8.31.2011

Outdoor Movie Night

I can't believe we are already here at the end of August today. This summer has just flown by! I spotted this fantastic party over on Icing Designs and thought it would be a perfect idea to help ring in the fall. I think cuddling up outside to watch a movie is a great idea!
This outdoor movie party comes to you courtesy of Design Sponge. I love the cozy feel of the space and the popcorn bar with a seasoning station is a cute touch. Super fun and easy to throw together...so you have no excuses! Invite some friends, family, or even your neighbors over to sit under the stars with you this weekend!








8.29.2011

I Spy Wedding Conversation Starter


I spotted this adorable idea over on Martha Stewart Weddings. This I Spy game is a clever way to get your wedding guests mingling, especially if they don't know many people at the same table, and is a fun addition to your reception! They are really easy to create too! Simply print out the PDF onto white card stock and cut out. You can even some add embellishments or round the edges with a cute punch. The possibilities are endless. Head over to Martha Stewart Weddings for all of the info!


8.23.2011

Brick Succulent Planter


I spotted this cool little craft idea over on ReadyMade and thought it would be a fabulous accent piece on an outdoor table for an evening dinner party or even cute little touches added to an urban wedding ceremony or reception. The bricks are durable and very eco-friendly. I also love the pop of color from the succulents, but you could also easily add a few more candles to make it a glowing centerpiece too. Find all of the directions here.

8.22.2011

Summer Melon Cocktail Recipe


This past weekend was a scorcher here in Utah and I wish I would have had this recipe lying around to enjoy while relaxing out on the deck. Oh well, there's always tonight! This cocktail is perfect to serve throughout the Summer months when ripe melon is readily available and fresh. All I can say is...Delish!


Melon Melody

Punch bowl and glasses
4 cups pineapple juice
2 cups vodka
3/4 cup Midori (melon liqueur)
1/2 cup cream of coconut
1/2 cup fresh lime juice
1/2 small cantaloupe, chilled
1/4 small honeydew melon, chilled
1-inch-thick slice of small seedless watermelon, chilled
4 cups crushed ice

Mix all of the liquid ingredients in the punch bowl.
Cut the melons into 1/2-inch balls using the smaller end of a melon baler. Thread the melon balls in combinations onto 8 large cocktail picks or small skewers. If you have more melon than you need, cut additional balls and float them in the punch for added color.
Add the crushed ice to the punch.
Garnish individual glasses with the melon ball swizzles and serve immediately.



Recipe and photo from Marios Bar



8.18.2011

Printable Picnic Tags


With Fall just around the corner, I'm trying to squeeze out every last possible second left of the Summer. Why not plan a fab outdoor picnic while the sun is still high and the temperature is still warm?! These adorable picnic tags from Eat Drink Chic are a perfection addition to your picnic basket! And lucky for us, they are free downloads! Get yours here.

8.15.2011

Cake Pop Display

How clever is this amazing cake pop display? Found via Sweet Tooth: Dessert Meets Design, this little beauty is gorgeous and yet simple. The chalkboard sign adds such a cute touch to let guests choose their favorite cake pop flavor, and the pre-drilled holes in the wooden tiers keep the pops standing in style. I especially love the different heights of the pops to add a little dimension! This display could even replace a traditional wedding cake! So pretty!

8.12.2011

Grapefruit Cupcakes

I don't know about you guys...but I love grapefruit! I think one of the reasons I like it so much, is because I feel like I am being healthy when I eat them (even though I tend to top mine with about a pound of sugar!) So what better way to get your sweet grapefruit fix, than a cupcake?! I especially love the use of the candied peel on top! Can't wait to try these babies! Yum!


Grapefruit Cupcakes:

1 1/2 cups white flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1 cup white sugar
3 tsp grated grapefruit zest (approximately one large grapefruit)
1 cup plain whole-milk yogurt (I used nonfat)
4 eggs
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup vegetable oil

Preheat the oven to 350F. Line a muffin tin with liners and set aside.

Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt into a medium-sized bowl. In another bowl, combine 1 cup of sugar and zest, rubbing between your fingers until moistened and fragrant. Whisk in the yogurt, eggs, and vanilla. Slowly whisk the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. With a spatula, fold the vegetable oil into the batter until incorporated. Pour the batter into the prepared muffin pan and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool completely before frosting.

