Homemade: Cinnamon Roll Cookies

Hey there darlings!  How's your morning going so far?  Mine...medium ;-)  However, it would be a whole lot better if I had some of these...

I heart cinnamon rolls!  But cinnamon roll cookies - just genius, I say!  And someone please tell me why do cinnamon rolls always remind me of Fall and Winter?  And why do I CRAVE them at this time...never in Spring or Summer...just Fall and Winter.  I think they are a cozy food, and I always like being cozy in Fall and Winter -so I guess that would be it, no?  But I LOVE the fact that these are cookies...so much easier to serve up...even though I would love to see a cinnamon roll bar at a wedding...maybe mine if  when I ever get married again ;-) 

Anyhoo...wouldn't these make a great midnight snack at a wedding?  I would serve them up (ooh warm would be VERY GOOD) with some coffee or hot chocolate and your guests will be smiling from ear to ear.  Okay, well that might be the alcohol, but still, they would at least be smacking their lips from the deliciousness. 

And if you didn't want to serve them up at the wedding itself, they would still make great favors packaged up all cute.  Just look how lovely they looked stacked...

Packaged up all pretty...because really everything is SO MUCH BETTER when packaged up all pretty...and your guests would be happy, happy, happy to take these home I'm sure!

Well darlings, if you would like to make your own...the always FABULOUS Bakers Royale is the place to go....but you can click right HERE to get to the recipe quick! 

Happy baking.  Let me know when they are done, and I will be right over ;-)

P.S. - I am LOVING 'Fall Week'...hope you are too!

~ Ciao

...images via bakers royale

Tuesday Thought: Caramel Apples

Happy Tuesdays my dears!  So I am finally starting to feel like myself again ;-)  Still feel like I need lots of sleep, but another day or two and I'll be back to 100%!

Okay, I know that caramel apples are nothing knew, but check these out...

Talk about dipped in something fun...these caramel apples have a little something extra special with a double chocolate drizzle or a dip into dried fruit, toffee bits, nuts, and/or cocoa nibs!

So here is your simply (as that's about all I can muster up today) 'Tuesday Thought' my dears:  I would LOVE to see a caramel apple station at a wedding!  Not one where the guests do it...but one where they go up and place their order, and choose their dipping ins ;-)  They can be made, with the guests names attached, and then the guests can pick them up later on in the evening after the caramel has cooled.  Or you can have each guest fill out a tag that has been at each seat with their name on it,and what they want...and then at the end of the night they can pick it up!  Plus, it would be fun for your guests to watch they make them if they wanted too!  Goodness with choices like chocolate, white chocolate, dark chocolate, and nuts like macadamia's, pecans, almonds, and lots of other creative choices...your guests are sure to find something they like!  I think I want a caramel apple dipped in chocolate and then topped (or bottomed, depending on how you look at it) in macadamia nuts please - YUMMY!

Ooh and there would be so many cute ways to package them if you are giving them as favors!  Or if you just want to make your own...these are pretty easy to make, as you use wrapped caramels and chocolate pieces ;-)  You can get the recipe right HERE my dears.

Happy dipping my dears!
~ Ciao

...image via country home

A Fabulous Fall Favor Follow Up: Table Talk Pies

Good Thursday morning darlings!  Hooray for Thursday ;-)  I have a little follow up for you.  Remember last Friday I shared with you a post titled A Fabulous Fall Favor - which had these mini pies as favors...

Well guess what darlings?  I just happened to see these mini pies at Safeway, on Saturday, when I was in Monterey with my brother and his wife!  No lie.  Exact same packaging and everything.  I even pulled the post up on my phone to show my brother and his wife.  Gotta love technology, no? 

Anyhoo, the mini pies are made by a company called Table Talk Pies out of Massachusetts.  They have been making pies since 1924.  Now when I saw them in Safeway, they had the exact same boxes as in the post, but on their website the boxes look different...but it's still Table Talk Pies!

