Hatter Tea Service - Baby Shower

The shower was a HUGE success!  I couldn't be more excited about all of it.  The food was great, the company was wonderful, and everyone was on their best behavior.  Yay.  Here are a few pictures to satisfy your curiosity raised by all my criptic posts until now.

Baking sugar and making favors

My sugar has been in my pantry for a bit more than a week, and it doesn't seem to be sufficiently drying enough to be put into small bottles with a small neck.  I remember seeing a pin on Pinterest about baking sugar to make it look like glitter, so I decided to give it a try (on a small batch) to see if the sugar dries enough to package.  It worked, so I'm working on the big batch!



 

 

The process was really easy and worked better than I could have hoped, so don't be afraid to give it a try.  Especially since I also saw a suggestion on Pinterest (did I mention I LOVE Pinterest?) on what to do if the sugar melts; you just push it through a mesh sifter to turn it into coarse granules.  Onto the method.

I recommend working in 1 cup to 2 cup batches.  Pour your sugar on an aluminum-foil lined baking pan then bake at 180 degrees for 10 minutes.  I stirred it at 5 minutes.  You will notice the sugar turning into an almost sand-like texture, and you will know it is done when it starts to have a sparkle like glitter.  I didn't take it much further than that, but I am interested to know if it actually looks like real glitter if you bake it longer.  Let the sugar cool for 5 to 10 minutes.

The sugar is PERFECT for the bottles and the bottles are perfect for the favors.  Take a peek:



Drink Me tags by me (LisaKaydesigns  ), keys from SisterNomadSupplies  on Etsy

Flavored sugar fun

I spent last week shopping - both online and in stores - and really organizing my ideas by hierarchy (so nothing important gets forgotten).  I've got an idea list, a to-do list and a further shopping list.  I've been assembling the decorations and have finally made a decision on the favors.

I was perusing Pinterest in the name of inspiration (yeah, that's it, Inspiration!), and I found a recipe for flavored sugar.  That's when my lightbulb went on!  Sugar is used in tea, and flavoring often colors sugar.  I have decided to flavor sugar and put it in vials with corks, then I will create Drink Me tags and put them in a tea cup!  Aha!

I've decided to use two types of sugar and two different flavorings.  I used granulated white sugar with pomegranate flavoring, which made a pretty pink color, and I used a raw turbinado sugar with orange zest.  Here are the pictures with my "recipe".  The recipes are not wholly mine rather ideas and processes combined from several tutorials I found on Pinterest.  I needed a lot of sugar, so I made A LOT, but I will reduce the recipe amoutns to more manageable recipes.

Pomegranate flavored white sugar (so sorry it isn't in a better jar!)

Tweedle Pom (Pomegranate Flavored White Sugar)

Ingredients:
1 cup granulated white sugar
2 T 100% pomegranate juice (I used Pom Wonderful)
1 quart-size zip loc baggie

Directions:
Pour the sugar into the zip lock then add the juice a teaspoon (or less) at a time; you do NOT want the juice to dissolve the sugar.  Close the bag and knead the sugar until the juice is fully incorporated.  Add more juice.  Mix again.  When you are all done with the juice, mix some more.  Keep going until your hand feels like it is about to fall off and you see no white sugar left anywhere (it should all be pink).  Store in an air-tight containter for at least a week in your pantry; the ziplock will work, but I recommend a glass container with a locking lever.  Note: the flavor is very, very subtle.  I would probably reduce the juice on the stove for a while to produce a brighter color and stronger flavor.

Orange flavored raw sugar

 



Tweedle Orange (Orange Flavored Raw Turbinado Sugar)

Ingredients:
1 cup coarse raw sugar
1 medium to large orange, zested

Directions:
In a large bowl (I'm a messy mixer), zest the orange over the raw sugar.  Mix well.  Store in an air-tight containter for at least a week in your pantry.  Note: the smell is AMAZING, and the flavor is just as good as the smell promises.

Here's a sneak peek at the decorations (don't tell my cousin!).

 

 

Party Planners Unite

The invites are out, so there's no turning back on the theme (as if I would want to).  I've been debating and debating about the favors, so maybe you can help.  When I was going to do the "sprinkle" theme, I was planning to make bath salts, put them in pretty jars with a great label (created by yours truly) on the outside, and say something about getting them at Kimmy's shower to use in their shower.  "From my shower to yours" with the logo as "Kimmy's Shower".

Now that I'm doing a tea, I can't decide how to fit bath salts into the theme.  I'm probably going to scrap the idea and come up with something different.

In the mean time, I'm discussing menu with my catering ladies.  I could NOT be MORE thrilled with these ladies.  If you are in the Ft. Lauderdale area and want to host a small (25 people or less) event with awesome food, this is the place for you.  Heck, even if you just want to get some great food, go there!  Shameless plug time:  11th Street Annex (www.twouglysisters.com)

In the mean time, I only have two weeks left, so it is time to kick the party planning into high gear.  Sorry about butchering the cliche.  (Ask Kimmy.  I'm TERRIBLE at cliches)

The Mad Hatter Tea Service Arises!

What a crazy busy couple of weeks!  I've been trying to catch up from having Little Man home and off school.  I loved every moment, but the fun meant I fell behind in my work.  So, I wanted to let you all know that I haven't forgotten about you despite occasionally forgetting my own name.

Part of what has me so busy is that I am hosting a baby shower later this month.  It is my cousin's second baby shower, and the theme is Mad Hatter Tea Service.  She didn't get her first baby shower because she was in the hospital with complications (don't worry, everyone is PERFECT now), so I really want to make this one special.  I'm talking "pictures pinned all over pinterest and turning viral" special.

I will admit that I stole the theme from a shower that another cousin is hosting.  I was originally going with the "sprinkle" theme, but the invitation I came up with for the other shower inspired me to take the idea and run.  I will admit that I'm quickly falling head over heels for this package.  Here's a peek at the invites.  They will be available in my store.




Tag style with three pages and a bright pink and blue harlequin on the back.



Old-school letter style that folds into its own envelope.

Think Tenniel illustrations, think antique paper, think Wonderland!  I'll keep you informed as I progress.  Now Pin people!!  (Warning: If you are not currently aware of Pinterest and decide to explore on my recommendation, I am NOT responsible for the addiction you will form once you see what it is all about!)