Carrying a tiffin box for a picnic, a camping trip or to use as a lunch box adds style to a functional item. The British Indian equivalent of the Japanese bento boxes enables you to carry the food neatly. Plus, the compartments act as serving bowls. Each tiffin is made up of four compartments and includes four metal plates.

This metal collection is hand painted by artisans from Kashmir who works from their own homes. I kind of prefer the look of Lolita for the tiffin boxes but both are beautiful. But I would select the Eva bowls and cups. The Lolita and Eva collections also include jars and trays.

Unfortunately the tiffins are out of stock at Nkuku until May 10th, 2010. If you are interested, the distributor Nkuku runs an online store that ships internationally. Nkuku is located in UK. These products are also available at selected retailers but I can’t find a list. I spot them at Not on a High Street.

SOURCING:
+ Eva Hand-painted Tiffin by Nkuku £64.95
+ Lolita and Eva bowl £5.95
+ Eva hand-painted cup £5.95
+ Lolita Trays £22.95
+ via Poppytalk

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If you wish to make cupcakes this Easter, carrot cupcakes are an obvious yet delicious choices. A carrot cake is easy to make. You could topped your cream cheese frosting with grated sweet carrots. But if you look for something more stylish, I suggest sugar decorations shaped as a carrot.

Online, I found the versatile Carrot Shaped Hard Sugars. Measuring 2-inches each, you could use them to decorate your cupcakes. It also serves as sugar for tea and coffee, if you like your hot beverage sweet. Or you can opt for hand-piped carrot cake decorations.

For cupcakes without a rich frosting, opt for Easter stencils and simply sprinkle sugar icing, cacao or decorative sugars on your cupcakes. Nothing can be simpler! But it still adds panache to your cupcakes.

SOURCING:
+ Carrots Shaped Edible Hard Sugar Decorations by CakeWorks $3.95 USD for 12 pieces on Amazon.com
+ Carrot Sugar Decorations $7.95 for 32 pieces at King Arthur Flour
+ Easter Cupcake Stencils $5.95 USD at Crate & Barrel

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Many parties call for serving sandwiches. Then, the question becomes how can you do it in style. A popular plating technique in casual parties in France is the Surprise bread. You can even buy Surprise breads in many stores in France, especially during the Holidays. You can serve a Surprise bread if you are invite your friends to take the apéro at your place (that is, you invite them for a drink), at a picnic or a casual party.

If you use the round Swedish bread, a cooked unrisen dough bread, making your own is quick and easy. The Swedish bread (called “pain polaire” in France) is characterized by its moistness and slightly sweet taste.

What is a Surprise Bread?

Imagine a tower that stands 4 to 5 sandwich tall and cut in 6 to 8 pieces. The thrill is that you take the piece of sandwich on top, without knowing what is inside. The Swedish bread is ideal for that since it is thin, it is easy to grab without being messy. And it does not dry out as ordinary bread would.

Select complementary recipes for the fillings.  Since the tower cannot be too high, keep the fillings fairly thin for each sandwich.

Step by step instructions:

1. Prepare 4 or 5 sandwiches as usual; each one has a different filling.
2. On a serving platter, put the sandwiches one over the other. Try to create a striking color palette when it is assembled.
3. Once, you assembled the column, you cut the bread in 6 or 8 pieces

Typically fillings included cheese cream and salmon, hummus, guacamole, pesto and prosciutto, brie or goat cheese with sun-dried tomatoes, ham and cheese or egg mimosa and chives. For a family event, you can create a second tower with an assortment of children’s favorite recipes.

Make it Stylish

I spoke this afternoon with Sophie Rayes at Gastronomia to know more about the surprise bread. You do not have to stop there. You can decorate further the surprise bread. For example, create a cylinder to wrap all or part of the surprise bread. You could add ribbons or affix decorative elements for a baby shower, a tea party or a big family picnic.

In Montreal, you can buy round Swedish bread at the warehouse store of Gastronomia. For the rest of my Canadian readers, Gastronomia sells online and ships across Canada. To get the free shipping, you could stock on frozen appetizers and get a pack of Gratin Dauphinois.

SOURCING:
+ Swedish breads at Gastronomia $3.35 CAD for a bag of 5 units
+ photos: Pain surprise recipe at Pain Concept

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This is an idea that my foodie friend Alexa Clark’s did for her birthday party. It is easy to do, it repurposes something that we do not use anymore and it is affordable. Alexa decorated used wine bottles by etching H20 on each bottle.

As you can see, she even recycled her cut stencils and the cut letters which produced two patterns. I am not sure if it is due to the color of the glass but the green wine bottles are prettier. You could also try it on a clear glass bottle.

Many Purposes

You could do your own glass etching projects to write the table numbers on bottles or votive holders. Or you can create your own etched glass storage jars, like those on Martha Stewart.

March 16th, 2010 Update: A fun idea that @jennifersquires shared with me on Twitter is to etch drink glasses with your kid name and day of the week. Then you can drink out of the same glass all day.

