Aloha!

February 11, 2014

Hey there! Jake and I are taking our very first vacation in three long years in Hawaii! Yippee! Last week I was so stressed about leaving work behind with so many pending projects, but my mentality completely changed once we set foot on the plane. Many Mai Tais, a very long hike and plenty of sunshine later, I’m feeling refreshed and so rejuvenated already. Tomorrow is our last day on Oahu before we take off to Kauai for a few days so if you have any must-sees or suggestions, please comment and let me know! Mahalo!

TGIF!

February 7, 2014

Came across this a while back on Pinterest and it always helps me feel a little better when I need it most. This week was tough. My mom and aunt were visiting last week and having them in town was SO nice. It’s really hard not having any family within 2,500 miles and saying goodbye only gets harder over the years. Coming home to an empty house on Monday after work felt a lot lonelier than I’d anticipated it would and even little Lily couldn’t fill the void (although she tried with tons of cute snuggles and meows). Fast forward 2 days and I’m drowning in a sea of work in preparation for what feels like a million projects before I leave for a week on vacation. SUPER excited to go on vacation, but trying to squeeze in a TON beforehand to make up for the time I’m going to be gone has been stressful. Do you ever feel that way too?

Anyway! I’m excited for a weekend with my love and my kitty in an amazingly clean and adorable backyard that my mom and aunt so generously spruced up last week. Can’t wait to share some images soon 🙂 In the meantime, have a very happy weekend!

xoxo

Meg

Sparkle and Hearts

February 6, 2014

I’m so excited about a big project I just wrapped up for work! Our limited edition All You Need is Love (and Wine) gift set is available exclusively for Valentine’s Day! The bottle of reserve North Coast Pinot Noir is covered in ruby red glitter and is paired with hands down the best dark chocolate toffee on the planet, B.Toffee. To keep things romantic, a 3 wick Goji Tarocco Orange scented candle by Voluspa is also included and smells SO good, you guys! Plus, how pretty is this all put together?! I absolutely love it!

Being that we’re supporting the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women campaign during the month of February, we’ve committed to donating enough per package to educate 50 women on heart disease prevention. Heart disease causes 1 in 3 women’s deaths, killing approximately one woman every minute. CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT?! 1 in 31 women dies of breast cancer, while 1 in 3 dies of heart disease. As a woman with heart disease in my family, I was floored when I heard those statistics and I’m thrilled to be working with such an amazing organization. Today is the last day for east coasters to order and guarantee delivery by Valentine’s Day so be sure to head on over here to check it out (and enter GORED at checkout for 30% off). I’m swooning over the rest of the gorgeous images from this shoot with Lisa from L Marie Photography, but can’t share any more until they’re published. I’ll be sure to post some more as soon as I can and just wanted to pass along some sneak peeks!

With love (and glitter),

Meg

Green Please

February 5, 2014

For as long as I can remember, my mom has preached the importance of plants in a space. From my childhood bedroom as a little girl to my first dorm room and even now… a plant periodically makes its way from the midwest to my California doorstep to spruce things up a bit. In her words, the simplest little green breaths life into a space and transforms it from a house to a home and from an office to a lively workspace. As a lover of bright white, airy, clean spaces I couldn’t help but notice recently that the images I find myself drooling over in Pinterest inspiration heaven all have one main thing in common: plants. The starkest white spaces are instantly taken from cold to warm, welcoming and energy-filled with the addition of even one tiny herb or succulent. True to many of her life lessons, on this one, I think she was right 🙂 Take a look at some of my favorites below:

[sources]

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12

Lately / Seeing Pink

January 27, 2014

In case you don’t follow my work Instagram, here’s a little peek into my life lately… Valentines Day Insta 7

{Product samples and shoot inspiration on my desk}

Valentines Day Insta 3

{A little nail art and summery sangria during last week’s heatwave in LA}

{Ban.do Mini Hearts arrive at the office – OBSESSED!}

{Valentine’s shoot day! All set up and ready to go!}

{ONEHOPE ladies decorating heart sugar cookies and enjoying some Friday afternoon vino}

{Arrangements that I put together – pink and red ranunculus with red anemones in white vessels. PS: How rad is that chevron runner from La Tavola?}

