Jun 30, 2009

I'm on Vacation... be back soon!

Jun 26, 2009

Fashion Savvy Aprons {The Hip Hostess}

Entertain with style in one of these chic aprons from The Hip Hostess. Born out of necessity, when fashion savvy newlywed was making her debut as hostess, mom came to the rescue and sewed up a few of these trendy numbers. As friends lined up to get theirs they decided to embark on a new business venture. By combining comtemporary style with fabulous fabrics they have created a "couture in the kitchen" look available in two different syles; Sheath Style Aprons, Demi Style Aprons and they even remembered our little ones with their line of Sweet Petite Aprons . Don't forget to pair your apron with matching Tea Towels.
Demi Style Apron, Cherry Me.
Sweet Petites
Sheath Style Apron, Black a la Mode
Sheath Style Apron, Chocolate Mint
These great aprons are perfect gifts for any occasion. I absolutely love these for bridesmaid gifts. Pair with a personalized baking mix, thanking your maids for all their help. Love it! Thank you to The Hip Hostess for inspiring us.

Jun 25, 2009

Cupcake Wrappers with Style {Bella Cupcake Couture}

"To have her cupcake and adore it too" was the desire of Carrie Middlemiss after she was laid off from her 18 year banking job. Why let the frosting steal the show... Bella Cupcake Couture offers posh and chic textile-inspired cupcake wrappers. The boutique-style designs add a touch of sophistication and elegance for any special occasion. Carrie envisions the wrappers, which are printed with soy inks on recycled paper, at weddings, bridal and baby showers and as birthday gifts, housewarming gifts and a little treat for yourself.
I love all the great prints to choose from. Carrie sent me a variety of her darling wrappers and I cannot wait to dress my next batch of cupcakes in these pretty papers.

Jun 23, 2009

Stylish Invitations by JK Designs {Etsy Favorites}

Announce you next party, wedding or event with style. I absolutely love the bold designs offered by JK Designs. These invitation master pieces are the work of creative graphic artist Jamie Konet. She offers a variety of colors and styles to choose from or she will design some specially for you. Be sure to visit JK Designs to view Jamie's entire line.
Thank you Jamie for inspiring us!

Jun 22, 2009

My Favorite Blogs {The Party Dress}

I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorite {stylish} blogs with you. I will post one of my favs every Monday, and give you glimps of their post for the day. Today I wanted to share The Party Dress. I think this blog is so well done and offers a wealth of info for entertaining. If I start browsing, I can get lost in this creative wonderland of ideas. If you really want to find some inspiration for your next get together or party you need to take a peek. Today on The Party Dress: This great idea for a summer hostess gift Bloody Mary Mixer creatively bottled and dressed with this lovely printed label {originally posted on Martha Stewart}. Get this recipe Get label template Thank you to The Party Dress for digging up this great idea. I love it and will definately be mixing up a batch this summer.

Jun 18, 2009

Cinnamon Streusel Cake Mix {Gourmet Gift Company}

Yummy! Our Cinnamon Streusel Cake Mix is one of our most popular mixes for gift giving. Our mixes are all natural, with no artificial flavors or preservatives. Perfect to have on hand for those unexpected guests or to throw together for this weekends pot luck. This rich buttery classic is made with fresh sour cream and layered with fragrant cinnamon and chopped walnuts.
Our mixes are available in our stylish everyday packaging, or for gift giving add a personal touch with one of custom designer labels. Stop by and check out our entire line of gourmet all natural baking mixes. Don't forget, all of my blog followers get 10% off. Enter coupon code STYLISH10 at checkout.

Jun 16, 2009

Hand Stamped Gifts & Favors by PAPERsprout
{Etsy Favorite}

Have I ever mentioned that I LOVE Etsy. I am hooked, if I want to find something truly special it's the first place I go. Once again, I have found it! Lauren of PAPERsprout, the designer of these lovely treasures, is a college student from San Antonio, TX. Between Calculus homework and dance she taps into her creative side to earn a little money for college in the fall. Everything is just so precious. The details are what got my attention. You must check out her shop, this is just a taste.
I love this as a wedding favor! How unique, I would love to get this, actually I ordered this a few minutes ago {to be honest I ordered everything I am sharing with you and I had a tough time narrowing it down. Too much cute stuff}. I usually push edible favors, but this is something truly special that your guest would treasure. Love, love, love it!
Ok, another must have. These are just great gift bags that I will use all the time. A great example of stylish giving. I love the "thanks" bags for packaging favors. Any favor would just be cuter in this bag. There are sooo many darling things at PAPERsprout, don't forget to stop by and pick up something special. Thank you, Lauren, for inspiring us.

