The Best Plain Cookie Recipe

I started this week by doing some baking with my 4 year old son. While I tend to do most of the work, he likes controlling the speed on the cake mixer,  licking the bowl and occasionally helps with adding in the ingredients. We began by making a banana cake, as I had some over-ripe bananas to use up, then I suggested we make some cookies. I was thinking we could just whip up a batch of my Grandma’s Plain Cookies, but my son had other plans. “Mummy, can we make rainbow cookies?” he asked. I quickly thought it through and replied with “We can sure try.”

Best Plain Rainbow Cookies

Now you may be thinking, but that’s not very plain at all. Well here’s the ‘Plain’ part:

Pretty Pink Princess Party

Pretty Pink Princess Lead Image

Princess parties have to be the most common theme we have requests for, and even though we have done this theme many times each one always turns out slightly different. While I didn’t have a professional photographer at this party, I did take a few snapshots on my phone and since they turned out reasonably well I thought I would share them with you.

Lego Construction Party

Lego Party Lead Image

I loved Lego as a child so when I has asked to create a Lego Party for a young man turning 8 years old I was definitely excited for the challenge. The only constraint was that it had to be a Lego Construction Party. Having done a Construction themed party for this young man two years earlier, I felt the challenge was even greater as I wanted the two parties to clearly be different. So after a fair bit of research and some very late nights this is what I came up with.

Vintage Country Wedding On the Thames Coast

A January Wedding in Te Mata, Coromandel, New Zealand – Featured Submission by Anonymous

Arielle & Kieran's Wedding Headline Photo

I’m very excited to share with you our first featured submission. I had the privilege of sitting down with this bride during the early stages of her planning to hear her initial thoughts for their wedding and give her a few pointers for along the way. From there on she took the lead and together with her family and friends they created a stunning vintage, country wedding.

S’mores by the Riverside

Smores Welcome Party on the Thames Coast

I love to take any opportunity to celebrate. Recently the extended family on my mother’s side had a family reunion. It was the first time in years that so many of us had been in one place. We all gathered at the beautiful Te Mata Lodge just north of Thames where we enjoyed a fabulous, sunny weekend together.

As everyone was arriving on the Friday evening I wanted to create something special, a welcoming party if you will. Instead of the usual supper I decided to greet everyone with a glass of bubbly and a make your own S’mores Bar.

For those who aren’t familiar with what a s’more is,  it’s a traditional campfire treat popular in the United States (and now New Zealand), consisting of a toasted marshmallow and layer of chocolate sandwiched between two biscuits. They are very yummy!

Show a Little Love

Love Branches

Photo Credit: Money Hip Mommas

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. And while I’m not one to buy into the commercialism, celebrating some mysterious dead saint or exhausting myself just for the sake of it, I think there just might be something to it that is worth taking notice of.

In more modern times this age old holiday has become about romantic love, but for many centuries it was more simply about showing kindness and caring for your fellow man, or woman.

So what is Valentine’s day to me – it’s about taking a step back from the busyness that is life and taking a moment to appreciate the people around me in a thoughtful way. One that’s different from the everyday kindness I try to exude. Now I have had people say to me that they don’t need a special day to do that – they can do that any time they feel like it. But my question is “Do they?” If you do, that is awesome. However if you’re anything like me, you might have good intentions and even good ideas, but more often than not, not enough time or energy to make it a reality. This is why I think having a day on your calendar that you can plan for, in advance, is actually a pretty good idea.

So please let me encourage you today – don’t ever become too tired or busy to show a little love.

Follow us on Facebook for great tips and hints for this Valentines.

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© 2016 As You Wish Events Ltd.  Want to use this article in your E-newsletter, blog, or website? You can as long as you include this complete statement: Auckland, New Zealand – Event Planner & Designer Nadine Crozier publishes the ‘As You Wish Events’ blog filled with secrets, tips and how-tos for planning your fabulous event. Get your exclusive inspiration, tips and tricks at http://www.asyouwish.co.nz.  As You Wish Events is an event planning and design company based in Auckland, serving the Auckland region and certain areas of Northland.

 

 

Elegance in the City of Sails {Julia & Duncan}

A September Wedding in Auckland, New Zealand

I am absolutely delighted to be able to share this wedding with you. I thoroughly enjoyed working with Julia, Duncan and Julia’s mum, Yvonne. When I met with them for the first time the only thing they had decided on was a very short planning period, so I had the privilege of helping them plan everything from scratch. With my expertise we were able to secure two premium venues and a dream team of vendors. Being that Duncan had proposed to Julia while they were traveling the world together, it seemed only natural that they would choose a travel theme as part of their special day. As I was given free reign when it came to design I was able to try some unique décor ideas, in particular the table runners and cupcake toppers, which complemented the couple perfectly.

Before we get to the photos I just want to say a big thank you to Coralee Stone Photography for sharing these with us – I trust you’ll enjoy looking at these photos as much as I did.

Strawberry Soufflé – The Perfect Summertime Dessert

Growing up, every summer when the strawberries came ripe, my family would look forward to our mum making for us our favourite summer dessert – Strawberry Soufflé. I don’t really know why it is called a soufflé since it is nothing like your traditional variety, you don’t even bake it (apart from the crumbs). All I know is that it is yummy, goes a treat and that I want to share the recipe with you.

Strawberry Souffle

So let’s get cooking!

Gingerbread House Decorating Party

For the last few years I have put together a very simple Gingerbread House Decorating party for my son and my nieces. This year I decided to go all out with for this annual party and invite a couple more friends. We had an absolute blast decorating the gingerbread houses – it was such a special time for both kids and parents alike.

It all began with the invitations being hand delivered by these giant gingerbread men.

Gingerbread House Decorating Party

12 Days of Christmas Ideas 2015

12 Days of Christmas Ideas 2015

In case you missed any or have only just joined us here, we thought we would make our 12 Days of Christmas Ideas for 2015 easier to find by re-posting the links here.

7 Christmas Terrariums We Love
Fabulous Foils For Christmas
One Super Juicy Idea
How to Stress Less This Christmas
Delightful Decoupage Décor
Designer Christmas Crackers
Five Tips for Festive Family Photos
A Very Poppy Christmas
Handy Hints for Hosting a Gingerbread House Decorating Party
The Pre-Christmas Gift
The Hot Choc Tube
A Red & White Christmas Table Setting

 

Plus here’s a few bonus ideas from previous years that we featured in our live demonstration.

Paper Craft Christmas Décor
Christmas Bling
Mug Cookies In a Jar
Christmas Card Frame

 

Thanks for stopping by, we hope you find this helpful and enjoy these Christmas ideas.

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© 2015 As You Wish Events Ltd.  Want to use this article in your E-newsletter, blog, or website? You can as long as you include this complete statement: Auckland, New Zealand – Event Planner & Designer Nadine Crozier publishes the ‘As You Wish Events’ blog filled with secrets, tips and how-tos for planning your fabulous event. Get your exclusive inspiration, tips and tricks at http://www.asyouwish.co.nz.  As You Wish Events is an event planning and design company based in Auckland, serving the Auckland region and certain areas of Northland.