April 2014 - A Kitchen Box Review!

I was thrilled to receive my first akitchenbox.com box subscription!
I absolutely love cooking and trying out new recipes....

first glimpse into the box.. I really like the "unpacking your taste box" card that tells everything in the box...

Presentation is everything! Tissue, tuck-ins, and surprises! 

A beautiful box indeed! 

Whole Spice Sea Salt - Napa Valley
I was actually running low on sea salt! 

Whole Spice Nigella Seed - Napa Valley

I honestly didn't know how to use these but the recipe card that came in the box called for them! 

This is a recipe postcard that is pre-stamped to send to a friend! 

Every box comes with a flour sack towel..you can never have enough! : ) 

Good things come in cute little wrapped packages, right? 

Oh yes!  A pair of white tasting spoons.. did I mention that I love this box?

Red Ridge Oregon Olive Mill Extra Virgin Olive Oil

I use olive oil quite frequently so this is a plus! 

Now this is impressive!
A letter-pressed recipe by private chef, blogger, and entertaining expert Sarah Ashley Schniear...

Here is everything that was included in the box..which was a lot!
2 tasting spoons
Recipe postcard
Sea salt and nigella seed
Letter pressed recipe card
Oregon Olive Mill olive oil
Flour sack towel
A thank you note from akitchenbox.com
Free music download by Future Historians

Also included in the box was this quote by Chef Marcel Boulestin... the designs on all of akitchenbox.com's tuck-ins and postcards are pristine and correlate well.. I love it all! 

I downloaded the code right away... totally my style of music and I added it to my kitchen playlist...

Overall, I am very impressed with akitchenbox.com and so glad that  I ordered the Spring Quarterly Subscription which means I have two more boxes coming my way!  I think this box is perfect for anyone who loves to cook, entertain, and try new recipes! It makes a lovely gift for an aspiring culinary student, a home cook, a friend who loves to entertain, or any foodie!

A Vintage Wedding

photo credit - jessicanadine.com

Last summer I was asked if I would help design a friend/family members wedding and of course I said yes!  The theme the bride had chosen was a vintage 1940's feel.  Both the bride and groom love to read so they requested that their be some influences of old books or book pages.  I created each table setting with a different vignette. I made table runners out of vintage book pages and then arranged lace on top. Then, I placed the different arrangements of flowers, their photos, silver teapots, vintage drawers, and milk glass vases on top of the lace. Their wedding theme and look was very similar to my own so it was so fun to get to decorate for this kind of wedding all over again!  

I brought in my own chalk painted sofa table and baskets/flowers from my house. The bride's mother found a vintage typewriter where we placed a typed letter to guests from the bride and groom! I had used the chalkboard at my own wedding as a menu but this time we used it as a welcome sign. I used a chalk bistro marker from Hobby Lobby to write the quote.

photo credit - jessicanadine.com

I printed vintage book pages and piano forte sheet music on packing paper that I cut to fit into my printer. Then I formed the papers into cones and stuffed them with white tissue for the popcorn buffet. Two vintage wooden coke bottle crates held the cones.  I love those crates! I found them at a junk store a few years ago...

photo credit - jessicanadine.com

This is one of the table settings.. The bride and groom had taken really cute engagement pictures wearing vintage clothes. You can see the book pages under the ruched lace. 

photo credit - jessicanadine.com

We reused the flowers in jars that were at the previous night's rehearsal dinner.  When I interviewed the bride she said she loved silver tea pots, lace, and pearls...

I designed the tags on photoshop and printed them on cardstock. The lace is actual vintage from my grandmother.  I did this similar combo for my own wedding except with pink lemonade and sage/pink tags. 

This chair is from my childhood bedroom..the pillow is handsewn by my grandmother and I..and the table is from her as well.. 

A few of their engagement pics I put into wire frames..

photo credit - jessicanadine.com

Another table arrangement.. I placed some candle holders, jars and flowers into a wooden box..

photo credit - jessicanadine.com

I designed the programs on photoshop, printed front and back separately, rounded the corners with a punch, glued the corners and sticks, and tied with satin ribbons.. The sticks were bought at Hobby Lobby...

photo credit - jessicanadine.com

I can't get enough of stripey straws and mason jars!!  I set the lemonade glass dispensers on different sized suitcases..

photo credit - jessicanadine.com

My favorite table setting!  I bought the little tin over the summer and was excited to get to use it! 

photo credit - jessicanadine.com

I used a bistro chalk marker from Hobby Lobby to write the quote with...

photo credit - jessicanadine.com

A few vintage wedding ideas... tie book pages with twine, wrap mason jars with burlap and lace, and use vintage looking frames for quotes or engagement pictures!

photo credit - jessicanadine.com

another table setting...lace.. lantern from my living room, milk glass vase, vintage book, pearls, framed engagement photo, and grandmothers tea cup! 

photo credit - jessicanadine.com

I love this wedding theme.. vintage..yet a little bit rustic because part of it was outdoors.. so it is so open ended to what I could create and add to..

photo credit - jessicanadine.com

I bought this stamp on Etsy to stamp the candy buffet bags..I found mini brown paper bags at Hobby Lobby...

photo credit - jessicanadine.com

photo credit - jessicanadine.com

photo credit - jessicanadine.com

photo credit - jessicanadine.com

I used regular dollar store frames and painted the glass with chalkboard paint...

photo credit - jessicanadine.com

The whole wedding came together so well! It really came to life at night when the porch was lit up and there was dancing. People were inside the house, on the porch, and mingling on the lawn...felt like Father of the Bride..

photo credit - jessicanadine.com

I used all of my own vases, cake stands, plates, and glasses. I made labels out of chalkboard tags...

photo credit - jessicanadine.com

So fun! I love event design!  Visit my other blog, The Pink I Do for photos from my French Country Shabby Chic wedding and for wedding decorating ideas! 

