, and she has the fiercest collection of music!  Cheers, Chels, and I will raise a glass of bubbly to you!

Wedding Hair

I am stressed out right now trying to find the right hairstyle for my wedding. I am drawn to styles that aren't overly done.  I want to look polished, sophisticated, and elegant. Not like my hair has been in rollers, pulled, combed, and prodded with for hours.

There's nothing more unattractive to me than a bride that looks like she is going to prom with a crazy up-do and ringlets. Here are a few of my favorites.