Frilly Milly Events

Merry Christmas from Frilly Milly

2011-12-15T19:27:00.000-08:00

What better way to say "Merry Christmas" than a colorful batch of glace icing! I shot this the other day and couldn't help but turn it into a Christmas card. You've still got 10 days left to go - and I hope each and every one is filled with art, baking, creating, spending time with people you love and most importantly, remembering the true Reason for the season. Here's wishing you and yours a very blessed holiday. Merry Christmas!

Cookies for Santa

2011-12-12T22:08:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday my friend joined me for a night of cheesy Hallmark Christmas movies (not gonna lie, totally love them) and holiday baking. We made peanut butter fudge Gingerbread Men (see previous post) and dozens upon dozens of sugar cookies. Be still my beating heart! :)

We quickly ran to the store to pick up our ingredients, grabbed some dinner "to go" and last but not least, stocked up on cookie cutters! My local Joann's sells a great 40 piece set (some large, some miniature) for $19.99, but with a 50% off coupon it was just too good to pass up.

We had a great little assembly line going - I would roll the dough, she would cut the shapes and I would transfer them to a cookie sheet. An hour or so and 5 dozen cookies later...we were ready to start frosting.

I've tried various frosting techniques over the years, but I'm kind of a sucker for a more "polished" look, so when I saw this technique on Our Best Bites' site, I was sold. Based on our cookie cutter choices, we chose to make red, green, blue, yellow, brown and white icing. One thing I will tell you is that a little goes a long way with this type of frosting. You'll look at your bowls with just a large spoonful and think it will never be enough...but you'll be amazed at how far it stretches. Trust me.

The last step in making the icing is to make the piping. I remember coloring with my dad before bedtime when I was a kid and he would always outline his picture before shading it all in which always made it look so good (especially in comparison to my scribbles!). In the world of sugar cookies, piping is that outline and the icing is the shading (thankfully now I'm actually able to "stay in the lines" :)). Put a #3 tip on a pastry bag, fill it up with a thicker version of the icing (see instructions) and begin outlining. You'll want to get a head start on this process since you need it to dry just ever so slightly before you begin flooding the cookies. It's fun and it goes pretty fast - even better if you've got a partner in crime that starts the decorating while you finish the piping!

When it comes to the flooding (again, at some point I need to improve at taking step-by-step photos!), I use tiny demitasse spoons and toothpicks. I scoop a little bit of the icing with the spoon and pour it into the center of the cookie, then drag it to the edge of the piping with the toothpick. Want berries on your wreath or buttons on your snowman? While the main color of your cookie is still wet (say the green of the wreath), take a toothpick and dip it into the red and gently tap tiny drops of the icing onto the green. Seurat's got nothing on you!

And this, my friends, is the final result!

Share them with friends or save them for yourself (I ate one for breakfast this morning), but most of all, enjoy the creative process. Turn on Christmas music, light up the tree, grab a cup of hot cocoa and frost away! Merry Christmas!

Christmas Fudge

2011-12-11T18:27:00.000-08:00

I don't know about the rest of you, but fudge is pretty much a staple for me when it comes to holiday baking. I'm not opposed to any variations (although I think chocolate mint might be my favorite), but when my friend Rachelle specifically requested that we make peanut butter fudge, she didn't have to twist my arm!

I know there are so many variations, but I love this recipe - it only requires 6 ingredients and is finished in 15 minutes or less. Most recipes, including this one, ask that you pour the fudge into an 8x8 pan to make the standard, thick squares of fudge. I prefer to pour the fudge into a small 10x15 jellyroll pan and then smooth it out as evenly as possible using a large sheet of wax paper. Once it's cooled and the fudge has completely set, I like to cut the fudge into fun shapes using small cookie cutters. In the fall I made pumpkin fudge and cut it out into the shape of leaves...

So it was only fitting that in the spirit of Christmas, we turned our peanut butter fudge into Gingerbread Men.

If you want to really get crazy, you can use a toothpick to poke holes for buttons and eyes (and drag it for the mouth), and fill the holes with nonpareils.

One thing you'll find is after cutting out your first round of gingerbread men, you'll have a lot of "scraps" left over. The great thing about fudge is that it's extremely pliable, so just combine the scraps, roll it out between 2 sheets of wax paper and continue on the cutting process! Enjoy!

Abominable Snowman Cookies-in-a-Jar

2011-12-10T12:50:00.000-08:00

I love baking all year round, but I'm especially a fan of holiday baking. I love the colors, the flavors, the smells...all of it. The one thing I don't love about it is how it sticks to my hips and follows me into the new year! I figure I'm not the only one that feels this way and rather than having piles of baked goodies that just must get eaten before they go bad (I mean, you don't want to let them go to waste!), I thought I would give some sweets that can be tucked in the pantry to be saved for February (you know, after everyone has stopped going to the gym and fallen back into old habits :)).

I adapted this recipe from Bakerella's Cowgirl Cookies. The only difference in my recipe is that I used slightly different measurements (I tried to use the same on my first batch and could not for the life of me get it all to fit in my quart jar), holiday M&Ms and instead of using chopped pecans as my filler, I used Heath Bits-o-Brickle (I'm not a big fan of nuts in my cookies and besides that, chopped pecans are dang expensive!).

Since the cookies are essentially Christmas Monster Cookies...I thought why not name them after one of the most famous Christmas monsters, the Abominable Snowman? It was either that or Grinch cookies, but I didn't love that font and color scheme as much :).

So, here’s the recipe:

Abominable Snowman Cookies
1 1/3 cup all purpose flour, spooned into measuring cup & leveled
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup cooking oats
1/2 cup m&ms
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup white sugar
Heath bits-o-brickle (basically just enough to fill it to the top)

Start with a 1 quart Ball jar. I found mine at Walmart - made by Better Homes & Gardens. It was only $8 for a box of a dozen.

First: flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt
Second: oats
Third: m&ms
Fourth: chocolate chips
Fifth: brown sugar
Sixth: white sugar
Seventh: Heath bits

Pack each level down really tightly. I mean it. Pack it in. Or else it won’t all fit. I used the bottom of a spoon as well as the base of a spice jar to help smoosh it down. Also, I added the Heath bits last, because if the ingredients were too much or not enough, then I could add more or less Heath bits to adjust. The ingredients should be flush to the top of the lid when you seal it up. I will also say that I purchased the canning funnel made specifically to fit the mouth of a ball jar - and at $1.75 it was absolutely worth it. Made the process a whole lot easier.

For the labels, you’ll need some adhesive paper (I use 8.5x11 sheets of shipping labels purchased from Staples or any office supply store) and paper punches (2 1/2" circle and 1 7/8" scalloped). You could also use regular paper or card stock and double-sided tape.

