Halloween Sweet Treats

This week I am in charge of making dessert for our Halloween get together! I usually would go straight to cupcakes, but I am working all day therefore I need something that will keep longer, which makes me think lollipops are the better option! I am going to combine a couple of the ideas from these inspiration photos, hopefully they will turn out as cute as these! 

Happy Halloween!

- L -

(photos from country living, southern living, and martha stewart)

Vintage Vogue Covers

These are a few Vogue covers that I love from the 50's and 60's...

A lovely way to start off the week, have a good one!

- L -

Sugarbaby

I totally went against the rule to "never judge a book by its cover" because I bought this book strictly based on the cover! The name Sugarbaby, the cotton candy and macaroons, and the pink, teal, and white colors are what sold me. If you like sugar, you need this book! I did not know you could make cotton candy without a machine and I never thought about making rock candy, but how fun! Sugarbaby is a great resource for cute take away and party gifts. It has recipes from cakes and icing to taffy and candy. There are a few things that you must have for any of these recipes: A candy thermometer, a good pot, a wooden spoon, and SUGAR!

- L -

Flag Your Favors

Labeling or decorating your party treats or beverages are small touches that make quite a statement. This is one of the easiest DIY projects you can do. I would keep with a consistent color story or theme throughout, like the pictures above. Even if it is just some fun straws that you are adding to drinks, it helps create a tone and theme to your party. I got these images from Pinterest as inspiration for my next get together. I might go all out with flags, straws, custom stickers and koozies! I have to point out my favorite old Anthropologie tea cups in the picture below, what a lovely use for them!

- L -

Salted Caramel Cupcakes

The making of Caramel...

One Cup of sugar. Two tablespoons corn syrup. Four tablepoons water.
Boil a couple minutes until light brown...

2/3 cup heavy cream. 3 tablespoons butter. One squeeze of lemon juice, sea salt.  

The making of the frosting...

2 sticks butter. 8 ounce cream cheese.

One cup of caramel. 2 cups confectioners sugar.

MIX

Chocolate Cupcakes

Ina Garten recipe (this one).
I added chocolate pieces for a filling.

I made my first batch of caramel frosting last week and loved it so much I made it for two events! You can never go wrong with Ina Garten's chocolate cake, but I like to add a center to my cupcakes, so I put a pieces of chocolate in the center after about ten minutes of baking and then put them back in the oven to finish cooking. Before I put the heavy cream and butter in the caramel I drizzled some on a piece of aluminum foil, and sure enough it hardened like caramel candy immediately. I used the hard caramel as a topper for the cupcakes. 

These cupcakes got very good reviews, you must try!

- L -

Mirror Mirror on the Furniture....

It is safe to say that I have been obsessed with mirrored furniture. I think it is so elegant and pretty, especially for your bedroom. You can get a piece that is clean and simple, or antiqued. They are more of a delicate piece of furniture with a higher price point. You do not want a chip or crack in one of these, so be careful and buy some Windex! Below are some pieces and the places you can purchase them.

Amelie, Horchow

Mirrored Chest, Overstock

Side Table, West Elm

Mirrored Chest, Pottery Barn

Antiqued Chest, Anthropologie

- L -

(photos via Domino and Google)

Look Out: 2011 Fall Trends

Print on Print.

Block that Color.

Fur, Fur, and more Fur.

60's silhouettes.

Dot.

Take your work clothes to a new level.

Need to know...

Print, Color, Fur, 60's, Dots, and Tux.

These styles are bright, bold, and not here to mess around! The print and fur are no surprises at all, but I am loving the 60's styles, and always love my polka dots. Keep these trends in mind when you are doing your Fall shopping!

- L -

( photos from style.com)