A Time Capsule Website

There is something strangely vulnerable about looking through your own website.

Unlike social media, which moves so quickly that yesterday's post disappears into the feed, a website remembers everything. Every blog entry. Every photograph. Every season of your life. It quietly keeps the record whether you are looking at it or not.

As I've been rebuilding Atelier Ashley Flowers, I've realized that this website has become a bit of a time capsule.

From 2017 through 2023, I was constantly creating, photographing, writing, and updating. Every new project seemed to find its way here. The website grew alongside my business, documenting not only the flowers I designed but the evolution of my career.

Then life changed.

When my Directrice left, my priorities shifted almost overnight. Instead of asking, What should I share next? I was asking, How do I keep the business running?

My energy became focused on workflow, logistics, and making sure I could do everything myself if I had to. The work never stopped, but documenting the work did.

Looking back now, it's painful to see those last blog entries dated 2023. It feels like seeing a chapter abruptly end without a conclusion.

But I've realized those dates tell an honest story.

They reflect exactly where I was at that moment in my life. I wasn't uninspired. I wasn't finished. I was simply surviving a different season of business.

For years, my creativity was directed toward serving clients, keeping promises, and building stability rather than writing about it afterward. The website stood quietly in the background while life continued moving forward.

Now, for the first time in a long time, I feel myself returning.

Not to recreate what this website once was, but to continue its story.

As I revisit old galleries and blog posts, I see not only how my work has changed but how I have changed. I see the optimism of an entrepreneur building something from scratch, the exhaustion of carrying it through difficult years, and now the curiosity of someone entering an entirely new chapter.

So if you notice gaps in these archives, know they weren't intentional.

They're part of the story.

This website doesn't just document the highlights of my career—it documents its rhythms. The years of constant growth, the years of quiet perseverance, and now, hopefully, the beginning of something new.

Time capsules aren't valuable because they are complete.

They're valuable because they preserve who we were at a particular moment in time.

And this one, imperfect as it may be, has done exactly that.

Transparency note: This blog combines human authorship with AI assistance in drafting, editing, and formatting and layout. Responsibility for the ideas was entirely human; responsibility for the final form was entirely human. AI's estimated share of the overall process was 33%. AI Thought: 0/100. AI Mechanical: 63/100. Human Originality: 81/100. Human verified. Human approved. AI performed most of the selected mechanical execution for this creative writing, including drafting, editing, and formatting and layout. The underlying ideas were entirely human, and final editorial judgment was entirely human. The work was human verified, and responsibility for the final content remains with the human author.

Two Decades of Trust: The Philosophy Behind Atelier Ashley Flowers

When people ask what I do, I usually say that I design flowers.

That answer is true, but incomplete.

For more than twenty years, I have had the extraordinary privilege of helping people mark some of the most meaningful moments of their lives through flowers. Along the way, that work has taken me to remarkable places—from private homes and historic estates to some of the most respected institutions in the United States.

During my career, I have had the honor of creating floral designs for events connected with the White House, the Vice President's Residence, the U.S. Department of State, numerous embassies, museums, charitable organizations, and philanthropic celebrations throughout the Washington metropolitan area.

Each opportunity has been different.

Each has been an honor.

But what they all have in common is trust.

Every Arrangement Begins with Trust

Flowers are often present during life's most important occasions.

Weddings.

Memorial services.

Diplomatic receptions.

Fundraising galas.

Historic celebrations.

Private dinners.

Corporate events.

These are moments that cannot be repeated.

When someone invites me into those moments, they are placing enormous trust in me. That responsibility has never become ordinary, no matter how many years I have worked as a professional florist.

I remain deeply grateful for every client who chooses Atelier Ashley Flowers.

Serving Washington, DC, Alexandria, and Northern Virginia

As a luxury florist based in Alexandria, Virginia, I have spent my career serving clients throughout Washington, DC, Northern Virginia, and Maryland.

Many of my projects are intentionally private.

Some clients prefer complete confidentiality.

Others simply want the confidence that comes from working with someone who understands discretion, professionalism, and attention to detail.

That trust has become one of the defining values of Atelier Ashley Flowers.

Flowers Are About People

People sometimes compliment an arrangement by saying,

"The flowers are beautiful."

I appreciate those words.

But what matters most to me isn't whether someone remembers the flowers.

It's whether they remember how they felt.

Flowers have an extraordinary ability to transform a room, soften difficult moments, celebrate joyful ones, and create memories that remain long after the last bloom has faded.