And have a look-see at all the flavor choices:

• Apple • Chocolate Eclair • Blueberry • Pumpkin • Lemon • Cherry • Pineapple • Peach
• Pecan • Brownie  • Chocolate Creme • Coconut Creme • Banana Creme • Pumpkin (seasonal) • No Sugar Added Blueberry • No Sugar Added Apple • No Sugar Added Cherry • No Sugar Added Peach

Yummy!  Now the only thing left is to decide which flavor you want. Good luck ;-)

~ Ciao

...image via style me pretty ???

Who Says

...you can't serve up cinnamon rolls in pretty tins on a dessert table?

I L-O-V-E this idea my dears!  And you only need a couple vintage tins I think, the baking pans (like in the picture) would look cute too...plus, there's nothing like scooping up a cinnamon roll out of a baking tin ;-)

P.S. - Aunt Millie is known for her cinnamon rolls, and used to make them EVERY Wednesday while her kids were growing up...and still run a business from home!  Why don't I have a tradition like this...hmph.

~ Ciao

...THIS IS A COPYRIGHTED IMAGE...photography by lara rossignol originally for piewacket

Happy Sweet Weekend

Wishing you darlings a fabulously sweet weekend!  May you enjoy the summer sunshine and sundaes with friends this weekend :-)  Because before we know it Fall will be upon us.  Eeks - that's kind of a scary thought, no?

And because I am all about the details - I thought I would share this absolutely perfect sundae topping holder to hold all of your yummy topping choices...

Oh, and you bet your buttons I love the sugar filled hearts.  It's a fabulous filler to hold up those signs ;-) And perfectly sweet too, no? 

I'm off to get some rest - as I feel a cold sneaking up on me ;-(  I do not like summer colds or sicknesses!  So I hope to fend it off...with a sundae of course.  Hehe...that will definitely make me feel better.  And if for some reason that doesn't work - Aunt Millie's 'meat and potato' (with veggies and salad too) dinner and homemade peach cobbler (that is AMAZING) with the family on Sunday will do the trick for sure. 

See you on Sunday loves for some sweetness...hopefully by then I will be feeling tip top again.

~ Ciao

...photography by jose villa via style me pretty

Inspired By: Rainer Cherries

There is no cherry prettier and sweeter than the Rainer!  It is said that: "growing these cherries is like playing poker with God."  I guess that explains why they are kind of expensive ;-) 

Rainers make a brief appearance in June and July, and are definitely something I look forward to every Summer.  However, once you've had Rainers it's hard to have anything else.  To me, they are definitely inspiring!  Have a look-see at the lovely Rainers...

Pretty, no?  And the blue plate below adds just the perfect amount of contrast, to make the prettiest palette!  Wonder if this dessert table was inspired by them...

Again, it's not just the color, but the feel here - summery, light, pretty and sweet - both the Rainer cherries and the dessert table!  Don't you just love how inspiration can come from anywhere - a chevron floor, chippy pink paint, an embroidered book cover and Rainer cherries are all perfect examples of just that!

~ Ciao

...images via cannelle et vanille & cake ink events

Homemade: S'mores Thumbprint Cookies

Happy Thursday loves!  Is everyone getting ready and gearing up for the 4th of July weekend?  OMGoodness - I still can't believe it's this weekend, and I have quite a busy weekend in store too.  Thanks oil light for coming on just before a holiday weekend (it flashed once at me last week, but I kept thinking it would go away...why do I do that, as I know it's not going to go away!)...now I have an appointment for an oil change at the dealership at 8 am on Saturday morning - ugh!  Anyone want to take my car in for me?  Anyone? 

Okay - enough about my sad oil change on Saturday morning at 8 am story and onto yummier things like s'mores!  One popular thing to do over the 4th of July weekend, besides seeing/launching fireworks, is to have a bonfire and make some s'mores.  However, I will not be sitting around a bonfire and making s'mores at any point this weekend (not that I am aware of )...boo!  But I'm not to bummed actually, as I ran across a fabulous alternative.  Have a look-see at these S'mores Thumbprint Cookies...

Yes, a fabulous alternative, no?

So for all the brides out there that want s'mores but, like me, have no bonfire in sight, you can always bake these up and serve at your soiree!  To make this deliciousness yourself, click here for the recipe. 

Happy baking my dears!

~ Ciao

...image via bakers royale

Darling Detail No. 15: Simply Sweet Sugar

One of the simplest and sweetest details ever...

