bride and groom chairs

Happy Halloween!

These Halloween Bride and Groom chairs are fun and playful and there are so many options besides 'Bride and Groom'.  I think 'Live Long' and 'Prosper' would be pretty funny, what would yours say?

{via the sweetest occasion}

xo rings

How sweet are these x and o rings by JewelMint?  Perfect stocking stuffers, bridesmaid gift, or just because gift. Those are my favorite ;)

**update:  If you purchase from JewelMint, please read their Terms of Service before entering your billing info. It requires monthly membership fees that had me running for the hills, just an FYI!



{here}

Happy Friday!

perfect pumpkin centerpieces

These perfect pumpkin centerpieces prove that there is such thing as a classy Halloween wedding.  The stripe accents and color combos are my favorite! 

Do yourself a favor and check out the rest of this beautiful wedding at

Erin hearts Court if you haven't seen it already!

Styled by La Partie Events, Photography by Erin hearts Court

lace h&m dress

My assistant Liezl (that's what I'm going to call her now) sent me the link to this beautiful lace dress from H&M.  I desperately want someone to buy and marry in it, so classic and affordable.  It would also be a great reception or get away dress don't you think?  They have a skirt too!

I'm secretly considering buying it for a vow renewal...well not so secretly now I guess ;)

champagne bucket centerpieces

{Martha Stewart Weddings}

It is always nice to see alternative centerpieces, especially affordable ones.  If you're already serving champagne at your wedding, why not make it the main event at your table? 

The other day I was at Big Lots and came across these metal bathroom trash bins and thought "those could be champagne buckets".  They were $5 a pop, and with a $10 bottle of prosecco from Trader Joe's you could have some pretty reasonable centerpieces! 

lawn games

Happy Monday! 

Remember when I said THIS was the best idea ever for a wedding lawn game?  I lied.  I think giant Jenga is way better.  Don't quote me though, I'll change my mind next week.

{via David Purslow Photography}

You can purchase your own set here, or perhaps you're handy with a saw and you can DIY?

elizabeth fillmore bridal

I la la love these dresses by Elizabeth Filllmore Bridal.  Their silhouettes are so romantic!  Why do wedding dress models always look so unhappy?

Hope you have a wonderful weekend, any exciting plans?

bacon french toast cupcakes

I love a good brunch at a bridal or baby shower.  Sweets, savories and all sorts of family recipes shared among friends.  I've seen quite a few new spins on old classics but this one is the first for me.  If you're making brunch I beg you to give these a try...and report back.  I can't decide how I feel about them!

What do you think? 

{via Nightly Bites on Ninth}

Makes about 2 dozen mini- or 14 regular-sized cupcakes

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp heaping, ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted then cooled
2 eggs, room temperature
1 tsp maple extract*
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup milk

10-12 slices bacon

Directions

Preheat oven to 375℉. Place a cooling rack on a rimmed baking sheet and lay the bacon strips on the rack in one even layer. Bake for about 15-20 minutes, turning once. Turn the strips out onto paper towels when done and set aside to cool. Cut a couple of strips of bacon into 1 inch pieces on a diagonal, to be used as garnish. Finely chop the remaining bacon (yield approx 1/2 cup or less).

Turn oven down to 350℉.

Sift flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt into a small bowl.

In a large bowl or a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together butter, sugar and eggs on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. Feel free to sub bacon fat for a small portion of the butter. I did. I'm a rebel. Add the maple and vanilla extracts. With the mixer running at medium speed, alternately add in flour mixture (3 additions) and milk (2 additions), starting with the flour mixture; beat until smooth. Fold in chopped bacon until evenly distributed.

Scoop batter into muffin tin lined with paper cupcake liners. These cupcakes don't rise as much, so they can be filled a bit fuller. I typically use 1 tablespoon for minis, and 1/4 cup for regular cupcakes. For this recipe, I just used heaping measurements of the above.

Bake minis 12-14 minutes; regulars 22-25 minutes, rotating halfway through baking. After passing the toothpick test, keep baking until the tops turn golden brown. Let cool completely before icing.


Maple Buttercream Frosting
Frosts 24 cupcakes

2 cups confectioner's sugar
2 sticks butter
4 oz. cream cheese
2 Tbs pure maple syrup
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp maple extract*
pinch salt

In a bowl with an electric mixer or stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and cream cheese until light and fluffy. Add maple syrup, vanilla, maple extract, and salt, and beat until fully incorporated. Add confectioner's sugar, one half cup at a time until reaching desired consistency. Beat until smooth and fluffy, about 5 minutes.

Frost or pipe onto cooled cupcakes. Garnish with inch-long bacon pieces.

seattle comfort food tasting event

You're going to wish you had listened to me when I told you to enter this giveaway because I had some of the best bites of my life last night.  My friend Jaime and I went to the Seattle's Best Comfort Food Tasting at The Wing Luke Museum for dinner and more.  They may have been bites, but you could have as many as you want and I was stuffed to the brim.  There are so many new restaurants I can't wait to try!

