Natural Child World Magazine Feature {Press}

Nothing quite lifts your spirits like an email from an editor of one of your favorite parenting magazines, requesting to publish one of your own events in their newest issue. It caught me my surprise, and I was utterly tickled pink to say yes!

I first discovered Natural Child World Magazine in line at Whole Foods. It's a gorgeous, glossy, sophisticated sustainable lifestyle magazine.

In their January/February 2013 issue (on newstands NOW at Whole Foods, Barnes & Noble and other select retailers) they spotlighted my Nutcracker Ballet {Signature Party}, and the stunning photography of the dessert table by Liza Voll.

Featured Vendors:

Top Right Image

Cookies by Queen Of Tarts Cakes

Bottom Right Image

French Macarons by Bokolette

Dessert Table Image

Fondant Sparkling Lollipops by Edible Details

Cake Pops: Cake Pop LA

Chocolate Covered Oreos: Sweeties by Kim

Peppermint Bark: Little Snowflakes

All other vendors who contributed to this event  {and many more gorgeous images from the party!} can be found in the original event post here.

A tremendous thank you to Liza for your stunning photos making them magazine-worthy, and to Ariane and the team at Natural Child World!

Classic First Birthday Party: Noah's Vintage Teddy Bear Celebration

Noah's "vintage bear" first birthday party was a milestone event in our lives that we were THRILLED to celebrate in a small, intimate celebration.

You can read read more details from the party as well as several first birthday planning tips taken from our party on Layla Grayce here.

I wanted to share with you more gorgeous photos of the special day, as captured by the incredibly talented Liza Voll, in this post.

 
I also will highlight the fabulous vendors {such as THE incredibly talented Loralee Lewis, who custom created the charming vintage bear paperie for the party!}, many of whom generously sent items for Noah's party as gifts for his first birthday.

My dear friend Kim of The TomKat Studio opened a fabulous online party shop, and had the most precious party supplies for the entire celebration!

She sent us so many goodies in pale yellow, pale blue and white, I was giddy with excitement when the box arrived, as was Noah! I loved the plates, napkins and cups--we alternated the two colors, as well as stripe and polka dot patterns. The bamboo cutlery, mini dot and stripe paper straws, giant 3' round balloons, striped baking cups, mini white gable boxes, sprinkles,...it all was fabulous! THANK YOU DEARLY KIM, you goodies made a perfect party!

Fellow blogger, shop owner and incredibly stylish and crafty mama Joanne of Oh Goodie! Designs created these gorgeous custom party horns. SWOON. The kids LOVED them, as did I! Speaking of Joanne, it was her son's most precious first birthday party cake design that inspired ours (see photos a little later in post).

We held the party in the dining room, using a long table for the guests to sit and eat cake, a dessert table, and a table with other custom party items, such as this adorable "Noah" hand-painted peg doll by the delightful and imaginative Jenny Dixon of Craft That Party.

 I cannot wait to get a little bell jar to protect it as we display it in his room!!!

I loved the "Warm Fuzzy Wishes" sign and cards that Loralee came up with--precious!

The cookies...Oh, THE COOKIES! Tara of Bambella Cookie Boutique created the most SPECTACULAR, gorgeous works of art...she re-created Loralee's design onto a cookie canvas of sorts, and they were the hit of the party!

 

 

 

The frame cookies she made were even more cookie to devour, and more beauty to admire. LOVE.

 

 

 

 



I am so excited to have discovered Le BonBon LA! They made the most gorgeous (spot on colors), yummy chocolate covered oreos. A delight to work with, I cannot wait for the next chance to devour some of their edible art!

Fondant artist and friend Brittany of Edible Details, busy with a rapidly-growing business and mom to a most adorable baby girl, still took the time to make the sweetest, most detailed fondant "1" and party hat rice krispy treat toppers, designed to match the invite. My husband took leftovers to work, and said they were gone within minutes. I loved them.

Hammond's Candies has been a personal favorite candy company of mine for years. We had their candy at our wedding, and it was a dream having their gourmet goodies at Noah's first birthday party.

From old fashioned-swirled lollipops to caramel corn, and lastly mini butterscotch puffs guests took home as favors, it was as beautiful as delicious (and the french square plastic milk bottles and baker's twine from The TomKat Studio made perfect packaging!).

