Lights, Camera – Oscars…at Home: Tips on How to Throw a Viewing Party!

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Who’s attending one of the most glamorous nights in Hollywood, The Oscars … from your living room?!? Me!!! I am going to give you tips on “how to” throw a SIMPLE & EASY viewing party right from your home, but first let me rewind …

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For almost a decade I reported LIVE from the Red Carpet at one of the hottest Academy Award pre show parties and after show parties held at the famous Beverly Hills Hotel. It was exciting and I learned how to throw a stylish celebrity filled event! Guests, PR agents, Celebs and TV hosts, like myself, were dressed in gorgeous formal attire, sipped champagne and whispered “who” had their vote – off camera of course!

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I don’t know about you but unless I am actually at the Dolby Theatre, the venue of the Academy Awards, or attending one of the parties I mentioned above I do NOT want to dress up in formal attire, especially in my own living room! I want to be comfy and I would imagine your friends and family do too … trust me the guys will thank you! To keep the evening festive but relaxed I would recommend everyone come dressed casual in black, white, silver or gold. Let’s be real, these colors will make your photos of the evening super cute as well. Personally, this means my trendy joggers will be making an appearance with a stylish off-the-shoulder gold or silver top.

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Now what to sip and snack on? Since the celebrities have more-than-likely been cleansing weeks before the BIG NIGHT, why not start your guests off with shots of green juice? I have a juicer and love to juice fresh veggies and fruit but you can always buy green juice from your local grocery store and pre fill shot glasses or juice glasses with the concoction. Next, what is an Oscar party without bubbles? Champagne or prosecco will be perfect. To add a little glam, rim your champagne glasses with edible gold glitter before you fill the glasses with the bubbly liquid. Even though it’s not “movie night” – popcorn is a must! Set out a “popcorn bar” – it’s easy to make and your guests can help themselves. I would suggest buying red and white striped popcorn boxes that can easily be filled with the corn. Place the pre-popped corn in a large bowl and add a scoop so your guests can easily fill their boxes. Last, set out various spices, candies and sauces to be mixed into the corn. Some examples are: truffle zest (Oprah’s favorite), salt, pepper, onion powder, M&M’s, Reese’s Pieces, chocolate chips, caramel, white chocolate and chocolate.

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Oscar ballots are a fun way for you and your guests to keep track of the winners OR if you want to play a game by filling out a ballot before the show starts, Vanity Fair has made it easy by providing a printable version HERE. Many local bakeries will have Golden Oscar Statue cookies or cupcakes, which would make a great prize for the winner!

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If you would like to spice up the festive décor in your home for Oscars night think white flower arrangements, balloons in the black, white, silver and gold color palette and for a pop of color add a “red carpet” table runner or red butcher paper under your popcorn bar and bubbles!

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Who has YOUR Vote on Sunday? Do you have a creative idea for your Oscar’s party?  Please DO SHARE as I’d LOVE to hear from you!  I am always looking for new ideas!

Keep Dreaming, Designing & Dwelling…

Cheers!

Cortney

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Cortney Bailey

Galentine’s Gift Ideas for your Gal Pal!

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All my Single Ladies, Gal Pals, BFFs, Sisterhoods, and Dreamers of L-O-V-E raise your hands! (Mine are raised!!) Shout out to girlfriends who cheer each other on, lean over and fix each other’s crowns when they slip, cry with, pray for and lift each other up.  No mater if you are a Carrie Bradshaw endlessly looking for your “Mr. Big” or a Southern debutante who was blessed to find your significant other at age 19, this post is for YOU! If you have the characteristics listed above then cheers, high-five and a BIG HUG to you.  We are here to love our fellow females & encourage each other, not to gossip and tear one another down.  I have been so blessed to surround myself with STRONG and LOVING women who thrive on each others success.  With that said, Valentine’s Day is just around the corner I want to honor you ladies!  Why, because YOU ARE LOVED! If you are spending V-Day with your gal pal(s), here are a few gift ideas to make your friend(s) feel special!