Such a lovely way to make brownies even better, no?  Ah yes, these are the details that I heart!

~ Ciao

...photography by smitten via style my pretty

A Present of Profiteroles

Oh me oh my - this would be amazing on a dessert table...

The perfect gift to share with your guests, no?  And I adore that it is all tied up with a chocolate bow!  Just might be dessert perfection.

And you bet your buttons you can make your own!  Get the recipe and how to right here.  Happy present making my dears ;-)

~ Ciao

...images via poires au chocolat

Who Says

...you can't serve up your desserts in a wheeled cart?

Eeks - how fabulous is this?  I would have them wheel it right on over to my table...hehe.  But think about it - would be fun having someone wheel the cart around versus everyone heading over to it....hmmm, this has got me thinking.  Oh, and you bet your buttons I am OVER THE MOON with this!

~ Ciao

...photography by the nichols via style me pretty

Homemade: S'mores Cupcakes

Happy Homemade Thursday my loves!  Good golly are you in for a little bit of heaven today ;-)  I don't know what has gotten into me lately, but I keep finding all these fabulous homemade goodies that I just have to share with you.  And today's S'mores Cupcakes are over the moon! 

I found this yummyness (is that even a word? ) on a new blog I stumbled upon, and fell in love with, called 6 Bittersweets written by Xiaolu.  Maybe you have heard of the blog before?  I have a vague recollection I have been there before, but when I ran across it the other day I looked at page after page of deliciousness (now I know that is a word).   Not only do the recipes sound delicious, but the styling (LOVE the inverted cake tin) and photography is fabulous!  Alright enough talking out of me.  Just have a look-see for yourself...

And here is how Xiaolu describes them:  "moist chocolate cake sandwiched between flavorful graham cracker crust layers and even more chocolate chunks. The best part, though, is the toasted marshmallow frosting that becomes delightfully gooey at first bite."  Tell me that doesn't sound yummy!  Here is what they look like without the marshmallow frosting...

And of course like most things - they definitely look better dressed up a bit ;-)  The torched marshmallow frosting with the small piece of chocolate on top is just perfection...

A fabulous addition to a Fall dessert table!

You can find the recipe for S'mores Cupcakes right here.  I also adore the cuteness of the Oreo Owl Cupcakes,  and the Strawberry N' Cream Cupcakes would be perfect for a Summer soiree.  However, there are other delicious recipes that aren't sweets...so be sure to have a look-see as there is lots of goodness to see.

~ Ciao

...images via 6 bittersweets

Inspired By: A Gorgeous Room

Good Friday morning loves!  I thought I would start this morning with some inspiration for you...sounds lovely doesn't it?  Well lovely is just what I have for you today. 

While I was in the midst of working on a Picture Perfect Palette post for you, I happened across this picture I saved some time ago, and I knew I had to do this post instead.  So PPP will be back next Friday with some fabulous inspiration.  However, I think this is some pretty fabulous inspiration itself!

I have always loved this room, and dream of spending afternoons here curled up reading a good book...

Gorgeous little spot, no?  I am fairly sure it would be my favorite spot in the house.  A spot that brings me happiness just being in...we all needs spots like that don't we?  So it got me thinking...how would I incorporate this gorgeous little spot into my wedding day without it being overly feminine?  I would want to incorporate not only the colors, but the richness and warmth of it.  Well, I found a perfect example of how to incorporate all of the above into your wedding day with a dessert buffet!  Have a look-see...

Fondant cherries with gold leaves, macaroons and white chocolate pyramids truffles topped with gold and mini ice cream shimmering cones all not only bring in the colors of the inspiration room but the richness of it too!   Really, there are so many ways to incorporate this room into your wedding...so tell me loves, what do you see?

~ Ciao

...images via mary ruffle & martha stewart weddings

Homemade: Dessert/Candy Bar

Happy Thursday my dears!  Wow, what a whirlwind this week has been so far.  It all started on Monday with an emergency phone call to the dentist, who was actually closed, but did call me Tuesday morning to fit me in yesterday.  Boo...going to the dentist is not my favorite thing.  It's not that it hurts, or the noise...it's just that I am sitting there with my mouth wide open for almost two hours - not my idea of a fun afternoon! 

