We're off to see the wizard!

I need to remind the mister that we are supposed to buy a projector this year so that we, too, can throw very cool neighborhood movie parties like this Wizard of Oz party from Party Wishes. Find the ruby slipper cupcake toppers at Bake It Pretty.

Daisies in a blue cup

As far as an outdoor summer table, decorating doesn't get much better than a small blue cup and giant daisies!

Tying the knot

The next time I throw a bridal shower, I'd like to use these invitations as inspiration from Made Sweet. She left me a comment that she is going to start selling some things in September, and I am thrilled!

Taste of the Valley

If you are lucky enough to be in the Utah County vicinity on July 24, head over to Taste of the Valley at the county courthouse. Tickets are $10 each, or $38 for a family of four. Find information here. Participating vendors include:

Gloria's Little Italy

Sizzler

La Carreta

Spoon Me

Nice

Lee Dunn Catering

Provo College

P.F. Changs

Hedgehog

Einstein Bros Bagels

Noodles & Company

Dream Dinners

Xango

California Pizza Kitchen

Sam's Club

Rooster Dumpling & Noodle Bar

Krispy Kreme

Froyo

Tucanos Brazilian Grill

Costa Vida

Melanie's Sunsational Gourmet

Pizzeria 712

Fudge A Little

Dennys

Goodwood BBQ Comp.

Honey Baked Ham

BYU Art Students Face Painting

Pepsi

I spy...

If you need entertainment for the kiddos at a wedding or pretty much any function, these I Spy cards from Martha Stewart should do the trick...at least for a bit!

{Via The Little Things.}

In the spirit of loving all things French...

Happy Bastille Day!

Carnation cupcakes

For a no-fat alternative to a cupcake from Sweet Tooth Fairy, the mister should buy me these flower cupcakes, made from carnatations and available from 1-800-Flowers.

Spotted on Celebrations At Home.

I can't help myself

I am so in love with this photo wall that Rebecca did that I want to marry it! I can't believe I have such talented friends. Isn't it fabulous?

Make your own milk bottles

If you'd like to make your own milk bottles a la Design Dazzle, look at the instructions she posted here. I would love these in my craft room in bright Mary Engelbreit colors!

Spray paint a Starbucks Frappucino bottle with white spray paint.

Print off some words in a font that you like. I printed off sprout, bloom and grow.

Cut out the word in a square so it fits on the front of the bottle.Place a small piece of carbon paper under the word and using a stylus or pencil trace over the word firmly.Be careful if you tape the carbon paper and word to the bottle as you can peel off the paint.

Paint over the carbon traced word with any color you wish.

Spray a final coat of clear paint over the bottle.

With Love, from Tiffany

I hope, I hope, I hope that one of these is in my stocking this year:

Tiffany script in a heart pendant:

Tiffany Notes square pendant:

Love the detail

I love the light blue color and gorgeous embroidery on this cardigan from J Jill.

Home of wonderful penne pasta

This weekend after the Farmer's Market, the mister and I decided to try The Tin Angel Café. I ordered the penne pomodoro and he had the house roasted lamb ciabbata. We were both pleased with our meals - and the value. My pasta was smothered in a savory garlic/stewed tomato marinara sauce, complete with freshly grated Parmesan cheese. The mister's sandwich was delicious, or so he tells me (I don't eat lamb), and his potato salad side had a dill/Dijon flavor combination that was tangy and tasty. Located across the street from Pioneer Park, the restaurant is a combination of funk and eclectic, and features rock and roll music I have never heard of + local art favorites adorning the wall that are for sale. The menu is small but luscious, and I hear the bread pudding is to die for.

Let it rock, let it rock, let it rock!

July is shaping up to be a great month for so many reasons! Not only did we get to celebrate one of the greatest holidays this month, we have so much to look forward to:

I'm so excited for the release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, debuting July 15!



Then, on July 17th, Nordstrom celebrates autumn and fashion with their anniversary sale. Get fall's goods at a fraction of the price.