That emotional experience is what I strive to design.

A Career Built One Relationship at a Time

Looking back over the last two decades, I don't measure my career by the number of weddings I've designed or the events I've completed.

I think instead about the relationships.

Clients who have invited me back year after year.

Families who have trusted me across multiple generations.

Organizations that continue to call because they know every detail will be handled with care.

Those relationships mean far more than any single project.

The Honor of Serving Distinguished Institutions

It has been a privilege to contribute floral designs for events associated with some of our nation's most recognized institutions, including the White House, the Vice President's Residence, the U.S. Department of State, embassies, museums, and philanthropic organizations.

These experiences have taught me that exceptional floral design is never about extravagance alone.

It is about understanding the purpose of an event, respecting its traditions, and creating designs that enhance rather than distract from the occasion.

Whether I am designing for a diplomatic reception, a nonprofit fundraiser, or an intimate dinner at someone's home, I approach every project with that same philosophy.

Why Atelier Ashley Flowers Is Different

Atelier Ashley Flowers is intentionally a boutique floral studio.

Rather than pursuing volume, I focus on providing thoughtful, highly personalized floral design for a limited number of clients.

Every project begins with conversation.

Who are you?

What story are you trying to tell?

How do you want your guests to feel?

The answers to those questions matter far more than choosing a particular flower.

Thank You

As I reflect on more than twenty years as a professional florist, one feeling stands above all the rest:

Gratitude.

To every bride.

Every family.

Every nonprofit.

Every embassy.

Every museum.

Every corporate client.

Every event planner.

Every returning customer.

And every person who has trusted me to create something beautiful for a meaningful occasion—

Thank you.

It has been one of the great privileges of my life.

I look forward to continuing to serve clients throughout Washington, DC, Alexandria, Northern Virginia, and beyond with the same curiosity, care, discretion, and attention to detail that have guided my work from the very beginning.

Because at Atelier Ashley Flowers, flowers have never simply been about flowers.

They have always been about people.

A Season of Intention, A Season of Growth

Three years ago, Atelier Ashley Flowers entered a new chapter.

When my longtime partner, Jill, made the exciting decision to begin a new life in Hawaii, it marked the end of an era for our studio. Rather than rushing to replace what couldn't truly be replaced, I made a different choice. I decided to slow down.

Around that same time, we transitioned Atelier Ashley Flowers to a subscription-only model. From the outside, it may have looked like we were becoming more exclusive. In reality, we were becoming more intentional.

As a boutique floral studio, our reputation has always rested on one simple promise: when we say yes, we deliver. Every arrangement. Every wedding. Every installation. Every client.

The subscription model allowed us to carefully control the flow of work while I continued to balance the many other projects that have become meaningful parts of my professional life. During these years, I helped grow Art in Bloom DC into one of Washington's most anticipated floral events, expanded my work as a writer and editor, and began exploring new opportunities in journalism and the worlds of technology, defense, and geopolitics.

Most importantly, it ensured that we never compromised on quality.

We never overbooked.

We never stretched ourselves too thin.

And we never let a client down.

That decision proved to be exactly the right one.

Today, three years later, Atelier Ashley Flowers finds itself in a wonderful position. We've refined our systems, strengthened our business, and gained clarity about who we are and the kind of work we do best.

We're no longer focused solely on maintaining balance.

We're ready to grow again.

That doesn't mean becoming the biggest florist in Washington. It has never been our ambition. Instead, it means welcoming new clients who appreciate thoughtful design, exceptional service, and flowers that tell a story.

Whether you're looking for weekly flowers for your home, elegant designs for your business, intimate celebrations, or one-of-a-kind installations, we're once again accepting new clients and new opportunities.

It's exciting to look back and realize that what once felt like a period of limitation was actually a season of preparation.

Sometimes growth doesn't look like getting bigger overnight.

Sometimes it looks like having the patience to build something that can last.

To everyone who trusted us during these past three years, thank you. Your loyalty allowed us to evolve without ever compromising our standards.

And to those who have been waiting for the right time to work with us...

We're ready.

We can't wait to create something beautiful together.

Transparency note: This blog combines human authorship with AI assistance in drafting, editing, and formatting and layout. Responsibility for the ideas was entirely human; responsibility for the final form was entirely human. AI's estimated share of the overall process was 33%. AI Thought: 0/100. AI Mechanical: 63/100. Human Originality: 81/100. Human verified. Human approved. AI performed most of the selected mechanical execution for this creative writing, including drafting, editing, and formatting and layout. The underlying ideas were entirely human, and final editorial judgment was entirely human. The work was human verified, and responsibility for the final content remains with the human author.

