National Doughnut Day!

Happy National Doughnut Day! Today we will be having a special cheesecake for my hubby's bday - but I would have been perfectly fine with a box of doughnuts! Here are a few ways to serve them up at your next event!

Use styrofoam tree cones (you can wrap in plastic wrap to keep food safe) and toothpicks to great a fun and yummy donut hole tree! Source

Doughnuts are amazing on their own... but why not indulge your guests with a doughnut dunking station! Source

Create a dowel/board donut display! You could also use a paper towel holder if you worried to take on a DIY project.  Source

Serve up even store bought doughnut holes in pretty wrappings.  Not only will they look great, but they'll be super easy for your guests to grab and munch on! Source and recipe
















 

Mother's Day Brunch

Still counting down the days till the little guy is here! 21!!! This time, 3 Tuesdays from now I'll be holding him! Meanwhile, we are trying to focus on getting the house and baby stuff ready and I am trying to nap when I can; sleep isn't coming easy! And found out tonight my poor little nephew broke his arm and karate :( guess this is a window into having a little boy!

So with my little one on the way, this year's Mother's Day feels extra special! One great idea to celebrate Mom's in your life is to hold a brunch! Don't forget about older, but still fresh!, Frosting for a Mother's Day brunch here (link)

A board with dowels make even purchased donuts look amazing! Don't stress yourself with making everything from scratch, pick a few things to make and purchase the rest! Source and tutorial












A fun take on "cake pops"...cinnamon roll cake pops!  Source and tutorial













You could tackle homemade donut bites, but even store bought munchins/donut holes would look adorable served up like this! Source  (wrappers here - link) (recipe in book here p.s. I have a copy it's great! -link)














 

Brunch ideas: Grandparents Day 9/9

If you are fortunate enough to have grandparents still around, wouldn't it be fun to host a Grandparent's Day brunch this Sunday? (p.s. any excuse for brunch, I'll take!)

 Here are some yummy ways to Frost your brunch. Don't forget about this older, but still fresh!, Frosting for brunches here (link).

Serve up a DIY fruit and yogurt station! Kids and grown-ups a like will have fun making their own bowl full! p.s. permission to steal fruit to put in your mimosas too ;o)  Source

How fun would it be to display donuts on a fancy paper towel holder?! If you are lucky like me... you have a farm close that makes fresh apple cider donuts - hello fall!!! Source

Granola (or whatever your coating of choice) bananas on a stick! Such a great idea to serve up bananas without feeling like you need to eat an entire banana (you need to have room for all the other goodies!!!)  Source and recipe

You KNOW how I love a store bought cheat! Cinnamon rolls in a can, baked in cake ball pan... instant show-off! Source and tutorial










 

Brunch/Breakfast bar ideas/inspiration

I love hosting brunch! It's a great way to have company and keep the price down, but amount of food/choice high! I also will eat breakfast at dinner OFTEN!

Here are some ideas to inspire your next brunch. Don't forget about older (but still fresh!) ideas for brunch here.

A donut dunking station!!! ummm... hello?!? heaven! You could set this up for a dessert bar too - don't limit donut eating people! Source

What could top that?! A biscuit bar!!! Whew, I am so hungry right now! Source

A pancake bar would fill bellies far and wide on not much budget, for sure! Source

What about a cereal bar? I love this idea - display one of each kind of cereal in a frame - so adorable! Source

My Autumn Brunch!!!

What was supposed to be a Spring graduation turned into a Fall one! I am finally done my Master's program! WOOHOO! I didn't want a graduation party, but I didn't want to not mark the occasion, so I held a small celebratory Autumn Brunch!

I haven't held a party in over a year (gasp!) so I forgot how long everything takes lol... so I didn't get all the details done that I wanted, but I hope you enjoy anyway...

dry goods table...

 Another angle...

 

more shots ;o)

Some of the details...

Drinks with tags - used a planter box I had to hold them!

Cereal dispensers I had, $1 chalkboard from AC Moore's, add a little tag to the milk carafe...

