Eat Drink Chic

Hey Folks, due to the popularity of last year's 'Sweet New Year' Calendar and requests from readers, I have updated it for 2014!

It would make a cute birthday or Christmas gift... or you could just keep it for yourself! :)

Continue to download your freebie!

I seem to be in a bit of a pink and red mood of late. I haven't the faintest idea why, especially since we're nowhere near Valentine's Day, but it is what it is...

If I had a spare $560 dollars and the ability to balance on an upright pencil, I would get these shoes.  Who am I kidding, I would probably never wear them. I would just put them on display in our living room and gawk at them all day. Or perhaps eat them for dessert. They look like candy. Speaking of candy, I'm currently coveting this super cute 'Candy Shop' nail polish by Deborah Lippmann. It's sparkly and colourful. What's not to love.

Lips, lips, lips. Lips are everywhere these days and how genius to make them into a cosmetic pouch....

I know cupcakes have been done to death. I think we may have moved onto donuts... but they're still a pretty gosh darn tasty accessory. Mark and I visited Trophy Cupcakes in Seattle a couple of years ago. Check out their Black Forest number and salivate accordingly. (By the way, do you know they have a book out?)

lips pouch | dress | personalised pencils | shoes | iPad case | cupcake | nail polish

one | two | three | four | five

All these things I know to be true:

• Kate Lilley is awesome. I mean, seriously. Love her site Minieco and love her Strawberry Treat Box printable on Oh Happy Day. Love love love.
• Aiko Fukawa does the cutest illustrations. Guaranteed to make you smile. Get lost in her colourful world right here.
• These pillows are just too adorable and I must have them all.
• Marsha Golemac creates pretty things with paper. Her Mother's Day 'Things we love' sign for Megan Park's boutique window is just beautiful. I want to be Ms. Golemac. There, I said it.
• Movenpick's Creme Brulee ice-cream is to-die-for and no, there's nothing strange about eating ice-cream in the dead of Winter.
• After getting sucked into the rabbit hole that is Pinterest and getting lost for an hour (or two), I've become a) really inspired by Japanese packaging and b) absolutely certain that Pinterest needs to have a big, flashing "Enter at your own risk" sign on its homepage. If you dare, you can enter the rabbit hole here.

I'm intrigued by this buttered popcorn ice-cream recipe by Trotski and Ash. I'm sure it would make a great addition to a movie night with friends.

While you're there check out all their other cute recipes accompanied by the gorgeous photography of Lauren Bamford.

{ photo by Lauren Bamford }

I visited Miette when I was in SF last year for my honeymoon. Simply the most gorgeous cakes I have ever seen!  And now there's a book !!  Must have now!

{ photos from Miette website }

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Note: This post contains a link to 'Miette: Recipes from San Francisco's Most Charming Pastry Shop' on Amazon. I am an Amazon affiliate which means that I receive a small percentage of any sales made when readers click on this link. This helps to keep this website alive. However, please note that I would only ever review and suggest books that I personally recommend.

Dress from Anthropologie

"Don't Forget to be Awesome" art print from Super Swoon

Chair from Serena and Lily

Flower Tote from Mar Y Sol

DIY Twig Lamp by Better Homes & Gardens

Hummingbird Cupcake recipe by Annie's Eats

'Tartine Bread' Book by Chad Robertson from Amazon

Mug from Mr Kitly

Stila's Convertible Color at J.Crew

Pink Flower Hairclip from Seed

Floral Fabric 'Keisarinna' from Marimekko

Cloud Mobile from The Butter Flying

Dress from Orla Kiely

'Love my mum' mini memory book from Kikki K

'Hello' Card from 55 Hi's

Chair 'Montparnasse' from Coco Republic

DIY Ice-cream Cake from One Charming Party

Oh boy! When I spotted these beautiful creations from Magpie's Cake on Simplesong, I was so smitten I felt they were definitely worth a mention here also! These are stunning!

Ice-Cream Sandwiches are among my favourites in the "Ice-Cream" family.

After an exquisite meal at an elegant french restaurant, I have been known to politely refuse a chef prepared crème brûlée, under the pretext of 'fullness', in order to leave early and take an ungraceful dive into the nearest 7-eleven to acquire a, somewhat less fancy but, in my opinion, equally delicious, mass-produced dessert known as The Monaco Bar Ice-Cream Sandwich.

I am not ashamed by this fact. I stand by my love for these delectable creatures.