Cape Cod Summer - What to do with a 6 year old on Cape Cod?

Summer on the Cape!  Growing up in the DC area, I had always heard how magical the summers on Cape Cod were but never really had an opportunity to experience them for myself. In 2021, a good friend invited me to spend a couple of days with her in Chatham, one of the most picturesque of the beach towns.. The weather was gorgeous and I could immediately see why this was such a popular family beach destination.

San Fransisco, is where my sister and her family calls home.  We each have six year olds and it is important to us that they grow up knowing each other.  This is much easier said than done, when we both live across the country from one another and lead very full lives.

We had heard about other families renting a beach house for a week, and so decided to give it a try for ourselves.  The week on Cape Cod did not disappoint.  I used my instagram community to give us lots of tips and tricks. Here is what we did, and here are a few more suggestions.

Getting there:

We flew into Providence, which was about 1 hour and 45 minuets from our AirBnB  in Harwich Port.  Even though a little further than Boston Airport, I liked the small manageable size of Providence, and would probably fly in and out of there again. I reserved a rental and when I got to the airport they gave me a choice of vehicles.  I picked a big SUV which in hindsight was a mistake.  If I had it to do over again, I would have selected a smaller more narrow car.  The parking spaces are squinchy and my car was dinged no less than 7 different times.  I recommend getting the insurance that covers small body damage!  My sister and her family flew in and out of Boston Airport which is a little over an hour away.  There is also a small private airport in Chatham that can accommodate small plains.  Open Air out of Montgomery Airfield can get you there.  You will need access to a rental vehicle while you are there.

Accommodation:

My sister and her family are quite practical so I let them handle the accommodations.  They choose a very sweet little AirBnB set back a couple of streets from the beach in Harwich Port.  While there was nothing particularly special about it, it had enough rooms, common spaces, and all the amenities that we needed.  The best feature was the outdoor shower.  While the walk to the beach was about 12 minuets, you did have to cross 2 busy roads which wasn’t great.  It ended up working out just fine because I was in the mood to explore and we only went to “our” beach a few times.  My advice on renting a place would be dependent on what you want to do.  If you want to explore (like I did), beachfront is not necessary.  If you want to just be very relaxed and only go to “your beach” getting a house located with direct beach access is absolutely preferred.

Cash:

Bring cash!  Coming from DC which is basically a cashless city, I was quite disappointed when I arrived and found so many places only take cash!  Fortunately I had brought my debit card, but make it easier on yourself by coming with cash in hand.


Parking:

Parking was surprisingly easy, yet expensive. Most beaches have a free public lot with a fee of $30 for the day - cash. Sometimes the hangtag will include multiple beaches, so that is a fun way to see different places.

Provincetown

On our first full day, we drove about an hour from Harwich Port to Provicetown.  The trip moved quickly though I recommend getting an early start.  By the time we left around 1pm there was a line of traffic backed up down the road.  I loved Provincetown, it felt very much like a pirate town with narrow streets, flags flying, and colorful personalties.  We went to the toy store and the Marine Specialties store.  You can also catch a Ferry or take fishing - whale watching,  sightseeing expeditions from here.  There is a shark museum, but I only recommend that for kids who are of reading age or are very into sharks.


Skaket Beach:

This was the number one recommendation we received, and absolutely my favorite beach.  The tip is to go at low tide and have all the shallow pools to play and explore in.  Finnley became a crab catcher extrodinare!  The trick is to time it just right, check online for when Skaket Beach low tide is, this will change everyday.  My favorite was when we arrived at low tide, but beware of how quickly the tide comes in.  Never leave your children unattended or out of eyesight, even if they are good swimmers.

Sunsets:

The best place to watch a sunset is West Facing.  That being said we got a tip to go to Denis Beach at sunset and that did not disappoint.  Skaket Beach at low tide was a top sunset suggestion!

Chatham:

There is lots to do in Chatham, from seeing the fish come in, to beaches, to shopping, and dining.  From what we saw, it was the “fanciest” of all the beach towns with beautiful homes and manicured lawns.  They have great candy stores and restaurants.  If you find the spot where the public beach abuts a private beach, there is a fun little current that works as a water ride.  You can also collect some great shells.  People also enjoy touring the lighthouse.


