Happy Hour: Brandied Hot Chocolate

Keep yourself warm and toasty while you decorate your house for the holiday season with this yummy spiked hot chocolate. Delish!

Yield

Makes 4 mugs

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups grated bittersweet chocolate
• 1/2 cup dry milk powder
• 4 cups whole milk
• 4 tablespoons Brandy
  
• Whipped cream or marshmallows, for garnish

Preparation

1. In a medium bowl, mix grated chocolate and dry milk powder.

2. In a medium saucepan, heat whole milk over medium heat. Once heated, stir in the chocolate mixture and whisk until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth and hot.

3. Pour 1 Tbsp. Armagnac into each mug (four mugs total), then fill each mug with the smooth, hot chocolate mixture. Serve hot, garnished with whipped cream or marshmallows.

Image+Recipe{Sunset}

Happy Thanksgiving!

Here's my little four person turkey day table. Happy Thanksgiving, enjoy your friends+family!

Quick Thanksgiving Centerpiece

I found these quick and easy centerpieces from RealSimple.com and thought they would be perfect for Thanksgiving. Just fill a galvanized container with fall leaves or fill a serving piece/glass vessel with fruit and nuts. Everyone looks better in candlelight, so go on a candle scavenger hunt around your house. Construct a "runner of candles" for your table or place a group on a candle safe plate. Viola, you have a festive centerpiece! Happy "almost"Turkey Day!

Images{realsimple.com}

Swanky Deal: Morocco Dinnerware at CB2

Great dinnerware on sale at CB2, including the Morocco plates, 3.95-10.95. Love the fresh orange an white pattern. A great way to add a little spark to your everyday white dinnerware.
Happy Shopping!
Images{CB2}

Modish November Giveaway

If you haven't already checked out the Modish Blog, you must! What better reason, then to enter a fabulous giveaway for $800 worth of handmade goodness. The Modish Blog showcases handmade crafts, indie crafters, and the lovely people who buy them. Also check out the Modish Holiday Marketplace for discounts and deals on your favorite handmade, vintage, and indie goods.

Images{ModishBlog}

Happy Hour: Cranberry Bellini

This looks like a yummy little cocktail to whip up while you are fixing Thanksgiving dinner. Being a good cook skips a generation in my family, so you would need about 10 of these drinks to wash down my Thanksgiving meal. Luckily my mom is an amazing cook and my husband is barbecuing the turkey. I tend to focus on cocktails, appetizers, and the table. Have a fabulous weekend.

Ingredients:
Makes one drink

• 1 tablespoon of cranberry sauce
• 2 tablespoons of cranberry juice cocktail
• splash of Cointreau
• Prosecco

Place cranberry sauce into a high ball glass. Add cranberry juice cocktail and Cointreau. Slowly fill with Prosecco and stir to combine.

Image+Recipe{DominoMagazine}

Fabulous Favors at Home Studio 2

Looking for a modern favor for your next event? Run on over to HomeStudio2 for a fun pocket mirror or set of magnets. I loved so many designs I had to feature all of them. The pocket mirrors come packaged in little gift bags so all you have to do is add a customized tag. How cute are the magnets below? Who doesn't need a chic magnet to keep track of their holiday invites? Both items make a perfect stocking stuffer or holiday exchange gift. Happy Shopping!

Images{homestudio2}

Paper & Cake Digital Thanksgving Tablescape

You must check out Paper & Cake and download this modern Thanksgiving Tablescape. What a brilliant idea. Perfect for those who want a creative and chic holiday table with out all the time and effort!! Paper & Cake is offering this first tablescape for free, and each creative tablescape hereafter will only be $5 for a pdf file with everything needed to create a festive table in minutes. Lovely!

Images{Paper+Cake}

Brights for your Holiday Table

Love these fun festive plates, bowls, and glassware. Surprise your Thanksgiving guests with a bright table scheme. Of course you must start the festivities with a cocktail and these vibrant glass shakers from Pottery Barn are perfect!The gorgeous glassware pictured above is from Theresienthal. Totally out of my price range, but would be perfect on my "Fantasy Table". The LOVE snack plates and bowls can be found at Scarlett Alley. Lots of fabulous items for your table on this site. Cheers to a bright and festive holiday!!