I apologize for my lack of web-savvy-ness, but I can't quite figure out how to attach the high res downloadable PDF, so if you want the printable version of the labels, just shoot me an email and I will send them over!

The last few details involved ribbon and material. I just purchased some inexpensive tiny polka dot material from the quilting section of my local Joann's (I believe it was $4.99/yd and I purchased just a 1/2yd which was more than enough for 12 jars). I traced the mouth of my cereal bowls to get the right size (ended up around 6 1/4" diameter) and cut them out with pinking sheers. I purchased the 1/2" ribbon at Joann's as well ($2.99 for 9ft although it was a steal at 60% off!). I needed 2 rolls for 12 jars and I used my hot glue gun to adhere the ribbon to the jar (placing the cut edge underneath the label).

All costs included (ingredients, jars, canning funnel, material and ribbon - I already had the label paper), each jar ended up costing right around $4.50! What a fun, creative and inexpensive way to love on your neighbors, co-workers, family and friends this Christmas! Enjoy!

Christmas Pirates

2011-12-09T16:30:00.000-08:00

Lately I've had the chance to work on a few Frilly Milly projects (not nearly as many as I would like - but hey, I'm happy to get to "play" at least a little bit!) and thought I would just post a few photos and tips on how to recreate them if you so desire. The one I'm most excited about is not quite finished yet, but hopefully will be up sometime the beginning of next week if not sooner.

The first project is not really Christmas-y, but I received an order for pirate cupcakes for a birthday party and the leftovers turned into something a little bit festive :). First...the pirates.

The cupcakes are chocolate cake with buttercream icing. I know fondant looks better, but I don't like the way it tastes so I stick mainly with buttercream and just work to make it look as smooth as possible. I just made 3 different colors of buttercream - the skintone (using copper gel coloring), red ("no taste" red gel) and black (I used a combination of the black gel along with a little cocoa powder to get a rich black). I apologize for not having step-by-step photos (which would make this so much easier to follow), but I'll try to at least explain each step of the process.

I frosted each cupcake with a #1A tip making a swirl starting along the outside edge and working my way into the center (not building up...just filling in). From there I took my small palette knife and smoothed out the swirl. I let the icing crust for about 10 minutes before going back over them with a small square I cut out of a VIVA paper towel (solid white - no print - using the softer side on the cupcake) to get a fondant-like smoothness.

Next, I used a #104 petal tip for the red and starting not quite at the center of the cupcake (with the "head" of the pirate pointed toward me and fat side of the petal tip facing toward the "chin" of the pirate) and made slightly curved stripes from left-to-right layering on top of each other slightly and tapering at the right-hand corner where the "knot" of the bandana would go. I created a little knot using the same tip.

From there I moved to the black icing with a #3 tip. I made a long diagonal line over top of the bandana to the base of the chin from left to right. Small black eye dot on the left, large black eye dot on top of the black line on the right and then facial hair, smiles, etc. Place a junior mint on the large black dot of the right eye and viola! Your pirate cupcake is complete!

Since I had several cupcakes left over and quite a bit of icing as well, I turned the rest of the cupcakes into Santa Claus! The only addition was a bag of white icing using a #12 tip. I used the same method for the hat as I did for the pirate's bandana - except just going straight across rather than curving. I even had an extra pirate leftover and turned him into a Santa as well (I just have a small picture taken from a phone of that cupcake - but it's worth seeing because it just makes me laugh!).

So whether it's a Pirates or Christmas party - or better yet, a "Pirates of Christmas" party :), now you have a fun and festive dessert to share!

Vineyard Birthday Party

2011-10-04T16:12:00.000-07:00

In celebration of my sweet friend Courtney's birthday, I called up a few of the girls and planned a night out at one of our favorite places, Arrington Vineyards. I arrived early (or so I thought) only to find the place already crawling with people and only just a few picnic tables left to choose from, but with a spread of land that beautiful, any spot is a good spot!

When you arrive at Arrington you have to park at the bottom of a large, steep hill, so hauling anything beyond a pair of wine glasses is quite the feat! So although I packed up quite a few serving pieces and accessories into a large tote, I tried to keep the overall menu very simple. We had croissants with brie, turkey, honey mustard and the option of apple or pear slices (I tried half-n-half and loved them both!), pretzels and hummus, fresh fruit, spinach salad with goat cheese, walnuts, strawberries and a blush vinaigrette (which, sadly, is not pictured since I forgot a decorative serving bowl! Sorry, Ashley!), water, lemonade, and of course, wine :). I made a small pink champagne cake with buttercream icing and cupcakes to match, but the rest of the items were brought/made by my amazing friends.

New (Old) Finds!

2011-08-22T14:10:00.000-07:00

I am a huge fan of cake stands. I love that you can use them to give height to a table, accentuate a simple or dramatically elegant cake and more than anything...I love the "hunt" to find them! :) Last week I was on vacation with my family and we went to several antique stores. The biggest and most exciting was called the Brass Armadillo. It was not only massive, but extremely well organized and an antique/flea market junkies dream come true!! As always, I was on the hunt for cake stands and a few other various items, and found two that I not only fell in love with, but were at a price I couldn't beat!

I love the detailed edge and the color of the green, and while the yellow is not typically something I would pick out, I love how low the pedestal is and love how the light plays through it and creates such a neat pattern on the table. I think it would be perfect for an upside-down caramel apple pie in the fall, don't you? :)

Of course, my favorite cake stand find of all time is my jadeite stand. It's the "jackpot" of all finds in my book and I almost cried when I found it. On top of that, the sweet friend I was with purchased it for me as a gift and made it just that much more special.

My final and absolute favorite new "old" find wasn't really so much a find as an inheritance, but after years waiting for me in my grandparents' basement, it is finally in my dining room and I couldn't be happier. My grandparents bought this piece and the dining room table/chairs that I have while on their honeymoon almost 60 years ago. I love that it not only has such a great story which makes it priceless to me, but that I love the style so much, I would purchase it in a store in a heartbeat! Free is certainly welcomed though :). With a little TLC I hope that it lasts another 60 years!

Ruffle Cake Tutorial

2011-07-31T09:24:00.000-07:00

I intended to video tape the step-by-step process of making my ruffle cake when I made a second one last week, but due to a weekend trip to the lake and several other projects in the mix, I had to finish it in a rush and didn't have time to do a video blog of the process. I have good news though! I found a great video on youtube that walks you through the process, so watch, learn and go bake & decorate! :)

Still working on cakes...and other (BIG!) news

2011-07-19T18:00:00.000-07:00

One of these days I'm going to get with it and start posting more regularly, I promise! When parties and events are not my primary job, I tend to get easily overwhelmed and have trouble figuring out how to balance it all. The GOOD news is, conversations are happening and ideas are flowing...so when I come back to the blogging world you better watch out - cuz it's gonna be with a BANG! :) For now, my full-time gig (graphic design) and baking are taking up my time. Not a lot of baking, just a little bit here-and-there...trying out new techniques (some a win, some a learning experience :)) and playing with ingredient combinations...all that fun stuff! The cake pictured above was made using the "ruffle" technique. I honestly had so much fun making it - and am excited that I have a request to do another one before the end of the week!

