Fall Decorating with Sunflowers

The Fall season brings us two wonderful holidays: Halloween and Thanksgiving. If you enjoy decorating your home for holidays, then a great way to save money is to decorate for Fall in general, instead of buying items for the two separate occasions. With the one general theme, decorations can stay up for two months!

This Fall season, I decided on a sunflower theme for my decorations. My house if full of warm nature tones and the little hints of yellow, along with fall leaves blend really well together. My goal for these decorations was to incorporate them into my everyday decor so I could avoid storing items. This is the easiest and most enjoyable way to decorate!

Sunflower Bouquets:

Earlier this week, I bought some real sunflowers from the grocery store and put them in vases all over my living room and kitchen. Sadly, they didn’t survive really well in my house and died really quickly. Although they are pretty cheap to buy fresh, they are a lot of maintenance- This is why I opted for fake flowers instead. Joannes has a huge variety all Fall flowers that are all 50% off right now. I picked out five different bunches and assembled them together. I added a simple ribbon to each vase and used the extra leaves to hide the large stems that held them together. I placed the first one in an already empty space near my kitchen table and incorporated the second one onto an already decorated side table. The colors really pop out against the dark paint.




Sunflower Centerpiece: I bought this centerpiece already made last week for only $5! Since it was plain looking, I decided to spruce it up a little with these two small scarecrows that I found for $1 each. I added a leaf shaped place mat under the arrangement for an extra element.



Single Sunflower Pots: I found these single sunflower arrangements on sale for $1 each and thought they would be great fillers. I painted the terracotta pots (with multiple coats) to match the colors in my house (So I can reuse them for different holidays) and tied a cute little bow on each of them. The entire project was less than $6!








Outdoor Décor: I don’t have a big space on my patio, but I am very proud that I have managed to keep my plant alive for quite some time now! I found these cute wooden plant stakes at Joannes that were the perfect decoration. The sunflower was pulled from one of the large bouquets!



Sunflower and Pumpkin Ledge: I couldn’t decorate for Fall without using some pumpkins! I found these little pumpkins for 50 cents each and put them between candles that were already there. I snipped leaves and flowers off the back of my larger bouquets to make a garland-like display.




Sunflower Candle: This is a basic, three wick candle that I already had in my kitchen. I took a piece of orange ribbon and tied it around the top. Once secure, I added a fake sunflower that I took from one of my bouquets to match my theme.



Sunflower Extra: Since I had a lot of leftover sunflowers, I thought I'd even spruce up my fish's tank (vase) a little too. Just like many other decorations, I used a simple piece of ribbon and attached a sunflower! I put another leaf-shaped place mat under it to make the perfect (live) center piece for my kitchen island! Fishy loves Fall too :)



All of these decorations were a simple, quick and very inexpensive way to make my home beautiful for Fall! Even the littlest decorations can brighten your home and put you in the holiday mood every time you walk in the door!

Enjoy and Happy decorating :)

How to stay “Green” during Fall

The leaves may not been green anymore, but that doesn’t mean you should stop being “green” either! Fall is a great season to start trying out some new ways to not only save the environment, but also save some money as well.

1. Turn the air conditioner off: With temperatures in the 70’s and 80’s, there’s no reason to waste energy with the AC. Open up all of the windows in your house when you are home during the day and especially at night. Studies show that fresh air helps to calm and clear the mind, so let the breeze flow through.

2. Light some candles: There are so many great candles that feature some of Fall’s best scents: Pumpkin, Cinnamon, Hazelnut, Cranberry, Vanillia, Spice etc! Aerosol room sprays are harsh on the environment, and this is a great way to avoid using them. Also, save some energy at night by using candlelight instead of real lights. Candlelight can be therapeutic if your single or romantic if coupled up!



3. Garden: Most people probably don’t have the space to plant their own fruits, herbs or vegetables, but that doesn’t mean it's impossible. If you have an outdoor space at your house or apartment, you can plant a mini-herb garden in a small wooden crate, or buy small fruit and vegetable plants. If you’re not into this pseudo gardening, you can always shop at your local farmers market, which supports sustainability!

4. Transportation: Pollution is a major problem in our world today, and Fall is the perfect time to help save the planet! With lower temperatures, enjoy a nice bike ride to school, or walk down to your favorite coffee shop. Both activities are good for the body, mind and soul. If you can’t avoid driving, try and plan out your days or weeks to help reduce the trips you make.

5. Reuse: The Fall season always brings along a lot of shopping! Whether your buying a new pair of boots, or groceries for your all your Fall soirées, don’t forget your reuable bags. Some stores are even starting to provide or sell really cute ones now too!

