Welcome our new writer Dana Bach Johnson.

Wonderlust: The Great Gatsby

We are so excited about the ”The Great Gatsby” movie! This new lavish version by Baz Luhrmann is set to make the Jazz Age sparkle and prove F. Scott Fitzgerald still shines bright. The beloved novel showcases glamorous lifestyles amongst turmoiled relationships. Leonardo DiCaprio is so dapper as Jay Gatsby and the beautiful Carey Mulligan twinkles as Daisy Buchanan. The story is so timeless and the movie promises to be full of great drama, stylish clothes, and amazing parties. Get inspired and go see “The Great Gatsby”! Here are some of my favorites inspired by The Great Gatsby movie, what I really recommend though – read the book as well!

The quote

The style

Are you loving this style as much as we are? Luckily there are now many Great Gatsby and 20s’ inspired collections available and out hot tips to check out now include: Warby Parker’s  1922 limited edition eyewear collection, Modcloth’s 1920s inspired accessories and clothing,  Out of Print’s Great Gatsby Collection and that fabulous mens Great Gatsby Collection by Brooks Brothers. Once you seen the movie and stocked up on your own fabulous 20s ensembles it’s time to throw your own The Great Gatsby garden party!

The movie

Enter the world of glitz and glamour, parties and beautiful houses of The Great Gatsby:

Pictured above: Laura Ashley Cressida Heart Basket and Tool Set, Hunters Original British Rain Boots and Burberry Belted Leather Rain Boots

Creating an Unforgettable Mother’s Day

Still looking for that perfect gift to show your mom how much she means to you? Here’s my winning tip for you: try to think what your mom is passionate about and go for that theme – and make it a truly a day of celebration, rather than just a present and flowers delivered via web or a quick lunch in a restaurant.

Her ideal present might not be anything tangible in terms of goods, but maybe an experience, or a surprise visit from you if you haven’t seen her for a long time – after all time is the most valuable asset we have – and once it’s gone we can’t get it back… The key is to give it from the heart, and not just by opening your wallet and picking up some fancy presents. Make it a day with loved ones, doing things that mom would love to do.

If you are now thinking that your mom has no passions or hobbies that you are aware of it gets a bit trickier. It is possible that your mom has no interests whatsoever, or it could be that she’s still at that stage where she’s dreaming about something, but hasn’t gotten the courage or time (or what ever the reason might be) to get started. Try to think about what she’s told you before, directly or just hinted subtly, and something’s got to come on top. Then just go for that idea even if it ends up being a spring clean of the garage together and a champagne picnic between the boxes. She’ll so pleasantly surprised and happy!

My English Garden Dream Mother’s Day

Personally I have been pining for an opportunity to work in a garden for the past four years when we didn’t really have one, and this is what my perfect day would be like (hint for the husband as I know he reads my articles). No, it’ now a few diamond bracelet or Jimmy Choos, although the latter will be included, sort of, as I’d love the Jimmy Choos of the gardening world – aka a really fancy pair of rain boots (or wellies as I call them) suitable even for trotting the puddled streets of London! If I ever had a lawn as perfect as the Queen has in front of Buckingham Palace I’d be really happy.

So my perfect mother’s day would have a few of these elements – and I would’t turn down all of them taking place in the very same time, but that just might be plain greedy:

• A lovely breakfast in bed (what can I say, just a family-long tradition and i have nothing against keeping up with traditions – especially when there is a home-made cake too)
• A little family project in garden (this year, my dear husband, I’d like a couple of raised beds so we could plant some herbs and lettuce – and strawberries for the kids)
• Family BBQ in the garden (ribs, English sausages, asparagus and potatoes, need I say more!)
• A lovely afternoon stroll in a nearby castle and it’s blooming gardens – great for the body and mind and also gives me some garden ideas. And since it’s likely to be an afternoon it would the perfect time for a proper cream tea in the castle
• A pair of fabulous wellies, or maybe even two: Classic Hunter’s boots for muddy school runs and forest walks (and music festivals, just think of Glastonbury) and Burberry ones for glamming up (and I keep my old butterfly boots for the garden). Wellies are the must-have item item of the year and they are like sandals last year – no shame of owning more than one pair for different occasions
• And finally: there is always a need yet for another garden tool – so a fancy clippers or cute bird feeder will do (and this year a moss-killing set for the lawn might be hot commodity too!)

Castles, gardens and cream teas is what I dream of!

All this would make me eternally grateful and feel so cherished, at least until next year when I’d hope to have a lovely day again. And yes, for next Father’s day I am planning to follow the same format for my great husband too!

On May 4th at SIR Stage 37 in New York, celebrities, fashion elite, and media gathered to celebrate the future of fashion at Fashion Loves Animals hosted by and benefiting Farm Sanctuary. The event also honored VAUTE Couture President and Creative Director Leanne, Mai-ly Hilgart, who has been hailed “the rebel of Fashion Week” by CNN.

