Friday, February 25, 2011

Friday Weddings: Southern California Wedding

 Love this morning wedding with a warm and lay back feel posted at...Style Me Pretty

If you're looking for inspiration for your upcoming Spring wedding...take a look a this beautiful Southern California DIY wedding, you can bring the color scheme of soft whites and grays into your own romantic canvas!

♥Perfect for the Farm Chic Bride♥


Enjoy!!
xoxo

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Oscar's Night Party Ideas

Oscar's Night is almost here!...do you have everything ready for Sunday night?

Check a few of the best party ideas floating around in the blogosphere; you can make your living room look like you're part of the action!

A Crafty & Mod Oscar's Night by Celebrations at Home


A Glam & Chic Oscar's Party by Twig and Thistle


and

A Fab & Classy Oscar's Party by HWTM, plus FREE Printables!


Enjoy!!
xoxo

Friday, February 18, 2011

Friday Wedding: An Old World Circus Wedding

I'm dying over this wedding featured at 100 Layer Cake...so much that I kind of want to change my theme for this one! (Fiance: if you're reading this...you know I'm only joking right?!)...really, I can't... invites are sent and I'm only 2 months away :)

 This wedding was put together by the entire family...how sweet is that (a really creative and stylish family may I add) ...The details are incredible and you're going to flip when you read that everything, really everything was handmade!... As described by Clarissa (Sister of the Groom):

“This wedding was SUCH a labor of love for our family. It took a year and a half of blood sweat and tears to get it done…seriously everything was custom made – the dress, the benches, the ceremony backdrop, the linens, the games, the signs, the bridge, the dancefloor lining, the electrical rigging/light installation etc. Every vase and decor piece was either found in missouri or brought in from LA by me… its a one of a kinder!”

For now let's just enjoy the pictures!
Enjoy!!
xoxo

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Fabulous Cakes

Today I'm skipping Thursday Parties to bring an array of Fabulous Cakes...come on people you know you love them! (or am I the only one that adores looking at cakes here?)

If you're planning a party for the coming seasons Spring or Summer here are the latest trends on themed parties right now!

For a colorful party for a person with a bright personality - 
 Candy Shop


For a sweet girl  - Ni Hao Kai Lan

 
For a baby or even twins! -  Dr. Seuss party!


For the Dancing Girl or Boy - Yo Gabba Gabba



For a Circus theme party! - Striped cake for everyone :)
 via Flickr

Enjoy!!
xoxo

Monday, February 14, 2011

Homemade Valentine's Cake


How are you celebrating your Valentine's Day...cookies, cupcakes or cake?

Baked sweets are a must for Valentine's Day! if you haven't figure out yet what to do, here's an easy recipe for a glorious homemade cake full of flavor...

Vanilla Cake with Vanilla Buttercream and Milky Way filling with an M&M's cover!

It will look just like this one...


Ingredients 

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
8 tablespoons (1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature)
1 cup sugar
3 large eggs
1 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3/4 cup milk
1 Milky Way chocolate bar
1 1/2 cup M&M's in your favorite colors

I used 2 baking pans - 6" ea.
Baking tip #24
Icing bag

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. 
2. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder and salt. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at the time, scrape down bowl, and beat in vanilla extract.
3. Add flour mixture and milk alternatively, beginning and ending with flour.
4. Spray your baking pans with baking butter and pour the batter in equal amounts to both of your pans. Bake until golden, about 35 minutes. Rotate the pan if needed. Transfer to wire rack; cool completely.

Vanilla Buttercream - makes 1 cup 
(I used this recipe multiplied for 3)
4 tablespoon unsalted butter
2 cups powder sugar
2 tablespoons of milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 pinch of salt

Cream butter with powder sugar and add the rest of the ingredients accordingly. You can add powder sugar as you go depending on how you like the consistency.

What to do

Place your first layer of cake on top of your cakeboard. Ice around the edge and top with Milky Way slices.


Then place the second layer of cake on top of the first one and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, this will help your cke to sit better and it will be easier to ice it.

Take your cake out of the fridge and ice your cake with the rest of the buttercream, make sure you cover all of your cake because this will be part of the design. A white background to contrast against the color of your M&M's.

Once you finished icing your cake, place it again in the fridge for another 30 minutes. Bring back out again and start decorating the wall of your cake with M&M's.
The top of your cake will be piped with buttercream. I used a baking tip #24, but you can use whatever you have in hand.



Happy Valentine's Day

Enjoy!!
xoxo




Thursday, February 10, 2011

Thursday Party: Double Treat!


Valentine's Day is almost here! I got some exciting eye candy that I'm sure it will inspire you to create something fabulous for your Valentine!...

First take a look at this uber pretty photo shoot posted by Shauna Young perfect for the vintage gal with an edge. Antique furniture, red and pink sweets, a cute puppy and a beautiful M&M's cake...yum!

