Starbucks Tribute Blend + $100 Starbucks Gift Card Giveaway

photo Brunch at Saks

I've found that one of the most fulfilling aspects in life is paying tribute to someone who has accomplished something in their own life. Whether a family member has been promoted at work, a friend was admitted into the school of their dreams, or a neighbor's daily exercise has resulted in a healthier way of life, no accomplishment is too big or too small to take notice and let them know you care.

Over the years my way of expressing joy and sharing in others' achievements has evolved. When I was younger and a friend would make a team or be elected to a student organization at school, I'd quickly pull out my set of colorful markers and write them a congratulatory note to tell them how excited I was for their journey ahead.

In college I lived 5 hours away from most of my family and friends, but I still yearned to be a part of their accomplishments and always took a few moments to call them, or if time permitted, sent them a quick note, expressing my happiness for them.

Nowadays I find my desire to pay tribute to family and friends has become stronger, and I really make an effort to recognize even the smallest of occasions. Since I love all things food and kitchen related, I've found that paying tribute to someone in my life can be as simple as sending them a homemade box of cupcakes or cookies or even a bag of their favorite coffee.

Starbucks recently brought back their popular Tribute Blend of coffee for a limited time, which makes me so excited because I think it's the perfect token to pass along to someone who deserves praise for accomplishing something within their own life.

A spicy, full-bodied blend with dark cherry notes, Starbucks Tribute Blend features four of their highest quality beans and will truly let the recipient know how much you care.

The cool thing about paying tribute to someone in your life is that it doesn't have to be elaborate in order for him or her to know you care. While I'm not one to keep tabs or tallies of things I do, I think that talking about ways we each can recognize the accomplishments and achievements of others is a great way to spread kindness, happiness, and joy that all seem to get lost in the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

So let us raise our cups (or coffee mugs filled with Starbucks Tribute Blend!) and toast to sharing in each others' greatest moments. In honor of their Tribute Blend being back on the shelves for a limited time, Starbucks and BlogHer have teamed up to give one of you a $100 Starbucks gift card! Official entry rules are below.

Sweepstakes Rules:
No duplicate comments.You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
b) Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
c) Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This sweepstakes is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from March 15th to April 1st 2012.

Be sure to visit the Promotions & Prizes page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers stories and find more chances to win!

You loved Tribute Blend so much, Starbucks brought it back. But, only for a limited time. Tribute Blend is a spicy, full-bodied blend with dark cherry notes, featuring four of our highest quality beans aged Sumatra, sun-dried Ethiopia, Papua New Guinea and Colombia beans.

Raise a cup once more to the limited-time return of Starbucks Tribute Blend. It's still just for you, and still because of you. Available for a limited time in whole bean and Starbucks VIA.

Almond Joy Bark | Gluten Free, Vegan

Nothing quite satisfies my sweet cravings like the combination of chocolate, coconut, and almond. Food allergies have made my love for these things harder, but not impossible. While I might have to skip the Almond Joy bar from the grocery store, I can indeed enjoy nearly identical morsels that are on the safer side for me. I made this recipe on a whim using leftovers from my chocolate chip cookie dough truffles, and after much experimentation I've found that adding a tablespoon or two of coconut oil to the chocolate chips is the key to making this simply delectable (make this as a vegan sub for chocolate sauce, too!). This recipe is simple to assemble and can be made in large batches for parties or presents, which makes me love it all the more.

photos Brunch at Saks

Click below for recipe.

Michael Buble's Los Angeles Home

With a neutral palette of pale blue and cream accents, singer Michael Bublé's Hollywood Hills home is modern and rustic; a fitting combination for the jazzy artist who made the sounds of Sinatra and the like a sensation all over again. In the kitchen, walnut cabinets lend a hand in making the home masculine, while the cream-colored linen couches in the living room and chic mirror pieces in the master bedroom give it a feminine touch. The house boasts three bedrooms, four bathrooms, and sits high atop a mountain in one of LA's most desirable neighborhoods, allowing for sweeping views of the city.

photos by Joe Schmelzer for Canadian House & Home

Two-sday

photos: Confetti System via Glitter & Gold - The Glitter Guide

Two favorite photos of the week.

A Girl Scout Inspired Bridal Shower

I've mentioned my undying love for Troop Beverly Hills plenty of times here on the blog, so imagine my excitement after seeing this Girl Scout inspired bridal shower on The White Library. A fun dessert table dressed in gold sequins and filled with the ever-popular Samoas sits center stage, as nearby tables are set with green tablecloths, fancy china, and accompanied by gold and pink accented decor. Individual name badges as place cards, a sash adorned cake, and fitting accents like lanterns and books all assist in blending sweet nostalgia with modern style to create one classic bridal shower.

photos by Katie Neal for Beau & Arrow Events via The White Library

Crazy for Coral

Nestled somewhere between the vibrancy of tangerine and the mellow blush of salmon lies the cheery glow of coral, a beautiful pinkish orange hue currently making its way to superstar status in the world of color. Leaving no industry unturned as its popularity soars, coral can be seen dousing the likes of designer duds, home decor goods, tech gadgets, and just about everything in between. Personally, I love this color and cannot seem to get enough of it now that the weather is warming up. Here are some of my favorite coral-colored accessories:

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DIY Candy Popper Favors

My heart skipped a beat or two upon seeing these lovely DIY candy popper's by Posh Paperie on Style Me Pretty. They require very few materials, take little time, and will add the perfect amount of sparkle to any celebration. Too cute.

photos by Jackie Wonders via Style Me Pretty

PS. My sweet blogger bestie Megan was kind enough to have me on her blog Greetings From Texas! yesterday. We met in NYC last year and to say she is one of the strongest, most inspiring, and funny people I know would be an understatement. She's fabulous and I just love her. Head over there to find out where I like to shop, my thoughts on the pros/cons of blogging, and more.

