Week In Review & Simple Set-up

You might remember this dessert display that used a simple chair and side table to feature a cake, well, I recently came across another chair/table design. This one by Lemon Sprinkle Events is even simpler and more attainable.

This week on Sweet tooth:

We kicked off this short week with this reader's Guest Desserts submission.
National Ice Cream Month is the perfect excuse to create this dessert table.
Cakes and cake balls become one in this pastel spectrum confection.
You guys flipped for this cake/cake ball hybrid here and on Twitter.

image via Green Wedding Shoes

Week In Review & Violet and Plum Button Cake

This week on Sweet Tooth:

We liked the reusability of this dessert table's apple favor tree.
A reader submitted this dessert table for a little girl's 5th birthday.
This dessert table was a sweet centerpiece for a baby's baptismal bash.

This week on Sweet Life, I interviewed Alicia of Cupcake about her appearance on Food Network.

If you have a DIY, dessert table, favor idea, or other sweet creation to share, check out the Submissions page for the how-to.

image by Janae Shields

Week In Review & A Candygram

If you've been reading the blog for awhile, then you might remember this rainbow colored candy art. I thought that was pretty great, but this Jessi Arington candygram ups the creative factor.

This week on Sweet Tooth:

This modern black, white, and yellow dessert table made a bold impact.
I announced the winner of this Potter & Butler giveaway.
We oohed and aahed over this pretty pink cake display.
I gave a reader a this bit of dessert table advice.

This week on The Sweet Life, I wrote about these new desserts coming to the MN State Fair this year.

image via Eat Drink Chic

Week In Review & Popsicle Invites

It finally hit 100 degrees this week in Minneapolis. Inexplicably, it's cloudy and only in the 60s today. Go figure. Either way, these popsicle invites are bringing a little bit of warm, sunny goodness into my day.

This week on the Sweet Tooth:

My hub launched Well-Groomed, which is the style blog for grooms.
These dessert tables in Little Bit Magazine are full of color.
I announced the Potter & Butler giveaway. If you haven't entered yet, you better hurry up!
I shared this Ferrero Roche cupcake recipe with you.

It's been a crazy, whirlwind of a week. I hope to see you all back next week.

image by Our Labor of Love via Design Sponge

Week In Review & Chocolate Salted Caramel Cupcakes

My friend, Maddy, made these addictive chocolate-covered, salted caramel cupcakes and shared the recipe on her blog, Somewhere Splendid. Be sure to check it out!

This week on Sweet Tooth:

We talked about these non-ice cream versions of Neapolitan sweets.
I shared the tutorial for my chalkboard cookies.
This week's Sweet Brands post featured this Jekyll & Hyde inspired popcorn design.
Mariel submitted this dessert table for a Guest Desserts feature.

This week on The Sweet Life, I wrote about Kemps Next New Flavor contest. Enter and you could win $2500 and get your ice cream carried in stores.

I'll be taking off Monday for Memorial Day, but I'll see you all back here on Tuesday. Have a great weekend!

Week In Review & Banana Split Bombe

This Banana Split Bombe looks amazing, and perfectly cool for a hot summer day. If you have a glass bowl, a few pints of ice cream, and a cake recipe (or boxed cake), then you can make this and really wow guests at the next get-together.

This week on Sweet Tooth:

I really liked the creativity of the garland for this storybook dessert table.
I learned that cake stencils can be simple for birthday cakes, or really elaborate for weddings.
We chatted on Facebook about the simple beauty of this dessert table.
I liked how well white, milk, and dark chocolate were worked into this chocolate-y design.

This week on The Sweet Life, I wrote this post about Chocolat Celeste's new venture and free truffles.

I'll be back next week with the chalkboard cookie tutorial from the Graphic & Glitz shoot that many of you have been asking for, so be sure to check back on Monday. If you missed the cookies from the original post, you can see them here and here.

