Who doesn't love a fresh bouquet of fragrant blooms, and equally hate their hasty demise? I've spent too many years of my adult life creating flower arrangements, only to have them wilt within a day or two. In the last year I've spent a lot of time researching and testing different methods to naturally elongate the life of cut flowers and today I'm sharing my 5 favorites.

Bacteria is the number one killer of blooms, so the tips below focus on minimizing its growth and keeping your flowers as good as new.

1. Cut flowers at a 45° degree angle-  The angle creates a wider surface for the flower to drink, and eliminates the risk of bacteria, the two main issues caused by a stem cut straight across the bottom.

2. Treat freshly cut flowers with hot water- Immediately after cutting the stems put your flowers in hot water and place them in the fridge, this is called "hardening." This process supercharges your flowers, perking up the drooping heads and opening the tight buds.

3. Add 2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar, 2 tbsp. sugar, and a dash of bleach to water- The vinegar and sugar balance the water's pH to keep flowers fresher longer, but increases the chance of bacteria. Adding the bleach removes the bacterial risk and gives your flowers the best chance at a long happy life. Just keep a 3-to-1 ratio in mind when mixing water with these ingredients.

4. Refresh the water every couple days- The water in your bouquets will become stale and breed harmful bacteria if left stagnant for too long. Avoid this by refreshing the water every couple of days and removing the dead blooms.

5. Place flowers in the fridge- Having a dinner party on Saturday but only have time to arrange your centerpieces on Wednesday? Stick the entire arrangement in the fridge to slow the decay process to a crawl. Just make sure your fridge isn't too cold, and you have enough room leftover for all your groceries!

These tips are easy to follow and the results will amaze. If you know of any other floral longevity secrets I'd love to hear them. - b.

 Resources: Scientific American | Wiki How |  | Read more of my flower arranging tips here.

This is the final installment of our Copenhagen adventures, I promise, and it's probably my favorite because it's all about flowers! Duh. The whole city was in bloom while we were there and with daily showers, and mild temperatures it was no wonder. Everywhere we looked there were tulips and daffodils smiling up at us, lilacs tempting us with their intoxicating scent, and wild branches exploding with color as they stretched their way to the heavens. Of all the gardens we saw, large and small, my favorite had to be the Copenhagen Botanical Garden. Here's why:

It is a magical fairyland of adventure, with extensive grounds that meander and twist their way around the largest greenhouse I've ever seen in my life. Rooms spilled out from every angle and in each a new living plant to discover and another world to explore. We sweat our way up a stunning spiral staircase to lookout over the tropical trees and bushes, and wipe steam filled windows clean to look out over the grounds. To say I was giddy would be an understatement.

We spent most of our day just relaxing and carrying on, pretending wound the place. There may have been a kiss or two under the trees and talk of a piece of land to recreate this ecstasy in. Travel has a way of making me dream big dreams and love life just a little bit more...

See more of our time in Copenhagen on Instagram, #rbvacay. Read the other posts: part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | part 4

Is there anything more beautiful than a bouquet of flowers that reflects perfectly the season at hand? There's something so invigorating about their presence in a room, like suddenly the sweetest, happiest friend you know has showed up and it instantly lifts your spirits. I had all these things in mind (and more) when I created these wildflower-inspired arrangements for Maddie's bra making workshop 2 weekends ago. 

The bouquets included a mix of queen anne's lace, white roses, sunflowers, berry branches, solidago, mini coin greens, red dianthus, and pink stock to name a few. The palette matched the occasion perfectly as you'll see below:

Maddie is by far the hardest working person I know. Not only does she hold down a full-time job, but she also blogs full-time and is so passionate about teaching that in her "spare time" she teaches sewing lessons and gives these workshops. How amongst all of that she has time for friends like me, who beg and plead with her to let them be a part of this, is beyond me. Superwoman deserves to be surrounded by really pretty things so with each event I try to deliver more and more beautiful blooms to match the surroundings.

I feel so lucky to be a part of events that celebrate the amazing talents of so many people. In recognition of that fact, here's a list of everyone who helped make Maddie's workshop possible:

Catering: New Old Fashioned
Photography: Jessica Maida Photography
Chocolates (for swag bag): John and Kira’s Chocolates
Bra notions: Bra Making Supplies by Arte Crafts
Bra Fabric: Tailor Made Shop
Signage: Meredith Langer
Mini Herbal Workshop: The Parlour
Lingerie Discount (for swag bag): Dear Kate.

See more from the bra making workshop on Madalynne or follow along on Maddie's workshop adventures via Instagram: #bramakingwithmadalynne - b.