Glass Etching Tips

A few things to know if you are new to glass etching:

• Make sure to clean very well the surface.
• You may want to put painter tapes (they are easily to get off than the regular tapes) on close-by areas to make sure no etching cream touched them.
• Remove all the bubbles from your vinyl stencil and that the edges are stuck tight to the glass before applying an even thick coat of etching cream.
• Wear rubber gloves and uses a brush or a popsicle stick to apply the cream. Make sure to cover completely the area that you want to etch.
• Work in a well ventilated area.

MORE:
+ photos: Etched glass storage jars on Martha Stewart

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Weddings become more and more amazing every year. That formal event seems more fun than in the past. Couples these days want a memorable wedding that fits within their personality. For these reasons, they are always an incredible source of inspirations for any big party.

You probably have seen the wedding of the creative director of Hello!Lucky, Eunice with Daniel. It is featured on The Spring 2010 edition of Martha Stewart weddings and many on the blogosphere have praised it this month. This remarkable wedding illustrates so well key components that can make any party one that your guests will remember for many years.

1. Set the Tone with Stages, Props and Custom Signage

If you wish to make a statement, you need to invest in out of the ordinary party decor elements. They use the service of Because We Can to build a portable flat-pack grand stage, various signs, and fun props. Look for local people with a background in theater set, or even an excellent store window designer. They know how to create make believe props and stages.

And do not underestimate the power of custom signage. It does not give directions to your guests. It look should reinforce your party theme.

2. Parades and Costumes

The idea of a parade to bring the guests from point A to point B is a great and fun idea. It sends the message that it is time to celebrate. People of all ages love parades. Anyone with an artistic flair coupled with some building experience can made their own version of hand-painted silhouettes, if you have time on your hand. At a kid party, the kid can decorate their own silhouettes. When selecting the materials, make sure the silhouettes once attached to the stick will still be lightweight.

3. Attention to the Comfort of Your Guests

Assuring the well-being of your guests is the number #1 rule of entertaining. Every party has their high and low moments. Make sure that your guests always find something to do. It is not just about paying attention to food and drinks. It is also making sure that nobody is too hot, or too cold. It is about self-servicing snacks all day long, just in case someone is really hungry. All these little details translate into fun and happiness for your guests.

The last point applies to everyday entertaining. If those are planned ahead, the host and hostess will be free to enjoy the company of their guests. It does not always work that way in real life. But as long as you aim for more work before and less work during the party, you should be OK.

SEE MORE:
+ Eunice and Daniel feature on Martha Stewart Weddings
+ Portable stands, props and signage by Because We Can
+ Behind the scenes coverage on the blog of Hello!Lucky
+ Get the vendor list on Hello!Lucky
+ via 100 Layer Cake

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They are plenty of details that you could recycle from this real wedding featured on Style Me Pretty. For one, I love the distressed wood candlelight chandelier. The concept will also work for an outdoor party by hanging the chandelier on a big tree. Plus, it is something that you can build yourself. Make sure to use small pillar candles instead of votive lights. You do not wish to replace them during dinner.

The Tabletop

Take clues from the way they set the table for an Easter brunch party or a Mother’s Day chic picnic. The restricted color scheme means that you can mix and match paired down tableware. As you can see, every day tableware can create an elegant tabletop. It is all in the way you display it and how you will enhance the look with your centerpieces.

Think about the Comfort of Your Guests

Whenever you do an outdoor party, think about ways to let your guests sit comfortably on the lawn. Put a futon mattress on the lawn with plenty of pillows for the guest(s) of honor. Transform little kid stools into side tables or use trays to get a place to set down your glass of wine. You could use big square blankets, towels or sheets. Select a place big enough for people to gather in smaller groups, if they wish to. Close proximity encourages the flow of conversation.

+ See all of the wedding images on Style Me Pretty

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Think soft green, yellow pink and even orange for your Easter tabletop. Set the tone with an exquisite tablecloth. The Easter Bunny Jacquard Tablecloth can be used all spring and summer since it references to Easter is subtle. I would simply marry it with elegant white dinnerware.

Then, create a vignette with treats instead or as a component of your centerpieces. The Fudge Brownie Farm Animals illustrate the look I suggest. Kids will love it!

Easter Menu

For a breakfast-style element, the Broiled grapefruits look divine and are simple to make for a crowd. I love how Jamie Oliver platted his Easter lamb. It looks so fresh and tasty. Finish the meal with the chocolate easter egg cups by Donna Hay. The egg cups make all the difference in her design.

SOURCING:
+ Easter Bunny Jacquard Tablecloth $120-$160 USD at Williams-Sonoma
+  Fudge Brownie Farm Animals $29.50 USD
+ Broiled Grapefruit recipe
+ Easter lamb recipe by Jamie Oliver
+ Chocolate easter egg cups by Donna Hay
+ Set of 2 White Porcelain Egg Cups $4.99 USD at Kitchen Kapers

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You probably wonder what is the relationship between a pouch and a party theme. Sometimes, you find inspirations in the usual place. It started with a purchase I did this morning. I bought this yellow and white XL frame pouch with a collapsible handle designed by Oktak. My favorite handbag over the last years was yellow and I missed it. This burst of color complements many of my outfits. Plus, I like the sunny shade.

