Simply Pleased to meet you Kimberley! We launch our Essex office....

We are delighted to introduce Kimberley to you... Director of our new Essex office. We ask her a few questions to get to know her a little better....

What is your background?

I spent three years at college which resulted in an HND and a degree in journalism. I have lived and travelled in North America and Australia and have worked for the children’s charity UNICEF for 14 years. I have two children – Toby aged 11 and Sophie aged 9 

Why did you take a franchise with Simply Bows? 
 

I have wanted to work for myself for some time so when I took voluntary redundancy from UNICEF as the office was relocating to London, this was an ideal time to look into doing something for myself that I would enjoy and get satisfaction from. After reading an article about Sarah in Tesco magazine I wondered if taking a franchise with Simply Bows was something that would be possible for me and offer me the opportunity to do something creative that also fits around busy home life. It has all fallen into place at the right time for me and feels right so it is my chance to work for myself doing something creative. 

Why do you love working for yourself?

I love working for myself because it offers so much more flexibility than working in an office for someone else. Although it’s very early days I’m sure that getting out and about, meeting people and creating a finishing touch will give me great pleasure.

Why do you love being a Simply Bows franchisee?

Because Simply Bows is a great brand that I believe in and it gives me a buzz to be a part of it.

If you could dress a celebrity wedding - whose would you choose and why?

Pippa Middleton because she is stylish, down to earth and would probably set a new trend when she gets married

How would your friends describe you in three words?

Positive, loyal and fun

Are you married? 

Yes I am married. My husband and I got married in France in 2007. The venue was a 17^th century farmhouse where we had a marquee on the lawn. Although it was in April the sun shone for us so it was like a summers day and it was lovely to be outside. The only thing I have to own up to is that we didn’t have chair covers! 

What events other than weddings have you dressed, if any? 

I have volunteered at some large charity events for UNICEF and helped finish dressing the venues. The snowflake ball a few years ago was set up by Trudie Styler to raise money for children in Africa. It was held at the Dorchester Hotel in London and each chair had a pair of wings on the back which were really difficult to attach to the covers! 

How can Simply Bows blog readers get in touch with you?

Email: Kimberley@simplybowsandchaircovers.co.uk

Twitter: @SBowsEssex 

Facebook: Kimberley Sbows

Have a lovely weekend.

What are you up to this weekend? We're meeting friends for a brunch picnic—we're bringing grilled cheese sandwiches and strawberries—and then having a low-key Easter egg hunt. Last year, Toby found it all to be a bummer, but hopefully he'll get into it this year! Have a great weekend, and if you're in a blog-reading mood, here are a few fun posts from around the web...

How to make a pretty iPhone case.

Cute New Yorkers on the subway.

Horizon rainbow in Paris.

15 Swedish words we should incorporate into English.

Mom hasn't ordered her favorite pizza topping in over a decade.

Spinach and artichoke melts.

Cutest bright colors!

Ease brain fatigue with a walk in the park. (True for babies, too.)

Another way to sloooooow down.

What a brilliant book idea.

Children should be allowed to get bored.

Subway easter eggs.

Julie Weiss ran 52 marathons in 52 weeks to raise money for pancreatic cancer research. High five.

(Photo, supporting marriage equality, by San Francisco florist Natalie Bowen Designs. Children's book via Swissmiss)

Tilda Swindon sleeping at MoMA

Actress Tilda Swinton will be sleeping in a glass box at MoMA at unannounced times between now and the end of the year. It's part of a performance piece called "The Maybe." “Those who find it chance upon it for themselves, live and in real shared time," the museum said in a statement.

This is definitely one of those "is this art?" moments. What do you think?

P.S. More awesome art: Swings, indoor playground, whispering secrets, and marrying Prince William.

(Photos by Gothamist, via Kottke)

Offbeat wedding shoes

What kind of shoes did (or would) you wear to your wedding? I wore basic pink flats, but here are 7 fun ideas...Read More >

Twins separated at birth?

Twinsters is a Kickstarter project by a pair of twenty-five-year-old women who just discovered they might be identical twins.