Grapefruit Curd:

8 large eggs yolks
1/2 cup freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
finely grated zest of 1 ruby red grapefruit
1 cup white sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 sticks unsalted butter, cold, cut into pieces
*For frosting: 1 cup whipping cream, 1 tsp vanilla, 1/2 cup powdered sugar

Method:
Combine egg yolks, grapefruit juice, lemon juice, half of the zest, and sugar in a saucepan; whisk to combine. Cook over med-high heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon until the mixture is thick enough to coat the back of the spoon, about 10 minutes.

Turn heat down to low. Add salt. Begin adding the butter, piece by piece, stirring constantly. Once you have added in all the butter (and the mixture is thick and beautiful), remove from heat. Strain through a fine sieve into a bowl. Stir in the remaining zest. Cover with plastic wrap, pressing it directly onto the surface of the curd to prevent a skin from forming. Refrigerate until chilled and set.

To make the frosting, start by whipping the cream, vanilla and confectioners sugar until you have stiff whipping cream (be careful not to over whip!). Combine equal parts whipping cream with grapefruit curd, and gently fold together with a spatula. Spread atop cupcakes!

Candied Grapefruit Peels:

Ingredients:
1 Large Ruby Red Grapefruit
Water
Sugar

With a vegetable peeler, peel off thin strips of the grapefruit rind. Use a small pairing knife to cut strips into thin strips. Meanwhile, bring 1 part water to 1 part sugar to boil in a small saucepan (I used 1 cup of each).

Add grapefruit peels and boil over med heat for 30-45 minutes. Strain, reserving liquid (which is now a grapefruit infused simple syrup, which you can use for all sorts of delicious things.)

Pour about 1 cup white sugar in a bowl. Toss candied peels in sugar, then spread peels out on foil or wax paper to cool and air dry. These are best after a few hours of drying time. I made them the night before I used them for my cupcakes!

To assemble the cupcakes…simply frost cupcakes with the whipped grapefruit frosting. Top with a dollop of grapefruit curd and a couple pieces of candied grapefruit curd. And, of course – enjoy!

*Recipe and photos from rosemarried*

8.10.2011

Whale Themed Birthday



You might have stumbled upon a few of these pictures yesterday if you had been visiting a little site know as Amy Atlas. Yep, that's right...we were featured on her site yesterday! (Eeek, pinch me!) And now I get to share some more fun pics and details with you guys!

This shoot was for a little boy's 4th birthday party. I wanted to have a theme that worked well for summer yet still had a strong boy feeling so I decided upon a "Whale of a Tale" themed birthday with a bright green and navy blue color palette.

I styled a dessert table featuring mini blueberry pies, caramel squares, rock candy, dipped marshmallows, custom sugar cookies, cake truffles, chocolate covered apples (I find caramel too sticky for little kids!), chocolate dipped oreo's, and a custom plaid birthday cake, with blue and green layers nestled inside. To create the backdrop for the dessert table I used netting and paper pinwheels to add a cute whimsical touch.

For lunch, I created a fun under the sea themed plate with peanut butter and jelly whale shaped sandwich cut-outs, blueberry air bubbles, and macaroni and cheese sand. How fun!

Fun beach themed tables, with blue and white striped beach towels used as the table linens and mini green beach umbrellas dotted the lawn area. Under the sea themed flower arrangements nestled in sand with blue marble "shells", dotted blue plates, and mini blue cups covered the tables. I also created whale shaped napkins at each setting. Instead of using chairs I wanted to do something different so I used bright green pillows on the lawn as a fun, and comfy alternative for the little party guests.

The invitation was nestled in a bright blue box, tied with green and blue polka dotted ribbon. The invite, once opened, revealed a fun "sand box" with a few sea shells.

Such a fun shoot and playing with our adorable little model Treyce wasn't a bad way to spend our day either!

Custom Cake by Whipped Cakes
Sugar Cookies by Not Betty Cookies
Caramel Squares by V Chocolates
Oreo's by Sweeties by Kim
Flowers by Dahlias
Photography by Howie Oren Photography
Printables by Leslie Marie Designs

8.08.2011

DIY Birth Announcements

Looking for a birth announcement to announce your new little bundle of joy to the world? These adorable DIY Polaroid camera announcements are so creative and fun! The genius idea comes from Camie at Fresh Baked Paper Goods. And she was kind enough to teach us all how to do them ourselves too! Head over here for the step-by-step instructions. Too cute!



8.05.2011

Lavender Field Groomals

Today I wanted to share a GORGEOUS groomal shoot with you guys! I promise, you will be swooning after this! These amazing photos were taken by the ever so talented Alixann Loosle Photography, (Make sure to check out Alixann's other photo's! She is so talented!) and the stunning couple are some very fabulous clients of mine. These images just make me want to be swept away to a lavender field far, far away. So romantic!