Ice Cream:

There are tons of good ice cream shops, and it feels like we went to them all.  One in particular “Sundae School” was a real scene, with traffic directors and everything!

Orleans:

Farmers Market has an interesting assortment of produce, items and a little art colony. I always like to by “local”flowers when on vacation. This allows me to really experiments and try new designs. Sometimes the best design is a flatlay!

Nauset:

This is where the sharks are!  We went late afternoon just to explore a new place, when we arrived, the shark flag was flying!  This beach is also known for having bigger waves.  There is a steep hill down to the waters edge.  I would take a pass on this beach except for the beautiful sea stones that wash ashore.  If you like to collect rocks, this is an excellent place to find some beautiful specimens.

Harwich Port:

A fun little town that is a great place to stay if you feel like being adventurous and checking out all of the other Cape Cod cities.  It is pretty centrally located and easy to travel along the main roads.  The beach and community are lovely and there are several easily accessible restaurants in town.  The Freedom Ferry is located in Harwich Port and is an 89 minute ride to Nantucket.


Nantucket:

Yes, it is possible to go to Nantucket just for the day.  They ferry tickets are not inexpensive, so if you can plan an overnight trip, that may be better.  We took the 8am ferry and arrived on Nantucket at about 9:30.  We walked through the town, and visited the highly recommended, “Children’s Beach.”  The had a small playground, sandbox and snack stand.  I had the most beautiful ad delicious Avocado Toast ever.  There were lots of other kids to be played with, and it was a good time.  Next we walked through the neighborhoods to Jetties Beach.  It was crowded and felt kind of like stepping back in time to a 60’s beach scence.  Lots of classic umbrellas and beach chairs.  The best part was the restaurant and gift shop with easily accessible bathrooms for changing.  I had the raw oysters for lunch, and they were absolutely delicious!  After a few hours, we made our way back through the city center along the side walks and stopped at “It’s for Now” shop which carries “Line in the Sand.”  I got the sunnies!  At 4:10 we boarded our ferry and headed home.  I have worried that the day would be too long for the 6 year olds, but it was actually just right.  We all slept really well!

Newport, RI:

Ok, Newport isn’t on Cape Cod, but by Finnley’s special request (and since we were flying out of Providence, only a 45 min drive) we went to Newport on our last day.  While I wouldn’t really classify Newport as a kids town, we still had a good time.  We did “speed tours” of two of the mansions, The Breakers and Marble House.  Finnley was not particularly interested or impressed, but when I told him they were probably haunted, that made it a little more fun.  The Cliff Walk was of great interest and my 6 year old loved seeing the waves crash below.  Two other things that are fun, but that we did not do this time were the Nature Trail and the beach.  We stayed at the Viking Hotel which is centrally located, has a pool, and is very friendly.  If I were going for a romantic getaway, Castle Hill or Chanler at Cliff Walk would be my top choices!  You can always go for lunch at Chanler or Adirondack drinks at Castle Hill.


Above are all of the activities we were lucky enough to experience, here are more suggestions collected by my amazing instagram community! Thank you!

Light House Tours.

Beaches all have different sands.

Bring Flip Flops.

Day trip to Martha’s Vineyard.

Bayside Beach at low tide.

First Encounter at low tide sunset is magical!

Cuffy’s for cozy sweatshirts.

Lots of bike trails.

Whale watching from Hyannis.

Playground in Falmouth.

Watch fisherman come in with their catch.

Woods hole Science Aquarium.

Brewster Store.

Historic first settlers towns in Providence.

Cape League Baseball Games.

Putt putt golf.

Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary.

Ryan’s Family amusement.

Go carts and trampolines.

Four Seas Ice cream near Osterville

Visit Osterville

Chocolate Sparrow for breakfast.

Fancy’s Market, Nausset Farms, Chatham Cookware, Ferretti’s Market all good lunch spots.

Cisco Brewery (get the Gray Lady) on Nantucket.

Local Beers - Cisco, Bad Martha (Falmouth) Devil’s purse kolsch.

People love the Whaling museum on Nantucket.

Hanger B in Chatham for breakfast and to watch the planes come in.

Blue Water Entertainment for private seal and fishing tours.

Chatham Windmill.

@Samanthao000 had amazing suggestions! Here is her list:

Cole Road Beach in Eastham at low tide.

Drive over bridge to Lieutenant’s Island (bridge floods at high tide, time correctly).

Chatham Bar Inn for a drink.

Rock Harbor in Orleans, best lobster rolls..

