Oh hey, Boo! Halloween is almost here, and we cant stop thinking about all the sweet treats in the mix.  We decided to reinvent one of the most iconic Fall treat, the candy apple, with our resident dessert diva Sprinkles for Breakfast. One part sweet, and another party spooky, these candy apple cobweb treats will have your ghouls feeling good.

To create: In saucepan, combine 2 cups of sugar, 1-½ cups of water and 1 cup of light corn syrup. Add a few drops of purple food coloring and mix in. Place the saucepan over medium/high heat and let the mixture come to a boil. While the mixture is heating up, prepare a piece of parchment paper next to the pan. Use a candy thermometer to measure the mixture. Once it reaches 300 degrees, take the saucepan off the heat. Insert wooden sticks into apples. Tilt the pan to the side and dip each apple into the candy. Make sure the apple is completely coated. Scrape the excess candy on the bottom of the apple off on the side of the pan. Place apple on parchment to cool. Once all apples are coated and cooled, melt 1 cup of marshmallows for 30 - 60 seconds in the microwave. Mix melted marshmallows and let them sit for a minute or two until they are cool enough to handle. Using your hands, stretch marshmallows over the candy apples to make them look like spiderwebs. These apples are best served the same day!

We all love bright shiny moments. And by moments, we mean home decor accents, of course! The world of lacquered accessories and furniture is truly a beautiful place to be. The technique of lacquering leaves a glowing sheen that is always a bold conversation piece, and this sought after finish (usually seen on wooden items) is an easy way to make a room pop with one or more pieces.

However, lacquered accessories and furniture can get expensive. The exciting news is, we have partnered with our friends at Ace Hardware who carry one of our favorite lines of paint, Amy Howard at Home! This extraordinary line of paint has a DIY process that makes lacquering easy for anyone to achieve – and I went down to Amy’s studio in Memphis to learn first-hand how simple transforming a piece can be. With this line, I learned how to repurpose just about anything around the house – from lamps and chairs to larger pieces, like dressers and kitchen cabinets – with just few easy DIY steps.

To create: In a well-ventilated area, clean the mirror (or whatever you may be lacquering) with a soft cloth and Clean Slate cleanser.  This is an important step to do before you spray, as you do not want to spray over any dust, dirt, or oil.  Continue to prep the mirror before spraying by covering it with painter’s tape’s. Make sure to cover large areas using newspaper or paper to keep the mirror safe. Next, spray a very thin and even coat of furniture lacquer primer around the frame of the mirror. Be sure to always spray outside or in a ventilated area.  You may need to wait about 30 minutes until the primer us dry to continue. Once the primer is totally dry, spray an even layer of high-performance furniture lacquer primer on the frame.  PS- The color we chose is in the stunning shade of Belgium Blue – a great color for fall! You will need this is dry for about one hour before you repeat a second layer. If you notice there are some uneven spots, use a thin (400) sandpaper to lightly smooth down the surface before spraying again.  After the second coat of color is totally dry, the final step in the lacquering process is what helps to achieve the jaw-dropping glossy look.  Add one final extra shiny even layer using Amy Howard at Home’s Bright Idea (which is a clear lacquer finishing spray) and let your piece dry for 24 hours before moving or hanging up in your home.  Use this process on just about anything to transform the dull to delightful! Be sure to check out your local Ace for Amy’s products – you can order all online and pick up in your local store via Ace’s Free Store Pick Up program!

Two of the tastiest treats in the world are undoubtably pizza and rice krispy treats. It’s hard to choose your favorite, and now- you don’t have to, thanks to Mister Krisp, herself! We teamed up with Jessica Siskin to bring you this delicious DIY that merges the best of both worlds. Jessica’s brand new sweet DIY crispy creations are all in her new book

Treat Yourself!

, where she shows you how to make 93 no-bake crispy rice treats. Run, don’t walk for this one.

