nautical wedding :: rope details

Last fall, I helped style a wedding with a nautical theme. The event was held at the Boston Harbor Hotel, which is located right on and overlooks the Boston harbor. (My thoughts and prayers continue to be with the amazing Bostonian community.) The bride picked a navy and coral color scheme and we incorporated a monkey fist knot graphic thought out the wedding. This graphic became the wedding "logo", if you will. The following are the invitations, seating chart and a few shots of the other wedding elements we designed. 

Rope details have long been a staple of nautical design inspiration and decor. Pottery Barn's new summer collection has some great examples of this.  You can view all of the rope items here. Some of my favorites are below...

Pottery Barn Rope Products

Disclaimer: I was not paid/compensated in any form for writing this post.  Pottery Barn representatives directed me to the products which reminded me of an event I worked on. 

race car party :: invitations

You all know, I love to set the tone of a party with a fun invitation. My oldest daughter recently turned eight. (Hand me a tissue, please.) I'm working on the photos for the party post, but in the meantime, here's the invitation.

After seeing a cake a year ago that was shaped in a figure-eight race track design, my daughter told me that's what she wanted for her 8th birthday cake. We ran with the theme and her party was a race car party. Wanting to do something different, we switched up a typical color scheme of black and red and used her favorite color - Blue.  Needing another color to complete the whole package, she picked orange because it's blue's complimentary counterpart. 

italian / pizza themed desserts

I recently had a dessert order for a little girl's pizza party. I made little pizzas atop cake pops, as well as jello, cups mimicking the Italian flag.

The cake pop "pizzas" were made using a peanut butter candy melt turned upside down and placed on top of the cake pop while the chocolate was still warm. Then, I piped on more white chocolate to look like cheese. For the finishing touch, I scattered red and green sprinkles to look like pepperoni and veggies.

For the jello cups, I used Glorious Treats' rainbow jello cups post for the how-to.  Obviously, the red and green are just regular jello, but the "white" is Cool Whip mixed with some jello to make it solidify. I will add, make sure you get the white to touch all sides of your cup. If not, it will float to the top. Spoken from experience, they don't resemble the Italian flag after that. Oops! 

coffee + dessert party

We were recently invited to a party at a neighbors house - it was unbelievable! For her husbands birthday, my friend Jenni, created a delicious spread and I just had to share it with you all. And yes, I know it was delicious because I tried every. single. item. 

It was an afternoon gathering, so Jenni decided on a coffee + sweets theme. Just look at this invitation she made... that's a coffee filter folks! The actual invite fits into the filter. Perfection. 

All of the tags for the food were attached to their serving pieces using simple clothesline clips. Now get this, she dyed them all red to match her decor. Genius!

For drinks, guests (both old and young) could choose between milk or coffee - both included several options to be your own barista. Everyone made their beverage perfect for their own taste buds.  Strawberry milk? Or how about cream and raw sugar in your coffee? 

Now, please excuse my novice photography skills... Jenni used the same coffee cups (notice the custom labels on each) to create a birthday banner, which was a perfect backdrop for the coffee station. 

click the photo to see the cups better

What a "sweet" party! 

Thanks for inviting us Hopper Family! Great job, Jenni!

easter cake

I was just downloading photos from my daughter's birthday party last weekend and guess what I found!? The cake I made to take with us to friends house for Easter. I'm so out of date! I thought about posting it next year around Easter... yeah, if I don't post it now, I'll definitely forget.  

deviled egg "holder"

With Easter one week from today, the ever popular deviled eggs will be making it's annual appearance in abundance. Yum! I always have a problem serving deviled eggs though. They slip and slide all over the plate (and when they fall, they leave your pastel pallet Easter dress looking a little yuck.) Some people have the luxury of owning one of those fancy platters especially for holding deviled eggs. If you are like me though, don't fret.... here is a solution!

Awhile back we were eating at Blue Smoke in NYC, I snapped a quick picture of how they handle the annoying egg-sliding problem. (I'm sure they don't want their servers dumping deviled eggs on any one's Easter bonnet, now do they!?) While piping in the yolk mixture, you also pipe a dollop on the plate and then place the egg on top. Genius, right?!

pink + gold

Okay, this is not a new trend by any means, but I am currently obsessed. The pink and gold craze has swept me off my feet. The dual juxtaposition of the bold contrast of colors as well as the flat verses metallic contrast is just irresistible. I wanted to share a few of the beauties that have caught my eye lately.

I love the whimsy of the these favor bags. 

(Note to self: buy a gold Sharpie)

via 100 Layer Cake

This do-it-yourself wall art would be perfect in my daughter's room. Time to get out the glitter!

via Southern Bells

Of course, I can't have a post without cake. The elegance and detail of these cakes can be only be from the one and only Erica O'Brien. I'm hoping through our friendship, Erica's skill will rub off on me. 

 via Erica O'Brien Cake Design

Let us not forget the cookies, too. These are gorgeous! 

via Chef Eddy

Last, but certainly not least, my absolute favorite (which actually made me write this post). These dyed eggs are so timely too - Easter is right around the corner!

via Fabulous K