ICE CREAM SOCIAL - SIP AND SEE

My oldest friend, Rebecca, just had Ada, the sweetest little bean you ever did see! Remember her baseball themed bridal shower HERE? We had an ice cream bar then (her fav), so my mom and I went with a whole ice cream theme for her sip and see! I basically have no imagination and wanted ice cream. BTW a sip and see is a baby shower AFTER the baby is born- you sip drinks and see the baby. Get it? Might be a southern thing, I don't know!

Colors and design began with this adorable invitation by Rock Paper Scissors.

Frozen water balloons = the cuter cousin of ice cubes.

Loooove how Rock Paper Scissors designed the ice cream cup labels and cone wrappers!

DIY GIANT ICE CREAM CONES:

-honeycomb balls (here and here)

-kraft wrapping paper

-double stick tape

For the cone, follow THIS template... just eyeball it and make it giant! It's a little tricky, not gonna lie. Cut out and tape the ends of the cone together. Stick the honeycomb ball in and gently tape with double stick tape. I was laying mine flat on the table, so I didn't need to secure it well. If you're hanging them, I'd make them with the tiny honeycomb balls so they'll be lighter.

Pinwheels, plates, and napkins by Meri Meri.

It's not a party without Aunt Ellie's Campfire Crispies! This time we went with gluten free Oreo flavor. Yuuuuum.

We got these adorable scoops HERE and painted them. We're thinking about selling these little scoopity scoops painted custom in our ETSY shop- what do you think? They were perfect for ice cream toppings.

Table runner by Kitchen Papers.

I used THIS tassel tutorial and used my Silhouette for the letters.

Here's the new mama Rebecca and sweet Ada! Imagine knowing someone for your entire life, then they're in labor, and you're crying alone in your car just sitting in your driveway so your kids don't get freaked out that you're crying. Yep, that was me.

Ice cream parties are the easiest because there's no cooking or baking! Everything is store bought but looks special depending on how you display it. Sweet and simple!

-L 

HOW TO PERFECTLY WRAP A GIFT

We hope you guys are enjoying the holiday season. Leah and I are a bit under the weather, which is NO. FUN. 

Okay, so wrapping gifts is one of our favorite tasks of the season. Most people loathe it, but we feel like if you buy beautiful wrap, gift toppers, ribbon and use these tips then you might actually ENJOY it. What!?!?! When Leah and I met ( working for our friend, Lauren, at her paper boutique) we were taught the skills to pay the bills by Lauren herself. We offered a professional gift wrapping service that saved a LOT of people from going insane over trying to wrap their gift themselves. Okay, they may not pay our bills, but they do make people envious of your beautifully wrapped gift at your holiday gift exchange. Whenever all of us girls get together, and there is gift giving involved, we almost care more about how it is wrapped vs. what is inside the box. True story! It is just in our blood now. 

Here are our tips that we are passing on from one great wrapper to another.... YOU!

Get a great box that is sturdy and has a good shape.

-Wrap your gift in beautiful tissue and seal with pretty tape :) Details people.

- Once your items are placed in the box, then fill all of the extra empty space with tissue paper. This helps your box not cave in when you are wrapping it. This is VERY important. The box structure is everything!!

-Roll out your wrap and lay your box in face down. Pull the edge of your wrapping roll to the center of your box and tape (using regular invisible tape). This is where your perfect seam will be.

- Then, pull the other side of the wrapping roll (the actual roll itself) over about a 1/2" passed the seam you created, and cut.

- Now, turn your box (with the wrap attached) horizontally to where the untaped edge of the wrap is closest to you. Fold over to create a perfectly seamed line. Then, attach DOUBLE-SIDED tape to the inside of the wrap. In other words, put the tape right on the fold that you just created. We use about three strips to go along the width of the box.

- Now time to do the ends! Simply cut excess paper off so that your edges reach about half way down the side of the box. Any seam you are taping directly to the box can be adhered with regular tape. Any of the corners that you fold in and adhere to the paper itself should be taped with double-sided tape. 