1. Krispie Treat: In a large stockpot, melt the butter over low heat until it’s 80 percent melted. Add the mini marshmallows and stir gently, coating them with melted butter. When the marshmallows are about 80 percent melted, stir for another 15 seconds and then turn off the heat. Continue to stir gently until the marshmallows are still only about 80 percent melted, about 35 seconds. Note: If the marshmallows melt too much, the mixture will be too hot to handle—wait 1–2 minutes and then mold quickly! Add the cereal and mix well, until the marshmallows and cereal are fully combined, about 40 seconds. Do not overmix!

2. Pizza (makes 1 slice, 14″ long) : Once the mixture is combined, coat the palms of your hands with cooking spray before handling it. Pour the mixture onto the parchment-covered template on the work surface. Use both hands to mold the mixture over the template, smoothing the edges until the mixture begins to firm up. Mold a slightly raised section along the curved edge for the pizza crust. In a small bowl, add 2 drops of yellow food coloring to the shredded coconut. Mix the coconut lightly (do not cover all the coconut in yellow) for multicolored shredded cheese. Using red icing with a round tip, outline and begin to fill in the slice below the crust. Use the spatula to smooth and spread the icing evenly. Sprinkle the coconut on top of the red icing. Place the licorice wheels on top of the coconut for pepperoni. You can experiment with different toppings: Beyond the licorice swirls making the perfect “pepperoni,” black M&M’s are delicious as “olives” and sliced-up green Sour Punch Straws pass for “peppers.”

There’s nothing sweeter than hint of red, white, and blue for July 4th.  And in honor of America’s sweet tooth, our crafty baker babe Sprinkles for Breakfast created a next level marbleized dessert for all to enjoy.  This easy (and delish) DIY, takes the classic Oreo cookie and gives it a major marble update in just minutes.

To create: Place wax or parchment paper on a flat work surface. Divide candy melts in half. Place half in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave the chocolate in 30 second increments, stirring after each heating, until it is melted. Place 1/3 of the melted chocolate into a small bowl. Dip toothpick into blue food coloring and swirl into the small bowl of melted chocolate. Dip Oreos ( we used Firework Oreos for a little pop) halfway into the chocolate, coating the back and front evenly. Lightly tap the cookie on the rim of the bowl to get off any excess chocolate. Place cookie on paper. Add edible star sprinkle and let cool. Repeat this process. Once the chocolate begins to lose the white color, add more of the white melted chocolate and blue chocolate coloring.  Repeat the process with the other half of the melting chocolate and the red food coloring.

This is not your Daddy’s workshop! In fact, we’ve come a long way since thinking tools are just for the men in our lives. This DIY project does however pay homage to the crafty garages and work spaces that we may have seen growing up. Our Pegboard project is in honor of Father’s Day, but is useful for everyday! We encourage you to create the perfect organized space inspired by Dad’s iconic workspaces everywhere with some help from our friends at Ace Hardware!

To create, you will need some essential items: Pegboard (we used two for our space), screws, drill, level, a pegboard organizer kit I found at my local Ace (trust us- it’s awesome), double peg hooks & curved peg hooks. Before drilling your pegboard in, use a level to align directly with wall, aka make it even. Mark it, and drill screws directly into the wall. Depending on the size of your board, you will have to drill enough screws to secure it safely to the wall. The fun part is merchandising all of your tools and/or art supplies! Create an organized design with your hooks and hang away with everything from tapes to scissors and more! The pegboard organizer kit I used even had small jars and containers that hook directly onto the board!

P.S.- Ace’s Father’s Day sale is taking place now through June 19th and includes amazing products that you (and Dad) are sure to love.

It’s our favorite kind of weather, bicycle weather! Nothing bring us more pleasure than to saddle up and go for a leisurely afternoon ride to pick up flowers or farmer’s market goodies.  Having a basket to handle your haul is very necessary when bopping around town doing errands. We recommend customizing your bike basket with a simple touch of colorful flair with tassels. We aren’t talking about the kiddie streamers, this is the chic and fashion forward way to travel in style.