MEANWHILE, the big news is that I received an email from Amy Atlas' "Editor in Sweets" letting me know that she has chosen my farmhouse brunch as one of her "Links I Love" on the blog! To be noticed by anyone, let alone Amy Atlas is such a huge honor. HUGE! And to Perpetually Engaged for the great feature (which the link will take you to) - thank you!! One of the most rewarding things about styling a party is getting to hear the feedback from other people - and everyone has been so incredibly kind!

So THANK YOU to all of you who keep coming back. I promise that in a matter of time, you won't keep coming back to the same post day-after-day. Someday soon that will change!!

Let them eat cake!

2011-05-25T18:50:00.000-07:00

I recently finished my first course in cake decorating. I must say, if you have any interest in baking, it's so much fun and absolutely worth trying. I still have a lot to learn (2 more classes in fact!), but even the basics have made cake baking/decorating so much easier and more fun! The first cake I made on my own (outside of class) was for the birthday of a little girl that I babysit. She was having a "Tangled" birthday party, so I made a cake that went with the theme. I found the idea for building the tower here, and then built the cake/cupcakes around that. The second cake (top photo) I had seen on The Pioneer Woman's website and immediately fell in love with the simplicity and elegance of the design. My technique definitely needs some work, but I have a feeling I'll be trying it again sometime soon!

Just in time for St. Patty's Day!

2011-03-16T07:00:00.000-07:00

I actually created these cupcakes for my roommate's birthday, which happens to fall right before St. Patty's Day. Her favorite flavor combination is chocolate and mint - which is a very fitting color combo for someone born so close to a green holiday! :) I've been playing around with some ideas for cupcake fillings and flavor combinations, but this is the first one I've actually gotten to test out. I'm calling this cupcake Triple Chocolate Molten Mint Madness. :) I made a devil's food cupcake with a semi-sweet chocolate/mint ganache filling (a "molten lava" inside), let it cool a bit after baking and then dipped the top of each cupcake in a dark chocolate/mint ganache. (I should note that I used very little mint in both the inner ganache as well as the topping since I wanted it to be just a slight hint of flavor and not overkill. I love mint and chocolate, but mint is a flavor that can easily be ruined if overused.) Once the ganache had set and was no longer sticky to the touch, I made a mint cream cheese icing that I used in just a small dollop (don't you love that word?! :)) on top of each cupcake. For the finishing touch, I sprinkled each cupcake with some chopped Andes Mints and viola! A chocolate mint lovers dream come true!

Happy Birthday, Julie! :)

Wedding Details

2011-03-15T14:25:00.000-07:00

I've been working on invitations, menus, place-cards and chummies for a wedding rehearsal dinner taking place in California next week. I have to admit, that's the stuff I love the most. I'm just a sucker for anything printed on paper :). I guess that means I chose the right career when I majored in graphic design! I also made this sign with the couple's names, wedding date & time that coordinates with the colors/design of their wedding. It's about 14x14 actual size and I just loved how it turned out. For as much as I love paper, I love fonts even more!

Farmhouse Brunch Baby Shower

2011-03-03T06:00:00.000-08:00

Last month I had the privilege of styling a baby shower for a dear friend of mine. She was hosting it along with a few other girlfriends and they had already discussed having a brunch due to the mom-to-be's love of breakfast. We talked about the gender of the baby (girl) and the mother's favorite color (pink) and the style she likes. From there I went home and began brainstorming on what "theme" to give a brunch.

My grandparents were farmers and when I think about the BEST brunches (not necessarily the most beautiful, but certainly the most delicious!), I immediately think of good old-fashioned comfort food. Grandmother's buttermilk biscuits, homemade preserves from her garden, the smell of thick bacon in her iron skillet...you get the idea :). So...with that thought in mind, a Farmhouse Brunch it became!

There were a few items I knew I wanted. The first was milk bottles. I'm sure many of you have already discovered this, but the glass Starbucks frappuccino's that you buy at the grocery store look just like little milk bottles when the wrapper is removed. Just my luck, the friend that was hosting the shower happened to work with a guy who drinks them on a regular basis and was happy to donate them to the party. A good soak, scrub and dishwasher cycle and they were good to go! The other item was not quite as easy to come by and was something I finally found sitting outside of a salvage shop. It was a brown wooden mirror then, but for $25 it had great potential. Two cans of white spray paint, one can of chalkboard paint and $6 later it was a chalkboard! I will share pictures of that process in another (much less exciting) post. For now, enjoy the pictures from the party! I hope you like it!

Due to the narrow "depth" of the room, we were never able to get a great wide-angle shot of the whole table without cutting something off. So, here's one last picture of the full spread (I apologize for the "chopped top"). Would love to hear your feedback! Thanks for stopping by!

(images courtesy of Lauren Blair Photography)

My $7.50 Antique Store Find

2011-03-02T15:17:00.000-08:00

You know what I love about flea markets and antique stores? The anticipation that regardless of what you see when you first walk in or how junky or fancy the place might look, you never know when you're going to find a hidden treasure. Last weekend I visited Paducah, KY with a friend and am pretty sure I wore my shopping companions (and dog! :)) out by slowly walking through every single antique/junk store in downtown Paducah. I was looking for a milk glass cake stand, but ended up walking away with just one purchase that day...this adorable set of salt & pepper shakers. I love them for many reasons - first, because they're green (I'm a green fanatic :)), second because they're big & chunky, and most of all because they have the words embossed in the glass...the most important selling point (other than the 50% off $15 price tag :)). I wouldn't say it's my all time favorite antique store find (that was an amazing hand-stitched quilt in pristine condition), but they certainly make me smile!

What are some of your favorite flea market/antique store finds?

A New Take on Conversation Hearts

2011-02-05T22:49:00.000-08:00

If you're like me, you love the idea of conversation hearts, but notsomuch the chalk-like consistency and flavor. BUT, I love the concept of the candy. I love using them to fill in the blanks on a homemade Valentine card or for a fun "vintage looking" decoration at a Valentine party. Although it may save me a few calories to just use them as decoration and not eat them, I'd still rather have something that combines both purposes because, c'mon, who doesn't love sweets?! ;)

That's where this absolutely fabulous tool comes in handy!! Williams Sonoma has created Message-in-a-Cookie-Cutters. Beyond brilliant! I don't own them myself (yet!), but it is definitely an item on my wish list! Not only does the set come with three different shapes that can be used for any occasion, but there is no limit to what you can say (other than the actual space that the cookie allows)! On top of that - create any cookie or flavor you want! No more chalkiness (is that even a word?). I'm thinking maybe an almond sugar cookie, or something lemon...maybe if you're really feeling creative you could make a different flavor of cookie dough for each color of cookie! Strawberry, blueberry, lemon, pistachio...add a little food coloring to each and viola! Now those are some conversation hearts that will get people talking! ;)

Introducing: Chummies!