Young’s Fishmarket has best lobster rolls (cash only).

Windmill at Eastham.

Eastham Library.

Superette shop has great premade sandwiches, great for beach.

Fairway restaurant in Eastham great for breakfast chocolate chip pancakes.

Hole in One for doughnuts, long line but moves fast.

Playground at Veterans Field.

Raw bar in Wellfleet, Mac’s Shack.

Wellfleet drive in movie theater.

Blue Claw boat tours to see the seals.

Nature walk at Cape Cod National Seashore Salt Pond.

Orleans Inn great place for meal overlooking the water.

Hiking the monument in Provincetown.

Nauset Farms store.

Bring bug spray.

Harding lane hats.


Ferrys: Instagram crowd sourced.

Everyone says to go online and make reservations early in advance, they fill up during the summer.  There is a difference between the fast ferries and the slow ferries, be sure to take a look at sailing times.

Hyannis to Nantucket - Hy-line Cruses

New Bedford to Nantucket

Harwich Port to Nantucket -  Freedom Ferry

Woods Hole to Martha’s Vineyard

Steamship Authority or Hyline - only fast ferries

https://islandqueen.com

https://www.vineyardferries.com

https://www.freedomferry.com

https://www.steamshipauthority.com

What are NFT's and Cryptocurrency? How are they used in the real world?

NFT’s and Cryptocurrency is a huge topic so this article is going to only scratch the surface. It is also not intended to be financial advice in any way, this is just my best understanding of it and how I am using it personally and for Atelier Ashley Flowers.

By now you know that NFT stands for non-fungible token and by definition it is “a non-interchangeable unit of data stored on a blockchain, a form of digital ledger, that can be sold and traded. Types of NFT data units may be associated with digital files such as photos, videos, and audio.” (Wikipedia)

What is hard to understand is why they hold value. The confusion comes because “why can’t you just screenshot?” The answer is that it is not just about the possessing the image but the real world utility that goes along with the full NFT. The benefits of the full NFT can only be unlocked by holding the digital information that is contained within the NFT and stored and displayed on the blockchain.

A blockchain is “a decentralized, distributed and public ledger that is used to record transactions across many computers so that a record cannot be altered retroactively without alteration of all subsequent blocks and consensus of the network.” (synopsis.com)

There are many different blockchains, the most popular you have probably already heard of Bitcoin and Ethereum any maybe Flow or Polygon if you are a little more advanced. There are also many others. Each blockchain has their own token, or cryptocurrency associated with it. For Bitcoin it is Bitcoin, for Ethereum it is Ethe/Ether, for Polygon it is Poly, and Flow it is Flow. Typically you use a cryptocurrency to pay for an NFT though there are some ways to directly purchacse using a credit card.

Before you are able to buy crypto, you are going to need to set up your “digital wallet”. There are many popular wallets, Coinbase and MetaMask are probably the most user friendly and popular. I currently use Coinbase and Blocto wallets to store my NFTs. These are considered “hot wallets” because they are online. The most secure digital wallet to get is something called a “Ledger” which actually moves your crypto and NFTs offline and can only be accessed if you physically possess the device.

When you set up your wallet, you will need your drivers license, then to take a real time selfie, tyour bank account/creditcard, and patience. A “seed phrase” will be generated. This is your 12 -20 word pass phrase and is the only way to access your account. Do not store this online anywhere. Write it down and keep it in a safe place. If you loose it, there is no technical support, you are out of luck and locked out of your accounts forever. Pretty stressful if you ask me!

From here I am going to be talking specifically about Coinbase because it is the one I am most familiar with and use the most. When you are in your Coinbase wallet you will see you now have a specific digital address. If you go into the “advanced settings” you will see you actually have 10 unique wallet addresses. This is because it is not uncommon for wallets to become compromised. I recommend having one public and named account that you do all your buying from, and then once bought immediately transfer your NFT or Crypto to a different wallet that you leave unnamed.

If you are only buying from verified accounts or people who are “doxed” (their real identity is known/public) you should be fine. The problem is, that there really are so many scammers and “bad actors” and being duped is not a question of if, but when. It is fairly likely that you will make mistakes early on and buy “fakes” or click on bad links. It is a good practice to buy from a “burner wallet” ( a wallet that only has enough money for whatever transaction you want to make) and then transfer your piece to a safer place.

Never ever ever, give out your seed phrase or enter it online!

