Friday Business Cards.....Saving on paper, not on design...

I absolutely love this business card created by the folks at Memac Ogilvy. Located in Beirut and Dubai, they also have one of the best designed websites around!

As much as I love letterpress, the philosophy of Chocolate Creative Design has always been that if the design is strong enough the paper shouldn't matter. I am a true believer in digital printing and I am now working with a company who uses a paper that is 100% wind power manufactured and 100% post consumer waste. Great design while saving the environment...does it get any better than that?

LSW

Just a dream...a dream of warm sand and azure seas...

As Ms. True is frolicking on the beach in the Dominican, I am watching snow fall gently to the ground creating a white blanket in my backyard. But I won't let that discourage me. Instead, I can let my imagination take me to warm sand beaches and turquoise waters...What started as a simple board about what I would take and where I would go, turned into a 5 day excursion with outfits planned, destination and hotel chosen, and bags packed. All I need now is a good book (any ideas?) and a magical plane ticket!! First stop St. Barts......

The Plane Trip!

Hat: Express, T-shirt: J.Crew, Sweater: Anthropologie, Shoes; Anthropologie, Wrap: J. Crew, Ag Stevie Skinny Jeans: Anthropologie, Bag: ebags, Cuff: Anthropologie ,Earrings: Anthropologie

Everytime I travel, I literally bring my entire closet with me. This time, I only want to bring a carry-on and pack thoughtfully and light!

The Purse

Bag: ebags, Ipod: Apple, Hairbrush: JFBL, John Freida Shampoo & Conditioner, Notebooks:, Sketchbook:, Travel Watercolor Kit:, Johnson's Lavendar Hand Lotion, JFBL Mineral Makeup, New York Magazine, Hawaiian Tropic Sun Screen, Arbonne Body Lotion, Dove Deodorant, Arbonne Face Mask, Sensodyne Toothpaste, Dentyne Ice Gum

Missing: A great book to read!!

The Hotel

I love to travel and experience new destinations but there is something wonderful about the familiarity of a place. My husband and I instantly fell in love with St. Barts while on our honeymoon 9 years ago while visiting some friends. Now as it may be treachourous to get to (a very quesy ferry ride or a death defying plane landing), it is such a special magical place and well worth the trip. It can be quite expensive but I have noticed that many inexpensive hotels have been popping up. I found this little gem on the internet and I am quite intrigued...Les ilets de la plage is located in St. Jean (my favorite town) and offers 11 cottages right on the beach!

"In the relaxed and comfortable atmosphere of Les Ilets de la Plage you will realize your fondest dreams: privacy, convenience and charm on Plage de St. Jean, St. Barths' most beautiful beach.

Four one bedroom cottages, on the beach, with your feet in the sand . . .

Seven one to three bedroom cottages, facing the sea, located in a quiet and intimate tropical garden, including a fresh water swimming pool.

Each cottage includes a terrace with teak furnishings, a fully equipped gourmet kitchen, air conditioning in the bedroom, a ceiling fan, a safety deposit box, a CD player, and a direct telephone line with a unique and private phone number."

Does this sound dreamy or what!!

Day 1

Hat: Express, Sandals:Urban Outfitters, Dress; Anthropologie, Bikini: J.Crew, Clutch: Urban Outfitters, Sunglasses: Lilly Pulitzer, Necklace: Urban Outfitters

I love these sandals from Urban Outfitters! At $38 I am buying and bringing 2 pairs!

Day 2

Hat: Express, Coverup: Anthropologie, Bikini: J.Crew, Sandals: Urban Outfitters, Bag: ebags, Sunglasses: Lilly Pulitzer

Day 3

Clutch: Urban Outfitters, Necklace: Urban Outfitters, Dress: OndadeMar, Hat: Express, Sandals: Urban Outfitters, Bangles; Anthropologie

Night 3

Bracelet: Anthropologie, Earrings: Anthropologie, Dress: Nordstrom, Sandals: Urban Outfitters, Clutch: Urban Outfitters

Day 4

Hat: Express, Bikini: Victoria's Secret, Dress, Calypso, Sandal: Urban Outfitters, Sunglasses, Lilly Pulitzer, Bag: ebags

Bringing the Monster...