Jun 15, 2009

Clutch Bags by Ikestaedt {Etsy Favorites}

I know I should be focusing on father's day gift ideas. Sorry, dad, these couldn't wait until after father's day, they couldn't even wait until tomorrow. I am in love! I saw these clutches by Ikestaedt, and whether you need one for brunch with your friends, for shopping in the city, dinner, opera or even as a bridesmaids bag, these CLUTCH BAGS make the perfect companion. These stylish bags are the work of German fashion designer turned US mom following her dream. They are designed with well chosen contemporary and unique fabrics creating a nice thick bag with a soft touch. Each bag is made by hand and ready to be shipped to you. This Nouveau Bouquet Clutch really caught my eye. Love it for summer.
Check out her darling clutch sets. This one is called Funky Flowers.
I have been a little bird obsessed lately, but this is sooooo cute. I love it for myself or my girls {11,13,16} I must have! I like the slightly larger size and the handles. Visit Ikestaedt to view her entire line of lovely clutch bags. Thank you for inspiring us.

Care Packages for Out of Town Guests

Such a thoughtful idea, putting together care packages for your out of town guests. Add anything from snacks and drinks to maps of the area, mints and maybe their itinerary. I love incorporating local specialties or using a theme, for instance for a beach destination throw in some sunblock. They can be packaged in so many ways, I obviously love using a box, but a gift bag or basket also work nicely. This first care package was done for a large wedding at the Ritz Carlton. We delivered thirty care packages to four different hotels in the Newport Beach, CA area and I am sure the out of towners were thrilled to be greeted with this personal display of refreshments.
I love using my favorite snacks from Trader Joe's and repackaging them in cellophane bags or clear view boxes. I just created simple labels on Microsoft Publisher, but you could definitely order them for My Wedding Labels {link to the right under sponsors}. I need to think of a reason to make these again soon. I do love them.
These cute little boxes were for a beach wedding. For a more whimsical feel we added a starfish cookie, Glee gum, snack mix and chocolate sea shells. These were really so much fun. I wanted to be one of the guests that opened these.
e-mail me with questions or for more info.

Jun 12, 2009

Wedding Cake Cookies {Do It Yourself}

aWhile we are in DIY sugar cookie wedding favor mode I wanted to share my wedding cake cookies with you. There are two ways I like to do them, first, using different sizes of round cutters and stacking them, second, using a tiered cake shaped cookie cutter. Either way, you are going to use the same three basics, a good sugar cookie {my sugar cookie mix works great, but any good shortbread sugar cookie recipe will work, fondant {my easy marshmallow fondant recipe is listed below} and royal icing {recipe listed below}. The stacked wedding cake cookies are sooooo easy, my kids can make them and have them look great. I love to package them in cellophane and tie with a bow. You can box them as well, but they really are too cute to hide. Pick three sizes of circles that stack nicely, cut two of each size and cut a circle of fondant the same size for each cookie. Glue together with royal icing, it's that simple!
I love these cookies... these wedding cake cookies were some of the first favors I offered. I love them decorated in all white; if you want color add a tag or a bow. I think the look is very classy. These do take a little bit of practice, but really only a little bit. Writing with a decorating bag is a lot like writing with a pen. Spend an afternoon playing with a decorating bag on a cutting board or plate. You will pick it up fast and by the time you are done with your cookies you will be a pro.
They can be personalized in so many ways... names, dates or both. They also look great with a monogram. I think your guest will love them, and wont they be impressed that you made them yourself.
All dressed up and ready to be eaten. So pretty. Don't be bashful, e-mail me with questions. I really am happy to help.
Marshmallow Fondant Recipe:
  • 16 oz bag of white mini marshmallows
  • 3 tablespoons of water
  • 2 pounds powdered sugar
  • 1/2 cup Crisco shortening
In microwave safe bowl combine marshmallows and water. Microwave on high for 30 seconds. Remove bowl from microwave and stir, return to microwave for an additional 30 seconds. Repeat until mixture is melted and smooth. It usually takes about 2 minutes. Add 1/2 of powdered sugar to marshmallow and mix. Pour remaining powdered sugar onto board and pour marshmallow mixture over powdered sugar. Coat your hands in crisco shortening {I mean seriously}. Knead powdered sugar into marshmallow as you would bread dough until it is smooth and elastic. The mixture will be very sticky at first and if you have small children at home they will want to help. To store fondant, place in ziploc bag and squeeze out all the air and refridgerate. You can make fondant up to two weeks in advance.
Royal Icing Recipe:
  • 3 tablespoons meringue powder {Wilton makes a great one available at Michael's}
  • 1 lb powdered sugar
  • 6-8 tablespoons water
Beat all ingredients until icing forms peaks {about 8-10 minutes on medium speed}. I would start with 6 tablespoons of water and add more if too stiff for piping, keeping in mind you have to push it through that tiny hole. You may want to add a little frosting to the bag and experiment with consistency before filling the entire bag. You want the frosting to be soft enough to pipe easily, but it must hold its shape.

