Savrina and Tony - July 1st, 2012

Thank You Tony & Savrina (Ultimate DIY Bride) for allowing us 

to be a part of a spectacular (sunny) day!

Be My Valentine.......

Chocolate Tart:

Ingredients:

• 200 g packet of Baker’s Nutti Crust cookies (caramel oats biscuits)
• 60 g butter, melted
• 225 g dark chocolate (use the best quality you can afford)
• 250 ml (1 cup) cream
• zest of half an orange, peeled into strips (not grated)
• about 250-500 g berries of your choice (eg. raspberries, blackberries)

Method:

1. Pre-heat oven to 180 degrees Celsius.
2. In a food processor, process the cookies to fine crumbs. Add the butter and process untill mixed.
3. Transfer crumbs to a fluted tart tin with removable base. Using a cup with a flat bottom (I use a measuring cup), flatten the crumbs on the bottom and onto the sides. Bake for 10-15 minutes untill just slightly darker in colour. Set aside to cool.
4. Break the chocolate into blocks in a medium size glass bowl.
5. In a small saucepan, add the cream and orange rind. Heat untill boiling point, remove from heat at once, quickly remove orange rind with a slotted spoon, then pour immediately over the chocolate. Stir with a spatula untill fully melted, smooth and glossy.
6. Pour warm chocolate mixture into baked base, then chill in the fridge for 3 hours or overnight.
7. Remove from fridge, carefully remove the fluted side of the tin, top with berries, and sprinkle with a little sifted icing sugar if necessary. Serve cold.

DIY: Valentines Eye Chart

DIY: Ribbon Tradition

Ok Bridesmaid's this one is on you, such a great idea!! 

Save the ribbons from the Bridal Shower gifts and use them to make a mock bouquet for the beautiful bride-to-be to carry during rehearsal. 

Vintage Spoon DIY

What a FAN-tastic Idea!!! 

Vintage Spoons for each member of your Bridal Party.

As seen on the Alexandra Hunt Photography Blog

http://www.alexandrahuntblog.net/

Holiday Ornament DIY - As Seen On The PrettyBlog

Whats needed: A4 double sided printouts, scissors, pencil, something to trace a circle with (I used a cup), stapler, double sided tape or super glue ans some sort of string or ribbon.
1 & 2 – Use your cup and pencil to draw 12 circles onto your paper and cut them out.
3 & 4 – Fold all the circles in half and stack them on top of each other. It gives a different effect if you change the order of the stack, like alternating colours.
5 & 6 – Staple stack together on the grid of the fold.
7 & 8 – Stick the double sided tape onto the circle, about a quarter of the way from the bottom. Fold the facing flaps together and press to secure. On the next circle, stick the double sided tape about a quarter of the way from the top. Continue like this all the way around, alternating high and low with double sided tape.
9 – Now you can attach some string or a ribbon

DIY Hand Lettered Chalkboard Menu

All you need is a vintage frame, black foam board, a white sharpie and a vintage chair frame for an easel; and VOILA a drink menu!

Pumpkin Bird Feeders

Not to sure what to do with your left over jack-o-lanterns this year? We found a great idea from Martha Stewart - Pumpkin Bird Feeders. 

http://www.marthastewart.com/275085/kids-halloween-crafts/@center/276965/halloween#/270039

Directions:

Cut a three- to five-pound pumpkin in half; scoop out, leaving a 1/2-inch-thick wall. Cut a 1/2-inch-deep groove in the rim for pumpkin seeds. For perches, poke holes and insert twigs. To hang, knot two lengths of twine together in centre; tack knot to feeder bottom. Fill with birdseed.

Peanut Butter Cookies

All You Need Is:

1 Egg

1 Cup Sugar

1 Cup Peanut Butter

All You Need To Do Is:

Combine and blend ingredients in a mixing bowl. Let stand in fridge for one hour. Tray and bake at 350 degrees for 10-13 minutes. 
Cool and serve. Makes 2 dozen. 

Enjoy!

A Delicious DIY From Our Garden.........

