My Top 5 Mother’s Day Gifts to Give!

Hey Ya’ll,

Mother’s Day is this Sunday, May 12. Do you know what you’re giving your mother? If you haven’t picked anything out yet and you’re feeling a bit lost, I have five ideas that any mom would love to receive!

Image via http://www.etsy.com

1. Succulent Planter
There are a few options if this is the perfect gift for your mom, you can stop by your local flower shop and pick out your favorite succulents and have them put them in a planter for you there or you can by a pre-arranged planter online. You can even get a cute monogrammed planter using your mother’s initial from RootedinSucculents on Etsy.

2. Photo Locket
This is for the super-sentimental mama! If you’re mom is the type that likes to keep you close at all times, give her a cute photo locket in either bracelet or necklace form so that she can do just that! I think it would be cute to put an old photo of you as a child or one of you on your wedding day–but regardless of the photo, make sure the jewelry is your mother’s style. This locket from Planet Jill is nice because the photo is covered by a coin-sized metal plate that you can have engraved with her initials.

3. Tote Bag
This is for the sun-loving mama! Give this fashionable tote bag from Target to your mother and pack it to the brim with wonderful beach goodies like one of these gorgeous Nate Berkus beach towels below (also at Target!), her favorite sunscreen, and maybe even a water bottle and some beach reading materials!

Lillian calf hair low wedges – http://www.jcrew.com/womens_category/shoes/sandals

4. Shoes (Duh.)
I don’t care WHO your mother is… you can never go wrong with a new pair of kicks! Tennis shoes, high heels, flip flops, whatever she prefers, scoop her up a new pair and she will be all smiles on Mother’s Day! Try these sassy cheetah print sandals from J Crew or add some flair to her wardrobe with these bright red jelly flats by Tory Burch.

Jelly Bow Ballet Flat – http://www.toryburch.com/Jelly-Bow-Ballet-Flat/51128270,default,pd.html?dwvar_51128270_color=601&start=18&cgid=shoes-sale

5. Passport Holder and World Map
This is for all those mother’s who need a vacation! I love Rebecca Minkoff’s passport wallets that look like mini-clutch bags! Or you could get a classic Tiffany blue passport cover. I really love the idea of proposing a trip in your card and then letting her pick where she’d like to go! You could even include a pen for her to put a star on the map over the place she’d like to visit, then, someday after you have taken the trip together, you can frame it with a photo of you both! If you can’t find a reasonably priced world map, try a the gift wrap section for map wrapping paper!

World map wrapping paper -  http://www.paper-source.com/cgi-bin/paper/item/Cavallini-World-Map-4-Wrapping-Paper/3650.041/511260.html

My Ladies Night Tips and Tricks Featured on Glamour.com!

Hey Ya’ll,

I’m sure many of you are busy preparing for chic Kentucky Derby parties or fun Cinco De Mayo fiestas this weekend but I wanted to give you all a heads up that I’m being featured on Glamour.com today!

Click HERE, to head to the Smitten section of Glamour.com to see all of my tips for throwing a girls’ night worthy of your fabulous friends!

Since girls’ night isn’t complete without a special drink (and for those of you watching the Kentucky Derby with friends this weekend!), click HERE to find out how to make the Basil Hayden’s Triple Crown Julep pictured above.

Have a great weekend everyone!
-Brian

Similar Posts:

FOX 5 San Diego ‘Girls’ Night’ Segment Link

Make Tonight a Movie Night!

Announcement: I’m Speaking at Engage! 13

Hey Ya’ll,

I’m excited to announce that I’ve been asked to speak at the Engage! 13 Luxury Business Summit, which takes place this December in Scottsdale, AZ at the Montelucia Resort & Spa.

http://www.montelucia.com

I’m excited to speak again and share what I’ve learned since last year’s Engage! 12 in Vegas. Do you have any big events coming up? I’d love to hear about them in the comment section below. Anyone getting married this summer? Let me know!
-Brian

Meet My Valentine: Tex!

