We're moving!

Thank you to everyone who has supported our Blogger space over the past year, however we are no longer operating our blog from this domain.

You can find our new blog at www.moonlightandwhimsy.com.au


Can't wait to see you there!

Ezz @ M&W

Livin da Cupcake Loca

If you'd told me several years ago that I could put bacon into a cupcake, I would have laughed at you. Just like I would have laughed if you'd told me about little cakes on the end of lollipop sticks. Okay...that one's a little more credible. But bacon...in a cupcake? Images of savoury muffins would have crept into my limited imagination, like they are undoubtedly yours.

French Toast and Bacon in a cupcake? That's just crazy talk.

Nevertheless, I hauled Stephen into the kitchen at midnight on Friday to help me make the pièce de résistance for our submission into the Lily Chic Events/Luminoso Blu Mother's Day Table competition. Don't get me wrong - Stephen is a vital part of our business. He lifts heavy things. He climbs unstable ladders and hangs lanterns in strange places. He handles logistics and orders and my mountain of accumulated receipts. Nowhere in his contract (ha!) does it say that he has to help me make baked goods at some ungodly hour. But here we were - attempting the stuff that legends are made of. We had enough mixture for...a 13th cupcake. Not being able to wait, we broke open the mysterious little cake - steam still rising from its inner core (okay, now I'm getting carried away). We took a bite and our eyes widened. It was French Toast. It was Bacon. It was BOTH.

Fast forward several hours (and 4 hours sleep) later - cupcakes cooled and frosted, shoot complete, photos transferring to the hard drive...and we got to eat them as intended. The maple frosting was...in a word...divine. I've adapted the recipe from the original source, given that I could not find maple extract ANYWHERE. If you can - I salute you. But an extra dollop of maple syrup did it for me (and I was a little more liberal with the cinnamon too - but that's just personal preference).

So without further ado - I give you the perfect recipe for mum this Mother's Day:

French Toast & Bacon Cupcakes w/Maple Buttercream.
Adapted from The Busty Baker's adaptation of 125 Best Cupcake Recipes by Julie Hasson
Makes 12-14

Cupcakes

• 1 1/2 cups plain flour
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 Tblspn ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and then cooled
• 2 eggs
• 1(ish) tablespoon pure maple syrup
• 1/2 cup milk
• 6-8 slices bacon (or more if you like your cupcakes bacon-y)

1. Preheat oven to 180C and line baking pan with paper liners.

2. Cook bacon in batches browned, but still flexible. Soak up any extra oil on paper towels and set aside to cool. Once bacon is cooled enough to handle, cut a couple slices of bacon into inch-long pieces. This will be the decoration on top of the cupcake, so make as many as you think you'll need. Set aside. Chop or tear the remaining bacon into tiny pieces. Set aside.

3. In a small bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt.

4. In a large bowl, whisk together butter, sugar and eggs until smooth. Whisk in maple syrup. Alternately whisk in flour mixture and milk, making three additions of flour mix and two of milk, beating until smooth. Fold in small bacon pieces. Mix until evenly distributed throughout batter.

5. Scoop batter into prepared pan and bake 20-25 minutes until golden brown and tops spring back when lightly touched. Let cool in pan on a rack for 10 minutes, then remove from pan and cool completely.


Maple Buttercream
Adapted from The Busty Baker's adaptation of 125 Best Cupcake Recipes by Julie Hasson
Makes enough to frost 2 dozen cupcakes

2 cups icing mixture
3/4 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
Pinch of salt

1. In a bowl with an electric mixer, beat butter until light and fluffy. Add maple syrup and salt, and beat until well combined. Add icing mixture, half cup at a time, and beat until smooth and fluffy, about 5 minutes.

2. Frost or pipe onto cooled cupcakes. Top with inch-long bacon pieces.


Original Post: http://sites.google.com/site/thebustybakersrecipes/home/french-toast-and-bacon-cupcakes

Sooooo yummy!!

My Favourite Things - Sweet Style

Today we chat to Leanne Ambrogio from Sweet Style (otherwise known as Mrs A in the Cove) about her favourite things! We love Leanne's work at M&W - and we know you will too! Make sure you check out her blog at the end of this post!