Here's their story: In February, Samantha, an American actor living in Los Angeles, received a Facebook message from Anaïs, a French fashion design student living in London. Anaïs' friends had seen a YouTube video featuring Samantha. They were immediately blown away by the identical appearance of Samantha and Anaïs. After a few Google stalking sessions, Anaïs and her friends discovered that both girls were born on November 19, 1987 and adopted shortly afterward. Anaïs knew immediately that it was possible for Samantha to be her biological twin sister and reached out to her through Facebook.

Now they're raising funds on Kickstarter to meet each other, film a documentary about their experience, and test their DNA to see if they are twins. Fascinating, right?!

P.S. People who only look like twins.

(Top photo of Lucy and me when we were babies. Twinster via Kottke)

Heart print

20x200 was a great place to shop for affordable art, but they recently closed. So I was happy to learn about Banquet, which sells this heart print. Wouldn't it look pretty in a foyer or bedroom?

(Via Size too Small)

Babymoon weekend: St. Lucia

This past weekend, we took a three-day babymoon getaway to St. Lucia, which was a ridiculously beautiful and amazing place! Here are a few photos, if you'd like to see...
Read More >

The Best Chicken Soup You'll Ever Have

Even though spring has technically arrived, there's still a lingering winter chill in the air. So, today, Allison from Some the Wiser is sharing her slamdunk chicken soup recipe to keep us toasty, and she swears it's great for every season...
Read More >

Supplier Spotlight: The AMAZING Beverly Feldman Design!

 What is company name? 

Beverly Feldman Design

What is your line of business? 

Fabulous shoes and wonderful handbags

How and why the company begin? 

In 1978. Why, because “I Love Shoes!”

Are you married? If so tell us a little about your wedding….

 I am happily unmarried, but when I did get married I got married in purple cowboy boots in NYC and drove away in a stretch limo, before anyone even knew about stretch limos. I married my prince. Unfortunately he turned into a frog 17 years later and I flushed him down the toilet where he belonged.

Why do brides come to you?

For that exceptional wedding shoe, the playful honeymoon shoe, spice up the bedroom shoe!

What is your favourite design and why?

 All my shoes are my favourites, they are like my little babies, how can I have a favourite? I do over 500 shoes a year. But if I have to choose one Diamonds 4Ever is my favourite one for summer.

What is the most popular item you supply and why? 

I do sexy casual really well, as we all want to be sexy, and comfortable at the same time, but I have not forgotten how do to old fashioned really sexy high heels! You know what kind of shoes I mean. And make them comfortable at the same time. The fact that I am a woman designing for other women makes a big difference. I wear my own shoes and fit test them. Numero uno… Comfort. Numero dos… Glam.

Where do you get your inspiration from? 

Shopping. I am a world class gold Olympic marathon shopper! I shop NYC, Paris, London, Asia. I just came back from Istanbul. I love flea markets and jewellery stores… My passion is creating and shopping, the two go hand in hand in my life.

What is in store for you in 2013?

Lots of what I do best, colours, animal prints, jewels, irresistible collectibles. Women all over the world collect my shoes. When you buy one, you automatically want more!

Who would be your dream client, and what sort of design would you envisage for them? 

A woman just like me. Successful, secure, with money to spend, has the ability to know what trends to stay away from, and what styles flatter her. She buys items that will always work in her wardrobe, my shoes do not go out of fashion. Because I do not follow trends, I have my own style. And that style is “too much is not enough”.

What would be your top tips for brides when searching for a supplier in your industry?

  Always buy two pair of shoes for your wedding or maybe three. In Hong Kong the bride changes no less than 5 times. You need a pair of shoes to walk down the aisle, a pair to dance in and then a good pair of ballets for the end of the night. Everything should twinkle…

Tell us something super interesting about you or your business that we wouldn’t already know…? 

 I started from nothing, and am only a success based on my pure talent. I have no partners, and am self financed. I have been up and down more times than a roller coaster, if you know what that is … I never give up. The shoe business is worse than a miniseries. The factories can destroy you if you are not a “super bitch”!
I have 10 dogs 7 poodles and 3 german shephards. And 3 boyfriends! I just turned 66 and feel 38!

