Dress Up Your Desserts!

You've spent hours on creating(or buying) your masterpiece and can't wait to serve it! But how do you get the most "UMPH" out of your hard work? Impress your guests with these simple ways to spice up your sweets!

1. Embellish your desserts with molded chocolates!

Dove Discoveries

2. Embellish pies with these pie crust cutters!

Williams-Sonoma

3. Display your mousse or pudding in these chocolate cups!



Sugar Craft



4. Dress up your cake with truffles! This is the perfect option if you're low on time, creativity, or motivation!



Dove Discoveries



5. Don't under-estimate the drizzle! Drizzling desserts has to be the easiest, most impressive way to dress up your desserts. Drizzle with chocolate, caramel, butterscotch, berry, you name it! Want to really impress? Add words or designs to the plate.



Country Living



Design Your Season

I just LOVE Christmas! I would start my Christmas decor in October if it wasn't frowned upon! My husband thought I was crazy at first with all my Christmas decor, but he soon realized how happy it really made me. All week he has been tightening raindeer bolts, pulling things out of storage and hanging snowflakes(I think he secretly loves it ;) ). I just love discovering ornaments we bought on fun trips together, things we've made over the years, and those things with the fun stories attached to them that you will never forget!

I know I've said this before, but it's so important-

Decorating for the Holidays is not about changing your whole home, just making it a little more magical. Small additions here and there will transform a space into a magical wonderland! Here are some sneak peaks of my Christmas decor this year with a few pointers for your own space :)

Shimmer with silver, crystal and glass.

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Create a glow with dramatic lighting.

Feel the spirit of Santa.

Sparkle with glitter.

Add a little winter in your Wonderland.

Add naturally formal elements such as feathers and fur.

If the kids would like to help.....

Let the kids help :)

Keep you current decor, just add to it!

Christmas is all about addition. Add family, add food, add sparkle, add tradition, add joy!

Be the Hostess with the Mostess

I recently went to someone's house for a party and was absolutely appalled-It was FILTHY! There were coloring books, markers, shoes, gift wrapping supplies, dirty dishes, you name it....all over the place..... I couldn't even pay attention to a conversation because I was just looking around at all the mess!!! Now most of us learned when we were young to clean up before we invite guests over, but here are a few things to make your guests feel extra special when they come to visit!

Place fresh flowers and candles in the bathroom and guest room. Make sure to place a lighter in a drawer that's easy to find.

Give your holiday guests the ultimate spa experience with some soft white bath robes and slippers-You can buy these very inexpensively at discount stores like TJ Maxx, Marshalls, or Tuesday Morning.

CLEAN THE BATHROOMS!!! Scrub the toilets, Windex the mirror, and get the grime out of the tub. Just do it!!! ;)

Place fresh, festive towels in the guest bath. Make sure you replace towels every couple of years. There's nothing worse than going to someone's house and knowing the towel you are using has been used for 20 years! Yuck!

Be one step ahead of your guests and think of anything they might ask for such as bottled water, travel sized deodorant, toothbrushes, etc., and put them together in a nice basket. Include some not-so-necessary necessities such as some hot chocolate packets and a bottle of wine like this one from Brides & Babies . Be sure to include mugs, wine glasses and a cork screw on a nice tray. If you frequently have overnight guests, consider buying an inexpensive coffee maker to leave in the room permanently. Guests will appreciate the freedom of when to rise and shine.

Last weekend my wonderful friends Brett and Stephanie hosted my husband and I for the weekend, and she had the cutest little basket waiting for us! It had fresh towels, every travel sized toiletry you can think of, and a hand written note from her, her husband, and her 5 month old little girl. It really made us feel extra special the moment we walked into the room! She really is the hostess with the mostess!

 

Trend Alert: The Peacock Feather

Although some may say they're bad luck, there's nothing quite like a peacock feather. Vibrant and intricate, yet still natural and mysterious. Distinct, yet versatile.

 Place Settings

The Party Dress

Arrangements
Southern Living

Invitations 

Kelly Kay Creative


Parties
Hostess with the Mostess

Home Decor
Surya

Holiday
HGTV

Food

Jo's Custom Cakes

Fashion

Paige Gamble

Flowers

Perfect Wedding Guide

Any way you present them, they're sure to draw attention!