Pumpkin Decorating Ideas

Forget the traditional Jack-O-Lantern for Halloween this year! It's time to step up your pumpkin decorating skills, starting with a few of these unique and amazing ideas!

The Glitter Pumpkin (My favorite!)


Pick out the pumpkins of your choice and lightly paint on a coat of white (or clear) crafting glue. Apply a fine powdered glitter over the pumpkin in a coinciding color! These are the perfect girly halloween decoration!

Cookie Cutter Pumpkins




Hallow out your pumpkins, making the walls as thin as possible. Take your favorite cookie cutter (small size) and press into the walls of the pumpkin for this creative twist on carving! You can line your outdoor walkway with multiple small pumpkins, or put a vanilla cookie scented candle in a large pumpkin in your home for an added treat :)

Lace-Patterned Pumpkins



Cut a hole in the bottom of the pumpkin and take all of the seeds out. Put a piece of tape around the middle of the pumpkin to start your design layout. In order to get those perfect shapes, you can trace a lace pattern OR you can buy some wood carving tools! When finished, place a tea light inside for a simple glow.

Monogrammed Pumpkins




Monogramming is always in style and this year you can try this trend out on your pumpkin. If you can't free-hand the design, you can either purchase a stencil or print the letter off your computer using your favorite font. Once again, cut an opening at the bottom of the pumpkin to avoid the traditional Jack-O-Lantern look!

Spray Painted Pumpkins




If you're not into the traditional colors of pumkins, then this is the perfect pumpkin decoration for you! Take pumpkins of any size and spray paint them the color of your choice. Small pumpkins can be used as name places or mantle decorations, while bigger pumpkins are great centerpieces for your Fall party!


Enjoy!

Martha Stewart's Summer Ideas

You may or may not know that I am a bit obsessed with Martha Stewart. I thought I'd share some of her amazing summer ideas in honor of her birthday today! Enjoy!


(Cake from Richard Gere, and chef Brian Lewis of the Bedford Post.)


From MarthaStewart.com

Icy Vodka:


A bottle of icy vodka makes a dramatic bar decoration when it's encased in a frozen layer of colorful flowers and fruit.Place a full bottle into a fully opened cardboard half-gallon milk carton. Insert flowers or thinly sliced fruit (we've used nasturtiums, lemons, and limes) around the bottle, filling one third of the carton. Pour water into the container, just covering the fruit and flowers. Place the carton upright in the freezer. When the liquid is completely frozen, add another layer of fruit and very cold water, and freeze. Repeat, filling and freezing a third of the carton at a time, which prevents all the fruit and flowers from floating to the top until the water reaches the bottle's neck. Remove from the freezer when it's time to serve the vodka: Cut away the milk carton with a utility knife; wrap a dinner napkin around the bottle's base, and serve the vodka with slices of lemon zest tied in knots.

Ice Cream Scoop on a Stick


Make multiples of these scoops-on-a-stick and you won't have to spoon ice cream, one serving at a time, in the middle of a party. Using a small (1 1/2-inch) ice cream scoop, dole out balls onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Insert a craft spoon into each, and place in the freezer. Chill until hardened. Roll scoops in sprinkles, toasted coconut, or crushed nuts or candies, and store them in the freezer on a freshly lined baking sheet.

Fire and Water Center Piece



To create this illuminating centerpiece, place a glass vase inside another that is slightly larger (secure them with floral adhesive), and then pour tinted water in between them. Pillar candles are best for this project; not only are they pretty, but their weight will further anchor the interior vase. For added light play, make a series of these centerpieces in different shades of the same hue (a few extra drops of food coloring will yield the desired contrast).

Flavorful Skewers



With its sturdy stalk, rosemary makes a great skewer, infusing grilled food with its garden-fresh flavor. Soak stalks for a half hour before adding meat, fish, or vegetables. You may need to poke through the food first with a metal skewer.

Quick Jar Covers



Decorating jars of homemade preserves is a cinch with cupcake wrappers, available in many patterns and colors at the grocery store. Invert two (for opacity), and place them on top of your jar. Use a rubber band to hold them in place; tie with waxed twine or ribbon, and remove rubber band.

Sundae Party Fortune Tellers



Celebrate summer with a colorful sundae party, setting out toppings in fortune-tellers, those folded-paper staples of childhood.

