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. 

8 CHOCOLATE DESSERTS FOR THANKSGIVING

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I know Thanksgiving is all about pumpkin, apple, cranberry and pear. But what about chocolate?! We have a [newish] tradition in our family with a chocolate banana cream pie (that Twink and Mom make) -- it's my go-to! So I thought we should show chocolate a little bit more love -- here are 8 more desserts to inspire your Thanksgiving menu.

HALLOWEEN FLOWERS

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Flowers, flowers, everywhere and all the time, that's my dream in life. Even though you may not normally think of flowers when it comes to Halloween, they really add a great "organic" touch. I've gathered some of my favorite uses of flowers for the holiday (including a couple of our own).

Could this dark floral skull from The House That Lars Built be any more stunning?

Such a pretty floral moon on this pumpkin by The Merrythought.

Flowers in a pumpkin? Yes! Love what Chatelaine did with this.

And... More flowers in pumpkins. By the flower queen Kiana Underwood of Tulipina. 

We used protea and chestnuts as two key elements for our sophisticated dinner party.

The simplicity of the white anemones with these bug (and bird) vases just works so well. Via Country Living. 

White tulips lent a perfectly clean touch to our neon and silver table.

SIS'S FAVORITE SUMMER PARTY PINS

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Happy August! We're getting deep into summer here so if we're not going to be at the beach or in the pool, we may as well be gazing deeply into Pinterest, right? So on that note, here are some of my favorite summer party pins!

Pineapple cotton candy via Bon Puf.

Lemonade pinata via Oh Happy Day. 

Palm Fronds + Bon Bons dinner party via Studio DIY. Photo by Mary Costa.

Tassel balloon cake toppers via We Are Scout.

Fresh fruit smoothie bowls via Elsa's Wholesome Life.

LEARN TO MAKE FRENCH MACARONS LIKE A PRO AND DISCOUNT CODE

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The new year is full of hope and promise. It gives us an extra push when it comes to exploring and learning new things. My 2016 goal list includes travel and becoming a better cook. So I thought Michelle's Macarons simple guide to a complicated dessert would be a great course to share with you today. 

Through Michelle's trial and error of making macarons over 100 times, she's perfected a technique for these delicate sweets to come out perfectly every time. French baking can be daunting but Michelle simplifies the approach (through her online video course that you do at home).

Michelle is giving Twink + Sis readers 20% off her premium course with the discount code TWINKANDSIS. You can sign up to learn this beautiful art on her website.

Happy baking!