Loralee had the brilliant idea of the wording "This chair belongs to Mama Bear" and each guest's name, perfect for place settings. At each seat was a party hat I hand made, including a yarn pom that Ryan and I made by hand.

My wonderful blogging friend and party enthusiast Pamela of Pamela Smerker Designs, made these most darling cube favor boxes. I decided to fill them with the chocolate covered oreos (two fits perfectly!) and stack them to resemble "blocks" with additional poms I made to look like plush "balls". They made perfect centerpieces down the long table. Pam's boxes are a personal favorite.

Alternating with the boxes and poms, were more of The TomKat Studio's french square plastic milk bottles used as vases, holding dainty arrangements of cheerful yellow flowers. And I found a fabulous new use for paper straws and straw flags: adornments for floral arrangements! Loralee's flags looked just perfect.

One of my absolute dearest friends and creative partners is Carolyn of Sweet Tea and Linen.

We have been working together for years now, and I knew she would make perfect table linens for Noah's party--I just realize HOW PERFECT until they arrived.

She put perfect pleats in the table runners, and stunning rouched swags in the dessert table topper. These were hands down some of my most favorite details at the party. Carolyn--I think you might just be a fairy godmother!

Party hats are a personal favorite item of mine. Noah had many for his special day, including a gorgeous one from friend, blogger and party gal Shawna of Shawna Brockmeir Styled Events. She and I have always shared a passion for all things preppy and monogrammed, so I knew she would be able to design the most perfect personalized party hat for Noah.

I LOVE the wide satin ribbon she used, and this is most definitely a keepsake we will treasure forever.

The cake, oh, the cake!

 Soft blue ruffles of buttercream frosting graced the yummiest vanilla chiffon cake with strawberry and whipped cream filling. YUM.

For Noah we had a 6" smash cake, baby-friendly vanilla without filling. It was a simple pale yellow smooth buttercream, topped with a perfect blue twist candle.

 I must say, he seemed more fascinated with the candle than the cake!

He looked absolutely darling in the custom lined fine-wale corduroy overalls made by my dear friend Lynn. Then my wonderful friend Ruth monogrammed them for me with Noah's initials.

A part of me wanted to keep it "all baby", and a smaller part of me wanted to add something a little grown up like his daddy. So I found this perfect bow tie bib which was the sweetest touch to his outfit.

Thank you so much to everyone who helped make this celebration such a joy. Stay tuned for a couple other darling birthday surprises Noah received for his birthday, not pictured her.


It doesn't take a birthday to find a reason to celebrate Noah, a wonderful thing I have learned only from being a mom.

Taste Of Home: Holiday Baking Giveaway & Recipe with Layla Grayce, The TomKat Studio, Fancy Flours, Inkspot Workshop

 Taste Of Home Magazine Holiday Baking Giveaway with a fabulous recipe, additional prizes from Layla Grayce, The TomKat Studio, Fancy Flours and InkSpot Workshop!

I am SO EXCITED to tell you about the new 2012 special issue of Taste of Home Magazine Best Loved Cookies & Candies. It features so many fabulous recipes, I wish I had time to try them all! It is a beautiful collector's issue that can be pulled out year after year. You can pick up your copy available on newstands nationwide, until December 31st! 

Here's an exclusive peek inside!!!

Just take a look at these Cathedral Cookies...

 

A couple recipes from the Best Loved Cookies & Candies special issue which I cannot wait to try are Peppermint Cereal Squares and Orange Cappuccino Creams...YUM!

I have always wanted to learn how to make my own taffy, and Taste of Home has generously shared with us the Peppermint Taffy recipe from their Best Loved Cookies & Candies issue! Find it at the very end of this post!


Taste of Home is generously sponsoring a fabulous giveway for one very lucky winner!!!


In addition, Layla Grayce, The TomKat Studio, Fancy Flours and Inkspot Workshop have offered amazing prizes for additional winners. So multiple prizes, multiple winners (one per prize per sponsor unless specified otherwise). Enter at end of post by Saturday, December 8, 2012, at 12:00am EST.



THE GIVEAWAY:


GRAND PRIZE. One very lucky winner will take home {in a Taste of Home Shopping Tote}...

One copy of each of the following special issues: Taste of Home Best Holiday Recipes, Taste of Home Food Gifts, Taste of Home Best Loved Cookies & Candies, as well as book Taste of Home Best Loved Pies.

