Luxurious Thanksgiving Dinner

I know I'm a little late with this posting, but here it is. So this was my first Thanksgiving dinner as a newlywed. My husband and I hosted the dinner this year. It was pretty much our first time to cook a whole Thanksgiving meal. We consulted various recipes...Bon Apetit, Food Network, Williams Sonoma Cookbook, & old family and friends recommendations. I think we did awesome for our first time. Everything was a hit from our brined turkey in herb butter, garlic parmesan mashed potatoes, butternut squash soup, sweet potato mash, green beans & almonds, fresh croissant rolls, corn casserole, cornbread, stuffing and gravy. Desserts included luxurious pumpkin flan and apple pie blossoms with vanilla bean ice cream and salted caramel sauce. We stay hydrated with hot apple cider and red wines. We started cooking at 7am until 4:30pm....dinner was at 6pm. I had 1.5 hours to get dolled up....next year I will try to manage my time better.

My project was the Thanksgiving table decor. I tried not to buy anything new....to prove that lux is all around us. This turned out to be really easy. I just used things from around my house. The tan linen table cloth is the one we use regularly. I just placed a paisley table runner down the center...thankfully it had fall colors. I reused the silver lanterns and ivory candles from my wedding, found a vase full of wheat grass from my upstairs bathroom, filled a basket i found in the garage with some clementines, and pinecones that I found in our christmas decoration box. I looked in our liquor cabinet and took out several bottles of wine and used it both as table decor and for our drinks. I made sure the wine labels had falls colors in it.  I used our existing gold plate chargers, gold napkin rings, goldernrod cloth napkins, clean white plates, silver flatware, and beverage glasses. I placed a single clementine on each table setting to add a pop of orange color. I used an old chalkboard to write our dinner menu on. I then took some extra potatoes, sweet potatoes, and onions and placed them randomly around the table and room. Finally, added a small pumpkin and few tea light candles....and voila!!! A festive and "mostly" free Thanksgiving tablescape. I say "mostly free" because I paid $2.00 for a bag of clementines and $1.00 for a  small sweet pumpkin. Frugal entertaining Lux!!!!!!

* Tips:
-Buy plates and serving platters in pure white, no design. This way you can use it for all holiday parties and even daily use. All you do is add color and design through your napkins, florals, tablecloths, etc.
-Use something like a clementine to add color and character on each table setting. I ran out of time but I was going to make small paper leaves and right each guests name on it and insert on the clementine to use as their namecard. It can serve as a placecard and even a party favor. For christmas, place a spring of pine or rosemary...for new years place a colorful glitter rockcandy stick....use your luxurious imagination.

*please excuse the christmas wreath on back wall :) got excited for the next holiday.

Lux Fitness Bar Method

Since I've been treating myself to all these holiday sweets I make it a priority to stay physically healthy. I alternate between using my gym membership and doing other fitness classes. For those of you who haven't heard of "The Bar Method" its a fun and feminine way to stay fit. All you need is a ballet bar, some light weighs, and a resistance band. My instructor always plays the best uptempo music as we work out those calories. I always walk out of there feeling great!!! Nothing can be more luxurious than having a healthy body. So go out into your neighbor whether it is a run around the park or at some fitness class. Remember, staying fit doesn't have to cost any money...all you need is to make it fun and a focused mindset! Lux Fitness!!!

Lux Heath Bar Cupcakes

Sometimes the simplest things in life are the most luxurious. Cupcakes are the right amount of sweetness and cuteness. Now I know baking can be intimidating...but find a recipe that isn't. Just remember to follow it EXACTLY...baking requires exact measurements. I took a simple Pillsbury box cake and made some additions to it...the result is a devils food cake with tons of toffee bits topped with a vanilla buttercream frosting and dripping dark chocolate ganache....and a Heath toffee bar chunk to top it off. Luxury can be found in any grocery store aisle...you just need to be the baker. Sweet Lux!!!

Luxurious Camellias Have Bloomed!

Walking out my front door today, I saw the most chic pink flowers that have just bloomed in my garden. The camellia is Gabrielle Chanel's signature flower used in all her designs. I simply placed the flowers in a silver sugar holder from my mother's vintage tea set. I didn't spend a pretty penny on this adorable floral arrangement which sits on my vanity...Simply Luxurious! This will surely brighten up my early mornings as I get ready for work!

Evolution of the Terno Dress

For those who saw my previous blog,  I wore a chic filipino terno dress at my church wedding. It was made famous in the 70's by Imelda Marcos (former first lady of the Philippines and "shoe lover"). What makes it so unique are the big bell sleeves. Throughout the years, the terno has seen a transfomation from traditional to modern. Recently the runways of Paris have been influenced by the terno as seen in Chanel and Herve Leger. Check out the Filipino Couture ever-so-luxurious "Terno":

 Mrs. Imelda Marcos popularized the traditional filipino terno dress. Nobody does it like her!

Back in the day former president's Ronald Reagan and Ferdinand Marcos along with Imelda wearing their traditional barong dress shirt and terno dress. Stunning Lux!

 Today, the runways of Chanel (black dress) and Herve Leger (short mini dress) have been inspired by the Terno.

Other modern takes on the terno are one shoulder asymmetrical and short lace versions.

Rihanna and Lady Gaga have been inspired by the Terno sleeves.

After all these years the large bell sleeves of the terno still prove to be fashion forward and truly luxurious. So go out there and explore other traditional cultural garments and make it your own.