Pumpkin Mousse Cups

YUM.

I found these Wilton dessert shell molds at JoAnns, and with my handy dandy 50% off coupon, I just had to try them. For $1.50 for the mold, and $1.50 for the chocolate, you can't go wrong!

 I started by following the directions on the package: Fill 1/3 of the mold with melted chocolate and place cover on until the chololate seeps up to the top. Refrigerate until the bottom looks frosty. Well, we all know I'm impatient, so I put it in the freezer for 5 minutes and it worked just fine! I then removed the top and popped the shells right out! Sounds easy, right?

Not so much... I got a little heavy on the chocolate and had to cut off the access....

Then I pulled a little too hard.... DANG!

But I thought, "I'm not going to worry about it!"

As my husband says, "If all the ingredients taste good, it has to be good!"

So I sprinkled some crushed Heath bar in the cups to make up for the look. You can find the crushed Heath pieces right next to the chocolate chips in the baking aisle.

I then filled the dessert cups with pre-made pumpkin mousse-you can find these during the holidays with the refrigerated desserts, or you could always make your own! I used a pastry bag to fill them, but I think spooning the mousse in would work just as well.

Then I remembered I had already bought mini dessert shells as well, so I brought those out too for some variety!

I finished off by drizzling the top with the remaining melted chocolate and topping the finished dessert cups with extra crushed Heath pieces.

And NOBODY noticed I broke some of the shells ;)

Creative Hostess Gifts

'Tis the season for house guests and hosting, but don't forget to be a gracious guest! Hostess gifts are so much a thing of the past these days, but why? Something so simple can have such an impact on the person who is opening their home to you. Take one of these adorable gifts and ensure you'll be invited back next year!

1. Homemade Cookie Mix: Like this adorable blend from Sharnel! Just take your favorite cookie recipe and and divide it into fourths-depending on the size of your mason jars. Add all the dry ingredients in layers, and secure the top with a lid, covered in a festive fabric and secured with twine. Then, create a label with the instructions to add the wet ingredients and baking time and temperature. This is easiest on a piece of paper, hole-punched and tied to the twine on top. Or, like the picture shown, you can print the labels on sticker paper. Make sure to take into consideration common allergies like peanuts and gluten. For thanksgiving, try  harvest cookies with your favorite dried fruit!

2. Embellished flowers: Use a brandy glass or small rose bowl like these from Southern Living and attach a homemade card with twine to the stem of the vase.

3. Serving Tray: Were you asked to bring an appetizer to the party? Buy a cute tray and leave a holiday card taped to the bottom. When they go to wash the dishes that night, they'll be surprised and honored!

4. Orchard Basket: Line an inexpensive basket with burlap and fill with fresh apples and mulling spices, with a pretty recipe for homemade apple cider.

Specialty Oils: You already know the hostess loves to entertain-Give her something to use at her next party! Some fancy bread dipping oil, truffle oil, or unique olive oil is the perfect gift! Wrap a raffia bow around the neck of the bottle with a small handmade card.

Warm Up for Fall

I love the warmth of Fall. It's the time when everyone cozies back up inside, and your house starts feeling like home again. I love the smells of pumpkin, spiced apple and cinnamon, the warm, rich colors, and my favorite part-slipping back into our beloved fleece sheets!

Just like you change your wardrobe for Fall, your home should evolve as well. Follow these simple hints to transition into the Holidays.

 

Include natural Fall elements in your decor such as on your mantle and tabletop.

Your choices are unlimited! Use wheat, pomegranate, pears, apples, gourds, pine cones, acorns....I got pine cones and acorns for free on a walk through the park! You don't get any more natural and less expensive than that!

Accessorize with warm colors.

 

 Add blankets and pillows in cozy fabrics.

 

Light scented candles and dim the lights to set the Holiday mood.

Set the mood by setting the tabletop. Use leaves, acorns and Fall fruit to adorn the setting, and anchor it with a natural colored napkin.

Introduce a couple new colors, while still keeping with the everyday feel of your house. Your house shouldn't feel different during the Holidays, just a little more magical.....