Have a great weekend!

image Martha Stewart via Pinterest

Week In Review & Woodland Cake

I love the upbeat, happy feel of this woodland cake. It could work for so many different occasions, like a kid's birthday or a "not too serious" outdoor wedding.

This week on Sweet Tooth:

We started a new series called Sweet Brands by introducing Honey & Mackie's ice cream.
I shared the inspiration board that drove the design behind my latest dessert table.
You guys loved Part I and Part II of my latest design, the Graphic & Glitz dessert table.
I found this gold quilled cake.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

image via Pinterest

Week In Review & S'meeps or P'mores?

Still trying to figure out what to do with those leftover Peeps from last weekend? Eclectic Recipes has the answer. Whether you call them S'meeps or P'mores, these little guys would brighten up any bonfire you have this spring and summer.

This week on Sweet Tooth:

I shared this tutorial for making solid chocolate bowls for ice cream.
A reader submitted this budget-friendly Mexican dessert table.
On Facebook, we discussed planning a pooch party after seeing this dessert table.
This all-white tea dessert table deserved two posts. This one and this one.

This week on The Sweet Life:

I wrote about these students trying to make bigger, better popcorn.
I watched and wrote about Karl Lagerfeld and Rachel Bilson's movie short for these ice cream bars.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Week In Review & DIY Easter Papier Mache Eggs

A few weeks ago, I shared this mini pinata project with you, and today I'm back with a DIY papier mache project that's specifically for Easter. Check out this egg pinata tutorial by Not Martha via Twig & Thistle.

This week on Sweet Tooth:

We learned to make sailboat cupcake toppers with this Guest Desserts submission.
I loved the calligraphed favor bags on this Easter dessert table.
We saw this bunny birthday cake, which actually seems do-able.
A reader submitted this Easter dessert table that she created for her friends.

This week on The Sweet Life, I wrote about candy wrapper fashions and accessories, and I tweeted about these new cake stands that I ordered for my client's upcoming wedding.

See you next week, everyone. Have a great weekend!

Week In Review & Mini Donuts

I've always believed that virtually anything is cute if it's small enough, whether it's a dog, a baby shoe, or in this case a donut. Mini donuts are popping up everywhere, and they come in some of the greatest colors. I love the aqua donuts with the pink linens.

This week on Sweet Tooth:

We daydreamed about these strawberry marshmallows and s'mores.
I'm still not convinced that these super-detailed buttons are really candy.
I had fun filming this tv segment about wedding dessert tables.
This gelato dessert table was awash in lovely pastels.
We loved these twists on classic chocolate chip cookies.

I hope you all have a great weekend. See you again next week!

image 1 & 2: My Baking Addiction, image 3: Heather Bullard, image 4: Pinterest

Week In Review & Mug o' Cocoa Cake

It's been in the upper 50s all week in Minneapolis, and the weatherman's promising we'll hit 70 degrees this weekend. So, let's say goodbye to winter with this mug of cocoa cake.

This week on Sweet Tooth:

We realized how much cake pops look like balls of yarn.
I shared this DIY mini pinata tutorial, which is perfect for hiding Easter goodies.
I designed a romantic dessert table and shared the pics shot by Emily Steffen and some of her students.
We all fell in love with the crafty simplicity of this baby shower dessert table.

This week on The Sweet Life, I discovered some of the metro's most delicious cream puffs.

I'll see you back here on Monday. Have a great weekend, everyone!

via Pinterest

Week In Review & Designer Cupcakes

Food and fashion, who could ask for anything more? I found these designer cupcakes by Made Fresh Daily on The Demoiselle, and I just love the tiny details captured on each miniature luxury bag. Just look at the "stitching" on that little Gucci bag (pic #4).

Along with these designer delights, we had several other delectable posts this week.

On Sweet Tooth:

We chatted on Facebook about which of these designer cupcake boxes we liked best.

