{Cake Smashing}

I’m super excited about this recent submission from my friend Liz of Liz K Photo (who also photographed my wedding).  I just couldn’t resist sharing these adorable photos of Emery’s 1st cake smashing!

I love this new trend popping up in children’s birthday celebrations, especially when planning something very special for the first one.  Why not make the first birthday cake memorable by letting your little one smash it? 

Emery looks so sweet dressed up in her bright pink tutu and matching flower headband and I bet she had a blast smashing up that confetti birthday cake! 

I hope you had a sweet One, Emery!

Photos © of Liz K Photo

{Surprise Birthday Dessert Bar}

Hi everyone!  I just want to share a few of the projects that I have been working on.  I had so much fun creating this surprise dessert bar for my mom's birthday party last weekend and she and the guests really enjoyed it too!  I was inspired by the paper goodies I picked up from a local craft store and took it from there.  I used navy, green and brown throughout the treats, ribbon and vessels.  I set up the dessert bar outside to be photographed and then I moved it indoors.  I actually moved it around quite a bit considering I had to transport everything to her house, but it was worth it!  Here's a few pics of how it turned out...you can click on them to enlarge.

I baked the cake and cake pops and it was the perfect excuse to work with cakewalk desserts for the pie pops!  They worked out great as party favors and our guests loved them!

I also created a mini s'mores bar with graham crackers, the new s'more marshmallows and mini hershey's bars.  I threw a few gooey caramels in there as well.

    

Here are a few more of my favorite details.

Also, I recently switched over from a pc to a mac and have been experimenting with it... I was able to whip up this little video montage.  I love the vintage effect!

Happy weekend everyone! 

{Dylan's Candy Bar}

I was in New York City last week and I got to check out Dylan’s Candy Bar!  I have always wanted to go to the world’s largest candy store and I was so lucky to be there on my birthday!

A couple of reasons why I needed to see this specialty retailer in person, which to me is a Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory attraction in itself 1/ the CANDY and 2/ I am so inspired by the founder, Dylan Lauren, who is the daughter of legendary fashion designer, Ralph Lauren. 

Having a background in the fashion industry and in starting my own candy event planning company, I love when fashion and candy mix, so naturally, this becomes one of my favorite places EVER! 

Why do I find Dylan so amazing? When Dylan turned 5, they played Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory at her birthday party.  Dylan was so inspired by the movie that she dreamed one day she would open a candy store. 

While studying art history in London and Rome her junior year in college, she would set out to explore new candies and collect artful candy wrappers and packaging from her travels (some would accuse me of the same). 

After graduating from Duke University, Dylan set up an event planning company, but always found herself coming back to her love for candy. She was finally able to realize her childhood dream in 2001, with the opening of the flagship store in New York City, Dylan’s Candy Bar.

Since the opening of the first specialty candy store in 2001, Dylan has open 4 more locations and has renovated the New York City location to include a 3^rd floor, which houses all parties and events, a café and a sweet treats bakery.  

Customers can treat themselves to classic soda fountain favorites, ice cream, frozen yogurt, old fashioned, novelty and nostalgic candies, fine Belgium chocolates, sweet treats and desserts, fashion apparel and accessories, beauty products, gifts and souvenirs.

Enjoy some of the pictures I took while I was in candy heaven and please excuse the quality (I am not an expert photographer)!  I can only dream of opening a candy store like this one day here in Los Angeles :)

Your favorite Celebs love Dylan's Candy Bar too!

  

Me with the Easter Bunny!

  

  

I got to fill up my container with my favorite sweets!

They filled a tub with gumballs!

 

Select Dylan's Candy Bar products can also be found at Bloomingdales, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Sephora, Urban Outfitters and at Juicy Couture stores or at Dylan’s Candy Bar Online Store.