Full Bloom

"A flower cannot blossom without sunshine, and man cannot live without love." - Max Muller

Flowers are one of many things that make me happy! I love keeping a fresh bouquet of flowers in our home - they totally brighten up any space. Also, in the beginning of spring G & I love having potted plants on our front porch. 

Today, I am sharing some of my tips for caring for a few of my favorite blooms.

A gorgeous bouquet of red roses.

A gorgeous bouquet of red roses.

Roses

I absolutely adore roses, and mine typically last almost two weeks in a vase! Below, are my tips for long lasting roses.

  • Change your water often. like to put new water in every 2-3 days, this eliminates any bacteria in the water. Also, adding bleach into your water aids in removing any bacteria!
  • Use the flower food provided with the roses. This is important as the roses need proper food to bloom. If your flowers don't come with food, dissolve 3 tablespoons sugar and 2 tablespoons white vinegar. 
  • Properly cut your stems. Cutting your stems allow the roses to drink the water and food easily.
  • Ice, ice, baby. Putting a few ice cubes in your vase once the roses are cut, help the roses bloom very nicely. My grandmother taught me this trick, and it works like a charm!
  • Remove the extra foliage. Getting rid of the extra leaves before placing the roses into the water in essential. Removing them prevents rotting and elimintaes extra bacteria getting into the water.
Potted hibiscus in full bloom.

Potted hibiscus in full bloom.

Hibiscus

G & I go all out in setting up our patio for Spring. When the weather stays consistently warm, we go to Home Depot, and pick out our flowers for the season. This is our second year having hibiscus plants, and they are the best! Below, are my tips for keeping your hibiscus blooming all summer long.

  • Water, water, and more water. When these beauties are blooming, they need a lot of water! Also, the hotter it gets, the more water they'll need. These plants drink up a lot of water, so always check the soil, and if it's dry to the touch, you'll need to pour up.
  • Choose the right pot and potting soilSelecting the proper soil is essential to getting these flowers blooming. Also, ensure that the pot you choose has one or more holes at the bottom - this helps for your plant to properly drain. Keep in mind, the bigger the pot, the more soil you'll need. 
  • Soak up the sun. It is super important to have your plants in a spot where they are facing the sun. This will help these gorgeous flowers bloom quickly!
  • Pruning. Make sure you prune your plants regularly. It's very normal, and also exciting when your plants to get larger. It is important to prune them to ensure that they have the right amount of space to grow.

Happy gardening!

XO, Analise

The A-List

"Life is too short not to celebrate nice moments!" - Jurgen Klopp

Enjoying the most delicious cheeses, and pairing them with the perfect wines at Tinto Wine & Cheese!

Enjoying the most delicious cheeses, and pairing them with the perfect wines at Tinto Wine & Cheese!

My lovely hibiscus plants are finally blooming on our front porch! 

My lovely hibiscus plants are finally blooming on our front porch! 

Two glasses of Merlot from Rosemont Vineyards.

Two glasses of Merlot from Rosemont Vineyards.

A gorgeous bouquet of flowers from a dear friend in celebration of my promotion.

A gorgeous bouquet of flowers from a dear friend in celebration of my promotion.

A surprise gift from my sweet husband.

A surprise gift from my sweet husband.

The most lovely wine wall at Mermaid Winery, in Downtown Norfolk.

The most lovely wine wall at Mermaid Winery, in Downtown Norfolk.

One of the most delicious glasses of red wine at a new favorite restaurant, The Buthcer's Son.

One of the most delicious glasses of red wine at a new favorite restaurant, The Buthcer's Son.

Happy Friday everyone! It has been super busy lately, but I wouldn't trade it for the world. We are gearing up for Father's Day, and finalizing summer plans with friends and family.

It is an exciting time for us. G and I are settling into our new jobs, while making sure we balance time together.

I hope you all have a fantastic weekend!

What's new with you guys?!

XO, Analise

The A-List

"We do not remember days, we remember moments." - Cesare Pavese

Today, I'm sharing some of my absolute favorite moments over the past several weeks! It is so nice to sit back and reminisce over wonderful memories. Always, stop and appreciate the positive and sweet moments.