An asparagus cake and these sweet veggie gardens made greenery a little easier to swallow.

I saw a crown jewel cake for the first time, and immediately found a great cookie to pair with it.

We all practiced pronouncing "croquembouche" and learned a little about the towering French dessert.

On The Sweet Life I reviewed Thomasina's Cashew Brittle.

If you find pictures of delicious desserts that you want to share, upload them to the Shauna Younge Dessert Tables Facebook fan page. Or, swing by to leave comments on the pics that other readers are sharing.

Have a great weekend!

Week In Review & The Anatomy of a Cupcake

This week on Sweet Tooth:

One lucky little girl was gifted with this all-pink dessert table for her birthday.
These Chanel ice cream cones make me wish Summer was here already.
A reader submitted her Parisian Chic dessert table for a Guest Desserts feature.
The cookies on this teal and turquoise dessert table were my favorite.
Tissue paper garlands make these homemade cakes worthy of a second look.
I fell in love with the simplicity of these DIY edible gold bars via Twig & Thistle.

This week on The Sweet Life, I highlighted St. Paul's BARS Bakery. The turtle bar is amazing.

image via Pinterest

Week In Review & Polka Dot Cake

This week, I was busy prepping for a couple of different photo shoots, researching candies, and designing several dessert tables.  We also had a lot of great posts that got you guys talking, which is great. Many of you have become regular commenters here, on Facebook, and on Twitter, and I'm thrilled to here your thoughts about the posts and about what's going on around the SYDT office. Thanks so much for joining the discussion!

On Sweet Tooth:

We toured a creamery that specializes in liqueur-enfused ice creams .
These "stitched" cakes from the latest issue of MSW were inspiring.
I shared a collage of flag cake toppers that you all loved.
A reader submitted this enchanted dessert table.

On The Sweet Life:

I shared a pics of a local restaurant's fried dessert.
Facebook followers weighed in on this ice cream trend.

Have a great weekend. I'll see you back here on Monday.

Want to stay in touch over the weekend?  Follow me on Twitter and Facebook.


image via Pinterest

Week In Review & Edible Oscars

The Academy Awards are this weekend, which means Eleni's creates a new batch of Oscar nominee cookies. This year's actresses are Annette Bening, Jennifer Lawrence, Michelle Williams, Natalie Portman, and Nicole Kidman.

This week on Sweet Tooth:

I fell for these Carl Kleiner dessert photos and IKEA baking cookbook.

We had some fun debate over this M&M cake trend on the Facebook fan page.

I showed you my latest obsession and a couple delicious examples.

MN, WI, and AZ Bride shared this DIY cake topper tutorial by Maddy of Inspired Bride and I.

Of course the guys are represented as well. Pictured above are Jeff Bridges, Javier Bardem, Colin Firth, James Franco, and Jesse Eisenberg.

This week on The Sweet Life, I discussed some of the unconventional flavors of the gourmet popcorn trend. 

Here are the best movie nominees. How many can you name just by looking at the cookies?

Have a great weekend, everyone! I'll see you back here on Monday.

Week In Review & Behind-the-Scenes

It's been a busy, but wonderful week. I've got some fun behind-the-scenes pics from my stint on the KARE 11 Today show that photog (and super friend) Emily Steffen kindly shot. The host Pat Evans, was really sweet.

On Sweet Tooth:

I made my first TV appearance on KARE 11 to share this pink, tangerine, and aqua Valentine's table.

We saw more evidence of the Pooch at a Party trend here and here.

Pink and gold won me won on this shimmery Valentine's Day dessert table.

This Cinco de Mayo dessert table was the perfect balance of cultural and classy. 

We chatted on Facebook and Twitter about this golden heart shaped chocolate cake.

I shared this incredibly easy, incredibly Valentine's Day favor idea.

On The Sweet Life:

I interviewed the owner of Sweets Bakeshop to find out what their plans are for their new shop.