Where are you based and where can you supply?

 I am based in Alicante, Spain. My shoes and handbags are sold worldwide, in the UK I have been with Russell&Bromley exclusively since I was 23 years old. I have just opened my own webstore:

www.BeverlyFeldmanShoes.comwhere you can get a great assortment of my designs, many are exclusive and not carried by my distributors.

How can I get in touch to discuss my requirements or place an order? 

Sign up at BeverlyFeldmanShoes.com and we will send regular updates via email, and you can also follow my blog which if nothing else, is extremely entertaining.

Why do you like to work with Simply Bows and Chair Covers? 

I love Glam! And I love to work with companies where the boss is a woman and she wears Beverly Feldman Shoes!

Three budget ways to display flowers

Spring flowers are in the air (magnolia start blooming any day now!), and it's the ideal season to fill your home with flowers. But fresh flowers can be expensive, so here are three ways to display flowers this spring without breaking the bank. First, isn't this vintage bottle beautiful? Just pop a few leafy greens in there, and you're all set.
Dried flowers from etsy shop Flores del Sol last for a few years.
And West Elm has new paper flowers! They're surprisingly beautiful and would last forever on a mantlepiece.

Thoughts? Which is your favorite?

P.S. Three ways to arrange supermarket flowers.

(Styling by Jessica Comingore for West Elm)

White sneakers for summer

We got back from St. Lucia last night, and it was amazing! (Looking forward to sharing photos tomorrow.) At the beach, we spotted lots of cute girls wearing white sneakers (without socks, of course). Comfy shoes are key for summer adventures, and these looked fresh and adorable.

Superga shoes were designed in Italy 100 years ago to transition from the city to the beach. You can find them here and here. What do you think? Would you wear them?

American parents around the world?

I’m working on a little project about parenting around the world. We’re specifically looking for American or Canadian parents who are living abroad with their children. Do you know anyone who fits that description? If so, I’d be really thrilled to chat with them. Please email americanparentsabroad (at) gmail (dot) com. Thank you so much! xoxo
(Top photos of our parents with us in France; bottom photo of a boy in Madrid by The Sartorialist)

Indoor activity: Spa day with your child

Sometimes you just need a bit of pampering, right? So, last week, Toby and I decided to do a mama/baby spa day...
Our particular spa day was held at my friend Gemma’s apartment. That way, Toby and her son Errol could enjoy the splashy fun together. (Also, they have a much nicer tub; ours is exactly 1 billion years old—and looks older.)
First Toby ran a bubble bath…(Nothing is sweeter than multiple babies in the bath!)
Then, since it was a special day, we busted out The Ultimate Toddler Treat: lollipops.
With that sugary snack, they didn’t mind when we shampooed their hair, made soapy mohawks and washed their nooks and crannies.
The highlight of the spa experience was when we brought a colander into the bath and made it “rain.” The boys were totally delighted. (Brilliant idea, Gemma!)
After the bath, the little guys dried off with their animal towels. (I am going to weep and then frame Toby’s duck towel when he grows out of it, I love it so much:) Also, you will note that Toby is wearing diapers—we’re taking a few-month hiatus from potty training, since, in the end, he didn’t seem ready. I can explain more in the comments below, if you’d like!
Finally, we gave them massages with body lotion—an activity which, we quickly realized, had been easier with infants than with squirmy toddlers! (Here's a tutorial.) But Errol blissed out during the foot massage, and Toby thought leg massages were hilarious. He would dissolve into giggles as soon as I pressed his little calf muscle, it was so cute. (Is that a baby thing?)
It was such a cute afternoon, and the boys ended up happy, sleepy and sparkly clean. Mission accomplished. :)
For our sweet babes, we used natural products from The Honest Company, which we trust and adore: bubble bath, shampoo and body wash, face and body lotion, diapers and wipes. We also lit one of their new soy candles, which smelled like gardenia jasmine.

