Thursday, November 28, 2013

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope everyone is taking today to remember all the things we are thankful for (and enjoy some amazing food with family and friends).  If you didn't know, baking is another of my fortes (my original blog was actually named "Baked Goods and Bridal Bouquets!") SO I thought I'd share some past examples of Thanksgiving treats I have made below as some nice eye candy (literally!)

^^Acorns^^

^^Turkey Oreos^^

^^Pecan Pie-- always need a classic!^^

^^Indian Corn Cookies^^

^^Pilgrim Hat Cookies^^

^^Mini pumpkin-shaped pumpkin pies^^

^^Red Velvet Turkey Cupcakes^^

My other favorite parts of today?  The PARADE!  and the dog show!  What can I say, I'm a 5-year old at heart!

SO thankful for you, my dear readers, today and everyday!
xo, Elissa

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

DIY Burlap Votives



Did you notice these in yesterday's post on the table?  They just scream Thanksgiving to me!  Funny enough, during a recent trip to Jo-Ann's Fabrics, I saw David Tutera's line selling these votives:


$1.99 each?  Really David?  I've know he tends to go a bit over the top with events (and budgets) but this is overpriced to the max.  Plus, I wanted to be all Joan Rivers "B*tch stole my look!"  After all, these were originally made years ago, before Pinterest was common and ideas like this were still unique to people :)

^^Here's a better look at the ones I created before for a past Thanksgiving.  And they cost WAY less than $1.99 each!  Don't they look even better when all lit up-- I love them!  Interested in some of your own?  And not paying $1.99 each?  Follow the steps below to create your own!

^^Besides the burlap and hemp, you probably have the other items laying around!  Like the paint in the spiderweb glass DIY, the hot glue easily comes off when dry, so you can simply peel off the burlap if you ned them for another use (personally, I say save them for next year's festivities-- Thanksgiving + burlap is always in style!)^^

^^Depening on the width of your burlap, you may need to cut it to not fit too high above the top of the votive.  Once cut in half, my burlap was perfectly sized!  Since the burlap is woven, I also removed the top few strands to create more of a frayed look.  If you more into clean lines (and ends!), feel free to skip this.^^

^^Wrap your now halved burlap around the candle and cut off any excess that would overlap once wrapped around^^

^^Next comes the glue!  Draw a strip of glue down and quickly pat the burlap on the strip before it dries.  Wrap the material around the candle and then add a few dots of glue near your original line to secure the end down^^

^^Now cut a piece of hemp cord and wrap it around.  You can finish it off with a knot, but being the lady I am, a bow always wins out!^^


Now, go make a few and slap them on that table and call it a night.  After all, you probably have lots of cooking to do!
xo, Elissa

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Thanksgiving Tablescapes

My last Thanksgiving tablescape (pre-blogging and knowledge of natural light- oops!), November 2011

Thanksgiving is one of those holidays that is perfect for hostesses and party throwers everywhere!  An occasion where family and friends willingly come to you for good food and better company?  I'm sold. I grew up looking forward to hosting it myself one day (Remember I mentioned that I dressed up for Thanksgiving as a child?  Native American was my specialty-- papoose and all!) but the food part is not my forte.  Luckily, my boyfriend's sister has willingly accepted the Thanksgiving role for the future and  all I can hope is that she'll allow me to show some skill with the tablescape.  Besides the food, I feel like everyone always makes a big deal about the table-- and I don't blame them!  The place you gather around must be as festive as the occasion itself.  While she (and I) aren't quite hosting the big meal yet, below is inspiration of my favorite tablescapes and hopefully I can live up to them in the future!

via Jo Photo




via Ruffled




Looking at all of these red underlines, I'm thinking of writing Webster's petitioning to get tablescape added to the dictionary.  Other planners and event folk alike-- are you with me?

Tune back tomorrow for an easy DIY to make your table more festive!
xo, Elissa

Monday, November 25, 2013

Monogrammed Pies


Some people are impressed when your china is monogrammed.  Me?  I'm a little harder to please
…but these pies had me at HELLO!
Seriously, could this be cuter (/more perfect for Thanksgiving week?!).  I know plenty of couples who aren't crazy about cake and have wanted to serve pie at their weddings instead.  How I wish that I would've had this wonderful blog to get my ideas stirring back then!  Whether you cut the letters out of extra crust ( or my boyfriends favorite- cut out of the baked crust and eat the scraps!), this personal touch is memorable and is perfect for the holidays as well!  Nothing says Happy 1st married Thanksgiving like a monogrammed pie!



via The Knot



Love the pie idea but worried about the mess on your big day?
(Cherry pie filling+big white dress= no bueno)
Try these fun sized confections to get the best of both worlds!




Off to start my own pumpkin pie for Thursday,
after all, it's best after a day or two!
xo, Elissa

Friday, November 22, 2013

Fab Pic Friday


Pardon me while I soak up everything fall before winter comes!
(and by everything I mean colors because let's be real, all the seasons seem the same in sunny Florida!)
Have a grew weekend!  May you have as much fun as that girl to the right of the bride ;)
xo, Elissa

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Catching Fire: Hunger Games Party Details


I'm a huge book lover at heart and instantly fell in love with the Hunger Games series.  It's one of those series that once you start the first book, you can't stop until you're done with all 3!  Needless to say I'm excited for Catching Fire to come out in theaters-- I wasn't crazy about the first movie so I'm hoping the new director for this movie made some changes that show more details and follow closer to the story.  I just felt so many important plot items were left out last night, and as you will see below, there are lots of them!  While I won't be trudging to any midnight showings (curse you adult life!), these photos serve as perfect inspiration for a pre-midnight screening party, perfect for getting everyone hyped up!  Any other fans out there?  Team Peeta or Team Gale?  Personally, I'm all about my girl Katniss! 











DIY book sleeves via Words on Paper


and of course ;)

DIY via Partyliss :)

May the odds be ever in YOUR favor!
xo, Elissa