5 Sweet Halloween Treats

You know I'll be out and about getting candy any and every way I can this week. I think 24% of the reason grown ups have kids is to prolong their ability to trick-or-treat and get pillowcases full of candy. Ok, not really. It's probably more like 18-20%. Anyway, I thought I'd round up a few of the great spooky desserts that I'm loving right now.

Take a little time to make some gooey monster cookies, make fringed favor bags, print some spidery chocolate bar wrappers, or decorate a sugary bottled brew. 

I'm going to spend the rest of the afternoon helping kiddo make Monster Mouth favors for her class Halloween party. What spooky endeavors are you getting into this week?

spooky dessert table, Shauna Younge Spider Web wrappers, Gooey Monster Eye cookies, One Charming Party fringed favors, Mer Mag bottle wrappers

Dessert Table: Unicorn Birthday Party

A unicorn party? Seriously? Yes! Absolutely! After seeing this super cute dessert table, I don't know why this theme isn't featured more often on the kid birthday circuit. I mean, who cares about Dora the Explorer and the Bratz when you can have a whimsical, girly fete like this? I stumbled upon this fanciful creation on my Pinterest feed, and I must say, Natalie Spencer Photography did a great job highlighting each and every frilly detail.

pics: Natalie Spencer Photography via on to baby

Dessert Table: Starry Night Baby Shower

I love a co-ed baby shower, because let's face it, there isn't a lot for the father-to-be to do while the bun's still in the oven. A sophisticated, but fun, co-ed shower helps get dad excited and geared up for the little one's arrival. 100 Layer Cakelet featured this Peter Pan dessert table for a baby shower designed by Sugar & Fluff. Photographer Richelle Dante's pictures make the sweets look delicious.

That starry cake is a great compliment to the gold stars hanging from the ceiling. Cupcakes, macarons, and chocolate chip cookies are yummy companions.

I love that each guest had a mint green macaron waiting at their plate. What a sweet way to start a meal.

Swing by 100 Layer Cakelet to see the entire event.

Dessert Table: Gorgeous Gems

Ever wonder what a geometric bride and groom look like? Well, wonder no more. This modern dessert table on 100 Layer Cake is full of faceted details, including geometric cake toppers. Gem-like truffles, cookies, and candy vessels make this table amazing. Talk about working a theme, the Indie Wed crew left nothing un-gem-ified. That's a word, right? Right? Ok, probably not, but I know you get me.

Don't you just love this whole design?

images by Amanda Megan Miller Photography via 100 Layer Cake

Sweet Idea: O.P.I. Cookies

I'm doing a little research for a girly dessert table I'm working on, and I came across this bit of sugar-y heaven.

Dessert Menu, Please has the cutest cookies. Seriously, O.P.I?!? It doesn't get much girlier than that. I feel in love with this super detailed treats, but don't stop there. Check out all of DMP's fab photostream.

images by Dessert Menu, Please

Guest Desserts: Under the Sea Birthday Dessert Table

I'm warning you now, you're going to totally swoon over this sugar-y, aquatic-themed dessert table. Why, you ask? Let me count the ways.

1) Eboness Belin of Fleur de Lis Events design this bash for her daughter Emerald's 3rd birthday.
2) Her daughter's name is Emerald (so cute!)
3) There are a ton of pretty aqua-hued sweets.
4) Did I mention Emerald?

A ruffle cake, star fish cookies, rock candy, and cotton candy? What more could a little girl wish for? I know, salt water taffy and shimmery gum balls. That's what.

Eboness: I used inexpensive crystals to line the edges of all of the mirrors that the cookies were served on. It transformed ordinary, to "phenomenal"!  

Eboness has a few tips to share for those of you tackling a DIY dessert table: 

- I used lots of clear acrylic risers on the dessert table to add visual interest with varying heights and to make the desserts appear like they were floating underwater.  

- Create your own vision of what you'd like your party to look like first and use that as your guide (Pinterest board, photos on a bulletin board, etc).  Don't be afraid to be different- your design ideas are yours so explore what "you" envision to come to the final result.  

