Wanting to do al fresco?

I am looking (actually yearning) for some new summer dinnerware. So why I am having so much trouble finding the perfect set? I am noticing there is not an abundance of patio or melamine dinnerware out there…..I even checked our usual suspects like Pottery Barn, William Sonoma and I have to saw I am not impressed.
Pottery Barn has gone very basic and very Americana….and WS has a lovely coral motif but still not what I am looking for.
So I started to surf and found a few other options that are nice – but have I become this picky that I still haven’t found the set I am looking for?
Macy’s
Crate & Barrel
Jonathan Adler
Smith and Hawken – really nice and they’re a heavy, durable melamine!!! Close but they look similar to the china I want to replace…..

While all of these are lovely, I am still looking for a sophisticated, stylish set of melamine dishes. I wish I made it to Target in time to get the Orla Kiely collection….If anyone has any suggestions let me…..

Oh and by the way, check out working class studio for these “fashion plates” great for a girls night in! Chat again soon from…..desperately seeking nice summer dinnerware

Eggs anyone?

Here are some egg cups I think are a must have for the breakfast table....

I found these at a trade show a couple of years back and still love them! Very William Sonoma'ish.

I also found these while travelling, kinda kitch - but sweet!

Ok, these are one of my favs with the sweet little slippers - how could anyone resist!

This has got to be the smartest egg cup out there - RoboCup William Sonoma:Twig Spoon and Nestled Egg Cup:
Skinny Laminx: stacking egg cups
Check them out on Etsy.com

Hope these darling little cups put a smile on your face...and get crack'in!

Hippity hop…. Hippity hop

One of my favorite holidays (after Christmas) is Easter. As you know from the post below, I love the fresh color palette after a grey winter season. And one of my favorite places to look for Easter ideas is William Sonoma – now they know how to do Easter!

Here are a few to tempt your sweet tooth and other spots as well!

Mini Iced Easter Cookies:

Enchant family and friends with our diminutive lemon sugar cookies. Baked in charming shapes – carrot, chick and bunny – these cookies have a delicate lemon flavor and taste every bit as good as they look. The treats are prepared with premium natural ingredients, and each cookie is individually hand decorated with colorful royal icing. 30 cookies packed in a cellophane bag. 9 oz. A Williams-Sonoma exclusive.

Personalized Totes These sturdy felt carrot and bunny totes are just the thing for collecting Easter treats and carrying them safely home – or they can be used as springtime party favors. Both styles are appliquéd with adorable details: the carrot tote with green leaves, the high-eared bunny with whiskers and a cottontail. An embroidered name makes them complete. Spot clean. 13" high overall. Imported. A Williams-Sonoma exclusive.

Spring Nest Bell Jar For centuries, European and American gardeners used bell-shaped glass covers to protect delicate plants from harsh weather. These bell jars, in three sizes, showcase a handcrafted, lifelike bird’s nest filled with hand-painted faux eggs and downy feathers. Natural and faux twigs, flowers and greenery are artfully arranged to create a natural setting for the nest. They make enchanting gifts or decoration for the mantel, sideboard or tabletop. Small, 4" diam., 7" high; Wide, 9 1/2" diam., 13" high; Tall, 8" diam., 15 3/4" high. A Williams-Sonoma exclusive.

Easter Egg Brownie Pops These irresistible pastel eggs-on-a-stick are egg-zactly right for an Easter gift (and a grand discovery on an Easter egg hunt). To make them, egg-shaped scoops of moist fudgy brownies are hand dipped in tinted white chocolate icing, hand decorated and placed on a stick for easy eating. 7.5 oz. total. Set of six, three of each design. A Williams-Sonoma exclusive.

Easter Tree (I have a similar one!) Celebrate springtime with a festive Easter egg tree, a seasonal tradition in many European countries and classic symbol of new life. These are ready to decorate with colorful ornaments, creating a tabletop decoration your family will enjoy year after year. The lifelike tree, inspired by the silhouettes and foliage of manzanita and birch, is handsomely set in a 5 1/2" high pot with dried moss around its base. 24" high overall. A Williams-Sonoma exclusive.

