a blonde and a brunette

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Water, Water Everywhere...

This is my mom and dad:

(They are going to KILL me for putting their picture on the internet)!

SORRY!

My mom has the greenest thumb there is - she can grow anything, anywhere. She tried to grow a watermelon on our deck in a pot last year (can't remember if it was successful but if anyone could make it happen, it would be her)! She LOVES to garden and look at pretty gardens.

Unfortunately, our backyard looks very similar to this:

(a steep rocky mountain - add some poison ivy and voila - our backyard)

Hence why she has to grow watermelons in a pot on the deck. :o)

But if she had her dream backyard, it would be lush with plants and have beautiful water features and fountains.

Water features can be built as ponds to hold water, plants and fish...

This one is portable:

For a smaller scale version of the pond, Martha Stewart does a great tutorial video on making a container water garden here!

These creep me out a little but they're kind of neat??

If you like moving water, pumps can be installed to make the water flow like a beautiful waterfall

I personally wouldn't mind having this one in my backyard. :o)

It's even beautiful frozen!!

I love, Love, LOVE this infinity pond!! I'll take one please! (minus the fish)

I typically like the more natural ones - the ones that look like Mother Nature did them on her own - but I really like this modern infinity pond/pool, whatever it is??

If you have limited space, container fountains are super easy to build and the sound of bubbling water is so refreshing!

Martha Stewart gives instructions for making this one here!

And this one here!

Or there's always this one, here!

Or this one here! Literally I could go on and on - Martha can make anything!

Now that I've thoroughly depressed her with pictures of water features that are definitely not at our house, here are some flowers to cheer you up! Happy (almost) Mother's Day!

P.S. I have a real present for you Sunday. :o)

~ the Brunette

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Red Carpet Review: The Met's Costume Institute Gala

Last night was the Met's Costume Institute Gala, typically considered the best red carpet event of the year because every fashionista is breaking out the couture and having lots of fun getting dressed. This year most stayed fairly conservative but a few show stoppers still shined.

The blonde's best dress pick, Diane Kruger in Calvin Klein - I think the simplicity and the color creates the drama...plus who else could pull off a solid white, skin tight dress?!?

The brunette's best dressed, Kate Bosworth in Valentino Couture -
hands down - there was no competition in my opinion. She looks so beautiful and feminine and I love the nude dress (and I usually don't) and the beading is so pretty up close. I just love how this drapes off her collarbone and on top of that, she looks comfortable!! (DK was my 2nd choice though)

Following very close on the heels of these lovely ladies are Sienna Miller in Pucci and Gwen Stefani in her own line, L.A.M.B, both accompanied by their equally gorgeous counterparts. These couples killed it!

Gwen & Gavin look like modern Hollywood perfection...I mean their names even sound cool.

Love the return of the beautiful Brits, Jude & Sienna....her dress could have easily scored best dressed.

Speaking of couples I must show Diane with her hottie! I love all three of these couples and their looks fit them all so well.

These two shined in their metallics. They both killed it!

A few other beauties of the night that rocked the red carpet...

Loved, loved, loved Malin Akerman in this deco inspired Temperley gown....don't know if it's completely appropriate for the Costume Gala, but I still love it!

Eva Longoria bringing the drama in Marchesa. I loved this dress on the runway!

The other Eva looking amazing in her floral gown by Dolce & Gabbana.

(maybe Eva read our post on large scale floral prints?!?)

And then we have the battle of the ball gown beauties...Anne in Valentino and J.Lo in Zuhair Murad.

The brunette is choosing Anne as the ball gown beauty, but the blonde thinks J.Lo is the winner.

Blake adding a little color to the red carpet in Marchesa. I know, she's a little too tan which evokes ice-skater/dancing with the stars thoughts, but I think she looked fabulous - loved the length, the color and the courage!

Speaking of color...

These two both looked smoking hot in their red gowns.

This blonde and brunette both look beautiful in their fuchsia dresses.

And now for the lack of color...

They all look gorgeous just a little blah for such a fun, fashion-forward event.

Another neutral dress, but I just can't put SJP with the ladies in the category above:)

She wore an iconic Halston and she looked lovely. Her accessories really stepped up this look!

(the Brunette thinks the hair piece was a little much though I love SJP and would never question her) :o)

Last, but not least the "what were you thinking"...

Dear Katy Perry, your dress is glowing!

These two adorable, pint-size stars (that are normally considered fashionistas) look like they completely forgot what event they were attending?!?

Most Disappointing...January Jones.

Love the dress and gloves, but the severe hair and crazy make-up ruined the entire look:(

I don't even know what category to put these two in because their sheer beauty is blinding my judgment?!?

We love some red carpets...till next time!

summer party attire

After last Tuesday's post I couldn't help but become completely consumed with thoughts of outdoor dinners/parties, and of course, those thoughts lead to "what would I wear to these parties" - so here's what I will be wearing this season.

I'm a huge maxi dress fan and am completely obsessed with this BCBG chevron striped number. It super long so you can still wear your heels! I would pile on the jewelry with this dress...huge earrings, tons of bangles!

I also wouldn't mind having this DVF dress. Go here and look at all the amazing details and angles...it's pretty awesome, but also out of my budget.

I'm also completely on board with the jumpsuit trend...I bought several last year and I love them!

They are everywhere this year and are perfect for a summer party...

The Limited has this style in several cute colors. I bought a very similar version last year that I can't wait to wear again. My advice it to definitely belt it (don't use the one it comes with) so there's a little more contrast and interest...

They also offer this precious one shoulder! I haven't seen it in the store and the shorts look a little long but that's easy to fix:)

Speaking of one shoulder...I did try on this F21 jumpsuit a few days ago and the detailing at the top was great (did not look cheap at all), but I hated the bottom half.

Until I saw this pic of Naomi Watts in a very similar fit and thought she looked cute?!?

I could go on and on showing cute pics of jumpsuits because every store is carrying some version:)

Even if you aren't convinced or if you think it won't work on you at least try one on!

My other favorite summer outing attire is the dressy short. I adore cute shorts with high heels! Today, I bought these...

to wear with these...click here for a better look...they are really cute!

And I'm pretty sure these itty-bitty black sequin shorts are the cutest things ever:)

Here's Amanda Seyfried wearing the dress shorts on the red carpet this week...she's such a little cutie!

And the trend setter/fashion risk taker Rihanna looks SO super cool here...

I know this look is completely different look from the others, but I absolutely adore it! How cute with a chunky clog or super tall wedge...yes, please!

I love all these looks and think they are all fun, perfect for summer and a nice break from the typical party dress...Though, I do still love a good party dress!

~the blonde

Stay calm fashionistas we didn't forget that last night was the Met's Costume Institute Gala...dresses and our opinions to follow...

(images from BCBG, Shopbop, The Limited(2), Forever 21, Red Carpet Fashion Awards, Dillards, The Limited, BCBG, Red Carpet Fashion Awards(2), Free People)