- Fold in all of your corners just like you would on a regular wrapping job. Remember to keep pulling tightly and doing intense folds to keep the wrap from "bubbling" around the box.

- Turn your gift right side up! We love to add "bands" around our gifts. They help make your pretty wrapping paper go further and adds interest. I chose an old wrap from last year to use as a band over the gold polka dots. Simply cut the band to size (width wise) and wrap it around the BACK of the box to where the ends of the band take up about a 1/4-1/2" of each side of the back of the gift. We are alllllllll about the front! 

- I opted for a sparkly ribbon with no bow ( as this gift is for my 16 year old girl cousin). Again, to save ribbon, I just wrapped the ribbon slightly around the edges to the back of the gift and taped it. Double stick tape is preferred here so that you don't see it on the back of the ribbon, but regular tape seemed to hold this ribbon better. 

- Choose your perfect gift tag. Don't skimp on the gift tags!! They are fun and add that special touch to your already beautiful gift. Is it bad to say that we are NOT fans of sticker name tags on gifts???

oops!

Host a wrapping party, turn on a good holiday movie, or just grab a glass of champagne and get to wrapping!!! The investment in good boxes, pretty tissue, gift wrap and all of the pretty things that come after truly make the wrapping experience so much more fun! Also, receiving a beautifully wrapped gift can make the recipient feel all the more special. 

XO!!

-J

All wrap and gift wrapping goods were purchased at Lauren's boutique, Rock Paper Scissors. 

Seriously, she has the best stuff!!!

FEATURED: HOLIDAY CENTERPIECE TUTORIAL

Anyone else in need of an incredible centerpiece for the holidays and have no clue how to do it? Luckily, my extremely talented friend, Matt Bollwinkel, just started a new floral business THISTLE BE FLORAL based out of LA and is graciously giving us a tutorial! I love how he uses unique textures, colors, and shapes that you'd never think of for a centerpiece. He's seriously so talented and funny, and his wife happens to be the same. My face literally hurts from laughing after I hang out with them. They're pretty much one of my fav couples ever.

If you're in the LA area, contact Thistle Be Floral. Immediately. 

He's the next big florist that you wish you knew before everyone else did... and now you do!

"MOM'S FAVORITE CHILD" HOLIDAY CENTERPIECE

by Thistle Be Floral

Photographs by Sara Bollwinkel

Is your holiday table naked? Hide your shame with a homemade centerpiece that suggests you have your s*#t together. 

Here is what you will need... 

1. Fancy Shmancy Japanese flower arranging scissors. Or regular kitchen shears... (Anything between a machete to safety scissors will do)

2. Robert Goulet - "This Christmas I Spend with You". This is not optional.

3. Oasis Floral Foam

4. A cool vessel...such as this tremendous silver antique champagne bucket.

5. Flower Food - pro tip: One packet of flower food and a quarter teaspoon of bleach in your water will make your plants die slower...or last longer if you are an optimist. Pro tip: if you don't have bleach, use mouthwash!

6. Human Food - Your favorite holiday beer (or wine/scotch/kool-aid)

To prep your vessel for the flower invasion, cut the Oasis floral foam to fit and fill with water, flower food, and bleach. Allow this mixture to soak for a few minutes and pop open your human food.

Let's get down to business.

7. Greenery - take some clippings from the christmas tree, your local forest, or a neighbor you feel like stealing from. Source your pretty greens as this is where it all begins. 

8. Random "Foraged" (stolen) Berries - If you have dogs or children, use with caution.

9. Magnolia Leaves - these are a classic holiday accent to any arrangement or wreath. Some people spray paint them gold, but who has time for that?

10. Holiday Food - Pomegranates, Pears, Persimmons, Pumpkins etc. Anything that starts with the letter P will do. (Pinecones...not food but totally acceptable)

11. Protea - This is a great "focal flower" that will last the duration of your family's stay and into the new year. Succulents are another great option.