One of my favorite candles from LIT Brooklyn.

One of my favorite candles from LIT Brooklyn.

Enjoying a mimosa during brunch with family at Bay Local.

Enjoying a mimosa during brunch with family at Bay Local.

Wine and flowers from Trader Joe's.

Wine and flowers from Trader Joe's.

My new sunglasses from Tiffany & Co. that I cannot wait to wear soon.

My new sunglasses from Tiffany & Co. that I cannot wait to wear soon.

Seeing Kid Fury & Fury during The Read Live in Washington D.C.

Seeing Kid Fury & Fury during The Read Live in Washington D.C.

The most yummy fried oyster appetizer at Mannino's Italian Bistro in Virginia Beach, VA.

The most yummy fried oyster appetizer at Mannino's Italian Bistro in Virginia Beach, VA.

What are some of your memorable moments?

Enjoy!

XO, Analise

The A-List

Hello loves! Today I'm sharing a few of my favorite things and moments over the past month!

Beautiful blooms that my husband picked up for me!

Beautiful blooms that my husband picked up for me!

I was able to see the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater with my mother and grandmother! It was such an incredible performance. I've been fortunate to see the dance studio perform more than once, and it gets better every time!

I was able to see the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater with my mother and grandmother! It was such an incredible performance. I've been fortunate to see the dance studio perform more than once, and it gets better every time!

A yummy lemon pepper shrimp, arugula, cucumber, bacon salad with a lemon and olive oil dressing! I love a delicious salad, and this was super easy to make! 

A yummy lemon pepper shrimp, arugula, cucumber, bacon salad with a lemon and olive oil dressing! I love a delicious salad, and this was super easy to make! 

This is my first Henri Bendel bag, and I absolutely love it! I was able to score this beauty through Haute Off the Rack! Her style is impeccable, and this plum satchel is stunning. I cannot wait to style this bag!

This is my first Henri Bendel bag, and I absolutely love it! I was able to score this beauty through Haute Off the Rack! Her style is impeccable, and this plum satchel is stunning. I cannot wait to style this bag!

One of the most delicious Cabernet Sauvignon we have ever had! G and I spent a weekend at the National Harbor! We had dinner at the Voltaggio Brothers Steak House in MGM National Harbor, and it was phenomenal. The sommelier hand picked this bottle f…

One of the most delicious Cabernet Sauvignon we have ever had! G and I spent a weekend at the National Harbor! We had dinner at the Voltaggio Brothers Steak House in MGM National Harbor, and it was phenomenal. The sommelier hand picked this bottle for us during dinner and it was an excellent choice.

My first Box of Style, by Rachel Zoe. I've been a Rachel Zoe fan for years and was thrilled to try out the Spring box! I love every item and the quality of the products are amazing.

My first Box of Style, by Rachel Zoe. I've been a Rachel Zoe fan for years and was thrilled to try out the Spring box! I love every item and the quality of the products are amazing.

I truly hope you enjoyed my favorite things! What are some of your favorite things?

XO, Analise

The A-List

Here are some of my favorite things, moments, and memories from this past week ...

  1. Beautiful pink roses that G picked up from Trader Joe's. We always purchase flowers from TJ! They literally have the best flowers, and last 1,000 days.
  2. My sapphire and diamond ring, that I purchased on my 25th birthday almost 4 years ago. This ring was my something blue that I wore on our wedding day. It is literally one of my favorite items that I've ever owned and purchased.
  3. The Lincoln Memorial, in Washington D.C. We acted like tourists for the day, with my best friend and her husband over the summer. The four of us walked up the memorial steps and took in the view - it was simply breathtaking.
  4. We went to visit the National Gallery of Art in D.C. over the summer. The museum is massive, it had so many gorgeous pieces of art and sculptures. The building was absolutely amazing, and was brimming with wonderful exhibits.
  5. I surprised G with a downtown historic Segway tour of Richmond, VA for his birthday. We absolutely love the city, and all it has to offer. It was such a fun time! We had a ball taking in the wonderful city landscapes, and learning about its history.

What are your some of your favorite moments from this week?

XO, Analise