I always try and find guest and/or table gifts that add to the decor and table setting of my events as it just makes the table look prettier than it already does.  
This is why I love these mini chocolate bar favors so much.  You can make them in any color that you like  and add toppings according to the feel of your event.
Fun:  Add mini marshmallows, pretzels and jelly tots.
High Tea:  Add nuts, dried berries and edible flowers like I did with these.
Wedding or Corporate event:  Play with contrasting colors and add edible gold leaf.

Sunday is Mother's Day and of course the talented lady, Monique, of DESIGN LOVE  has once again made it so easy for us.  Thank you so much Monique!
This beautiful free printable set includes (available in Afrikaans and English):

So go forth and print, cut and be creative!  Hope you enjoy this special day with your Mom and family!

Maybe it is the kitchen boss in me, or the foodie that 'likes it the way I like it' or the fact that I just generally love being in the kitchen, but good grief, I find it almost impossible to watch someone making something for me that I am really looking forward to.  
Example?  Ice-cream Sundays.  Like, who in their right mind let's someone build their Sundae for them?  Modern day torture I say as I find myself silently willing the person to add the precise amounts of an item that suits my preference.

I think most people love getting involved and having a say in their dessert choice, because we all love having our way in what we are having, right? And we all love dessert, especially at special functions and events, because, it would be rude, really, not to ... and any excuse to justify dessert will do.

Enter the Mobile Cart Suppliers of EVERYTHING,  Mmm Moments, based in Johannesburg. Win win for everyone at any type of special occasion or event, from corporate functions right through to weddings, because dessert and fun is covered in one easy step. They will make everything exactly to your liking, people can get stuck in and make their own, it is hassle free and professional  - call, book, pay, done - and it is FUN for everyone.

Mmm Moments is a old-fashioned mobile dessert and beverage parlour service. Their core service consists of a mobile cart filled with treats selected by the event organiser. Uniquely, guests can create their own treats, based on their individual preference. They have a great selection to choose from:
1. Build-your-own ice-cream parlour (soft serve or gelato)
2. Build-your-own frozen yoghurt parlour
3. Build-your-own milkshake parlour
4. Build-your-own waffle parlour
5. Build-your-own smoothie parlour
6. Build-your-own bubble tea parlour
7. Coffee and frappe parlour

Email or call Hilton to confirm availability and cost. You will then get to confirm the ice-cream, toppings and sauces you want in the parlour/ cart on the day. On the day of the event the customised dessert or beverage parlour comes to your event, ready to go andf fully stocked with items of your choice. 

Any event!  Weddings / Baby showers / Bridal showers / Product launches / Training days / Corporate activation's / Birthday parties / Engagement parties / Wedding anniversaries.  if they can park their cart, they will be there!​

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post with affiliate links.   I received compensation in exchange for writing about this service. Although sponsored all writing and opinions are my own.

On Saturday myself and two friends attended Nicole's Macaroons Chocolate Feast at her factory near Lynwood Bridge.  Different flavored hot chocolate shots paired with macarons - I mean, how much better can a Winter's morning get?  

It was a fun morning out and Nicole prepared loads of small chocolate gifts to buy and take home, and we did! 
{Nicole is planning a variety of pairing feasts in the future, including macaron & wine; macaron & champagne - so sign up to her mailing list to be informed when the next one is taking place}

My favorite pairing was the salted caramel macaron with peanut butter hot chocolate - see picture below.  

As we got out of the car on our way in, my one friend stated that she really did not like macarons and she only came with for catch-up and chats (showck horror!).  After our tasting she said that she's not sure what she had previous times, but maybe they were not macarons?  Nicole really makes the yummiest, goo-iest macarons and you will not be dissapointed, ever.  
They are perfect for any party as everyone loves them and also great as guest favors.
Visit her website here.

These rocky road bars are so quick and easy to make and everybody loves them!  Make them for yummy holiday snacks, as a small and handmade gift for someone special or as a little something extra in a gift bag.  The macadamias, pistachios and cranberries give the bars an adult appeal.

