My Current Crush: Tassel Garlands by Studio Mucci

Posted on November 20, 2013 by BeautyFrosting

Kickin' my heels up with My Current Crush…Studio Mucci

Once upon a time, a girl stumbled upon a picture on Instagram and fell in love. In fact, it was love at first sight! And, yep, you guessed it…the girl was me.

I'm in love!!! With whom, you ask? Studio Mucci, of course!

So whose picture made me fall so head-over-heels in love that I contacted the instagram account owner asap?

Studio Mucci. Yep, that’s the name of my current crush. I heart her.

And what enchanted me about Studio Mucci? Um, can you say everything? Studio Mucci – and its delightful designer & owner, Amina – add a dash of whimsy to any fête or home with comely custom paper decor crafted out of high quality tissue paper.

Custom tassel garland by Studio Mucci (beginning at $35/garland)

Whether it’s for a birthday party, wedding, kid’s party or just to add a little whimsical elegance to your home, Studio Mucci steps up the color and coquettish factor with a side dish of wow and wonder.

And they’re the best at getting you what you want when you need it thanks to their various, more-than-accommodating shipping options.

I ordered Studio Mucci tassel garlands (beginning at $35/garland) for my boudoir shoot and they MADE our set.

Studio Mucci dazzled our dressing area on set...

Lucky for me, the set just happened to be my home so they are still hanging proudly where I can see them – and smile – every day.
And this isn’t the last collaboration between Studio Mucci and us here at BeautyFrosting. Next up? Holiday tassel garlands for the holidays and for my big birthday shindig…which is right around the corner.
Yep, this is just the beginning of a beautiful romance.

The beginning of a beautiful romance between BF & Studio Mucci

xoxo,
BF

BF Asks: How do you add dashes of whimsy & wonder to your home?

Main Event Monday: A Mary Poppins Popcorn Pajama Party

Posted on August 12, 2013 by BeautyFrosting

A few months ago, I decided I would have a Mary Poppins Popcorn Pajama Party.

You're invited to a Mary Poppins Popcorn Pajama Party!

Not at all random, I know. But I needed to coordinate the best night for my guests: Nora, Lucy and Emmett. After all, these are very busy little, Los Angeles kiddos with schedules just about as busy as mine!

Well, we finally found a night – last Wednesday – and we did it right!

So how do you “do it right” for a Mary Poppins Popcorn Pajama Party?

1) Well, first you need the movie. Check. Thanks Matt Marr!

It's a "Jolly Holiday" with Mary!

2) Next, you need pajamas and, of course, your favorite little friends – both of the human and stuffed variety. I love any excuse to don my comfy, bunny slippers!

Pajamas are a must for a Movie pj party!

3) And – then, of course – for a popcorn party, you need popcorn! And I knew just where to start with that! My old schoolmate, Cassie is the queen of popcorn! Or is it, princess? Well, whatever she is, she – and her company – Cassie’s Le Popcorn is the royal call you make when you want some popcorn party magic. And with Mary Poppins, we definitely needed some magic! We ordered the magic- and we received it!

Thank you Cassie's Le Popcorn for the supercalifragilisticexpialidocious popcorn!!

The deluxe array of flavors is too extensive to list here but I’ll share with you sour favorites: Beer Cheese (I am Texan, after all), Peanut Butter Chocolate, White Truffle, Loaded Potato and Sea Salt Caramel with Chocolate Drizzle. Yummylicious! Perfect for any kiddo’s or “grown-up-kiddo’s” party!

Popcorn princesses indulding in popcorn pleasure!!

2) Next, improvise! I had no time to bake but a party always requires a cake, if you ask me! So I bought a precious, Mary Poppins-themed mini cake at the Ralph’s Bakery for $5.99. Not too shabby! And it really set the mood for the table!

Red Velvet cake pairs perfectly with our Poppins theme!

Then, I picked up some mini ice cream cones from Baskin Robbins for only $10.99!

Mini ice cream cones from Baskin Robbins are perfect summertime treats!

I then picked up a 6-pack of classic Coca Cola in the bottles! It went with our red, white and pink theme and it brought in some more of that nostalgic feel we were going for!

Nothing ushers in nostalgia like classic Coca Cola in the vintage bottles!

Next, in keeping with my theme of a “spoonful of sugar”, I set out the cake, jars of colored sugars, vintage Coca Cola bottles, mini ice cream cones from Baskin Robbins and pastel m & m’s – which I always stockpile during post-Easter sales.

The Mary Poppins spread - and set on my coffee table - the perfect height for little ones

I borrowed the idea of using my coffee table to create a casual (and in this case, age appropriate) vibe from Moll Anderson’s Seductive Tables For Two ($19.95). This book has taught me so much about entertaining, with both thought and heart, using the resources you have readily available.

The night was a sweet success!

Both the kids and I had a ball! We ate too much sugar (naturally), stayed up a bit too late and laughed a lot at the magical messages in Mary Poppins.
Such a fun night!

And then we crashed…

After the Mary Poppins party, we got a little shut-eye!

xoxo,
BF

BF Asks: What should be the movie at my next Movie & PJ party?

Recipe Box: BeautyFrosting’s Circus Animal Cookie Cupcakes

Posted on July 6, 2012 by BeautyFrosting

BeautyFrosting's Circus Animal Cookie Cupcakes!

: BeautyFrosting’s Circus Animal Cookie Cupcakes

These are a hit with kiddos and adults alike!

Lucy loves Circus Animal Cookie Cupcakes!

And they’re super easy to make to boot!

BeautyFrosting’s Circus Animal Cookie Cupcakes

Makes 48 cupcakes. If you’d like to make less, just half it! Yep! It’s that easy-peazy.

Preheat oven to 350.

Put cupcake cups in pans.

2 1/3 c. Water

1/2 c. Oil

1 box White Cake Mix

1 box Spice Cake Mix

6 eggs

2 tsp Vanilla

3 c. Chopped frosted Circus Animal Cookies (Use food processor for crumbs

Frosting Ingredients:

3/4 c Butter (softened)

6 cups powdered sugar

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup heavy whipping cream

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 tablespoons light corn syrup

Cake Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

Place 3 cups of circus animal cookies in ziploc bag. Using a rolling pin or hammer, crush those cookies to bits! That’s right! Take out your aggression of the day on those little cookies! Whew. That felt good, didn’t it?

In a large mixing bowl, add water, oil and eggs. Mix until foamy and frothy.

Add both cake mixes – little at a time. Mix thoroughly. Add vanilla. Add half of the circus cookie crumbs with a spatula.

Set aside half of the circus cookie crumbs for later.

Pour the batter into paper-lined cupcake pans, so the tins are about 2/3 of the way full. Place a few more crumbs on the top of each cupcake.

Bake at 350 for 18-22 minutes. Let cool completely.

Circus Cookie Buttercream Frosting

3/4 cup butter, softened

6 cups powdered sugar

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup heavy whipping cream

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 tablespoons light corn syrup

1-4 drops pink food coloring

Beat butter in large mixing bowl until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar and salt alternately with half & half and vanilla, scraping bowl often, until well mixed. Stir in corn syrup. Drop in food coloring and mix well until circus animal-pink color develops. You’re matching the cookie coating shade here, beauties!

*Top each cupcake with rainbow sprinkles and a circus animal cookie.

Inside Story: Circus Animal Cookie Cupcakes!