A sweet table

There are a few things I know for sure. 1) that I would ROCK as a contestant on "Wheel of Fortune" 2) that my son will NOT know any Barney songs, and 3) that if we cover something in chocolate and print a custom design on it, it's going to be the hit of the party. Add some great display dishes that show off the branded sweets and you've got yourself desserts and decor!

Candy tables are always a fun addition to a party - but we like to go the extra sugar-filled mile and brand each mini-dessert with a personalized design. This particular candy table we created was at The Wedding Party at The Breakers in Palm Beach. We designed a palm tree silhouette in green and flanked it with our initials in hot pink - and had it printed on anything that stood still.

Here's what was there - go ahead and drool...

• White chocolate-covered rice krispy treats printed and on lollipop sticks
• Petit fours with design on top (tiny vanilla cakes with buttercream and raspberry filling, enrobed in white chocolate)
• White chocolate-covered marshmallow pops, printed and covered in pink sprinkles
• Candy lollipops with design
• Fortune cookies covered in white chocolate and printed with design, with custom messages inside
• Palm tree lollies on wooden sticks
• Sugar cookies with icing plaque printed with a watercolored map of Palm Beach

Even if you're not having a sweet table (gasp!), you can take one of these elements and incorporate it into the event or wedding weekend. Pass the petit fours around at the cocktail hour as a sweet surprise... have the fortune cookies ready to take home on their way out... leave the rice krispy treats on their pillows... tuck the map cookies into their welcome bags.

Here's a link to pictures and descriptions of our branded sweets.

So that's it, I've gotta go stalk Pat Sajak till he lets me go on.

Hot New Years Gifts

If Gifts for the Good Life had a Greatest Hits CD, a compilation of some of our favorite projects, this one would be on Volume 1. The elements of this New Years gift from the Washingtonian and Bride & Groom Magazine, just seemed to come together perfectly. We've got a serious crush on these reusable heart-shaped handwarmers, which paired perfectly with hot cocoa sticks, printed marshmallow pops and clever wording. Each item was tucked in printed muslin drawstring sacks, with the printed card resting on top. Just creating this package brought us out of the winter doldrums!

If you are in the D.C. area, don't miss the Washingtonian / Bride & Groom's Wedding Showcase January 24th at the Mandarin Oriental. Click here for more details.

Box of sugar

Is there anything sweeter than rice krispy treats and marshmallows? Actually, yes... when they are covered in white-chocolate.

We had the pleasure of putting together holiday gifts for the lovely Hitched Bridal Salon in Washington, DC. We filled a handled wooden box with krispies and marshmallows that were printed with their logo and "Peace & love". Then we topped it off by wrapping a printed paper band around it with their message.

We love that it's a box they can use well after the sugar is gone...

Holiday edibles

One of our favorite clients asked us to create their holiday gifts again this year; always a medley of decadent edibles with a ranch-style theme. Her taste is impeccable, (she came up with a few of these!) so we thought we'd share this great assortment of some of our new loves...

• Madison Marcela Toffee in Dark Chocolate Pecan
• Hot chocolate sticks - melt when stirred in hot milk.
• Cowgirl Chocolates – Assorted truffles in a printed drawstring muslin "Trail ridin' bag in “Mild-mannered”.
• Sea Salt Caramels
• Boxed set of 6 silken triangular infusers of organic herbal teas.
• Tin canister of organic popcorn in Alderwood smoked sea salt.
• Maple & Brown sugar cookies – paper-thin, crispy cookies held in a tall tin.
• Chocolate espresso cake – moist, rich, distinctive.
• Squirrel Brand: Meyer Private Reserve Cashews – imported, slow-roasted, and lightly salted.
• All held in an immense wooden cheesebox with handles and their ranch logo fire-branded onto the lid.