Last weekend, I had the pleasure of co-hosting my sister-in-law’s surprise 60th birthday party with her husband – my brother, on his behalf, along with their son and his wife. What was unique about the planning of this party, was the first step of the planning process had to take place while my brother and his wife were in Australia visiting their daughter. My nephew and his wife who live in Seattle, had a great idea to find a home… [Read More]
I love to wrap gifts. I always have. Part of the fun for me is finding inspiration in the gift choice, the colors, paper and in ribbon. Having an excuse to shop for paper and ribbon is like buying a new pair of party shoes. I get giddy! The inspiration for this “wedding cake wrap”, as my friend called it, since she thought it looked like a tiered wedding cake, began with the bride’s registry. I noticed… [Read More]
These cookies have been cordially invited to Diana’s bridal shower. The bride loves fresh flowers and natural accents in sage green and soft yellow. Romantic touches on the leaves. Soft yellow edible glitter was sprinkled on the petals while the icing was wet and white pearlized powder was brushed on the entire cookie after the icing had dried. In keeping with Diana’s concern and love for the environment, I chose plantable paper to make the bride and groom tags. Wild… [Read More]
If you read my Facebook page you’d know I’ve had 2 days notice that my boys were coming home for their spring breaks! Joy and panic! With no time for a new post with photos, etc., I’m re-posting these cute bunny marshmallow pops from 2011 for one big, wonderful reason – I found all the marshmallows this week at my local chain grocery stores!! The jumbo marshmallows are in Safeway and the curly marshmallows are at Ralphs so now all… [Read More]
Surfs Up! I’ve been a busy bikini designer lately. In fact I made over 100 Bikini Tushie Cookies for my son’s fraternity’s fund raiser. The event was a friendly Best Dance Crew competition between the college’s sororities to benefit the local Big Brothers and Big Sisters organization. These girls sure knew how to twerk with all the other hip hop moves on the stage. And these ladies had the moves! Don’t know what twerking is? You’ve seen it but you… [Read More]
While I was making Meringue Heart Cookies for a recent post, I thought how cute they would be sandwiched with white chocolate ganache or white candy coating, dipped in colorful sprinkles and placed on a red and white striped straw, so I gave it a try. Won’t they be fun to attach to Valentines? If you’ve made the meringue hearts you only need a few more things to transform them into pops. If you’re using *white chocolate ganache: 1. Heavy… [Read More]
If you’ve been following the progression of birthday planning posts I’ve written, you’d know this past weekend was the big “Jeanapalooza Birthday Extravaganza” for my mother-in-law’s ninetieth birthday hosted at our home. Balloons and birthday pennants greeted the birthday girl and forty-three guests as they walked through the front door. The buffet held the birthday cake and party favors of custom m&m’s, foil wrapped peppermint patties and cookies. There is a cake store that only makes Bundt cakes, if you… [Read More]
What is a party without mints? I believe my emotional need for colorful party mints goes back to my days in Job’s Daughters. There was not one reception or installation that did not have a plate of swirled fondant mints and every reception and installation had its own unique color scheme, usually two colors. When I was installed as Honored Queen, my colors were grass green and buttercup yellow. I kept one color of each mint for years as… [Read More]
In continuing to decorate using hot pink and orange for our upcoming party, I’m happy to say I have finished decorating the banister. This is a huge relief for me. One thing I was reminded of, yet again, when creating a new display using all new materials, plan on it taking three times longer than you originally thought it would take. Even though I had a vision of what I wanted to create when I purchased everything, I still didn’t… [Read More]
To continue the Palooza Birthday Party Extravanga prep, my next step was to package the custom Jeanapalooza m&m’s in small cello bags but since I’m also making special decorated cookies for the party I wanted a different look for the m&m’s. I found these little clear plastic 2 x 3 inch boxes at a cake decorating supply store for .45 each but they are also available on the web, sold in bulk for half the price. I thought this might… [Read More]
Make-Ahead Frozen Buttercream Cake Decorations
Bridal Shower Gifts and Wrapping Ideas
Royal Icing and Cookie Decorating
St. Patrick’s Day Cake with DIY Fondant Rainbow Ribbons
How To Host a Shabu-Shabu Party – An Interactive Dining Experience for a Group: Part 1
Fourth of July Red, White & Blue Bunting Cupcakes
“The Best Ever – Blue Ribbon Winning – Chocolate Layer Cake – In All The Land”!
Isty Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini Tushie Cookies