Carrot Candy Bag This is not a WS idea but how simple – orange colored candy in a bag tied up like a carrot - love it!

Enjoy!

Spring is in the air

William Sonoma Home is out with their spring ’09 looks. I often go here for ideas for my own personal space as I tend to lean towards this style of home décor.

American Country I am not sure how original the American Country theme is – a little dated in my opinion. Overall, not very exciting – and this comment coming from someone who normally would like this style!

British Colonial
Now this I think is classic and nice – really a timeless look. But again this collection is SAFE and NOT very forward thinking.

Neutral Territory Neutral territory is anything but…. Bright, and vibrant colors make way in this collection. I was hoping these factors would make the line smashing – but no such luck. Other then the accessories I think it lacks the “wow” factor and is not tempting me in any way.

On the whole – nothing I am drooling over this season – sorry WS.

Get your sweet on....

As with Christmas, there is only one other time of the year that pigging out on sweets in acceptable – Valentines Day! Here are some mouth watering sweets for your sweetheart.

As always, William Sonoma can not be beat for tantalizing treats. Just like at Christmas time, WS is another great spot for treats on Valentines Day.

Here are a few sure to tickle your sweet spot!

Sweet Pies

Pure edible nostalgia, our heart-shaped treats recall the whoopee pies we all loved as kids – but with a decidedly sophisticated twist. The sweet valentines come to us from a bakery in Maine that uses local butter and free-range eggs to make the individual rich, moist red-velvet cakes.

Filled with creamy butter cream in three delicious flavors – chocolate, raspberry and classic vanilla – they arrive in a ribbon-tied box. 19.2 oz. Set of 12, four of each flavor. A Williams-Sonoma exclusive.

Double Cherry Pops, Set of 15

Clusters of ripe cherries were the inspiration for these whimsical double lollipops, a favorite in European confectionery shops. Grown-up sweethearts can share one as a prelude to a kiss, while younger lollipop lovers will find it fun to break the twin pops in half and make a wish. Bursting with cherry flavor, the charming Dutch sweets come individually wrapped, ready for Valentine’s Day celebrations. 7.1 oz. Set of 15 pairs. A Williams-Sonoma exclusive.

I love how they are double ended – clever – no….brilliant!

Message Cookies, Set of 9 Made with equal measures of love, skill and premium ingredients that include dark Valrhona chocolate, our heart-shaped chocolate butter cookies from Sweet Guy Cookies will charm your valentine. The cookies are prepared, rolled and cut by hand, then decorated in green, pink, aqua and orange and yellow icing, each stamped with the words “Kiss Me,” “Cute,” “Love” or “Flirt.” The 2 1/2" x 2" cookies arrive in a reusable tin. 7 oz. Set of nine. A Williams-Sonoma exclusive.

How about these rich and delectable hearts?
24K Smore Heart – from Neiman Marcus

Marshmallow with graham cracker hearts soaked in chocolate – yummy!

Martha’s Mini Heart Cakes – who could not fall in love with the decadent version of the classic sweetheart candy! Lip Smackers

Ingredients
3 packages (3 ounces each) red gelatin (pick your fav flavor!)
4 envelopes unflavored gelatin
Pink icing

Directions
1. Place all the red gelatin in a large bowl. Pour in 3 cups boiling water; stir to dissolve gelatin, about 3 minutes. In another bowl, sprinkle 4 envelopes unflavored gelatin over 3 cups cold water. Let gelatin sit to absorb water, then stir to combine. Pour clear gelatin into red gelatin, and stir to combine. Pour mixture into a 9 x 13-inch baking pan, and refrigerate until set, about 2 hours.

2. Dip lip-shaped cookie cutter into hot water, then cut out shapes from set gelatin. To make it easier to remove "lips" from pan, place bottom of pan in hot water for 5 to 8 seconds, then remove the cutouts with a thin spatula. Pipe outline of lips using pink decorating icing.

Meringue Kisses

Ingredients
3 large egg whites
¾ cup sugar
¼ tsp. salt
1/3 cup each pink, purple, and red melting wafers
1 -1 ½ tsp. vegetable shortening (divided)

Directions
1.Heat oven to 200°F. Line 2 large baking sheets with wax paper. In large bowl, combine egg whites, sugar, and salt. Place bowl over a pot of gently simmering water, and whisk constantly until sugar dissolves and mixture feels warm to the touch, about 5 minutes.