 I took a brown wood frame, dry brushed tan paint on to make it look rustic, then spray painted the glass with chalkboard paint... vala! (don't mind my terrible handwriting lol)

$3 clearance basket turned on it's side give a fun place for rolls...

Simple touches... 

Tied up cinnamon sticks... (from the dollar store!) 

Cinnamon sticks in mason jars for the apple cider punch (wish I had time to put tags on them too!)

Need height? I wrapped books in craft paper and raffia, tada!

Quick leaf hole punch, print out tag and a little twine...

Wrapped champagne (mimosas baby!)

Add citrus to your ice water for a fresh taste and a pop of color!

and of course plenty of hot food, but since they were in buffets... not very interesting to post ;o)

Breakfast bar ideas!

Special Edition Frosting! 

Do you guys know Kristy, aka Purple Pug? She is the glitter queen of the partyware/topper world... but she is also recently out-of-control setting up breakfast stations at her house... I had to release a special frosting!

...I love how these remind us to remember to add frosting to every occasion... even if it is just breakfast with your family!

(click on pic to enlarge) Donut bar! Individual pedestals for each donut - so fantastic! Donut kabobs (luv!) and a hanging donut tree - out of control! Love all the bright colors too! Source and tutorial for mini pedestals

(click on pic to enlarge) Koalas and plaid - definitely a good way to my heart! Add powder sugar, whipped cream and waffles... hello?!? Such a quick fun way to make breakfast feel special! Source

(click on pic to enlarge) look closely! Fruit loops on ribbon, milk carton vase, cereal in pails, sucker tops on oranges and when you go to the link, you'll see how she personalized even the spoons! Source

Brunch!

I LOVE brunches! - for more reasons than just mimosas (though that is the most important rofl)... they are convenient for most folks schedules, they are easy on the wallet and you have the rest of the day to clean up and get life back to normal!

In case you missed it.... some stored frosting for brunches

First, can't ignore the fantastic use of bold colors and shapes on the handmade background! But look center... hello! Cinnamon roll tower - YUM! Source

Simple parfaits look AMAZING in the right glass! You could even add a coordinating ribbon or cute flag noting the flavors! Source and recipe

Can you say crepe full of goodness!?! I am sure these omelet filled crepes taste just as good as they look! Fill them with something savory and serve as an appetizer at your next part, too! Source and recipe

Another nested egg idea are these sunny side toast munchies! Remove crust from the bread, scrunch to fit in your muffin pan, crack egg and bake! Add a little cheese and pepper and cute little item to add to your brunch buffet! Source

Ummmm... hello?!? can't leave you without a mimosa! Don't forget to style your glasses! Simple fruit or a flower goes a long way! Yum! Source and recipe

Brunch

There's nothing I like more than a reason to drink champagne in the morning! lol... I'm talking mimosas at Brunch!  Something I find to be easier, cheaper and usually better for everyone's schedule is brunch instead of dinner parties.We love to entertain so we have an vast array of hotplates and buffets which makes preparing for brunch a lot easier.  Here are some cute ideas to wow your guests....

I feel like these mini hotcakes represent what I am trying to capture with this blog... pancakes boring... mini hotcakes with skewer, blueberry, mint leaf and warm syrup EXCITING! I find it so much fun thinking of ways to present - it really changes everything! Source

Again, same thing... reinvent - these are french toast kabobs... use raspberries, bananas, blueberries... whatever you love! Not only does it look fantastic, it will really stretch the fruit and save the budget! Source

I thought this was too cute - donut holes on a stick.... best part - you can pick up a kabob with 5 or 6 donuts on it and count it as one... instead of standing in the brunch line stacking up donut holes while everyone eyes up how much room your hips are taking up ;o)  Source

Last but not least... pancake bars! What a great idea! hello!?!?!? why haven't I thought of this! Not only would this be great for a brunch, but also for every day.  Imagine popping on in the microwave for a few seconds and chowing down on the drive to work!?  My drive is only approx 4 min, but I bet I could finish one ;o)   You could even get crafty and make coordinating holders to match a theme.  Source - Baked Apple Streusel Pancake Bars Recipe