TOP OF THE POPS!

I truly believe everything is cuter when placed on a lollipop stick! Well, maybe not everything. But this whole idea has become one of my favourites. The thought of eating a piece of cake or a cookie like a lollipop is very whimsical in my mind. Call me crazy. Most people do!

Take a look at these adorable pictures and get inspired! Easter is around the corner and this just may be the treat to bring to your family dinner!

COOKIE POP!

PIE POP!

BROWNIE POP!

CHEESECAKE POP!

CAKE POP!
www.bakerella.com

The last picture is from an extremely talented woman. Check out her blog at www.bakerella.com. Her work is so detailed and imaginative! To me, SHE is the Queen of Pops! Take the time to look at all her work. You will be inspired!

I have a dream that this week will be my week to attempt the cheesecake pop. I will let you know how it goes! Wish me luck and don't forget to stay tuned!

SUGAR FIX TIP- INVITATIONS

Are you planning a party and need to find the perfect invitation? Well I have a place for you!

www.etsy.com

I know. This does kind of sound like an infomercial but it's not. Etsy has quickly become one of my favourite websites. Not only can you find beautiful handmade invitations but also a million other beautiful handmade products! I encourage you to find some spare time (and you need time) to look through this amazing website. You won't regret it!

Enjoy!

BALLOONS!

Recently, we were asked to plan a conference closing dinner, with little money and little time! So we put our heads together, and thought up an idea we weren't expecting. "What if we used balloons?!" What a novel idea! Our clients wanted this dinner to be lively, airy, and celebratory. Balloons made perfect sense! Take a look at our final creation!

It's amazing what you can do with a little helium! (or in this case, lots of helium!) I wanted to take the time to encourage you to not be afraid to use balloons in whatever event you may be hosting. Your local party store can make this happen easily for you.
If you want your balloons to fly high, helium tanks can be rented or purchased, depending on the amount of balloons you want to blow up. Here is an easy breakdown to help you decide what you may need:

• For 45-50 medium sized balloons, you can purchase disposable helium tanks for around $40. These tanks are recyclable and come ready to be used
• For up to 100 large sized balloons, you can rent a small helium tank for around $65.
• For up to 200 large balloons, you should rent a medium tank for around $75. Keep in mind, you will most likely need to put down a deposit for rented tanks in case of damage, but you do get it back upon the tanks return. (Deposits are usually $100 - and fully refundable.
  

To inspire you, take a look at some creations people have done! You'll be amazed at what balloons can do to any event!

( Pictures from: Martha Stewart Weddings, Balloonacy, Jimmy Jay Entertainment, Adventures In Fun)

SUGAR FIX TIP - Spilled Candle Wax!

Valentines Day is upon us, and we all know how romantic and special candles make a room. In my opinion, every event deserves beautiful candles to make the atmosphere special! But sometimes, candle wax ends up spilling on carpet or fabric. But fear not! There is an easy way to get it out!

Here are a few steps to help you get rid of those annoying candle blobs.

1. Get a clean cloth and an iron.
2. Put the cloth over the wax and gently warm up the cloth with the iron.
3. The wax will eventually melt into the cloth and lift completely off the surface it was on!

You may need to apply the above process a couple of times but with a little care and patience the wax always comes straight off.
Its amazingly easy – so go ahead! Enjoy some special candle light!

VALENTINE'S DAY!

A lot of people think that Valentine's Day is just another silly holiday but I think it's a great excuse to share some love! It doesn't matter if you are married, dating, or single, Valentine's Day should be about spending time with the people you truly care about.

Here are a few ways to spread the love...

1. MAKE VALENTINE CARDS!

When I was younger I always looked forward to receiving Valentine Cards. Every year my classmates and I would walk around and place a Valentine Card in each of our homemade "mailboxes." No matter who it was from, you still felt special for receiving it. I'm not quite sure when we stopped sending cards to each other but there is no better time than the present to start up again.

This Valentine's Day send your closest friends and loved ones a card sharing your love for them. It doesn't have to be big or fancy. They will feel special just knowing you care about them!

2. BAKE CUPCAKES!
Everybody loves a good cupcake! This is a great activity to do with someone special, a friend, or even with kids. Martha Stewart has some great Valentine cupcake designs. Here are a few from her must-have book (pictured below).

3. HOST A PARTY!

This has to be my favourite idea of all! I love planning and having parties and welcome any excuse to create a great event for the special people in my life. Here are 4 things to think about when planning your party.

i) Invitations
Your invitation indicates to your guest what kind of party they will be attending. It's important that you pick something that will reflect what your party is all about. If you are planning on having a few friends over then choose something fun and nothing too serious. If you are having more of a romantic party then chose an invitation that is more on the flirty side.

Here are a few invitation ideas.

ii) Decor
When I think of Valentine's Day I think red and pink. This is one of my most favourite colour combinations. Using a colour palette for decor is much easier then using a theme. Even though the theme is Valentine's Day, stay away from the cheap shiny paper hearts, etc. that you would find at the dollarstore. Instead look for items in reds, pinks and whites. Use feather boas, candles, and beautiful fresh flowers.


iii) Food
In order to decide what you would like to serve at your event, you first need to figure out what kind of party you are having. If you are planning on having a sit down meal, and preparing the food yourself, choose something that you feel comfortable with and can be done ahead of time. You don't want to miss out on your own party. If you still want to have large amounts of food but don't want a sit down meal, choose to do a buffet. This will allow your guest to mix and mingle while eating a full meal. For a lighter affair have a cocktail party. Pick food items that can be done the night before and easily displayed. Your stress levels will thank you for being so prepared! And for dessert, Chocolate Strawberries are ALWAYS a Valentine favourite!



iv) Music
Your selection of tunes can make or break your party's atmosphere. Be conscious of the volume - as the number of your guests increases and their conversations get louder, turn it up. If you're setting an intimate dinner party for a few friends, keep the music at a level that doesn't require you to shout across the table. Obviously, the style of music you select also has a bearing on your party's atmosphere. If all else fails, resort to jazz. You typically won't offend anyone, and you'll look cultured in the process! Still stuck for a good melody? Stick on the Buble. He's smooth, fun, young, and Canadian to boot. His latest album, Crazy Love, is ideal for the Valentine season.