While I haven't had a cavity in years, the fact that I grind my teeth (hint:  you probably never want to be my roommate unless you wear earplugs to bed), and that the fillings that I do have are from when I was young, it was only a matter of time before my old fillings started to crack and fall out.  Sounds gross, huh?  Sorry, it wasn't that gross it just sounds like it is.  It happened to me almost a year ago on one tooth, but this time it was a bottom molar...the good news in all of this - they replaced my old silver filling with a new white one!  All in all though, not what I wanted to do on a Wednesday afternoon when I had a list a mile long that got put on hold.  So sorry Cole if Madi and Riley's Easter presents don't arrive on time as I never made it to the post office today! But I do have to tell you Madi's Easter Sand Bucket (they live in Florida and are at the beach a couple times a week so it is perfect) filled with goodies turned out soooo cute...marshmallow bunnies included!

Okay, on to this post already!  It just seems so fitting that I am posting a dessert/candy bar post and talking about cavities, is it not?  Anyhoo, today's post is EXTRA special, and so near and dear to me.  Almost three weeks ago, the lovely and fabulous Claire of A Realistic Wedding was married.  Not too long after we met on Twitter, Claire saw some of the things I was crafting with black lace and she asked me to craft some things for her dessert/candy bar at her wedding.  I was sooooo honored and tickled that she asked! I crafted, packaged carefully, shipped and then waited to see how it all came together!  Well yesterday the wait was over as she posted a couple of the pictures on her Facebook page!  So today I thought I would show you the pictures that I have been waiting to see.  Here you go...

I decided on hat boxes to use as booster to add some visual height...plus they were light weight and would travel across the United States without costing too much to ship.  I removed the lids (so I could use both the tops and bottoms) flipped them upside down and covered them in a fabulous yellow paper with a raised fleur-de-lis motif on it.  A very similar motif were on the picture frames that I found that were to be used to display the cupcakes.  And yes, all those black lace rosettes, in a couple of different sizes, I made too.  I made all the rosette and black string heart cupcake toppers as well.  And I adore the black finial I found...and thought it was the perfect touch for the center tower.  I added to the the box that I shipped Claire, a couple of different black ribbons to be used to wrap around the boxes as the final detail.  I am thrilled it traveled the long distance without any breakage, and all came together just as Claire had wanted!

So my sincerest thank you Claire for trusting me on one of the biggest days of your life!  I am over the moon that you were so thrilled with the way everything turned out...and I am so elated to have been able to show a small part of your big day here on LCW!!!  Congrats again my dear ;-))) Mwah.

P.S. - Remember to brush those pearly whites often and after eating dessert or candy...otherwise you too might end up at the dentist ;-)

~ Ciao

...photography by richard israel photography via claire's facebook page

Sweet Friday

Ahhh Friday - I am so glad you are here!  With the chance of snow in the South Bay tomorrow (yes, snow!), I am looking forward to sleeping in and being all cuddly in my bed.  Granted, it won't be too late as I have lots to do this weekend, but just the thought of the possibility of it makes me happy!

Here's another thing that makes me happy...

...and not just because it is chocolate.  What makes me happy is the feeling I get from this picture - that homemade, baked just for me kind of feeling.  It's like you could reach into your computer screen and pick one up.  Just don't pick the one with the bite out of it - that one is mine...hehe!

This styling is perfect for a rustic, homemade or vintage dessert table!  I would do it just like this...to give your guests that same feeling.  I am sure that they would love it.  So much so, that they just might add a little extra confectioner's sugar on top!

Here is the recipe for you...

...so that you can create some of your own homemade goodness!

Hope you lovelies all have a fabulously sweet weekend!  See you back here on Sunday with more sweetness.

P.S. - Flowerwild February will be posted soon!