Bonus for all readers: Get $10 off a $40 purchase at The Honest Company using code ACupofJo10off40. (Limited to first-time customers and one use per customer. Good until April 1st.)

(This post is sponsored by The Honest Company, a company that we use everyday and whose mission we admire. Photos by Alpha Smoot for Cup of Jo)

Simply Supplier Spotlight from Aberdeen: A Vintage Tea Party

What is your company name?

             A Vintage Tea Party                  

What is your line of business?

Hiring out vintage crockery and props and vintage styling for events

    How and why the company begin?

I was planning my own wedding, and wanted a vintage feel to things, and I realised that there was a lack of vintage vendors in the area, even though it was huge down south, and even in Glasgow and Edinburgh.  I had been collecting china and vintage props for years, and already had a big collection.  Having worked at Perfect Bridal, I loved being part of the wedding world, but my family had grown from two to four children on meeting my now husband, and working full time at Perfect was just too much.  So I decided to start my own business, which allowed me to work from home, but still be involved with weddings and events. 

   Are you married?

Yes, married in March to Mr T, (Craig) This was a second marriage for both of us.  I was divorced and Mr T was widowed four years ago.  He is my knight in shining armour.  And I cannot believe he fell in love with me!

    Why do brides come to you?

I offer something that is unique to the area.  I have a huge collection, of all colours and patterns.  I can cater to up to 350.  I also have lots of vintage props like vintage suitcases, trunks, 1930’s typewriters, etc.  It also saves brides going out and trailing around charity shops and car boot sales, then being left with china they don’t want after the wedding.  I also work out cheaper.  The charity shops now charge so much for a tea set, or cake stand, because it is in vogue.  I charge £2 for a cup, saucer and side plate, that’s £12 for six settings.  A charity shop may charge you up to £30 for a pretty six piece tea set.
  

   What is your favourite design and why?
   I have so many, but my favourite make is Paragon.  They were huge in the 1920/30’s. Their patterns and colours were so elegant and timeless.  They used lots of greens, and I love anything in green! Like my wedding dress!

  What is the most popular item you supply and why?

Cups and saucers, two tier cake stands, and china tea pots.  But my new bunting is proving very popular.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

Wedding blogs are great.  And I am totally and utterly addicted to Pinterest. 

What is in store for you in 2013

Well, I had to buy a 2013 diary last week, as I already had six bookings for next year.  I am excited to now be in my second year, and I have learned lots of lessons.  I am looking forward to all the wedding shows coming up, like the Trend Weddings Launch at the Marcliffe, and the Your Wedding Exhibition, which always starts our year off with a bang! I am planning my stand already.

Who would be your dream client, and what sort of design would you envisage for them?

Not a specific person, but a bride dressed in Jenny Packham perhaps, or a 1950’s style dress.  I am desperate for someone to hire one of those amazing Tipi’s, covered in fairy lights and bunting inside.  A little bit rustic, long tables set with vintage china, and using my old chemist bottles to put wildflowers in.  The cake table covered with one of my beautiful embroidered tablecloths.  That is one wedding I would love to be part of styling!! 

What would be your top tips for brides when searching for a supplier in your industry? 

Make sure you go and see their collection.  Look carefully to make sure they are supplying china with no chips or cracks.  Vintage items will have wear and tear, that is part of their charm and character, but they must be safe if they are to be used for food and drink. 

  Where are you based and where can you supply?

I am based in Aberdeen, and I am happy to travel.  But you can also collect the china and props and take them with you, wherever your event is. 

  How can I get in touch to discuss my requirements or place an order?

I am on Facebook, and also have a website www.avintageteaparty.com.  My email is info@avintageteaparty.com,  or give me a call 07722 409 323   I have a little showroom that you are welcome to come and view my collection and choose what you would like.

  Why do you like to work with Simply Bows and Chair Covers?

Nothing finishes off a beautiful table display better, than elegant chairs.  A wonderful vintage lace bow works perfectly next to vintage china, to bring the whole effect of another era to the room.