I saw this on http://www.mycakeschool.com/blog/ice-cream-cone-cupcakes/!!!!

You know how much I LOVE cupcakes, so when I saw this I knew i had to share it.  I cant wait for a chance to make this! Perfect for winding down the summer at party or a birthday celebration!

Go crazy and make them your own.  The wilder the better!

First, cut notches out of some waffle cones so that once flipped, the cones would lie pretty flat on my cake board.  It’s best to saw your cones with a serrated knife.  It’s a little tricky, but not too bad

We could have used one wide board but we decided we liked the look of three narrow ones better…

Confetti sprinkles, mini chocolate chips, & toffee bits for decorations.

That’s all there is to it!!  Three tall ice cream cones for a total of 16…but wouldn’t it be fun to make a super long cone the length of the picnic table?  Maybe another time….   But for now, these happy little ice cream cones make me smile…  :0) —

Love this inspiration board featured on Style me Pretty.  Wishing you all a fantastic weekend!

We are always looking to the advice of professionals and it is important to share a diverse perspective of opinions.  Kevin from DSWfoto shared these tips about your engagement shoot and a few tips to help you plan for it. Thanks to Kevin from DSWfoto for his contribution.

I’m often asked what to wear to an engagement session.  And while there are really no “rules,” I always recommend to wear what is comfortable.

Wearing something that you feel comfortable in makes you more comfortable with yourself, and it shows in the photos.  If you wear something that is a little too tight or ill-fitting, or something you’ve never worn before, you may begin to feel self conscious.

Engagement photos are about you as a couple and not your clothes.  So, if you wear jeans every day, you don’t have to wear a dress for your photo session.  It’s completely okay to wear those jeans to your engagement session, because that’s you!

If there is something you love (your dog, a movie, a sports team) incorporate it in to your photos.  Bring your puppy, put on a pair of Harry Potter glasses, throw on a jersey, have fun!

Be careful not to dress too much alike, or it may look too uniform, but it does look good when a couple complements each other in the way they dress. For example, it’s great if he wears a tie to match your dress.

I also recommend that you bring a change of clothes or some back up pieces, just in case you change your mind at the last minute.  And, definitely have a spare pair of comfortable walking shoes.

Have a great time, wear what is comfortable, and you’ll end up with great photographs!

Kevin

DSWfoto is an Orlando Wedding Photographer.

For more information about DSWfoto and samples of their work, please visit their website at: http://www.dswfoto.com

For more samples and wedding tips, visit their blog at: http://www.dswfoto.com/blog

Are you looking for a way to DIY some adorable favors?  I found this AWESOME blog- The Decorated Cookie! I am sharing this directly from their blog because I didn’t want you to miss this.  What an AWESOME way to personalize your favors (and a great value with a little bit of sweat equity!) Make the packaging all YOU and match your décor.

you will need:*

cellophane bags

letter-size cardstock or photo paper

scissors

ribbon

double-sided tape or a glue stick

almonds or other small candies

word processing program

color printer
paper trimmer

*Find the cellophane bags, ribbon, paper trimmer, tape and glue stick at any major craft store. The cellophane bags meant for chocolate-dipped pretzel rods work well here, or use the 4×9-inch size.

step one: make your paper wrap
With a word processing program, such as Microsoft Word or Microsoft Publisher, create a text box about 4 1/2 inches wide by 5 1/2 inches long. Fill the box with words, names, lyrics, mash notes or any writing you prefer, using a mix of fonts and colors. A letter-size page will make two favors. Print the favors with a color printer and use a paper trimmer to cut out the 4 1/2 X 5 1/2-inch boxes. Set aside.

step two: assemble your packaging
Pour candies into the cellophane bag and center in the bag. If using the larger bags, not the pretzel treat bags, wrap the cellophane around the candies so the final diameter is about 1-inch and final length of the candy is about 4 1/2 inches. Tie ribbon around either end, then snip the closed end of the bag with scissors. Wrap the paper around the tube, securing with the glue stick or double-sided tape.

As social media becomes even more integrated to our daily lives the rules of etiquette are a bit unclear on the parts that are acceptable. Weddings are the one place that can put the etiquette rules to question. This is a day you want to share with the world but we all know that a “status update” can be a complete distraction from the event (come on, you know you don’t pay attention to ANYTHING when typing your update or tweet!!!)