- Start early in planning your party. You'll discover tweaks that need to be made along the way as well as unexpected 'aha' moments that will encourage you to carry on when you are tired, or discouraged.  

Eboness created this Sheer Bliss Chiffon Chandelier when she couldn't find a more sophisticated option in stores or online.

from Eboness: [T]his piece was truly a labor of love. Light and floaty, the chiffon circles offer a dreamklike aesthetic, and certainly transport you to a different place. I offer it in my Etsy shop for others going for the same look. It can be used in a nursery, baby shower, or wedding!

more from Eboness: I created the design on Publisher and printed myself on pre-boxed plain wedding invites.  The border had a satin/pearl finish which played into the theme quite nicely. 

All I can say is, "Wow!" Thanks for sharing this darling dessert table and party with us, Eboness!

Concept/Event Design: Fleur de Lis Event Design and Catering Co. 
Photography: Catie Ronquillo Catie Ronquillo Wood 
Sugar Cookies: A Cookie Jar Cupcakes/Cake: Kroger/Mansfield TX

Do you have a dessert table, recipe, or other sweet idea to share? Check out the Submissions page for details.

DIY 3-Ingredient Thin Mints

It's Girl Scout cookie time, and the kids are out in full force. If you follow me on Instagram, then you know they already got me, hook, line, and sinker. My husband ordered some from a co-worker's kid, and forget to get some Thin Mints, so you know I squealed with glee a little when I came across this recipe by Izy of Top with Cinnamon.

A white chocolate version?!? Why didn't I think of that? Izy uses only three ingredients to whip up these childhood classics. It doesn't get much simpler than that. Check out the how-to here.

Sweet Idea: Valentine's Inspiration

Last week, I shared this easy Airheads Candy Necklace tutorial that I made for my daughter. Today, I'm back with a few of my fave sweet Valentine's ideas from around the interwebs. An ombre cake for a V-Day wedding, perhaps? Who doesn't love edible confetti or pixie stick cards? And cookies in a cute jar? Yes, please! Enjoy!

pics via: Brides.com, Proper Pinwheel, Real Simple, House That Lars Built, You Are My Fave

Dessert Table: Plenty of Pink

This is definitely giving me Valentine's visions.

pic via MSW

Sweet Idea: Cardinal Cookies

By now, most of you have seen how I decorated my Christmas tree this year. It might be a little hard to tell, but there are some festive little cardinals nestled in among the branches. I just love their vibrant color, especially against a dark background. These Sweetopia gingerbread cookies are just the perfect shade of red, don't you think?

images via Sweetopia

Pink and Gold Glitter Cookies

I've been staring that this pin for a couple of years now, just waiting to do a pink and gold holiday.

So, when I came across these packaged cookies, I was in eye candy heaven.

What palette are you using for the holidays?

flatware: Dust Jacket, macs: Sugar & Cloth

Ghoulish Sticker Cookies

These festive treats need zero introduction. They're so cute, and Marian of Sweetopia is so talented that she was able to identically replicate Halloween stickers to design her cookies.

Sweetopia Halloween cookies

Featured: Totally Target Halloween Dessert Table

Remember this Halloween dessert table I created a couple of years ago using only items I found at Target? The bloggers over at HGTV recently stumbled upon it and kindly featured it this week.

 Check out the HGTV post here and the full dessert table here. 

Dessert Table: I've Got The Blues

Ombre doesn't have to be busy. This simple, crisp design features only a subtle grey backdrop. Azar Jazestani styled these ombre blue sweets by Gimme Some Sugar include a modern dot cake, oversized cookies, cupcakes, and cake pops.

pics by Monique Simone Photography

Dessert Table: Nautically Nice

When you think nautical, navy blue always comes to mind. Usually it's paired with yellow, red, or green, but this little gem for a girl's party matches the classic hue up with pink. Tracy of The Sweet Peach Paperie centered a pink ruffle cake among popcorn cones, custom anchor cookies, and cute cupcakes. A flag bunting and glass milk bottles with striped straws add adorable finishing touches.

images via Sweet Goosie Girl