Wednesday, October 28, 2009

An Intimate Bridal Bruncheon

Does your mother or grandmother have old lace doilies hanging around? Well what are you waiting for, Dust them off and put them to use!
I happen to love lace! So with a touch of traditional , a morsel of modern elegance, and a glimpse of feminine glam, this scene came together to make the perfect Bridal Bruncheon for a Bride's special girl's! It will also be great for a bridal shower.

One of my favorite flowers, the oh so chic dendrobium orchids set the scene atop elegant paisley linens. Feminine tufted ottomans for seating.


I used traditional lace doilies as placemats. Villery and Boch dinnerware added modern elegance to the setting.


Small silver serving trays acted as chargers. They were the perfect shape for our tableware.


A sleek silver napkin ring held delicate lace napkins


Well of course....Brunch isn't complete without yummy mimosas! Love em'!


Serve chilled mini carafes of milk with pretty cookies



A simple but always fabulous favor, chocolate truffles presented in a cute little box.


Ambiance!

More images on Facebook

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Creepy Cocktails

Bloody Brain Shooter
Ok this looks totally gross! But I had to share it.

Get the recipe from Fine living.

This Black Devil Martini is easier on the eyes

Recipe from Fine Living.

Monday, October 26, 2009

DIY: Celebration Banners

Banners were used at parties for as long as I can remember. But instead of buying the average banner from a local party store, you can create a one of a kind banner yourself! Or if your aren't the crafty, there are tons on Etsy to choose from. Check out some creative banners below.

Cute Etsy finds



And one of my own that I created for a baby shower.

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Halloween Brain Food

Cocktail brains anyone?

Ingredients
3 pounds frozen cooked medium shrimp (with tails), thawed and drained well
1/4 cup roasted red sweet peppers, cut into 1/4-inch thick strips
1 cup chicken broth
1 teaspoon unflavored gelatin
1 1/2 teaspoons finely shredded lemon peel
1/4 cup lemon juice
3 tablespoons tomato paste
1 tablespoon honey
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Directions
1. In a 1-1/2-quart glass bowl (3-inches high, 7 1/2-inches in diameter), begin arranging shrimp, tails toward the center, in a circle to make 1 flat layer in the bottom of the bowl. (Only the round backs of the shrimp should be visible from the outside of the bowl.) Repeat layers until bowl is full, pressing down every couple layers. As bowl fills up, tuck strips of the roasted red pepper in and around shrimp forming "blood vessels". (It helps to peer through the sides of glass bowl to adjust as necessary.) When bowl is full, press down firmly with a plate that fits inside the bowl. Set aside.

2. In a small saucepan combine chicken broth and unflavored gelatin; let stand 5 minutes. Cook and stir over medium heat until gelatin has dissolved. Whisk in lemon peel, lemon juice, tomato paste, honey, garlic, salt, ginger, and cayenne pepper until combined. Pour mixture over shrimp in bowl. Cover and chill at least 5 hours or overnight.

3. To unmold, set bowl in a sink filled with warm water for several seconds. Invert a large plate with sides over bowl. Invert plate and bowl together and remove bowl to unmold. Cover and chill until needed (up to 24 hours). Makes 12 appetizer servings
Recipe from BH&G

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Festive Fall Tablescape

Metallic colors along with natural elements like fresh fruit, fall foliage, and branches add a great modern touch to a fall tablescape. Deep copper and bright bronze speaks to the sophistication of this lovely seasonal design. I also created a festive fall tablescape with similar elements of fresh fruit,fall foliage, and a rich color palette of gold and bronze. Check it out here.




Pics courtesty of Fine Living

Monday, October 19, 2009

Glam Earrings

These earrings from Banana Republic will be perfect for the holidays, or make a great addition to your bridesmaid giftbag. I'm loving their vintage glam feel!


Check out Banana Republic for more glam jewelry.

Friday, October 16, 2009

Foodie Friday: Halloween Brownie Pops

Brownie pops are all the rage these days for your desert table. Check out these Halloween brownie pops, they are great for your Halloween party this season! They are too sweet! :-)

Check out William Sonoma for more sweet treats.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

SWEEEET!

Outdoor events are so pretty and refreshing. You can put a lot of fun details into an outdoor event. The girls over at JL Designs, sure did give me a feast for my eyes! Check out this oh so SWEET wedding I found on JL Designs blog. These girls did an amazing job on every little detail! I'm loving the candy buffet,desert table,and color palette! This would be great for a bridal shower, or baby shower as well.


I'm loving the backdrop of this desert table


Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Luxurious Linens

Add Flair to your affair with Luxurious Linens! You can go for subtle elegance, or go over the top at Wildflower Linens. Layered, textured, gathered,frilly, you name it! Check out Wildflower Linens for your fill of Luxurious Linens.






Friday, October 9, 2009

No need for gift wrap

How cute are these favor boxes? And there's no surprise what your favor will be. The beauty of this box isn't the box at all, it's the actual gift inside that takes on center stage! You can put a number of pretty little things in it. But I particularly love edible treats in them. Cupcakes, cookies, candies, and even mini cakes! I had mini wedding cake favors placed in little transparent boxes at my wedding! What ever sweet treat you decide on, place it in a transparent box for that extra "Flair!" Your guests will love it.

Love this!

Martha Stewart

Ok so I'm totally craving one of these right now..** sigh**

Source


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This is perfect for a baby shower.

Source

Monday, October 5, 2009

Hot Rasapple Rum Cider

Fall is apple season, and cooler nights create the perfect excuse to sip on warm cider. Serve it up at your Halloween party or holiday hang. Don't forget to top it off with a healthy dollop of whipped cream!

Hot Rasapple Rum Cider

Source

Ingredients:

1 cup apple cider (use organic if you can)
1-1/2 oz. Mount Gay rum
1 oz. raspberry syrup
1 tsp. Chambord (a raspberry-flavored liqueur)
1 Tbs. grated orange zest
3 whole cloves
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground cardamom
Whipped cream
Ground cinnamon

Preparation:

Add cider raspberry syrup, orange zest, cloves, cinnamon and cardamom into a small saucepan. Heat but do not boil. When steam begins to rise, remove the cloves. Pour the mixture into a coffee mug. Add rum and stir.

Garnish with a dollop of whipped cream. Drizzle top of cream with Chambord and sprinkle with cinnamon.

Friday, October 2, 2009

Foodie Friday: Pumpkin Deserts

Yes! It's that time of year to make just about anything with pumpkin. I don't think I've ever tried a pumpkin dish that wasn't tasty. :-) Like fudge? Tirimisu? Bread Pudding? Try adding pumpkin! These Pumpkin Desert recipes from BHG seem simple enough. I may have to try these out myself. They are perfect for your holiday gatherings this season!
Pumpkin Fudge


Pumpkin Tirimisu

Ok wait a second... I love tiramisu! Throw in some pumpkin?? This has gotta be good!

Pumpkin Bread Pudding with Toffee Sauce

OMG.. Yum
Check out BHG for more yummy pumpkin desert recipes.