treat!

I love cupcakes. Thanks to some food coloring, decorative frosting and candy corn, ghosts and pumpkins I have successfully executed a batch of spider-web desserts for today! I just love that holidays bring so many creative possibilities and festive party desserts.

Look at Cary's cute creations!

posh wine.

It's in good taste never to show up to a party empty-handed but sometimes it's just too easy to grab a bottle of wine and go. Try this - if you take three minutes to tie a clear wrap with a ribbon and add in a flower or two, you will have a stand-out gift for your hosts!

trick!

We are coming up on Halloween weekend! I am so excited I can hardly contain myself, mostly because I have decided to be a domesticated piglet for the evening (digression). Holidays provide one of the best excuses for festive creativity! For example, last night I made my cute and curly piglet tail out of bright pink pipe cleaners (I was very pleased with myself).

Anyways, by now you've probably noticed my love for flowers as they truly create an aesthetically attractive centerpiece appropriate for almost every occasion. Presently, fall flowers are everywhere - yellows, oranges, burnt reds and vibrant reds - and with Halloween just days away, what better than to create the perfectly plump vase to hold such a gorgeous array - the pumpkin! So easy and so cute - anyone who has carved a pumpkin before can whip up this display in a few minutes. All you have to do is cut off the top, dump out the insides, insert a plastic bag filled with water to line the pumpkin's gut and deliberately style the arrangement.

I am looking forward to gifting my wonderful dinner party hosts tonight with my splendidly fall flowering pumpkin!

tri-color salad.

The tri-color salad, also commonly known as the caprese salad, was perfected by Alison last week at our inaugural dinner on Hilton Head. The savory mozzarella and sweet, juicy tomatoes topped with a tangy balsamic and a touch of basil was a delicious way to create an aesthetic side - not to mention perfect for our hungry group. Pair with an Italian dish and you have heaven in a meal or reduce the ingredients and you have a great snack!

the melagrana.

There's nothing more fun than setting the mood for an evening with a signature cocktail. It's a great way to welcome guests to a party and instigate excitement for the coming festivities. The lovely Alison brought an inspirational cocktail concoction book by Kate Simon down to Hilton Head entitled, Tiny Bubbles - "Fizzy Cocktails for Every Occasion, Using Champagne, Prosecco, and Other Sparkling Wines." Let's not forget to note that bubbles are my absolute weakness and the majority of the recipes in this book look completely divine. The book covers traditional mixes, contemporary twists, non-alcoholic suggestions and some delectable looking bites to compliment the beverages.

After perusing the potential combinations, we decided to initiate experimentation with the Melegrana - a recipe involving limoncello, pomegranate juice, prosecco and a lemon twist garnish. I think it's safe to say that the cocktail was delightful. Light, fresh, and fruity with a slightly bitter undertone - it was the perfect way to start off an evening of fun with friends!

tea light bright.

In my blogging absence I have been doing productive things - I swear! One of those is walking. I have walked everywhere (within Boston). And everywhere there are cute restaurants, and chic restaurants, and cozy restaurants. Despite differences in overall decor or attitude exuded by these (I am assuming to be yummy) establishments there seems to be an underlying similarity in that there are very simple clear candle holders with tea lights on tables in a huge range of them. Yesterday, I saw a waiter at Figs, one of Todd English's Charlestown spots, placing these little luminaries on the tables. While sauntering past Bricco in the North End, I noticed the bright white lights dotted amongst the dark brick. Even Cary and I have them placed around our apartment adding a warm glimmer. There is something so simple, yet so elegant and sweet about a little tea light.


Looking to jazz things up with something more intricate? These cute silver leaf votives from Anthropologie are only $6 each. I bet the light reflects gorgeously off of the silver accent. I envision an assortment of these dotted along a table with festive ornaments for the holidays.

ready to go.

I'll be back next week, granted I survive tomorrow's U-Haul adventure!

Photo by: Annie Leibovitz; via got-ads