Jun 11, 2009

Monogrammed Cookie Favors {Do It Yourself}

When I first started my wedding favor business I did custom wedding favors and I did tons of monogrammed cookies. I do love them, I just don't have the time to make them for you. I have made it a little easier though, I now sell my sugar cookie mix, which makes a rich buttery shortbread sugar cookie that always works well. You can use any sugar cookie recipe, but I would definitely experiment with it. It is important to use a dough that doesn't lose it's shape. The thing that really gives the cookies a professional look is to top them with fondant, rather than frosting. You can buy fondant pre-made at craft stores, such as Michael's or you can use my easy to make marshmallow fondant recipe {listed below}. I highly recommend the marshmallow fondant over store bought, it tastes so much better. The fun thing about the fondant is you can cut it with the same cutter you used for the cookies and it looks so nice and neat. Don't be afraid of the monogram. I know a lot of you have never used a decorating bag before but it is really just like writing with a pen, just play with it for a few minutes before you start on your cookies. If you make a boo boo, you can wipe it off and start over. You can buy disposable decorating bags at your local craft store and just use a decorating tip with a small round hole. You may want to try a couple of sizes to get it just the way you want it. When adding your monogram be sure to use royal icing {recipe below}. It will get hard like candy. Let your cookies set for several hours before boxing or bagging. Here we paired two tiny monogrammed cookies in a clear view box {from Papermart},with some white chocolate covered almonds and some yogurt covered malted milk balls. I bought the candy in bulk at Henry's, our local specialty food store, but you can use any candy you want. I love using chocolate covered almonds or colorful Jordan almonds. For a real splash of color you can use the brightly colored chocolate covered fruit. Fun, fun, fun!
There are so many great cookie cutters available on-line that you can make your cookies any size and shape you like. Here we used a fluted 2.5 inch cutter for the cookie and then cut the fondant with a 2 inch cutter that wasn't fluted. I like to mix and match. You can buy the sets of square cutters on line at Instawares.
These tiny monogrammed cookies were being added to care packages that the bride was putting together. They were really cute, I love the small size. Notice I used the plain square cutter for the cookie and the smaller fluted cutter for the fondant. The fluted fondant really dresses them up.
All bagged up and ready for delivery. Please don't hesitate to e-mail me with any questions. I'm happy to help.
Marshmallow Fondant Recipe:
  • 16 oz bag of white mini marshmallows
  • 3 tablespoons of water
  • 2 pounds powdered sugar
  • 1/2 cup Crisco shortening
In microwave safe bowl combine marshmallows and water. Microwave on high for 30 seconds. Remove bowl from microwave and stir, return to microwave for an additional 30 seconds. Repeat until mixture is melted and smooth. It usually takes about 2 minutes. Add 1/2 of powdered sugar to marshmallow and mix. Pour remaining powdered sugar onto board and pour marshmallow mixture over powdered sugar. Coat your hands in crisco shortening {I mean seriously}. Knead powdered sugar into marshmallow as you would bread dough until it is smooth and elastic. The mixture will be very sticky at first and if you have small children at home they will want to help. To store fondant, place in ziploc bag and squeeze out all the air and refridgerate. You can make fondant up to two weeks in advance.
Royal Icing Recipe:
  • 3 tablespoons meringue powder {Wilton makes a great one available at Michael's}
  • 1 lb powdered sugar
  • 6-8 tablespoons water
Beat all ingredients until icing forms peaks {about 8-10 minutes on medium speed}. I would start with 6 tablespoons of water and add more if too stiff for piping, keeping in mind you have to push it through that tiny hole. You may want to add a little frosting to the bag and experiment with consistency before filling the entire bag. You want the frosting to be soft enough to pipe easily, but it must hold its shape.