"My name is Leanne and my business name is Sweet Style.  My business is still a very new one and something I am loving having found a passion for styling and putting together dessert and candy tables for parties, christenings and weddings.  My blog is called Sweet Style by Mrs A In the Cove and it is about many things - my life, my styling, my photography journey, my family, the party tables I create for myself and for others...

Today I have put together a collage of all of my favorite things - the wonderful items used to style a great dessert and candy table - my favourites include cake stands, honeycomb balls, personalised spoons, cookie pops, sugar sticks, glass jars, little bottles with straws and beautiful labels."

All images by Sweet Style.

Check out Leanne's work here:


www.sweetstyle.com.au
www.mrsainthecove.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mrs-A-In-The-Cove/143138412393688

Light Up Your Life - Finalists!

We have some beautiful ideas and designs for our lightboxes, thanks to our gorgeous fans and customers. We were absolutely astounded by the lengths that some of you went to to decorate! Even those who photoshopped or sketched their ideas completely  blew us away!

How to Vote:

1. Simply go to our Facebook (facebook.com/moonlightandwhimsy) and find the poll with the corresponding entrant's name - and vote!

2. Share our Facebook page with your friends, family and fans and get them to vote also! 

3. The winner will the entrant with the most votes by 8pm (EST), Wednesday 13th April, 2011!!

My Favourite Things - Willow Tree Creative Services

Tonight we chat to Lea from Willow Tree Creative Services about where she finds her inspiration! Enjoy. xo

"My name  is Lea, creative director and founder of Willow Tree Creative Services,  a boutique wedding, event management and photographic styling business in Brisbane. I am so honoured to have been asked to guest blog on Moonlight and Whimsy's "My Favourite Things". I have so many favourite things but if I had to narrow it down to a small list of favourite things right now I would have to say, inspirational photography, music, lollies, lotus pods in wedding bouquets, mismatched glass jars for decorating, mismatched vintage china as place settings and DIY vintage inspired wedding decorations."

"I find my inspiration in everything, everywhere and everyone! I spend many hours finding inspirational images from other photographers and wedding blogs but mostly it comes from my surroundings, perhaps being out on a summers day with my family, or friends. I draw a lot of inspiration from those around me and my environment. I love working with photographers and clients to create a story and to make a statement. The inspiration board is a visual look at my favourite things."


Credit list for inspiration board clockwise (from top left)

• Lizzy C Photography
• Krystal Mann Photography
• Chelle Paperie
• PS I Love You
• Blair Britt Events
• The Knot (they haven't credited the photographer)
• Once Wed

Twilight Markets

Come down and see us at the 

Twilight Markets @ Evergreen Lifestyle Centre

12 Discovery Drive, North Lakes.

TONIGHT!

Check out our gorgeous range of paper lanterns, LED lights, feather butterflies, cupcake wrappers and grab a bargain while you're there! Come for dinner, and check out the other beautiful displays of handmade goodies too.

SEE YOU THERE!

Spotlight on...Harah Designs

We're taking a break from our "Favourite Things" this week to bring you a spotlight on one of our favourite designers: Harah Designs.

Maria Smirlis and her family have been product developers and manufacturers in the fashion industry for 5 generations in Europe and for the past 50 years in Australia. Maria says she is totally inspired by fabrics, people, lifestyle and most of all comfort and originality . She dares to be different and feeds off her own creativity.

"I love to create pieces that are timeless and unique with a handcrafted edge." she says.

Where does the name Harah come from? According to Maria, it means happiness and new beginnings. All Harah dresses and accessories are made from fabrics and components collected from the 40s to the 90s, and are designed in unique vintage styles from these eras.

They also specialise in unique and eclectic custom-designs.

Harah Designs are having a giveaway at the moment to go in the draw to win a gorgeous nude blossom dress fit size 6-12.

All you have to do is:

1. Suggest their Facebook page to a friend
2. Subscribe to http://www.harahdesigns.com
3. Leave a comment telling them where you would wear this dress.

 Check them out today!

