DIY Cupcakes

So I'm sure you've all seen the incredible cupcake pictures all over the web of the Pac man, Mario Brothers, TV Dinners, and other amazing cupcakes. But most of us, (me included!) don't have the time, talent, or patience to create these cupcake masterpieces. For this post I wanted to show some super cute, and also amazing cupcakes that are actually fairly easy to make and won't take up your whole day in the kitchen!
Cookie Monster Cupcake, Owl Cupcake, Tie Dye Cupcake, Apple Cupcake, Thing 1 & 2 Cupcake, Rose Cupcake, Fast Food Cupcake, Pansy Cupcake, Popcorn Cupcake, Disco Ball Cupcake

Happy Baking!

Let the Games Begin!

Once again the time has come for the Winter Olympic games. This year they are taking place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and run from Friday, February 12th - 28th. Host either an opening or closing ceremony party with some special Canadian touches, to celebrate some of the world's best athletes!

1). Invitations:

There are some great ideas for Olympic party invitations, whether you want to make them yourself or purchase them all ready to mail. Party 411 has some super cute Ticket Invitations. You can choose your color and personalize them however you want. Guests will receive their very own ticket to your Olympic Games party.Another idea is one that you can make yourself. They are cute DIY Lanyard Invitations, courtesy of Welcome Home with Kelley Moore on MSN lifestyle.



There are also these super cute, Canadian inspired Go Canada Olympic Moose Cards, from Vintage Paper Parade on esty.




2). The Menu:

Since this years games are taking place in Canada, why not theme your dinner around some Canadian favorites? Think fresh fish, wild game, and anything maple flavored. This menu
from Lauren DeBellis from Celebrations.com brings together all of the classic Canadian tastes in one meal, that your guests will love.


Dress up a simple sandwich with international flair! Thanks to this idea from Food Network Magazine.




And of course, you can't forget the classic recipe for Poutine! A french Canadian classic of fries, sauce, and melted cheese. This Poutine Recipe comes from allrecipes.com

For dessert, try these Baked Vancouvers, from Food Network.




3). The Bar:

These three drink recipe's are inspired by the medals of the Olympic games. The Gold, Silver, and Bronze cocktails from Cocktail Times.


Gold Cocktail:

- 2 1/2 oz Stolichnaya elit vodka
- 1 1/2 oz Malibu Coconut Rum
- 1 tsp shredded coconut
- Garnish: Coconut flakes
- Edible gold powder (available at bakery/cake decorating outlets)

Coat bottom of martini glass with gold powder. Combine remaining ingredients into a shaker with ice and strain into gold-coated martini glass. The gold powder should float to the top. Sprinkle extra powder to deepen color. Garnish with coconut flakes.

Silver Cocktail:

- 2 oz Malibu Rum
- 2 oz Cupuacu puree
- Splash of fresh lime juice
- Edible silver powder (available at bakery/cake decorating outlets)
- Garnish: Lime wedge

Coat bottom of martini glass with silver powder. Combine remaining ingredients into a shaker with ice and strain into silver-coated martini glass. The silver powder should float to the top. Sprinkle extra powder to deepen color. Garnish with lime wedge.

Bronze Cocktail:

- 1 1/2 oz Kahlua
- 2 oz Monte Cristo 12-year
- 1/2 oz Grand Marnier
- Edible bronze powder (available at bakery/cake decorating outlets)
- Garnish: Coffee beans

Coat bottom of martini glass with bronze powder. Combine remaining ingredients into a shaker with ice and strain into bronze-coated martini glass. Sprinkle extra powder to deepen color. The bronze powder should float to the top. Garnish with coffee beans.

And why not have your own Luge at home? An ice luge, that is. This fun one is available at Amazon.com



For more information regarding this year's Olympic games head over to the Official Website.

Bedazzled

I love this idea to add a sparkling touch to an already gorgeous rose bouquet. This idea is not only great for Valentines Day, but also for Birthdays, Anniversarys, it would even be elegant as wedding centerpieces. You can cover the entire flower with a shimmering glitter or just outline the edges. Either way, they will be impressive (and easy!).

You Will Need:

3 oz. plastic spray bottle
Craft glue with applicator tip
Roses
Glitter (Choose a color that closely
matches the color of the flower for a
sophisticated look)
Plastic Spoon

How-To:

Work on a protected surface, and place glitter in a baking cup for ready access. After glittering, stand stems in a vase of water to let glue dry before arranging.






























To Coat Entire Rose:

Fill spray bottle with water, and add 4-5 squirts of
glue. Shake to combine.
Working with 1 rose at a time, hold bottle 8
inches from top of flower, and
spritz 3 or 4 times with water/glue mixture to coat.
Using spoon, sprinkle glitter over rose.
Gently shake off excess, and let dry.

