WHIMSICAL HOLIDAY DESSERT TABLE

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Since Thanksgiving is over, I'm officially ready for Christmas! Here's a cute little dessert table we put together for our annual Christmas Eve get-together.

Obsessed by these Meri Meri bird cupcake toppers, I went for a theme inspired by The Nutcracker and Mendl's from "The Grand Budapest Hotel," without taking either too literally. 

Our Christmas Eve is all about the kids, so I took the non-traditional, sherbert-colored birds and ran with it. The bird garland then set the backdrop, with some added pinwheels.  I hung sparkly ornaments from the dining room chandelier, birds to fly over the table, and the table was set with foraged fir branches, amaryllis, tangerines, a wink to the nutcracker and sprinkle-covered ice cream cones.  Jenna Elliott, of One Eleven Photography, captured it below.

How cute are the reindeer cups?!  I replaced the candy cane striped cups with gold stars to complement the theme. 

My little sugar plum fairy in her teepee.

Photos: Jenna Elliott, One Eleven Photography

VISITING A CHRISTMAS TREE FARM

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I've been on the hunt for a Christmas tree farm since Mila's first Christmas, so I was excited to finally find Peltzer Pines (through JL Designs on Instagram). We visited their Brea farm location, which is less than an hour from Los Angeles.

Mila loved leading the way through the rows of trees. 

As a note, these trees are pines (not the firs that we're used to).

Choose your tree and they cut it down for you to take home. That's pretty fresh!

Visiting a tree farm was a fun family activity that I could easily see becoming an annual tradition. 

Mila's dress is Tutu Du Monde via Thumbeline and her moccasins are Lil'fut and Company.

MICHELLE STAFFORD'S SPOOKY SOIREE IS ON PEOPLE!

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Michelle Stafford threw a Halloween-themed first birthday party for her son Jameson and it's on People!

We had so much fun designing the dessert table -- joining the spooky theme with the first birthday by incorporating a toddler piano and candlesticks into the tablescape, filled with Whisk and Whittle’s creepy crawlers cake, vampire bat cupcakes, caramel apples and skeleton cookies. Then completed the look with beautiful grey pumpkins from Mr. Bones Pumpkin Patch and Cheeky’s #MakeMealtimeMatter gold plates. We hand-painted the spiderweb tablecloth based on The House that Lars Built DIY. 

NEON + SILVER HALLOWEEN

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We wanted to reimagine Halloween. Tired of the traditional orange and black, we decided to turn it on its head with neon and silver. Add some white owls, pumpkins and flowers, and voila! Here's a look at the photos from Jenna Elliott, One Eleven Photography.

The spiderweb backdrop was so fun and easy to make. Just washi tape.

Our little ghost pops are vegan coconut bars with goji berry eyes.

Skeleton hands from Michaels were painted neon before serving up the macarons.

Little owls flocking to the coconut cake.

Cantaloupe lent a fresh element while reminding us of Halloween's traditional orange. 

Care for skeleton hand soup, anyone? The plates, bowls and cups are all affordable from Target.

Handmade "ghost" tassels floated over the bookshelves.

Mila’s playsuit and headband: Nellystella and Tutu du Monde via Thumbeline | Wings: Fairy Birds

And here it is on 100 Layer Cakelet!

Photos: Jenna Elliott, One Eleven Photography
DIY spider, skulls, skeletons, tassels, cake toppers: Michaels
DIY neon washi tape spiderweb: Office Depot
Coconut cake, macarons: Whole Foods
Ghost bars: Coconut Bliss
Milk glass cake stand: Sur la Table
Silver tablecloth: Town and Country
Dishes, silver trays: Target
Silver glitter box: Paper Source
White pumpkins: Gelson’s

MUSEUM OF ICE CREAM LOS ANGELES

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We had the best time at Museum of Ice Cream this summer. The long-awaited visit lived up to our expectations. To be immersed in a world of ice cream -- Mila and I were in heaven!

Our friend, Jenna Elliott, and her son James were able to join us for the adventure. 

We had so much fun! It was an absolute highlight of our summer. Thank you MOIC!

Mila's outfit: Bonpoint blouse, Nellystella shorts, Native shoes 

Marlan's outfit: Eileen Fisher dress, Fitflop shoes, Saint Laurent sunglasses