We'll celebrate some of my amazing ancestors who sang as they walked, and walked, and walked and walked (and sailed in ships from Sweden and England!).



And the mister and I will end up vacationing here:



Hooray for summer!

Takeout appetizer plate

I seriously wish I had the cupboard space to store all shapes, sizes, and, styles of plates that I have ever seen in my life and loved. Right now, I am obsessed with these takeout appetizer plates from CB2. Surely there has got to be space for me to squeeze these in somewhere!

{Spotted on Stem Parties.}

Sundance soda tumblers

How great are these tumblers from Sundance? These nostalgic glasses are recycled from actual Boylan soda bottles. So awesome!

Breakfast entertaining

Some of my favorite parties have involved breakfast. There's something about getting together with friends and family in the morning light that's just...well, refreshing. I picked up a brochure from Williams-Sonoma a few months ago with several ideas for great breakfasts, including a waffle bar, omelet bar, bagel bar, and a juice&smoothie bar.

Waffle bar: have a waffle maker heated and ready along with two types of batters, fresh fruit, ice cream, cinnamon and sugar, syrups, and jams. I think this would also be fantastic with crepes.

Omelet bar: Have two 8" omelet pans ready along with a pitcher of beaten eggs and a choice of cooked fillings, such as meats and vegetables, plus grated cheeses.

Bagel bar: set out fresh bagels with a variety of spreads, plus smoked salmon (I'll skip this), sliced tomatoes, cucumbers, and red onions.

Juice, smoothie, and yogurt bar: Set out ingredients for making juices and smoothies, as well as for creating yogurt parfaits, such as cut fresh fruits, yogurt, milk, honey, and granola.

Santa Maria Novella, in LA

In October, the mister and I are headed to sunny CA for a little R&R. I can't wait to go to Santa Maria Novella Melrose, which I spotted recently in a Delta Sky Magazine. This is one of the world's oldest pharmacies (Catherine de Medici is rumored to have worn their perfume on her wedding day), and I plan to buy soap, perfumes, and other herbal elixirs. Check out their LA slide show here.

{8411 Melrose Place, Los Angeles, CA}

Clever bridal shower game

Check out this darling bridal shower game, complete with fancy, decorated pencils on Made Sweet, via Black Eiffel.

Gone fishin'

How cute would this be at a summer party? Find Martha's directions here.

Ingredients

Fills a 2 1/2-quart fish or glass bowl

1 two-liter bottle lemon-lime soda, flat
4 1/4-ounce packages unflavored gelatin
2 drops blue food coloring
2 ounces gummy fish

Directions

1. Place 1 cup soda in a large bowl. Sprinkle gelatin evenly over soda, and let stand to soften, about 5 minutes.
2. Place 2 cups soda in a small saucepan over medium heat. Heat until just before a boil. Add the softened gelatin, stirring to dissolve the gelatin completely over the heat, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Add the remaining soda and food coloring, and stir to combine. Pour the liquid into the fish bowl. Using a damp paper towel, carefully remove any bubbles that have formed on the surface. Transfer to the refrigerator to chill overnight.
3. When ready to serve, use a sharp knife to make vertical slits in the gelatin; insert the fish in a random pattern to make it look as though they are swimming in the bowl. Keep refrigerated until serving. Serve within 6 hours.

{Via Swanky Tables.}

Bee-autiful

The other night, as the DH and I were enjoying reading on the patio by candlelight, I noticed a few bugs around. Perhaps this cute bee candleholder and a citronella candle would do the trick. Find yours at Sur La Table.

Everything in miniature is better

Once while we were at dinner with some friends, contemplating the Just Right menu, I mentioned that all food in miniature is better. It was good for a chuckle, but I'm serious. Sliders aren't just tasty, they're cute! Find the equipment to make your own from Sur La Table and some presentation ideas here.

The best tag!

