Stylish Portfolio

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Stylish Treat: Sweet Mini Pies

On Sunday, we had a fabulous Sunday Supper with two great families......six adults and nine kids!  Yes, oh my!  But what fun.........and everyone got along beautifully.  The kids were awesome despite not having seen one family since last summer!  They all picked up where they left off and the two youngest (a boy and a girl) who are 4 and almost 4,  played like they had been best buds forever.  So sweet!  Love that about children.  Ok, I digress. Back to Sunday Supper....on the menu garlic and roasted rosemary chicken, homemade mashed potatoes, haricot verts and for dessert: mini pies and a devil's food cake! The desserts were a BIG hit!  The 24 mini pies were completely gone!  I thought a dessert like that deserves to be shared and so easy to boot!

Here's what you need:
Here's what you need......
Yes, people...I took some short-cuts!  The Berry Pie Filling is from Williams-Sonoma.  I had been dying to try it and this was the perfect opportunity; cookie sheet lined with parchment paper; pie dough from the refrigerated section of your grocery store, cookie cutters (what ever shape rocks your fancy!), the small bowl is a mix of sugar and cinnamon, the other bowl is on beaten egg.

My girls cut out the dough shapes and I filled :
you can tell they ripped a few but over all did a great job!
we also made heart shaped ones

add a small spoonful of berry filling


oops, forgot to mention you need a lollipop stick to make the edges...just press down
look like this when done!

brush on the egg

sprinkle on the sugar and cinnamon mix

Bake at 350 degrees for 18 minutes (depending on your oven)...and they look like this!

I served this with vanilla bean ice cream and I planned on styling everything together for a picture, but no such luck!  I guess I should be happy everyone liked it so much.  Hope you do too!
Oh, and here's the devil's food cake....
it is covered in a chocolate ganache glaze with pink sugar pearls.....






Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Spectacular Cake Pop Stands!

So I can't remember how I stumbled upon Robert Edward Woodworking, but I do know that my jaw dropped when I saw these pics!  How genius!  I have been trying to figure out a way to display my cake pops and I need look no more.

These are custom designed and handmade cake pop stands made by this amazingly talented woodworker!  Check out his Facebook page for more pics of his stands!  He also makes cake and cupcake stands and will even makes custom designs based on your event theme!

There is one of these in my near future!




Friday, February 18, 2011

Cool Boys Birthday Party Themes!

Everyone is always asking me for ideas for boys birthday parties!  So today, my post is dedicated to all things boys parties.  The talented Kim of The TomKat Studio  styled four different boy party themes for HGTV's website and I had to share them with you!

The four party themes were Circus Candy:




Vintage Cowboy



Golf




and Pirate!




Head over to HGTV's website for all the details!!!  If you do use any of these themes, let me know.  I'd be thrilled to post your party pics on my blog!

Happy partying!

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Candy Never Looked So Good!

via House Beautiful

Dylan's Candy Bar.....need I say more? If you've never been there it's well worth the trip to NYC.  Not responsible for the sugar high :)!   

This was the color infused and candy filled tabletop owner Dylan Lauren, yes, Ralph Lauren's daughter, designed for the NYC Tabletop Show.  It was also featured in House Beautiful.  Candy never looked so good, or so elegant!

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

BHLDN is here!!!!!

The much anticipated BHLDN is here!!!!  What is BHLDN ,you ask?  It's the bridal offspring of one of my favorite stores, Anthopologie!  Seriously, I need to get married again!  Ok, I'll settle for renewing my vows in one of these gown.  My poor husband...I can just see him rolling his eyes!  These dresses are stunning, modern vintage elegance at it's best!

Check out more on their site!



I could use one of these hair adornments as well!  


How could I forget the shoes!!!!


Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Dessert Table Tips From My Sweet and Saucy!


Had to share this!  For all my fellow dessert table stylist or if you just want to attempt your own dessert tables.......Melody of My Sweet and Saucy Shop is sharing some dessert buffet tips on Ruffled.  I think she really is the queen of desserts and her dessert tables are just spectacular.  Every time I look at her desserts, I just start to drool!  Here a few of them, then head over to Ruffled to see what she shares!

love that pink ruffled caked!



Monday, February 14, 2011

Madly Stylish Party: Glam 1st Birthday!


Happy Valentine's Day!  We are starting the week with a lovely party feature!  A few weeks ago,  I helped a client, my sweet cousin,  plan a very special birthday party.....her daughter's first birthday!!!!   It was truly a joint effort as she lives in Miami and I am in Maryland.   I ordered everything we needed and mailed them to her.  Fabulous invites from Icing Deigns set the tone of what was to come.


She wanted a fun party with a little bling and lots of pink.  I think we achieved that!  See for yourself!

I worked with Cupcakes Nouveau in Miami to order the cupcakes for the party.  They were great!  If you live in the area, go have one of their cupcakes!  They also provided the stand that you see.  The flowers were bought at the Miami Flower Market and we assembled them together via Skype.  My client took pictures of all the vessels she had and emailed them to me.  I sketched out the table design and on the day of the party helped her set-up the table, again through Skype. The wonders of modern technology!

 I love how those white chocolate letters came out.  Sweeties by Kim never disappoints.  The birthday girl's name is Vivienne but they call her Vivi.  The chocolate letters were adorned with mini flowers in light pink and hot pink.  Those chocolate covered Oreos with the number 1 and the hot print zebra strips are also by Kim.

I think she did a great job with the flowers!

Cupcakes by Cupcakes Nouveau...love how they use mini marshmallows to anchor their cupcakes!


I wish you could see these photo flags! The picture does not do it justice.  Can you see how the edge of the blanket sparkles! We used these photo flags to highlight Vivi's first year.




Pink peppermint marshmallows



sweet treats for the guest..


The treat bag were covered with sparkly silver alphabet letters and pink and purple sparkles....they were filled with pink M&Ms.


Vivi' smash cake...too pretty to smash, I think...her grandma made it!

The birthday girl's high chaired was draped with 2 hot pink boas and sparkly "kid-proof" necklaces.  I think she had a great time ;)!!
the birthday girl!  how cute is she.......

Vendors:

Cupcakes Nouveau:  cupcakes, cupcake stand
Sweeties by Kim: chocolate letters, chocolate covered oreo cookies
Icing Designs: invitations, frosted photo flags
Have It Sweet:  caramels, pink peppermint marshmallows
My Silly Bear: pink poms