Let Your Inner Sparkle Out

Every girl needs a passion, right? One of mine is definitely sparkly and fun or unique accessories. I am always on the lookout for new pieces that will add a little something to an outfit or make an otherwise plain ensemble seem a little more special. My collection has definitely evolved over time as my aesthetic has also, and so I tend to rotate pieces in and out of favor. We don't have a particularly large closet, but installing simple hooks to the wall allows for a cute display along with the acrylic monogram trays, and then I can easily rotate my pieces depending on what my current favorites are.

Here are some links to a few of my favorite sites to go looking for inexpensive statement pieces. Most of these I have stumbled across from reading fashion bloggers that feature them. The quality can be somewhat variable at times, but the price points are great for something that you only want a few wears out of.

Jane
Bauble Bar
Mindy Mae's Market
Swell Caroline
Love Stylize
Purple Peridot
Ily Couture
Fornash

I love Kate Spade, Lilly, and J. Crew jewelry (as clearly evidenced above) but I refuse to really buy any of it at full price. The quality is certainly nicer than the more discount sites, but at times is actually still not worth the price point I think that they try and charge for some of it. I have purchased several branded items off Ebay and occasionally Amazon will have really good prices on Kate Spade as well. J. Crew Factory is another great place to get good deals on pieces that are similar to what is in the J. Crew stores. Also, I like that Factory has tended to air more on the preppy side of late while J. Crew is going through a bizarre boho evolution that is too funky for me. Kate Spade has good sales every few months which also feature their outlet products and Lilly has an annual sale in the summer. Bloomingdales is another place to get some great prices on Kate Spade because when they have promotions they don't exclude that as a brand from them.

My original love for statement jewelry really developed with an introduction to Etsy which happened for me about five years ago when it was still relatively under the radar. I went through a period of time where I was looking for unique one of a kind pieces, almost towards the vintage style and Etsy is awesome for that. Also, there are some jewelry makers in Israel that do stunning pieces- many of the stud earrings in my collection are EldorTina and Iloniti. I would buy so many more combinations from them if I could, and the quality well exceeds their price point.

I take a lot of selfies so that I can send my latest acquisitions or combinations to my sister to see. It's silly and our husbands think we are ridiculous, but we have fun with it. One of my favorite parts of the J. Crew pieces is their ability to be layered together, which is what I have been playing around with a lot lately. A staple piece has definitely been the Factory multi strand pearl necklace combined with one of the simple crystal pieces or my gold monogram necklace. It has been featured in a variety of ways a lot already so far this spring and summer.

Happy accessorizing!

Secrets to a Picture Perfect Cupcake

I can't quite remember when I actually fell in love with baking cupcakes, but it has honestly become one of my favorite creative outlets. I think it originally began with needing to bake gluten free treats that I would be able to enjoy- back before a lot of places were really into including gluten free options on their menus or in stores. That has come along way over the last couple of years for sure, but I still enjoy trying out my own variations and new ideas for flavors and combinations that I come across on Pinterest.

My all time favorite easy cupcake to make uses the Betty Crocker Gluten Free cake mix, and I often substitute almond flavoring for the vanilla to give the cake a slightly more unique and homemade flavor. I've learned that cooking them at 325 and for a little bit longer than the box calls for goes a long way. For more custom flavors, I keep an array of recipes on a Pinterest Cupcakery board so that I have new options whenever the occasion calls for.

There are so many recipes for different homemade frostings and I am not sure that I have found my favorite yet. I tend to be a little of this, a little of that baker which I have found does not really work well for homemade icing- it's much more necessary to be precise than for some other recipes. My secret to creating the great picture perfect swirl comes from using the Wilton Dessert Decorator Plus
I have gone through a number of these now, and it is easy to use and only moderately tedious to clean. The trick to making it look good is definitely getting the precise thickness in the frosting. Too thick, and I have broken the handle trying to get the frosting through, but too thin and it just makes a big mess on top and runs down the side. Most store bought frosting actually has a great consistency to go with the Wilton and I have been known to use it mixed in with some custom color gels or additional cream cheese to take away the canned taste without requiring a full homemade recipe. I will say that another thing to know is that the Wilton goes through more frosting for each cupcake than you might be ready for- on average I can only get 3-4 cupcakes frosted from each load into it so I always need a really large batch. In general, cream cheese based frosting while delicious is much more difficult to get looking really fluffy and high swirls in comparison to a buttercream type recipe.