So, you can imagine my delight when I stumbled upon this recipe for ice-cream sandwich goodness on Tartelette!

Firstly, Helen has used my Ice-Cream Parlour cup designs in her beautiful photos! 5 points right there already.

Secondly, she provides a gluten free recipe for the cookies! "Hooray!" shouts my supposed wheat allergy.

Perhaps now, instead of indulging in convenience store, pre-prepared packages of sin I can instead learn to make these delightful goodies for myself and also avoid the minor wheat-related tummy ailments. Now all that's left to do is actually get me in the kitchen.

{ photography by Helene Dujardin }

One of my favourite blogs of all time is A Field Journal. I'm sure many of you have seen it before and are well aware of just how truly inspiring it is! Through her breathtaking photo-styling and the most adorable creative projects, Livy conjures up a perfect little world in which to get lost.

Last week was 'Apple Week' where Livy provided some tempting autumn-inspired apple recipes accompanied, of course, by her signature gorgeous imagery.

Feast your eyes on these: Apple Cider, Candied Apples, Caramel Apples and Apple Crisp. Yum. Yum. Yum.

This cutie-pie set of christmas themed stamps from Aspen & Brown would make great embellishments for cards, tags and giftwrap this Christmas.

These chocolate filled Peppermint Meringues would make an attractive and delectable addition to your Christmas table. Get the recipe from Martha.

Also check out her Heavenly Holiday Desserts. I find her Hazelnut Praline Torte to be particularly striking.

It was just before Christmas last year and my mother and I were in a car headed towards Armadale when we discovered a little shop packed to the brim with brightly coloured packages in a variety of beautiful and exotic patterns. We were intrigued! Continue for more details and pics.

The cutest food/drink containers in the prettiest colours...

Top: Superb branding for New York Cafe "Moomah" by Apartment One. Via Unruly Things

Bottom: The cutest little cupcake wrappers from The Cupcake Wrapper co. Available here.

Get all the details for how to re-create this exquisite blue and white, winter themed dessert buffet presented by The Inspired Bride and Bake it Pretty.  Check it out here! (Via Erin Vale Design)

Whether used for favours or simply as a cup that guests can use to collect their own selection of treats from your party's candy buffet, the festive colours in this cup design allow for use at any occasion- parties, weddings or even the upcoming Christmas and holiday season. "La Dolce Vita" - Italian for "The Sweet Life" is a somewhat fitting title for a cup with a solitary life purpose to contain lots of delicious candy- No? Continue for more pics, ideas and to download your free paper cup cover design!

Was flicking through old editions of Inside Out magazine, garnering inspiration for some future projects when I happened upon this gorgeous table design by stylist Jenny Louey in their Xmas 07 edition.  I love the surprising juxtaposition of cherries with Haigh's chocolate frogs- I think it strikes a lovely balance between sophistication and whimsy. I also love the rich colour scheme with deep reds and browns and the inclusion of easily sourced, everyday food items like Petit écolier biscuits and Lamingtons within such a stylish and elegant context. Gorgeous! Is it too early to be pondering Christmas?

Inspired today by the rich colours and indulgent lifestyle portrayed in these gorgeously styled photos.

ONE: Beautiful bottles.. Interior Styling by Jamo (via JuBella)

TWO: A floral overdose... Photography by Denise Grunstein

THREE: More beautiful bottles... Interior Styling by Jamo

FOUR: Mmm.. dark chocolate... Photography by Matt Armendariz

Inspired by Jordan Ferney's brilliant wedding concept for an Old Fashioned Soda Bar, I set out to create these fun, retro-inspired label designs for soda bottles that hark back to the glorious era of soda fountains! These can be used for your party or wedding to create your own Soda Shop or to add a gorgeous beverage stand to your Ice-Cream Parlour theme. Guests can select from a brightly coloured array of flavoured sodas to make their own delicious Ice-Cream Sodas!

This simple and beautiful imagery makes me crave chocolate something chronic. I've never actually tried Kohler Chocolates before but I'm certainly tempted! I'm curious as to who did the photography and styling for these. Anybody know?

Red and pink lovelies for your inspiration...

TOP:  Beautiful Maraschino cherries and beautiful composition-  Prop Styling by Alessandro Mortola

MIDDLE: A perfect 'Sugar Rose'- Styling by Deb Mclean

BOTTOM: Vintage bathing beauties from Vogue January 1963  on My Vintage Vogue via Pink Lemonade