The evening started off with cocktails and vegan food created by Jay Asafa which was accompanied by music by DJ Princess Superstar. The main highlight, the runway show, featured some of the hottest labels in vegan fashion including Love is Mighty, Brave GentleMan, and Matt & Nat. Hilgart was actually the first to showcase an all-vegan label at New York Fashion Week with her Vaute Couture brand.

After the show, an action was held where guests were able to bid on prizes such as VAUTE Couture pieces, a gift basket by the Body Shop, and the opportunity to have Chef Jay Astafa visit your home to cook for you and friends. All the proceeds went to the Farm Sanctuary and their amazing efforts to rescue and protect animals.

It was a very inspiring evening to see guests come together for a common cause and to hear the motivating speech by Hilgart regarding the launch of her already successful VAUTE Couture line. The future of fashion is quite exciting.

Photos: Farm Sanctuary Media Relations via Max Gordon Photography

12 Ideas for Cinco de Mayo Party

Are you ready to celebrate Cinco de Mayo and Mexican culture on May 5th? If you are planning a Mexican soiree or a fun Cinco de Mayo party with your friends, here are my 12 ideas to make your night a success. I created my Cinco de Mayo menu with fresh ingredients and infused the party and even the dessert with Sauza tequila, who sponsored this Cinco de Mayo post.

Cinco de Mayo Menu Ideas

1. Mango Salsa
Give your salsa a new twist and give mango salsa a try this mango salsa recipe, perfect for your Cinco de Mayo party.

2. Guacamole
You can’t go wrong with guacamole. The best tip: never buy ready made stuff, nor those spice packages, but always make your guacamole from scratch.
Guacamole recipe really is easy: 2-3 avocados, chopped onion and a tomato, minced garlic and half of jalapeno, fresh lime juice and cilantro, salt to the taste.

3. Southwestern Chicken Soup
I know what you are thinking… soup doesn’t sound like a springtime food, but this chicken soup is perfect party food that you can make the previous day and it just tastes the better the next day. Try my Southwestern Tortilla soup recipe and stay tuned for my chicken soup recipe.

4. Margarita Lime No-Bake Cheese Cake
My easy Margarita lime cheese cake is no-bake cheese cake, which you can also make already the day before. Fresh limes and tequila give this easy cheese cake a new twist.

Cinco de Mayo Drink Ideas

5. Tequila Shot Bar
As simple as it can be – add a self-serve tequila shot bar with shot glasses, lemons and salt. Even if you are not expecting a wild drinking party adding a tequila shot bar is a simple way to decorate. I turned an old soda bottle crate sideways and used it as the shelves.

6. Sauza-Ritas
Instead of being a bartender and making individual margaritas, mix a pitcher of Sauza-Ritas, a mixture of light beer and tequila is perfect for any kind of party crowd.

7. Lime Sangria
Make a pitcher of Lime Sangria for refreshing dinner drink.

Get the Lime Sangria and Sauza-Rita recipes here.

Cinco de Mayo Party Decorating Ideas

8. Cactus as party flowers
Instead of buying cut flowers that only last a week or two, buy cactus plants and use them in your party table center pieces and party decor. If you are lucky – you will use these same decorations next year too and enjoy them the entire year around.

9. Lime & lemons as centerpiece
Bowl of limes and lemons is an easy and fast centerpiece idea. The best? You can eat them after the party.

10. DIY Piñata
Give your party piñata a little more personality than just buying one from the party supply store, and make one yourself. Use a medium-sized cardboard box and decoupage it with colorful napkins or silk paper. Make your piñata to match your party decor by decoupaging it with the same napkins as you will use in your party table if you are using paper napkins.

We used a glass carrying crate from IKEA in our homemade piñata and added Cinco de Mayo text with felt letters on the side. The carrying case needed a top, but already had a handle for easy hanging.

11. Horizontal stripes
When we think of Mexican fabrics, we immediately think of the striped Serapes in the colors of the rainbow. If you have a Serape blanket, now is the time to hang it up on your wall for your party. If not, no worries. Use almost any multi-colored striped fabric horizontally. The horizontal stripes immediately give the Serape vibe.

12. Soup cans as vases
Washed out soup cans work perfectly as party flower vases or for utensils. You can also paint the soup cans or decoupage them with paper. This time I wrapped the cans with matching striped fabric to complete the party table look.

This post is sponsored by Sauza Tequila.

Have you met the Sauza lifeguard…? He’s equally talented in the saving of lives and the ways of love. And best of all? He’s ready to pour you a Sauza-rita, and listen as you pour out your feelings. This perfect man is perfectly prepared to help make your ladies night unforgettably fun – with Sauza Blue, of course. Check us out at http://facebook.com/SauzaMargaritas.