Website: www.harahdesigns.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/HARAH-DESIGNS

Inspiration Board - Sweet 16 Fiesta

We're excited about this party for a gorgeous Sunshine Coast girl later this year. Sweet 16 Fiesta - it's all about the mock-mojitos, pinatas, and turning sweet 16 under the magical glow of candlelight!

Enjoy!

 

VENDORS:

Shoes: http://thegloss.com/fashion/bright-high-heels-from-resort-collections/

Candles: http://entertainexchange.blogspot.com/2009/04/diy-mexican-or-cinco-de-mayo.html 

Bottles: http://styleunveiled.com/blog/2010/5/5/cinco-de-mayo-wedding-ideas.html 

Flags: http://hitchedsalon.typepad.com/from-hello-to-hitched/2009/11/pucker-up-by-smp-reader-jess.html

Dessert Buffet: http://www.amyatlas.com

Tissue flowers: http://freshandvintage.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/03/fiesta-ay-chihauhau.html

Banner: http://gordongossip.blogspot.com/2010/05/mexican-party-banner.html 

Shoes: http://www.etsy.com (no longer available)

My Favourite Things - Design Me Vintage

We're lucky to be working with Isabella from Design Me Vintage on an upcoming Photo Shoot. Bella creates the most dazzling and divine vintage-inspired brooch bouquets, is developing a stunning new hire range and has featured some truly inspiring works on her blog. And she's only getting started...


Bella writes:

"I find inspiration from a simple picture, or a comment, and idea. I absolutely love the invitations  in this board. (I do have a small obsession with birds, eggs, and nests). And this rolled out into a inspiration board which, I pulled different elements and styles together and bingo! I think for me its the feeling in the end that is evoked, the story of it. Not naturally leaning to these colours in my home, I love them when worked together in subtle tones. After all, we have red love hearts, blue skies and white fluffy clouds - sounds divine and delicious to me!"

Visit Design Me Vintage's website here and their Facebook page here.

We're evolving!

If you've been to our online store lately, you would have noticed that we're undergoing a few changes. We've shed quite a bit of our inventory and we've been concentrating predominantly on event lighting. Nothing excites us more than paper lanterns hanging from the most obscure places - and we want to share that love of festivity with our customers!!.

In the next two weeks (weather permitting) we will be returning to the Twilight Markets - and we'll give you details as they come to hand. We're also adding new and exciting lighting stock over the next few months - we think you're going to love it!

Of course we'll still be stocking cupcake wrappers, and DIY event materials and of course our ever-growing hire range is getting bigger than ever! We're also still taking bookings for wedding & party styling - and there are even bigger things in store that we can't WAIT to share with you!


We'll be back later tonight with another "My Favourite Things" installment and we also have a new inspiration board in the works.We also have some entries in the "Light Up Your Life" competition which we're dying to share!

P.S Never miss an update again - click "Follow" on the right hand side of our blog! And don't forget to leave us comments - we love to hear from you!

My Favourite Things - Bird's Party

This week, we chatted to the beautiful Bird - of aptly named "Bird's Party". Bird specialises in all things partylicious and fun and today she's sharing what makes her inspiration tick!

Bird writes:

"I’m Bird, designer and founder of Bird’s Party - I created Bird’s Party back in April 2010 as a result of my passion for entertaining, crafting and all things pretty and fun! 

At the moment I'm really into bright, vibrant colors and party themes that can be adapted for girls and boys of any age group. I draw inspiration from everything I see, including my two young children, who happen to be born on the same day. Planning a joint birthday party for a boy and a girl of different age groups is no easy task, so I'm very drawn to party themes that cater for both! This is why I'm so thrilled to share my latest printable party collection with you: A Little Monster Bash!

Totally inspired by my little monsters of course! :)"

Inspiration Board details:

• Little Monster Party Printables (cupcake toppers, banner, thank you postcards, bottle wrappers etc): Bird's Party
• Cupcake sprinkles and cupcake liners: Smidge and Pinch
• Spotted Favor bags: The Party Fairy
• Inflatable monster-ball favors: Oriental Trading
• Little Monster Cake Pops: BHG
• You can find some more of my work, tutorials and party crafts and inspiration in my Party blog, Facebook page, and my Etsy store.

