Sweet Trends: IZZE Pop

Day 4 of 2011's hottest sweet trends is a drink?  Really?

Yes!!  Izze is one of the hottest sweet drinks around.  It's bright, vibrant colors, all natural ingredients and classic soda pop bottle make it perfect for any party or sweets table.  This sparkling drink coordinates easily with a multitude of color palettes and can be displayed in various ways.  The bottles are so pretty you almost don't want to hide them in the typical ice tub!  Not only are they pleasing to the eye, they are easily personalized for your special occasion.  You can hang a note from the neck of the bottle, wrap personalized label around the bottle, or place a cute straw in the drink adorned with a customized straw topper.  Your guests will love this refreshing and unique drink.  They need something to wash down all the sweets, right??

This post makes me want to pop an Izze for myself and build it into Sweet Nothings next sweets table!

{Photos courtesy of PHOTOSMASHING and Whimsical Thumb}

Be Sweet.

-Kristy

Sweet Trends: Handmade Lollipops

Jump on board folks because the Good Ship Lollipop has arrived!  Woot!  Handmade Old Fashioned Swirl Lollipops are one of my favorite candies and are quite the trend in the party scene.  Not only do these works of art look beautiful, they add such character, personality and a flair of whimsy to any affair. 

Don't these lollies make you happier just looking at them??

Stay sweet my friends.

Be Sweet.

-Kristy

Sweet Trends: Homemade Pie

We're continuing this week's series featuring the hottest trends in sweets for 2011.  And today's sweet warms my soul just thinking about it.  

Homemade pie.  

Pies are an American tradition, dating back to the early Pilgrim settlers who brought their pie recipes with them to America.  Their first pies were based on berries and fruits and today, not much has changed.  Some of the most popular pies remain to be the fruit-filled pies: Apple pie, Berry Pie, Cherry Pie, Peach pie...  The list can go on and on.  

Pies are becoming the new "it" dessert at wedding receptions, bridal showers, baby showers and family gatherings.  They signify love, home and tradition, something each host hopes to express to their guests.    

There's something so sweet and so special about a homemade pie.  The simplicity of the dessert and the love put into making it will surely touch a special place in anyone's heart.

{Images courtesy of Sparkle & Hay, Bustle, Ruffled, and Elizabeth Anne Designs}

Be Sweet.

-Kristy

Sweet Trends: The French Macaron

This week we're kicking off a week long special featuring this year's hottest trends in sweets.  What's hot?  What's not?  What will you want to make to sure include in your dessert menu when entertaining for your favorite guests?  This week you're about to find out...

As you may have noticed over the past few years (how could you not?) that cupcakes were ALL the rage.  It seemed as though all of a sudden the single serving piece of cake took the entertaining, baking and wedding industry by storm.  Cupcake shops were popping up left and right.  New reality TV shows were based solely on cupcake bakeries and cupcake wars.  Insane!  Well folks, I'm here to tell you that the cupcake is has had it's 15 minutes of fame.  Move on over Little Miss Cupcake, here comes one little treat that is packed with a big punch...

The French Macaron.

Not to be confused with the Macaroon, (a chewy mound of coconut goodness) the macaron (mah-kæ-rhon) is a sweet confectionary made with a mixture of egg whites, sugar, ground almonds and food coloring.  The petite delectable is commonly filled with delicious buttercream or jam filling and sandwiched between two cookies.  This fragile little dessert is quickly becoming one of the hottest sweet treats for weddings, showers and birthdays.

Oh, so sweet.

Stay tuned for tomorrow's hottest trend in sweets.  It's an American tradition...

Any guesses??

Be Sweet!

-Kristy

Ruffled Tea Party

This tastefully sweet Sweets Table comes from Melissa of The Loveliest Day who styled this shoot for the Ruffled Blog.  I absolutely love everything about this table.  The color palette of pinks, yellows and white offer up such a cozy, shabby chic feel.  The desserts are so dainty and perfectly stylized.  I adore the little button accents on the favor boxes.  It's amazing what simple little things can do to dress up something so plain.  A wonderful touch!

One hot trend I'm seeing across many parties is the use of vintage-like fabrics that have been ripped and tied onto a rope to create a "rag swag" effect.  This type of backdrop is one of my favorites!  Another great idea was including the window pane in the backdrop to create an illusion of being inside, yet keeping with that lovely outside garden feel.  Incorporating the window pane and curtain of fabric helps add dimension and depth to the overall look of the table.  Gorgeous!!