 

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1: Pop & Suki Bag (You and your BFF can have “matching” bags!) | 2: Mackenzie-Childs Heart Bowl (Add a little glam to your gal pal’s kitchen!) | 3: Buxom Lip Gloss (I love these glosses – they give you a plumper pout!) | 4: Heart Bottle Stopper (This stopper would be perfectly paired with a bottle of bubbles!) | 5: Le Creuset Heart Casserole (Ideal for the foodie in your life!) | 6: Le Creuset Heart Ramekin (Another cute option for the cook’s kitchen!)  | 7: Jumbo Heart Pool Float (Turn up the heat in the pool and take winter, February swim!)  | 8: Faux-Fur Pom Sneaker (I have these in Pink!)

As ALWAYS, I’d LOVE to hear from you!  Let me know how AMAZING your gal pals are.  What are y’all doing for Galentine’s day?  Do you have a fabulous gift idea … update me!!!

Keep Dreaming, Designing & Dwelling…

Cheers!

Cortney

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Cortney Bailey

Go Green or Go Home: Greenery, Color of the Year!

Pantone’s COLOR OF THE YEAR, 2017: GREENERY

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Viceroy Hotel / Santa Monica

Pantone states, “A refreshing and revitalizing shade, Greenery is symbolic of new beginnings … A life-affirming shade … the pursuit of personal passions and vitality.”

I LOVE the color green! It’s a calming color yet it’s powerful.  As many of you know I like to bring a little of the outdoors inside and the color Green easily allows me to do so!  The Viceroy Hotel Santa Monica‘s lobby has always made me ultra happy. Kelly Wearstler, the designer of the interior of the hotel, was able to capture the “Modern Colonialism” by using strong pops of color, especially – GREEN!  Here are some additional examples of using Greenery in your home, office or boutique’s space, inspired by the Viceroy.

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Viceroy Hotel Lobby

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If you want to add pops of green to your home but do not want to commit to recovering chairs or retiling an entire bath consider adding throw pillows in a green print to your space.  Here are two examples and I actually own the malachite pillows!  Shop options HERE.

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Greenery is an adorable option to add color or a theme to your kitchen!  Le Creuset Cookware & Bakeware offer abundant color options including green or “palm”!  Because the color is so vibrant, leaving a piece or two  sitting out in your kitchen looks stylish and adds instant personality to your cooking space.  Shop options HERE.

Le Creuset, Cortney Bailey

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Le Creuset, Cortney Bailey

Green is not just for the home, hit the streets  or relax by the pool feeling powerful in a shade of green that best fits your skin tone and personality.  Trina Turk never disappoints.  Here are some beautiful green options she has designed.  You can wear a bold green  and stand out or wear a small sliver of green mixed with other colors but either way you can walk in confidence knowing your are classically on trend! Shop the  looks here: Green Plaid Coat, Green Dress & One Piece Swim Suite with pops of Green. 
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I’d LOVE to hear from you!  Let me know what ideas or styles you have found in green – I’m ALWAYS looking for new inspiration!!!

Cortney Bailey

Keep Dreaming, Designing & Dwelling…

Cheers!

Cortney

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Dallas Real Estate Agent for Real Housewives: Cortney Bailey

Cortney Bailey, Dallas Real Estate
As many of you know I am a licensed Real Estate agent.  My clients Tiffany, cast member of Bravo TV‘s  Real Housewives of Dallas, and Husband, Aaron Hendra wanted to document their Dallas home search for the show.  I was thrilled when they asked me to be apart of the filming.  We had so much fun during the process.  Tiffany & Aaron are such kind and generous people – I am blessed to have the opportunity to work with them.  If you missed the two episodes I was featured in watch the video below to catch me in action, doing what I do best: Making Dallas (DFW metroplex – including Plano!) a more beautiful place to live, one home at a time! 

Cortney Bailey, Dallas Real Estate
I’d love to hear from you! If you have a Real Estate question feel free to contact me at CortneyBailey.com or leave me a comment below. It would be my pleasure to help you Buy, Sell or Lease your next property! 