Hey Ya’ll,

I’ve got myself a legit sweetheart this Valentine’s Day and I’d love to introduce him to all of you! It’s my new dog,Tex!

I adopted him last weekend from the West Los Angeles Shelter. Here’s the link to their site, in case any of you live in the area and are thinking about adopting a new pet: http://www.laanimalservices.com. Here’s a sampling of some of the cuties who are in need of good homes and available for adoption ASAP!!!

Head to: http://www.laanimalservices.com for more information on these rescues.

Back to my Tex, here’s a short video featuring some of his amazingly adorable tricks:

If that wasn’t enough cute overload for you, here’s a pic of Tex snuggled into his new bed:

I am so in LOVE with him. Do you have a pet? Post a photo of your furry friend in the comment section below! Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!
-Brian

4 Creative Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day

Image via glamor.com

Hey Ya’ll,

Since I am neither a chef, nor a bartender, and I’d like to include ideas for both singles and couples, today I’m offering up four creative ways you can celebrate this Valentine’s Day!

Image via ttp://www.hp.com

1) Plan a scavenger hunt that takes you around town to a few of your favorite places. Start at a bar where you may have met or had your first date and have a drink there. Then, give a clue for a restaurant where you love one of their appetizers and go there for apps. Next, hop in the car with a new clue that takes you to another favorite restaurant for dinner. The last clue can lead you back home or even to Yogurtland (which you can get to go). End the night with dessert and having toured a few of your favorites spots around town and fitting them into one fun-filled evening.

Image via whiskergraphics.com

2) Make a memory bag of goodies! Maybe you met at Barney’s (or any establishment) while shopping, you could take a Barney’s shopping bag, cover it with hearts and fill it with things that remind you of your relationship. Maybe your first date was at a Chinese restaurant, simply get a bag of fortune cookies and put a red bow on each one, then open them together to see what your future holds. You could also purchase the first movie on DVD that you watched together and wrap that up in pink or red paper. If your favorite flavor is vanilla, add a vanilla scented candle. Pull ideas from experiences that you have had together and find creative ways to incorporate them into the gift. At the bottom of the bag or basket, have one final gift that is an envelope for two nights away together or maybe a piece of jewelry. This way, the bag is filled with memories from the past and ends with a gift for a memory for the future.

Image via ktjeandesigns.wordpress.com

3) Balloon fortune cookies! Plan a night in with a romantic dinner, but rather than filling the house with roses which cost triple the price on Valentine’s Day, fill the house will helium balloons filled with kind words in the form of handwritten love notes. Throughout the night, pop the balloons and create a scrap book with the messages of LOVE!

4) Recreate your first date! Turn your dining room into the pizza parlor where you had your first date or the Chinese restaurant, etc. Re-create the meal or even order from the first date restaurant and have a romantic dinner at home. If you can, try to make the meal interactive. If you can cook it together or feed each other, you are one step closer to ending the night cuddled up in each others arms.

What is your favorite Valentine’s Day memory? Let me know in the comment section below… Only a couple of days left until the big day!
-Brian

Operation Shower: Go, Baby Go!

Hey Ya’ll,

So far, 2013 has been busy, busy, busy! And today is no exception! I’m currently in San Diego for another fantastic Operation Shower event benefiting military moms.

My business partner Jaime and I designed a special table for the event along with 11 other designers. Our table featured bright red cars, navy blue airplanes, and vibrant pops of yellow from the confetti we stuffed inside each baby bottle. We had lots of fun coming up with creative ways to use gifts and party favors for the moms as decor for the table.

Don’t you just love all of the fun airplanes, cars, bikes, clouds, and colors?

Once it was all set up, the space really reflected the joy and happiness of the deserving moms in attendance.

The event’s sponsors include: Birdies for the Brave, Ashford University, Petunia Pickle Bottom, Pottery Barn Kids, Carl’s Jr., Holly and David Bruce, and of course, the creative graphic designs of the ever so talented Hostess with the Mostess!

Diapers for everyone!