3 Budget-Friendly Home Makeover Tutorials

While keeping a home or apartment filled with all the latest and greatest in home decor might be a realistic option for some, in reality most of us do not have the time, energy, or budget to continuously change our space in hopes of constantly fitting within industry standards. Thankfully, some of the current trends in home decor taking are both budget and time friendly, giving your space the ultimate makeover in optimal time. Here are my favorite budget-friendly home decor trends:

1. Painted Stripes

Cost: $45-$70 * Material Suggestions: FrogTape painters tape, painting starter kit * Tutorials: HGTV's horizontal stripe tutorial (for vertical stripes)

2. A Gallery Wall

Cost $0-$125 * Material Suggestions: art prints on Etsy, photo frames from Ikea or Target * Tutorial: Nothing But Bonfires' how to make a gallery wall tutorial

3. Stenciled Walls

Cost: $25-$65 * Material Suggestions: Royal Design Studio stencils, stencil paint brushes, tiger stencil (shown above) * Tutorial: Jones Design Co.'s stencil wallpaper tutorial (post includes free stencil download)

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Two-sday

photos confetti - kate spade ad

Two favorite photos of the week.

Facebook - Bloglovin'

Summer State of Mind

The weather in Los Angeles has been nearly 80 degrees the past few days, which in turn has instantly thrown me into a summer state of mind. I cannot wait until the long, sunny days are here for good, accompanied by a season filled with floral print dresses, feather-light leather bags, and nautical inspired stripes. Here are some of my favorite classic summer looks:

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Snippets of My Week

I always enjoy looking at my camera's photo card at the end of every week. My life is anything but glamorous, or exciting for that matter, but for some odd reason seeing snippets of the past seven days makes it all seem more amusing (emphasis on seem). The truth is, like most of you, my days consist of both eyes and hands being glued to the computer keys 10+ hours a day for work, and there truly isn't time for much else. But I've really made a conscious effort in the past few months to keep my camera close by in order to capture things that make me content, all in hopes of breaking up the monotony that is everyday life. Last Sunday I made a batch of coconut butter, doodled notes on my newly acquired Rifle Paper Co. notepads, brought an old votive out of hiding to use for makeup brushes, had my first cup of coffee in forever and quickly paid the price with shaky hands (although my productivity skyrocketed that day so maybe there's something to it), and was able to use my kate spade ny 'sparkler gia clutch' while wearing J.Crew baubles for the night. Nothing exciting, but just enough to keep me going until the weekend.

{my makeup brushes have seen better days. new ones are needed in the near future.}

photos Brunch at Saks

5 Easy to Follow Hair Tutorials

No matter how comfortable or confident I become in my hair styling abilities, I always seem to be on the lookout for easy style ideas to add to my daily routine. While some of these are classic and don't need much instruction, it's always helpful for me to see how other's achieve their look. Here are 5 easy to follow hair tutorials that I'm excited to try:

1. The classic side pony by A Cup of Jo.
2. A fishtail braid bun by My Yellow Sandbox.
3. The double hair knot pony by Fashionising.
4. Carrie Bradshaw's big messy bun made easy.
5. Quick and easy three twisted buns updo.

photos are from each tutorial link above

How to Create a Vignette in Your Home

Creating a vignette can be one of the quickest and most budget friendly ways to amp up the decor factor in your home. A vignette (a fancy word for a group of objects arranged on a surface) can be as simple as vintage books and a lamp atop an entryway table, or as elaborate as a hallway buffet table adorned with vases, candles, and photos, accompanied by a hanging mirror backdrop. Whether your home decor is calculated with a particular scheme, or your style is more of the broad and assorted nature, a vignette should cater to the needs of your space but consist of things you love, making it functional yet fun.

Here are my simple steps to creating a vignette:

- Select a spot. Find a piece of furniture or space with a flat surface (entryway table, dresser, fireplace mantel, etc.) and determine if the area is in need of any crucial elements. For example, if your vignette will be in a high traffic area of the house like an entryway, a mirror might be an essential accessory.
- Determine the look. Decide whether your vignette will be formal (symmetrical objects, unified color scheme, similar and orderly accessories) or informal (asymmetrical objects, variety of colors, mismatched accessories).
- Gather accessories. Once you've determined where the vignette will be, the essential elements it needs, and its overall look, start gathering accessories like books, vases, lamps, trays, photo frames, etc. To make decorating the area easier, or if you're just beginning your journey of home decor, you might want to stick within a certain theme of objects, like nautical, antique, or rustic.
- Design your space. Examine your accessories and choose ones that vary in height, texture, and color. Start by adding any essential elements like paintings, mirrors, or lamps, and continue adding on your accessories from there. Fill in the remaining space, being sure to maintain a balance of objects across the surface.
- Get creative. Add height creatively by stacking books; add texture easily with natural accessories like rugged pieces of wood or antique glass; add color by incorporating a bold accessory like a tray or vase in a bright hue.

Most of all, have fun! There truly is no right or wrong, so be as creative you want to be!

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