Have you been pondering on rather or not to have a dessert station at your wedding reception? Well, after reading this post and looking at all these scrumptious desserts, I promise you your mind will be made up and the dessert station would have won. If it looks like hard work, it’s not, frankly it’s easy as pie. Just select your favorite desserts (which by the way is no easy task for me) set up the table and you’re done! Your dessert table will tell a story, a story of your wedding and of your style. Also your guests will love you and thank you for it.

Pink Baby Cakes, is what this story tells , and what a story! Your guest will think about these little sweet sensations long after your wedding.  Mini pastries, cookies and cupcakes are in abundance with this dessert table. For this “sweet stop” choose sweet treats that are special to you and the groom in different varieties.

I really can’t get enough of this beautiful pink setup, stacked with delicious treats. Simply stated – fabulous.

Can I have S’mores, please! Bring back memories of camping and childhood with the S’more Sweet Station.  What a great way for everyone at your reception to toast with the happy couple. This childhood treat is a great way to personalize your reception. This sweet station is easy, all you need are chocolate bars, marshmallows, and graham crackers and you will have the perfect sweet station.

Ice Cream Dreams says it all for this one. This station is all about nostalgia and I am loving it. What could be cooler than old fashioned ice cream floats? Set up the table with old fashioned ice cream glasses, chocolate, vanilla and strawberry ice cream – keep it simple. Then add bowlfuls of toppings – the good ones, fudge, caramel, sprinkles, nuts, whipped cream and of course cherries.

So which sweet station will make a debut at your wedding?

Enjoy!

celebrate life in style…

It’s winter and cold outside and we have some spring brides that are in need of some inspiration for their upcoming nuptials. How about some wedding inspiration in the way of some beautiful and stylish spring DIY wedding favors! We have some lovely DIY favors that are easy to make, will impress your guest and allow you to give your  guest a favor that is handmade with love.

Above are some impressive cake bites from Cake Journal -  how precious are these. Easy to make and very much in the theme of spring with beautiful pink flowers and sprinkles. Place these little cakes in paper cups these small cake bites will be a perfect wedding favor.  For more DIY spring wedding favors

Almond Baskets Wedding Favors: Let guests tote away sweet almonds in tiny baskets. Line each with colored mini paper liners, and then fill with Jordan almonds. Use liners and nuts that complement your color scheme. Label baskets with the wedding date. We printed the date on colored laser paper, then made labels with a special craft punch, and affixed them with double-sided tape.

Potted Place Card: Both place card and favor, these tiny terra-cotta pots with a dome of velvety moss are spare yet elegant against a pristine white table — perfect for a simple spring wedding.

Paper Cones: These whimsical dragee cones standing in a galvanized tray will delight even adults. Fill these elegant and whimsical cones with sugar-coated almonds, jelly beans, nuts or any delightful treat.

Color Block Favor Box:  Create a beautiful box for your wedding favors. Origami paper in shades of orange and an understated tag create a stylish favor.

Marshmallow Favors:  These marshmallows are imported from Paris and, as you might suspect, they’re not your typical campfire fare. They are long, pastel-hued, and quite pretty, especially when fashioned into love knots, time-honored symbols of commitment. Tie marshmallows into basic knots (to keep them from getting stale, don’t leave them exposed to the air for too long), and place in cellophane bags. Make tags, cutting them out with a scalloped craft punch or shears. Punch a tiny hole in each tag, thread ribbon through, and tie around bags.

Sugar Rush Favors: Create a favor that your guest sweet tooth will love. Buy candy in bulk (try sites like economycandy.com or candywarehouse.com) and acrylic containers (get these from Container Store)  and and some swanky peel-stick monogram appliqués (Wonderful Graffiti) and you’re all set to create some very pretty favors.

Okay spring brides, here you have some fun DIY projects that will keep you inspired for your wedding!

Enjoy.

celebrate life in style…

This giveaway is over and we have a winner! Thank you to everyone who entered, your comments were very entertaining and fun to read. Our winner is… #43 Julie Moe, who commented “I would get the Work of Art” Antique-Finish Place Card Holder/Photo Frame” Congratulations Julie!