Bathing suits: J.Crew, J.Crew, Boden, Boden, T-Shirts: Boden, Boden, Boden, Polo: Old Navy, Shorts:Old Navy, Flops: J.Crew, Flops: Reefs, Shorts: Old Navy, Sweater:Old Navy, T-shirt: J.Crew, Jeans: Old Navy, Shoes:Lands End

St. Barts is actually a great place for children..So...if we had to bring the monster, I have his bag already packed!

LSW

TRUE & WESSON Philosophy # 53

Image found via imgfave.

LSW

Tuesdays are for Mood Boards.....Palm Beach Green...

Image found via Flickr

Yesterday in Connecticut, winds reaching 50 mph and torrential rains ripped through our poor little State. However this morning, I woke up to blue skies, warmer temperatures and grass that was once brown became green again. As Ms. True embarked on an adventure to the warm sands and blue waters of the Dominican Republic very very early this morning, I was inspired by the little gift of green outside my window. I fell hard for this fabulous image from Life Magazine from 1967 and decided on a tonal green palette that would make any Palm Beach wasp proud. All you have to do is add some palm fronds for texture, a few gardenias for scent, a vintage emerald cabachon bib necklace for color and you have a perfectly classic southern Springtime wedding.

A Palm Beach Wedding

Vintage Palm Image:Flickr, Vintage Poster:Flickr Rosa Clara Wedding Gown, Green Necklace:Etsy, Leifsdottir green print dress:Neiman Marcus

Rosa Clara Wedding Dress, Z Gallerie Pavillion, Gardenia flower shoe:L.S. Brownlee

Atonement Movie image:Fabsugar, Palm Dinnerware: Jack Rodgers Sandals: Miss Cavendish, Gardenia Wedding Cake:CakePower.

Vintage Palm Beach Image:Slim Aarons, Z Gallerie Lanterns, Rosa Clara Wedding dress, Vintage woman with Umbrella image: myvintagevogue. Palm frond pillow: Etsy

Sienna Miller image: Vi.sualize.us, Gardenia image:weheartit, Palm image: Etsy, Vintage Givenchy Dress, Decades, Anne Menke image

Boards designed and created by Chocolate Creative Design.

LSW

Monday Typefaces...Obsessions

Certainly one of my obsessions!!

Image found via Flickr

LSW

Wedding Party Palm Beach...

This past weekend I flew down with my friends from Elan Artists for a taste of warmer weather and an incredible wedding event at the Breakers Palm Beach, hosted by the talented ladies Claudia Hanlin and Jennifer Zabinski of the Wedding Library. They brought together some of the industries finest for brides that flew in from all over the country to attend. Highlights included Martha Stewart's Darcy Miller, Say Yes to the Dress' superstar Randy Fenoli for Kleinfeld's, the incredibly talented, legendary baker/artist Sylvia Weinstock, and Red Carpet Designers James Mischka and Mark Badgley.

I also got to spend the day with two of my favorite people, Style Me Pretty's Abby Larson and her husband Tait.

**All Photos by Elan Artists, Mel Barlow, Allan Zepeda, Carlos Andres Varela**

Signage by CECI New York
Industry Experts and the amazing Event Team at the Breakers including my new friend Jeff Fowler who is also from Connecticut. Martha Stewart's Darcy Miller interviewing Red Carpet Designers James Mischka and Mark BadgleySylvia WeinstockSay Yes to the Dress', Randy Fenoli

Industry Experts, Meet and Greet with BridesBon Musique- Elan Artists

Franklin and Gower, absolutely brilliant find!

Sylvia Weinstock

Echo (had dinner here on Saturday night, absolutely amazing sushi)

Kleinfeld's New Menswear line

Kleinfeld's Fashion Show

The incredibly talented Cody of La Femme Classique- Elan Artists You can catch a glimpse of me, Abby and Tait in the front row.It is all about Tulle! And I am in love with this dress!Show stopper, truly a one of a kind statement dress!
Exclusive for Kleinfeld's

Small things=Great things...

"Great things are done by a series of small things brought together" Vincent Van Gogh.