Wedding Influenced by Culture

Sneak peek of highlights from my church wedding. So, before my resort wedding my husband and I got married in a very intimate church wedding...only our immediate family was there. It was so special and very stress free. I was actually very happy with the simplicity of it all. My aunt made my bouquet and I even did my own hair and make-up. We thought it would be fun and meaningful to use our filipino culture to inspire our wedding attire. My husband and I had modernized the traditional terno (female dress) and barong (male formal shirt). We had filipino designer, Rajo Laurel (judge of Project Runway Philippines) bring our designs to life. Enjoy and Salamat Rajo!

 Terno made of white free flowing chiffon. I modernized it by adding a ruched bodice and placing smaller sleeves (traditional ternos have large sleeves -- think of the infamous shoe lady Imelda Marcos).

 Snakeskin Jimmy Choos added some chic lux to my traditional terno. I got these on sale at Norstroms for $299. (Original Price $1050.00)

My husbands barong (custom filipino formal wear made of pineapple fibers. The thin material is ideal for the hot climate of the Philippine islands.) He modernized it by making it slim fit and placing black buttons to compliment his black slacks. Normally a white short sleeve shirt is worn underneath, but he wore a white long sleeve because he said "it doesn't look right with short sleeves"

My Lux Wedding Details!

Hello all! I wanted to introduce myself and style to you so what better way then to relive my wedding :) I just got married this past summer at the Montage Laguna Beach. I miss wedding planning so much that I got scolded by my new husband for buying a wedding magazine from Barnes & Noble this past week. Who ever said you can't read them for fun :) Back to wedding details...they are extremely important in defining your personality and making your wedding unique and memorable. The thing most people remember from your special day are "her wedding shoes were gorgeous", "loved her creative guestbook", or "those appetizers were amazing." Join me as I uncover some lux details (and secrets to finding them) that defined my wedding:

My simple bouquet of ivory peonies! Romantic, soft, & modern.

Ms. Bradshaw flaunted these luxurious blue Manolo's for her wedding. I got them as my "something blue". For a day as special as this, splurge!

Intricate beading details of my Monique Lhuillier Lyric gown

Custom made wedding fascinator to wear after the ceremony veil. The milliner placed fabric covered beads to mimic the beading of my gown. It's so lux chic!

Floral centerpieces of soft ivory, white, pink with hints of yellow and green in a clear glass vase filled with ivory colored coral and shells. A simple display is more affordable, but looks so lux!

A classic and modern take for my wedding invitation, titled with both our last name initials "RM The Wedding." Found this letterpress invitation design at a pricey designer stationary boutiques....great quality, but expensive. Luckily, I found a printing company that replicated it exactly, even with letterpress (a costly procedure), and I only paid a 1/3 off the original designer price.

Ok, I have several "something blue" lux details. The 2nd one is a pair of blue sapphires studs. I love this picture because it shows the detail of my peachy pink minaudiere by Kotur! It's quality, made of stingray and has 2 oval closures made of gold swarovski crystals. My sister carried this down the aisle! I found this beauty at a designer outlet on clearance and additional 40% off. Designer price $1,200....final outlet price $100. Lux all the way!

Ivory coral and shells lined the bottom of our floral centerpieces to incorporate my coastal wedding. Didn't want typical "beachy" wedding decor, but still wanted to acknowledge our coastal surroundings. So using a minimal amount of natural ivory and white shells made it visible but not "look-at-me" noticeable, if you know what I mean. Coastal lux!

My 3rd "something blue" lux detail. A scrumptious slate blue ruffle buttercream 3 tier wedding cake. Lux flavors include nutella hazelnut, candybar, and coconut!

Tuna tartare hors d'oeuvres! So luxurious, but to keep it affordable we selected to have tuna in for cocktails rather than the more expensive dinner menu salad option. See, you can have lux food if you think smart :)

View of the craftsman style architecture of the Montage Resort.

Lux Tom Ford ivory shawl collar tuxedo complimented with black trimmings.

Gucci aligator skin loafers. Bought on clearance at department store end of season sale. Handsome lux!

Ivory ruffle flowergirl dress (crewcuts $ 190) w/ivory glitter maryjanes (target $12.99). DIY: Ivory organza ribbon ruffle flower girl basket. Cost: $1.99 basket, $1.99 ribbon.

 Adorable Lux!

A lux picturesque coastal shot the morning of our wedding. So much natural beauty around us meant we didn't need too many wedding decorations (= saving money).  Pick ceremony and reception venues that already look beautiful. By working with the colors and architecture of your venue your wedding colors/decor will not clash. Not only will everythingcompliment each other, but you will save tons of money! The organic nature shot of a succulent craddling our wedding bands. Beautiful Lux!

 DIY: Postcards as guestbook ($50). Photo carousel (Pottery Barn $99). Guests wrote congratulatory messages along with their home address on the back of these postcards which were pre-addressed to our new home. These postcards are periodically mailed to us throughout the our first year as newlyweds.

Lux Wines from the cocktail hour. Love the unique look of the bottles and tags.

 Simple aisle flower pieces on clear acrylic columns. Lux Florals!

Lux food! Spanish shrimp salad. Opt for shrimp over lobster for an affordable taste of the sea.

More lux style wedding details to come!

Grand Opening! Welcome to my new blog!

It's finally " time" to start blogging and uncovering the luxury around us. To prove this point, I wanted my first post to be of this gorgeous vintage Tiffany & Co. clock that I uncovered at a local garage sale. It was the gold shine the caught my eye on a shelf full of knick knacks. To my surprise the price on this luxury find was only $19.99!!! 

Luxury is all around us...we just need to uncover it.