We have a great SURPRISE GIVEAWAY today that is FUN and FABULOUS. Favors in the City is a fabulous website that offers posh and chic favors for weddings, baby showers, bridal showers and more.  This week Favors in the City is offering a $25 shopping spree to one lucky oh, how posh! reader. To see all the fab favors and how to enter the contest

Favors in the City has unique and stylish bridesmaids, groomsman gifts, wedding accessories,  place card holders, edible wedding favors and much more. If you or someone you know has wedding or baby shower coming up this giveaway is for you!

In the first picture above are some very cool favors from the “Vegas Wedding Favors” line and the the second picture above shows off some of their adorable Baby Shower Favors – how cute are these?  Pictured below are hand dipped Bride and Groom Berries, these are yummy strawberries dipped in creamy Belgian chocolate.

To thank everyone for their love and support below are some great Bridal Shower Favors. These favors are unique and sassy, and your girlfriends will love to take one these home from your party! I absolutely love the Sleek and Chic Leather Stiletto keychain!

Below is just a sampling of some of the elegant Wedding Accessories they  offer. These are the essentials that helps the bride add her own personal style to her wedding. There’s a stunning collection of cake accessories, guest books and pens, unity candles, toasting flutes, and don’t forget flower-girl and ring-bearer accessories! Favors in the City definitely has the right stuff for your celebration!

Okay, so how do you win this fab shopping spree?

*** It’s easy, head on over to Favors in the City and check all the great party favors they have then come back here and leave us a comment telling us what you would buy if you’re the lucky winner.

*** The giveaway ends Sunday November 22nd at midnight PST. The lucky winner will be chosen by randomizer and will be announced Monday November 23rd.

Enjoy and good luck!

celebrate life in style…

Cookies and Shoes, count me in! How can anyone possibly resist these cookies? If you’re looking to WOW your guest at an upcoming bridal or baby shower or give the perfect  gift, don’t look any further, The Flour Pot can fulfill your needs. They are perfect for any party or celebration.

After all  a girl can never have enough shoes or cookies, can she…

Margie and Abbey Greenberg are the mother-daughter team that started The Flour Pot, a cookie decorating company based in Ambler, PA and designs a variety of cookies that are so stunning you don’t want to eat them, but you will because the cookies taste as good as they look.

If you’re in the Ambler PA area, you’re lucky you can  stop by the store and  place an order for your upcoming celebration , you may even be able to sample a few cookies. No worries for those of us not in the PA area,  The Flour Pot delivers their fabulous cookies nationwide.

Edible Favors are immensely popular at weddings. Who doesn’t like to have a little something extra at the reception or a late night treat. You can present your guest with the edible favors in a number of ways. You can put the goodies by each guest place setting or you can set up a beautiful decorated table at the end of the reception with delectable morsels and allow your guest to help themselves to their treats.

If you choose to set up a table with the favors and if they are not already packaged, be sure to set out little bags or boxes and serving utensils. Favors placed at guest tables need to be packaged.

Have fun (no stressing on your wedding day) creating your DIY wedding favors, your guest will be delighted to receive the little treats you created just for them.

For the how to on creating the above favors

Jelly Bean Cones

The Chocolate-dipped cookie cones filled with candy makes for a fun wedding favor. You can be creative and dip the cones in white chocolate also and roll them in sprinkles. Use an assortment of candies to fill the cones, jellybeans, chewy raspberries, candy fruits, espresso coffee beans or lemon drops.

Wrap the cones in parchment paper and place them in a Lucite tray with holes or decorated glasses to keep them upright.

Recipe for Jelly Bean Cones

Jelly Bean Cones

Makes 10 cones

Ingredients

3 egg whites

1/2 cup of caster (superfine) sugar

2 tbsp unsalted (sweet) butter, melted

1/3 cup plain all purpose flour

2 tbsp single light cream

3 1/2 oz plain semisweet chocolate

jelly beans or other small candies

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with baking parchment and lightly grease.