2011-01-28T19:34:00.000-08:00

For those of you that faithfully follow Frilly Milly, thank you! I know I haven't done a great job keeping up in the past few months, but trying to juggle a "real" job, life and parties/events...well...sometimes I get a little overwhelmed :). I have some things coming up around the corner that I promise to blog about soon, but for now I wanted to introduce you to one of my latest endeavors...Chummies!

I haven't set up an online ordering of any kind quite yet, but if you are interested in ordering chummies, just shoot me an email and let me know! I'm still working on gift packaging for chummies-by-the-dozen, but right now you can purchase a variety of designs in the silver tin shown above for $8/tin (plus s&h...unless you are local to the Franklin/Nashville area).

What are chummies? Well, by my own definition they are a "delicately decorated hand dipped sweet" - or in this particular case, a chocolate dipped oreo with a decorative topping. A standard chummy is just made with a regular oreo, but I can also do any variety of oreo flavor (or double stuff!) for an additional cost. The design pictured is for a Superbowl event, but imagine sending a box to your friends for Valentine's day, a birthday, a "congratulations on your new bundle of joy!" new baby gift, or even a simple "just because". The possibilities are endless!

Tell your friends about chummies today! :)

Christmas Brunch

2010-12-10T14:55:00.000-08:00

The photos for this are not the greatest, so I apologize. It was a pretty "by the seat of my pants" brunch in comparison to my typical "planning" nature. I think I had just come back from a nice Thanksgiving break and rather than get organized and plan, I dove right into work and spent the rest of my free time socializing with everyone I missed while I was out of town! So, I'm ashamed to admit that as of 2am the morning of the brunch, my Christmas tree was up in my living room - with no lights or decorations, my table wasn't set and I didn't even have napkins! I did, however, have all of the food prepared (with the help of my amazing roommate!) and in the fridge...ready to pop in the oven. That's my kind of brunch :). So, I went to bed at 3:30, slept until 7:30 and then got up to get to work! In 3 short hours we decorated the tree, purchased napkins, decorated the table and put the food in the oven so that by the time the guests arrived - it was ready to go!

I should have taken better pictures of the centerpiece...although in the moment it wasn't my proudest work, so I didn't feel the need to focus on it. Well, regardless of that, it's a good concept to use when you just need to "use what you have" and make it work. I took a bouquet of flowers from Wal-mart and cut the stems off of each bud. I then used my water glasses/tumblers, placing the flowers underneath (somewhat of a "magnify" effect) and around them - and then put some votives on top. You could do this with stemware or any type of glassware (colored glass would be even more amazing!) and it gives a nice, simple, and most importantly...cost-effective centerpiece. Not the most glamorous, but it worked!

Pilgrim Hats

2010-12-02T19:52:00.000-08:00

While visiting my family in Arizona over Thanksgiving, my cutie-patootie nieces and nephew had only one request...to bake with Aunt Trishie. Now, I'll be honest, I was a bit "baked out" from my own Thanksgiving the previous week and then the "real" Thanksgiving while I was visiting...but seriously, how could you say no to those sweet faces?! I was more than happy to do a fun little baking project with them. We created "Pilgrim Hats" of sorts. I'm sure if you used a chocolate cookie it would be a little more realistic, but I'm a sucker for a peanut butter cookie (and it also washes out of clothes a little easier ;)). We all tied on our aprons and went to work...dumping, mixing, rolling, smashing...meanwhile trying desperately not to lick the cookie-dough-goodness off our fingers. Seeing them enjoy their "hard work" after those cookies came out of the oven...priceless.

Thanksgiving Dinner Party

2010-11-30T09:47:00.000-08:00

Before I left for Thanksgiving with my family, I decided to host my own dinner party with friends. Rather than trying to prepare the full meal while working a 40-hour week, I was in charge of the turkey and desserts and each guest brought a side dish. Sadly, I don't have any photos of the food other than the pies (but let me tell you - it was all delicious!), but thought I'd share a few pictures* from the table spread. Enjoy!!

*all photos courtesy of Lauren Blair photography

Candy Corn Cuppycakes

2010-10-16T12:27:00.000-07:00

Pumpkin Sticky Rolls Recipe

2010-10-16T10:48:00.000-07:00

Better late than never? :) Enjoy!

Pumpkin Sticky Rolls

2010-09-29T21:15:00.000-07:00

For those of you that are fans on facebook, I'm a little embarrassed to finally be posting this after such a long delay! (hanging head in shame.) I apologize for disappearing for so long as well. Unfortunately Frilly Milly is just an "on the side" gig and quite often my full-time job takes up, well, my "full time" :). We've been in the midst of a major project and although I've enjoyed it, I have to admit that it's been consuming any "creative juice" I might have. The good news is that my absolute FAVORITE season has (finally!) arrived after a blistering hot summer, and with Autumn comes not only my favorite colors and smells, but some of my favorite foods too!

In honor of the beginning of fall (and my new bread maker :)) it was absolutely necessary to bake something that contained pumpkin. Mmm, mmm, mmm!! There are SO many options of things to create with pumpkin, but for whatever reason I've had a slight obsession with cinnamon rolls as of late. I'm going to go ahead and tell you that this may be the first of many varieties to come (that is, if any of the others turn out :)). I'm particuarly a fan of the "sticky roll" version of a cinnamon roll because I love the caramel-like goey-ness to it. I would even go as far to say that I would not be opposed to putting cream cheese icing on TOP of a sticky roll and making the best of both worlds! I may very well collapse in a sugar coma upon the first bite, but it would be totally worth it.

Totally.

Anyway, back to pumpkin. Pumpkin goes great with a lot of things, but cinnamon, caramel and pecans definitely have a love affair with it. So...I went to work and created a pumpkin dough that is not necessarily a "sweet" dough to make up for the fact that it will be covered in brown sugar, butter, cinnamon and pecans.

Yum.
Yum.
Yum!

Let me just tell you, it worked. It worked so well in fact, that I've made them twice already! Hey, I had leftover pumpkin from the first batch, what was I supposed to do?? :) I typed up the recipe but haven't laid it out in a printable form yet, so check back in the next day or so and I should have that up (although as you can already see, I'm a "wordy" person, so I need to go back and simplify it so it doesn't look quite so overwhelming - it's really not!). Also, as I mentioned before, I let my bread machine do the bulk of the word, so my recipe is geared toward that, but I will write up a little "if you don't have a bread maker...here's how to change the recipe to work" blurb to help you out!

