Have a DIY Valentine's Day

Oh Valentine's Day, how quickly you are approaching.... and how lame am I for being so unprepared.

Searching the endless wealth of DIY projects on the blog, here are a few of my favorite finds.

Unravel a Valentine's Day love letter with this stunning project from Paper n stitch blog.

Twig and Thistle is really brilliant.

For a simple way to make a big statement of amor, wrap your love's toothbrush with a little note stating "I've got a sweet tooth for you...."

Or print your own adorable packaging for brownies (use a cookies cutter to make them heart shaped!).

Need a project to do with the kiddos, try Martha's custom candy wrapped craziness, or her "hand"-made cards!

Sometimes the only thing necessary for the the perfect night is wine & chocolate... and a little romantic way to wrap it all up in an adorable little kit via Design*Sponge.

Remember, in the end, all you need is love.

xoxo,

Niki

Choco-holic

Some girls love flowers, some girls love diamonds, I love chocolate. I might actually be in an illicit relationship with it (please don't tell Cole).

I'm really not a huge Valentine's Day person. I've always felt slighted by the romantic holiday, since my birthday comes very shortly after. Still, I'll indulge in some Valentines Day decadence as long as it involves chocolate.

Here are a few luscious looking recipes from some of my favorite food bloggers. I'm of the opinion that these should be made for me, and definitely not by me on February 14th.

If there's one thing I love almost as much as chocolate it is peanut butter. The combination: deadly. I'm dying for these chocolate peanut butter macaroons by Cannelle et Vanille. Or this triple chocolate mousse... three ways. Um, hello, sign me up.

I've recently become an avid reader of Tartlette's blog and almost lost my mind when I saw this recipe for a Chocolate Torte, Caramel Ice Cream and Chocolate Sorbet. And Chocolate Mudcake Ice Cream Sandwiches. Yes, please.

Bakerella had me at hello with this fourteen layer cake. Yes, fourteen layers baked individually like pancakes and then coated in a chocolate ganache followed by a buttercream frosting. That is dedication to a chocolate love.

Peanut butter and chocolate strikes again with this Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake from Smitten Kitchen.

The other night Gavi and I whipped up another Barefoot Contessa de-light (Note: there is nothing light about this recipe). While I'm a big fan of her Outrageous Brownies, sometimes you just don't have the time for a double boiler.

Have no fear, Ina's Brownie Pudding is here. This recipe takes only cocoa powder, so no need to stand over the stove slowly melting chocolate. Plus, it bakes in a casserole dish (preferably round) and is very undercooked in the center. Translation: the perfect combination of crusty brownies along the edge and brownie batter in the center. In other words, bliss.

Is your mouth watering now?

Share your favorite chocolate recipes with us today.

xoxo,

Niki

First and Goal Cupcakes

Snooping around last week on the Hostess Blog site, I ran into these awesome Super Bowl cupcake ideas. I'm pretty much salivating over the laced football wrappers. There's an entire DIY tutorial on creating all of these yourself. Honestly, they don't look super complicated and I'm considering giving them a chance.

Once I'm feeling inspired, I'm going to attempt these Super Bowl oreo truffles via Bakerella.

Also found these Guinness Super Bowl cupcakes made with Guinness Buttercream Frosting on celebrations.com from the executive chef of Vanilla Bakeshop. Beer + cupcakes? Think Cole would be in heaven!

Total male decadence? How about these beer cheese cupcakes with bacon cheddar cream cheese frosting via cupcake project. Wouldn't exactly call these low cholesterol...

xoxo,

Niki

Pom-Pom Palooza

We're entertaining on New Years Eve and I'm dying to use pom poms. I mean come on, these are so awesome! Muchas gracias Martha Stewart.

I could try to make them on my own, but luckily, I can always buy them as a back up plan. They're so gorgeous hanging from the ceiling but I love the idea of hanging them off the back of the newlyweds car or using them as cocktail decor. What a pom-pom-perfect idea for 2010!

xoxo,

Niki

Nearly New Years!

It's almost 2010... This year, don't stress about your new years plans. Just refer to a few of my New Years Eve absolute essentials:

Can't bear to make it through the night without an awesomely glittery pair of "2010" glasses via Party City.

A bottle (or many bottles) of Veuve Cliquot champagne.

Sip that Veuve in style with these tres tres chic flutes from Crate and Barrel.

Gotta keep that bubbly on ice in this antique style party bucket from Pottery Barn.

Make sure you're prepared with big and beautiful bags of colorful confetti to toss at midnight via Martha.

Dick Clark's Rockin' New Years Eve on the television.

Someone wonderful to kiss at midnight.

But most importantly, a fabulous pair of shoes... you got it, glittery gold Louboutins from Bergdorfs.

2010 wishes for fabulous stilettos!

xoxo,

Niki

Biggest, Greatest, Coolest Gingerbread Houses!

I am on a hunt to find the biggest, greatest, most creative and coolest gingerbread houses! Here are a few of my favorites.

This is the worlds largest gingerbread house! It's 1,496 square feet and built from 14,250 pounds of gingerbread and 4,750 pounds of icing! It took approximately 1,700 work-hours and nine days to build. Some of the embellishments include: 1,800 Hershey's chocolate bars, 2,800 nut rolls, 1,200 feet of Twizzlers, 100 pounds of Tootsie Rolls, 300 pounds of DOTS and thousands of other candies!

How cool is this ultra-mod gingerbread house. Red Envelope used to sell it on their website but have since discontinued. You can try to re-create on your own!

The official White House gingerbread house was designed by the White House Pastry Chef Bill Yosses. It is displayed in the State Dining Room of the White House. The replica, made of white chocolate, features a miniature Bo (hard to see, but bottom center), a miniature White House vegetable garden and a view inside to replicate the State Dining Room.

I came across a bunch of award winning houses here. Click through all the pictures, they are so inspiring!

Of course Martha always has the sweetest designs. I love this simple house; it would be a perfect centerpiece at any holiday party.

And another super-cool house!

And the award for the coolest little gingerbread house goes to.. another blogger who refers to herself as Not Martha, I love it!

Merry Christmas Eve!

xoxo,

Ali