Fortune-Teller How-To
1. Place a 12-inch square of parchment or glassine on a face-down piece of patterned paper that's the same size. Fold in half diagonally, and unfold. Fold on the other diagonal, and unfold.
2. Fold in each corner to the center point, forming a smaller square.
3. Turn paper over, and fold in all corners so they meet, forming an even smaller square.
4. Fold square in half horizontally to form a rectangle; crease, and unfold so you are back at the square. Fold in half vertically; crease, and unfold.
5. Turn square over, and slip one finger under each flap. Press your fingers -- and the points of the fortune-teller -- together to form pockets. Place point side down, turn down flap of each pocket, and fill with desired sundae toppings.

Refrigerator Brewed Iced-Tea



When even boiling water raises a sweat, brew refreshing iced tea in the refrigerator. Fill a glass jar or pitcher with cold water and a few bags of your favorite tea, and let them steep in the icebox overnight. Remove the teabags and add garnishes, such as citrus in black tea, fresh berries in berry tea, or mint leaves in green tea. Tea is most flavorful -- and wholesome -- when freshly brewed, so don't leave it sitting out for more than eight hours.

Prevent Ice Cream Drops



Use this trick to keep ice cream from dripping out of the bottom of a cone: Drop in a mini marshmallow or two before you add your scoops.

Happy Birthday Martha :)

Yogi Peach Tea Detox

I just recently bought this and it is AMAZING! I make two cups of hot tea in the morning- I drink one and I pour the other into a water bottle and let it sit in the fridge- it's very refreshing as a cold drink in the afternoon or before or after a workout. It's caffeine-free, but the ingredients give you natural energy!

You can by it at most grocery stores OR at Amazon.com (Best Deal)


From the Yogi Website:

Renew with
Peach DeTox
Restoring internal purity has never tasted so good. Yogi Peach DeTox is a blend of traditional purifying herbs that support the body’s natural cleansing processes. Our formula uses an Ayurvedic combination called “trikatu" a blend of ginger, black pepper and long pepper—that gently increases circulation. Organic dandelion supports the liver’s function to eliminate toxins, and fo-ti, a highly regarded herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine, supports liver and kidney function. When you drink Peach DeTox as a part of your regular wellness program, its mild but effective blend of herbs will help you revitalize.

All the world's a Twitter!

“All the worlds a Twitter” is what Newsweek recently wrote about the new microblogging site, but it seems as if people are still weary to join in on the fun. Those who haven’t tried Twitter yet are missing out on a new, more simple way of communicating. In 140 characters or less, you can share your status updates with whomever is following you. You can even direct messages to certain people or quickly upload pictures while you’re out and about.

We’ve all gone through the Facebook phase, and maybe it’s just me, but it seems to be slowly loosing its charm. The best thing about Facebook is reading and creating status updates anyway! While Facebook is good for staying connected to family and friends, and posting pictures, I definitely don’t need EVERYONE I’ve ever known in my life knowing what I am doing and where I am.

Twitter is a break away opportunity from Facebook. It’s not meant to help you stay in contact with old friends, it’s meant to deliver messages in real-time to those people who are currently in your lives (You know, the ones who are actually interested in your whereabouts!)

Aside from seeing what your close friends or social circle are up to, Twitter is also an information system. You can follow certain sources, your favorite celebrities, or companies- All of which helps feed our curiosity. The information being shared is up to date and oftentimes comes before any other news source. The trending topic feature allows users to see what topics are most relevant at that time (Although some are definitely irrelevant!)

The two co-founders of Twitter, Biz Stone and Evan Williams are very simple guys and that shows in their product! No huss or fuss here- just a quick status update and all the fun of reading what your friends are up to!

Follow Me: Twitter.com/Nicole_Bruno

Are tanning salons out to get us all?

Before I start, I'll will say this: YES, I know that tanning salons are not exactly the best places to be! But, as much as everyone talks them down for health reasons, I know that they are still visiting them on occasion when they are looking for a little extra bronze in their lives...It's not always nice enough to get it for free outside!

I'm what you would call the occasional tanner. I'll sign up for a month at time, thinking that I'll have all the time and money to keep up the habit- I never do. After a few weeks of dedicated tanning, my credits run out or I run out of time to go. Since I never actually commit to one tanning salon long term, I feel as if I have seen it all, in my different locations.

Recently, I decided to sign up for a month or so while in LA because I was looking a little too Twighlighty (My new favorite word) I may be a little obsessed with the books, but the look? Not so much-Especially being surrounded by all the beautifully bronzed people in LA! While driving around the area where I live, I spotted two tanning places. The first was a national chain, that I've seen in Arizona, and the other was a local place. I googled each and read horrible reviews for the local one. As I drove to the chain salon, I kind of knew what to expect.