April 2014 - Dottiebox Review!

I am so excited to receive my first subscription box! I love the concept of Dottiebox because the items are handmade from independent artists. I shop online for gift giving and home decor mainly from Etsy so I was so thrilled to explore what was in this box! 

The box was small enough to fit into my mailbox and arrived sooner than I expected.  Being an artist/graphic designer myself, presentation is everything to me! The box has their professional logo plus two pieces of cute washi tape...who doesn't love washi tape? :)

The box was neatly packaged in bright teal tissue and cute dotted logo sticker. 

Lucy was almost as excited as I was to find out what was inside! 

I appreciated the detailed info card that lists everything in the box, where to get it, and prices.  Again..presentation is everything.. and rounded corners are tedious! : )  From the packaging, this tuck-in, and themed item selection, I can tell that a lot of time and thought went into this box! 

This month's theme was "April Showers" and there were scents galore!  Six items were packed in brown crinkle filler.  

Spring Rain 8oz Soy Candle - $10


The first item I pulled out was this tin candle from Second Star to the Right .  The scent is "Spring Rain" and is exactly the kind of scent I would select for myself!  Sort of like a jasmine scent crossed with a French linen scent..but unique indeed! I checked out their Etsy shop and they definitely have some whimsical scented candles ...buttered popcorn, maple pancakes, fruit loops...to name a few. The shop describes the Spring Rain candle as "an aquatic floral fragrance, it intertwines hints of fresh hyacinth, combined with nuances of jasmine, rose petals, and ylang."  The wick is wooden so it burns slowly and crackles! I have never burned a wooden wick candle before. I think this is a great price for a handmade candle and I have seen higher prices for smaller candles in boutique shops. I will definitely be stopping by their shop in the near future to try out some of their other candles! 

Home Sweet Home Hand Painted and Illustrated Print - $8

The next item that grabbed my attention was this hand painted print by Lindsee Jo Art . I recently started using ink and watercolors for my own illustrations and appreciate that this kind of art is being showcased in this Dottiebox! I checked out this Etsy shop and I really like her "I Love You a Bushel and a Peck" print! I am going to pair the print I received with a rustic frame and give as a housewarming gift.

2 Bubbles n Balmes Bath Bombs - $5.78

This is not something I would buy for myself so it is nice to be treated!  I received not one but two fragrant fizzy bath bombs from Bubbles n Balmes.  They are shrink wrapped inside the plastic bags, however one still cracked/crumbled. There is a disclaimer on their shop page that says one may crack or break during shipping and it will not affect the performance of the fizzy. They do not offer refunds or replacements on broken bombs. So...I think I will keep the in tact bomb for the jacussi and use the crumbled fizzy for some aromatherapy in the shower! Besides bath bombs, their shop sells milk soaps, lotions, body and lip butters. 

Just Add Honey Tea Co.  Pomegranate Pear Fruit Tea - $6.50

I am super excited about this selection for this month's Dottiebox! This tea by Just Add Honey smells AMAZING!!  I cannot wait to try it!  I love love love tea and when I clicked on their website I found out THEY have monthly tea subscription boxes..oh boy! :) For $20 a month you will receive three 1oz bags of loose leaf tea, honey from a small batch beekeeper, and a surprise! Did I mention I love honey in my tea as well?! annnnd...six and twelve month subscriptions receive a tea traveler cup with their first box..whoohoo!

The ingredients for this tea are: apple, rosehips, hibiscus, elderberries, ginger, pomegranate, pear, currants, and natural flavors.  This Just Add Honey Tea Co. box subscription would make a GREAT gift! 

Ebe and Ash Anchor Bracelet - $5

This is a cute anchor bracelet by Ebe and Ashe. This IS something I would usually buy for myself but, since I already own  a similar one in style and color, I will be gifting this to friend. I cannot find the Ebe and Ashe Etsy shop so perhaps it has closed or they have opened a new shop somewhere else. 

Besides the six items the Dottiebox,  a few shop coupons were included, which was nice..I will for sure be using those! Overall I really enjoyed my first Dottiebox experience and it was well worth the price!  I paid $20 for the box and $6 for shipping. I am impressed with the packaging, attention to detail, and admiration for independent artists. I look forward to seeing what May's Dottiebox brings!  If you would like to find out more about Dottiebox click here! 

*I was not compensated or asked to write this review and all opinions are my own. : )