Some of the sweet mommy swag!

Operation Shower is famous for these amazing packages they put together called, “Shower in a Box!”

Every mom in attendance gets one, and they’re filled to the brim with all sorts of goodies!

This year, I had the honor of announcing and handing out all of the raffle prizes to the lucky winners. Here I am, doing my thing on the mic with Amy Mickelson:

All of the moms posed for a group photo at the end of the event. It’s hard not to smile just looking at all of their happy and glowing faces!

I’m always so honored to be a part of these events. Military families are so deserving of our appreciation for the sacrifices they make on behalf of this country and its people. It makes me happy to know that these moms have a community to support them as they prepare to welcome a new member to their families—especially since many of their partners are not able to be with them during this special time in their lives.

Are there any charities or causes that you love being a part of or helping out from time to time? I’d love to hear about them in the comment section below.
-Brian

Related Posts:

Operation Shower
How to Host a Fun and Chic Summer Baby Shower!
Top 10 Ways to Give During the Holidays

Target Gift Card Winner Announcement!

Hey Ya’ll,

Lots of you entered my most recent giveaway, so I wanted to quickly thank all of you for checking out my blog and for taking the time to share your New Year’s resolutions with everyone. For me, sharing my goals with others has always made me more successful in reaching them, so I hope that writing them out and posting them online can help all of you keep your fantastic resolutions throughout 2013 and beyond!

Now, onto our winner announcement! By random selection, today’s giveaway winner is… Jean Ju! 

Congratulations! Since you said that your resolution for this year is to “go jogging and work harder”, maybe you can put your Target gift card towards a pair of new running shoes or some other form of workout attire? : )  Please email me at brianworley007@gmail.com to claim your prize!

Happy Friday, everyone! I hope you all have a safe and fun weekend.
-Brian

Happy New Year!

Hey Ya’ll,

Happy New Year! I hope you all had a fantastic New Year’s Eve celebration. Did you spend the evening out on the town or on your couch? ; ) Personally, I prefer the later!

Regardless, I hope you all had a safe holiday and are feeling ready for a brand new year full of promise and possibilities! Cheers!
-Brian

Merry Christmas: 25 Songs to Make Your Holiday Bright!

Traveling for the Holidays? 3 Mags to Snag for the Journey!

Hey Ya’ll,

I contributed to a bunch of fantastic publications this month, and I’d love for you to snag yourself a copy to read during your holiday travels! So, check out my featured commentary below, then be sure to look for each magazine on newsstands or online for your laptop or tablet all month long.

In Destination Weddings & Honeymoons, I commented on new wedding trends, like how the royal wedding and Downton Abbey have created a resurgence of interest in the pastoral charm of english gardens and wide, stately lawns.

I also offered up my advice on creating a green event by giving guests the freshest food, and sticking to what’s locally grown in order to support the local community and help to reduce the carbon footprint of your wedding.

In this month’s First for Women, I’m giving seasonal tips for creating stunning holiday floral arrangements. My main advice being, don’t be afraid to mix textures this season! Try velvety crimson roses paired with star-shaped paperwhites. Add evergreens and berries as filler to put a cheerful seasonal twist on any bouquet.

Inside this month’s Entrepreneur magazine, I’m talking “Party Protocol” for all of you attending holiday work parties. The main thing to remember here, is that while it may seem like a relaxed atmosphere with all of the free alcohol, drinks and food, decorum is still very important. People are watching… people like your boss. So respect yourself and others and be sure to stay on your best behavior. You’ll thank yourself come 2013.

Also, a wedding I coordinated earlier this year is being featured on The Wedding Channel.com. Click HERE, to see all of the stunning photos from Taylor and Matt’s wedding at La Cuesta Ranch, in San Luis Obispo, CA. Let me know what you think of the flowers and decor, since those were all my doing!

Lastly, thank you for taking the time to check out all of my recent press, I really appreciate all of your support. It’s been fun looking back on everything I accomplished in 2012… I can’t wait to see what 2013 holds!
-Brian