Fresh Raw Salsa
5 Lbs finely diced tomatoes
3 Large Bell Pepper (Any colour)
2 Jalapenos
1 Onion
1 Cob of Corn
1 Bulb of Roasted Garlic
1/4 Cup Chopped Fresh Cilantro
1 Tsp Oregano 
1 Tsp Basil
1/4 Cup Vinegar
EVOO
S & P

- Soak cob of corn in cold water for at least 30 minutes, then throw on the grill for about 15 minutes
- Chop Peppers, Jalapenos, and Onion in half brush with oil and season with salt and pepper.  Throw on the BBQ medium heat for about 10 mins flipping half way through.  
- Smash bulb of garlic on the counter a couple times, place in a dish, drizzle with olive oil, season with S&P and bake in the oven at 250 F for 20-30 minutes
- Dice up tomatoes and drain extra juice in strainer
- Dice up peppers, jalapenos, onion and garlic and combine with strained tomatoes
- Peel corn and chop off kernels from cob and add to salsa
- Add cilantro, oregano, basil and vinegar 
- Add S&P to taste
-Jar & label

Vintage Silver

Check out these Vintage Silver Plated Scalloped Gorham Trays 

with Chalkboard Centres.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/CopperAndTin?ref=seller_info

Peach Halves......DIY Favours......

Earlier this week we picked Peaches fresh out of the back yard, and it dawned on us...We should jar peach halves to have over the winter. They are such a delicious treat over vanilla ice cream. 

And they are a FANTASTIC idea for DIY Wedding Favours. 

It's simple! 

The recipe is as follows

Ratio: 3-4 Peaches. 1 Cup Water. 1/2 Cup of Sugar = 1 pint jar

1. Peal & half 12-18 peaches
2. In a large saucepan combine water and sugar. Gently boil until sugar is melted.
3. Add peaches and cook gently until peaches look clear. 
4. In sterilized jars, pour in peaches, top with juice to overflowing, seal tightly with hot lids and rings.
5. Store in a cool place

Bon Appetite!

In The Garden.......

Click To Make Collage Larger

Dinner Inspiration Anyone?

Garden Party?

Favour Ideas?

Count Us In!

Contact For More Details...... blissandbloom@shaw.ca

Monday's Marvellous Find

Bridal Party Must Have!

or

Create-Your-Own Vintage Bouquet 

Check Out More Vintage Pieces: http://www.etsy.com/shop/kiamichi7

Father's Day DIY Coupon Inspriation

We've gotta give this one to Martha.................

Click the link below to print the coupon template

http://images.marthastewart.com/images/content/web/pdfs/pdf1/0604_coupons.pdf

Spring Centrepieces

1. Create several small floral arrangements by bunching flowers of your choice into small bouquets using fine florist wire or small elastics. Place arrangements into egg cups and fill with water.
2. Group the egg cups in the centre of your dining table to make a unique centrepiece for any spring occasion. 

*Perfect centrepieces for brunch, bridal showers, intimate weddings, baby showers and more.

Easter Centrepiece

What you will Need: 

• Eggs
• Dye 
• Vase

Directions:

1. Blow out, or hard boil enough eggs to fill a large glass vase, then dye or paint the shells in two co-ordinationg pastel, spring, colours. 
2. Carefully fill the glass vase with the eggs, alternating between the colours as you go in order to create a balanced arrangement. 

Chocolate & Wheatgrass!

With Easter right around the corner and many brunches to be served. Why not send your guests home with a touch of Spring?

Plant patches of wheat grass, available at your local garden centre, in ceramic tea cups or small terracotta pots with matching saucers. Purchase foil covered chocolate eggs and place them around the grass and perch one or two foil covered chocolates on the saucer. And VOILA!

*This favour is perfect for all year round too! Sans the foil chocolate eggs of course.

DIY Centrepiece Inspiration

Mirrors - Candles - Vases - 

- Glass Pebbles -

Flowers (or the Bridesmaid Bouquets) 

Simple & Elegant

Find Everything You Need At Your Local Craft Store

Orchids! Orchids! Orchids!

Every store front you walk past this time of year seems to be filled with Orchids. Their simplistic, elegant beauty is breathtaking. Orchids are a great centrepiece idea for any celebration; and can double as favours for your guests. All you need to do is purchase a few terra cotta pots in your colour of choice (white pots do make their green leaves POP) and voila!