November 30, 2010
While at the NYC Chocolate show a few weeks ago, I found a fairly new chocolate company called Rogue Confections. Rogue combines two of my favorite things together – delicious chocolate {of course I tasted them} with beautiful patterns. Their chocolates are also packaged beautifully and would make a lovely gift for the holidays. Rogue specializes in vintage patterns and wallpapers, but they can also create custom-patterned chocolate. You can peek around on their site,…
November 29, 2010
So Thanksgiving is over and I thought I’d give you all some pretty pictures before we swing back into holiday mode. Isn’t this guest feature from Jessica of Where My Heart Is from Brisbane darling? This party was for Jessica’s daughter Paris’s sweet 16. The tabletop and dessert table are so simple yet so lovely. It has an anthropologie vibe. Jessica balanced out both tables very well with a clean white background and small pops…
November 23, 2010
My family is in town and I’m starting to bake for the holidays so I thought I’d leave you with a few of my fave Thanksgiving dessert ideas. Enjoy!
Top board – Acorn cake via Bright Ideas, Corn husk cookies via our thanksgiving dessert table, thanksgiving marshmallows via The Decorated Cookie, Turkey cupcakes via Family Fun.
Middle board – Turkey cookies, Pilgrim hat cupcakes, Scarecrow cookies, and Turkey brownies – all via our Thanksgiving dessert…
November 22, 2010
Since we’re all getting into the Thanksgiving spirit this week, I thought I’d share these photos from Tyra Bleek Photography. This harvest dessert table was created by Cookie Creatives and Gracie Lou Events. I love the rich jewel palette,the sticks in the chocolate caramel apples, the hot cocoa served on tree stumps, and the cranberry-filled containers. This will definitely get us all in the Thanksgiving spirit! Photography by Tyra Bleek Photography and Channing Johnson.…
November 18, 2010
I know it is rare to see a non-dessert table on this blog, but as soon as I saw this fruit and veggie table by Esther Kim of My Bride Story, I knew I had to share it with you all. Esther was inspired by our dessert tables and used the same techniques on this healthy spread as we would for a dessert spread. Like myself, Esther is a mom and is conscious of what…
November 17, 2010
I had lunch yesterday with cake designer Elisa Strauss of Confetti Cakes. In the small chance that you are not familiar with Elisa’s work, take a look here. Elisa took fondant cakes to a new level when she opened up Confetti Cakes 10 years ago. Elisa also has two books, Confetti Cakes and Confetti Cakes for Kids, and they are staples in my baking book collection. These books are not only great for bakers,…
November 16, 2010
I’m loving the designs and color palettes on these printables from Vesna of My Little Jedi. The vintage party packs come with an invitation, Happy Birthday banner, cupcake toppers, food/candy jar labels, party favor bags, water bottle labels, cupcake wrappers, and party hats. Vesna designed these for kid parties, but I think many of the items in this collection can translate for an adult party as well. Check out more of Vesna’s beautiful work here.…
November 15, 2010
Thanksgiving is next week {can you all believe it?} and we’re loving these crafty Thanksgiving ideas. How will you all be decorating your Thanksgiving tables? Thanksgiving place setting, mayflower and pilgrim cups, turkey leg, and turkey spoon holder, apple pie snack holder and Give Thanks Tree via Fiskars, paper turkey via One Charming Party, yarn turkey and turkey napkin holder via Parents, Teepee centerpiece via Kaboose, gourd gobblers via All You. Check out our tips…
November 12, 2010
How sweet is this dessert table from Bec and Tammi of Ruby Ju in Brisbane? This color palette is perfect in Brisbane right now {they are heading into summer}, and the palette is a nice break for those of us in the US since we’re all seeing fall colors right now. I’m loving the apple cookie trees, which are kind of like the lollipop trees we have made before in our cherry blossom dessert table. …
November 12, 2010
I’m really excited to share with you brand new exciting news from West Elm. Just in time for the holidays, West Elm has created FREE diy entertaining and gifting downloads and templates for holiday entertaining. This is West Elm’s first foray on the download printable scene and there are some really cute options. You can download recipe cards, menus, gift tags, invitations, placecards, and more. Choose from an animal suite {see above}, botanical suite, snowflake…