I was completely right.

Anyone remember Sunset Tan? The show on E! that lasted one season and was full of obnoxious employees trying to make a quick buck off of all the customers? Well, this place wasn't Sunset Tan, but almost identical. I walked in to be greeted by a guido looking 20 ( or 30) something man texting away on his Blackberry. After about 30 seconds of standing there, he finally began his schpeal about what beds to use and lotions to buy- His grand total? $330! For 10 tanning sessions and some lotion? Yeah right buddy! Once he realized that I wasn't going to buy his unnecessary products and services, I then chose what I thought would be best for me. $120 later, I was still a little uneasy, but now had 15 tanning sessions in lower beds and an much more affordable lotion, that would last me a lot longer than the pricer ones.

As I laid in the tanning bed for 10 minutes, I kept wondering if I should just ask for my money back. Was that worth it? I've paid $40 for unlimited tanning in the same beds at places just as nice in Arizona! The thought of dealing with the annoying tanning man was not appealing, so I left without conflict, only to be reminded of the situation for the next 3 days as I nursed a sunburn! Ouch! The next two times that I went in, there were different people working who seemed helpful...I thought that maybe I judged the place to quickly. I was wrong.

Yesterday, after a long day of work, I decided to stop in for a quick tan so that I would be beach ready for Sunday. The same guy that helped the first time was there and when I asked to go to the second level bed, he said they were all full, with a 10 minute wait. Being the impatient person that I am, I agreed to go into a higher level bed (Which my skin-tone was definitely not suited for) and off I went. Just as I walked into the room, I saw a woman walking out of the level two bed that I wanted to use. 10 minutes? Yeah right! This is when I realized what the man had done- He put me in a higher level bed in order for my tanning credits to run out sooner. The level four bed was three times the amount of the beds I usually use, meaning I am probably going to have to buy more within the next 3 or 4 visits- How convenient for the man making commission.

Frustrated, I decided to just get in the bed and enjoy a nice relaxing tanning session and then file a complaint with corporate when I went home (Obviously the guy wasn't going to report himself if I complained there) I laid down in the bed, which could have doubled as a space ship with buttons and switches everywhere- Whatever ever happened to simple? Then, mid tan, I pressed what I thought was the fan button, only to be sprayed by ice cold mist that didn't stop for about 15 seconds- I was soaking wet! I jumped out of the bed, pressed cancel, threw my clothes on and walked out of there.

(Space Ship or Tanning Bed?)

As mentioned before, I've been to a lot of tanning places, and although this was has been particularly bad, it made to start to think about the tanning industry as a whole. Are they all out to get us? Are they using the so called "Expertise" to screw us all over and make us buy products and services we don't need? I'm sure there are a lot of honest people working in tanning salons all across the world, but I've come to believe that this, like a lot of other industries, is corrupt. With that said, this morning, I marched right on over to CVS, grabbed some spf and packed my bag for the beach. Free sun is my new best friend! And when it's not nice enough to bronze outside, I'll embrace my twilight look- It works for Kristen Stewart, right?

Another busy day at Celebrity Society

After working hard on the Men's Power Issue, we are all polishing up our celebrity profiles and sending them away to be edited. For the past two days I have been working on a few projects that have kept me extra busy around here. First, a profile on the creators of Twitter- Biz Stone and Evan Williams (Or @Biz and @Ev for all you tweeters!) These guys seriously won the website jackpot. A little concept that they created for fun has now turned into to the must-use website. The most amazing aspect of Twitter is that they don't even make a profit off of it! (Well, not yet!) It has been interesting to learn of all the ways that Twitter has been used positively too- Helping coordinate protests in Iran as well as many celebrities using it for charity giveaways. If you haven't singed up for twitter yet, what are you waiting for? If you have, follow me! Twitter.com/Nicole_Bruno :)

Another profile I have just started is on Doug Melton. He is a hugely famous scientists who has contributed greatly to stem cell research. Although he is probably the least fun to write about, he has definitely changed the world for the better. Lastly our editor is working on a tribute to Michael Jackson so I've been trying to track down free publicity images of him. I have been using Getty Images which is a genius company! They charge per celebrity picture- a great concept. Also a great resource to have learned about early on in my career since I know I will be using them constantly for articles.

I hoping to have all of my profiles done tomorrow so I can start working on a few more University Link Magazine articles soon. Looking forward to some relaxing beach time this weekend first!

Thought of the day: Experience, no matter how great or small will benefit you greatly at some point of your life.

