Better Homes and Gardens Stylemaker Event 2016
A week ago I was finishing up visiting New York City to attend the Better Homes and Gardens Stylemaker Event. It was indeed an honor to attend this event in it’s 5th year and you might remember when they came out to shoot my home a few years ago 😉 It was filled with food, flowers, friends and fun and was held specifically for bloggers. The event took place at the iconic Gramercy Park Hotel on Lexington Avenue as well as a private event held for us at the Crate & Barrel store in Soho. Did I mention shopping? You can’t do New York speak without a little of that!
There was a lot of networking and seeing blog friends both new and old. The weather was typical for New York and it was a cold (by my Miami standards:-) and rainy couple of days. Thankfully we were inside and the food and drink provided kept us warm and happy.
I would have expected no less than amazing from Better Homes and Gardens and the displays were as mouthwatering as the food bites themselves! I love how they artfully displayed and layered the tables and took note of that for my own styling needs.
Grace Bonney from Design Sponge (a blog that I have followed since the beginning) spoke about her journey alongside Stephen Orr, the editor in chief of BHG Magazine.(affiliate links in this post) She has a A NEW BOOK OUT and was so generous in giving each of us a copy.
I was blown away by the elegance and grace of the other keynote speaker Padma Lakshmi who spoke eloquently about her life growing up in India, her career and her current life as a chef, author, mom and more. We were treated to a delicious recipe of hers as part of our lunch, a steamed rice dish with black beans and a touch of curry. She also created a cocktail with curry and since we all received a copy of her book I hope to get in there soon and experiment with spices more than I normally do. Padma also gifted us with a new book called THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF SPICES & HERBS…and it’s going to get me to use more of them in my own cooking!
There were a couple of workshops for the bloggers as well and as a home stylist who loves to use florals as a focus I was thrilled to hear these three floral powerhouses speak. Do you recognize that image on the screen of the old pick-up with a flower power overload? That image was styled and shot by one of my favorite floral designers and flower farmer, Erin Benzakein of Floret Flowers. She has some made skills, a stunning Instagram account and is a sweet and humble up and coming superstar. Speaking of…Eddie Ross was the moderator of that panel and is always amazing and inspiring.
Beyond The Blog class taught by three successful bloggers at Mommy Shorts, With Heart and Heather Cristo. Heather was speaking here about goals and the importance of setting short term and longer term goals and I definitely could relate to her plan of action.
Food styling with vintage props…at the event
More food bites…these were at the Crate & Barrel event and the Pumpkin Spiced Latte Mini Donuts stacked up on the paper towel holder? Genius and delicious!
And then there was the wall…a board decorated by one of the creatives at BHG using moss, some ferns and lights.
The Once In A Blue Room themed sofa setting by Crate & Barrel, where some of us hung out and talked with cocktails in hand. Blue, particularly indigo…it’s huge this year and in keeping with the on trend color was showcased at the CB store as well.
All images via David Keith Photography – used with permission
