Review of The Flower Chef + Giveaway!!

This post was made possible by Blogger Babes. I received a complimentary copy of The Flower Chef in exchange for my honest review. Thoughts are 100% my own.

Happy #flowerFriday everybody!! Today could not be a more perfect day to talk about The Flower Chef by Carly Cylinder! I'm always looking for new ways to freshen up my home. New pillows, a gallery wall, or a lit candle are all wonderful ways to spruce up a space, but my favorite way is definitely having fresh flowers on hand. I've never been very good at arranging flowers. My mom, on the other hand, has always had a knack for it. Every holiday, dinner party, or special occasion, she lays out a beautiful centerpiece on the table with fresh flowers, leaves, candles, and seasonal items like pine cones, making our dining table look ornate and festive. This gesture has left a significant impression on me. It's a ritual I admire, and one I want to learn and emulate. When the opportunity to blog about The Flower Chef by Carly Cylinder arose I was so excited! With the help of this book, I'm taking the plunge and learning how to create floral masterpieces like my mom.

You may be thinking, what is this book about? Is it about edible flowers? Is it a book of recipes of how to add flowers to your food? That sounds like something trendy that would be happening in LA, but no, that's not what this book is about. In the book's introduction, Carly tells a charming story about how she misspelled orchid as orchard during her first week working at an LA florist. Years later, her skill and confidence have blossomed (see what I did there?) and she's now created a gorgeous book sharing her passion for the wonderful world of flowers, encouraging others to take the plunge into the creative, sensory experience of flower arranging.

What's great about this book is that it's easy to follow, much like a great recipe book. It's incredibly informative, detailed, and carefully curated. Carly goes over flower care, flower types, how to buy flowers, what supplies are needed, etc. Each flower has it's own preparation instructions, which are gone over in detail. (Umm, I didn't know carnations had to be prepped differently than billy balls, did you? Yes, billy balls. Google it. I promise, it's safe :)) Much like a recipe book, in The Flower Chef, ingredients are laid out, prep time is estimated, and "cook time" or time it will take to create the arrangement, is all laid out for you, as well as an estimate of how much it will cost so you know what you're getting in to before you head to the store. I love the comparison of flower arranging to cooking -- both are wonderful rituals that give pleasure and happiness to both the chef and those who enjoy his or her creations.

Carly's passion for flowers is written on every page of her book. The photos are exquisite and leave you feeling inspired and happy. You might be thinking, well that's great, of course her photos look good, but will mine look like the "Pinterest Fails" I find on the internet? Carly has difficulty levels from 1 - to 4, 1 being the easiest and 4 the most advanced. I encourage you to start out with a level 1 project so you can start small and work your way up to more ambitious projects. There's a level 3 difficulty arrangement where you get to use artichokes and plums :) I can't wait to try that one! Another thing I appreciate about this book is that budget is taken into account. You don't have to be going to farmer's market or specialist to get exquisite flowers for your arrangements. Carly explains she herself often buy grocery store flowers, and it's okay if you do, too.

I'm happy to say this book has my stamp of approval! I hope you feel inspired, happy, and rejuvenated by reading this book! I'm giving you the chance to win a copy of The Flower Chef and with Mother's Day coming up, there really couldn't be better timing!! This book is the perfect Mother's Day gift for any mom who loves and appreciates flowers. Or maybe you're hosting a bridal shower or a graduation party? You'll want this book by your side. Enter below for your chance to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

In addition to entering the giveaway, I also encourage you to enter the Spring #DIYFloralArrangement Pinterest Contest with The Flower Chef & Luna Bazaar! There are two ways to win. The first is by creating a DIY floral arrangement and sharing it on your blog or social media accounts to win one of three prize packages. The second is to create a #DIYFloralArrangement Pinterest board with 5 items from Luna Bazaar's website and 5 repins from The Flower Chef. Go to bloggerbabes.com/diyfloralcontest to submit your entry by 11:59pm PCT on April 22, 2016 or for more information. See below for details:

Good luck to everyone who enters and make sure to tell your friends and family about The Flower Chef!! Thank you to Blogger Babes for including me in this book tour! Have a great day everyone!!

This post was made possible by Blogger Babes. I received a complimentary copy of The Flower Chef in exchange for my honest review. Thoughts are 100% my own.

Book Review of Modern Manners

Modern Manners by Dorothea Johnson and Liv Tyler, is a concise and well-organized book on precisely that - manners in the modern world. Ranging from topics of cell phone and internet etiquette, to which bread plate to claim at the table, the book is beautifully illustrated, informative, and easy to navigate. The chapters are broken up by situation, i.e. "On the Job" or "Out and About." You'll find commentary on manners ranging from whether to stand or remain sitting in a social situation, how to write a cover letter, and how to make a graceful entrance or exit as both hosts and guests.The book also skims the customs and etiquette of various international countries, while focusing primarily on appropriate behavior in the US today. Dorothea and Liv set a kind tone to the book, making you feel like you have two powerful and polite women in your corner who are going to help you succeed in social situations. I found the part about appropriate attire particularly helpful, as I've never known the different between white and black tie. (For those of you who don't know, here's a hint: white tie is the most formal you can get.) I also loved the illustration of how to set a table for a three-course meal.

I found the pages addressing how to properly introduce someone very interesting, primarily because I had never been taught this concept before and therefore found it completely foreign. I'll admit I found some of the concepts rather dated, for example, the fact that you say, "I'd like to introduce to you Mr. XYZ," as opposed to saying, "I'd like to introduce you to Mr. XYZ." I found this bit confusing and I'm still not quite sure how I'm supposed to introduce someone in a formal setting.

All in all, this book is a quick read, has lovely illustrations (which educate the reader not only on dress, but also posture,) and is engaging. It's written with diagrams and do's and don't's lists which make the read fun and easy. Whether you need a brush up on your modern etiquette, or are starting from square one learning manners, you're sure to learn something from this read.

I received this book from the Blogging for Books program in exchange for this review. All opinions are my own.