Mood Board Monday: Periwinkle and Polka Dots!

Lovlies,

 

I have decided that here at Bespoke and Beautiful Mondays will hereby be recognized as "Mood Board Monday"! I've found that it's hard to feel inspired and creative at the beginning of my week - especially if I am not looking forward to returning to work after a particularly fantastic weekend.

 

I love the idea of starting a new week off with beautiful color palettes and photos that get my creative juices flowing. So, here is my first #MoodBoardMonday post! Have a FABULOUS week, my loves!

 

XOXO,

 

~Cristina~

 

 



11 Non-Traditional Cakes the Human Race Should Get Behind + 1 Sweet Personality Quiz!

A few years ago I was hanging out with one of my lovliest friends, Hadley. Hadley is probably one of the most adorable people I have ever met - she's bubbly and funny, the penultimate hostess, smart and kind, and super generous and warm... all of the things a fabulous friend should be and more. So! We were hanging out and she introduced me to a fun little quiz about dessert preferences and what they say about your personality. As Hadley says: "It's all VERY scientific".

 

Below you will find 5 different types of dessert. I want you to rank these desserts from your very favorite to your least favorite. After doing so, scroll on down to see what your choice of dessert says about you!

 

 

~ Ice Cream ~

 

~ Cake ~

 

~ Cookies ~

 

~ Pie ~

 

~ Candy ~

 

 

And the results are in! Drum roll, please...

 

If you chose Ice Cream and its many flavors it means that you are spontaneous and adventurous.

 

If you think Cookies are where it's at you are adaptable and good in a crisis.

 

If you crave those Candy confections you are young at heart.

 

If you love Cake in all its iced glory you are solid and dependable.

 

If Pie is your one and only you are of a traditional nature.

 

 

Fun, right? It's also a really great dinner party question and ice breaker!

 

Alright, Lovelies. Now that I have you thinking about sweets, I want to get you thinking outside the proverbial 'cake box' and travel with me on a delicious and unexpected journey...to superbly awesome non-traditional 'cake' land. 

 

I have found some truly fantastic and tasty lookin' cake alternatives for each and every kind of sweet tooth. Oh! And I even have a cake in there for fresh fruit lovers! Scroll on through and get inspired.

 

XOXO,

 

~Cristina~

 

Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake

The folks over at The Cake Blog really nailed it with this one!

 

 

I don't think I'd have a problem finishing this gelato cake before it all melted! 

 

 

Jaime Oliver's Pancake Cake

"You're not having cake for breakfast! You're having fried cake... with syrup!" - Jim Gaffigan

 

 

Who in the WORLD hasn't dreamt of something like this Hostess snack cake cake happening at least once in their lifetime!?

 

 

 Bring this Giant Cinnamon Roll Cake to your next brunch and I'm willing to bet you'll be voted most likely to be invited back!

 

 

Oreo. Cookie. Stack. Cake. 'Nuff said.

 

 

The humble (and underrated) rice krispie treat gets a huge and well deserved promotion!

 

 

This is layered pie 'cake' is totally nuts! In a reeeeeaaaaaallllly good way!

 

 

Cream Puff Tower

I'm a huge fan of saying "I'm just gonna have one." and knowing that I am a bald-faced liar.

 

 

Let's face it, we will all succeed in convincing ourselves that this chocolate covered strawberry tower is 'healthy' if placed in front of us.

 

 

You'd have to be a 'Dum-Dum' to not fall in love with this sweet candy cake...See what I did there?

Wedding and Party Decor: 8 beautiful ways to style your event with fruits, veggies, and more!

 

 

Hi there, Lovelies!!

 

It's been a while, huh? Well, now that I'm back in the blogosphere I wanted to share some chic and incredibly simple ways to decorate your next get-together. I have always loved the idea of using edible goodies as event, party, and wedding décor. Not only is it beautiful, it is creative, unexpected, and absolutely accessible!

 

Using fresh food in our design plan means that we can go out to our local farmers market, bakery, cheese monger, pick-your-own farm, grocery store, or even your very own backyard to find everything you will need to stylishly and extravagantly decorate your next party.  

 

Below you'll find some of my very favorite ways to impress your guests without taking a hit to the wallet....And let's be honest, it's always a good thing when you can breakdown your centerpieces and use them to make dinner the day after your party!

 

BREAD

 

 

 

FOODIE FAVORS

 

 

 

FRUIT DECOR

 

CHEESE

 

 

FRESH FRUIT PLACE CARDS

 

 

 

FRESH HERBS

 

 

 

LOCAL & SEASONAL PRODUCE

 

 

 

 

And just imagine this little lovely hanging over your al fresco dinner party.... *sigh*

 

 

 

XOXO,

 

~Cristina~

The perfect Fall drink: Hot Mulled Apple Cider

Oh, Lovelies!

I. L-O-V-E. AUTUMN!!! Especially here in the Hudson Valley. The cool fall air, the changing leaves, apple picking, cider donuts, pumpkin flavored everything, chunky sweaters and boots, and a hot mug of mulled apple cider. I have a deep love for its warm, spicy sweetness and its absolutely intoxicating smell. I only get to enjoy this delicious concoction once a year, when the boughs of gnarly apple trees in orchards throughout the state of New York are heavy laden with crisp, juicy gems of the fall season - apples, apples, apples!