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Sauza® via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Sauza®.

Every June, my family loads up our SUV with suitcases, sand chairs and fishing poles and makes the four hour drive to the North Carolina coast. It’s my favorite week of the whole summer. I love feeling surrounded by family in our little beach cottage, but nothing compares to the magic I feel walking along the beach, picking up seashells and listening to the waves crash along the shore.

And almost as wonderful as our actual beach trip is the preparation for it. My gym membership card is swiped more than usual in hopes of achieving the elusive “beach body,” and I spend at least two weeks packing beforehand, making sure I have every outfit planned down to my shoes and earrings. A new bikini and a new beach bag are two purchases that must be made in advance.

This summer, Target has all you need for a stylish vacation at the beach. You can’t go wrong with any of the towels from their new beach collection, but I’m simply in love with these fabulous ikat beach towels!

Ikat Lux beach towel in green

Ikat Lux beach towel in whipped papaya

Xhilaration Lavada Slide Sandal

No beach trip is complete without a sand chair, floppy straw hat and a great pair of sunnies. Yes, looking amazing on the beach is a priority, but so is our health! Sun protection is a must, so don’t forget to lather up with a sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher. I personally love Neutrogena’s ultra-sheer sunscreen, which won’t irritate your skin.

Beach Chair in Red

Merona Floppy Hat

Merona Rubberized Sunglasses in Tortoise

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock

Pack a good novel or a fun magazine, and you’re all set for a day at the beach. And if you’re on vacation, you might as well add a cold drink. (I recommend a piña colada, but really any icy beverage will do!)

It’s time for springtime – how are you getting ready for spring and summer?

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Target via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Target.

It’s time for Springtime

When buying new home decor pieces for spring, I wanted to challenge myself to buy versatile pieces that I could use throughout my home in various ways.

When I laid eyes upon this white accent table from Target, I knew I had to have it in my home. Right away my mind was brimming with ideas on how to style it!

My first inclination was to style it as a bar cart. I simply love the idea of a bar cart in a modern home, complete with cocktail glasses and assorted liqueurs. To my arrangement, I’d add striped straws, a bowl of nuts and some fun napkins.

I also saw this accent piece in a bedroom, as a vanity of sorts. It would make such a chic display for perfume bottles, hair spray and whatever other girlish accessories you might want to show off.

I decided to use it to showcase my jewelry.  I love having my necklaces and bracelets displayed where I can see them. It’s so easy to forget what I have when it’s tucked away in a jewelry box.

The second piece of decor I bought for my home this spring was a set of three moroccan mirrors, pictured on the left. I love their unique design and their versatility. Since they come in a set of three, they can be arranged a number of different ways. I love mirrors because they reflect light and add another dimension to any room.

Both items are from Target’s new Threshold line, which is gorgeously modern and classic at the same time. I truly do love all the items featured in the collection! To see more of their new line, you can watch (and shop!) the video below:

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Target via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Target.

It’s time for springtime

With the official arrival of spring, I always get the urge to “redecorate” my house. Incorporating bright colors and fun patterns into your home can be the perfect way to prepare for the upcoming warmer weather. However, it can be difficult to match patterns and colors within your home. Have no fear! You can use pretty patterns and fun prints in your decor without turning the room into one huge kaleidoscope.

4 Tips How to Mix & Match Colors and Patterns at Home

1. Stick with a color scheme: Selecting a common color palette can go a long way in coordinating patterns. Stick with similar hues to draw your eye to the color – not the varying patterns. However, this doesn’t mean all of your colors have to be the same hue. Try out multi-colored fabrics, but use a color that is similar throughout all the patterns for a cohesive look.

2. Save the color for accent pieces: Use various shades of neutral colors, such as off-white, beige or cream, for the bigger pieces of furniture in your house. Couches, love seats, coffee tables and bookshelves make great neutral pieces and are more “permanent” fixtures in your home. To spruce up your space, save the various colors and patterns for accent pieces such as pillows, side chairs and tables. The great thing about accent pieces? They’re interchangeable! The pillows pictured below are fabulous for spring; however, they’re easy to change out when fall rolls around.

Products in the photo:
White Lattice Cottage Mirror
Navy Lattice Toss Pillow
Orange Ikat Pillow
Slipper Chair in Blue Diamonds
Coral Accent Table

3. The rule of threes: Most experts suggest sticking with three (sometimes four) different patterns in a variety of size and scale. If you have too many competing patterns, it confuses the eye and can make your space seem cluttered. Save the large scale pattern for the focal point of the room, such as wallpaper or patterned curtains, such as the ones below.