One thing that should be mentioned at this point are the “gas fees.” “Gas fees are payments made by users to compensate for the computing energy required to process and validate transactions on the blockchain.” (investopedia). This is something you will begin to really only understand as you go through the process, but be warned gas fees fluctuate during the time of the day and can be extremely expensive. It is always a toss up, do you want to pay the gas fee and be assured of your “mint” or do you want to take a chance that it will be gone if you wait for another time.

“Minting, in regards to NFTs, is the process of taking a digital asset and converting the digital file into a digital asset stored on the blockchain.” (Canstar.com) Essential it moves it from one place on the blockchain to another place on the blockchain that makes it yours.

As I mentioned earlier, you pay for your NFTs in crypto, sometimes the crypto can be bought directly from your wallet and other times you buy it from an online cryptocurrency exchange like Crypto.com.

Clearly this is not an uncomplicated process, but once you get the hang of it, you will feel very accomplished and in many ways like a new world has opened up. Currently my husband is very into the cryptocurrency, which is very much like gambling/the stock market in my opinion. You make educated guesses on different coins and invest in them. If the coin goes up in value, you make money. If it goes down in value, you loose money. While not fully regulated yet, if you do get into NFTs and crypto, keep track of everything, you will need to declare this on your taxes.

I am most interested in NFTs because I believe in their potential and can see their really world application for Atelier Ashley Flowers.

I am currently invested in two projects, “The Flower Girls” and “Some Place Social.” I own several NFTs of each. The current mission of The Flower Girls is to donate a portion of revenue back to charity but also provide unique online and real world benefits for the owners of the Flower Girls. It is a bit complicated to go into all the nuances, but essentially they are creating an online “seed store” where you will be able to buy/trade your nfts for real life experiences and art. With Some Place Social, they are currently building an aesthetically pleasing Metaverse where using their NFT “Potions” as a key, I will be able to access the space and hang my own gallery. It is still in the developmental phase, but I think the idea is that you will also be able to visit the other Potion holders spaces and walk around in the Metaverse. Celebrities such as Resse Witherspoon and Eva Longoria are a part of the project and how I first learned about it.

All of this brings me to how I see Atelier Ashley Flowers using NFTs in the future. While I have many ideas, such as a Metaverse Flower shop where you can buy digital flower arrangements for your virtual home, what I see as being the introductory use is some kind of discount, or access to some kind of private class. So theoretically, anyone who holds a particular NFT could get free local delivery, a free arrnagement, or special access to a live event.

On the order form of the website we now have the option to pay in crypto, and to have an original 1/1 not generated at the time of purchase. While that NFT will not initially hold any real world “utility” it may in the future.

I hope this has helped shed a little light on NFTs and crypto and why I have been so interested in pursuing this new technology. If you have any corrections or information I should add, please fee free to email me at atelierashleyflowers@gmail.com.

Magic Bouquet of December

As wonderful as the holiday season is . . . it can also be a lot. Dynamics around family, friends, and money all take center stage in a way they don’t throughout the rest of the year. These intense feelings can leave you feeling drained and lacking confidence.

Enter, the December Magic Bouquet. The Magic Bouquets are something I started last January. (Unfortunately, I got sidetracked in April). The intent is to design flowers in such a way that they provide an energy and power boost for a particular season.

I plan to make my Magic Bouquets available to order again in 2022 and hope they will bring an extra zing of power to your corner when you need it.

December has so many great qualities but can also leave some of us feeling a bit run down. The mix of words that can be associated with this month are: family, abundance, jealousy, toxicity, satisfaction, blessing, wanting, left-out, over-extended, exhausted, anxious, not enough, too much, sparkly, cold, candle lit, pine, winter, dark, full, empty, feelings of supposed too, dry.

Thankfully, many of these words represent a temporary state. By acknowledging them, you also move through them and release them so that you can feel liberated, in control, self-assured, confident, and fresh.

Taking all this in mind, I present the elements of the December Magic Bouquet.

Listed below are the ingredients to pack your bouquet full of power, but don’t worry if you can’t find some of the more obscure flowers like Agapanthas or Neurine, your bouquet will still work without them. What really activates the materials, is your intentions in using them.

  • Nobel Fir - “Aligned with the Great Goddess and spirit of the forest, the pungent and mystical fir possesses a magical energy like no other”  Fir can help you magnetize abundant wealth.  Fir is also used for the contemplation of shadow work when you are willing to take a deeper look into all the different facets of you being, helping to find truth and clarity. “Open to the fir’s energy and feel yourself receiving an infusion of strength, courage, and wisdom.  Imagine that fir is blessing you with a metaphorical lantern that you can use to shine light in the darkest recesses of your innermost self.” Quotes from Tess Whitehurst - “The Magic of Trees.”

