Modern Wedding Cakes

Two of my favorite things - Dessert and Modern Design. What better way to showcase your style and story then your wedding cake. I rounded up some of my favorites from vintage modern to "clean and sleek". I especially love the modern cakes with natural elements, like the very first one, with the amazing cake stand designed by Carissa of JL Designs for her own wedding. You must see this whole wedding. SWOON!

#1 Vanilla Bake Shop, Santa Monica, CA, image Jasmine Star via JL Designs Blog
#2 & #3 Sweet & Saucy Shop, Long Beach, CA image#2 Aaron Shintaku, image#3 RyelJ
#4 & #5 Cake Girls, Chicago, via Real Simple Magazine

ABC Paper Cup Creativity

How stinkin' cute are these?? More information on the ABC Paper Cup on The Dieline. Great package design site for inspiration!

Images: TheDieline

Chic Styling from Sparkle Cupcakery

I know the first place I'm stopping when I make it to Australia someday, Sparkle Cupcakery. Love their fabulous cupcake styling for weddings and special events. How amazing are boxes? Mirrored on the inside, black on the outside. They also have a single cupcake box in white with mirror. Has anyone been there? Do they taste as good as they look? The store matches the packaging, with its modern chic interior. Someday I would love to have a little candy shop with this kind of modern look or similar to the bakery in "It's Complicated". (I love Nancy Meyers movies, even if its just for the set design" Can I move into Amanda Woods home, please?)

Images: Sparkle Cupcakery

Stainless Straws + Champagne

Instead of bringing a bottle of wine to your next party, try a few stainless steel straws and a bottle of bubbly for a new twist. (champagne or some sparkling french lemonade)
Stainless Steel Straws from Brook Farm General Store.

The Wedding Bootcamp

Wish I was in NYC so I could partake in this sweet Wedding Bootcamp at Dylan's Candy Bar. Two of my favorite things, weddings and candy! For more information, visit the Wedding Salon.

Take Me Out to the Ballgame Party Part 2

Here is my favorite part of the Take Me Out to the Ballgame Party: the sweets table. Here are the details:

Pennant Flag Banners: Possibly & Perhaps, check out her blog too!
Baseball Cakes and Cupcakes made by Le Cookie Monkey
Cake Stands : Acrylic Display boxes with T-Ball pyramids.
Peanut Bags filled with Cracker Jacks laying on a layer of shell peanuts in acrylic box
Red & White Polka Dot Paper from Luxe Paperie
Chocolate Baseballs
White Paper Goodie Bags I ran through my printer.

Take Me Out to the Ballgame Party

Finally here are the pictures from my boys 4th birthday party last weekend. The theme was Take Me Out to the Ball Game, but I didn't want it to scream "boy party" since many of the guests were girls. I also figured this may be one of the last times I can do some of the cutesy things I love like pennants! I would have loved to have this party outside, but of course it is February in the Northwest, and that just doesn't work. I have thought about moving to a warmer climate or celebrating their half birthday just for this reason. A little crazy, I know. The Take Me Out to the Ball Game banner was created by Jamie of Possibly & Perhaps, along with the pennant flag centerpieces. Jamie has a great blog to add to your daily reads: Something To Do. Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to take pictures of the tabletops prior to the guests arrival.(another reason you should hire a professional photographer, or designate someone else to take pictures). For the table decor, I just used fabric to cover the tables, added the pennant flags to cylinder vases with peanuts, and used small red and white dishcloths tied with red and white striped ribbon. I love to use decor that can be used time and time again after the party.
The kids enjoyed lunch before diving into a cookie decorating and pennant design activity. I think I had the most fun taking pictures of the kids with all the fun hats and clown noses in the ticket backdrop photo booth. I included their pictures with the thank you cards. We had the party at an ice cream parlor so the kids created their own ice cream sundaes and enjoyed cupcakes, too.
If that wasn't enough sugar, dessert table post coming up in Part 2!

Mini Chocolate Cream Pie

A yummy mini pie for your dessert or chocolate buffet.

Yield: Makes 24

• Cooking-oil spray
• About 30 chocolate cookies, such as Nabisco Famous Chocolate Wafers
• 3/4 cup sugar, divided
• 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
• 2 large eggs (1 separated)
• 1/2 cup chopped bittersweet chocolate
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 5 teaspoons Dutch-processed unsweetened cocoa powder, divided
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Spray 2 mini-muffin trays (12 muffin cups each) with cooking spray. In a food processor, whirl cookies into fine crumbs. Measure; return 1 1/2 cups crumbs to food processor, along with 1/4 cup plus 2 tbsp. sugar, the salt, and 1 egg white. Pulse to blend evenly.

2. Spoon 1 tbsp. crumb mixture into each muffin cup. Press crumbs over bottom and up sides of cups. Bake until set, 15 minutes.

3. Put chocolate and butter in a microwave-safe container and heat in 30-second intervals, stirring often, until melted.

4. In a small bowl, combine 1/4 cup sugar, the cornstarch, and 4 tsp. cocoa. Pour in a few tbsp. of the milk and whisk into a smooth paste; whisk in remaining milk. Transfer to a small saucepan and cook over medium heat until thickened and large bubbles appear, about 3 minutes.

5. Put reserved yolk and remaining egg into a medium bowl. Whisk in about 1/2 cup hot milk mixture. Scrape egg-milk mixture into milk mixture in pan and cook, whisking, until just starting to boil, about 30 seconds. Whisk in melted chocolate and butter.

6. Spoon hot filling into chocolate shells. Press plastic wrap over surface of mini pies to prevent a skin from forming. Chill until set, at least 1 hour and up to 2 days.

7. Remove pies from trays. Whisk cream with remaining 2 tbsp. sugar into soft peaks. Spoon a dollop of cream onto each mini pie. Dust pies with remaining cocoa.

Recipe: Sunset Magazine

Image: Annabelle Breakey

Styling: Karen Shinto

Swanky Deals: West Elm

Bulb Vase $1.97 add a single stem for a chic and modern favor, or group for a centerpiece
Silver Leaf Plates $19.99 for a set of 4

Images West Elm

Halloween Flashback Dessert Table

We are flashing back to Halloween because I received these lovely photos of a Halloween dessert table I designed from the amazing Kate Kelly Photography and I couldn't wait to share. The yummy cupcakes and cookie sandwiches are by Vancouver pastry chef, Kimberly of Truly Scrumptious! Enjoy the flashback!

Images by: Kate Kelly Photography

Baseball Pennant Birthday Party Invites

Here is the invite I gave out last week for my boys Baseball and Pennant Birthday Party. I cheated a bit with the Snow and Graham invite from Luxe Paperie. It was super easy to run through my printer. I just loved the color and design, no reason to do extra work if I don't have to. Right? I'm having so much fun with the color scheme and theme. Can't wait to see it all come together. More photos to follow after the party!

Valentine's Day Dessert Table from Amy Atlas

Another beautiful dessert table from Amy Atlas Events. Love the pink and gray color scheme.
I just love Valentine's Day!

Photography{belathée Photography}
Paper Goods{Wiley Valentine}
Cupcakes and Heart Cookies{Baked Ideas}

Sweet Calling Cards and Notes from Rifle Paper Co.

These custom portrait flat notes and calling cards from Rifle Paper Co. would be a darling gift for your wedding party, special valentine, or a treat for yourself! The portrait is hand-painted in your likeness via a photo or description. I would love to see a custom bride and groom portrait for wedding stationery. Be sure to also check out the sweet valentine's, art prints, and stationery in the Rifle Paper Co. store.