To create, put together a cluster of your favorite tassels.  Try scouring Etsy’s new site, Etsy Studio with tons of options too.  String tassels together on a durable string, approx. 18 inches.  Double knot together at the top to keep them in place. Next, its time to attach to the basket.  If you have a wicker basket, like we do here- it is easy to thread through the front.  If your basket doesn’t have openings, you will have to drill small holes.  Once the string is pulled through and the tassels are sitting pretty, double knot from the inside and snip the leftover string!  Happy riding!

Oscar de la Renta always preached how “Gardening is how I relax. It’s another form of creating and playing with colors.” We couldn’t agree more- beautifully said by the late, great designer.  And speaking of greats, our dear friend Brian Kaspr aka @BKaspr feels the exact same way about playing with colors. It doesn’t matter where he is, or what he’s painting, there is always color in his world.  When we asked him to help us with our garden stakes, he went straight for his two favorite shades of pink and got to work. P.S. - they were inspired by his rad Patches HERE!

To create colorful garden stakes of your own, hit up your local paint store and purchase paint stirring sticks. P.S. - If you’re nice, sometimes they even give them to you for free!

Choose two hues of spray paint you will use to create your ombré effect. We recommend one shade thats much lighter than the darker hue, but still in the same color family for a smooth transition. Lay sticks on a covered surface and spray with the lighter hue. Let dry and flip over to get the backside. Once those are totally dry, reach for your darker shade and lightly spray the tops, keeping the can approx. 6-8 inches from the surface. Gradually pull back the can to 12 inches towards the bottom of the 2nd color where it will fade into the base.

When dry, use paint or chalk markers to add herb and/or veggies names. If you don’t have the best lettering (like Brian) try a stencil!  Once dry, score the bottom with a scissor and snap off the extra bottom of the stick. Measure your soil, as the height will depend on how deep it will be inserted into garden.

We are calling it now, kitchen is the new spa… well, sort of! Booking your next spa-cation has never been easier. In fact, you don’t even need to leave your home.

As you gear up for warmer weather it’s time to get your skin into shape and feeling fresh with a fresh exfoliation treatment.

Whether it’s a spa treatment for yourself, or perhaps a loved one, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and reach for the freshest ingredients and our favorite new line, Beauty Hack from SheaMoisture to start operation: Smooth Skin.

To create a Cool Cucumber Basil Body Sugar Scrub, you will need some essential ingredients from SheaMoisture, all available at Ulta and Ulta.com.

We recommend making one serving at a time to stay as fresh as possible.

• 6 tbsp. of Sugar Scrub Base
• 3 tbsp. of 100% Pure Raw Shea Butter
• 2-3 drops Lavender & Wild Orchid Fragrance Oil (we also added in a touch of fresh lavender too!)
• ¾ of a cup chopped cucumber (Wash and leave the skin on)
• Sprinkle a few fresh chopped basil leaves

After mixing the sugar base with both butter and oil, reach for a hand blender (or shop it the old fashioned way) and add fresh cucumber and basil to your mixture.

Use a small whisk to evenly mix ingredients until completely blended.  Use a spoon to scoop into a clear jar with an air-tight lid.

Now, you are ready to massage into the skin (we recommend while showering) exfoliate with a sponge and rise like a champ!

All hail Macarons! These French sweet treats have swept us up in a major way, maybe perhaps because we keep seeing them featured in our latest obsession Versailles, the new period series on Ovation that takes place in 1667 during the monarchy of Louis XIV. It’s a must watch, P.S.- don’t even get us started on the next level wardrobe (see inspo collage above).  Meanwhile, these sweet moments have inspired us to take it to the next level, literally by transforming it into a tower of sweet heavenly goodness using the iconic French delicacies. We opted for pumpkin flavored macarons, after all it is October! This is the perfect desert display for the holidays or really any regal celebration. Enjoy making, eating, oh and watching Versailles!

To create: Wrap the styrofoam cone in tissue paper and use scotch tape to secure. Starting at the bottom, stick each macaron to the cone with a toothpick. We opted for pumpkin macarons to celebrate Fall. Continue to build your rows of macarons. Decorate your tower with a little flourish by inserting a rose bud every few rows.

