Take A Bite Out Of Halloween

While pumpkins get most of the attention this time of year, apples are a close second, and I am here to share with you a fun way to enjoy them for your Halloween festivities!

{Mini Dipped Apples}



In light of the popular dessert tables, I suggest mini dipped apples as a take on the traditional treat, sized perfectly for children. These are easy to prepare beforehand, a feast for the eyes of your guests and treat for their tummies! This is also a fun activity to do with older children at a Halloween party.

{What You Will Need}



Apples (6 balls/apple)     1 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips 

6" Lollipop sticks            1 bag caramels (unwrapped!)

Wax Paper                     Bowl for toppings

Melon Baller                  Apple peeler

Baking Sheet                  Saucepan (for caramel)

Toppings (op)                Double Boiler (for chocolate)

{Instructions}



Step 1: Gather large apples (apple picking is a great family activity to involve the children!), wash carefully, dry.



Step 2: Carefully peel the apples. Then use a melon baller to scoop balls of the flesh of the apple, setting aside each apple ball into a clean bowl (be sure not to get any of the seeds or core in your apple balls).

Step 3: Insert a lollipop stick about 2/3 down into the apple. Leave the remainder of the stick poking straight up top out of the apple.



Step 4: Line up your favorite toppings in small bowls. My favorites would be sprinkles (chocolate and orange are perfect this time of year), crushed Oreo cookies and chopped walnuts (be careful of any food allergies of your guests before you would select nuts).



Step 5: Melt the contents of a bag of semi sweet chocolate chips in a double-boiler with 1 tsp. water at medium low heat, stirring until just melted. Remove from heat.



Step 6: Dip half of your apples one by one, into the chocolate completely, then roll apple immediately in the bowl of your favorite topping, fully coating it.



Step 7: Place finished apples on cookie sheet lined with wax paper, and put in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.



Then, Enjoy!

*Note: You can also dip in caramel, however caramel doesn't stick as well to apple balls as to the skin of a regular apple, so it will be more of a thin caramel-coating, which I find utterly delightful--and much less sugar!



Kate Landers, founder of Kate Landers Events, LLC, is a featured contributor.

5-1/2" Candy Apple Stick (50): 50 Count

Wilton 6 Inch Lollipop Sticks

Wilton Sprinkles  Halloween Nonpareils

Storybook & Fairytale Birthday Parties

Are you starting to plan your child's birthday party, and looking for a creative theme? Look no further than your child's library featuring fairytales and storybooks from yesteryear for themes considered the most innovative and fresh today!



Two fabulous examples are children's parties based on the adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, as well as the classic story of Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf.

This extraordinary Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn party is a first birthday celebration for twin boys, Day and Ford.

Decor was set to look like something off right off the Mississippi river in author Mark Twain's time, with burlap used for linens, bunting and sippy cup liners!

Activities included readings of Mark Twain stories by an actor dressed as the infamous author himself, as well as live animals similar to those Tom or Huck may have run into during their adventures.

The food featured authentic southern recipes and each dish was named to coordinate with a character from one of the stories. I adore this fondant "huckleberry pie" birthday cake--spectacular!

Sophie enjoyed a very special birthday celebration this year--what a darling Little Red Riding hood she is!

Little girls who attended this spectacular Little Red Riding Hood inspired birthday party were each given a hooded red cape to wear, each getting into character right at once!

The incredibly unique decor was incorporated into one outstanding dessert table, with trees, moss, toadstools and other amazing things Little Red might have encountered on her journey through the woods.

Each guest enjoyed a custom "Little Red Riding Hood" doll birthday cake, and enjoyed nibbling on cupcakes near the "Big Bad "Silly" (not scary!) Wolf"  peeping around the corner!

For lots of eye candy and details, visit brilliantly talented Brandi's blog here for more on Tom and Huck, or super talented Genevieve's blog here for more on Little Red!



Kate Landers, founder of Kate Landers Events, LLC, is a featured contributor.

Designing a Sweet Display Table {Resources}

A big welcome to our newest contributor - Kate Landers of Kate Landers Events, LLC. Kate creates wonderful parties and events. I'm so excited to have her as one of our Design Dazzle contributors!

Hello! My name is Kate Landers, and I am thrilled to be the newest contributor here at Design Dazzle! Design Dazzle is one of my top resources of inspiration for children's bedroom decor and parties, so being a part of it is such an honor!



 I style highly customized events for children, and often am asked by my clients to create a coordinating sweet table to match the color-scheme and theme of the event. I'm here to share with you some of the best resources for getting those great products to create your very own sweet display table at your next birthday party or baby shower!

Candy





Here are just three of my favorite places to order candy to create a charming display at your next party:

Hammond's Candies

Hammond's is the source for some of the most beautiful (and delicious) ribbon candy, sugar sticks and old-fashioned lollipops.



Oh! Nuts



My go-to resource for everything, such as rock candy sticks, gumballs, jelly fruit slices and taffy. The best part? Oh! Nuts allows you to shop by candy type or color, making it much easier to find exactly what you are looking for!



Melville Candy Company



Marshmallow "cupcake pops" and lollipops in shapes of almost any shape or animal you could image--Melville is the go-to spot for these treats.





Other Sweets





Petite Milkshakes, cookies, cupcakes, brownie or cake pops, pastries and macarons all make for other delightful additions to a sweet table display. Check your local boutique bakery and grocer for most of these items.





Clear Glass Containers





You can often find the best selection of these at Home Goods. You may also find them at TJMaxx, Target, The Container Store and Michaels. Pottery Barn and Williams-Sonoma Home also often carry them.



Another hint: Use vases! Clear vases make fabulous containers for your candy display, too.

*Re purpose these containers for storing soaps, cotton balls and other items in the bathroom, baking needs or home made treats in the kitchen, or put them out during the holidays full of holiday candy or ornaments.

Extras



Decorate your candy containers with printable signs or removable labels (available at The Paper Source), even add a bit of ribbon (available at The Paper Source or Michaels) for a finished look.



Hanging tissue poms and pennant flag bunting also make for great decorations to display above and beyond your sweet table for a stylish look.





Don't forget to get scoops or tongs for guests to serve themeselves (available at The Container Store), and food-safe containers (Michaels and The Container Store offer clear cellophane bags, take out and favor boxes) to take them home and enjoy!



Kate Landers, founder of Kate Landers Events, LLC, is a featured contributor.

Please Welcome Our Newest Design Dazzle Contributor!

I wanted to take a moment to introduce our newest Design Dazzle contributor Kristin DeMarco. Kristin has designed many nurseries featured on Design Dazzle including this one shown. She is an expectant mom with great style and a tasteful decorating eye.

Her Bio:
I live in Annapolis MD with my husband and two children. I have a degree in Advertising from Penn State University. I worked in the advertising industry for about 6 years then decided to pursue my dreams of owing my own business. I took courses in residential design and decided to specialize in designing Kids spaces. I was hired to be the in-house designer at an upscale nursery boutique in Annapolis, MD and really enjoy working with parents to create the most special environment for their children. I offer a "Surprise Design" package that includes options for both boy and girl nurseries and then with a Dr.'s secret note, complete the custom room before baby comes home for the first time. We have a new baby on the way I am anxious to get started on the new room! Stay tuned for before and after pictures!

Kristin will be a great addition to our blog - she has designed some amazing nurseries! Welcome aboard Kristin! Her first post can be read below.