Images{PotteryBarn}{FoodandWine}{ScarlettAlley}

Lovely Place Card Holders for every event!

Place card holders are a fun and functional element for your table. I've highlighted some of my favorites from around the web. Many of these you could design whole parties around. Love those little topiaries for a garden shower or the little cupcakes for a first birthday party.

The top four holders can be found at MyWeddingFavors.com:

• Silver-Plated Fortune Cookies
• Topiary Place Card Holder
• Buddha Place Card Holder
• Metal Boat Personalized Favor

Bottom Four Holders:

• Red Light Studio Cupcake Holder: These can be customized in your event colors.
• SarEi Ornament Place Card Holders: Hand-painted! Custom orders welcome
  
• Caterer's Napkin Ring/Holder
• Pear Place Card Holder

Images: {MyWeddingFavors.com}(RedLightStudio}(SarEi}(PotteryBarn}

Happy Hour: Black Orchid Martini

Black Orchid
Ingredients:
- 1 1/4 parts Grey Goose L'Orange vodka
- 3/4 parts creme de violette
- 3/4 parts lemon juice
- 1/2 parts simple syrup
- 1 dash peach bitters or orange bitters
Garnish: 1 edible orchid or violet flower

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice add all ingredients. Shake vigorously until outside of shaker is frosted and beaded with sweat. Strain into martini cocktail glass and garnish with flower. (Cocktail by: Mixologist Nick Mautone)

Images: cocktailtimes.com

Swanky Deal: Blue Glass Bottles + Jars

These fabulous blue vases are on sale at Pottery Barn for $8.99 - $24.99. Wouldn't they be perfect for a beach/water themed table? Gorgeous when the light hits them!

Glassybaby for your Event

I've always been a big fan of glassybaby candleholders, the glow is magical. Each glassybaby is 3.75" X 2.5" and comes in every color imaginable. Did you know they have a rental program for events? Glassybaby votives retail for $40, but can be rented for $5 each. A striking presentation, especially if you are having an evening wedding. Go check out all the eye candy on their site.

Images{glassybaby}

b|e creative SALE

Check out the sale over at b|e creative! They have some fabulous invitations and notes, such as the Baby Shower Party Package pictured above. Love the little favor tags!

Images{b|e creative}

Mini Fruit Tart Buffet

Fun activity and yummy dessert for a wedding or baby shower. Set out a tray of tarts and fillings so guests can help themselves at their leisure. You could even coordinate the toppings with the event color palette.

INGREDIENTS
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 sticks (6 ounces) cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
3/4 cup heavy cream, chilled
1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 half-pints raspberries or blackberries
1 jar lemon or lime curd
1 jar caramel sauce

DIRECTIONS
1.
Combine the flour and salt in a large bowl. Work in the butter with your fingers until the mixture is crumbly. Add 1/2 cup cold water and stir with a fork until the dough comes together in a ball. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and knead just until smooth. Divide the dough in half and form each piece into a round; wrap each round in wax paper and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
2.
Preheat the oven to 400º. Invert a 12-cup muffin pan and lightly grease the outside bottoms and sides. Roll out 1 piece of dough on a lightly floured surface into a 10-inch round. Cut into four 4-inch rounds, reserving the scraps. Drape the 4-inch rounds over the muffin cups to mold into the cup shape. Repeat with the second piece of dough and any scraps, for a total of 12 tart shells. Prick the flat surface of each shell all over with a fork and refrigerate for 15 minutes.
3.
Bake the tart shells on the muffin pan until golden brown, about 20 minutes. Let the tart shells cool on the pan before removing.
4.
In a large bowl, whip the cream, confectioners' sugar and vanilla until soft peaks form. Serve the tart shells on a tray with the whipped cream, berries, lemon or lime curd and caramel sauce in separate bowls.