My Favourite Things - Just Call Me Martha

Welcome to the next article in our "My Favourite Things" series. Today's guest post is by the super-fabulous Leoni...or as she likes to say "Just call me Martha!".

We are huge fans of Leoni's work - and we love the intriguing places that she finds her inspiration!

She writes:

"I love styling parties from start to finish, it gives me great joy to see my ideas flourish from pen and paper to reality. When a customer contacts me with party ideas of what they would like my brain kicks into gear and a hundred and one ideas start popping into my head, usually my inspiration can come from an invitation, a piece of fabric or just a simple word that captures the theme of the party.

Quite often I have to sleep with a notebook and pencil next to my bed and it isn’t unusual for my husband to wake in the wee hours of the morning to find me madly scribbling or sketching away by my bedside lamp."

"While I do enjoy looking at other people’s parties and being inspired by them, I find that I prefer to look at other industries for my inspiration. Often I find great ideas by reading interior design or wedding magazines, going to a garden show, looking at book illustrations or art drawings or looking at window and shop displays. You will be amazed at the amount of unusual ideas I’ve come across simply by looking at my local shopping centre window and shop displays, especially during festive seasons.

I try to stay away from “trends”, I do follow some aspects of trends especially if the customer has their heart set on something they have seen, but in general if a trend has been used to death I go in the opposite direction. I like my parties to be unique and different (which isn’t always easy to achieve) and enjoy it when people say, wow, I have never seen that before. Most of my parties are handmade, from the food to the decorations,  I love sourcing different items, textures and materials and coming up with new ways to use old ideas.

This year I see a big trend in printable parties (like last year) with decorations like paper medallions, paper garlands, decorative straws and ruffled cakes on top of the hit list, I’ve also seen a shift from using ordinary tables as dessert tables to using other furniture (especially vintage) as dessert tables, I love this idea!"


You can visit Leoni's blog at: http://www.justcallmemarthaa.blogspot.com/ or check out her Facebook page at  http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Just-call-me-Martha/135227659857933.


Have a wonderful, whimsical week everyone! :) xo

Inspiration Board - Bohemian Rhapsody

A little something I threw together for an upcoming shoot. Enjoy!

 

My apologies for not crediting these photos - most were sourced via various blogs and photography sites. I have no other excuse other than it's horrendously late and I had 4 hours sleep last night. If any of these images belong to you and you would like them taken down, please let me know. MW xo

Vintage...Boho....Shabby...y'know.

rachelgreig.typepad.com

Vintage. A word that is bandied around the Offbeat wedding world with much fervour.

How many times do you read new blog entries about "Vintage" weddings, decorations and shoes? Sometimes it's matched with other romantic descriptors such as "Boho" and "Shabby Chic". Sometimes genres are melded together and you hear people describe weddings as "Boho Chic" or "Vintage Boho". Sometimes when they're not sure, they say "Vintage...Boho....Shabby...y'know." Usually we know what they're talking about! But just in case you're interested in what these terms (and others) mean to different people - here's what we've turned up.

www.weddingbellsblog.com

Annabel from Love My Dress posed a similar question on her blog last December, which attracted considerable attention from other vendors: "There are many cases of blogs featuring weddings that are classified as ‘vintage’, which I’d rather call something more along the lines of ‘shabby chic’ or ‘eclectic country’ as I prefer to call it."

Vintage Fashion Club have a simple definition. "Vintage clothing and accessories are older than 20-25 years, but not more than 85. Those figures vary: sometimes vintage includes 1920s fashion, sometimes 1920s clothing and accessories are considered to be antique, mostly it depends on the actual garment."

With this in mind then, should we be specific in the way we label weddings? After all, there were such defining trends in each of the individual decades, particularly with clothing. Is it truly a vintage wedding if we are combining a 1920's style dress with 2011 style shoes? Or 1950's makeup with 1930's attire? Or if our weddings are simple affairs with few guests and hand-made decorations, and "antique (we think)" plates? Is small and predominantly DIY another word for Vintage"? Is it Vintage if we're using blush pinks and beiges? What if we use patterned teacups, typewriters, birdcages, chandeliers and photo-frames? What if our photographer simply uses sepia colouring effects on our photos?