One of my favorite blogs to read is The Apron Stage. The authors are witty and down to earth, and almost every topic has me in stitches. Yesterday's post, by Lisa Piorczynski, includes the funniest "tag" questions imaginable (way better than the usual narcissistic ones which I have been guilty of participating in!). She asked people to leave their answers in the comments, and there are some hilarious posts. Think about your answers to these questions:

1) You are a James Bond villain. Describe your wardrobe, evil plot, lap pet, etc.
2) If Christmas cards were honest, what would yours have said this year?
3) You are head of an all-powerful Olympic committee wherein you get to choose an under appreciated and possibly unknown sport to make it into the games. Name the sport and, if necessary, describe its rules, etc.
4) Willy! Death of a Salesman, the Musical. Suggest a song title for one of the show’s hit numbers and, if you feel so inclined, provide lyrics & music.
5) For 24 hours, your body morphs into whatever gender you currently aren’t. What do you do for the day as a member of the opposite sex?
6) Do you believe in ghosts/ climate change/ your horoscope/ love at first sight?
7) If you could change one movie/book ending which ending would you change and how would you change it?
8 ) You are in charge of the marketing campaign for the Prada’s new change purse for men, the Cha-Ching. Describe your plan of attack.
9) Which would you rather own: a chia pet or a snuggie?
10) Describe the prank you’d pull on Dwight this week if you were Jim from The Office.
11) If your love life were captured by one pop song, which song would it be and why?
12) Gym vs. dieting. Discuss.
13) Which currently unrecognized significant day needs to be made into a national holiday?
14) Write the introduction to the following essay: Emoticons as Necessary Part of Academic Discourse.
15) If your significant other/ ex-significant other were a cereal, which cereal would he/she be and why?

Tag: you're it!

Elephants, monkeys, and lions...oh my!

These jungle pancakes would make for a wild breakfast. Find them at Williams-Sonoma.

Recycled blue glass parfait goblets

I can almost see these blue parfait goblets, from Viva Terra, on my patio table, filled with a sundae or perhaps a root beer float. I love their gorgeous, deep blue color.

They'd also look especially nice on these blue batik placemats.

Watermelon bombe

Make this treat for any summer affair and you're sure to be the envy of all!

Find Martha's directions here.

Good eats, numero dos!

So many great restaurants...so little time!


Ashley introduced the data team to Nicolitalia, a cozy restaurant in Provo that makes mouthwatering pizza and bread sticks. I promised the mister a few weeks ago that I wouldn't eat there again until I took him, and now that my promise is fulfilled, our data team lunches can continue. Nicolitalia won Best of State 2009 in the pizza category. Yumminess!

One night after a Barnes and Noble run to plan our upcoming trip to Quebec, the mister and I tasted our first custard cone at Coney's. I sort of became obsessed with frozen custard on our trip to DC earlier this year when my friend sent us to The Dairy Godmother in Alexandria. Coney's makes a delicious flavor of the day, and I plan to enjoy them all.

A month or so ago, I tried Cafe Fresh with the gals at work. I LOVE the southwest chicken wrap and fresh salsa. YUM!

Downloadable treat toppers

Download the template for these treat toppers here. Wonderful, wonderful!

{Image via Flights of Fancy.}

You could win this!

Enter to win the chance to win a MADSEN right here. Isn't it cute?

Perfect endings

This brownie sundae pan + your favorite ice cream + your favorite ice cream toppings = one great dessert. Find the Wilton brownie cup pan at Sur La Table.

Sunny day treats

Bake your favorite cupcakes, and then top them with a mound of ice cream. Yum...ice cream cupcakes! Thanks again, Martha.

Venetian scroll canisters

Arent't these lovely? Check out all of the beautiful pieces at Art & Artifact.

Vive la Liberté!

"Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take but as for me; give me liberty or give me death! "

~Patrick Henry, US orator, patriot, & politician in American Revolution (1736 - 1799)

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic, for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

I still wish I said the pledge of allegiance every day, just like in school. Happy birthday, land that I love.

The flag in every bite...literally!

