LotusHaus

New Blog Love } Smitten by Weddings

I'm smitten with another fantastic Asian inspired wedding blog called Smitten by Weddings created by Carmen Weddings, a wedding planner in the UK that specializes in Chinese Weddings! This find was brought to my attention by Wedding Nouveau, thanks Fri!

BCOME } German Design a la Tokyo

  There are some amazing things to be discovered at Bcome, a blog and design studio created by Benigna a German Designer in Japan. Check out the DIY "cut sheets" she posts free for you to use on your own personal projects... like this clever, eco-friendly paper ribbon (above) and the modern and stylish kimono bag (below). Simply lovely!

New Blog Love } Asian Inspired Weddings

As you know, I love event design and wedding style that is culturally inspired! Today I discovered Kim Liu and her gorgeous new blog about Asian Inspired Weddings!  Check it out for some modern and chic ideas for weddings with Asian flair. Also, for more cultural flavor, be sure to visit my other favorite Wedding Nouveau.

Wedding Nouveau } A Style Guide for InterCultural Brides

If you are fusing cultural sensibility, style and finesse into your interracial and/or multi-ethnic wedding, you simply must head over to the fabulous site Wedding Nouveau! This site is a cross cultural style guide for today’s bride... filled with inspirational ideas, real life examples of fusion style weddings, cultural traditions, mood boards, color palettes and more! The creative gal behind this site is Fri (prononced "Free"), and she is a creative designer and actor originally from Cameroon, with New York sensibilities and a home base in Los Angeles. Here is one of Fri's awesome mood boards, entitled "Vintage Kabuki Wedding":

Amazing Inspiration Boards by Creative Lounge

  

  
Check out these jaw-dropping inspiration boards by Nay-K of Creative Lounge!

Bath Inspiration from Indian Summer

Via the beautiful blog An Indian Summer, I'm "washed away" by the modern global styling of these lovely bathrooms inspired by India!

JaydaOnline } Stationary and Gifts with an Eco-Twist!

For lifestyle stationary that is modern, fun and eco-friendly look no further! Jayda is a fantastic source for invitations for weddings, baby showers and parties! The founders, Johanna Reyes and Yadira Chevere are the sisters and designing women behind this beautiful event planner's resource (The company name is a sweet combination of their first names). Check out their impressive environmental commitment here. Jayda also has awesome blogs! For wedding inspiration check out Down the Aisle and for some baby love check out Blue, Pink and Green. In addition, to being eco-savvy and hip, the MOST IMPRESSIVE thing about Jayda's offerings is that when you purchase invitations for a wedding or baby shower, you get your own coordinating blog site!

Utterly Engaged } New E-Zine for the Design and Budget Savvy Bride

Ok seriously, do you want to be utterly inspired? Check out Utterly Engaged, a stylish new online wedding magazine from my friends D*LSH Design and their partners! It's a gorgeous read and quite a luxury for the price...ahem, it's free! The zine features real wedding couples and their real budgets, plenty of swoon worthy DIY tips and lots of fresh ideas and fresh wedding vendors! I especially love the diversity in their features!!! I think it totally fills a void in the wedding market right now! Thanks for the link mention on the floral resources page! You ladies rock!

Happy Mother's Day! Happy News... I'm a new Mother-to-Be!

If my posts have seemed a little light and infrequent it's because I have embarked on a new journey! After almost 6 years of marriage, I am finally pregnant and will be expecting our first child in November! So this Mother's Day has new meaning for me as I reflect on my childhood and what kind of mother I will be. I have started a new blog called LotusHaus Mama which will be a light documentation of my thoughts and finds related to my journey through pregnancy, natural childbirth and into motherhood! Check it out if you are interested. In the meantime, you can also check out some past baby related posts here at LotusHaus. Thanks so much for joining me in this journey!

Listen Up! New Feature on Typepad

Typepad has a new feature that will let you play a song right from your post! You just upload the mp3 just like you would any file and select the "inline audio player."  Click here for more info and in the meantime check out my favorite tunes for today:

 

Transmission Central (Thievery Corporation)

Day In Day Out (Cut Chemist) 

Make Love (Angie Stone/Musiq Soulchild)

Everywhere (Common feat. Martina Topley-Bird)

Angels (Norah Jones)

New Blog to Love } Jomygoodness!