The ruffled cake.  So beautiful.

{Photos courtesy of Ashley Rose}

Cotton Candy? Yes, Please!!

That's right!  I did it.  I am now the proud owner of my very own cotton candy maker.  This 1900's carnival style cotton candy cart in bubble gum pink is mine!  I was so excited when I saw it and was jumping for joy when I brought it home.  My brain is spinning thinking about all the ways I plan to incorporate freshly made cotton candy into my designs for Sweet Nothings.  Cotton candy is a timeless candy and such a hot trend right now in weddings, birthdays and special events.  I'm so thrilled that Sweet Nothings will soon be able to offer cotton candy packages to our customers.

I'd like to give a big thanks to everyone who has expressed such kind words and support for my new business, especially over the past few weeks.  Sweet Nothings has so many great things in the works, I can't wait to share them all with you.  But for now, I'll be dreaming of fluffy clouds of candy...

Be Sweet.

-Kristy

Beautiful Pedestals

{Photo courtesy of Bliss Event Planning}

I am down right smitten with these gorgeous Hobnail cake pedestals.  They dress up any dessert or candy and add such character to any Sweets Table they grace.  The colors vary from pinks, blues, green, milk white, amber, blues and so many more.  The choices are endless.

A few of these pedestals are on my wish list.  I just need to make sure my husband remembers how much I love them and how happy finding one at home would make me!

If you are looking for a place to buy one of your own, check out Sweet & Saucy's New Supply Store.  They offer a wide selection of cake stands, platters and bowls, domes, and cupcake liners.  I wish I had free reign on the whole place.  I would  have a field day picking out each and every item I ever wanted. 

{Pedestal found on Barking Sands Vintage Etsy Shop}

{Photo courtesy of Green Wedding Shoes}

{Photo courtesy of The Sweetest Occasion}

{Photo courtesy of Martha Stewart}


Can you find the hobnail in the photo above??

Be Sweet.

-Kristy

Oh Mister Milk Man....

So, these little guys have to be the cutest thing I've seen in a long time.  And what makes them so over-the-top cute is how SIMPLE they are to make!!  

These Snowman Milk Glasses are the perfect mix of winter and whimsey.

Chances are you may have already seen them on The Today Show when Amy Atlas was featured for a Holiday Dessert Table bit.  Amy was inspired by Chris of Celebrations at Home, who was inspired by THESE from Better Homes and Gardens.  The trend is making it's way around the table decorating scene and being used by the best of them.  I can't wait to make very own little snowy milk men.



All you need is...
Small Milk Glasses (These from Target would work)
Powdered Donut Holes
Straws
Milk, of course

To decorate...
Use chocolate jimmies to press into the doughnuts for the eyes and mouth.  The noses are orange coated sunflower seed pressed into the doughnut and attached with a bit of frosting.

And to make it super duper cute, coordinate the felt scarves with the same color striped straws.  And to finish them off, glue a few buttons to the glass.

So wonderful!


{Photos courtesy of Bakerella}


 I can't wait to make very own little snowy milk men.

Be Sweet.

-Kristy

The Garter Girl

When I was planning my wedding, it was extremely important to me that every facet of our day represent Curtis and myself in personal way.  And what could be more personal than the garter? 

I searched and searched for a garter that fit my style, but after endless days of looking for the perfect thing, I came across The Garter Girl.  Problem solved.  Julianne Smith is The Garter Girl.  Every garter she makes is hand-made to the bride's specifications and can be personalized to offer that special touch you are looking for.  She has an amazing selection of garters ranging from Eco-Friendly to Couture, Something Blue to something custom made just for you!

I was more than pleased when I received my garter set in the mail.  It was absolutely perfect.  It will be a keepsake I treasure forever.  And not only is Julianne taking the garter world by storm, she has teamed up with Nole Garey, founder and editor of Oh So Beautiful Paper and launched a wedding website just for the Greater Washington, DC area.  United With Love is a daily read for me!  You've got to check it out.  

Make sure to see my garter featured on The Garter Girl Real Weddings!!    

Be Sweet.

-Kristy