{Bird’s eye view}

{It’s all in the details}

{View of our pallet wall, chocolate fountain and lots of pink/red goodies!}

I’ve always been such a neutrals girl… until this year. I’m currently so in love with Valentine’s Day and all things pink, red and sparkles and my desk at work is like an explosion of all things girly. Thankfully, I got to take out some of my fem aggression on our VDay shoot for work (introducing our ruby red wine bottle) and couldn’t have had more fun. We’re awaiting the professional photography, but had to share a few of my favorite iPhone pics in the meantime 🙂

Happy Monday! xoxo

High Low – Spindle Chair

January 21, 2014

One of my favorite pass-times in Los Angeles is running or walking along The Strand in Manhattan and Hermosa Beach. I think the beaches in LA’s South Bay are hands down the most beautiful in the area as the terrain changes from completely flat to hills and bluffs with roughly 100 yards of sand before the water. The South Bay is probably one of my favorite places in the world and keeps me calling this crazy city home on the days when I’m ready to throw in the towel and move to New York… or San Francisco… or Austin 😉

Aside from walking or running from a fitness and sanity-saving perspective, it’s also where I go to recharge and look for inspiration. I love looking at the varying architecture of the homes on the beach from total shacks (that are merely investment properties waiting to be cashed in), to ultra modern, to Mediterranean, to grey and white Cape Cod beauties. There is one home in particular that I pass often with NanaWalls that completely open up to the ocean. On the days when the residents are home and have the doors open, I always take a quick peek at their absolutely stunning, elegant, beach-inspired decor. In their family room, situated around their gorgeous coffee table is a white sofa (I die) and four spindle chairs. Spindle chairs are so versatile, but look exceptional when they take residence in a light and airy coastal home. After one of my morning walks, I decided to look them up… just a little research for our ~~hopefully~~ future home 😉 From Williams Sonoma at a striking $1,295 to ZGallerie at a significantly lower $599 (+ $299 ottoman if you’re interested), the range was substantial and a reminder to always look for a better deal.

Happy deal hunting!!! <3

Style At Home

January 20, 2014

People ask me all of the time to define my style and I have a really hard time putting it into words. Some days I’m really into mid century modern while on others, I’m craving a transitional home fit for a vineyard in Napa. Beach chic? Vintage chic? Eclectic? Those all seem so broad and non-descriptive. When I came across this image in the November edition of Rue, I could not stop staring at it. It’s the dining room of Paul and Katie Hackworth and is everything I love about design all in one space: bright, airy, crisp, neutral, white exposed beam ceilings, a farmhouse table with amazing patina, wingback upholstered end chairs with nailhead detail juxtaposed against the chic and timeless Philippe Stark Louis Ghost Chair… and of course a little splash of life in fresh greenery clippings throughout. Their “modern farmhouse” is completely and utterly perfect. The home’s comfort-meets-clean-lines aesthetic left me speechless and I find myself repeatedly pulling up the images whenever I’m suffering a design block and need to push the restart button. It truly is simplicity at its finest with a real soul and a perfectly imperfect lived-in feel. I can’t wait to have a house of my own one of these days and theirs leaves me truly optimistic and excited for the future.

Check out their Rue feature here and prepare to fall in love.

Ohhhh Leo…

January 13, 2014

So this happened over the weekend…..

Yes. That is real life. I’m still having a hard time processing it. I, like every girl in the entire world have been obsessed with Leonardo DiCaprio for as long as I can remember. And on Saturday, all of my ~~wildest fantasies~~ dreams came true. Well, almost.

Huge thanks to BAFTA for always choosing ONEHOPE Wine for their BAFTA LA Pre Golden Globes Tea Party (Leo was drinking our Chardonnay). I was able to chat with him for a brief 10 seconds where instead of chumming it up about something original and memorable (my amazing former boss, Bonnie is credited for discovering him), I was so starstruck and overwhelmed that I could only formulate a measly, “Congratulations! Your performance in Wolf of Wall Street was absolutely unbelievable…. I loved every minute. I’m Megan, by the way, from ONEHOPE Wine… you’re drinking our Chardonnay… thank you so much for the support. Do you mind if we take a picture together? I would love that so much.” Like EVERYONE. Else. There. FAIL. He was so kind, so gorgeous, smiled during our entire 10 second exchange (please, just make me melt even more), but immediately after taking the picture, I was pushed and shoved away by the rest of the women swarming him… and that was it.

