A Shower at Cotton Row Restaurant

Oh, I just started working on a new project that I am SO excited about!

The event is a bridal shower taking place this July in Huntsville, Alabama. The location the hostesses have chosen is The Cotton Row Restaurant. I have been poking around their website, and I am feeling so inspired by this location! It has so many beautiful, rustic elements, but is absolutely charming and has my mind spinning with all of the possibilities. I'm thinking "country-chic"!
Because this shower will be held in Alabama, and I am located just outside of Washington, DC, I will be designing a few different elements and sending them down for the occasion.
Check back for pictures of this event!

Hersey Kiss Gifts

I have seen these amazing looking Hersey Kisses a couple of times in different photos, and finally decided to give this idea a whirl!

I designed a set of these small (well, very small actually) circles, printed them, punched them out using a circle cutter, and attached to the bottoms of Hershey Kisses, with the sole purpose of dressing these kisses up! Since I was using these to accompany gift certificates to give to teachers for an end of year gift, I decided on a traditional apple graphic and "thank you" message. Because I was working with a very small surface area, I kept the design very simple. I piled mason jars high with the kisses, and tied them with a small tag and envelope that contained a gift card. Of course, I am missing a picture of the finished product, but they looked OH SO CUTE if I do say so myself!

I absolutely LOVED the outcome of my little project, and will definitely be doing this again...I'm thinking these would make a wonderful Valentine!!

Thank You, Teachers!

While poking around some of my favorite sites this weekend, I was reminded that it is Teacher Appreciation Week! For some reason, I never remember this, so I am so thankful to have come across this before I missed out.

Because we are nearing the end of the school year, and I will be purchasing other "thank you for a great year" gifts, I am looking for something on a bit of a smaller scale, that remains thoughtful, AND that my boys can help me with (tall order?!?!).....I'm thinking a cute baked treat! Two ideas immediately come to mind:

These are Apple Cake Pops from Bakerella! I have been making Bakerella's "standard" cake balls and pops with my boys for some time now, and they are always a huge hit. Not only are they delicious, but they are easy to make so that small children can help! Bakerella outlines all of her steps for making these cute Apple dessert pops. Wrapped in a cellophane wrapper and tied with a pretty ribbon, what teacher wouldn't LOVE receiving one or several of these from your little one!

My second idea comes from the book, What's New, Cupcake? I saw these in the book some time ago, and wondered when the perfect time to make these would present itself...NOW! The Family Fun website outlines all of the directions needed to transform your regular, old cupcakes into these cute apples, perfect for any teacher! These look so cute in this wooden crate, but I'm not sure I have time to make 6 apple cupcakes for 4 teachers. I'm thinking one cupcake wrapped in a small box or Chinese food container, secured with a pretty ribbon and a "Thank You" tag.

I'll let my boys decide and give you a peak when I'm done with my baking!