  • Citrus (limes and tangerines) - Happy home, comfort with luxury, perspective, positivity, trust, abundance, clarity, focus, emotional balance, 

  • Camelia - authenticity, abundance, friendship, heart opening, humility, energy

  • Agapanthas - confidence, excelence, self-mastery

  • Poppy - Healing addictions, uplifting depression, divine alignment, healing and releasing, peace

  • Nerine- Freedom, liberation, independence.

  • Amaryllis - Self-acceptance, self-esteem, self love

  • Pear - Cooling of emotions, calming, positivity, swift effectivness

  • Garlic- Lowers blood pressure, repels negativity, protective energy, removes negative vibrations

  • Cranberry - healing, protection, love, lust, positive energy, courage, passion, action.







Holiday Tablescape Collaboration with Gray Antiques and Collecto

‘Tis the season for holiday tablescapes! Early in December, I had the pleasure of co-presenting with Carol Vargo of Gray Antiques and Federika Longinotti Buitoni of Collecto in a private event supporting St. Albans School. The event was hosted by Kristin Cecchi, Cybil Roehrenbeck, Olga Jaeckel, Nancy Reynolds Bagley, and Susan Bollendorf.

Carol is an expert at patterns and layering. When she designs tablescapes, she always starts with the china pattern and adds natural and simple decor elements to create a dynamic presentation. Carol touched on the importance of using the pieces you already have in your collection with an eye towards adding unique, one of a kind antique treasures. Carol also remarked, “that it’s not a party unless something breaks!” I think we can all relate to that!

Gray Antiques

Federika, who is based in Miami, has a wonderful style that is both youthful and elegant. She helps couples select china, flatware, and table decor and always stresses the importance of collecting pieces that you will want to use time and time again. Both Federika and Carol agreed that the flatware, and small items such as name card holders, are really the “jewelry” of the table.

Gray Antiques and Collecto Co.

Finally, if you follow me, you know that no table is complete without fresh flowers as they bring an organic living energy to any event. I demoed a small floral arrangement for the presentation and highlighted the importance of removing hydrangea leaves so that all the energy will go to the bloom, and the flower will thrive. While I didn’t mention it during my presentation, I always “set the house” for my guests and that means greeting guests with a beautiful wreath on the door, perhaps having a statement piece on the sideboard, or adding a few fresh flowers to the powder room.

This season, I am loving Antlers as a table design accent.

Statement Flowers with a bit of whimsy.

This centerpiece was designed to accent Gray’s Antiques Chinese Import parrots, drawing on the idea of feathers and complimenting the colors.

Image courtesy @kristincecchi instagram stories. From left: Kristin Cecchi, Susan Bollendorf, Olga Jaeckel, Carol Vargo, Ashley Greer, Federika Longinotti Buitoni, Nancy Reynolds BagleyCybil Roehrenbeck.

I think we can all agree, the right combination of place settings, linens, flowers, good food and friends is what creates a dynamic table.

What to do in New York City with a Five-Year-Old

As much as I love DC and Old Town Alexandria, there is nothing quite like a visit to New York City to delight and inspire all the senses. As a child I remember how special those times I got to visit New York were, and as a teenager was fortunate enough to spend one very impressionable summer attending fashion design classes at Parsons School of Design. Needless to say New York occupies a very special place in my heart.

Now that I am a parent, I want my child to grow up having a familiarity and comfort with this iconic destination.

Finn, who turned 5 this June, loves to travel and experience new cities. He has a generally easy going temperament and is adventurous. The only thing we really needed to be mindful of was loud noises, as he gets very upset and scared if anything is too loud or unexpected.

So, here is what we did for his first quick trip into the city.

1) Pick the right hotel. We stayed at well known hotel on the Upper East Side near Central Park. I chose this location because I was traveling alone with my son, and wanted somewhere that felt familiar, safe, close to the park, had valet, and room service. Surprisingly enough many hotels are not offering room service, so be sure to check first if this is something you enjoy. I did look at several midtown and downtown hotels, but ultimately, wanted to avoid the more frenetic feeling and congestion of those locations. Again, this had a lot to do with Finn’s particular sensitivity to noise, and I needed to be sure his first experience in New York felt safe to him.