The Wedding Decorator has a quick rundown of the trends in each decade - definitely worth a read if you are going for a particular look.

www.bakati.com

www.kaboodle.com

In all honesty, I don't think there's ever going to be a universally recognised definition. What most stylists seem to agree on is what a couple's intention is when they choose this look. Is it because it's trendy? Because it glorifies a return to "simple" weddings? Because it's cute? Chic? Or because you genuinely adore that style and it's how you envisage celebrating your relationship with each other and your closest friends and family?

Is it more accurate to describe a style by the decade? Or perhaps "Vintage Fusion" should be a more appropriate formalised term? Is Vintage still alive and well, or is the term so ambiguous now that it's no longer truly trending?

In the meantime, when I ask brides what they envisage for their big day, and they say: "Vintage...boho....shabby...y'know..." - I say: "Fantastic. Let's do it!"

Light Up Your Life - COMPETITION!

Our lightboxes are popular choices for people who want to create glowing, classy lighting for their parties and events. These versatile luminaries can be used to create stunning centerpieces just by simply adding ribbon, crystals or flowers.  Add a coloured LED light or light cube…and marvel at the effect!

 
Our customers have used them to hang in trees, create glowing aisles and light up ordinarily hard-to-illuminate areas...the possibilities are endless.

The gorgeous Jenn from 'i Do' itYourself has taken our lightboxes and worked them over into sophisticated and stunning luminary that is très chic!

All you need is a large light box (available here!), some black card,  scissors (or craft knife), sticky tape and a tealight candle (or submersible LED/light cube - available here).

Check out the tutorial on the 'i Do' it Yourself blog and create your own elegant centrepieces in minutes!

Competition Time!

Win a $25 Moonlight & Whimsy Gift Voucher!

We're looking for YOUR designs! 

1. Sketch on a piece of paper, a napkin (or whatever you have handy!) how YOU would dress up our lightboxes for your next event. 
2. Upload it to our Facebook (tag your image: "Light Up Your Life Competition"), 
3. The winner will be the entrant who receives the most votes by 5pm (EST) on Friday April 1, 2011.
4. The winner will receive a $25 Moonlight & Whimsy Gift Voucher to spend in the online store. We will also feature shortlisted (and winning!) entries on our blog.

Feeling extra-creative? Purchase one of our lightboxes, dress it up and submit a photo! There is FREE POSTAGE (to Australian residents) on all light-boxes throughout the competition for those who really want to impress!

My Favourite Things - Lily Chic Events

Welcome to the first in a series of posts called "My Favourite Things". Every week we're going to showcase a different vendor who will discuss what inspires them about their particular industry, or simply what products they have that could inspire YOU!

First up is the gorgeous Lilian Oliver from Lily Chic Events - undoubtedly one of Melbourne's most exciting up-and-coming event stylists.

Lilian writes:

"There is one thing that I know for certain...and that is that EVERY party is different. The reason I know this is that all parties should reflect the person whose party it is...and we are all unique.  The best part of my day is creating the perfect party for the 'guest of honour'.  What worked for one may not work for the next..but that is why styling and theming events is so exciting! I never know how it's going to turn out till the day.I am one of those stylists that will create on the spot...I have a vision but if my style needs tweaking on the day...then that's what I do. 

This year for kids parties I am seeing lots of 'pink' in all shades for girls...teamed with white or grey for a vintage and classical look. I am also getting lots of requests for red and white...whether it be polka dots, circus stripes, woodland mushrooms or hearts. Lots of Vintage toys and old school party games!

For weddings I am still seeing lots of DIY weddings where the bridal couple put their own stamp on the day. One couple I saw had a Fingerprint Wishing Tree where the guests stamped their fingers and placed it on the sketched paper tree to resemble leaves and then wrote their name on the leaf so that the couple could frame the tree and remember all their guests on the day!

Another couple used ceramic plates for their dessert and had the plates custom made with each guests name painted on it. Once the guests ate their dessert they had to find the guest whose plate they had...then go searching for their own! So cute!