Put the egg whites and sugar in a bowl and whisk lightly with a fork until the egg whites are broken up. Add melted butter, flour and cream and stir well to make a smooth batter.

Using a 1 tbsp measure, place a rounded tablespoon of the mixture on one side of a baking sheet. Spread to a 3 1/2 inch round with the back of the spoon. Spoon more mixture on to the other side of the baking sheet and spread out to make another round.

Bake for about 8-10 minutes until the edges are deep golden. Meanwhile, spoon two more rounds of cookie mixture on to the second baking sheet.

Remove the first batch of cookies from the oven and replace with the second batch. Peel away the paper from the baked cookies and roll them into cone shapes. Leave to set.  Continue in this way until you have made 10 cones.

Break the chocolate into a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water and stir until melted. Dip the wide ends of the cookies in the chocolate and prop them inside narrow glasses to set, then fill with jelly beans or other sweet candies.

Biscotti

Biscotti is a very inexpensive DIY wedding favor. The ingredients are basic enough and biscotti is delicious. Once you them baked and sliced, all you have to do is put two or three  in a clear or colored treat bag tied with a ribbon (use a ribbon that is a color from your wedding) and there you have the perfect tasty favor that your guest will love. Set a beverage table with coffee and milk also.

Recipes for Biscotti

Pistachio-Cranberry Biscotti

Makes 1 1/2 dozen

Ingredients

6  tablespoons  unsalted butter, softened

3/4  cup  sugar

2  large eggs

1  tablespoon  grated orange rind

1 1/2  teaspoons  orange extract

2 1/4  cups  all-purpose flour

1 1/2  teaspoons  baking powder

1/2  teaspoon  salt

1  cup  orange-flavored sweetened dried cranberries

3/4  cup  shelled natural salted pistachio nuts, chopped

Preparation

Beat butter and sugar in a large bowl at medium speed with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs, beating well; beat in orange rind and extract.

Combine flour, baking powder, and salt; add to butter mixture, beating at low speed until blended. Stir in cranberries and pistachios.

Divide dough in half. Using lightly floured hands, shape each portion into a 14″ x 2″ log. Place both logs 3″ apart on a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Bake at 325° for 28 minutes or until firm to the touch. Cool logs on baking sheet 10 minutes.

Cut each log into 1/2″-thick diagonal slices with a serrated knife using a gentle sawing motion. Place slices, cut side down, on baking sheet. Bake 9 minutes; turn cookies over, and bake 12 more minutes. Transfer biscotti to wire racks to cool completely.

Orange-Pecan Biscotti

Makes 2 dozen

Ingredients

4  large eggs

1  cup  sugar

1 1/2  tablespoons  grated orange rind

2  tablespoons  vegetable oil

1  teaspoon  vanilla extract

1  teaspoon  almond extract

3 1/3  cups  all-purpose flour

2  teaspoons  baking powder

1  cup  chopped pecans

Preparation

Beat eggs and sugar at high speed with an electric mixer for 5 minutes or until foamy. Add orange rind, oil, and extracts, beating until blended.

Combine flour and baking powder; add to sugar mixture, beating well. Fold in pecans. Cover and freeze 30 minutes or until firm.

Divide dough in half; shape each portion into an 8- x 5-inch log on a lightly greased baking sheet.

Bake at 325° for 25 minutes or until firm. Cool on baking sheet 5 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool.

Cut each log diagonally into 1/2-inch slices with a serrated knife. Place on greased baking sheets.

Bake at 325° for 15 minutes. Turn cookies over, and bake for 15 more minutes. Remove cookies to wire racks to cool.

Source: my recipes

Boxed: Tea & Cookies

Small bakery boxes deliver a romantic treat: cookies and infused tea. Iced with the bride’s and groom’s initials, these colorful confections appeal to the eye, appetite, and spirit. Based on the concept of friendship necklaces, two heart halves are cut from one cookie cutter.

To master the piped-on initials, first trace computer fonts on printed paper and practice before lettering the cookies.

