Such Pretty Things

Rock Candy Sprinkles

Given my love of sprinkles, I am always on the hunt for some new variety.  I have used rock candy sugar crystals as sprinkles before, but the colors I can usually find at the candy shops, while pretty, are not always in the color palette that I desire.

So, I decided to customize my own colors. I simply purchased a bunch of clear-colored rock sugar at my local candy shop and then I colored it with my powdered food colorings (the process is identical to the way I custom color my sprinkles).  To break up the large candy rocks, I placed them in a sturdy plastic bag and then pounded them with a flat mallet. Once I reached my desired sugar size, I carefully pull out and discarded all the strings.

I love how the sprinkles turned out - so pastel and pretty - like tiny little jewels.

These are destined for the top of some vanilla buttercream cupcakes, but you could use them to decorate almost anything.  And don't they look pretty in my glass jar? :-)

XOXO

Jessica

Pretty Resources: Pearl River Mart

Hello All! Sorry for the little hiatus - between the girls finishing up school for the year and me getting us all ready to head out for vacation, there wasn't much opportunity to blog. But, I'm back and I have lots to share. To kick off the summer, we decided to head to the Hamptons for a little beach vacation, but we also stopped in NYC on the way up. I only had time to hit a few of my beloved shops, but I wanted to share one of my favorite resources with you: Pearl River Mart.

This huge, Chinese department store is a feast for the eyes!

While they carry everything from home furnishings, fabric and dishware to exotic candy, beauty products and colorful stationary, I am particularly enamoured with their party section...

Pretty paper garlands and tissue decorations line the wall.

The prices are very reasonable and the selection is vast!

I find so many items for my parties here - including pretty chopsticks, gorgeous oragami papers, and paper lanterns in every color and size imaginable. Pearl River Mart is located at 477 Broadway, SOHO (between Grand St. and Broom St.) Tel: 212-431-4770. And if you don't live in NYC, you can order online!

:-)

Jessica

Cupcakes to Go!

Lately it seems that everyone in the blog-o-sphere is making desserts in jars, so today I am jumping on the band wagon. My family loves to picnic and I'm always trying to think of good desserts to bring along. The girls love cupcakes, but they are hard to transport and often end up getting smooshed.  So, cupcakes in jars seem like the perfect portable solution!

I bought the clear glass jars at Micheal's for about a dollar each. These were just the right diameter (the opening needs to be able to comfortably accommodate a fork). This is a fun project to do with the kids and don't worry if they end up looking a little messy - you really can't go wrong when cake and frosting are involved.  :-). I just baked up some cupcakes and sliced them in half.  Depending on the size of your jar (and your preferred ratio of icing to cake), you'll need about one and a half cupcakes per jar. Simply alternate layers of cupcake with layers of icing until you reach the top of the jar. I also added some confetti sprinkles between each layer - for extra color and crunch!

End with a swirl of icing on top and a little decoration if you like (I used some icing roses). Then, seal them up and tie on a fork with some pretty ribbon and you're ready to go!

XOXO

Jessica

Pretty Travel: Annapolis, MD

Last Friday we had some pretty bad weather here in the D.C. metro area. High winds, lightening storms, torrential rains, flooding  and tornado warnings. Rather scary stuff. But come Saturday morning, we awoke to the most beautiful, sunny day. Blues skies, puffy white clouds and highs in the mid-seventies - all the ingredients needed for a spur-of-the-moment trip to Annapolis.

Located just about 45 minutes from us (and about 30 miles East of D.C.), Annapolis boasts many claims to fame.  In addition to being the state capital of Maryland, it's home to the U.S. Naval Academy, offers breath-taking views of the Chesapeake Bay, and has a ton of excellent restaurants and shops.

We love taking leisurely strolls along the charming brick sidewalks, taking in the history and the gorgeous architecture.

Pretty Hydrangeas and wrought iron fences abound.

The waterfront is a lovely place to grab a bite to eat.

For lunch, we often head for Pusser's (in the Annapolis Marriott Waterfront Hotel). You can dine al fresco on the dock and watch the pretty sailboats as you enjoy your meal.

For us, no trip to Annapolis is complete without some sweets. We especially love the yummy fudge and marshmallow pops at Uncle Bob's Fudge Kitchen.

So hard to pick just one kind...

We didn't get a chance to sample Jo Jo's cupcakes (too much fudge!), but it's on our list for next time.

We had such a fun (and pretty) day...

:-)

Jessica