I love this about events and wouldn't want to change what I do for anything!"

You can check out Lilian's work and visit her gorgeous online store here:

http://www.lilychicevents.com.au/
http://www.shoppe.lilychicevents.com.au/

Inspiration Boards - Always the Bridesmaid

As you may or may not know - a considerable amount of planning goes into an event, and even a photo shoot. We were going through some of our Inspiration Boards earlier and found our original ideas for "Always the Bridesmaid".

It's always fun to see how the original plans morph into the final product, so I thought I'd share them with you!

 Here's where we started....

Here's when we started to narrow down the products we wanted to showcase:

 And of course - the finished product!

Did you miss this post? Check out all the action here at our blog and here at Catch My Party!

Rocking the Grey on Grey

This wedding found its way into our inbox the other day from Derek Smith Photography - and we fell in love with it straight away!

Grey is a colour that sneaks into more and more weddings nowadays but it takes true pioneers to choose grey on grey and just completely rock it!

 And rock it, they do!

Of course we absolutely died when we saw these props - what a great way to highlight key parts of your wedding!

Congratulations to Carla and Dale on such a gorgeous wedding, and we wish you every happiness!

Valentines Day Dessert Table

 

Say "Valentines Day" and what's the first thing that comes to mind? Hallmark cards, cute fuzzy bears, token gifts of chocolate and wine? Couples staring lovingly into each others eyes, hand in hand walking off into the sunset? 

Valentines Day is one of the most popular days for proposals and wedding celebrations...but what about those who are unattached? 

Don't sit home feeling sorry for yourself! We have a shoot for all the single ladies that are always the bridesmaid . . . never the bride! How do you celebrate your singledom, your status and your sisterhood?

...with CAKE of course!

• Tim Tam Pops, Choc-Mint Cupcakes and Chocolate Brownies from The Lemony Cupcake. 
• Cupcake wrappers by Moonlight & Whimsy.
• Photography by Terri Hanlon Photography

• Mini meringues & dessert goodies by The Lemony Cupcake. 
• Mini birds nests & skeleton leaves by Moonlight & Whimsy.
• Bridesmaid dresses by Sashay. 
• Photography by Terri Hanlon Photography

• Caramel Tarts by The Lemony Cupcake. 
• Bridesmaid dresses by Sashay.  
• Flexible willow, feather butterflies, skeleton leaves, lanterns, crystal drops & white nylon parasol by Moonlight & Whimsy.
• Photography by Terri Hanlon Photography

Have a wonderful, whimsical Valentines Day!

So illuminary!

We are so excited to be finally stocking luminary candle-bags! They can be used in a hundreds of different ways. Use them to light aisles, pool areas, gardens - even place them in trees! They're inexpensive and extremely versatile:

DIY Wed-Central

San Diego Wedding Insider

Australia Entertains

Traditionally these are used with tealight or votive candles (be sure to put them into a glass container before slipping them into the bag - luminaries are extremely flammable!), however we have discovered a whole new dimension:

We placed coloured LED lights are placed into white luminaries to create a whole new look! You could even pop in a colour-changing RGB light - the possibilities are endless.

Of course if you're after coloured candlebags (stunning even in daylight) - we have 5 different colours sold individually so you can mix and match, depending on the look you're after:

These are stunning and super-bright with our white LED lights:

Our new white and coloured luminary candle bags are in our online store now!
Only $1.80 each!

 

Available at:

www.moonlightandwhimsy.com.au

Going Dotty

A new year, a new style of lantern! We actually have several types to showcase over the next few weeks - the first being the lanterns from our new spectacular new polka dot range!

Available in blue, pink, black, green and red - they are perfect for celebrations for all ages. Mix them with other lanterns of similar shades, or go completely dotty and cluster them all together. (We like the red ones - they match our blog layout perfectly!)

They also work beautifully with white lanterns - splash a little colour around:

Of course, we think they go perfectly with our polka-dot cupcake wrappers too!

Our new 35cm Polka-Dot lanterns are in our online store now!
$5.90 each - don't miss out!

Available at:

www.moonlightandwhimsy.com.au

Gorgeous!