So how can you use Social Media and still maintain the decorum of proper etiquette?

1. Before the wedding

Many times your wedding party has never been introduced to each other. This can make for an awkward situation as the wedding festivities begin. Facebook “groups” can be a perfect platform for your party! Introducing wedding attendees online before the big day can help you avoid any day-of awkwardness. This will give people the chance to break the ice and virtually get to know a little about everyone else.

2. The Ceremony is off-limits

We’ve all seen the video where the couple updates their facebook relationship status on the alter. Sure it was funny the first time but……. The wedding ceremony should be off limits. This is a scared ceremony that should be respected (just as marriage is to be respected!) My advice, leave your phone in the dressing room (with the ringer off!!!!) I say to my couples, everybody you need today is here, so the phone wont be ringing!

3. Make it a tweet-fest reception

All tweeters know the power of a # – Hashtag. You can create a custom hashtag for your wedding day. Make it something fun and easy to remember. This will make all tweets from your day easy to find later on and helps to create a feeling of celebration for your guests.

Getting the word out to your guests can be FUN! Instead of putting disposable cameras around, make signs with the hashtag for your event and encourage your guests to send you their well wishes, touching moments and snap shots. These are moments that otherwise would have been missed.

Instead of a guestbook appoint a “Tweeter In Charge” and create a wishing station. You can post well wishes, photos and a whole host of things! All for the bride and groom to experience later. You can also choose to read a few wishes and tweets during your toasts. What a fun way to get your guests involved (once again, our OMG wedding tips TOTALLY apply here!!!)

4. Set Up a Social Media Station

The way of the guestbook is fading fast. We are always looking for the next “thing” in registering the thoughts of your guests! But how can you mix tradition with modern? How about a “Social Action Station.” A “social action station” is a place where those who want to connect or comment online can do so, without forcing the issue onto the uninterested.

Set up a station with a laptop, a webcam, projector and screen. Encourage guests to come by, and leave their mark however they want- a facebook post on the “event wall”, tweet their well wishes and watch others’ tweets scroll over the screen. Any form of social media can be used, as long as you have the expert to set it up!

This can also work for photos, as well as text-based communications. A live stream of photos from the event can be a fun way to engage people and encouraging sharing.

5. Live Stream for Those Who Can’t Make It

Thanks to the wonders of modern tech, nowadays you can share your special moments with people who can’t make it in person. Ustream is one such site that can help you share your ceremony with those well-wishing from afar.

“Live weddings give our users an opportunity to experience Ustream in a completely new way. It’s very exciting to see our broadcasters offer unfiltered access to the best moments of their lives. That’s one of the many reasons we’re here,” says Ustream’s Tony Riggins. “The use of Ustream to share (publicly or privately) your day live online for friends and family that cannot make it to your ceremony is especially useful for those having destination weddings. If Great Grandmother cannot make it, she can still virtually attend and share in your joy,” Howard says.

And don’t think this means you’re spilling private moments all over the web; there are ways to make this a private process, Stevens points out:

“If you have loved ones who are unable to attend the wedding, collaborate with your videographer on showing a live feed of the ceremony via Ustream or another online video streaming service. You can make these password protected if you’d like, so that you can share your joy only with people you know and not random Internet strangers.”

Brides all over have streamed some of their special day to far-flung elderly relatives, and even got them involved in the speeches:

6. Don’t Forget to Enjoy the Moment

You only get one wedding day — if things go as planned, anyway — so don’t waste any precious moments you could be interacting with real-life people. Rest assured anyone who is following your day online will certainly understand your priorities. Changing a Facebook status from engaged to married just after the vows is a growing trend, but don’t miss taking in those moments with the people actually there with you. Put down the phone and enjoy the company of those who came to celebrate with you

“When you’re one of the major participants, you need to unplug for the day and focus on the people who are actually there with you.

7. After The Big Day

Finding the best way to summarize your wedding day: Set them up in advance and you will have everything in place for your wedding day!

• Facebook Event
  
• Flickr- Have your guests upload their photos to a custom and private flickr page (set up in advance!)
  
• Blurb -With Blurb, you’ll find all the tools you need to make your own photo book
• Party On by Get Married- PartyOn! finds your guests’ photos, videos and posts from across the web and gathers them all into one simple, fun place.