Did I mention that I love him? <3 <3 <3

Happy Monday!

Apple Pie Sgroppino

January 10, 2014

I’ll tell you what’s not on your list of New Year’s Diet approved drinks: this. This is not on your diet. However, the Apple Pie Sgroppino Cocktail that I put together for work is so good, that I had to pass along the recipe… in case you’re planning a cheat day. And cheat days happen over the weekend… so you’re welcome 😉 If you’re a fan of apple pie, or of sweets in general, this is your girl. It’s an apple pie whipped up into a frothy liquid delight of epic proportions. You will love it, I promise!

PS: This just got featured on Style Me Pretty Living!!! I’m so honored and thrilled to be published on their blog again! Check out the feature here.

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total: 10 minutes
Serves: 2

Ingredients

1 cup chilled vodka

1 pint caramel apple gelato

1/2 bottle ONEHOPE Sparkling Wine

1 cup ice

Ground Cinnamon (for garnish)

1 thinly sliced apple (for garnish)

4 ground honey graham cracker crumbs (for rimmer)

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth and frothy.
Rim chilled martini glasses with graham cracker crumbs.
Pour mixture into glasses and top with a sprinkle of cinnamon

ONEHOPE Holiday Party

January 8, 2014

Helloooo! Are you staying warm out there?! I can not believe the news coming out of the midwest and east coast! I’m slightly jealous that I’m not there to witness the biggest snow storm in DECADES (my inner 10 year old self would do anything for a snow day), but I’m also thrilled at the fact that I’m not there to experience the super cold temperatures. I think the lowest I’ve experienced is a wind chill of 18 below and I never want to face that again. I feel you, ‘Merica! Stay warm!

I REALLY wanted to share all of our ONEHOPE Holiday (#ONEHOPEHoliday) images before Christmas for anyone searching for last minute inspiration, but as I detailed previously, that just couldn’t happen this year. Since half of the country is facing winter to the max, I thought I’d still share this little winter wonderland transformed office conference room in case you’re planning a snowy get-together. The second half of the images are of the DIY we did that day where we gold-leafed our own glassware. It was really fun and the results were so unique and gorgeous… definitely something creative and different to do with your girlfriends if you ever feel like having a ladies night in 🙂 I apologize in advance for there being tons of pictures, but I just could not narrow them down further. We had an absolutely amazing photographer, Jen Wiley who crushed it for us. I usually shoot most of our content, but knew that we needed a professional for a project of this magnitude and Jen was SO nice, so receptive, so creative… I could not have asked for anyone better. She captured the day perfectly and didn’t miss a SINGLE detail. If you’re on the market for a wonderful photographer, hire her. Now 🙂

PS: If you’re new to Design Wine Dine and are interested in the background story of why I planned this little holiday get-together, check out my reasoning and inspiration board for the party and decor here. Also, I had this crazy vision in my mind that included a pallet wall, but we didn’t have one at our office… so I made one. Unfortunately, I was in such a rush to get it done that I didn’t document a lot of the process, but will break it down step by step and put it up here soon. Stay tuned!

DIY Information

Supplies

Flutes or Champagne Coups – We used these and these to give our guests a little variety.
Gold leaf, adhesive and sealant (available at craft stores)
Paint brushes

Directions

Using a paint brush, apply adhesive to the glass. Get creative with shapes and stripes!
Wait a few minutes until the glue gets tacky (2-5 minutes). We had the best luck when the glue was almost dry.
Place your gold leaf on the glass and press down to smooth out any bubbles or inconsistencies. Allow your gold leaf to set for 15-20 minutes.
Carefully remove excess gold leaf from around the glued areas.
Once all excess gold leaf is removed, brush your sealant on over the gold leaf. This will allow you to drink out of and handle the glasses. Since your glasses are hand crafted with love, please hand wash them with care