12. Ornamental Kale - Hippie/Hipster approved. These take up a lot of real estate. If you are super lazy, this is a solid addition.

13. Tulips - Great color splash - check out french tulips if you want a sassy option.

14. Star of Bethlehem - Cause its Christmas y'all. (Note they also last for a long time and will continue to bloom for weeks).

15. Peonies - This is the popular girl in school. She hangs out with the funny chicks (tulips) but steals their boyfriends. This is your other focal flower of choice. (Caution: much like the popular girl in school, they are fragile and fall apart easily)

Now that you have your flowers together, you need to process them by removing excess leaves from your stems. The idea is to keep all vegetation other than stems out of the water. The longer your water stays clean (and free of flower goo) the longer your flowers will last! 

The first stems to enter your vessel should be the greens.

Follow up the greens with accent greenery such as your magnolia leaves, or the berries I "borrowed" from my neighbors yard. This is the fitted sheet...totally necessary.

Next add your ornamental kale and focal flowers. Do this in a not boring way.

Fill in gaps with beautiful pieces of fruit or pine cones etc. To do this, carefully stab a wooden skewer into your fruit (make sure you don't run the skewer all the way through). Cut the exposed skewer to the depth of your vessel (so no stick is showing and the fruit sits in the arrangement snug as a bug.)

After you have gotten this far, take a step back, grab a drink and give your eyes a minute to rest. Revisit it with fresh eyes in 10 minutes.

Now add your finishing detail elements. Tulips and star of bethlehem are great at filling in the gaps and will add lovely bursts of color as they continue to blossom.

Now step back, admire your work, quit your job, and become a florist.

Happy Holidays Yall!

<3 Matt 

INSTAGRAM: @thistlebefloral

WEBSITE: ThistleBeFloralLA.com

EMAIL COMPLAINTS: info@thistlebefloral.com

Thistle Be is Matthew P. Bollwinkel, who was born in Sibu Sarawak Malaysia in the winter of 1980 to missionaries Mark and Elizabeth (Bonnie) Bollwinkel. Upon their return to the United States, the family spent the subsequent years moving from town to town in California and Nevada with various churches. To this day, the place Matt calls "home" is the San Francisco Bay area.

Matt's artistic inspiration includes Japanese imagery and culture, feminism, loud and dissonant music, photographs in old medical encyclopedias, animals, rust, dirt, gold, and and the love he has for his wife Sara and their two dogs Albert and Norman. Matt is a studio musician, a baker, and a business man. His love for flowers began when he was a young boy, but his draw to floral design began in the winter of 2013 when his community began commissioning his work. Matt's notoriety has circulated primarily by word of mouth, as he operates out of his home in Los Feliz in Los Angeles, CA (or in a glass case of emotion….or on location).

For more information or to set up a consultation please contact: 

info@thistlebefloral.com

THE BEST CHOCOLATE CAKE!

It was my husband's birthday yesterday, and every year his two requests for gifts from me are: 

1. "Don't spend money"

2. "Bake my favorite chocolate cake"

I'd say I get off pretty easy!

Update: The picture above is the cake I made for MY birthday! It's the same cake recipe but with peanut butter frosting (recipe below)

Not to toot my own horn... but I'm going to. This cake is the BEST. It's super m-o-i-s-t (don't say it out loud) and super chocolaty in a not-to-sweet way. It's pretty easy too!

THE BEST CHOCOLATE CAKE EVER EVER EVER

Cake Recipe

Adapted from Ina Garten

Ingredients:

Butter, for greasing the pans

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for pans (I use bread flour)

2 cups sugar

3/4 cups (good!!) cocoa powder 

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1 cup buttermilk, shaken

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 extra-large eggs, room temperature

1 teaspoon (good) pure vanilla extract

1 cup freshly brewed hot coffee

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. 