I also guest blogged for my friend Maddy Hague on The Inspired Bride, because she's sitting shiva.

This cake is so breathtaking, that I had to share it here with you, too.

images by Emily Steffen

Week In Review & Purple Passion

As you can probably tell by my website and blog color palette, I like purple. A lot. So, when I saw this purple explosion I just had to share it with you to wrap up this week. Three purple cakes of different shapes and sizes, plus cupcakes. What more could you ask for?

image via Tumblr 

This week on Sweet Tooth:

I found out that a pic from this dessert table I designed was featured in the newest Minnesota Bride.
A reader submitted this colorful, youthful birthday table for a Guest Desserts feature.
We took a candy shop tour of Sugar Sugar.
I fell for this dusty pink dessert table inspired by a 1950s French theme.
Many of us oohed and aahed over these Punxatawney Phil cupcake toppers.
I shared these two new cupcake liner DIY projects.

This week on City Pages' The Sweet Life:

I discussed the Top 5 dessert trends for 2011 and gave Twin Citians tips on where to find them.

Next week, we've got some really gorgeous posts coming your way. Lots of great Valentine's ideas and a fun event on the horizon for me, but I'll tell you more about that later.

Have a great weekend!

Week In Review & Gingerbread in Flight

There have been some fun posts this week on the Sweet Tooth, including:

I shared this inspiration board and sneak peeks of a modern dessert table design

This XOXO dessert table I made for Emily Steffen

A Target Valentine's dessert table submitted by a Sweet Tooth reader

I loved this beautifully sinister Snow White dessert table by Belle Amour

I also wrote a few yummy posts for City Pages' The Sweet Life, like:

Companies that let you design custom chocolate bars like these

I also gave some Valentine's suggestions for different types of chocolate addicts

If you're in the Twin Cities, be sure to check out these places to get great chocolate cakes

images by Go Make Me

Cookie Art & Week In Review

This picture is a perfect way to usher in the weekend. These Sweetapolita paintbrushes are so realistic that I didn't even realize they were cookies. I just thought they were props to go along with the cookie paint palettes. It's been a great week full of pretty desserts and creative projects. In case you missed one, here's a recap.

Mallow cookies via Tartlette were a lovely way to start the week.

We oohed and aahed over this crafty dessert table garland by Simplesmente Branco and Pinga Amor.

I fell in love with this girly woodland dessert table via Sweetapolita.

Inspiration is everywhere. This dessert table was inspired by a fabric pattern.

In other exciting news, I've started writing a new column for City Pages' Hot Dish. 

The Sweet Life focuses on dessert trends and news, with emphasis on the Twin Cities. Be sure to check it out all of this week's posts here if you haven't already. As always, I'd love to read your comments.

We're going to kick off next week with a reader's fun dessert table submission. She was inspired by this design of mine, so I'm thrilled to share it with you. Want to join the fun? Submit your desserts, DIYs, and projects.

image #1 via Sweetapolita, image #2 via Somewhere Splendid

Fuuuudge! & Week In Review

I'm sure we've all yelled out, "Oh Fuuuudge!" at one time or another, whether it was because your ten-year old self stopped before dropping the f-bomb in front of your parents, or because you just don't like to cuss.

This packaging design for homemade fudge by Kelly Anderson puts that common outburst front and center.

Did you notice that "FUUUUU" starts on one side and continues all the way around to the other with "UUDGE?" That's one long, drawn out pseudo-swear. 

Before you head off for the weekend, be sure to check out any of this week's posts that you might have missed.

Even kids would love this dessert sushi!
The button theme used to define this dessert table was perfectly executed.
I was blown away by the creative DIY projects for this kids Valentine's dessert table.
I love this video of Kate Spade's glittery cake.

Do you have a project, recipe, or product to share? Check out the Submissions page to learn how to get your sweets featured on Sweet Tooth.

Have a happy Friday, everyone! See you next week.