Cortney Bailey, Dallas Real Estate, Real Housewives

Keep Dreaming, Designing & Dwelling…

Cheers!

Cortney

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Cortney Bailey

Fancy Floats for Every Pool!

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Summer is well under way but there is still plenty of time to make a SPLASH! If you want to add a little more Ta-Da to your backyard think about enhancing your pool-time with one of these adorable floats. Having a pool party? These amazing floating characters will definitely be a conversation starter, not-to-mention a fun accessory for photo ops! I guarantee family and friends of all ages will love these fabulous finds while they cool off, plus they are a great and practical way to update your backyard during the hot season!

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Play it cool and don’t sweat it! These floats can easily be ordered on line at either Nordstroms or Urban Outfitters!

I’d love to hear from you!  What’s your favorite way to stay cool this summer?

Keep Dreaming, Designing & Dwelling…

Cheers!

Cortney

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Cortney Bailey

Pillows with a Punch…POW!

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Statement pillows can either make or break a room. It’s kind of like jewelry. Have you ever seen someone who is wearing a fabulous outfit and their bobbles are just wrong? Well, that’s the same with statement pillows.  When you go shopping for a sofa or chair and they come with throw pillows, please do yourself a favor and toss the square pillows aside and just look at the sofa or chair.  The fun of accessorizing comes after the “big-ticket” item has been purchased.  Only then can you think about taking it up a notch and adding some real punch aka “pow-wow”!

My sofa, seen here, is from Horchow. I searched high and low before I found the perfect fit for my space.  Then the fun began  – statement pillows! The not so easy task of finding the perfect “look” took me a few weeks.  Again, after searching dozens of sites and visiting several fabric stores I happily settled on this fabulous black & white pattern by no other than THE Kelly Wearstler and this amazing emerald-green malachite pattern. I hired a seamstress and voila my ideal statement pillows came to life and I could not be happier!

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I’d love to hear from you!  What are some of your favorite statement ideas for pillows that create a punch!

Keep Dreaming, Designing & Dwelling…

Cheers!

Cortney

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Cortney Bailey

Agate Wall – Seriously In Love!

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I took this gorgeous photo of a custom designed agate wall in a fabulous Palm Springs area home!  No filter was used to “doctor” the photo!  The wall is literally this fabulous.  I love when the lines of fashion and design are blurred so I wish I could have plucked one of these agate stones off the wall for a show stopping necklace!

I’d love to hear from you! Tell me about your great ideas in incorporating fashion into home design!

Keep Dreaming, Designing & Dwelling!!!

Cheers!

Cortney Bailey

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And the Winner of The Color of 2014 is ….

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The fashion color report of 2014 declared PANTONE is one of the must have colors this year!!! This light purple, orchid color represents femininity, grace, elegance and romantic. So let’s take a nod from the runway and let this beautiful color walk in to our Wonderland! From painted walls like the above photo, to an accent chair, throw pillows or an orchid don’t be afraid to embrace this unique color – Pantone!!!

What do you think of this “it” color? I’d love to hear from you! Leave me a comment below or share your thoughts on one of the social network sites listed.

Keep Dreaming, Designing &Dwelling!!

Cheers!
Cortney Bailey

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Sauce, Spice & Sequins!!!

Want to look like a Rock Star or a total Glamour Goddess in the kitchen or at your next home soirée?  Well you can!  Domestic Glitz  by Geneva Grainger will help you be the Bell of the Ball in your own home with their “Haute in the Kitchen” aprons packed with sequins!  These are no ordinary aprons, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills have been featured wearing them and they were recently spotlighted on Good Morning America, The Today Show, InStyle and US Weekly!

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How do you shine in the kitchen at home? I’d love to hear from you!  Leave me a comment below or share on my social media sites listed below!!!

Keep Dreaming, Designing & Dwelling!!

Cheers!

Cortney Bailey

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