Add a little pop to your party
July 24th, 2011 § Leave a Comment
I’ve noticed popsicles have started popping up (ha!) in recent fashion blog postings and magazines. They are a great way to add color and flavor to any dessert feature/event. Have fun with it by using gourmet flavors and fun shapes. Here are some cute, quirky molds I found if you want to wander outside the traditional tombstone:
Guitar pops (Amazon- $9.70)- they are mini-sized so they could also be a cute drink garnish to add a flavor to a cocktail. I’m thinking mango puree pop to drop into your mojito…
Remember ring pops? $9.95 on Prairie Moon
And of course my personal favorite- light saber pops! Not only do they light up, but the mold also comes with a recipe book with flavors like “C-3POrange” $34.95 at Think Geek
What happens when summer’s over and you can’t stop the pop?
Chocolate Chipsicles! $15.13 on Amazon
What to put in your pop? Start with your base be it mimosa, lemonade, chocolate pudding, sky’s the limit! Then, add some texture by dropping in solid pieces like fresh fruit, molded chocolate, or edible flowers. How fun would it be to make bright blue pops and drop in swedish fish!
Hint: if you are going to put solid pieces it requires a little babysitting if you want them spaced evenly. Freeze a layer of your pop, drop in your solid, then add more liquid, freeze, repeat.
Happy Friday! … and a little cake pop trick I just picked up
July 22nd, 2011 § Leave a Comment
Long overdue cake pop display I sold for a fundraiser- in purple and gold because the purchaser is a big Huskies fan (so is the baker!)
When I make cake pop displays I’m always searching for creative ways to cover up the floral foam anchoring the sticks. The popular way is with candy covered chocolate candies (aka m&m’s) but they are so expensive for something that’s not a feature. Today I found that tissue paper torn into strips and scrunched in between the sticks makes an easy, cheap presentation. I think I’ve found my new go-to for my displays!
Emerging Trends in Celebration Decoration Day 4: BIY Bars
July 3rd, 2011 § 1 Comment
… as in Build-It-Yourself! I’ve already done a couple of postings on the Mac and Cheese Bar as well as the Slider Bar at the mother’s day party. Guests love the flexibility and opportunity to be creative and it gives the host less to prepare aside from setting out the ingredients. I’d suggest framing suggestions for combinations for guests that may need some extra help.
Perfect for summer- this build your own hot dog bar includes toppings like banana peppers, onions, cheese, chili, jalapenos, pickles, mayo, green onions, salsa, cole slaw, ketchup and mustard. From Hostess with the Mostess. Clearly the author Jennifer has never had a Seattle Special- bratwurst with caramelized onions and cream cheese. You’ll thank me later.
The old favorite- Ice Cream Topping Bar, via Eat Drink Chic. Do a healthier version with frozen yogurt- those Red Mango-like shops are pretty much taking over Seattle.
This one has to be my favorite- Benedict Bar via Local Social. They have bacon, smoked salmon, and asparagus for main toppings- I’d also add tomato, avocado, and crab cakes.
Hot Cocoa bar from Katie Grace Designs. So creative with chocolate and white chocolate covered spoons, toppings like marshmallows, crushed peppermint, chipped cream, and peanut butter chips, and different flavored syrups. Where’s the Baileys?
YES! Thank you Apartment Therapy for the idea. A fondue party first of all would be amazing because cheese is pretty much the tastiest thing on the planet- second of all a fondue bar makes a great addition to an Achorman, Mad Men or any other 70′s party. The Melting Pot is a chain that specializes in cheese, broth, and chocolate fondue- their menu is a great source for ideas on fondues and dippers.
Emerging Trends in Celebrations Day 2: Ruffle Cakes
June 30th, 2011 § 2 Comments
Can pastries get any girlier? I’ve started seeing these pop up all over the place from cute little girl parties to whimsical weddings.
Is that sequined heart edible or is that a party favor for the hostess? Either way I want one. by Cupcakes Couture.
