Friday Finds and Fine Pin: Super Bowl Edition

Super Bowl is next weekend - can you believe it? This Friday, we thought we'd focus on football-related finds in order to pump up for the big event! Let's get right to the Fine Pin of the week... Behold, the "Beer Cheese Cupcake with Bacon Cheddar Cream Cheese Frosting":

Whether you're hosting or attending a Super Bowl party, these "cupcakes" are a MUST! You'll be voted MVP in no time when you show up with a batch of these treats.

If you're looking for other Super Bowl party ideas, Celebrations.com Party Expert Shawn Rabideau put together an article on Super Bowl entertaining ideas -- be sure to check it out & then start planning for your party!

It's no surprise that dips always score big points at Super Bowl parties. This collection of winning salsas and dips looks wonderful -- especially the Blue Cheese and Walnut Spread!

Check out this football themed children's birthday party -- the details are so fun, and the homemade score board is especially neat. Any little guy would have a blast at this party!

This couple put a fun spin on their engagement photo session by honoring their favorite football team. The matching jerseys are great!

Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy preparing for next weekend's main event!

Lucky In Love Engagement Party

Lots of proposals happen between Christmas and Valentine's Day, so chances are, you or someone you're close to will be celebrating an engagement in the coming months. If you're looking for a fun theme for your engagement party, look to playing cards for a bit of inspiration. Go with a red and black palette, and be sure to incorporate lots of fun details:

This King of Hearts invitation by Checkerboard sets the tone for your event -- FineStationery.com

As the bride, dress the part in a white bangle with a gold spade accent -- kate spade

These ace of hearts cards can be used for a fun party activity - Have each guest write a bit of advice or a sweet note on the back. Afterward, keep the notes as mementos of your party -- cards by Checkerboard, available at FineStationery.com

Dress up the drinks with playing card tags -- Family Chic

These mint chocolate playing cards will be a hit on the dessert table, along with rice krispies that look like playing cards, and candy bard wrapped in themed paper --  Fancy Flours and Amy Atlas

If your party involves a sit-down dinner, designate each table with a suit and a number, then use playing cards as table cards -- Ruffled

Sweet Reads

Searching for a great Valentine's Day gift for your sweet? Don't disregard the bookstore this holiday! Here are a few top picks for books that will be well received by your sweetie. Want to score brownie points? Whip up one of the sugary confections from the book to present with the gift!

Every occasion calls for a creative cake pop. Cake Pops by Bakerella has an idea for just about every festive event!

Kids will go nuts for the unique & fun cupcakes in Hello, Cupcake! by Karen Tack & Alan Richardson

The soon-to-be released Sweet Designs by Amy Atlas is sure to be a favorite. Her dessert tables and recipes are so inspiring!

Tuesday Trends: Fashion Meets Paper

Last Friday's finds included a link to an article on spring's easiest trends to wear {read it here}. Today's post is all about the translation of those trends on paper. Breath life into your stationery wardrobe with bold patterns, color-blocked looks, and the year's hottest color: tangerine. Which trend are you going to try?

Bold patterns by Boatman Geller (top) & Kramer Drive (bottom)

Color-blocked looks by Marsupial Papers (top) & Checkerboard (bottom)

Orange and tangerine shades by William Arthur

An Explorer Party

Whisk your birthday boy away from the cold-weather blues with an explore-the-indoors party. Create a backdrop resembling a faraway place and let your little one's imagination run wild as he creates his very own adventures with friends (all while he remains in the comfort and warmth of your own home).



Invite your child's friends with this compass and map inspired invitation from Checkerboard -- Finestationery.com

Prop up a canvas tent for the tiny travelers and surround it with exotic stuffed animals. -- Restoration Hardware Kids

Provide each child with a ticket to take special transportation to the exploration destination. -- Etsy Seller VintageDye

Let each child don this hot-air balloon costume, complete with flight-goggles, to travel in vintage style from the front door to the party space. Be sure to take a photo to send home as a memento. -- Rook No 17 Blog

Provide each child with a khaki vest containing important exploration tools like a compass and binoculars to assist in their adventures .-- Amazon.com and AuthenticModels

Friday Finds and Fine Pin

How was your week? Here's hoping that it was full of fun! Now that it's the weekend, it's time to relax. Here are a few fun finds from around the web to kick off your weekend:

Did you happen to catch the Golden Globes last Sunday evening? This week, there were plenty of images circulating of the beautiful gowns from the red carpet. What was your favorite look? If you need a re-cap, The Huffington Post has some great eye-candy. For a little fun, re-visit {this post} from last year, where we compared the red carpet styles to some pretty stylish stationery.