Sorry I've been light on the postings... I have a lot of things going on and some exciting news to share in the next month or so. In the meantime I will try to feature some of my favorite new inspirational blogs like this one! Jomygoodness is a scrumptious blog with lots of eye candy for you inspiration junkies! The author is Jomylene a fellow pinay blogger who lives in Southern California. Every Friday Jomylene does a "Week in Review" and posts a great selection of finds from other cool blogs. I'm happy to have been mentioned in a few of her reviews! Oh and I love Jomylene's color palettes! Check out this beautiful blog!

Thought for the Day } If you Feel it, It will Come...

Here's an excerpt from Danielle La Porte, co-founder of Style Statements:

Feelings are magnetic. Each feeling is a beacon that attracts a reality. Love attracts love. Gratitude attracts more reasons to be grateful. Generosity creates a generous response. What we focus on expands. So choosing to focus on feelings that, well, feel good, is a sure way to create the experience you want.

So let me ask you... How do you want to feel in the different areas of your life? (home, work, play, etc). What do you want to experience in life? Read more about manifesting through your feelings at this wonderful guest post by Danielle La Porte for the blog Zen Habits.

Here are my thoughts...

In my family life, I desire to experience womanhood through pregnancy and discover what kind of parent I will be...

In my personal life, I desire to feel even more connected and share more of my life with my loved ones and circle of friends...

In my body, mind and soul, I desire to feel healthy, beautiful and care free like a butterfly...inspired, fulfilled, creative, uplifted, sexy, self-aware, one with the universe, in awe of nature and in tune with my body...

In my bank account, I desire to feel wealthy, prosperous, abundant, charitable, giving and endless...

Photo Info: This is me and my dainty muse from the Tropical Butterfly House at the Pacific Science Center. I go there every few months to remind myself that, "Not what we have, but what we enjoy, constitutes our abundance." - Anonymous

*P.S. My song for today is Closer by Goapele...

My floral design profile was featured for uBloom's Photo Friday!

uBloom is a great resource for floral enthusiasts, hobbyists and professionals alike! My gallery was featured for one of their Photo Friday segments. You can read the article here...it truly captured my sentiments. Thanks everyone!

Monogrammed Leaves for Tags or Place cards! More floral fun with paper punchers!

Saw this at Laurie Cinotto's awesome floral, craft and lifestyle blog!  You can use paper punchers for lots of things! Check out my version...

Love this modern sari style in orange and green!

This is Mandira Bedi, a famous Bollywood actress who is shown rockin' this mod sari in India's Republic-Day colors of orange, white and green! Love it! Check out the back of her sari and more sari style at Saree Dreams.

My Global Lounge Thanksgiving } Featured on Hostess with the Mostess!

My Global Lounge Thanksgiving Party was featured on Hostess with the Mostess, yay! Thanks Jennifer!

Blog LUV award

The fabulous Bella Signature tickled me pink by honoring LotusHaus with the Blog LUV award! I'm happy to have the honor of sharing the LUV with these 10 blogs!

Honorees please follow these instructions and share the LUV!

1. Put the logo on your blog or post. (You can highlight the photo and text of this post and copy/paste wherever you need to...start your highlight from the bottom up to get the photo)

2. Nominate at least 10 blogs which show GREAT ATTITUDE and/or GRATITUDE

3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.

4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.

5. Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received the award.

Now, here is my list of LUV-LY blogs:

1. An Indian Summer
2. d*LSH Design
3. Fly
4. Jaden's Steamy Kitchen
5. Stem Parties
6. Maritess B
7. Beau-Coup Weddings
8. Lemiga Events 
9. Kuga Design
10. Hostess with the Mostess

Ikebana Style Christmas Centerpieces (cont'd)

Here are a few more splendid Christmas Ikebana arrangements from Bree, the super talented floral designer at Kuga Designs!

Ikebana Style Christmas Centerpieces

I'm infinitely inspired by Ikebana artist Lennart Persson of the Nordic Lotus Ikebana Blog! These are few fabulous arrangements from the Nordic Lotus that I think would make for a very modern and artistic Christmas. Hmmm...I'm getting ideas for next year already! Red and black with pops of greenery are a wonderful color scheme that could bring you into the new year (add silver swirls - see photo on left) Not to mention collecting these items over the year would be so easy and versatile to use for other holidays like Valentine's Day and other occasions like dinner parties. For more inspiration you must check out the Nordic Lotus Ikebana set at flickr! 