November 12, 2010
I’m back today with One Charming Party’s cupcake wrapper garland tutorial used on their party shown here yesterday. Cupcake wrapper garlands have been really popular over the blogosphere for the last couple of years. This tutorial shows how easy it is to create this crafty decorative embellishment. Enjoy! Photography by Nicole Hill Gerlulat.…
November 11, 2010
If you were here this morning, then you saw the baking party from One Charming Party photographed by Nicole Hill Gerulat. I’m back with Brittany and Sara’s exclusive diy tutorial for the flower baking hats for our readers. I love that they used coffee filters and cupcake wrappers to create the flowers. Brilliant. Be back tomorrow with the cupcake wrapper garland tutorial, some great holiday printables, and the Grace Ormonde book winner!…
November 11, 2010
Brittany and Sara from One Charming Party sent these exclusive photos to us and I nearly fell off my chair when I opened the email. The styling and photographs are pure perfection. How fun are those baking cup flowers on the chef’s hats? Fabulous idea! I also love the cupcake wrapper garland, the custom doll cake topper {made to look like the birthday girl} and those pretty milk glasses. We are totally swooning here at…
November 10, 2010
I’m sure you all would suspect this, but I have collected a lot of baking books over the years. Every time I go to a book store to get something for my kids or myself, my eyes start wandering over to the baking section. Well, this weekend was no different. I went into Barnes & Noble to get something for my older son and ended up finding “A World of Cake” by Krystina Castella. It…
November 09, 2010
How original is this Wizard of Oz Party by Kate Landers Events? Kate worked with Kim from Tomkat Studio to create a whimsical party for her daughter that would transport any kid to the Land of Oz. I love the periwinkle and white gingham pattern printables by Kim, the blue and white checked oreos, the fondant toto and rainbow cupcake toppers, and those yellow brick road and courage cookies. And how adorable all of the…
November 08, 2010
Photo above by Mel Barlow.
I’m thrilled to be featured in O Magazine’s big December issue! Nestled right between features of Taylor Swift and Mary J. Blige, is a one page feature about our tables. What a huge honor to grace the pages of O Magazine! I read every page from cover to cover this weekend and as usual, it is packed with the best gift ideas for the holidays. Get yours on newsstands now! …
November 06, 2010
Have you all ever seen Erica O’Brien’s cakes? If you haven’t, you should check them out now! They are beautiful. I’m loving this quilted cake that she made for a recent birthday party for Charla Brummel’s daughter Brooklyn. I love the muted take on the circus theme with aqua and gold instead of the traditional primary colors like royal blue and bright yellow for a circus theme. The real quilt under the cake platter is…
November 04, 2010
Kelly of Paper Stories sent in this whimsical, kid-appropriate Dr. Seuss-inspired dessert bar so I could share it with you. I recently wrote on Stroller Traffic about creating a book-themed party for kids and this is a perfect example of a book-themed party. In our home, we read Dr. Seuss books all the time and “Green Eggs and Ham” is a staple in the bedtime routine so I really enjoyed seeing this table. Kelly labeled…
November 03, 2010
With Grace Ormonde
We’re off to site visits with clients today, but since I know you all enjoy behind the scenes, I thought I’d give you a glimpse into the Grace Ormonde book launch. Anyone in the wedding industry knows Grace Ormonde because she produces the beautiful magazine called Wedding Style. When I was a bride over 8 years ago, I back-ordered every single one of her magazines. Yes, they are that gorgeous. Grace finally…
November 02, 2010
We’re like little kids in a candy store looking at this fun bubblegum and soda sweets spread by Scissors Paper Cake. Anything Naomi puts her hands looks so precious. I love how the bubblegum is used for topping off the bubblegum cupcakes and I adore the oversized tags for the bubblegum jars. I’m also smitten with those striped containers. The cherry cola cupcakes and the soda sign are also sweet. Yet again, we see another…