Tara's plate

She already ate my favorite on the left from Rover's

Pork cheeks from Paquito's

Me and Lauren...and my pork cheeks

Mussels and chips from Bastille

Pasta fagioli from Ethan Stowell Restaurants

I almost passed this one up but Jaime talked me into it

full of bacon, amazing!

Reuben sliders

Whole milk ice cream with nitro frozen cereal

I had an ab workout after this one because the nitro dried ice

came out of Jaime's nose and I could not stop laughing

I went back for more so I could try it

Rabbit terrain from RN74

We visited this booth quite a few times

My favorite was The Cargill and Jaime like Th Awkward Tanline

Can you see her awkward tanlines?

The secret ingredient...vitamin R...shhhh!

Nice job Golden Beetle, I'll be back!

We may or may not have followed around the cake pop tray

Dianne's Delights

The goody bag

Jonboy fleur de sel caramels barely made it in the door

So I'll see you next year right?

apple pie cookies

Today is the last day to enter my petite package giveaway of European goodies!  Click 'here' to enter!

I'm all about the sweets this week, I'm just hungry I guess.  On Friday my friend Liezl sent me these beautiful apple pie cookies from Smitten Kitchen.  She thinks every Fall wedding should have them and I couldn't agree more!  Buttery, flakey crusts piled high on cake stands.  I would camp out at your dessert table.  You can even pop them on a stick for pie pops if you must...

Get the full recipe and instructions at Smitten Kitchen!

Make sure to check out her other awesome recipes

I've always loved her photography too!

trader joe's chocolate favors

Yesterday while we did our weekly grocery shopping I was eyeing up the chocolate bars at the cash register.  I had been meaning to tell you about these awesome dark chocolate caramel sea salt bars for awhile now because they are so good and I think the packaging is beautiful.  But every time I buy one to take a picture...we eat it.  If you're having a beach wedding, I think you should stock up!

Today I noticed a new flavor that would be perfect for a Fall wedding favor.  Can you picture them tucked into the napkin at each place setting?  People would go nuts, pun intended ;)  They are $1.99 each and probably the best favor your guests will ever receive.  Unless you're Oprah I suppose...

P.S.  I knocked over a lot of things trying to take this photo with my phone and hold my tiny free

coffee in my other hand.  My Husband was pretty embarrassed....oh marriage!

hey seattleites - win 2 tickets to the "fall comfort food tasting" event!

And the winner is (after weeding out a few non Seattleites, sorry guys wish you could come too!) is #7 Dani Johnson! 

All hope is not lost, buy a ticket by clicking 'here'!

When you love someone, you feed them.  Well I love you so I'm giving away 2 tickets to the Fall Comforts Food Tasting presented by Gilt City Seattle and Seattleite.  Come and taste the season with some of Seattle's best restaurants Tuesday, October 18th from 6pm-9pm at the Wing Luke Museum.  I'll be there, will you?  Check out all the participating restaurants below.

Need a date night?  Re blog this or post to Facebook, leave me a comment telling you did and win 2 tickets to the event!  Giveaway ends Friday at 12pm so don't wait.

OR

Get 25% off any ticket price by clicking 'here'. You won't see the discount until check out so don't go all low blood sugar on me.

WHAT:
Taste the Season with the City's Best Restaurants

Presented by Gilt City Seattle and Seattleite

WHEN:
Tuesday, Oct. 18th (6-9pm)

WHERE:
Wing Luke Museum (719 S King St. 98104)

WHO:
Artusi, Bastille, Coterie Room, Golden Beetle, Mistral, Poquitos,

 RN74, Revel, Rover's, Spur, Staple & Fancy, Tavern Law

TICKETS:
**save 25% off any ticket price when you sign up for Gilt City and purchase your tickets**
http://www.giltcity.com/comfortfood

Event page:
http://www.giltcity.com/seattle/fallcomforts

$55 Regular Ticket, 7-9pm

$80 VIP Ticket, 6-9pm (valet: $20 value, gift bag: $40+ value)

edible bouquet

I fell in love with this foodie bouquet by Floret Flowers.  It contains raspberries, chilies, nasturtiums, mint, parsley, blackberries, crabapples, rosehips and pea tendrils and various flowers.  It's built around local seasonal edibles, how cool is that?  I bet it smells amazing!


 

The grooms boutonniere contains chilies, rosehips, summer savory and blackberries

I should've had chilis in my bouquet.  We were married in Mexico for goodness sake!

See more beautiful floral inspiration at Floret Flowers

cake pop wedding cake

I'm having a giveaway on my other blog, a goody package from our trip to Europe, click 'here' to enter!

I struggle with frosting cakes. In my head it looks one way but in reality, barely edible.  That's why I love the look of coconut cake.  Just toss the coconut on the sides and you can't see all my imperfections.  But now I have a new method for my madness, cake pops.  How pretty is this wedding cake covered in cake pops?  It's like twice the cake for the price of one!  It doesn't get better than that.