As I examined further the fabric pattern, I realized that those jungle animal shapes would be wonderful for a baby shower or a first birthday party. The silhouettes are simple yet sophisticated. If you are not a talented artist, you can draw the basic shapes from a coloring book and a kids book. You may have to make a few adjustments to get it right.

As for the color palette, I think that the festive yellow and white combination works every time. It is gender neutral. It is suitable for kids and adults.

One Day Sale

If you interested in buying pouches and fabric handbags, Oktak hosts a 10% sale all day. The rebate does not show up on her etsy store but in her newsletters Aki of Oktaktold us to check out as usual, and she will refund the 10% through PayPal. I bought a few items in the past from Oktak, so I do not worry about the process. In fact, I received a confirmation of my refund during the time it took me to write this post.

+ XL frame pouch with handle – yellow shapes on white by Oktak $45 USD

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Today, it feels like Spring in Montreal. I am thinking about summer drinks to serve on a terrace. Here are a few tips to cheer up water and cocktails. Drop berries, herbs, strips of citrus zest and ginger bits before you add water to your ice cube trays. It cannot be simpler than that.

Adding Tonic Water to your Ice Cubes

I like to serve for the aperitif a glass of Portonic. It is a refreshing long drink made with dry white Port, tonic water, ice, garnished with either a slice of lemon or lime. A modern variation is to replace the slice of lemon by a slice of cucumber and 2 green grapes. In this case, you could pour some tonic water before adding the tab water to make your ice cubes. You could make 100% tonic water ice cubes but they will melt at a faster rate.

Flavored waters

Let the ingredients infuse the water on the fridge for at least an hour before serving. Try the mix of sliced ginger, cucumber ribbons, and mint sprigs. Martha also suggested to add lime slices, large strips of orange zest, and gently crushed rosemary sprigs to your water pitcher.

+ photo: Flavored Ice Cubes on Martha Stewart
+ photo: Inviting waters on Martha Stewart

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You have less than a week to prepare for the Academy Awards 2010. I scoured the Web to integrate the best party ideas into a cohesive party theme. You could easily merge the do it yourself candy bags from Twig & Thistle with Bakerella’s oscar statuette cookies.

Print Your Own Candy Bags, Invites and Ballots

For a theatrical effect, make your own tray held by a neck strap. You can use it to serve candy or popcorn. Kathleen of Twig and Thistle made invites, ballots, popcorn bags, and party favors all available as downloadable PDF’s.

Invite your friends one to two hours before the Awards show starts. It will give you the chances to chat, eat the canapes, discuss the dresses on the red carpet and will leave enough time to fill the ballots. Ask people to dress up so they can pose at a movie star photo booth.

Oscar Night Cupcakes and Cookies

Since everyone will want to watch the show, including you, forget the formal dinner and serve tapas instead. Ideally, opt for recipes that can be eaten at room temperature.  For dessert, get inspired by the star cupcakes from Sprinkles cupcakes.

Leave the Oscar statuette cookies to be the star of the night.  I like how Bakerella displayed the cookies on the red carpet with cute small signs. This baker is amazing. If you plan to serve the cupcakes for dessert, everyone could get back home with their tasty Oscar statuette.

SOURCING:
+ Awards Night Sugar Cookies by Bakerella
+ Statue Cookie Cutter $12.95
+ Ballot template, DIY candy bags and print your own invites by Twig & Thistle
+ kid picture from J. Crew
+ Gold star decorated cupcakes by Sprinkles cupcakes

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I bet that Tim Burton’s adaptation of Alice in Wonderland will push the more daring party planners to give a facelift to this ever popular theme. I am curious to see how much the vivid imagination of Tim Burton transformed the universe depicted on the 1865 novel written by Lewis Carroll.

I am a fan of creating a long table for an event. But as you can see it, in an Alice in Wonderland universe, things look best if they do not match. Do not be afraid to mix round tables with rectangular tables until you have enough places to sit all your guests.

I look forward for the release of Alice in Wonderland March 5th, 2010. I hope that the IMAX 3D would be as impressive as in Avatar. And I would not miss a performance of the good looking Johnny Deep. He is one of my favorite actor.

+ Alice in Wonderland

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If you are looking for inspiration to create a sublime white and aqua blue dessert buffet table, you have to see the Winter Wonderland theme done Maddy from Inspired Bride and Amanda from Bake It Pretty. You will find here the recipe for the marshmallow pops. Apparently it is fairly easy to make and does not too much time. Looking at the wow factor, I suggest that you give it a try.

Their entire buffet table was impressive. The aqua and white theme works is versatile. You can use it for a baby shower, a birthday, a bridal shower or a wedding.

In fact, you could match it with the Dessert Buffet Save the Date and Congratulations! postcards that Maddy designed earlier. Head to her blog if you wish to download the templates.

+ More details about the theme on Hostess with the Mostess

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