The following recipe is the perfect compliment to a chilly fall day spent outdoors picking apples with friends and family. It's also pretty fantastic served at dinner parties. If you like, you can package up the dry ingredients and give them to guests as the perfect homemade favor for a fall wedding. Pure heaven!

Cristina's Hot Mulled Apple Cider

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

1/8 teaspoon ground allspice

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Pinch ground nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

1 large orange, sliced

8 cups apple cider

Combine all ingredients in a large pot on your stove top and stir. Heat the cider mixture over medium heat until steam starts to rise from the pot, making sure that it does not simmer or boil. Remove from heat and serve immediately.

Cheers!

XOXO,

~Cristina~

Wedding Wednesday: Register on Etsy!

It's mid-week, Lovelies.

 

 I don't know about you, but I need a little pick-me-up! Cue Wedding Wednesday - here to give you a little dose of beauty to brighten your day!

 

Did you know that you can register on Etsy?!...for your wedding...on Etsy! It's almost enough to make me squeal! I love anything custom, artisan, and handcrafted for the home. This is your chance for you and your beloved to curate your new life together with beautiful, one-of-a-kind, handmade awesomeness. I'm pretty sure there's nothing you CAN'T find on Etsy. To get you started I've picked a few fabulous items that I just adore.

 

 

 Anatolian Gift  - Moscow Mule Copper Mug - $22.00

 

Betsy Grace  - Set of 6 typography linen dinner napkins - $68.00

Shevon Gant Ceramics - Handmade ceramic 4 piece dinner set in white and blue - $130.00

 

Cattails Woodwork - Personalized Walnut Cutting Board - $74.07

 

 

Now, go wild! A word of warning, though: You will get sucked in.  

 

 

XOXO,

 

~Cristina~

"Will You Be My Bridesmaid?": 10 free printables to help YOU pop the question!

Hello My Lovelies!

 

 I am so excited to bring this post to you today because it combines three very awesome things: DIY, Free Printables, and Weddings! I just love a good deal and let me tell you, this is a good deal, indeed!Are you newly engaged? (Congratulations!) Do you know someone who just got engaged? (Share the goods!). Are you planning on getting engaged... (Even if its just a secret board on Pinterest)? Well, this post is CHOCK FULL of beautiful, free printables and some lovely ideas that will help you when it's your turn to ask the most important ladies in your life-

 

 

 "Will You Be My Bridesmaid?"

1: Creme de la Craft  has an adorable DIY printable to pop the question - An accordion note in a sweet little gift box. Answer: "Awwwww, of COURSE!"

 

 

 

2: Something Pretty has a lovely hand drawn, calligraphed card perfect for the bride who loves a little classic romance.

 

 

 

    3: LOVE vs DESIGN gives us a cheeky and super feminine printable complete with red high heels!

 

   

4: Once Wed gives the Modern Bride a bold, geometric design to ask her maids!

 

5: Bayside Bride shows us how to create a soft and feminine card with lovely lace and ribbon detail.

 

6: Wedding Chicks help you make your bridesmaids 'official' with calligraphy and flowers.

 

7: Margot Madison gives us a sweet little rhyme, a bright bouquet, and a DIY bow!

 

8: The Pretty Blog - Here's a super cute idea - give a set of pretty earrings 

while asking your ladies!

 

 

 

9: Another goodie from Wedding Chicks - A pretty color combo in an awesome font.

 

10: Dessy gives you ten designs to choose from in a BAGILLION different color combos to match your wedding color scheme. There are even cards for asking your Maid of Honor!

 

 

 

Have fun, Beauties!

 

XOXO,

 

~Cristina~

First Day of Fall...First Cold Of The Season

It's Monday, Lovelies...

 

And it's an absolutely beautiful first day of Fall here in Upstate New York. The only thing is, I'm sick. Nothing out of the ordinary, mind you. Just your everyday, run-of-the-mill sniffle-y, achy, groggy, foggy, stuffy, sore throat, yucky kind of sick! Like most of you, I have a few things I need to feel comfortable when I have a cold and for me that means acting like its the weekend. The weekend represents long hours snuggling (and snoozing) under a blanket on the couch, watching movies on T.V. (Men In Black, National Treasure, The Mummy...don't judge!) and wearing comfy clothes (the most amazing pair of leggings that I have ever owned - and I'm not kidding - came from a bin at Walgreens under a sign labeled "$9.99 ONE SIZE FITS ALL").

 

 Only, when I'm sick, I like to add in some feel good foods like broth based soups and goldfish crackers. I pretty much turn into a 7 year old when I'm sick and I'm A-OK with that. Except for one very grown-up thing I turn to when I'm under the weather. At the end of the day, when I've exhausted my vitamin C, Echinacea, hot tea, orange juice, and chicken noodle soup (and I still can't seem to breathe through my nose) I turn to an old stand-by...the Hot Toddy. It never fails to lull me to sleep and keep me there through the night. 

 

Now, I am no doctor, and I feel the need to say that I do not recommend having more than one of these if you are truly trying to heal from a virus of any sort. Having several will probably make you feel worse when you wake up the next morning instead of well rested, like I do. In any case, I have written the recipe below for you. Cheers, and here's to our health!

 

 

 

Cristina's Hot Toddy Recipe

 

1 1/2 oz. bourbon
1 tablespoon honey
Juice from 1/2  a fresh lemon

Juice from 1/4 fresh orange
 1 Cup boiling water

Combine all ingredients in a mug and stir to combine. Enjoy!

 

XOXO,

 

~Cristina~