Sprinkles Cupcakes: Are they really worth it?

Sprinkles Cupcakes were an instant hit the minute the company opened their first store in Beverly Hills, California. Since then, only a handful of stores have followed, making these sweet treats extra desirable. And how could anyone resist those perfect little frosted gems, in perfect display classes, right in the heart of some of the most fabulous places in the US?

Recently, I started working right across the street from Sprinkles first location in Beverly Hills. As I walk from my parking structure to the office everyday, I oftentimes see 10-15 people waiting in line outside. A line for cupcakes? What? In order to keep the cupcakes fresh, the door must remained closed at all times (unless customers are entering or leaving, of course.) When one person leaves, the next anxious customer outside enters- A process that can take anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour depending on the day and time.

Many people may be visiting the bakery for the first time just to see what all the hype is about, but there are also locals visiting the establishment time and time again. The cupcakes are $3.25 each and the price decreases in small amounts once they are purchased in larger quantities. A full dozen cupcakes is $36, and no matter how many are ordered, they will come in a cute little box with a Sprinkles seal. The product is perfect for special occasions and or afternoon treats, but are they really worth it?

Many people give the actual cupcakes rave reviews, while others are not as impressed. Although the actual cupcake flavors are enjoyable, people have complained about the amount of frosting or other toppings ruining the overall treat. At $3.25 a pop, who wouldn’t expect perfection? Aside from all the cute cupcake accessories in the shops, there is one thing you won’t find- The nutritional information. The company claims that they have not done the proper research necessary to configure exact numbers and that people should think of the cupcake as a small indulgence. While searching the topic, I came across many different sources and other cupcake companies that reveled shocking numbers-500-1000 calories per cupcake!

These sweet little treats are a great splurge every now and again, but people who frequent the bakery may be at risk. I'd think the line alone would stray people away considering they could bake their own 24 cupcakes in that time (And for about $60 cheaper too) but people are faithful to those miniature baked goods! Now, customers in the Los Angeles area can find the Sprinkles mobile cupcake van to grab a little sugar on the go. The location of the van is revealed everyday via Twitter-Clever, right? You can even rent the van for a $2000 minimum for your upcoming event! All of that just for cupcakes? Crazy! Many other companies have also started to profit from the cupcake craze making them more available in local communities. Probably also making Jenny Craig enrollment go up as well!

To answer the real answer: A single Sprinkles Cupcake is worth every penny when you have the occasional sweet tooth (And by occasional, I mean maybe once every 2 months!) Anyone who wants to keep their figure skinny, and their wallet fat should definitely stay away.

The start of my personal blogging!

It's been almost two weeks since I made my little move to LA and it is definitely better than I expected. First, I stopped in San Diego to visit Sarah for the 4th of July. She has an amazing set-up there with really fun neighbors. They threw a huge 4th of July bash together and it was a huge success. Pacific Beach is probably one of the coolest towns I have ever been to. Sarah lives walking distance from the beach and all the bars- What could be better?

The morning after the 4th, I set out for my journey up to LA. I should have seen the foreshadowing in the horrible traffic I sat in on the way up- It's awful here! The apartment that I am subletting is in Brentwood which I have fallen in love with! I one day hope to be actually able to live here long term. I was very lucky to have found very normal roommates, although I've kept to myself a lot. This trip is really helping me to relax and has been fabulous for my mental health!

I started at Celebrity Society last week and it is such a great publication! Mimi, the editor has been so kind to me and I am so very proud to me a part of her team. We are working on the Men's Power Issue right now and I have been busy writing profiles on Tiger Woods, Ralph Lauren, Richard Branson, The Twitter Co-founders (Stone & Williams) and Doug Melton. They have all contributed so much both professionally and personally. The office is located right in the heart of Beverly Hills and I am constantly surrounded by fabulous people (And Sprinkles Cupcakes too...TROUBLE!)

I found another magazine looking for writers on Craigslist called University Link Magazine. It is very similar to the college lifestyle magazine that I had previously written for in Scottsdale, except this one is by subscription only. The editor is an ASU Alum and we had a great time chatting about ASU now and in the old days. She has a great attitude and I have been enjoying writing my articles for them. The best part is that I get paid per article. After seven years of writing, this is an amazing accomplishment!

I feel very blessed to have found the opportunities that I have stumbled upon recently. Earlier this year, I was having a lot of doubt, but I have fully broken out of that shell and am finding success every single day.

I'll leave you all with my thought of the day: It's amazing what can be accomplished when you mix hard work and dedication together. Sometimes you may even surprise yourself.

Best,
Nicole