Butter two 8-inch x 2-inch round cake pans. 

Line with the bottom of the pan with parchment paper, then butter and flour the pans. I like to flour the pans with extra cocoa powder!

Sift the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and mix on low speed until combined. 

In another bowl, combine the buttermilk, oil, eggs, and vanilla. 

With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry. 

With mixer still on low, add the coffee and stir just to combine, scraping the bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula. 

Pour the batter into the prepared pans and bake for 25-30 minutes, until a cake tester comes out clean. Always bake for a few minutes less if you've never made this recipe before, so you don't over-bake the cakes. You can always add more time, you can't take away! 

Cool in the pans for 30 minutes, then turn them out onto a cooling rack and cool completely.

CHOCOLATE FROSTING RECIPE

Adapted from Magnolia Bakery

Ingredients: 

1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, softened to room temp

2 tablespoons whole milk, room temp

12 ounces chocolate, melted and cooled (I use Ghiradelli 60% bittersweet chocolate)

1 tsp fleur de sel or kosher salt

1 teaspoon (good!!) vanilla extract

2 1/4 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar

Directions: 

To melt the chocolate, place in a double boiler over simmering water on low heat for about 5-10 minutes. Stir occasionally until completely smooth and no pieces of chocolate remain.  

Add 1 tsp of fleur de sel or kosher salt (my secret ingredient).

Remove from the heat and let cool for 5-15 minutes.

In a large bowl, on the medium speed of an electric mixer, beat the butter until creamy, 3 minutes. 

Add the milk carefully and beat until smooth. 

Add the melted chocolate and beat for 2 minutes. 

Add the vanilla and beat for 3 minutes. 

Gradually add the sugar and beat on low speed until a desired consistency is reached. I whip it for a couple minutes so it's nice and fluffy!

My two cute helpers

Ari said "Happy Birthday, Daddy! Daddy, how old are you turning? Oh wow, 32? Does that mean you're going to go bald soon?"

UPDATE: I just made this cake for my birthday but with peanut butter frosting! Recipe as follows:

PEANUT BUTTER FROSTING

Ina Garten

Ingredients:

1 c powdered sugar

1 c creamy peanut butter

5 tbsp butter, room temp

1/2 tsp vanilla

1/4 tsp salt

1/3 c heavy cream

Directions:

Beat all ingredients except the cream in a mixer on low until creamy. Add the cream and beat on high until fluffy and smooth. There was enough for the top and middle layer of the cake, keeping the sides bare. You may want to double the recipe if you'll be frosting the whole cake.

You are going to LOVE this!! Enjoy!

-L

DIY HOLIDAY CARDS DISPLAY

This is so easy... I don't even know why I'm posting it. BUT I think it turned out pretty cute. So. I'm also procrastinating cleaning my house. Typically when I'm at my most creative.

I just received my first two holiday cards! One from my bestie since college, and one from my sweet little nieces and nephews! Last year I was so lazy (read: just had my second baby) that I put all of my cards in a pretty bowl on the coffee table. This year I'm stepping it up a tiny notch. 

All you need for this easy DIY is:

- 1 wire wreath form

- 1-2 packs of plain clothes pins

- 1 roll of fun washi tape

- 1 clear command hook (sticks on the wall and removes without damaging the paint!) See below:

I found this pretty Meri Meri washi tape at our fav shop Rock Paper Scissors.

 Measure by sticking a clothes pin on the tape

 Cut tape

Bend around the sides of the clothes pin. Use the back of your finger nail to really stick it on there well. And... that's it. Told you it was easy! You could totally spray paint the wreath form gold or silver first, but it's going to get covered up with cards anyway, right? She says to convince herself.

I still have to finish decorating my mantel. Cannot find the rest of my decor!! It's probably in storage somewhere. Ugh. Ooh and I'm waiting on a sparkly banner from The Bannerie! I'm a tad obsessed.

Happy decorating!

-L