Etsy has some fun wrappers when looking for a specific theme, as well as great topper options that I have used for several parties. I have also learned, though, that when it comes to the papers you do have to be careful with what you pick because the colors will run, distort or face once baked. Doubling up can help combat this, but grease proof liners are the best when really wanting the paper to still look fresh after baking. I have also used silicone baking cups- like the tea cups below and they are very cute but for parties you have to be prepared to not get some back because people throw them away without realizing that they are reusable.

And finally, put them in on a cute stand- Home Goods has super cute options- put them in some good lighting and take cute pics!

Tea cup cupcakes for a neighbor's Alice in Wonderland themed first birthday party

Not Your Average Bear

Let me introduce you to one of my few Midwest obsessions. There are very few midwestern items or traditions that I have honestly become attached to in my time here, but the Albanese Confectionary is a solid exception to that statement. I originally found the gummy bears on Amazon a few years back while searching for some rainbow colored candies for a birthday party. They had a variety pack with a bunch of pretty pastel colors, and then I noticed that the same company made cute flower and butterfly shapes, so I ordered several batches which made for very cute additions to a candy buffet display. Only later did I realize that the company was actually based here in Indiana, and that the local grocery stores actually use Albanese bears in their bulk gummy selections. You can tell an authentic Albanese bear by the subtle "A" on their tummies. Coming home from a business trip this week in Chicago, the hubs was sweet enough to make a little detour to the store and bring back some fresh yummies directly from the source. The chocolate covered bears were to die for.. Hence, there are no pictures of them because I inhaled them. Their chocolate is so rich and delicious! I highly recommend for your next party!!

Gummy Cubs
Gummy Butterflies
Awesome Blossoms
Chocolate Bears
Milk Chocolate Dried Blueberries
Milk Chocolate Caramel Corn

Cocktails and Dreams

Is it odd to do backyard photo shoots for your cocktails??

Give me a bunch of pink, florals, and a pretty backdrop and I really can't help myself. Also, I may have matched the pink icing for the cookies to go with the Rose just for extra cuteness!  The Caposaldo Sweet Pink Moscato was an impulse buy at Target while grabbing things for a party, but was surprisingly tasty given the price point (assuming that you like sweeter wines with some sparkle). Given that it is both pink and bubbly, it basically matches all my needs, so I will definitely be getting more of this for the summer to enjoy out on the deck!

I have been looking for some time for vintage champagne coups. I love nothing more than a sparkling wine or champagne and have been in love with so many of the gorgeous cocktail pics on sites like Glitter Guide. Etsy has a nice selection of vintage glasses, and I have seen some very pretty styles on sites like Crate and Barrel, but I have yet to commit. These glasses down below were given to me by a friend and were her grandmother's. They only hold a tiny splash, but are definitely cute!

Sweet Pink Sparkling Moscato

Cheers!!

See link below for details on the pink Kate Spade tray, Lilly glasses, and rim sugars for the Margaritas. The acrylic clear tray was a quick grab from Target, and the floral vase up above is one of my prized Lilly for Target items which deserve a post all on their own! :-)

Backyard BBQ with Kate Spade and Lilly

Backyard Barbecue with Miss Spade and a Little Lilly

Two of my favorite gals together for a girly backyard barbecue... Miss Spade with a little Lilly mixed in for fun! We recently updated our deck furniture with this great set from West Elm, and I just couldn't resist the melamine Kate Spade set after I saw it on display. I was able to get a great deal from Bloomie's for the serving piece and plates, and then Amazon actually had an outstanding price on the linens. The vases and lantern are complements of Home Goods, and the paper straws and sugar rim seasoning are from Etsy.

Can't wait to mix and match all of these adorable pieces through the summer!!

Lilly Pulitzer Melamine Glasses
Kate Spade Serving Tray
Kate Spade Striped Plates
Kate Spade Polka Dot Plates
Kate Spade Acrylic Tumblers
Kate Spade Laurel Drive Napkins
Kate Spade Laurel Drive Placemats
Margarita Sugar Rim
Rainbow Paper Straws
West Elm Jardine Dining Set