 In addition to the above items, the grand prize winner will also receive one each of the following tools from the Taste of Home online shop, to help with their holiday baking projects: silicon pastry mat,  nut chopper and silicon springform pan.

And last but certainly not least, the grand prize winner will also receive a signed copy of "Taste of Home Baking" by Catherine Cassidy, Editor-In-Chief!!!

Total Retail Value for the Grand Prize Package over $100, plus complimentary shipping!


Additional giveaway prizes (one winner per prize):


Layla Grayce is my favorite online boutique for everything gorgeous for woman, child and home. I have falled head over heels for their selection of Ice Milk Aprons, and they generously are offering one very lucky winner a matching mother-daughter set! Set includes one adult full apron in Frosty Tin Marshmallow, and one full child apron in Sugar Cone Scoops. Retail value $120.00, plus complimentary shipping.

 

 

The TomKat Studio has one fabulous online party shop. Founder Kim Stoegbauer offers more than just pretty printables,  trendy tableware and darling decorations. She also has perfect packaging materials and sweet supplies like wooden candy sticks, white lolli sticks, baking cups and more! Kim has generously donated a fabulous holiday baking package of goodies for one very lucky winner. Treat sacks and gable boxes, baker's twine and candy cups...she's got it all! Prize package includes: wood rock candy sticks (12), spool jute twine (1), green rugby stripe medium favor treat bags (12), red polka dot large favor treat bags (12),  large spool green divine twine (1), large red polka dot gable boxes (6), red stripe candy cups (20), kraft stripe medium favor treat bags (12), 4" white lollipop sticks (50). Retail Value: $50.00, plus complimentary shipping!    

 

InkSpot Workshop has generously donated one of their fabulous personalized lucite recipe card boxes with set of Christmas cookies recipe cards for a very lucky winner. InkSpot Workshop's bright, festive and stylish cookie cutter recipe card sets include 50 personalized 4" x 6" recipe cards, personalized front and top card for box, recipe category tabbed dividers, lucite recipe box and a mini whisk. Just perfect for keeping all your holiday cookie recipes organized and in one place! Retail value $59.00, plus complimentary shipping!

 

 

 

 

Fancy Flours is a personal favorite online shop offering all things perfect for baking the prettiest holiday cookies and candies! They are so generous in offering one lucky winner all of the following items: Ann Clark tin 4.5" mitten cookie cutter (1), Ann Clark tin 4" Christmas tree cookie cutter (1), Ann Clark tin 3.75" snowflake cookie cutter (1), 2 oz. squeeze bottle with tip (2), 8 oz. squeeze bottle with tip (1), 2oz jar 3mm multicolor dragees (1), 4oz jar gold metallic large sparkling sugar crystals (1), 4 oz jar green sanding sugar fine crystals (1), 4 oz jar red sanding sugar fine crystals (1), 4 oz jar white sanding sugar fine crystals, 1 lb. bag royal icing mix (1), Julia Usher's set of 7 custom tip set (1). Retail Value: $58.00, plus complimentary shipping!

 

 

 

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Click on the Rafflecopter widget above to enter!

 

Giveway Details: Open to US Residents 18 years of age and older. This giveaway is not affiliated with nor sponsored by Facebook, and I hereby release Facebook of any liability. Giveaway starts on Monday, December 3rd, 2012 at 12:00am EST, {US} and ends at 12:00 am EST on Saturday, December 8th, 2012.

One winner will be selected per prize. Kate Landers reserves the right to alter, change, cancel or end the contest or prizes at any time. Kate Landers may have received payment, trade and/or products in exchange for promoting the sponsor. Kate Landers is not liable for any giveaway sponsor nor their delivery of prizes.Please note: Giveaway Sponsors' terms, restrictions and conditions, including their turnaround time at the time you choose to redeem your prize, will apply.