Frilly Milly has an Etsy store!!

2010-09-09T07:00:00.000-07:00

I stayed up into the wee hours of the night finally setting up my Etsy store! There's only 2 items in the store right now, but I have hopes of uploading quite a few items before the end of the weekend (emphasis on hopes :)). I'm still figuring out how all of this stuff works, so bear with me while I learn. In the meantime, jump on over to the store and add it to your favorites! If you're new to Etsy altogether - sign up! It's like a virtual craft fair meets a flea market...and yet it's all tidy and nicely organized :).

More Stuff I Really Want :)

2010-09-08T14:06:00.000-07:00

I love that in the past year, women's camera bags have gone to a whole new level with brands such as Epiphanie, Jo Totes and many others! I love them all, I really do, but if I were to have a favorite based on my own personal preference and style, it would have to be Kelly Moore. I would buy this hobo bag just to carry as a purse! Add the camera carrying functionality and this just became my new best friend. I need it...and a new pair of shoes to match :). Then, of course, I'll need a new bag for each season...and more shoes...hmm...this could become a really expensive habit! Maybe Kelly will let me plan a Frilly Milly party for her in exchange for a bag??

One can always dream... :)

Christmas in September!

2010-09-02T12:43:00.000-07:00

I know it seems a little soon to even think about Christmas, but time moves quickly and before you know it you'll be sending out your Christmas cards and decorating your house! You might even throw a beautiful party with all sorts of festive treats! Why not get a head start and order your family Christmas cards now?! Here are just a few examples of cards I've designed over the past few years. If you're interested in a custom design, shoot me an email and let me know!

(outside)

(inside)

That said, I promise I'm not going to skip past my FAVORITE season and all of the fun decorating and baking that goes along with it! Autumn posts will come, don't you worry!! :)

A picture says a thousand words...or twenty-two...

2010-08-29T20:58:00.000-07:00

My college friend and co-worker just had her first baby on Thursday. This little guy has been a calm one pretty much throughout the whole pregnancy. I told Rachel that he was going to take his time coming out (which he did!) and that I think he's going to be a snuggly guy. I guess it's too soon to tell, but when I held little Weston at the hospital yesterday he seemed quite snuggly to me!

I wanted to bring something to Brandon & Rachel at the hospital in celebration of Weston's arrival, but didn't want to go the traditional route of flowers figuring they might already have quite a few arrangements. I had seen this concept on a website a while back (I wish I could remember and would give due credit if I could!!!), so I can't take full credit for it. I'm just old-fashioned in the way that I'd rather give you something I spent time making than something I purchased from a store. Plus, when you've got a new family member, I think it's always fun to see their name in writing :).

I had leftover craft paper from the LumberJack & Jill shower, so I made use of that and some twine for gift wrap, then picked up the letter "W" at JoAnn's to dress it up. I apologize for the poor pictures/lighting...I was in a hurry and wanted to make sure I at least captured it before I gave it away :).

So there you have it! If you have a friend that's having a baby or getting married - this is a fun way to celebrate their special day! All it takes is a computer, some paper, and a picture frame & mat and you are good to go!

LumberJack & Jill Part III: Details, details, details!

2010-08-12T00:13:00.000-07:00

(all photos courtesy of IGCPhotography)

LumberJack & Jill Part II: Photobooth

2010-08-11T23:00:00.000-07:00

The host & hostess of the night, Josh & Lauren

The soon-to-be newlyweds, Jason & Chelsea

Just a few shots of other guests from the evening...

and last but not least...the cameraman himself, Ian!

To view the rest of the photos from the evening, hop on over to Frilly Milly's facebook page using the link on the right!

LumberJack & Jill Part I

2010-08-09T09:28:00.000-07:00

Whew! We did it! This party required a lot of "collecting" and prep work, but in the end, we pulled it off! This is just a teaser of what's still to come! I'll post detailed pics that go into the specific elements sometime in the next week, as well as other elements of the party that are not featured in this shot. Overall I think it turned out great, but most importantly, the couple and everyone in attendance really loved it! In the end, that's what it's all about! BIG shout out to Lauren, the party hostess, for all her help, as well as my friend Ian at IGCPhotography for taking all the pics (including the one above).

So...is it too late to change the title of this party? :) The funny thing is - the forest theme is what inspired the whole concept, but in the end, I think the more appropriate title is "LumberJack & Jill". What do you think?

Gadget, Gizmos and Stuff I Really Want :)

2010-08-03T20:33:00.000-07:00

I've recently discovered a brilliant company called Joseph Joseph. Started by twin brothers, Joseph Joseph specializes in contemporary kitchenware that is not only incredibly functional, but stylish as well. I love their entire set of Elevate kitchen utensils, but my favorite item is definitely the Adjustable Rolling Pin pictured above. At only $20, how could you pass up such an amazing tool? I know it's going on my wish list...along with every other item on their website. Check 'em out!

Check It Out!

2010-07-26T14:07:00.000-07:00

I'm going to try to do a "check it out" post every so often to just share various vendors, resources, and inspiration that I run across. Today's spotlight is on a company called Rifle Paper Co.

This is a fun and whimsical company that offers a lot of "hand drawn/hand painted" type of pieces from wall art to recipe cards to invitations and wrapping paper. Their site isn't completely up and running yet, but I'm pretty sure you'll be visiting time and again to check out all that they offer!

Nutella Banana Party-In-Your-Mouth

2010-07-13T17:57:00.000-07:00

One word here people: UNREAL!! I cannot wait to make a million-and-one varieties of these things and throw a party to celebrate them! Yum, yum, YUM!!!

So I'm sitting on the couch last night working on the computer with the tv on in the background. I think it was on Bravo or something...I don't even know. I couldn't even tell you what show I was watching other than several chefs were being interviewed about their most unique or favorite food experience at a restaurant. Some were disguisting, others I don't even remember because honestly, I wasn't paying that much attention. It was just noise in the background until one guy says the word, "Ebilskivers". Huh?? Is he speaking in a foreign language? Well, yeah actually, he is. Ebilskivers are a beloved treat in their native Denmark. They are light, puffy pancakes that can be filled with fruit, chocolate, jam or cheese and served for breakfast or as an hors d'oeuvre, dessert or light supper (description courtesy of Williams Sonoma). As many times as I say "the possibilities are endless!" you must know by now that I love anything that offers me an endless variety of combinations and flavors.

So, I purchased my first Ebilskiver Pan and went to town. It was incredibly easy to make, and even easier to eat! :) If I can recommend one thing to you today - it's to go out and get yourself and Ebilskiver pan and start creating! Just make sure to invite LOTS of people over to eat up these little bites of heaven, because I promise you - once you start, it's awfully hard to stop!