Fashionistas will be interested in this collection of the spring's easiest trends to wear. We're loving the color blocking, super bold prints and tangerine and orange colors. Perhaps we will begin to see some of these trends emerge on paper.

Fashionable brides & grooms will find these great wedding website templates to be perfect, with designs that match many of the Vera Wang wedding invitation suites.

Fashion designer Dallas Shaw (who happens to reside in Wilmington, DE, where FineStationery.com is located!) recently launched 1519 -- a site that will showcase rotating fashion and home decor collections for your inspiration. Check it out!

Keeping with today's theme, the Fine Pin is, of course, quite fashionable. We love the idea of carrying your fashion-forward tastes to the design of your wedding cake. Choose a bold design, or a perhaps a design inspired by the timeless old Hollywood glamour days:

A Summertime Seersucker Wedding

Seersucker is a sign of warm weather and exudes a casual summer charm. As you plan for your summer wedding, consider seersucker accents, or even a seersucker gown! This look is perfect for an intimate wedding with a lawn party reception, or a wedding in a quaint beach town.

Hang seersucker fabric as a backdrop to your ceremony space -- Style Me Pretty

If you're a true prep, you might consider a seersucker wedding gown -- Southern Weddings

The groom will look handsome in a seersucker suit, or a seersucker tie -- Style Me Pretty

Have your florist wrap the bouquets in seersucker ribbon -- Southern Weddings

Add seersucker flags to the sweets on your dessert table -- Style Me Pretty

Wrap favor boxes in seersucker and colored cotton squares -- Martha Stewart

Choose a classic invitation with a custom monogram, like this style from Crane & Co. -- FineStationery.com

Cut squares of seersucker to use as cocktail napkins -- Martha Stewart

Sweet Classroom Celebrations

Be creative with your classroom treats this Valentine's Day! It's easier than it seems, and will leave smiles on the faces of all the kids -- and the teacher!

Purchase yummy heart-shaped cookies (like these, from Cheryl's) and place them in individual cellophane bags (found at craft or candy supply stores). To make the treat even more special, add a personalized Valentine's Day sticker! Let your child choose their own fun design.

Personalize a melamine plate with the teacher's name, and fill it with brownies that have been cut with a heart shaped cookie cutter. After all of the students have the brownies, the teacher can keep the plate in the classroom!

Valentine's Day is more fun with sweets, so create candy hearts or blooming lollipop treats to accompany personalized Valentine's cards.

Super Bowl Snacks to Cheer About

As you begin to prepare the menu for your annual Super Bowl party, there is no need to feel anxious about breaking your New Year's resolution for a healthier lifestyle. Here are a few great ideas for lighter, health-conscious snacks that taste just as delicious as the alternative:

If you've just started to plan your party, check out FineStationery.com's football themed invitations for inspiration.

Football Beverage Napkin by Inviting Co. -- FineStationery.com

Veggies & Honey Mustard Dip, White Bean Dip, Taco Salad, Pita Pizza -- Martha Stewart

Love-Struck: A Cupid Celebration

Looking for a Valentine's Day party that will make your children swoon? A cupid-themed party is sure to hit the mark! This theme lends itself to a variety of unique treats and activities. Here are a few ideas for a party that will leave your guests feeling love-struck.

Provide each child with a winged backpack-- perfect for holding the cupid's arrows they will craft as an activity -- Babble.com via Etsy Shop MerahMuda

Cut brownies into the shape of hearts and accent with a feathered arrow in white and red -- Be Different, Act Normal via Hank + Hunt

For craft time, help each child create their own set of cupid's arrows using this tutorial -- Design Sponge

Hit the mark with this heart-bullseye invitation -- Inviting Company available at FineStationery.com

Use this cupid decal and craft hearts from construction paper so the children can play a round of pin the heart on cupid's arrow -- Etsy shop CityZenDesign