I love the pairing of the ruffles with the flowers- the petals are the perfect echo to the texture. Cakes from Sugar Custom Cakes.
I love the two-toned frosting on these frilly cupcakes from sweet e’s- the baker gives a couple pointers on re-creating the look in the Flickr comments here.
More like pleats than ruffles- this cake has a more structured, sophisticated feel- the baker used layers of white chocolate. By Nicky Grant Patisserie and Chocolatier.
Picnic themed barbeque with Slider Bar feature
June 14th, 2011 § 1 Comment
My family had never seen me go into full-blown party panning mode until this Mother’s Day- as a present to my mom I offered to not only style the party she hosted for my giant army of aunts/uncles/cousins, etc. but also do all of the cooking and baking.
Chalkboard paint put to good use.
I printed out the “Lemonade” sign from my computer before tracing over the black ink with chalk- one of my favorite party tricks. I like to smudge the paper a bit to give it the chalkboard effect. 
The best part was the slider bar!
The guests loved being able to try different combinations of gourmet toppings without the commitment of an entire burger.
Grilled pineapple, caramelized onions, sautéed mushrooms, cheddar, and blue cheese.
Spreads in mason jars- I loved the idea of using clothespins for the labels. Avocado, barbecue sauce, teriyaki sauce, mayo and ketchup.
And yes, it may take some hunting but some of the fancier grocery stores actually sell slider buns- brioche is a good alternative and there’s always dinner rolls.
My little creations.One grilled pineapple/onion/mayo/teriyaki sauce. The other sautéed mushrooms/blue cheese and bbq sauce. SO good.
Macaroni and Cheese + Toppings Bar
April 11th, 2011 § 1 Comment
I recently came across this post on Hostess with the Mostess and loved the idea of a Mac and Cheese bar- what a cute idea for a party!
After doing some research, come to find out in New York there’s a restaurant entirely dedicated for macaroni and cheese. Crazy
But seriously. To make your own, start with creamy, cheesy, noodles.
I love this recipe from Allrecipes- I don’t know what the reviewers were thinking but it deserves five stars. Help your guests with combo ideas by posting in a cute frame at the head of the table. Here are som ideas for toppings
Southwest ingredients:
- roasted corn
- roasted red peppers
- jalapenos
- onions
- cilantro
- tomatoes
- olives
- black beans
Italian ingredients:
- fresh basil
- tomatoes
- italian sausage
- sundried tomatoes
- artichokes
- parmesan
- pancetta
Meat
- steak
- roasted chicken
- crab
- bacon
Others:
- sauteed mushrooms
- avocado
- truffle salt
- green onions
- cheese curds
- gorgonzola
Hunting for bunting
February 19th, 2011 § Leave a Comment
BUNTING! Whenever I see it I know it’s going to be a good time. It’s like the moustache of party decorations. I love how it’s popping up in all different forms lately.
DIY necklace inspired by Anthropologie- tutorial here.
Bunting in fondant
Double bunting all the way! It’s so beautiful! Etsy blog here, DIY here.
Say it with a bunting card! DIY here.
Or ditch the card altogether! What a cute idea for a save-the-date or just a nice note to a friend. Etsy shop here. Happy bunting!
Port-a-Party! OrigAudio Fold-up Speakers
June 4th, 2010 § Leave a Comment
In response to yesterday’s Glamping post my friend Holly sent info on these awesome OrigAudio speakers ($19.99 each) which I will definitely pick up before the next trip.
They’re made from recycled materials, fold-up onto themselves, AND run off your device power so you don’t have to worry about running out of batteries.
This one would have been the most glamping-esqe BUT it looks like they are customizable so I came up with this one
A little retro wood grain action if you want to go classy MadMen style…
…but denim is the hot look of the season so I couldn’t help myself. I am imaging blasting some MGMT on these hotties. Hope everyone has a fantastic weekend!
Memorial Day Glamping (Glam+Camping)
May 10th, 2010 § Leave a Comment
This year will be year two of the annual Memorial Day weekend camping trip with my two best friends from high school Myra and Mandy.