The Each holder is glued onto a scalloped oval card with a pink sugar rose. The tea box holds enough for one or two, which you can get from any tea specialty store or online at Swallowtail Farms.

Recipe for Sugar Cookies

Cut-Out Sugar Cookies

Makes 3 dozen cookies

Ingredients

3/4 cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

1 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

2 cups all-purpose flour

Preparation

In a large bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add sugar, baking powder, and salt. Beat until combined, scraping side of bowl constantly. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in remaining flour. Divide dough in half. Cover and chill dough in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or until easy to handle.

On a lightly floured surface, roll dough, half at a time, to 1/4-inch thickness. Using 2-1/2-inch cookie or biscuit cutters, cut into desired shapes. Place 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake in a 350 degrees F oven for 7 to 9 minutes or until edges are firm and bottoms are very lightly brown. Transfer to a wire rack; cool completely. Decorate as desired.

Truffle Buffet

Put together an assortment of decadent truffles that range in flavors to satisfy your guests sweet tooth. Set up a pretty decorated table with small plates and little boxes for guest to use to either enjoy their truffles at the reception or to take home.

Truffle Recipes

Raspberry-Fudge Truffles

Makes 6 dozen

Ingredients

2  cups  (12 ounces) semisweet chocolate morsels

2  (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened

1  cup  seedless raspberry preserves

2  tablespoons  raspberry liqueur

1 1/2  cups  vanilla wafer crumbs

10  (2-ounce) chocolate candy coating squares

3  (1-ounce) white chocolate squares

1  tablespoon  shortening

Preparation

Microwave chocolate morsels in a 4-cup glass measuring cup at HIGH 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 minutes or until melted, stirring every 30 seconds.

Beat cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Add melted chocolate, preserves, and liqueur, beating until blended. Stir in crumbs; cover and chill 2 hours.

Shape mixture into 1-inch balls; cover and freeze 1 hour or until firm.

Microwave chocolate coating in a 4-cup glass measuring cup at HIGH 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 minutes or until melted, stirring every 30 seconds. Dip balls in coating; place on wax paper.

Place white chocolate and shortening in small heavy-duty zip-top plastic bag; seal. Submerge in hot water until chocolate melts; knead until smooth. Snip a tiny hole in 1 corner of bag, and drizzle mixture over truffles. Let stand until firm. Store in refrigerator or freezer, if desired.

Chocolate Truffles

Makes 2 dozen

Ingredients

3/4  cup  whipping cream

12  ounces  bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, finely chopped

1  tablespoon  cognac or 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

About 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa

Preparation

In a 1- to 2-quart pan over high heat, bring cream to a boil. Meanwhile, place chopped chocolate in a bowl. Pour cream over chocolate and stir gently with a flexible spatula until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. (If chocolate does not melt completely, place bowl over a pan of barely simmering water and stir until melted and smooth.) Stir in cognac. Chill mixture until firm, at least 3 hours; if desired, cover and chill up to 1 week.

Line a 12- by 15-inch baking sheet with a piece of waxed paper. With a spoon, scoop out 1-tablespoon portions of chocolate mixture; place on waxed paper. If mixture is too firm to scoop, let stand at room temperature about 10 minutes.

Place 1/4 cup cocoa on a rimmed plate. Dust hands lightly with cocoa. With your hands, roll each scoop of chocolate mixture into a ball, then roll in cocoa to coat. Place each truffle in a small paper candy cup (see notes). To store, place truffles between layers of waxed paper in an airtight container and chill. Advise recipient to chill as well, then bring to room temperature just before serving.

Not only are these macarons adorable, but they are absolutely delicious! At Paulette bakery in Beverly Hills and San Francisco these unique macarons are hand made daily in many rich and fun flavors. If you don’t live in Beverly Hills or the Bay Area don’t worry, you can order online for next day delivery.

With the different colors and flavors such as: Madagascar vanilla, coconut, caribbean, sweet wedding almond, and caribbean chocolate, these sweet treats make delightful wedding favors and are perfect to display at a dessert bar.