I heart tjmaxx

2010-07-12T19:00:00.000-07:00

I mean, who doesn't, right?! I'm working on my next party - this time it's a couples shower and I have to say, I'm pretty excited about it!! I made a quick run to tjmaxx over my noon hour and stumbled upon these wooden "baskets". It was love at first sight! The ideas start running through my head a mile a minute! I bought 2 full sets (at $15/set how could I not?!) since I love symmetry and have learned that I should just make a habit of buying things in pairs :).

I also stopped at my new favorite store after work...Goodwill! The Goodwill by my house is the golden ticket, no joke. Since I'm somewhat new to the Goodwill experience, I love learning the best way to get an even better deal. The first Saturday of the month everything is 50% off, orange price tags are 50% off their marked price, and if you spend $25 or more, you get $5 off your purchase! So, tonight I walked away with 3 amazing picture frames, a mirror, 2 vintage flat sheets, a men's plaid shirt and a wooden pony - all for the party I mentioned above. Curious how that all goes together?! Ahhh...just wait and see! It's gonna be good!!!! :)

Ahoy, It's a Boy party!

2010-07-11T20:53:00.000-07:00

I love doing this, I really do. It's so fun when you've spent weeks or months in the planning process and you finally get to see everything come into place just as you envisioned it (and sometimes even better!). This party was extra special since it was in honor of a friend (and co-worker) who is having her first little bambino! It was also such a treat to work with the hostesses of the party - Ashley & Christie. They were the perfect "partners in crime" and jumped right on board with my vision (pun intended :)) and were so gracious to allow me creative freedom in many of the details. We made a really great team and I hope there are future opportunities to work together again! SO...without further ado, here are the pictures from the shower...

Strawberry Short"cups" Recipe

2010-07-09T09:57:00.000-07:00

Short"cups"

3 c. all-purpose flour
1/4 c. sugar
4 t. baking powder
3/4 t. cream of tartar
1 c. unsalted butter (room temperature)
2/3 c. heavy cream
1 egg, beaten
2 (16oz) containers strawberries, sliced
1/4 c. sugar

Preheat oven to 350. In large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder and cream of tartar. Cut in butter using a fork or pastry cutter. Add in heavy cream and beaten egg until well combined (may require some messy hand mixing :)). Lightly flour a clean surface and knead the dough for a couple of minutes or until it makes a solid ball (no "flakeyness").

Using a regular size muffin tin, take an "egg" size ball of dough and press into individual cups, spreading evenly up the edges and at the base. Fill all containers until you've used up your dough (I made about 16 "muffins"). Sprinkle each cup lightly with sugar. Bake 15-20 minutes or until the edges are just a light, light golden brown. Once finished, remove from oven and allow to cool momentarily in pans before removing. Now the tricky part. Because of the dough consistency, it's going to want to "puff up" in the center rather than staying in a nice bowl shape. I used tiny "pinch" pots (see picture below - it's the size of the bottom part of an egg) to round out the center while still warm. I'm thinking about baking them with the pinch pots IN the center next time...to see if that works even better. Either way, it gave me the result I was wanting doing it this way as well. You could use the bottom of a glass or any small "rounded" object to accomplish the same thing.

Carefully remove each cup from the tin and place on a cooling rack (I say carefully because shortcake is very "crumbly" and can easily fall apart). While they're cooling, slice your strawberries and place in a medium bowl. Add sugar. Start with 1/4 c. and add more if desired (I like to make sure there's lot of "sauce" for the shortcake, so I throw in more). Stir and let sit for about 20 minutes or until the sugar has created a nice sauce in the strawberries (you could also do this while the cakes are baking if you are on a time crunch). Finally...the whipping cream...

Whipped Cream

1 c. heavy cream
1 t. vanilla (I use the real stuff)
1 T. powdered sugar

In a medium metal bowl, beat cream until soft peaks form. Add in vanilla and sugar and continue beating until stiff peaks form. Do not overbeat (you don't want to make butter! :)). Place in a covered container in fridge until ready to serve. Stir before serving.

Assembly

Using a large spoon, pour a large helping of strawberries into each cup, making sure to use plenty of juice as well. Top with a dollop of whipped cream (I like to do two seperate dollaps on top of each other...just like the way it looks :)). For an added touch, place a sprig of a mint leaf in each or a few slices of strawberries on the plate. Or if you realy want to go crazy, drizzle a chocolate swirl on the plate before placing the short"cup" on it. The possibilities, as always, are endless, so have fun with it!!

Strawberry Short"cups"

2010-07-09T07:25:00.000-07:00

Tuesday night one of my friends mentioned strawberry shortcake...and I haven't been able to get it out of my head since. It's by far one of my favorite desserts - so light and refreshing. So, when I stopped by walmart to pick up a few things last night and walked by the huge display of strawberries...I just couldn't pass 'em up! I always like to mix things up a bit though, so instead of a making a large cake or even small biscuit size portions, I decided to make individual cakes with a nice little "well" so that the strawberries had a perfect resting spot and all the juices could soak in. Of course, I had to make some real whipping cream, because that's just how strawberry shortcake is done. This would be a great summer dessert - especially if you made a cute little "topper" for each portion to serve to your guests...maybe with a little scripture or fun saying...or even just a cute strawberry patch illustration! The possibilities are endless!

Now to combine the last two posts...

2010-07-08T11:23:00.000-07:00

How about jewelry AND trees?? LOVE this necklace from Cursive Designs!

2010-07-08T08:33:00.000-07:00

Love the jewelry and hairpins featured on Eat Drink Chic's blog today! I've already spent way too much time drooling over all the goodies from Tamar and Oh, Hello Friend's Etsy shops. Now go "frost yourself", ladies! :)

An Enchanted Forest

2010-07-08T08:23:00.000-07:00

Anyone that knows me knows there are three things I really love:

1. Trees
2. Plaid
3. a Party :)

So, when I got together with a friend of mine to discuss a couples shower she is hosting, I was SO excited at the idea of going with a "woodsy" theme! The couple that is getting married is having a very "old timey" style of wedding - lace dress, vintage shoes, old church...all things I love. We're carrying out that concept in a more masculine-meets-feminine way for their couples shower through the use of a masculine plaid combined with tons of dainty, girly details. There will even be a fun photo booth at the shower with all sorts of great props!

This weekend is the "Ahoy, It's a Boy!" shower, so be sure to come back after the weekend to see all the updates, details and photos!

Want a onesie with that?

2010-07-06T14:01:00.000-07:00

When life hands you keylimes, make bread!

