Party Favors: The Candy Buffet

Made popular as a wedding-favor alternative by Martha Stewart, Candy Buffets are also a great option for shower (bridal, baby, engagement, whatever) favors.  My favorite on-line candy vendor is Oh Nuts -- they sort their candy by color, tell you how many pieces are in each package (no matter how small the candy pieces), and ship quickly with cool-packs to protect against melting.  Candy Buffets are actually relatively simple - just order the candy, round up clear vases and jars of varying sizes and heights, procure some spoons or scoops, and display everything with clear plastic candy bags and ribbons or even miniature Chinese take-out containers. 

These buffets are always a hit!  Below are some real-life photos of recent buffets I have done for baby and bridal showers.  The color selections coordinated with the invitation and decor colors for each shower.

Spicy Chicken Comes to Chick-Fil-A

Sign up here to get a free *new* Spicy Chicken Sandwich from Chick-Fil-A. 
I have never met anyone who doesn't love Chick-Fil-A, so had to post this!

Taste of Deliciousness

I was recently introduced to Taste of the South Magazine.  Has anyone seen this in person? I was a bit skeptical until I came across this recipe for fried pimiento cheese balls.  Does anything sound better than that?

Wedding Wednesday: Reader Request

A reader request regarding wedding gift etiquette:

If you are invited to a wedding but do not attend the wedding/reception, should you send a gift?

Phrasing

When I was growing up there were certain things young ladies didn't do:  pee, puke, poop.  They either used the bathroom or had to be sick (or throw up, under dire circumstances).  It seems that these restrictions no longer apply since I hear girls saying these things all the time.  Were you allowed to use these words when you were young?  Do/will you let your kids use them?

Did you know.....

...that macaroons are the new cupcake?

Stamps to the Rescue!

Are you a pet-lover in need of stamps?  These new pet-inspired stamps are so adorable -- great for birthday invitations, fundraising mailers, or just general correspondence!

I'm partial to this one:

Go-To Marinade

Try this out on pork, chicken, salmon, beef...whatever you have on hand. The best part about it is -- most of the ingredients will already be in your pantry!


2 garlic cloves, minced

2 T balsamic vinegar

Juice of 1/2 lime and Juice of 1/2 lemon

1/3 cup light brown sugar

2 T. Dijon mustard

1/3 c. honey

1 t. Kosher salt

1/2 t. pepper

4 T. olive oil

Whisk together all ingredients until well blended. Marinate!

"The Fabric of American Life"

NYC Toile!  This and others like it found at Town Toiles.

Everything Old is New Again

This week New York explores "the new old" trend in interior design, and all the ways it can manifest itself.  While I am fascinated by the NeoVictorians, the article on NeoEnglish is probably more in keeping with my decorating goals.  Some of you may recognize Rita Konig, former editor at Domino.  I love her comments, especially this one about how she approaches her own apartments:

I have always liked decorating my small apartments as though they are just a few of the rooms in a much larger house, so you have the feeling that you could, should you want to, wander off to the drawing room, library, dining room, but for the moment are just choosing to be in this rather cozy study. Maybe it is peculiar to the English, but you know how people in huge houses live in a tiny room with all the dogs and the television? This is sort of the reverse of that.