RECIPE + IMAGE: Everyday with Rachel Ray , Tracey Seaman

"Mama Needs A Martini" Cocktail Party

What mom couldn't use a martini break? Why not host a fun martini and sweets party for your friends over the holidays? I'm always a fan of the lemon drop martini so I thought I would plan the decor around it with a color palette of yellow and gray. Send out this fun yellow invite from Whimsy Press to set the tone for the event. I'm completely in love with the modern decor pictured above from theknot.Gorgeous! (love the look of the large fan's, but not sure how practical those are) Serve a Frosty Lemon Drop Martini, fun bite-size appetizers, and set up a chocolate bar to satisfy that sweet tooth. Send your guest home with lemon drop candy wrapped in glassine bags or a bottle of Homemade Rosemary Limoncello. Cheers!

Happy Hour: Rosemary Limoncello

Get a head start on your holiday gift giving and whip together some Rosemary Limoncello. This yummy lemon liqueur would also make a nice little take home gift for a holiday get together.(Check back tomorrow for my "Mama needs a Martini Party" post.) Happy Friday!

Rosemary Limoncello

Yield

Makes 10 2/3 cups (ten 8.5-oz. bottles) (serving size: 1 oz.)

Ingredients

• 18 lemons (Meyer or Eureka; see Notes), washed and dried
• One 4-in. rosemary sprig, washed and dried
• 2 bottles (750 ml. each) 100-proof vodka, such as Stolichnaya or Smirnoff
• 4 1/2 cups sugar

Preparation

1. Peel lemons with a sharp vegetable peeler, taking only the zest (top layer) and avoiding any white pith. Put rosemary in a 1-gal. glass or ceramic container with a tight seal. Add zest to jar.

2. Pour 750 ml. vodka over rosemary and zest; seal container. Let sit undisturbed in a cool, dark place for 40 days.

3. In a saucepan, bring 5 cups water to a boil and add sugar. Cook, stirring, until sugar has dissolved. Let sugar syrup cool to room temperature, about 1 hour.

4. Pour syrup and remaining 750 ml. vodka over lemon-vodka mixture, stir, and seal container. Let sit in a cool, dark place for another 40 days.

5. Pour limoncello through cheesecloth into a large spouted pitcher and divide among gift bottles.

Image + Recipe{Sunset}

Swanky Deal: 4 Day Sale at Beau-coup

Need some fab favors? Take advantage of this post-summer, pre-holiday, recession relief, sale at beau-coup (Nov 6th - 9th}. Click HERE for the coupon code and more information. Happy Shoppng.

Images{beau-coup}

Swanky Deal: Red Sorbet Cups

Pick up some of these cute little red sorbet cups from Crate and Barrel, set of 6 on sale for $9.95. These would be perfect to serve ice cream at a Children's holiday party or filled without holiday goodies for a take-home favor. Happy Shopping!

Image{CrateandBarrel}

Black & White Party Inspiration

Here is some of my inspiration for the Black + White Party I'm working on. I love the dessert table from Amy Atlas Events. Wish it was all black and white, but it was just too fab to leave out. Happy Election Day!

Images:{MarthaStewart}{AmyAtlasEvents}{InStyleWeddings}{theknot}

I Heart Southern Weddings Blog!

Take a break from all of the Election Day buzz and check out the NEW Southern Weddings Blog. Its fabulous! I love how you can browse through all of the Real Weddings and Inspiring Details in one place now. Great job, ladies!!

Image{SouthernWeddings}

Wine Bottle Table Numbers

Love double-duty ideas, and this Wine Bottle Table Number from Martha Stewart is fabulous! Click HERE for the how-to!

Image{marthastewart}

Check out the Rock Scissor Paper Holiday Shoppe

Who doesn't love a free gift? With any purchase from the Rock Scissor Paper holiday shoppe, you receive a fabulous goodie bag of assorted products. So run, don't walk, over to their fabulous holiday shoppe. I especially love the coasters and the select-a-greeting holiday cards.
Happy Shopping!

Image{RockScissorPaper}

Mini Gable Boxes

Remember those cute little kraft boxes Wanwisa used for her Birthday Brunch Favors? Well you can find them at beau-coup in white or kraft brown{natural}. They also have a great selection of labels that you can personalize. I love the Burst Monogram label pictured above. In addition to being great favor boxes, they also make fabulous packaging for holiday goodies or gifts.

Images {beau-coup}