Jacquard Ikat Window Panels

4. Experiment, experiment, experiment! Don’t be intimated by the idea of mixing patterns and colors into your home. Sometimes the best combinations of colors and patterns aren’t necessarily logical. Focus on color, size, scale and texture and trust your instincts – if you think it looks good, then that’s really all that matters. The most important “rule” in decorating is that you love what you create. After all, it’s your space, so it should make you happy!

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Target via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Target.

Swedes can now enjoy luxury hacks for IKEA

A new kind of home design company opened its doors this week in Sweden allowing people to revamp their existing IKEA furniture to look like a higher priced designer furniture. Introducing Superfront, a company who now offers “luxury hacks” for IKEA furniture frames. Their product line offers fronts, handles and legs for all of Ikea’s existing cabinet bases. Scandinavian designer furniture costs easily 5x or even 10 times the price of IKEA furniture, and now with Superfront people are able to get the custom look with Superfront’s several options for the price that may double the IKEA furniture price but still is way under the high street designer prices. All of the Superfront products are made in Sweden.

The concept is quite brilliant allowing you to revamp your old IKEA furniture or get a custom look for less. Superfront has 9 fronts, 8 handles, 8 legs and 12 different colors to choose from making it maybe difficult to choose from but easy to get a custom look. The prices are inexpensive, for example the blue “hack” above with sides, legs and handles is around 500 dollars, and for less than half of that you can upgrade a furniture with new legs and handles to get a custom look.

I love the idea of Sweden-made high quality products for cheaper but the concept of luxury IKEA hack is still a little shaky to me. I love the idea for IKEA kitchens or wall closet systems that otherwise might be very expensive to replace, however I have owned enough many PAX-closet systems to know that they might not be worth a makeover, and investing in a better quality might still be the most cost effective hack in the long run.

There is no denying though – the gorgeous look and relatively inexpensive price will make Superfront difficult to resist for IKEA and Scandinavian design fans.

Welcome our new writer Caitlin Covington of Southern Curls & Pearls

It’s Time for Springtime

My debut post for Skimbaco couldn’t be more fitting for the beautiful spring weather we’ve been experiencing lately in South Carolina. With the arrival of sunshine and blooming flowers each year, I always start getting excited for Easter. For me, Easter evokes memories of flowery sundresses, colorful plastic eggs and my grandmother’s Sunday brunch. What could be better than time with family and a belly full of sweet potato casserole and deviled eggs? I can think of only one thing: Gramma’s table settings!

Although no table settings could ever match the sentimentality of Gramma’s antiques, they can be equally as beautiful. This spring I had the opportunity to set my own Easter table, courtesy of Target.

When I saw these baby blue scalloped dishes, I knew I wanted them for my Sunday table. (After all, Carolina blue is my favorite color – go Tar Heels!) I ended up pairing these blue dishes with a set of gorgeous floral melamine plates and bowls. The great thing about these dishes is that the possibilities are endless! You can mix and match to your heart’s content. I also love that the floral plates are made out of melamine – they are dishwasher safe and virtually unbreakable. Perfect for those who can be clutzy sometimes, like me!

To incorporate Easter into this table setting, I also picked up some crinkle grass and Cadbury mini eggs from Target to create a “nest.”

And with all the bright tableware in Target right now, I’m not lying when I say that I was really tempted to bring home every single item they had in the store. Luckily I had some self-control and managed not to buy everything. Unfortunately, my willpower isn’t so strong when I’m around these Cadbury chocolate eggs. See the bowl full of chocolate eggs, above? Well, these barely lasted three days in my house. Oops!

Inexpensive Easter table setting inspired by Gramma

To purchase these items, just click the links below. After perusing their dining section for an hour and a half, I’m confident Target has everything you need to set an Easter table. Even Gramma would be proud!

Scalloped Dinnerware Set in Aqua

Roped Vasaio Floral Dinnerware

Paneled Ribbed Goblets

Small Yellow Sandblasted Vase

Add fresh flowers and your Easter table is set!

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Target via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Target.

Think Spring

Oh yes, it’s spring here in Sweden too. The birds are singing, the snow is melting, water dripping, I can already see my driveway on a few places, and the daily temperature highs get over 40 degrees on good days. The best is the longer day light and I am hopefully the real spring and summer will come here this year too. IKEA is already getting ready for spring and I agree – it is a great time to start at least planning your outdoor living space for this spring and summer. The earlier start you get, the more time you will have to enjoy your outdoor living space makeover.

IKEA offers a blend of elegant (and oh so cheap) options for backyards and more colorful options that have more of the beach look. Their collection also has so many smaller furniture, like small foldable cafe-style table that are perfect for balconies. Great options from beach house to balcony and from beach to backyard.

My favorite is this simple look with ÄNGSÖ rectangular table, although I like the last year’s FALSTER tabel much better, we bought it last year, and I even used it indoors as a craft table during winter because I liked it so much.

Photos: IKEA