Living with a 6 1/2 year old can be quite challenging at times. However, there are those moments when you have realized that the student has become the teacher. So, as the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday approached , I waited in baited breath to see what questions I was up against. I mean let's be honest, the man was truly amazing and what he accomplished and still accomplishes today is a little bit heavier than a cherry tree and wooden teeth. But strangely enough there were no questions...Instead, what came home from school were pieces of artwork and compositions about this very important man. On the first piece, there was a giant handmade birthday cake with candles, while a drawing of Dr. King's wife and his Nobel Peace Prize lay on the front. On the back, he was asked what he thought Dr. King hoped for. The words were friendship, sharing and kindness. On the second piece, they were discussing "Hug-a-War" and Tug-a -war" (these are two categories of people who either help others or who don't). What he wrote was, " I would help Mason open his locker". So there it was right in front of me...clean, simple and to the point....As adults, we tend to overthink, take things that were once simple and make them more complicated. So there in lies my lesson for today, that a 6 1/2 year old can show me the simplicity of a word and it's true meaning. That small things can turn into great things and all it takes is a dream.

So when I thought of the words that he chose like sharing, kindness and dreaming, I searched and found a very simple and creative way to achieve this...

I fell in love with these interactive postcards from Threefold on Etsy. Simple, yes, but they allow one to share and/or just make a wish.

Beautiful and to the point!

"Make a Wish"

"Sharing is Caring"

LSW

Brides Connecticut Love...

Miss Wesson and I were recently mentioned in the latest issue of Brides Connecticut!

Chamard Vineyards is one of our exclusive venues and a premiere winery in Connecticut that is truly one of the most gorgeous places to host your wedding. Whether you choose to do an intimate dinner party in one of the rooms in the wine cellar or a large tent out on the lawn amongst the vines, it is a very special experience.

Chocolate Creative Design has teamed up with us to offer custom designed wine labels. This is the perfect way to personalize your wedding.

**Image by Anna Sawin Photography**

TRUE & WESSON Philosophy # 52

Image found via FFFFOUND

LSW

Roses are Red Violets are Blue... Valentine's Day Soiree at Chamard Vineyards

Wesson and I just LOVE Valentine's Day!

This year we are collaborating with some of the industries finest for a Valentine's Day Soiree at Chamard Vineyards February 6th from 5-8pm. Going to be a fabulous party for men and women not just people getting married!

**Invitation Design by Chocolate Creative Design**

Tuesdays are for Mood Boards.....Ruffles...

Ms. True and I have been working like little worker bees on our table for the upcoming Fairy Tale Ball this Satuday, so what would be more fitting than a Mood Board created for a Princess. I did a post awhile back on ruffles but when I saw these ruffled panties and corset on Etsy, I was inspired! They are a bit risque and yet innocent at the same time but what bride doesn't want to evoke both? A palette of various shades of skin tones with a pops of sea inspired colors makes for a perfect Summer wedding!

Summer Wedding in the Garden

Ribbon top Image:vi.sualize.us ,Glass:Anthropologie,Plate Image, Chris Everard, Dresser Image:Weheartit, Plate:Anthropologie

Peach Dress:Etsy, Ruffle Pillow:Pier 1, Wedding Dress:Vera Wang,Corset Image:Etsy

Nina Sandal: Dillards ,Ruffle Top:Etsy ,Wallpaper:Anthropologie, Vintage Poster:Ffffound

English Garden Sash:Etsy, Brooch:Etsy, Wedding Cake, Bouquet image:weheartit

For me, this board screams summer wedding in the garden! Homemade peach ice cream, vintage wallpaper runners, and a variety of roses picked fresh from the garden. I love the idea of a clean white textured linen with printed glassware and plates to create movement and color.

Summer Wedding in Newport, R.I.

Luichiny Sandal:Endless Wedding Gown:Oscar de la Renta , Ruffle Pillow:Pier 1,Peach Gown image:weheartit

Necklace Image: Marilyn Munroe image:weheartit Ruffle Dress Image:Ffffound

Ruffle Pillow:Pier 1, Sequin Dress: Shopbop, Wedding Cake:The Cake Girls, Champagne image:

Pink champagne truffles image:weheartit, Shoes Image:Weheartit, Staircase Image:Chris Everard, Corset Image:Etsy

Lion Image:,Flower Brooch:Etsy, Ruffle Plate Image:BeachDwelling, Bouquet Image:imgfave

Same palette as above, but a tad more sophisticated. It reminds me of the mansions in Newport, R.I.

Fun flirty ruffled plates, vintage champagne coupes and a little shimmer and glimmer!

Boards designed and created by Chocolate Creative Design.

LSW