Anahata Katkin and PaPaYa!

I am such a huge fan of artist Anahata Katkin and her "heart centered" company PaPaYa! I could spend the whole day looking at her amazing digital and hand painted artwork! One day I would like to attend her creative retreat in Bali and learn to make my own mandala at one of her workshops...

My Interview at BabyLifestyles.com

Check out Baby Lifestyles, the newest online resource for lots of tips and inspiration about baby showers, gifts, party planning and going green! You will also find examples of real parties along with the scoop on today's celebrity babies. I was fortunate enough to have been interviewed for the fun work I've done with baby showers and my special focus on Co-Ed baby showers. Read both articles here and here! Also check out this interview with my buddy Amy of Stem Parties.

Lucky Koi Wall Mural } Inspiration for your Nursery and Baby Shower!

One of my creative visions for an upcoming baby shower was the use of temporary or removable wall murals and artwork... Here's an awesome example of this idea by Anika, using Blik Wall Decals by Mel Lim and incorporating nursery decor with the baby shower. The amazing cake design was done by A Little Bit of Heaven. Luckily, I discovered all of this joyfulness by subscribing to BACE, the new Business and Creative Exchange blog by Mel Lim and her husband...check it out if you are an entrepreneur and looking for tips to make your creative business more joyful and more prosperous! Speaking of prosperous, I'd better feed my Koi fish! You can help me feed them too (see my Koi Pond in the left sidebar)

Pick Your Design Mood at Stylkist } Naturally Modern Styling

Get emotional with your decor...Pick Your Mood at Stylkist, a naturally modern online decor boutique based in Mumbai, India. I love the calming colors and natural materials found at this easy to use website. Today, I'm seeking inner peace via An India Summer, one of my favorite blogs.

GlobalFlora } An Indian Summer *On Demand

Featured Event Styling/Concepts by An Indian Summer

These fantastic mood boards put together by Bhavna, for the new "On Demand" feature of her blog, An Indian Summer will definitely help you with your India inspired wedding! I just LOVE all the color and the magnificent floral treatments! Read more about it here!

*Update 9-5-08: The exquisite elephant floral sculpture was created by the mother daughter design team at Partyland Flowers & Event Decor! Truly amazing work!

Wordle } Fun with Word Clouds

For your next party invitation, try using Wordle to create graphic imagery using your own words or word clouds from your favorite blog! Above is the Wordle I created by punching in my blog address...it's fun! Via the event design blog Mix Mingle Glow.

The New Definition of Finger Food!

Pure awesomeness! Check out these Finger Food plates by Fred & Friends! Via the fantastic Totally Tabletops. So fun!

Rainbow Raffia Clutch

I really like this raffia clutch that was posted by the fantastic Fly blog...

Girligami } Fashionable Folds

Coming in October, Girligami is a fashionably hip book on stylish origami by Cindy Ng, the creator of Origami Bijoux jewelry. Also check out Cindy's origami blog, my new favorite daily read!

Trend de la Crème

Introducing Trend de la Crème, a fantastic fashion and design blog by a detail-obsessed trend addict living in San Francisco, California. My jaw dropped when I saw a couple of posts with trend boards juxtaposing Chanel's Spring 2009 collection with exotic flowers and André Lima's Spring 2009 collection inspired by geometric/origami effect. Check 'em out!

Carlene & Sonny } A Heavenly Wedding Website!

Carlene, the fabulous designer and bridal blogger behind You Love Me and Its Heavenly has created an utterly incredible wedding aesthetic through her newly published wedding website and cuter than heck Save the Date downloadable Birdie! It's so cute I wish I were on her invitation list! You go Carlene! (magaling! wink, wink!!!)

Modern Baby Showers } Featured on Hostess with the Mostess!

I just adore Hostess with the Mostess and the Hostess Blog! So many stylish and hip entertaining resources and ideas to be found on both sites! I am so honored and thankful that two of my events have been featured in the Real Life Parties section of the Hostess Blog! Isn't that fun and exciting! Check them out here: Tropical Co-Ed Baby Shower and Modern Co-Ed Baby Shower.