Jun 10, 2009

Father's Day Gift Ideas {Red Envelope}

It is tough to find a good father's day gift. I have been scouring the internet for days trying to find some unique gift ideas to share with all of you that weren't completely tacky. It turned out to be quite a challenge. Thankfully, Red Envelope came to my rescue with some very stylish giving ideas for our great dads. I love this steak brander. If you know my husband, you know why this very cool gift idea caught my eye. {He actually already has one... love it!}.
Don't want to encourage any bad habits, but if they already partake check out this Weston Leather Cigar Case.
I thought these monogrammed golf club links were really different. Personalize their golf clubs with style!

This is just a taste... check out all of the father's day favorites at Red Envelope.

Jun 8, 2009

DIY Favor Box Template

I stumbled upon this favor box template on Style Me Pretty {one of my all time favorite wedding blogs}. It was designed by the lovely Kathleen of Twig and Thistle, the queen of DIY.
I love the sweet simple design of this favor box. Perfect for packaging handmade truffles or some fresh baked goodies. Download the template right here!

Jun 6, 2009

Wedding Perch Giveaway Winner!

So sorry to keep you waiting. The WINNER is Michelle Neuman, who said... "I am obsessed with the save the date cards pictured first! They are eco-freindly and cute as a button. I also love the lovebird table numbers pictured on their Etsy site. Handmade things are always so special". Contratulations! Please e-mail me to claim your prize. Thank you to all who entered. Check back soon for another great giveaway!

Jun 5, 2009

A Sweet Giveaway! {All Things Cupcake}

I just had to share... All Things Cupcake is doing a giveaway a day in the month of June. Yes, every single day. This "cupcake crown and invitation giveaway" by The Paperista is just one day. {I feel a theme coming on, just throw in some cupcake mix favors and you are set.} Ok, I back to the point... they are offering some really fun stuff and I didn't want you to miss it! Oh yah, a variety pack of one of each of my cupcake mixes is the June 16th giveaway!
Check back later for the winner of our Wedding Perch Giveaway!

Jun 4, 2009

The most stylish way to give! {Charitable Contributions}

This past weekend I got together with a group of friends to support a great cause! We participated in Miles for Melanoma in Fullerton, CA to support The Melanoma Research Foundation. It was really a lot of fun and it was great to see so many people joining forces to fight this deadly disease.

"Team Smitty"

There is no shortage of ways to give to your favorite cause. Almost all organizations hold fundraising events several times a year, just google your favorite cause to find the next event in your area. Never underestimate the value of a small {or large} on-line donation. Even the smallest donations add up to lots and lots of dollars! Most people wait until someone they know or love is affected by a deadly disease before they get involved, but if we all participate in a small way NOW, maybe we can help reduce the number of loved ones affected in the future.

Chris Raus sporting his "Team Smitty" shirt
Don't know what to get that for that person on your list that has everything, you guessed it, make a charitable contribution in their name. Maybe there is a cause that has a soft spot in their heart, but a contribution to any good cause will definitely make them feel special.
Me, Michele Neske and Michelle Smith
One of the latest trends in wedding favors is a small donation made in each of your guests names. Think of the money spent on wedding favors each year, what a huge dent that could make in a research project. Ok, so get out there and find your cause, or I've made it easy for you, make a donation to The Melanoma Research Foundation now! Remember, every little bit helps.

Jun 3, 2009

Etsy Favorites {The Hot Cookie}

I do love COOKIES! and I love finding people doing what they love. The Hot Cookie was founded in January 2009 by friends Sarah and Karli who joined forces to create wholesome and delicious cookies. Sarah and Karli bake their artisan cookies in Indianapolis. They are committed to using only the finest ingredients and utilize local and organic products as much as possible. The packaging is so simple and cute. I love the stamped natural boxes so tastefully tied with a red raffia bow.
Raspberry Thumbelinas - This delightful little cookie is perfect with tea or all on its own. It is an almond-based shortbread cookie with a hint of pink pepper for zing filled with local Indiana organic raspberry preserves and drizzled with almond icing for an unexpected blend of flavors.
Double Fudge Drops - These sinful, decadent cookies are one of their bestsellers because they are full of rich, creamy chocolate. Dark Belgian chocolate is melted into the dough, and each cookie is topped with a Guittard milk chocolate chip. I must try these!
Check out their entire line of super yummy cookies at The Hot Cookie and don't forget to drop by their blog.

Jun 2, 2009

Gourmet Gift Company - Giveaway Winner!

And the winner is... pink, who said "I would use them as "Thank You's" for my team of women that put on our 'Night Out For Ladies' at our church. We do an amazing event every month for about 300 women and the team that helps us pull this off is AMAZING!"

Congratulations! Please e-mail me to claim your prize.

A big "THANK YOU" to all who entered. Please check back daily for more great giveaways.