To Coat Petal Edges:

Run a line of glue around top of 4 petals,
avoid undersides.
Using Spoon, sprinkle glitter over rose.
Gently shake off excess, and let dry.
Repeat to cover all petal edges, leaving
center petals uncoated.


Wrapping Your Roses:

To wrap your glitter roses, simply use cellophane. Begin by laying down 2 strips of cellophane to make a cross shape. Add more strips of cellophane to create an asterisk, or star shape. Slide you hands underneath all the layers of cellophane, and bring them up toward the sides of your bouquet. Finish by securing the cellophane along the sides of your roses with a wide, long ribbon.





Photos and Idea from Martha Stewart Living

1,2,3

Here are some significant party related numbers to make sure your party doesn't fall flat.

• Plan on 2-3 actual glasses per person at a cocktail party. People will drink, then put their glass down and take a new one.

• Assume that only 30% of guests will RSVP.

• 60 minutes is the amount of time between when a party starts and when dinner should be served.

• 20 minutes are the number of minutes that should pass between when dinner is finished and when dessert is served.

• Forget the ice cube trays. But at least 3 bags of ice instead.

• 50 degrees is the temperature at which outdoor entertaining must cease and switch to an indoor venue.
  

• $5.30 is the average cost of a custom printed invitation.

• Most party hosts believe that the best party time is between 7 pm and 11 pm.

• If you offer coffee or tea, 80% of your guests will accept.
  

• There should be around 20 songs played per hour of party.

• 45% of hosts shell out at least $100 when throwing a dinner party.

• 67% is the average invitation acceptance rate.
  

• Food can sit out for 4 hours. Food's danger zone is between 40 and 140 degrees, (cold or frozen food should be kept below 40 degrees and hot food should be kept above 140 degrees) but you can be in the danger zone for 4 hours before bacteria becomes a concern. If your party is going to last longer, plan accordingly.

• 12 pm is the time at which brunch becomes lunch.

• You can seat 9 comfortably at a table built for 8 by having a separate side table or card table for the food and wine to ensure that the main table isn't cluttered with serving dishes.

• Hire a professional bar tender if you are planning to have 40 or more guests. This expedites service and ensures that all your guests receive their drinks in a timely manner.
  

Party tips and ideas are from Everyday with Rachael Ray Magazine.

Let Them Eat.......?

At most weddings it is traditional for the couple to have a beautiful wedding cake on display for their guests to admire and then to eat! But for those couples who want to opt out of tradition, here are some fun, and some rather funny ideas for a few non-traditional options. And there is no cake in sight!




Tiramisu Cake, Cheese Cake, Ice Cream Cone Cake, Macaroon Cake, Hostess Cake, Chocolate Truffle Cake, Rice Krispie Treat Cake, Fruit Cake, Jello Shooter Cake, Cannoli Tree Cake, Domino's Pizza Cake, Croquembouch Cake

Wish Upon A Star...

In our current day and age weddings are unique and as individual as the bride and groom themselves. Couples are looking for ideas that will set them apart from all of the other weddings their guests will be attending. They want to stand out (and who wouldn't!). One of the ideas, that I love, is taking the place of the traditional guest book. It is a way for the guests to leave a message or a wish, for the happy couple without having to write it down in a guest book, that the couple will probably never open again after their wedding day.









This cute idea comes from Hitched. This is a "Make A Wish", "Take A Wish" jar. The guests at the wedding write down a wish, or a thought for the couple and put it into the first jar, then take a wish from the second jar of wishes, that the wedding couple have written for the guests. You could also fill the "Take a Wish" jar with fortune cookies. So cute.











The next idea is from Here Comes The Guide. It is a Wish Tree. A Wish Tree is a Dutch wedding custom where the wedding guests are given a piece of paper where they write a wish for the couple. They then place it on the tree. When the tree becomes more and more filled it becomes a beautiful centerpiece!













This Wish Bowl is a similar idea. Guests are given Wish tickets to write their wishes and thoughts for the couple. The couple can then create a scrapbook with all of the tickets, or even have them framed.










I also love this idea from Pop Culture Casualty. These wishbones are spray painted the specific wedding colors, placed in these super cute wish bags, and handed out as wedding favors. You could even make them yourself by purchasing the wishbones in bulk, and stamping the little bags yourself. Adorable!

Fresh from the Garden

I recently came across the store for Paper Platypus on Etsy. They make adorable paper flowers and flower bouquets that could be used for so many different venues from placecards, to centerpieces, even to super cute gift wrapping touches. You can purchase pre-assembled kits or even customize kits to fit your specific color needs. Cute, affordable, and unique! Love it!