~ Ciao

...photography by, & recipe via what katie ate

~ a vintage holiday on a realistic wedding ~

My "Vintage Holiday" photo shoot is featured on Claire's fabulous and inspiring blog, A Realistic Wedding today.  I was estatic when Claire asked me to take part in her idea! What idea is that you ask?  Well in Claire's own words:

"At the end of October, after seeing an endless series of AMAZING holiday photo shoots, I got an idea. A big idea that I knew I needed help to execute. That’s where Sofia & Andre from Brancoprata and Kristi from Luna and Chloe Weddings came in. My idea? Why, the very namesake of this article. I had an idea to create a very merry and magical Christmas photo shoot and I wanted Sofia & Kristi to take a spin at creating two gorgeous, but different, recreations of this simple and broad idea. I gave them a few suggestions to get them started then let the artists free to create what is, surely, the most gorgeous Christmas shoots ever."

Claire has ALWAYS been so supportive of me and my work, that I really wanted to make her proud. Golly, I hope I did ;-) So come over and have a look-see at my "Vintage Holiday" photo shoot.

Thank you bunches Claire for this amazing opportunity.  Mwah!

~ Ciao

...image via a realistic wedding

~ homemade: linen and laces dessert table ~

Well I finally made it to Florida despite the emergency landing in New Mexico!  Wow, what a trip it was.  I have never been so happy to finally arrive at my destination as I was last night - granted it was 3 hours later than planned, but I made it. If you are wondering what the heck I am talking about you can see right here.  Thank you Angela at Swatchbook Weddings for sending me the link.  Mwah!  And thank you everyone for your well wishes and concern.  I was very touched. 


Okay so on with this week's homemade post.  I told you last week that I did a photoshoot back in May, and never did anything with it.  Last week I showed you the escort area for the photoshoot, and this week I am going to show you the dessert area.  I set up the dessert bar on a vintage ironing board, and used vintage linens to decorate the tops of the jars.  Also, a flower frog is the perfect spot to hold a sign and some star lollipops.  And I thought that Queen Anne's lace was so fitting for this photoshoot...

This is when I created the booster that you have seen before with vintage book pages.  The mini cupcakes are all adorned with words from the book.  On top "Epilogue" stands above the rest...but there is also "will you marry me?" and "yes" from the book too!  All attached onto small wooden sticks with  mini clothespins.

So there you have it - a vintage linen and lace dessert area!  Next week I will share with you a special area that is something I do for all big events that I host.  Trust me - you won't want to miss it!  Hope you're having a wonderful Thursday!  I am - in Florida ;-)

~ Ciao

....concept, design, styling & photography all by Luna and Chloe Weddings

~ tuesday thought: lampshades ~

Happy Tuesday my dears!  I am so excited about today being Tuesday not only for this post, but because I leave for Florida tomorrow to see my family! I haven't seen them since April when my nephew, baby Riley was born.  And he is already crawling and saying mama - or at least that is what we think he is saying ;-)  When my sissy, Cole, told my niece, Madi, that I was coming for her 4th birthday she screamed out in excitement...I cried the big sap that I am.  I cry every time I get off the phone with Madi...she's just so dang cute it kills me and I miss her more than anything.  And she is smart as a whip I tell you.  I keep telling my sister she is gonna have trouble on her hands sooner than she thinks!  I will hopefully have some pictures to share of her Alice in Wonderland themed party.  Oh and wait til I share what my sister made for the party - she's soooo much more talented at painting and drawing then I am.  I kept getting pictures on my phone of what she was working on and my response each time - OMG!

Okay enough rambling outta me, and on to your thought for today.  So here it is:  Use vintage or new lampshades as boosters!  Granted while they would work perfectly to boost centerpieces or items on your tables, I focused on using them on a dessert bar...

Cute no?  And you can also use the small lampshades on cake plates to add more height...

Even though I used my typical cream and white color scheme, you could always glam it up, go retro, go modern or go rustic by using different shades and details.  To give you an example, albeit not a very good one, here's a black lampshade with silver and glass details...

The simple changes, really change the look.  So next time you need to give something a boost - consider a lampshade to do it!  Remember, it's easy to change the style by using different shades.  Hope you enjoyed your Tuesday Thought today.  Check back next Tuesday where I will give you a couple more ideas for boosters...keeping with this theme...and using light covers!   

~Ciao



...concept, design, styling & photography all by Luna and Chloe Weddings