Fun Favor Idea

Here is a colorful little Jelly Belly cupcake tower that I made for my daughter's class when it was time to celebrate her birthday. You simply fill sandwich baggies with Jelly Bellys and use a twistie to secure. Cut down a few paper cups to look like cupcake liners (I got the paper cups from Party City and used rick-rack scissors to make the cut.) Put the jelly belly bags in the cup twistie side down and top with a cherry pom-pom for the finishing touch! Everyone gets their own little cupcake. What could be cuter?!

A Great Idea

These flowers are suspended from a wire and are so sweet and delicate. I can just imagine them in Fall colors with a few mums, marigolds, snapdragons and bittersweet. Thank you, Sweet Paul for such a clever idea!

'Lil Sweetie

I've had sweet treats on the brain lately. This card from our "Let's Party" album is making me dream big...And I must be craving something sweet 'cuz these whoopie pies, brownies and crispery treats are callin' my name...don't they all look so good?

Above: from redbookmag.com - Black & White Whoopie Pies

Above: Peanut Butter Cup Brownies - recipe spotted at birthdaygirlblog.com

Above: from birthdaygirlblog.com

Remember the rice crispy treats you loved as a kid? I’ll do you one better. I just heard about this company The Crispery and I’m pretty sure the mouth watering photos above speak for themselves. Their creations include so many versions of the classic kid friendly treat, I have stop and wonder ‘why didn’t I think of this years ago’?! I love that they offer sample boxes in pretty packaging too... such a great birthday gift or favor idea!

Not your typical "Hand Painting"

My sister sent me these amazing images done by artist Guido Daniele. They are so unbelievable! How sad that they only last until the next hand wash...

"O" Wow!

I found this video on one of my favorite blogs "My Life, My Love". I thought it was such a happy thing to share. It makes me smile and I hope it makes your day! I love you Oprah!

Cox and Cox

I have absolutely fallen in love with the mail-order company Cox & Cox. Their motto: "have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful". Check out some of my favorite things, and tell me...what do you like? I want to hear.

Display Box

Shadow Box

Walnut Key

Lotus Tea Lights

Heart Stamped Sugar Cubes

Famous Faces Masks

Heart Sparklers

Mouse in a Box

Liberty Rabbit

Frances Janisch

I came across this wonderful photographer's work on Sweet Paul's blog.

Check out her lovely website here.

The bottom photos were a project Paul did for Parent's Magazine.

Here are his instructions for the cute felt flowers:

You need two smaller and two larger flowers cut out in felt.

Glue them on top of each other with a hot glue gun.

The middle is made of a little roll of felt that you fringe.

Glue it on with hot glue gun as well.

Cover a craft metal wire with felt and glue the flower to the wire.

Cut out one small and one larger leaf in felt and glue them together.

Hot glue the leaf to the wire and you now have a pretty flower.

Papabubble

Do you know about this candy store? They make delicious and beautiful hard candies and lollipops. The brightly colored treats are made by hand, and if you're lucky, you can catch the show as they make them in the shop. They also do fantastic personalized candies with little initials made for wedding favors or business promotions. If you're planning a trip to New York, you'll have to check it out: Papabubble, 380 Broome Street (between Mott and Mulberry) in Little Italy, NYC.

Chalk it up to a Good Time

I have long been a fan of the disposable cup version of this glass. They are so great for kid's parties and terrific for sleepovers too. Here they are in the grown-up version just in time for having friends over to watch the ball game on t.v... Chalk-talk glassware available at World Market. Here are a few fun football snack recipes (all from Southern Living Easy Entertaining magazine) to pair with the fun glasses:

Foccacia Tiles

I found this recipe for these beautiful "Foccacia Tiles" in this month's issue of Better Homes and Gardens. Served with a nice bowl of mexican soup or chile and you have a gorgeous meal!

Ice-Cream Dream

I love this adorable ice-cream bar via eatdrinkchic.com. The soft marshmallowy colors just make me feel like a little girl in an ice-cream shop...but not just any ice-cream shop...it would have to be some place magical like when I was a child on a trip with my dad in NYC.

I can't wait to get a copy of this new book Paris: Made by Hand by Pia Jane Bikerk ($19 The Little Bookroom, 2009). This guide will give you a taste of where decorators, designers and stylists go to shop.

Ribbon Roses

One continuous strip of wire edge ribbon with no sewing makes a beautiful rose which can add the perfect little detail to your gift wrapped package, table linens and so much more. Here's how... courtesy of the book 'Ribbons' by Mary Norden.

Kate Gosselin Wig

I found this Kate Gosselin wig on little one of a kind and thought it was kinda' funny. I wonder how many of these we'll see on Halloween night!

Health & Body

Here are two articles that I found interesting in Glamour Magazine's October 2009 issue:

Swamp Juice

This is almost TOO gross! Thank you, Family Fun magazine, for creating the world's ickiest looking drink EVER!
Gag!

Monster Munch

This recipe is a proven hit at our house. If you are making it for a party, just be aware of children with peanut allergies. It is so yummy!

1 box Rice Chex cereal
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup butter
12 ounces chocolate chips
2 cups powdered sugar
orange and black M&M's (optional)

Melt peanut butter, butter and chocolate chips together in the microwave or on the stove. Stir into cereal. Put powdered sugar in a paper sack. Add cereal mixture to sack and shake until well coated. Sprinkle orange and black M&M's for color, if desired. Enjoy!

Here are some more great Halloween ideas from Martha!

Decorate pumpkins using candy and pushpins or toothpicks.

Pumpkin family using items from Mother Nature.

Fall Decorating

Fall is just around the corner and with it comes a fresh new palette of color and texture to incorporate into your home. Here are some great decorating ideas.