Magically OBSESSED with Macarons……. Not to be confused with the coconut kind (which I love too!!!!!!!) But these amazing little treats that are all the rage.

There are a few places I have found them to be amazing:

Chocolate Provocateur (Orlando) http://www.chocolateprovocateur.com/ (oh and the amazing variety of other fresh baked yummy items will have you swooning!!!)

Crazy about Macarons (South Florida) http://crazyaboutmacarons.com (they ship too!!!)

But if you are like me, and LOVE to bake, check out the easy recipe below!!!!!! There are so many delicious combinations but this one is to DIE FOR!!!!!!!!

Look how cute they are as favors

Packaging like this is 2×2 so should you decide to make these as DIY favors, you might want to order a sample before baking to ensure the perfect fit.

http://www.gandgwebstore.com/2×2-cylinder-box-clear-pkg-6-en.html

Vanilla Bean Macarons with Dulce de Leche Buttercream
Makes 18-20 Macarons

Ingredients:

Macarons Shells:
115 Grams Almond Meal
180 Grams Confectioners’ Sugar
100 Grams Egg Whites, aged at room temperature for 24 hours
25 Grams Granulated Sugar
Seeds from 1/2 Vanilla Bean Pod

Dulce de Leche Buttercream:
1 to 2 Cups Confectioners Sugar, sifted
½ Cup Unsalted Butter, at room temperature
3 to 4 Tablespoons Dulce de Leche (they sell it in a can so you don’t have to boil the cans anymore!!! Woo Hoo)

In a large bowl sift together almond meal and confectioners’ sugar to remove any lumps. Set aside.

In a mixing stand, whisk egg whites until frothy. Add vanilla beans and slowly add granulated sugar. Continue beating until stiff peaks are formed. Carefully begin incorporating dry mixture into the meringue—gently folding until all items have been integrated. This should take no more than 50 strokes.

Using a piping bag fitted with a large round tip, pipe small rounds of the mixture onto Silpat lined baking sheets. Rounds should be about 1½ inches in diameter. Once baking sheets are filled, tap the sheet carefully but firmly on the counter to remove any possible air pockets. Let baking sheets sit on the counter for 45 minutes to harden the outer shell before baking.

Bake at 280 degrees for 16-18 minutes. Transfer the pans to cooling rack and cool completely before removing shells from mats.

While shells are cooling, prepare the buttercream. In a large mixer bowl, whip the butter for several minutes until very light and fluffy. Slowly add the confectioner’s sugar until the butter becomes thicker and stiff. Add the Dulce de Leche and whip until combined. If needed, add a few more spoons of confectioner’s sugar until desired consistency is reached.

Transfer buttercream to a piping bag. Fill a macaron shell with the buttercream and sandwich with another shell. Macarons can be stored in airtight containers for 3 to 4 days.

Note: The buttercream is on the sweeter side so I would suggest filling only a minimal amount (yeah right lol)

Are you a DIY bride looking for an awesome gift for your wedding party? Well, how about this?

Every girl in Florida owns a few pair of flip-flops! Ok, so some of us own a TON of flip-flops, so when I saw this DIY project on epbot.com. I just HAD to share it!

Here’s how to make them

First, grab a handful of the flimsiest metal hangers you can find in your closet- you know the kind you get with your dry cleaning. (You want to be able to bend them with your hands, if possible.) You’ll also need a pair of needle-nosed pliers.

Cut off the bottom section of the hanger like so:

You may need to score the metal with the pliers and then snap it with your hands.

Now take your pliers and roll up the two edges, like this:

This gets the sharp edges safely out of the way, and also looks kind of cute.

Now, using both your hands and your pliers, bend your hanger into this approximate shape:

Kind of like a stick figure flexing his muscles.

Want to match your wedding colors? How about a little spray paint?

I love the idea to make them a bit prettier with this little wrap!

Here’s how you make it:

Make sure your ribbon is snug, so it doesn’t fall off the hanger. To secure it you can use fabric or super glue – or, if the glue stains the ribbon like mine did, glue dots also work really well.