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2) Central Park Zoo. While it can’t really compare with most major zoo’s (DC, Bronx, San Diego), it was fun and a nice easy thing to do. There were lots of shaded walkways, and the sea lions and penguins were a big hit. Go ahead and watch the movies Penguins of Madagascar, or Madagascar to get your kiddo extra excited. The snow leopards were out preening and looking very majestic.

3) Heckscher Park at E 65th st., was the unexpected Finn favorite. While there were other things I would have wanted to do, I could tell Finn was really in the mood for some good playground play. After leaving the zoo, I googled “park near me” and this gem popped up. What I had not anticipated is that while it does have lots of regular playground equipment, the best part was what I like to call, the “Water City.” It is a splash park combined with little walkways and turrets that water runs through. Absolutely bring water shoes, bathing suit and a towel or you will end up like us . . . 1 kid sans shirt or shoes, and regular shorts soaked through. I’m pretty sure this actually ended up being Finn’s favorite part of the city.

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4) Snow Cone or Ice cream from a truck. Simple enough, no explanation needed. Sit in the shade and take in everything around you.

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5) Rickshaw ride. Finn thought zigging and zagging open air through the traffic was great fun, and asked if we could take a ride every time he saw one. WARNING!!!! Negotiate your price first. I made the mistake of not doing so and when our trip was over, the guy tried to charge me $77 for an 11 minute ride. Needless to say, I wasn't paying that, but it did make for an uncomfortable 30 seconds, before I handed him $25 and got out of there. SMH I totally knew better!

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6) FAO Shwarz, but actually I would skip this the next time. This legendary toy store is really not what it once was, it feels crowded and is all about the build a bear/doll/car experience. I think if we weren’t still in the midst of a pandemic, I may have enjoyed this more, but really I just wanted to be in an out. The store has arrows for one way traffic and winds you throughout the crowded and narrow aisles. Finn was pleased with his “Make your own popsicles” selection.

7) New York Pizza. Yes, just about any large slice will do, and they can be found on the UES by googling “Pizza Near me” and following the walking directions on your phone. Of course you can sit at a lovely trattoria, but with a 5 year old its fun to have the “authentic” experience where they can just chill.

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8) Times Square after dark. Another location that was not at all how I remembered it, wow! Finn and I ventured out at about 8:30 pm and found ourselves in the midst of day-glow twilight land. This was very much pushing the boundaries of his 5-year-old threshold, so after a quick look around and a couple of photos we headed out of the main square and grabbed some ice-cream on a quieter street. We then hailed a taxi and high-tailed it out of there. Even though we did’t spend more then 15 minuets there, that was plenty of time for him to have the experience, and it was a positive and utterly unique one.

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9) Taxi Rides. Simple but fun for a kid who is so used to always being buckled into his booster seat. He also thoroughly enjoyed watching the adds and mini clips on the taxi tv. Something that felt new to me, were all of the taxis with big skylights built in so you could see the towering skyscrapers, a very nice addition. All of the taxi’s had full plastic of plexiglass screens to help prevent against the spread of germs, this is 2021 after all.

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10) Lego Store. We went to the one in the Flatiron district because it is supposed to be bigger and have a better selection. It was a great store . . . nothing to write home about, but New York is a city for shopping, so it was fun to let Finn pick out some special items. He went with the Mario collection, apparently he has been watching Mario on YouTube Kids . . . .

11) Bubble Bath. No way around it, after being out in the summer city, your kid is going to need a bath, and bubble baths are fun! I let Finn fill up his tub all the way with lots of bubbles and just play until he was ready to get out.

12) Room Service. Now this does not have to be a New York thing, and a lot of people frown on room service, but I personally find it delightful to eat my dinner in PJs while watching an inroom movie. Plus, this was our compromise to eating in a restaurant. We have actually not sat down inside a restrung since February 2020, and even though we are traveling, I wasn’t quite ready to break the seal on this one.

13) Walk. A classic pastime for any city, just make sure to do this before you take any other mode of transportation. Once Finn had taken a cab and a rickshaw that was all he wanted to do . . . no more walking . . . and he was sure to tell me every 30 seconds.

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14) Jump on the Bed! Classic hotel behavior for the kids under 10.

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So, this was our quick Summer trip into New York City for my 5-year-old’s first taste of the Big Apple. Before we left, I polled my IG community for their top recommendations, and while we didn’t have time to experience them first hand, maybe they will be helpful for you!

Note: Some of these are currently closed or have ticketed openings. Please check first and reserve your space to avoid any disappointment.