Fab Entertaining :: Fall Flowers

Around here, Fall marks to beginning of the social season. Time to reflect on where the year has taken us and time to give thanks for all we have. Nothing says thank you quite like a fab fall floral arrangement with a thoughtful note. 

It is very simple and cost effective to make arrangements yourself. Local floral shops will fetch between $75-$100+ for a Fall-themed arrangement. You can gather flowers that are on sale and items from your local craft store and create the same thing for half the price. 

Here is a tutorial on how to create an arrangement that screams Fall and Thank you!


Step 1 :: Choose a nice round pumpkin. I like the fairytale ones. Cut the top off of it a bit a lower than you normally would. Clean it out very well. Keep the lid. You can incorporate it into the design.


Step 2 :: Line the pumpkin with a plastic grocery bag and insert wet florist foam. We recommend soaking the foam in the sink for a bit so it is nice and moist.


Step 3 :: Begin to add flowers, dried leaves and decorative balls. Here we used sunflowers, football mums, amaranthus and strawflower. Stick the stems deep into the florist foam. I suggest starting at the base and working up. Fill in as you see fit. Mini scarecrows and other fall craft items would make fab additions too. 


Step 4 :: Deliver to a friend with some HBDesigns fabrinery or use as centerpiece for a dinner party. 




HB's Love List :: Fab Finds

1. As some of you might know, I am huge headband fan. Love them. I also love a good chapeau. I have tons of hats and just love this one for fall. Super cute with your hair down or in a pony. Perfect for those days when you can't be bothered to mess with your hair.

2. This polish looks like a party in a bottle. What's not to love? The bright color and sparkles are just plain fab.

3. I am a sucker for a good dress. Easy to slip on and perfect for a day of errands, meetings or lunch with the ladies.

4. I sort of hoard diaries and notebooks. I love them. I keep my lists in them, so I never lose track things. This just screams HBDesigns. "Inspirations and Dreams" is a perfect title too!

5. My husband is a huge collector. Mostly is known for his extensive sports memorabilia collection, he also collects china. I love the color in this amazingly beautiful Herend pattern. 

6. It is always important to have some show-stopper purses in your closet. My dear friend Summer was toting this at an SMU football tailgate. I wanted to steal it from her and have been dreaming of it ever since. Bright red sequins and room to haul everything. Santa, if you are reading...I'll take one please. 


PHOTO CREDITS
Polish :: Style
Notebook :: Smythson
Herend China :: Neiman Marcus
Valentino Tote :: Bluefly.com

Fab Entertaining :: School Treats

Now that we have settled in to the business of back to school, I thought I'd share some treats for little ones. We're up to our nose in top secret holiday card orders, so we're blogging about food this week.

I am fortunate enough to have a child that is not a huge fan of sweets or sugar. So I am always on the hunt for treats that are yummy, but not packed with artificial sweeteners and a bunch of junk.

Does this not look so fab? Guess what?! It is made with garbanzo beans and applesauce!

Deep-Dish Cookie Pie
Next, an all time fav in my house.  They are perfect for a morning snack.

Peanut Butter Granola Bars
I have already gone through two batches of these this week...they must be a hit, not exactly sugar free, but better than candy!

Pumpkin Muffins
HB's Pumpkin Muffins
One 9 x 5-inch loaf or muffins tins of your choice
This loaf can be made with any cooked mashed squash, yams, or sweet potatoes.
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan or muffin tins.
Whisk together:
  1 1⁄2 cups all-purpose flour
  1 teaspoon baking soda
  1⁄4 teaspoon baking powder
  1 teaspoon salt
  1 1⁄2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  1 teaspoon ground ginger
  1⁄2 teaspoon grated or ground nutmeg
  1⁄4 teaspoon ground cloves

Combine in a small bowl:
  1⁄3 cup water or milk
  1⁄2 teaspoon vanill
a
Beat in a large bowl until fluffy:
  6 tablespoons (3⁄4 stick) butter, softened, or 1⁄3 cup vegetable shortening
  1 1⁄3 cups sugar or 1 cup sugar plus 1⁄ 3 cup packed brown sugar
Beat in one at a time:
  2 large eggs
Add and beat on low speed just until blended:
  1 cup cooked or canned pumpkin puree
Add the flour mixture in 3 parts, alternating with the milk mixture, beating on low speed or stirring with a rubber spatula until smooth and scraping the sides of the bowl as necessary.
Pour into the prepared pan and spread evenly. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 1 hour for loaf and 20 minutes for muffins. Let cool in the pan on a rack for 5 to 10 minutes before unmolding to cool completely on the rack.

What are your favorite healthy treats? Let us know and we'll feature them!


PHOTO CREDITS
Deep-Dish Cookie Pie :: Chocolate-Covered Katie
Peanut Butter Granola Bars :: two peas and their their pod
Pumpkin Muffins :: HBDesigns

Fab Entertaining :: Boo!

We are super excited to partner with the ever fab ladies of Anders Ruff today for an A-MAZING give-a-way...{Be sure to enter!}  They have the cutest printables for just about any party theme you can think of.  It got us thinking...Halloween is around the corner! So, I started to plan a party...{I can't help myself!}

First up, we'll need a HBDesigns fabritation (fabric + invitation)! Here's what we're thinking:


Next we have to have a Trick or Treat Table stocked full of perfectly spooky printables and yummy goodies!




It is probably a good idea to have some 'real' food too...How creepy does this look?

Bones & Blood
Pumpkin Veggie Tray

Mummie Dogs
Spooktacular Punch

Hope you can incorporate these ideas into your Fright Fest! Wishing you happy haunting!