Portico India } Global Fashion for Your Boudoir!

Today I discovered Stylekist, a fabulous design and decor blog from Mumbai, India! I also discovered Portico India, a most sumptuous home textile company with some amazing collections! Shown below are selections from the fashionable Urban Monk line. I love the intense colors, the artwork and the styling. Portico collaborated with the Lakme Fashion Week (would love to attend someday!) in India this spring to create an amazing fashion collection using their Urban Monk textiles. Go to the Portico site and click on the Lakme Fashion Week image to learn more about the collaboration and to watch the incredibly inspiring fashion show! Um, hello, I'll take all of those fashion pieces along with the coordinating bedding!!!

Starfire Studio } Fused Glass Art Panels on Etsy

Peep these super funky glass panels by Etsy seller Starfire Studios! Via retro modern designer Jenn Ski.

It's a Heavenly Blog

I recently discovered a new wedding and design inspired blog called You Love Me and It's Heavenly, by Carlene, a fellow Filipina graphics gal and bride to be. Above are two of her heavenly illustrations! If you're wedding bound, this blog is a must read!

Swanky Tables } Shanghai Nights ~ A Dinner Party

I'm loving the look and feel of this Asian inspired dinner party by Swanky Tables. The decor is beautiful and the Great Wall bar is a fun idea! Great work Annette!

Swanky Tables Blog & Mod Asian Settings

Via the cool new event design blog Swanky Tables, I was led to these awesome photos of low table settings by Wildflower Linens. In a funky world-beat style, the top photo reminds me of Japan in Wonderland and the bottom photo is like a marriage of West Elm and Anthropologie. How inspiring & fun! Thanks Annette!

Lalla Lydia } Modern Moroccan Style Blog

Hey everyone! Please check out fellow blogger Lalla Lydia and her sumptuous Moroccan & Mediterranean style blog! Based out of Portland, Lydia is Moroccan by marriage and recently received a diploma in International Studies with a Mediterranean Region focus! Congratulations Lydia! You rock the Kasbah!

In The Mood for Love! } D*Lsh Design

I am so thrilled to have discovered the dynami duo that is D*Lsh Design! Lucy and Henny design event related materials like invitations, event decor and many other creative things like the sumptuous wedding mood board shown above at left (inspired by one of my favorite movies In The Mood for Love - shown above at right). Based in southern California, their recent project involved the branding & design for the Green Event Studio, a new resource for green event planning. See the project here! Fabulous work ladies!

Style Fragments Blog } Bachelorette Party

Check out the Style Fragments blog by two fabulous sisters! They post wonderful fragments of design, fashion, decor and social events. In the post shown above, Luvena was given an Alice in Wonderland themed bachelorette party complete with awesome party hats, games and decor.

Pink For The Cure } Fabulous Rang Decor

The lovely blog Rang Decor from India has done it again! Please check out this fabulous "Pink For The Cure" post in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month! This is one of my most favorite blogs!

Blog Action Day } We Do! Eco-Friendly Wedding DJ at Your Service

Today is Blog Action Day, a day for uniting the world wide web of blogs. All blogs who are participating will be posting about the environment today. What an eco-surge in green power this will be! In honor of this day, my husband and I have chosen to ink out the Bamboo Beats Mobile DJ commitment to greening our business and helping other green their events, especially weddings. This is just the beginning and we will continue our efforts to make more sustainable business choices everyday. Happy Blog Action Day!

Jen Montgomery } Organic and Surreal Photography

I adore the beautifully organic and surreal photography of Jen Montgomery, who is also a fantastic graphic designer and the blogmaster of the kitschy design/food blog called Old Glutton. You can purchase some of Jen's beautiful prints at ImageKind.

Rang Decor } Interior Ideas from India

A blogger after my own heart! Via decor8 I discovered the lovely Archana Srinivas from Bangalore. Her blogs feature beautiful decor & imagery with Indian sensibility. I also LOVE the decor of her home, which was also featured on decor8. Check out her amazing blogs, Rang Decor & Rang Colors of Life for some serious global inspiration!