2010-07-01T19:50:00.000-07:00

I saw this adorable bag of tiny limes (keylimes) at the grocery store and couldn't resist! They were just begging to be made into something delicious! I have a more complex recipe for the remainder of the limes, but for now...the house smells like a sweet and slightly tart loaf of yummy goodness!

Today's Inspiration: Let's Colour!

2010-07-01T14:09:00.000-07:00

National Ice Cream Month

2010-06-30T07:45:00.000-07:00

July is National Ice Cream month, so to get you prepared (you should really celebrate it every chance you get! :)), here are some fun gadgets and recipes to help you make the most of the next 31 days! If you really wanna get crazy, why not try a new flavor of ice cream for each day?! If you're a local Nashvillian, I would recommend my favorite "sweet" spot - Sweet Cece's. They now have 3 locations in Franklin, Belle Meade and most recently, Hillsboro Village (the Franklin location is my personal fave). Now go out and get your supplies and let's celebrate!

Cuisipro Ice Cream Scoop & Stack

Fondue ice cream treats!

DIY Ice Cream Sandwiches

Ice Cream Cupcakes

and for the dog lover...Pooch Passions Vanilla Ice Cream Treats

What are little boys made of?

2010-06-29T08:59:00.000-07:00

Last night I got together with the two lovely ladies hosting the nautical shower that is coming up next weekend! We did a quick 'mock up' of the table setup and reviewed the menu...and I can't wait to show you how it turns out! While we were chatting it up, one of the girls mentioned that she has a shower coming up in August for a close friend and really wanted to go with the theme "What are little boys made of?". So she searched and searched and was unable to find invitations to go with that theme. I asked her to send the saying my way and I would work something up - even though it's too late for her shower. This is what I drew up last night. I would love to know your thoughts/feedback. The mock-up shows the invitation, the address wraps and the templates for cupcake toppers. If you have any other ideas/suggestions for themes that you've had a hard time finding, let me know! I love the challenge of creating something new - especially if it hasn't been done before.

Also, I want to give a big shout-out to all of you who are following me on facebook - THANK YOU! I appreciate all of the great feedback, sweet comments and just knowing that someone else out there thinks Frilly Milly 'ain't half bad' :). Blessings to all of you!

Check back in later this week - I'll try to do a post on some 4th of July inspiration and ideas!

My latest "wish list" item

2010-06-29T08:15:00.000-07:00

I was shopping with a friend at Williams Sonoma recently and stumbled upon this fancy-schmancy popsicle maker. "What makes it so great" you might ask? It makes popsicles in 7-9 minutes!!! Here's the details according to the summary on the Williams Sonoma site:

Now you can create your own customized frozen pops, including cream-filled varieties, in as little as seven minutes. Simple and easy to use, our freezer ensures flavorful fun for the whole family.

Makes up to nine 2 1/4" x 3 1/2" pops (three 2-oz. pops at a time) before refreezing is required.

Nonstick cast-aluminum molds have a proprietary solution sealed inside their bases to enable rapid, uniform freezing.

A specially designed tool helps to quickly release the frozen treats from their molds.

Durable, reusable plastic pop sticks have unique ridged designs that allow pops to adhere securely.

Special drip guards promote tidy eating.

Includes base, remover tool, six reusable pop sticks and six reusable drip guards.

A Williams-Sonoma exclusive.

If I didn't already want to throw a popsicle party, now I definitely do! Shoot...I might just throw one for myself...and eat a popsicle every 7-9 minutes :).

Summer Fun: Flea Markets

2010-06-22T14:15:00.000-07:00

(photo courtesy of Plum Water Cottage)

Every fourth Saturday of the month, the Nashville State Fair Grounds has a massive flea market. I've actually only visited one time - when I first moved to Nashville 8 years ago. I didn't walk away empty handed though! I purchased a fantastic cedar lined chest for $75! It's huge, perfectly restored, and has served many different purposes over the past 8 years.

I really enjoy a good flea market or yard sale to find those "hard to come by" vintage, retro, and one-of-a-kind items that help make a party unique and fun, but there are a few tips to remember before heading out.

1. Know what you're looking for!

I can't emphasise how important this is. Most people are not a fan of flea markets because it's simply overwhelming to take it all in. I totally get that! You walk into this huge warehouse of a building and it's not like they put all the glassware in one area. It's booth after booth of a hodge-podge of items, and even though so many of those things may be a total gold mine, you pass them up because you don't even notice them in the midst of all the other stuff surrounding them. Just a few of the fun things on my list for this weekend: mason jars (variety of shapes, sizes, colors), demitase spoons, cordial glasses, vintage canned goods (empty, of course...but with vintage labels), milk glass, old bottles, cake plates, etc. Also, if you need something for a specific space, be sure to bring measurements!!

2. Know how much you should pay.

This is sometimes easier said than done, but you should have an idea of what a bargain really is before you end up with something old that cost you more than it should. A perfect example of this was the time that I purchased the cedar chest. I wasn't sure if $75 was a good deal or if I could go to a furniture store and pay the same price (I was really young, okay? :)). I called my mom, knowing she had a cedar chest and asked if she had a rough idea of what a decent price would be, and she (amazingly) remembered paying $150 for theirs when they first got married! That's all I needed to know in order to hand over my cash to the seller!

3. Set a budget before you leave.

Flea markets are full of great deals, but just because it's a great deal doesn't mean you should spend the money! Know your budget before you leave and promise yourself you won't go over. It's even a good idea just to bring cash and leave your wallet at home so you're not even tempted.

4. Don't be afraid to barter.

You know a good deal when you see one, so if it's a fair price, leave it well enough alone and be satisfied with the steal you're getting. BUT, if it's a great item with a pricetag that's a little higher than you'd like to pay, it never hurts to ask. The worst they can say is "no". I've heard that there's a 20% margin, but I'm sure that varies from vendor to vendor. Whatever you do, be fair. Don't ask for diamonds with only pennies in your pocket.

5. Get there early or take a risk and get there late!

You have two options - either get there first thing in the morning so the best deals are not picked over, OR, get there late and risk the possibility that the vendors will be leaving and want as little to haul back as possible and will therefore give you a good deal if you'll just take it off of their hands. Best selection: early. Best Deals: late.

6. Use your imagination!

This is a tough one for a lot of people, but it's the best thing you can do when walking into a flea market! You might see an old hat box that has a cool exterior finish and think, "I don't wear hats, I wouldn't use that, but it sure is pretty!", but take that hat box, flip it upside down and you could have a really cool cake stand for a dessert spread! An old wooden flower box with multiple dividers? Now a perfect dish for candy, nuts or toppings (with a clean, interior liner, of course). If you find something that really captures your eye, try to think outside the box of other functions it could be used for beyond what it was created to be.

I'd love to see your greatest flea market find! If you have a story (or even better, a picture!), send me an email and any tips you'd like to share!

Happy Shopping!!

Feeling "crabby"?

