Hosting & Toasting: Part 3 {DIY & WINNER}

Today is the day! One lucky person is the new owner of the prettiest placemats of their choosing from The Blush Label! The winner will be announced at the end of this post but stick around a little bit and get comfortable because the fun is not over yet. {and next week will be the final post!}

Remember that adorable flower setting in the original post featuring the placemats? {check it out here} Today's quick little DIY will show you just how to recreate that lemon floral arrangement here:

Slice up your lemons as shown.

Make sure they are all the same thickness so they will stack nicely on top of each other.

Once you have all of your lemons sliced, {I sliced 4, and left 1 whole}

Line the bottom edge with your first level of lemons.

Place the whole lemon and a few ends {if needed} in the center to hold the lemons in place.

Next, continue to stack the lemons up the inside of your vase in a brick pattern.

Once you get your second level of lemons on the inside of the vase you can pour in water.

This will cause the lemons to float! You can rearrange them if needed and begin the next step:

Begin to transfer your flowers into your vase.

You might need to switch flowers/ lemons/ flowers/ lemons.

This method will help keep the lemons from floating. You can arrange the flower stems to wedge the lemons into the side of the vase.

Finish layering your lemons up the inside of the vase.

Fix the arrangement of your flowers to make them look full & You're done! Enjoy you're beautiful blooms and this taste worthy centerpiece!

Get yourself the perfect glass vase for this DIY here:

Check out these other great vases here:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Congrats to the lucky winner!! Sad you missed out on the Giveaway fun? Check out the amazing products The Blush Label has to offer here! Also, check out last week's Hosting & Toasting post if you missed it!

4 Ways to Use Table Lamps

1 | Nightstands

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This is probably the most common use for a table lamp... and I love every minute of it! I have a theory that there is never a wrong way to use a table lamp on a nightstand. Just take a look at a few of my favorites from Pinterest and you be the judge..

Emily Henderson

With Love From Kat

2 | Desks

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Ahh the classic desk lamp.....revisited.  If you're looking to turn your office space from drab to fab, all you need is a good table lamp to make the focal of the space. Think of it as the statement necklace of your desk space! Here are a few ideas:

The Everygirl

Style Me Pretty

3 | Entry Ways

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Entry Ways are always a hit or miss. If you don't have the eye for making your space look like a Pinterest image, then it can easily be the most difficult space in the house. Don't worry friends - grab a console table, a lovely pair of side lamps and you'll be on your way! Check these out too for some inspiration..

Confetti Style

Image Source

4 | Living Rooms

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This one is definitely more functional than an entry way use, but who's counting? If you've got a lonely lamp that is missing it's other half to make a pair or you've found a gorgeous lamp that you just have to have from west elm but don't have a need for it in the home office... Where else would you put it?  Living Room. Don't think this is a second thought or a last minute decorating tactic - look at these ideas and see for yourself:

Style Me Pretty

Lonny

Celebrate

I'm so happy to say that Defined Designs turns 1 today!! This little blog that I started just a month out of college has turned into something so much more than I ever expected! I'm so grateful for the blogging world in itself - It has opened up so many great opportunities, I've met so many amazing people, and I have discovered so much about myself let alone the design & blogging world! With that, I'm so happy to announce some exciting news!!!

But don't worry!! The blogspot address still works also! {it just redirects you back to here!!!}For today's festivities, I'll be keeping it simple and showing you a few of my recent loves for a good floral design.

Decor8
I love the idea of using that anthropologie coffee mug for flowers!!

Image Source

Waiting on Martha
See the link for some amazing tips on how to create a perfect bouquet for a hostess gift!!

Like always, thanks for stopping by!! This blog wouldn't be what it is today without readers like you popping in, keeping up with what I'm posting, and leaving your lovely comments!! I love to hear from you all!

Orange is the New Black

I'm hoping that today's splash of color will give everyone a little happiness on this Monday Morning. The word is out that the new season of Orange is the New Black is back on Netflix, and for those of you who are out of the loop - It's time to sit down and binge watch to catch up. It's the most addictive new guilty pleasure show of Netflix.

So, in honor of it's long awaited return.. Here's a little "Orange is the new Black" Moodboard:

Looks a lot prettier than a women's penitentiary right? Happy Monday!

Style Series: Oversized Floral

Hello Friends! It's that time of year when the weather is beautiful, flowers are in full bloom and the parks and pools are filled with people enjoying and soaking up the sun. I don't know about you but I don't enjoy anything more than knowing that the cold winter is over and the nicest weather is right in front of us!

Speaking of flowers being in full bloom, today Jaime and I are back and we're bringing you a Style Series with oversized florals! Here's a little about how you can incorporate florals into not only your home but also your wardrobe.

I'm swooning over anything with flowers this season. Here are my favorite oversized floral looks:

Living Impressive

Cupcakes & Cashmere

Decor Pad | Lucy & Company

escada | Pinterest

in the corner

And of course I had to include this adorable floral nursery! For those of you who don't know - Jaime and her husband Casey are expecting a baby girl! Touches of white, pink and gold with an added touch of oversized florals would be perfect in a little girl's nursery {also something that can grow with her!}

Here's Jaime's floral look:
Check out her entire outfit post over at Sunflowers and Stilettos and see how these Forever21 wide leg pants are a great pick for your summer wardrobe!

How pretty is Jaime's statement necklace? This beautiful necklace is from ElleB & you can get 15% off your next purchase with the code SAS15!

Moodboard Monday

Happy Monday! Tis the season of peonies and I love that they're filling up my instagram newsfeed. Pretty blooms {especially peonies} are a great way to brighten your day! Instead of focusing today's moodboard monday on peonies and fresh blooms, I've decided why not think out of the box and get a little creative? Great photos of peonies are always filled with pastel hues - Here is today's pastel moodboard: