Candied Eggs & Bacon

Recently I saw this post on Celebrations at Home about a breakfast bar. I could have died from the cuteness when I saw the chocolate/pretzel eggs and bacon! If you've been reading my blog you know I already have a soft spot for plays on bacon and eggs. Click here to see what I mean. With that said, I couldn't wait to try my own....check them out!

Of course, I had to do my own spin on it too....

Wouldn't these "green eggs" be awesome for a Dr. Seuss themed party?! Easy and fun to make!

All you need to do is place two pretzel sticks on wax paper, dollop melted white chocolate on top of them, and pop an M&M on top. Let it set for about 30 minutes, or pop in the fridge for 10 minutes, and viola! Bacon and Eggs!

Happy Peas

Check out these happy peas! This was a custom order for a baby shower. She wanted a simple pea pod with happy little peas!


They make me smile.

You Capture: The Letter L

Somehow I ended up a week off, so you're getting a double post today! This You Capture challenge was "Things That Start With The Letter L".
You won't see this for much longer, since the name is changing, but for the last 5.5 years I've worked at the airport, at Lindbergh Terminal. Its changing to "Terminal 1" (lame!) so Lindbergh won't be seen much longer.
Adventures in grocery shopping: Lemons!
Adventures in grocery shopping part II: Limes!! This is actually my favorite of the "Letter L" photos.

You Capture: Warmth

This week's You Capture challenge was "Warmth". I often take photos of my dogs, and this week, its all about them!
Here is Caesar, snuggled in a blanket, resting on my hip. Looks pretty warm to me!

Here is Sookie, looking extremely scruffy with her long hair. She snuggled herself into our comforter.
We randomly got a heatwave, so we took the dogs out for their first "early spring" walk. There were a lot of puddles, so we had two very wet and muddy dogs, but it was totally worth it!

Party Challenge Finale

Back in June, I had come across a blog where a woman was planning 30 parties before her 30th birthday. I was turning 30 in 7 months, so I knew I couldn't do 30 parties. But I could do at least 1 per month. That was the challenge. Last week I posted my final "party challenge party". I have completed my goal, and have to admit, its been a lot of work, but I might be addicted. I've already planned another get together next month, and have at least one or two more ideas in mind that I'm too excited to put off. I really need to make this my full time job or my brain will burst from all of my ideas!!

Anyway, lets recap the last several months....

January 2011: "Age of Aquarius, A Peacock Paradise" for my 30th birthday party. After so many parties I kept it simple, fondue and a few of my favorite desserts. It was still too much food, I haven't mastered that yet.

December 2010: Holiday Party. I used a PVC pipe frame to create a hanging buffet. It looked awesome, but most people didn't notice the cupcakes hanging there, so they were neglected.
November 2010: Parisian Inspired Wine Tasting. This may be my favorite party. The gingerbread eiffel tower was so fun to make. In fact, its February and its still in my living room!
October 2010: Sookie Turns 2! A birthday buffet for my little puppy. We had an assortment of people treats and pup treats!
September 2010: Autumn Harvest Celebration. I had a blast with this party. I adorable autumn, the flavors, smells, colors and the foods. We had a chili feed, mulled wine, and tons of autumn inspired desserts. When it got dark, we huddled around the fire, and made smores. It was a really great night!
August: 4th Anniversary Picinic. David and I celebrated 4 years together at this strawberry inspired backyard picnic. I love picnics, and obviously love strawberries. I might make this a new tradition for our anniversary! Perhaps find new locations every year to set up a little strawberry festival just for us.
July 2010: Baby Culver's Jungle Safari. My best friend Kelly was having her first baby, and I was lucky enough to do the dessert table for her shower. We went with a jungle theme. This was my most popular party, I still get emails on this one asking for details. I loved how it came together, and it was one of the "easier" tables I did.
July 2010: Birthday Brunch. I had my girlfriends over for brunch one morning to celebrate a friend's birthday. I wanted something non-traditional. No pastels or frills, something different and unique, like the birthday girl. So I took butcher block paper and made my own design for the table. I also tried Maple Bacon Cupcakes, which were deeeeelicious!!
June 2010: A Buffet Fit For An RN. Kelly graduated from college and was officially an RN! We had to celebrate! We chose a red and white theme, and used her nursing books as displays on the table. I think my favorite foods from this party were the cheesecake stuffed strawberries and the strawberry shortbread sandwich cookies.
June 2010: Enter Eden. My first party challenge party. I had just planted tons of plants around my garden and wanted to celebrate what would become my own private garden of eden. I tried macarons for the first time and was surprisingly successful at making them. We also had a fun bellini bar which I called "berries and bubbly".

This challenge has been a lot of work, a lot of time and money, and I faced a lot of challenges. However I have learned a lot, and have not grown tired of it. My planning strategies have evolved, I still have plenty to learn, but I've really enjoyed this. Thank you for reading along and checking out all of my projects!
There might not be one every month, but there is plenty more where these came from!

Age of Aquarius: A Peacock Paradise

Today I share with you my final "party challenge party". I put together one last monthly soiree for my 30th birthday party. I am an Aquarius, I am crafty, and eclectic. I put together a party that reflected elements I wanted to try...such as origami lotus flowers....elements of things I love...peacock feathers...and a simple get together for my girlfriends....fondue. Here is what I came up with....


I put together a simple buffet with a few of my personal favorite desserts and delicious foods for fondue dipping!
Of my favorite desserts I included grapefruit cake, red wine truffles, and chocolate cake with swiss meringue buttercream.
I made a few cupcakes to look like peacocks. The peacock feathers are actually edible! (Source)

Another "2011 cake I wanted to try" was this ruffle cake. I saw it here and fell in love. I absolutely love the fluffy ruffles!
I also incorporated my PVC pipe frame to suspend mason jars and other fun decor over our fondue table.
I used clear holiday ornaments filled with glitter as hanging vases. I used silk flowers and peacock feathers to fill them.
I recently learned how to fold origami lotuses so I created a unique one for each guest's place setting.
Another one of my favorite details is that I used the glitter filled ornament vases as table display. I set the ornaments on top of cordial glasses to create a unique floral display.
Friends came to my home, we had fondue, wine, and desserts. It was a great way to celebrate turning 30!

Our Valentine's Table

As it turns out, my boyfriend David is a very lucky man. For Valentine's Day he got to eat a delicious home cooked meal by the the best looking chef in town at the most romantic table in the city!

This is the romantic set up I had planned for us! Lovely isn't it?

This is my favorite photo. My favorite feature is my heart wall display. I painstakingly cut 140 hearts out of paint chip samples!

I picked up these adorable heart plates at Target for $2 a piece!
Valentine's Day isn't complete without a variety of sweets. These are my Red Wine Chocolate Truffles in a variety of styles.
Pin It

On my 2011 baking goals list was to create this rose cake that I originally saw in white over at The Tomkat Studio. I am absolutely swooning at the end result of this! If I'm going to toot my own horn, I'm toot toot tooting it about this cake! I am so proud of how it turned out! I am normally not very good at buttercream. I primarily work with fondant, so this was an accomplishment for me.

Our menu consisted of a delicious lemon chicken, steamed asparagus, and David's favorite pan fried potatoes (which I cut into hearts!). I served it with a bottle of Seyval from a nearby winery, St Croix Vineyards, that we visited last summer. It was a spectacular evening!

You Capture: Cold

I am a little behind this week on my You Capture post, so today is a double post kind of day!
This week's challenge was "Cold". I was all about these cold photos until suddenly we got a heatwave!

I took this photo of icicles on my house in the morning. It warmed up that day, and by the afternoon they were gone!
Needless to say it was a busy, warm week so only one photo for this subject! I am okay with that though because spring fever is kicking it now!

Valentine's Cookies

Happy Valentine's Day!
This is a small collection of cookies I made for David and I to share during our V-day dinner.
Later this week I'll post pics of our dinner. Until then, cookies!




Hope you have a wonderful, love and bliss filled Valentine's Day!

Cupid Kit

For all of you procrastinators and out there, this Valentine's Day idea is for you!
The Cupid Kit!
Find yourself a simple box. This one is a Macy's box left over from the holidays.

Fill with simple romantic goodies...

Supplies:
1. Bottle of Wine (or your beverage of choice...don't forget a corkscrew!)
2. Two tea light candles (don't forget the lighter or matches)
3. Two glasses (These are Dollar Spot finds, and plastic so no worrying about breakage!)
4. Two candy bars to share (I can't wait to try mine, one is Dark Chocolate with Chili Spices and the other is Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt!)
5. Silk rose petals (another Dollar Spot find!)
6. A blanket

I found this great clip art for candy bar wrappers on Martha Stewart. I also altered it slightly to make a matching wine bottle label.

Spread a blanket on the floor, sprinkle with petals, light the candles, have some wine and enjoy your chocolate selections. If you're lucky enough to live in a state that is warm in February, follow these tips...outside, under the stars!
Happy Valentine's Day!

What A Deer

In addition to baking, party planning, and all of the other hobbies that occupy my time, I am also a scrapbooker. I read lots of scrap inspiration blogs, cruise scrapbooking galleries and save inspiration from all over. Awhile back I found this image on a crafted card. I have no idea where I got it from, so if you know, please shoot me an email.(Update: Source found, see it here.) I decided to turn this image into an adorable pair of cookies!
Aren't they just a-deer-able?!

I just want to pinch them! Cute!