Photo Credits
Halloween Fabritation: www.hbdesigns.com
Party Decor Photos: www.andersruff.com
Pumpkin Veggie Tray: www.livinglocurto.com
Bones and Blood: www.ourbestbites.com
Spooktacular Punch: www.myrecipes.com

Feature Friday :: Closet Lift

This week I bring to you a sweet, fashionable and all around fab friend of mine, Ashley Williams.  If you are local here in the Big D, you might now her and her darling sister, Kelly, from Hemline on Lover's Lane. Well, Ashley has taken her knack for all things stylish and started a new venture, Closet Lift.  She will come in overhaul your closet, help you organize and then get you back on a fashionable track with your wardrobe. {SIGN.ME.UP!} The best part? She seriously is one of the nicest people I know. So, no attitude when she sees those frocks you have been hanging onto since college, or, uh, since high school (please don't tell on me!)
I asked Ashley to put together some Fall trends for us...here's the scoop. 


Feature Friday :: Oh Goodie Designs



I met Joanne of Oh Goodie Designs met at Dallas Market. I saw her walking down the aisle and thought to myself, "If this lady doesn't love my product, I better pack it up." Yes, I am guilty of buyer profiling...hey, I am usually right!

Joanne has some mad party planning skills and is a sucker for a treat! Check out her sweet skills...Y-U-M!

One of my all time fave things though...her happy hats...she will custom make them to fit any theme! Now, that is something to be happy about!



Fab News :: Missioni at Target

Ok, unless you have been hiding a rock, you know about Missioni launching a Fall line at Target. We are pretty excited around here and think is just F-A-B.

Aren't these perfect little flats for the Fall?


Can you picture me pedaling around the 'burbs on this stylish set of wheels?



And this is just about perfect for lunchtime at the HBDesigns studio!



The countdown is on! The line launches September 13.



Fab Color Inspiration



Even though most days are well over 100 degrees here at the HBDesigns studio, we are actually working on winter wedding invitations. This color scheme came to us via Kerry's Papery.  She has a bride planning a fabulous winter wedding and thought we could pitch in with the invitations. We found so many fab things on our inspiration hunt, we just had to share some of them with you!


Photo Credits
Calla Bouquet: Budget Bride
Winter Wedding Bouquet: Iced Events
Pine Cone Bouquet: Wedding Bee
Crystal Lavin Pump: On Sugar
Vintage Dior Dress: Smitten
Fabritation Samples: HBDesigns

Feature Friday :: Kitty Kennedy


As part of our master blog plan here at HBDesigns, we are setting out to feature some of the fabulous people we come across on our design adventures.  For our first feature, we bring you Kitty Kennedy of Posh Pencraft Rock Paper Studio in Los Angeles, California.  
Kitty and I go way back and have been partners in crime on many a project and many a party.  We are opposites to the core, but our friendship began on day one.  No matter what has been tossed our way, we have managed to always laugh! 
Kitty is a crazy talented gal.  Her modern and fresh take on calligraphy makes me smile.  She has seen HBDesigns grow from a little idea and some fabric to a full-service design studio.  She was in my wedding and was one of the first to show up when Lil' Miss was born. Kitty is always willing to drop everything to pitch in when a emergency arises that requires a trip to our favorite LA fabric haunt.  She is  a major part of our HBDesigns family and we are grateful to have her in our lives.



Fab Entertaining :: August

Like many of you, I am feeling a bit rushed. August crept up on me and in a few short weeks another summer will come to an end.

We create a ton of  summer fabritations (fabric + invitations) here at HBDesigns, especially in August. Seems everyone wants to celebrate one last warm evening before school starts and the air begins to chill.

Here's some summertime fabritations we love...

Cotton A7 Fabritation in 'Bright Poppy'

A7 Cotton selections in Aunt Dahlia, Blue Paisley, Bold Stripe

Cotton #10 Fabritation in 'Blue Cape'

A7 Astro Turf Fabritation

Like many of you, we also do a ton of entertaining here at HBDesigns.  There is something about inviting people into your home and cooking for them...must be the Italian in me! We love to spend lazy summer evenings poolside with friends.

Here are a few yummy treats we will be preparing before the end of the month (sweets and cocktails first, vegetables last, just the way we like it!)



Hope you enjoy the recipes and think of us next time you need invitations! 









Photo Credits & Recipe Links
Lemon Meringue Ice Cream Pie: Southern Living 
Lychee Saketini Cocktail Pops: Bakers Royal
Grilled Peaches: eCurry
Grilled Salmon with Strawberry Salsa: ORMG
Grilled Brussel Sprouts: Natalie's Killer Cuisine 

Fabrinery (fabric + stationery) Focus

We have been up to our ears in fabrinery (fabric + stationery) orders. For those of you who are new to The Pink Label, fabrinery is our signature note card line here at HBDesigns.  This is not your mama's stationery!
We work with a wide variety of fabrics (from cottons to silks, linens to velvets) to create one-of-a-kind custom stationery.


What makes HBDesigns different?  We did our research! We wanted to create something totally unique. There are others out there that use fabric, but they simply bond it to card stock paper. Each piece of fabrinery is made out of a heavy weight board. We cover it in a fabric of your choice, design the card and glue it all together. The best part...NO extra postage required!

Fabrinery is guaranteed to have your friends and family calling you upon receipt! They make fab hostess gifts, are perfect for a thankful bride and kids of all ages love all the fun patterns.

Are you sold? Contact me!


 
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