A huge shout out to Edible Crafts Gossip for finding this gem from 17 and baking. This is so cool!
Happy birthday, America!

Red, white, and blue strawberries

I'll be making some of these to celebrate our independence!

{Photo from Baking Bites.}

Happy 4th from Fancy Flours

Imagine the oooohs and aaaaahs you'd get if you showed up at the 4th of July picnic with this festively patriotic cupcake tower. If you haven't read Fancy Flours' blog yet, you should start.

Directions:

Supplies:
1 large styrofoam cone (at a local craft store)

24 3-6″ wooden dowels

Several toothpicks for the fruit.
5 cups fresh fruit (red strawberries, raspberries and blueberries preferred)

Frosted cupcakes

Cupcakes can be baked and frosted as usual, however a more dense cupcake batter will work better for attaching to the tower. Try using a pound cake, chocolate cake or carrot cake for best results. Lightly frost with buttercream or cream cheese frosting using a star tip. The heavier the frosting, the more likely it will not stay connected to the tower as it will be side heavy.

Affix cupcakes to tower by first sticking the wooden dowels firmly into the styrofoam tower. Place them evenly apart, making sure to be able to affix fruit in between each cupcake. Attach cupcakes to wooden dowels by pushing cupcake onto dowel (you may need to cut a small hole in the bottom of the cupcake wrapper (or don’t use any wrappers to avoid this step).

Now poke each strawberry, blueberry or other piece of fruit with a toothpick and push toothpick into styrofoam, in between each cupcake. You can make fruit kabobs as well and place a few pieces of fruit onto each toothpick. Make sure to completely fill up styrofoam tower so there is no syrofoam showing. Add sprigs of fresh mint to complete the look.

I pledge allegiance to the flag...

It's not too late to make this patriotic flag monument.

Find Martha Stewart's directions here.

Tool and Materials

Primer

White paint

Paintbrushes

4 1/2-inch wooden plaque

Two-tiered cake stand

Wooden finial

Drill

Circular wooden piece (optional)

Wood glue

Flags

Sandpaper

Flag Stand How-To

1. Prime and print wooden finial and plaque. Mark three spots on the base of wooden plaque, evenly spaced and 1/4 inch from the edge. Drill 1/8-inch pilot holes (smaller hole), and then increase the size of drill bit. (This will make cleaner holes.)
2. Drill holes the diameter of the flag dowels in the wooden base, using the marks as a guide.
3. Drill a hole the diameter of a flag dowel in the same manner as above on the top of the wooden finial.
4. Attach the finial to the wooden base. Drill a hole in center of plaque slightly smaller than the diameter of the screw (if finial does not have a screw end, attach to plaque with wood glue). (A circular wooden piece can be added in the middle for height if desired.)
5. Insert flag dowels into the drilled holes in the base and the finial. If necessary, sand them until they fit snugly in the holes.

DIY clip art

Look at this wonderful clip art that you can download from Twig and Thistle! I love it.

4th of July roundup

This year, choose from one of these festive ideas for good eats!

Patriotic Cookie Pizza from Pillsbury:

Berry lemon Napoleans:

Patriotic sundaes with fabulous sugar cookie spoons:


Don't forget your festive drinks!

A mixed berry jelly roll:

Pretzel sparklers from Taste of Home:

Candy jars from Everyday Celebrating

Cupcakes from Celebrations at Home:


Everything looks so scrumptious. I'll take one of each, please.

Patriotic pie

Kneaders makes a patriotic pie that the mister loves with raspberry and blueberry filling. I wonder if this would come close if I substituted raspberries for cherries.

(Image from Sunset Magazine. Recipe here.)

Patriotic hands and feet

I think this hands and feet flag would make such a cute gift for a grandparent. Find the instructions at Serendipity.

Heather Bullard

Find the beautiful images of Heather Bullard right here.

{Found via A GreatFull Day.}

Alice in Wonderland tea

Project Wedding has been featuring a post a week from the gals at Loliblog, and the Alice in Wonderland tea is my favorite. Be sure to check out the whole post and get a good look at all the pictures!