2010-06-22T09:36:00.000-07:00

Well this should cheer you up! Check out TomKat Studio's "Tommy's Crab Shack Party". Oh for cuteness sake! I'm loving the red, white & blue theme, which is such a great thing to take advantage of with all of the 4th of July decor available this time of year! Check out her site for links to the various pieces she's included in this party...as well as all of her other amazing work!

Inspired by Popsicles

2010-06-15T12:05:00.000-07:00

Do you ever have those moments where you just see something and it sparks one thought that leads into a hundred more? Well, last night I saw a popsicle and started mentally planning an entire party around it!

The invitations, the favors, the menu, the decor...all based off of a popsicle...how cute?! I'm sure it's been done before, but I'd rather not know and just run with the thoughts that are milling around in my mind. I'm writing all of them down so that when the opportunity arises, there will be a festive popsicle party! :) I would love to know how to make pointy popsicles as in the picture above (found on this blog). If anyone knows where I can purchase a mold like that, do tell! I do love all the varieties of popsicle molds that Tovolo offers. I could see this being not only a great kids party, but also a fun adult party as well. Maybe there would be cocktail-inspired popsicles?? You could even combine the two and have a fun family outdoor get-together and have a popsicle party for all ages!

The possibilities are endless...as are the varieties of popsicles. Anyone else craving a creamy chocolate jell-o pop about now? :)

Nautical Invitations

2010-06-14T08:48:00.000-07:00

I apologize for the rough pictures (I tend to be a night owl and artificial light doesn't necessarily produce the best images!), so I'll try to take some better pictures in the daylight. These are the invitations I created for the upcoming nautical shower for baby Hoop. I'm obsessed with envelope "wraps" - mostly because it allows you to use any color of envelope, no matter how dark, without looking tacky with a big white label on the front. May take a tad bit more time to assemble, but I think the finished product makes it all worthwhile!

Ahoy, It's a Boy!

2010-06-09T10:57:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned earlier, I'm working on a shower for a baby boy...and this one has a nautical theme which is just perfect for a baby shower in the summer! I'm working on the table design, but here are just a few pieces of inspiration - some that will be used, others that won't...and some that just inspire an idea beyond the idea. I just finished the invitations last night and have sent them off to the printer! Maybe you've done a nautical shower or birthday party before and have some great ideas - I'd love to hear them! Stay tuned for more details!

1. Sailboat Cupcakes (Cake Central)

2. Sail Cupcake Toppers (The Party Dress)

3. Nautical Cupcake Stand (The Celebration Shoppe)

4. White Frosted Donuts

5. Sailboat Cake (Imprintables)

6. Sailboat Gift Packaging (d.Sharp Journal)

7. Striped Straws (Bake It Pretty)

8. Blue Bottled Drinks (615 Creative)

9. Donutpops (Country Living)

10. Pirate Ship Fruit Bowl (Fat & Happy)

11. Red Striped Paper Plates (Paper Style)

12. Nautical Banner (The Sweetest Occasion)

13. Sailboat Placecards (Piece of Cake)

14. Table Banners (Ascot Friday)

15. Blue Saltwater Taffy

16. Sand & Seashell Filled Apothecary Jars (Just a Girl)

17. Sailboat (Christian Book)

"New Chick" inspiration board

2010-06-08T11:11:00.000-07:00

1. Pink Poms (Martha Stewart)

2. Knot Straws (Wedding by Color)

3. Tree Centerpiece (ShopHollyDays)

4. Winter Tree Centerpiece (The Inspired Bride)

5. Bird's Nest Cupcakes (Hostess with the Mostess)

6. Bird House Cupcake Stand Topper (The Celebration Shop)

7. Petit Fours (I can't for the life of me remember where I pulled this image. Our actual petit fours were from The Flour Shop in Brentwood)

8. Fabric Birds (The Long Thread)

9. Fabric Banner (also can't find this specific image link, but Nestables makes the same things)

10. Apothecary Labels (Lolliblog)
11. Dessert Table Layout (Amy Atlas)
12. Favor Bags & Almonds (That Final Touch store on Etsy)

Preliminary Sketch

2010-06-07T08:31:00.000-07:00

I know this is a little bit backwards, but thought I'd post the original sketch from the "New Chick for the Nest" shower so you can see everything from start to finish!

A New Chick for the Nest

2010-06-06T23:29:00.000-07:00

My friend Nicki was in charge of co-hosting a baby shower for a friend in her Bible study. Their group happens to be called the "Hot Chicks", so what better theme than "A New Chick for the Nest"? There were a few details here and there that I would change (you learn as you go!), but overall I was pretty satisfied with the outcome. I do know the guests enjoyed it - and ultimately, that's all that really matters!

Facebook

2010-06-04T12:57:00.000-07:00

I promise this page will start looking less empty soon! I have spent every evening working on the shower for this weekend and I can't wait to show you the final product! Check back in on Monday for all the details!

Meanwhile, if you have a second, please go to my facebook page and become a fan. I need 25 people to be able to customize the facebook URL, but here's hoping that number continues to grow well beyond that! If you have a blog, please feel free to post about this new venture and spread the word to your family and friends. Even if you're not local, I can still design from a distance! :).

Up next: another baby shower, this time, for a boy! I don't want to give away all the details yet, but it involves seersucker, red ribbons...and donuts! Stay tuned!

Alice in Wonderland

2010-05-27T08:54:00.000-07:00

Recently, my friend Ashley and I put together an Alice in Wonderland themed dinner party for our supper club. It was originally planned to be outdoors at Arrington Vineyards, but due to what they are now calling the "thousand year flood" in Nashville, our party was moved indoors - to my place. A successful party should be great, regardless of location, right? Well...that's what we kept telling ourselves as the rain kept coming...and kept on coming.

So, we made due. We turned off all the lights, lit candles everywhere, played the new Alice in Wonderland soundtrack in the background (which is so great by the way!) and enjoyed every delicious morsel of food. Ashley rocked the tea sandwiches, gazpacho and hors d'oeuvres. I made all the sweets. The combination of all of the above was a perfect compliment to each other and we sat around the table talking, laughing, enjoying a glass of wine and listening to the rain pour down outside.

Frilly Milly Events

2010-05-25T19:55:00.000-07:00

Those that know me know that I love to throw a party...and usually my inspiration for a party is based on an invitation I've been dying to create! Recently I decided to start sharing my love of parties, invitations and "themes" by creating an event planning company. Thus began Frilly Milly Events. I haven't come up with a tagline yet...would LOVE to hear your suggestions! If you've got a baby shower, bridal shower, birthday party, or small event coming up that you need help with, whether in decoration, menu or paper goods (invitations, placecards, menus, etc.), I would love to help! Shoot me an email at frillymillyevent@gmail.com!