Dear Mr. Postman

As a good hostess, remembering birthdays, anniversaries, baby showers, holidays, and all of life's other events takes great planning and a good memory. So when I found this website I was very excited to find out that they take care of all of the details for you! And you don't have to remember a thing! It's called Jack Cards, a website that makes sure you never forget to send anyone a card. You log on, add all of your important dates for family and friends, then you select which cards you would like, online, for each of those events. Jack Cards mails them to you, already addressed, and stamped, and ready to sign. Just in time for you to put it right in the mail! It saves you the time and stress and makes it easy to send a personal touch. Especially in this technological era, it's still nice to get something in your mailbox!

Touchdown!

The Superbowl is just around the corner on February 7, 2010. You still have time to throw together a great party that will impress your guests and won't break the bank! Whether you watch the actual game or are just there for the snacks and commercials, these are some cute and easy ways to make your big bash a game day winner!


1). Beer Candles available at Shindigz for $3.99
2). Printable Tablescape from paperandcake on Etsy, Set includes all printable's for the tablescape for $8.00
3). Etch-It Party Cups from Shindigz, pack of 32 for $10.99
4). Super cute table ideas from Real Simple. I love the Astro turf coasters!
5). Football Party Garland from Shindigz, $4.00
6). Referee Drink Holders from Party Supplies Hut, $1.64 each
7). Football Dipping Dish from Party Supplies Hut, $10.29
8). Learn how to make these easy Football Field Cupcakes from Disney Family Fun
9). Use this Astro Turf Mat, available at Shindigz for $41.59, as a cute table cover or get some from your local home improvement store. Use white tape to make field lines too!
10). Let the guests get into the game with these Yellow Penalty Flags, available from Party Supplies Hut, $1.89 each, Red Challenge Flags are also available.



Also if you need some game day snack ideas, Food Network has created Custom Potato Skins for all of your favorite teams!

And don't stop there. My M&M's have created custom blends of M&M's in your favorite team's colors and logos, 7 0z. bag for $10.99



Stop by the Official Superbowl Page for Superbowl History, Trivia, and lots more.

And if you want to learn more about the game before kickoff head over to About.com's Football Glossary.


Whether your team wins or loses your party will be a touchdown with these special touches!

Delish

With the winter days not looking like they are going anywhere soon why not combat the chill in the air with a nice warm cup of hot chocolate.....or better yet, these adorable and absolutely delicious Hot Chocolate and Marshmallow cupcakes!

You Will Need:

8 ounces dark chocolate
1 cup or 2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
4 eggs
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup mini-chocolate chips or grated chocolate
Marshmallows, or mini-marshmallows for decoration

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt chocolate and butter in a double boiler or microwave until just melted (do not cook). Set aside until just warm.
2. Cream the eggs and sugar together until light and foamy. Add flour, salt and then mix. Pour in the chocolate mixture and beat until batter is smooth.
3. Spoon batter into 12 cupcake liners. Sprinkle a teaspoon of mini-chocolate chips or the grated chocolate over each cupcake and bake for 15 minutes. Remove cupcakes from oven. They will be very moist inside.
4. Place a marshmallow or several mini-marshmallows on each cupcake. Put cupcakes under broiler for a few seconds until marshmallows start to brown. This will take only a second so be very careful. Remove from oven and wait about 5 minutes before eating since the marshmallows will be very hot. These cupcakes are best eaten while still slightly warm to get the full effect!
   

Makes 12 cupcakes

Recipe and picture from Cupcakes Galore by: Gail Wagman

Picture Perfect

I am obsessed with these customized Jones Soda Bottles! They could be used for any event or any theme. The possibilities are endless! You upload your own image and they print out your labels for you. They are available in 8 flavors and come in either a 6 or 12 pack. ($16.99-29.99) They would be so cute for a baby shower (especially since the guest of honor can't drink any alcohol!) Match the drinks to the baby's sex, in either the Berry Lemonade flavor, which is a pale blue color, or the Sugar-free Black Cherry, a pale red/pink. Great for wedding favors, Halloween parties, graduations, etc. They also have an idea gallery with pictures that other people have posted. Check out the website! http://www.myjones.com/

If you don't want to buy the bottles already made, pixelperfectboutique on Etsy has an equivalent of the Jones label that you can buy, print out yourself, and attach to your own beverages. It is a PDF file so you can print out as many as you need, there's no limit! All for $20.
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=38039203

Such a great idea for adding your own personal touch to your events!

Welcome!

I would say that I first became interested in event planning, almost 6 years ago, after doing all of the planning for my own wedding. I fell in love with the whole process and had so many more ideas and plans to create bigger, and more elaborate events. When I plan an event I eat, sleep, and breathe it. I like to make everything stand out, even down to the tiniest of details, regardless if the event is a small, intimate dinner party, or an outrageous, themed extravaganza. There is nothing better than having a guest walk away from an event, that I have planned, talking about how great it was and how much fun they had. After all, they are the people I am there to entertain! I love to keep my guests guessing to see what I will come up with next. I decided to create this blog to bring fun, new ideas, tips, and my inspirations to the event planning world. I hope you enjoy!