yummy mummy Susana of "Citrus & Orange"

I am so excited to share another fellow guest blogger today who has provided me with so much gorgeous inspiration. Let me introduce the lovely Susana of {Citrus and Orange} blog.

Susana’s amazing work has been featured 3 times on Amy Atlas blog. I am smitten by her passion and love for vintage and romantic style. Below I have featured one of my favorite dessert tables which Susana styled for her daughter’s 9th birthday party. I am totally in love with the colour palette, white hobnail vases and the milk glass cake stands. I would like to thank Susana for taking the time in answering the questions and giving our readers an insight of her amazing work. Enjoy the interview xx

1. Tell us a little about YOU, the woman behind {Citrus and Orange}?
I’m an economist, working in corporate finance for the last 15 years. I have 2 girls (one is 9 and the other is 1,5) and Citrusandorange is my favourite place after a hard day’s work and when the kids are in bed! I live in a northern town in Portugal, by the sea, and although I’ve travelled quite a lot, I have never lived outside of my hometown. My dream is to live in a beautiful house and surround myself and others with beautiful things – wether they’d be related to home décor, dessert tables, nice gardens, glamorous parties, beautiful clothes…

2. When did you launch your business/blog?
I created my personal blog Citrusandorange when I became pregnant with my younger daughter (August 2009) – and believe me, I had pregnancy sickness and one of the things that happened was that it took me away from all the things that usually inspire me – I didn’t blog about décor or any other pretty stuff, as they seemed not to appeal to me anymore! So it was only last year, after the baby was born, that I came back to blogging and I’ve been doing it so far – always in my spare time (wish the days had 48 hours!).

3. Who and what inspires your work?
Who: Amy Atlas for table styling, Holly Becker (Decor 8) for interior styling and Leslie Shewring (A Creative Mint) for colour inspiration. What inspires me: nature, colour and art.

4. What was the most rewarding thing that has happened in your career so far?
Being featured 3 times at Amy Atlas’ Sweet Designs! As a non-professional, that means a lot to me! Plus the fact that I get to meet so many lovely people through my blog and my love for sharing the things that inspire me.

5. Name three products you can’t live without? And why?
I’m just saying two, these are the ones I can’t live without:
- Dr. Brandt cosmetics – their Time Arrest line is amazing!!

- My skin really looks better Revlon ColorStay makeup

6. If you could style a party for a “well known/A list” celebrity, who would you choose and why?
Amy Atlas! Kidding! Jude Law would be my choice – I would try make a beautiful eye candy sweet table for him, and I’m sure he would be an eye candy to me! :)

7. Name your three favourite party themes and tell us what do you love about them?
I not a theme type table / party styler, as in Butterfly or Princess party themes. My impulses come out of colours, for instance. So I guess my favourite themes would be something like:

1. nature (anything with flowers, fruits and leaves appeals to me);

2. graphics / patterns themes – I love graphics backdrops and tables coordinated accordingly (I find those hard to make – like Missoni patterns, for instance);

3. Vintage – I love a vintage touch – it doesn’t have to be all vintage, but vintage pieces always add a nice touch.

8. Do you have a favourite trend? {it could be related to anything}
I love the current vintage / romantic trend.

9. What is your day-to-day like?
Well, I wake up early, leave my daughter at school and start working at 8:30 and I have to either meet clients in their companies or work at the office. A very hectic day, as I have to travel around lots of times. When I get back home (7:30 – 8:00 p.m.), it’s time to have dinner and stay with the kids. I try to take some photos when the days are longer and there’s still light, as I only have the weekends left for that little pleasure. I don’t watch TV, as I try to have time to surf on the net, look for pretty inspiring things, do some shopping, connect with my friends and blog. Lately I’ve been able to blog only at weekends, it’s hard to find the time during the week.

10. What does the future hold for {Citrus and Orange}?
The future holds a new project – it’s still in my mind only, but usually I’m a doer. When I think of something, it’s because it’s going to take place, sooner or later. I’m sorry I’m not able to share more at the moment, but I can tell you that it has to do with party styling. :)

11. What is your favourite place in the world?
The place where my family is. And New York, for other reasons.

Email: susana.o.oliveira@gmail.com
Website/Blog: www.citrusandorange.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Citrusandorange