Designed by a Mom!

Milan and Luca love cupcakes (really, now, who doesn't?!). These portable cupcake (or muffin!) holders keep everything beautifully and unmessily intact. Brilliant!!!

Easy Breezy

Save your time and forget the wrapping paper this weekend! I'm loving this shiny, happy gift bag -- perfect for sliding in a hostess gift of the best bubbly from the West Coast!

Intimate and Immense

Credit: Riccardo Benavides from ideas-events created the interior tent decor

Here's a peek inside the tent at Tam 100 -- and it was the scene for a partay. But here's an insider's tip you can use at home:

To make a big space more intimate, I had chandeliers and sculptural stars hanging low from the ceiling. This technique brings your eye down and makes a big space seem more intimate. Using the same idea at home, try this: Hang a chandelier from a lone oak tree outside and have a small dinner al fresco fabuloso. Divine!

Serve with Style

Another tip:

Go for symmetry and statement -- while keeping it all modern and fresh. For instance, look at the candlesticks I placed down the table coupled with the wheatgrass arrangement. This creates visual weight with an architectural sensibility to create a sense of modern-yet-cozy enjoyment.

Now that's fabulous and not fussy! Perfectly West Coast fabulishiness!!

Big Style

Several weeks ago, at the Tam 100 event in Southern Marin, I had to serve hundreds. Hundreds, darlings, hundreds. In true Bella Luxe style, I stayed collected and calm because I know that food that's fussy makes for excess stress. So, my tip of the day:

Whether you're cooking for eight or 800, stay authentic to the ingredients *always fresh, local and organic!* and enjoy the process of entertaining. When you're relaxed, your guests will be, too!!!

Citrus is one of my favorite types of winter fruit. So bright on the palate and in-season now!

So, this weekend, head to your local farmers' market!

Going local is HOT! HOT! HOT!

{ And keeps the earth cool, cool, cool. }

More Sassy: Hard Candy

For your punky V-day party, invite over your girlfriends (and their families) and have a little mani-pedi moment together with this adorable set from Hard Candy.

Sassy Sugar

Hilarious -- the label alone makes me love this Cherry Bombed cocktail sugar! It's deliciously sparkly and when used to candy-coat the rim of your cocktail glasses (see the punky black ones I found below) you'll see true love! xxxxxxx

::: Inspiration! :::

CHOOSE COLORS FROM A CANDY PALETTE!

For V-Day, take cues from Coach and make bouquets with gerber daisies mixed with roses. Irreverently cheeky!

Also, mix up patterns on yourself and your table -- for Valentine's Day you don't have to stick to reds and pinks!

Sass is the name of the game, so go for high contrast! { I love the graphic zebra stripes with hot blue, sunny yellow, and rosy pink!! }

Eco-Fabulous Tip of the Day

Save the trees! It's SO brilliantly easy.

From now on, whenever you are at the ATM or gas pump, simply decline the receipt. Your transaction is not forever lost. It will show up on your statement!

Original Recipe: Soup That's Smoky Sweet

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This chilly Bay Area weather has us heading for the warmth of our houses. Brrrrrrrrr!

Here's a super easy, super tasty recipe to warm you inside. Yummmmmm!

Smoky Sweet Corn Chowder

{ Grab a yummy baguette or a grilled cheese sandwich and you have a warm, soul-satisfying meal! The sweetness of the corn and the mellow, smoky heat of the chipotle are a favorite combo of mine! Enjoy! }

Serves 4

Ingredients:

1 red onion, julienned
2 T olive oil or butter

2 cups fresh corn, (frozen or canned is totally fine!)
2 small can chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
2 c milk
Kosher salt, to taste

Cilantro, roughly chopped, to taste

Saute red onion in 2 Tablespoons of olive oil or butter until translucent. Add corn, chipotle and milk, bring to a boil. Season with kosher salt to taste. Transfer to blender, add cilantro and pulse to roughly chop corn. This will also emulsify ingredients. Ready to serve!

Clean House, Clean Planet

Do you (like me) have any leftover Xmas boxes filled with those ultra-annoying styrofoam peanuts?

Here's what you do:

Return them to UPS or any mailbox service store. They'll take them and reuse them. Simple!

Fresh Start: Bye-Bye Hangers, Bye-Bye

Here's another simple tip:

After cleaning the closets, return all those dry cleaner hangers back to the dry cleaner! 

Fresh Start: Purge is the Word!

Something about all those new presents needing places in my bulging closets and drawers is enough to give me a nervous breakdown! So, purge is the word! 

Here's a fabulous eco-tip: Take those heavy duty boxes (my favorites: Tiffany's and Louis Vuitton boxes -- yes, Santa rocks!) and store breakable ornaments and family photos that have been shoved in the drawers. (I also put baby books and photo albums in these fabulous and totally reusable boxes. Perfect!)

Last Minute Decorations: Glittery Tabletop

Try this. Group together candles and candlesticks that are in the same color families, but wildly differ in heighth and thickness.

So fabulous!

(Get these at Pottery Barn.)

Last Minute Decorations: Glittery Tabletop

Feeling crafty? Create a shimmery table by stringing together crystal beads on thin elastic for vibrantly festive napkin rings. Sparkly!

Brilliant! Best for Inner Calm

Loose leaf tea (love it), need not be a luxury for a sassy mom on the go. Check this out. A portable tea steeper/thermos. We moms deserve a little daily luxury. And this is such a gorgeous idea.

Good Eats: Teaching Your Kids Nuances

Any clothing designer worth her weight in salt will tell you the importance of the interplay of texture with fabrics. The same goes for food.

Teach you kids to appreciate the subtleties in their food by comparing the foods to fabrics! For example, oatmeal is similar to tweed (warm and textured) and custard is like silk (smooth and silky). Have fun with this! Be creative!