Last year was my first time ever camping without my dad running the show so obviously being the resident chef I demanded to make all of the food and was pleased to find out if you bring a frying pan you can pretty much make anything you want.
I am obsessed with the UK phenomenon of Glamping (which is glam camping)- so this year we’re going to do the Memorial Day camping trip a little differently.
Cute decor. Candles everywhere. Couture clothes and heels. Fondue and red wine night. Gourmet meals. Mani-pedis by the fire. I just can’t wait for an even better weekend with my girlfriends than last year if that’s even possible. The best part of all this is I was mentioning it to another friend and she said “um… can you go glamping again this summer and can I come?!?”
I will definitely be posting photos but until then- fellow glampers-here are some links to help guide you to your first glamping excursion and maybe help you prep for the big trip:
Glamping Girl’s Ultimate Glamping Checklist
Wine glasses that travel great and can withstand any weather. Set of 2 stainless steel wine goblets- $24.00
Just say NO to beans and wieners! Seriously- some of us want to avoid sitting in the outhouse all night. You can pretty much cook anything you would cook on a normal stove over the fireplace with a sturdy skillet but if you’re looking for some inspiration here’s Robin Donovan’s Campfire Cuisine: Gourmet Recipes for the Great Outdoors- $10.85
Or just bring the kitchen to you! Camp Chef Camping Outdoor Oven- $183
Sleep away in style and be way ahead of the trend. Shoot you can’t even find this booty in the states. Ric Rac Striped Teepee from UK designer Cath Kidston- £65.00
Juicy’s jumping on the bandwagon so it must be cool. Juicy Couture Sleeping Bag + Pillow Set – $178
For the weekend I plan to sew us a super-cute canopy to hang over our picnic table with fresh linens and grosgrain ribbon, utilize my parents’ toastite maker, in addition to plushy pillows and candelabras. Can’t wait to post the pictures!
Birthday party with a twist of citrus
April 11th, 2010 § 1 Comment
Ok I have definitely been reading Amy Atlas’s blog too much- it’s official. Regardless, the display I created for my friend Vivian’s birthday party turned out awesome. I learned a couple of tricks too which I’ll share.
This was for a cocktail party so I centered the color theme around the lemon and lime centerpiece- it truly felt like a Spring party. Here are the details and how to:
- The cute flag banner was made from some damask scrapbook paper from Michael’s (trust me it so hard to find chic paper at Michael’s among all the cutesy baseball and stick figure children prints {gag} but I was persistent) and thin yellow satin ribbon I picked up for $0.50 a spool. Just cut the paper into triangles, and using an exacto knife and a cutting board, I cut 1/4 inch long slices near the top corners to thread the ribbon through.
- The lemon lime centerpiece was made by taping a thick satin ribbon along the edge of a glass cake stand.
Now you want to know how I made these glitter letters look so good- no I don’t own a special printer that prints everything in glitter but that would be awesome. I found the right font in Word and printed out all the letters and then placed a clean sheet of printer paper over it and traced the letters with my glue pen, followed by glitter. I used a cup and my ribbon spool to trace the circles.
I used Photoshop to create Vivian’s birthday tea recipe. I simply found a pattern I liked online, then selected and used the paint bucket tool to change all of the colors to match the theme. Then I made a transparent green box to set the stage for the text. I bought the frame a few months back on sale from Urban Outfitters for only $5!! Still kicking myself for just buying one. It makes a great display for party menus, recipes, etc.
I found all the mismatched bottles for drinks, the mason jars for the flowers and the yellow scarf on the table at the Goodwill. To make sure all the color shades were exact I cut off small pieces of the flag paper, yellow paper, and green ribbon, and taped them all together to create a swatch which a I held up against my choices. The Goodwill is my favorite place to look for party props and supplies because it’s cheap, it’s recycling, the money goes to a fantastic cause and…….
…who knows you might find that one thing you’ve been looking for ever since you moved into your apartment! I couldn’t believe my luck.