These pictures and more can be found at Ruffled


Sweet!

And our second feature for today's Valentine's Day inspiration treat is from The Hostess Blog, they have today the most divine and romantic inspired pics!! Please just check them out!


She is the best part of this photo shoot!! So cute!!

Enjoy!!
xoxo

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

DIY Valentine's Day Gift


Still looking for a unique Valentine's gift? what about...
 
Valentine's Day Secret Messages!


This is a great DIY to do this weekend, found at Martha Stewart.com

Secret Message with Grape Juice
Tools and Materials
Paintbrush
Sponge
Baking Soda
Water
White watercolor paper
Decorative paper and card stock
Self-adhesive laminating sheets, or laminating machine
Double-sided tape
Spray bottle
Grape juice (The acid in the grape juice reacts with the baking soda, which is a base, to change the color of the paper, revealing the message.)

Grape Juice Secret Message How-To
1. In a small bowl, mix equal parts baking soda and water.

2. Using a paintbrush, write a secret message with the baking soda mixture on a piece of white watercolor paper. You should be able to see the message while it is still wet; if it's hard to see, look at the paper at an angle as you write.

3. Allow the message to dry completely (about 10 minutes).

4. Brush off excess baking soda residue with a dry sponge.

5. To make a water-resistant card, cut pieces of decorative paper or card stock slightly bigger than the secret message paper. Sandwich the card between 2 sheets of laminate material, or run it through a laminating machine.

6. Using double-sided tape, attach the watercolor paper with the invisible message to the top of the laminated card.

7. Present the card with a spray bottle of grape juice. Instruct the recipient to spray the grape juice on the card to reveal the secret message. Note: The message must be lying flat until dry or the grape juice (and message!) will drip off.

Secret Message with Sunglasses
Tools and Materials
"I Love You" template
"Be Mine" template
Heart sunglasses template
Scissors
Bone folder
Red cellophane
Glue stick
Double-sided tape
Card stock in Valentine's Day colors
Library pocket or other small open-ended envelope
Business-size envelope

Secret Message with Sunglasses How-To
1. Print the template for the "I Love You" or "Be Mine" secret message on white card stock.

2. Cut out the secret message and the poem for the inside of the card.

3. Using a bone folder, score and fold a 9 3/4-inch-by-7 1/2-inch piece of card stock down the middle lengthwise (this will give you a 9 1/4-by-3 3/4-inch card, which is perfect for business-size envelopes).

4. Using double-sided tape, adhere the secret message to outside of the card and the poem to the inside of the card.

5. Print the heart sunglasses template.

6. From card stock, cut 2 front pieces and 2 arms. Cut out the hearts in the middle of the front pieces.

7. Cut out the third template piece from red cellophane.

8. Use a glue stick to attach the tabs on the arms to the tabs on either side of one of the front pieces, with the hooks of the arms both facing down.

9. Glue the cellophane piece to the front piece, positioning so that it is over the heart-shaped holes.

10. Fold the tabs back on the second front piece. Glue the second front piece over the cellophane, tabs sticking up, sandwiching the cellophane and creating "lenses." Fold the arms up to meet the tabs on the second front piece, securing with a dab of the glue stick. Let dry for about 15 minutes.

11. Using double-sided tape, attach a library pocket to inside cover of the card.

12. Fold sunglasses like you would real ones, and slide into library pocket. Present card in a business-sized envelope.

Resources
All materials and tools are available at marthastewartcrafts.com. Business-size envelopes with button-string ties are from Paper Presentation.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

New!! Oscar Chocolate Lollipop favors

I'm a big movie junkie...so I'm really excited that the Oscar's are almost here! Will you be watching?

For this year's academy awards I found the sweetest Oscar statuette chocolate mold!
A yummy Oscar on the go!


If you're having an Oscar's party you can get yours now at FunFavors


Enjoy!!
xoxo

Monday, February 7, 2011

Ni Hao Kai Lan Inspiration Board

All parents out there if you're planning a birthday party for a little girl this Spring I got the perfect theme for you!...Cutest Nickelodean character ever Ni Hao Kai Lan


She's sweet, loves to learn and she's surrounded by cherry blossoms everywhere she goes!



Enjoy!!
xoxo

Friday, February 4, 2011

Super Bowl: Steerlers vs. Packers!!


Ready for Super Bowl Sunday? ... I'm not a big fan, but most likely will be watching with my fiance during the half time and of course waiting for those commercials that are just irresistible to miss!

So if you're like me and the Super Bowl is just another reason to have a party, bake and decor your living room!...here are some free printables for you!

An easy and fun DIY craft to decorate your Super Bowl table, add them to your cupcakes or to your drinks!


Download these printables here for Packer's fans and here for Steelers' fans

Enjoy!!
xoxo

 

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