2. Remove bowl from water bath. With mixer on high speed, beat egg-white mixture until stiff peaks form, about 8 minutes. Spoon meringue into a large bag fitted with a star tip. Pipe 1-1/2-inch-size kisses onto baking sheets lined with wax paper. Bake 1 hour. Turn off oven, but leave in meringues until completely cool, about 1 hour.

3. Place melting wafers in 3 separate bowls, with 1/2 teaspoon vegetable shortening in each. Microwave 30 seconds, stir, and microwave 30 seconds more, until melted. Line counter with wax paper. Dip cooled kisses into melted wafers, place on wax paper, and cool completely.

And to wash it all down…….

French Kiss

Ingredients:
1 part vodka1 part Chambord1 part dark cream de cacao 1 1/2 parts half and half

Directions:
Shake ingredients with ice and strain.

Cheers to a decadent night!

Holiday treats

Christmas Treats by Maevelicious

Looking for some tastey treats for your Holiday table - here are a few guaranteed to tantalize you and your guests.

Martha Stewart’s Christmas Tree Cupcakes

Serve this showy dessert this holiday season. Christmas Tree Cakes are laden with snowy frosting and sprinkled with sanding sugar. Save some sugar to create beds of "snow" for serving. This are beautiful – check her website for the recipe – they are made using waffle cones in order to get the tree shape! BRILLIANT!!!

William Sonoma Original Peppermint Bark

Introduced a decade ago, and a favorite ever since this bark is the best. An original Williams-Sonoma recipe, the nostalgic handmade treat continues a proud tradition of artisanal candymaking. Often copied but never matched in quality or flavor, the confection derives its inimitable taste from custom-blended Guittard premium chocolate and natural oil of peppermint that’s triple-distilled to extract the cool, clean flavor of fresh mint. Master candymakers pour melted semisweet chocolate onto a confectioner’s table, then add a layer of creamy white chocolate. The bark is finished with a snowfall of crisp handmade peppermint candy bits – an inspired contrast to the rich, velvety smoothness of the world-class chocolate. I also love (and keep) each of my tins – I can’t wait to get another this year!

William Sonoma Handcrafted Marshmallows

Individually wrapped to preserve their freshness, these classic light-as-air marshmallows are just right for floating in a cup of hot chocolate or dipping into melted chocolate. Making marshmallows this good takes plenty of time: Confectioners begin by cooking whisked egg whites and syrup together in copper kettles; for the chocolate flavor, premium Guittard cocoa is added. Then the airy mixture is poured onto marble slabs to cool and set before its hand cut into cubes. Vanilla and chocolate.

William Sonoma Peppermint Snow

As festive as a holiday snowfall, these red-and-white peppermint bits add seasonal color and crunch to homemade treats. Artisanal confectioners craft the candy entirely by hand, right down to the striped detailing. I would top a wonderful bowl of ice cream with these or sprinkle them all over my holiday cupcakes – the options are endless!

Horchow Chocolates in a Dome

Delight them with chocolates placed on an edible base and enclosed in a container resembling a snow globe. These unique 6-oz. confections are from Golda & I Chocolatiers- almost too lovely to eat……I said almost!

Red Envelope’s Modern Gingerbread House

Every bit as edible as the traditional one, this isn't your grandma's gingerbread house. Red Envelope gave the classic holiday treat a mid-century makeover, complete with garage and rock garden. A unique gift and sure-fire conversation piece, it comes assembled and ready to enjoy. Once unwrapped, it should be eaten within 30 days. Left as decoration, it will keep for up to 12 months. Love it – now I wonder if you could find someone to do a custom gingerbread of your own house – that would be awesome!!!

Lump of Coal in Felt Bag Crate and Barrel Exclusive. Even if they've been nice, kids (and adults) will get a kick out of finding this licorice hard candy in their stocking.

Marks and Spencer Here are some great Christmas cakes from the master of holiday food – unfortunately their not in Canada anymore.