{Cake by Brew Ha Ha-Photography by Ashley Jayne Photography via The Wedding Shoebox}

mismatched tables and chairs

Would you consider mismatched tables and chairs for your wedding reception?  I saw this cafe in Luzern, Switzerland and couldn't help but think how cool it would be if you borrowed a bunch of kitchen tables from family and friends.  I love the legs on these tables, I need to get my hands on some.

There are quite a few tables in the free section on craigslist!

let's plasti dip everything!

I'm guest posting at Sparrows and Arrows today!  Stop by and check out my Halloweeny wedding idea.

Have you ever heard of plasti dip?  I hadn't either until I was pinning last night and came across this one.  Apparently you can dip anything in it and it will take on a plastic ceramic looking coating.  Oragami place card holders just got a chic upgrade.  I'd like to try it with fake flowers and some toy cars.  What else could you dip?

{via fellow creatives}

Here’s How to Dip:

1.Warning! This craft should only be done outside to allow for ventilation, but even outside it smelled like a bad perm

2.Tie wire or string around the object you wish to dip

3.Stir plasti –dip outside over a covered surface (this stuff does not come out!)

4.Using string or wire slowly dip object

5.Slowly remove object and allow for it to drip briefly over the dip

6.Hang object to drip dry over a covered area

7.Dry time takes approximately 30-40 minutes and to get a thicker coat you may re-dip if needed.


Get more tips and tricks at fellow creatives!

monique lhuillier sheaths

Monique Lhuillier's Fall collection makes me want to remarry.  The sheaths are my favorite and I wish I had chosen lace in my past life.  What style of dress are you drawn to?  Ball gown, trumpet, A-line?

Have a fantastic weekend.  Any plans?

chocolate caramel crab apples

I know I keep dragging my feet about Fall, but after finding this amazing recipe I'm finally ready.  Nothing like a little chocolate ganache and caramel to welcome you to the season.  I'm thinking these little guys would make a great after dinner treat or midnight snack.  You could try them as favors but I doubt they'd ever make it out the door ;)

{via brides.com}

Core crab apples from the bottom, pipe in chocolate ganache (or Nutella) and dip in hot caramel to seal

hanging leaves

*Do you know Krystal from Village?  Check out our longest distance ever blogger meetup 'here'.  Okay maybe not ever ;)


I love Autumn colors, that's the only reason I put up with the cold really.  Then Christmas is what keeps me around when the leaves fall.  Well that and my mortgage...and family ;)  Unfortunately around here the leaves turn and disappear with the rain.  Did you know there is a way to preserve those beautiful colors?  You can dip them in wax a la Martha Stewart and enjoy them until December 1st.

I would hang them from the altar for a Fall wedding, or make enough garlands to hang from here to Oregon.  What would you do with them?

• Collect leaves, make yourself some hot apple cider.
• Slowly melt bleached beeswax over a double boiler; never allow wax to boil. Dip leaves in wax one at a time, holding by stem. gently shake off excess wax.
• Hang leaves to dry with clothespins
• Redip depending on desired look
  
  
  
  
  Read more at Marthastewart.com: Hanging Leaves - Martha Stewart Crafts

seasonal recipe favors

You know when you're staying at someones home and you look at every book shelf and nick nack displayed.  Sometimes you flip through books or magazines and ask questions about where they acquired certain things.  While staying with our friends in Switzerland I found this little book of favorite recipes given to them at a cousin's wedding.  The couple shared a few of their favorite recipes by season.  An easy, personable and usable parting gift.

Print your recipes on any size note cards and clip with a loose leaf ring.  Now how simple is that?  Don't forget to throw in the recipe for your signature cocktail.  After a few we might not remember what they're called ;)

 

adhesive table numbers

After a wonderful 16 day vacation to Europe (Basel, Bern, Luzern, Geneva, Martigny, Paris, Normandy...now you don't have to ask ;) with my Husband, I'm back and ready to catch up on all of your wonderful blogs.  A special thank you to my guest posters and I am so relieved blogger posted them as scheduled.  If you haven't already stopped by their blogs you should!

While in Basel visiting friends we went to a bar where the table numbers were painted straight on to the tables.  Why in the world are we coming up with all these crazy table number ideas when we could just stick them straight on to the table?!  I know, I know, not always possible, but I like the look.  If your venue has nice wood tables and you are forgoing centerpieces, why not make the number the center of attention? 

Since your venue is unlikely to let you paint their tables, vinyl adhesive numbers would be the way to go.  You can find standard fonts at your local office supply store (check out these ones), or you can get some custom removable ones made at Kinko's.  I know because my Husband once had an "I'll mess with Texas" sticker made for his truck.

Friends Stephanie and Mike enjoying a beer,

and Bryan...who hates being photographed

To be bored with more photos from our trip, click here