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And last but certainly not least, the fabulous Peppermint Taffy Recipe from Taste of Home:

 

 

 

 

 

For a fun afternoon activity, get the kids or friend involved in an old-fashioned taffy pull. The soft chewy taffy has a milk minty flavor, and it won't stick to the wrapper. You can change the color and flavor, too. -Elaine Chichura Kingsley, Pennsylvania

 

Prep: 1-3/4 hours + cooling

2-1/2     cups sugar

1-1/2     cups light corn syrup

4    teaspoons white vinegar

1/4  teaspoon salt

1/2  cup evaporated milk

1/4  teaspoon peppermint oil

Red food coloring

 

Butter a 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. pan; set aside. In a heavy large saucepan, combine the sugar, corn syrup, vinegar and salt. Cook and stir over low heat until sugar is dissolved. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Slowly add the milk; cook and stir until a candy thermometer reads 248° (firm-ball stage).

   Remove from the heat; stir in peppermint oil and food coloring, keeping face away from mixture, as odor is very strong. Pour into prepared pan. Let stand for 8 minutes or until cool enough to handle.

   With well-buttered fingers, quickly pull candy until firm but pliable (color will become light pink). Pull into a 1/2-in. rope; cut into 1-in. pieces. Wrap each in waxed paper. Yield: 1-3/4 pounds. Editor's Note: We recommend that you test your candy thermometer before each use by bringing water to a boil; the thermometer should read 212°. Adjust your recipe temperature up or down based on your test.

 

Enjoy!

 

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Minted $200 Holiday Giveaway

THRILLED to share with you the Minted $200 Giveaway!!!!


EASY Entry. Enter by Friday, November 30th at 11:59pm EST. All the rules can be found here.

{Holiday party decor line found here}

As you may know, I have a background in the high-end stationery industry, therefore my appreciation for the finest paper, crisp and rich printing quality, as well as gorgeous designs, fonts and motifs is great. I also LOVE parties, and with their recent launch of their holiday party line, I was swoooning over their new products and designs.

I have a very discerning eye when it comes to invitations, stationery, and holiday cards. Having helped hundreds and hundreds of families select their holiday cards in the past, I have a tremendous passion for them.

{Peace On Earth Banner card found here}



 My latest obsession is for printed envelope linings and die-cut borders and corners (I am partial to a rounded corner or scallop borders).



{Joyeux Beginning card found here}


Minted caught my eye this year with their new triple thick cardstock (swoon), as seen below. I love holiday cards that are "so thick they could be used  as coasters", as my husband would say.

I also have spent hours upon hours playing with the hundreds of holiday cards they offer, and the NINE special shapes you can order (like my favorite rounded edge or scallop border), as seen here...

Last year we went all out and did letterpress, as our Christmas card was also a birth announcement and new address notification--absolutey stunning {thank you Loralee!!!}.THIS YEAR, I want to try the triple thick cardstock or fabulous shaped border, and I am so VERY excited to be selecting our Christmas card from Minted. 

{Joyeux Christmas card found here}


We will be documenting the first year of Noah's life, all his fabulous "firsts".  I love how with Minted, I can do a flat or folded card, with additional photos and lots of text to share our sweet story. My, holiday photo cards have come along way since the ones you bought in a box and taped your photo onto, one by one!

Here are some of my very favorite holiday cards that Minted is offering this year. I would LOVE your help in narrowing down our choices for our card this year!!!

1. "Merry Stripes" {SO classic, preppy and fresh. Very traditional red and white, oh-so-holiday!}. I love it with the rounded corners, as seen below:

2. "Blusing Christmas" in Ice Blue{love to see two of a friend's children featured on this sample card...aren't they gorgeous?}

Oh, must show the blush envelope lining, because it is a large part of what I love about the card...

3. "Classic Christmas" {in white or red...love it with this unique border, and how the card would focus entirely on our photo, while sharing a traditional holiday sentiment}.

Do you still need to order your holiday photo cards? Love what you are seeing from Minted this year? Enter HERE to win a $200 credit toward your order at Minted!

Best of luck!!! {oh, gosh, I didn't even get into the calendars they have, and gift tags...that might just have to be a whole separate blog post!}

This giveaway is sponsored by Minted.com. This giveaway is not affiliated with nor sponsored by Facebook, and I hereby release Facebook of any liability. Giveaway starts on Monday, November 26th, 2012 at 12:01am EST, {US} and ends at 11:59pm EST {US} on Friday, November 30, 2012.

 Kate Landers may have received payment, trade and/or products in exchange for promoting this sponsor. Kate Landers is not liable for any giveaway sponsor nor their delivery of prizes. Please note: Giveaway Sponsors' terms, restrictions and conditions apply.