Patriotic crafting

If you have the time, whip up this banner for your celebrations this weekend. Find the directions at Country Living.

BBQ invites

I am in so much denial that it's July already! I can't believe that we're halfway through the year, but, at least in my neck of the woods, the weather is finally warm enough to host backyard gatherings. If you are hosting a BBQ, you must recreate these invitations. I definitely have invitation envy! Find the kit for these very clever kebab invites at Stampin Up, who has teamed with Country Living for this project. I sorely wish my friend, Heather, was still a demonstrator.

{Via Everyday Celebrating.}

Old fashioned ice cream sodas

Sophistimom sure knows ice cream. What a perfectly summery dessert!

Ice cream sodas
Häagen-Dazs vanilla ice creamassorted Italian sodas
1. Put a large scoop of vanilla ice cream in glasses.

2. Pour soda over ice cream.

Good eats!

This spring, the mister and I have made a focused effort to try all of the raved-about, new-to-us restaurants in SL and UT counties. We've had a savory experience thus far to be sure.

First up: The Melting Pot, which was yummy and expensive. Luckily, we tried it during the Salt Lake Dine O'Round, so we ate from the prix fixe menu, which covered cheese fondue, a meat course, and a dessert finale. We convinced our friends, Marti and Diane, to go with us, so we had great company in addition to fabulous food. The cheese fondue was my least favorite (the cheese fondue the mister made for my birthday kicked its trash), but the meat course was deeeeelish. We had all kinds of meats and vegetables to cook in our fondue broth, including terriyaki steak, sun-dried tomato chicken, ravioli, shrimp (which I donated to the mister), and steak. Yummy dipping sauces included plum, port wine bleu cheese, and curry. I don't think I can say enough about the turtle dessert fondue. Trust me, you'll need to experience that one yourself.

We also tried Este Pizzeria, thanks to Ashley (who swore to me that she would start blogging again, but didn't!). Yummy, yummy pizza, and their sign cracks me up.





As if the pizza at Este wasn't enough, we topped off at Bruges Waffles & Frites. We didn't taste the frites with their delicious sauce (next time), but we both tried the waffles (I ordered the original flavor, and the mister ordered cinnamon). These were authentic Belgian waffles, and tasted just as good as those I've consumed in Brussels and Bruges. I even had a scoop of ice cream on mine, just so I could dream for one minute that I was standing in the Grand Place. Though the mister pretended he didn't need ice cream on his, he snuck plenty from mine...and of course I was happy to share.




The mister introduced me to Sampan in Sugarhouse, which makes a pretty tasty szechuan stir fry. He may or may not be in a little bit of trouble for not taking me here sooner!

We dined at the local Thai Village with Amy and Jared of Settlers and wicked cookie fame, too. The mister was adventurous and ordered his food with extra spice, and we all left with much clearer sinuses. Amy and I tried the coconut curry, and while it was good, we both admit to slight disappointment. I think my coconut curry could rival theirs.


Last, but certainly not least, I tried Terra Mia with friends. The pizza is great, and the gelati is TO DIE FOR. The raspberry cream and chestnut flavors might be my all-time favorites.
Happy Eats!

Possibly the best cupcake ever

I will pay good money to anyone who can teach me to make a cupcake this beautiful. Find the how-to guide at Martha Stewart Weddings. Maybe her roses will be easier for me than the Wilton rose was.

Birthday song cake

I would like this cake for my next birthday. Unfortunately, I cannot find the directions on the Better Homes and Garden website.

Who knew?

There is an entire blog devoted to rating gum. As a voracious gum chewer, I fear Gum Alert will be one of my frequent blog stops every day. No wonder I have distressingly little time for sloth or idleness.

Julie Morstad

I can't imagine a better way to learn the alphabet than by using these beautifully illustrated flashcards by Julie Morstad. Find them on Amazon.

{Images via Black Eiffel.}