Step 6 shows the backside of the hanger. I suggest flipping it over like this to trim off the excess ribbon.

When you’re done, your hanger should look like this:

You can add special touches to personalize too. How about their initial, just to make it EXTRA special.

And here they are, hanging in a row:

Here’s how the ‘flops hang:

Plus, here’s a handy bonus: you can also hang your ballerina flats on these!

I love the “green” eco friendly concept of recycling for a one of a kind gift!!!

Almost every bride is asking me the following: 1) How can I get all of my bridesmaids to wear the same jewelry! 2) What kind of gifts should I get my bridal party?

I am a huge fan of Etsy (as you know by now) and this solution will make everybody smile! And, at $12.95 + shipping, this is a great find!

You get to choose both your pearl and double-faced satin ribbon colors to create the perfect wedding look for your bridesmaids.

The glass pearls are 10mm in size and are available in a color to match almost any wedding décor (plus, this is the kind of necklace that can be worn forever!)

Check out the Etsy store! More colors added and I am sure they take custom orders J

The little touches make the difference between a nice wedding and a “WOW, that was a great wedding.” Trying to find a great way to incorporate “you” into the wedding can sometimes be overwhelming. I saw these and just had to share. These printable bags (ETSY- who doesn’t <3) are the perfect addition for treat stations, cookie buffets, or just about anything you want to “present”!

The mini size is perfect for candy bars while the larger size works great for late night snacks like popcorn and cookies (bags run approx $5 for 25- if you need more, just get in touch with them for combined pricing and shipping). They are great for many other goodies too; use for favors, confetti, bridesmaid’s gifts, personalize however you would like and use to your heart’s desire. Available in custom designs as well as send ready designs in an affordable range of $5-15 dollars. Check out the whole store! Awesome value with a premium look!

Although completely optional, couples now opt for more unusual, useful, and personalized favors to thank their guests for coming. Don’t just think of your favors as an obligation, think about making them special for your guests and a reflection of you. In many cases, the favors do double-duty as place-card holders, table decorations, and even centerpiece arrangements where larger favors are grouped together in the center of the reception tables.

Favors can be ready-made items, although currently less popular, or hand-made and embellished with ribbon and accents that coordinate with the wedding theme or color scheme. This is definitely an area of weddings that has gone “do it yourself” in recent months.

Edible Favors

Tempt your guests with tasty favor treats. Personalized chocolate bars, individual truffles, cake-shaped cookies, fresh fruit, or slices of a groom’s cake are sure to be enjoyed by everyone. Since the cost of favors can add up quickly when you’re giving them to 200 or so guests, food favors offer a nice way to stay within your budget.

Wet Their Whistle

Think drink when offering gifts to your guests. Personalized wine bottles or beer from a microbrewery are both trendy and practical favor ideas. Could there be anything cuter than these mini-champagne bottles?  I am completely in love with these from Pommery! Pommery POP bottles!

Things That Grow

Little plants in antiqued pots at every place setting not only lend a natural feel to your party, they’ll also live on after the reception. Potted herbs can be accompanied by a favorite herbal recipe. A planted Bamboo plant will live on as a memory of your special day (plus, they are low maintenance and live for a LONG time!)

Theme Time

Unique wedding favors that help express the theme of the wedding are also popular. A couple who had their wedding at the Central Park Zoo in New York City gave boxes of animal crackers to their guests.

Expression of love!

I just love the look of these homemade soaps I found on ebay!    50 for $12 plus shipping!

Presentation Is Everything

The key to making a simple favor elegant and memorable lies in the presentation, so be creative. If you plan to box or bag your favors, consider an unconventional version — perhaps miniature Chinese take-out boxes or little brown paper lunch sacks tied with raffia and adorned with real daisies. Planning to wrap the favors? Whether you use paper or fabric, go for interesting textures and colors.

Whatever you do, MAKE IT YOU!