INGREDIENTS:

•  250g packet mini marshmallows  {I used multi-colored ones}
•  100g packet dried cranberries
•  110g packet macadamia nuts, roughly chopped
•  50g pistachios 
• 1/3 cup (35g) desiccated coconut
• 50gr salted pretzel, roughly broken into pieces {optional - I love the bit of saltiness}
• 360g blocks  white chocolate, chopped  {I used Milky Way}
• Food bags for your gift bags.  I use these 100% biodegradable plastic bags from GREENHOME
• String and gift tags

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Grease a 20cm square cake pan. Line base and sides with baking paper.  The baking paper makes it quick and easy to get the rocky road out of the pan - I tried making one with just greasing the pan, not recommended!
   
   
2. Combine pretzels, marshmallows, cranberries, nuts and coconut in a bowl. Place chocolate in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave on medium-high for 1-2 minutes, stirring with a spatula every 30 seconds, or until smooth.
   
   
3. Pour chocolate over marshmallow mixture. Mix well. Spoon mixture into  pan, pressing down with the back of a spoon or spatula.   I then decorated the top with some left over pieces before the chocolate started to set.  The milky way takes a good while to set, do not fret, it will set eventually.  I recommend making it the day before to ensure the bars are ready when you need them.

This week I made these very cute Tea Time Treat bottles as favors for a High Tea Baby Shower.  They are easy to make and look adorable - here are the easy step-by-step instructions.
If you don't have the time to make them yourself for a function that you are hosting, we would love to make them for you.  Order here...


You will need:
- Small, square 200ml glass jars
- Cute little cups & saucers to stick onto lids (I bought mine from Toy's R Us in Atterbury Value Mart)
- Heavy duty glue (Builders Warehouse)
- Spray Paint in color of your choice (Builders Warehouse)
- Clear spray varnish
- Variety of individual wrapped tea bags (Spar, Checkers, Pick 'n Pay)
- Pretty ribbon 
- Pretty paper & a printer
- Gold Sharpie pen

Directions:
- Mix equal parts of the glue in the 2 tubes.  Immediately stick the saucer onto the lid, and the cup onto the saucer
- Leave for 3 hours to set well.
- Spray lid with spray paint.  Leave to dry.  Once dried, spray a clear varnish over whole lid. Leave to dry
- Fill bottle with tea bags.  
- Put lid on.  Print cute messages onto pretty paper.  Attached to bottle with pretty ribbon.
DONE!

Pratley Quick Set glue is a heavy duty, clear drying glue.  I prefer this glue because an elephant can hang onto the bottom of the jar and the cup&saucer will still not separate from the lid!

If you like the pattern on the tea set, leave it like that and only spray the lid.  And stick onto lid once glue has dried.

Hallo Everybody :)

I am so excited to finally share todays blog post with you.  Last year I was asked to come up with interesting edible gift and tasting tables for a corporate clients year end function.
All the gifts had to be edible, but nicely packed so that the guests could take them home.  The gifts also had to be paired with 5 individual tasting tables.  The idea was that when the geusts arrived, the will go to each tasting table and while there, fill up their goodie bags with the edible gifts.  
How much fun did I have?  Yes, you know it, I had a blast.

So here are the 5 liquor and dessert pairings we did:
Table 1:  Variety of dessert wines, port, sherry & muscadel paired with chocolates and biscuits
Table 2:  White wine selection paired with home made cheese & biscuit platters
Table 3:  Red Wine with jars with fresh coffee beans, hot chocolate pops and liquer chocolates
Table 4:  Sparkling wine with cheesecake topped with berry compote
Table 5:  Premium whisky and brandy selection paired with a variety of biltong treats.

Enjoy some pictures :)

Pretty little gift bags is such a simple way to add some sparkle and color to your event.  You can use them to pop your guest favors in and place them at each persons table setting, or they will look so pretty on a candy table where guests can help themselves.  

Supplies needed:
1.  Paper bags in color of your choice - Her Annies
2.  Pipecleaners in color of your choice - Flowerspot, Midrand
3.  Crafters Glue - Flowerspot
4.  Glitter - Flowerspot
5.  Scissors

Fold pipe Cleaners in heart shape or any shape of your choice.  Then cut of the parts that extends over the ends.  Cover the back with crafters glue and stick onto your bag.  Place a heavy object/book on top until it settles.

For the heart:  Outline a heart on the bag and then fill the inner area with glue.  Sprinkle your glitter on top so that the whole heart is evenly covered.  Wait to dry.  Shake off excess glitter.  VIOLA - pretty bags !