Pineapples are both delicious and symbolic.  Sweetness aside, they are a constant reminder representing hospitality.  We decided to jazz up some plain cloth napkins and give it a little sparkle and shine.  After all, there’s no better timeless motif than this fruit that evokes a tropical moment, and makes guests feel welcome to any dinner party.

To create: Brush a thin layer of the transfer adhesive onto a corner of the napkin in an oval shape. This will be the base of the pineapple. Let glue dry for 30 seconds. Cover the adhered area with the gold transfer foil, silver side down. Gently smooth down the foil with your fingers. Place a piece of parchment paper on top of the foil transfer and iron on medium heat for 20 seconds. Let cool completely then peel away the gold foil. Using a needle and thread, stitch around the top of the metallic oval to create the crown of leaves on the pineapple. Repeat process to create a set and serve up at your next meal for all your guests to be in awe.

It’s a known fact that flowers make everyone smile, and that’s exactly what we did when we came across the talented Erica Garcia of Little Paper Flowers on Instagram who helped us create this beautiful flower garland- sure to make any space pop! Floral garlands are a festive and sweet way to add a dose to whimsy to any space or event! This particular DIY was also featured in the latest episode of #EricaintheHouse on TLCme, where Erica helps create a nursery for her best friend.  Watch the Episode HERE!

To create: Cut out a 9-by-1-inch rectangle from the yellow crepe paper. With fringing scissors, fringe ¼-inch from the bottom. Wrap the fringe piece around floral wire and add a dab of hot glue to secure. Cut out nine coral crepe paper petals roughly 1.25-by-1.75-inches. Shape the petals by pulling the center with both thumbs. Once you have a desired cup shape, stretch out the top to create a ripple effect. Attach the petals around the fringed stem with hot glue. Cut out a small ½-inch strip of coral paper to hot glue around the base for a clean finish. Repeat to create 6-8 flowers then attach all on a string and hang on a wall to display.

Stripes are a summer staple and we’ve teamed up with The Style Safari to reinvent an old classic with a little lace twist. This DIY takes any old button-down shirt (you may want to steal one from your man when he’s not looking), and turns it into a breezy cami that’ll all will envy. You’ll want to wear it all summer long whether to the beach or on vacation.

To create: With a sharp pair of fabric scissors, cut a straight line starting at one underarm of the shirt to the other. Cut another straight line at the bottom of the button-down. Fold the hems in and seal it with fabric glue. Attach the lace trim with glue along the bottom hem. Finish off by gluing on the straps.

Lavender is known for its many health benefits so we’ve decided to inject a little oh-la-la-lavender into our home. With a few simple ingredients you can create this handmade candle that will warm up any room and leave it smelling amazing.

To create: Melt the candle wax on a stovetop at low heat and stir occasionally. When the wax is completely melted, add a few drops of your favorite scent in oil form, we used lavender oil. If you’re using a wood container like we did you might want to sand it first so it’s as smooth as possible and coat with two layers of spray paint. Glue the wick down to the bottom of the container directly in the center. Pour the wax filling the container to the top, leave approximately half an inch. To ensure the wick is centered and standing straight, secure the top of the wick with tape to a paint stick or ruler. Find two objects of the appropriate height to lay the paint stick across and let the candle set. Let dry until the wax is completely hardened and snip the wick approximately 1/4″-1/2″.

We believe in always having a strong brunch game and who says you need to eat out in order to have next-level meals? We decided to roll up our sleeves and create a mouth-watering display of crepes, perfect for home entertaining that’s as equally easy to make as it is easy on the eyes. We love using the SPLENDA® Sugar Blend in both the filling and the topping, it’s the perfect addition to any recipe, for cooking or baking!

To create: Whether you use store-bought crepes (we don’t judge) or opt to make them yourself, the real fun part is the filling if you ask us!

FILLING: Combine 2 cups ricotta cheese, 1 tablespoon vanilla extract and 4 tablespoons SPLENDA® Sugar Blend and squeeze ½ lemon in a mixing bowl. Blend until smooth. Spread the ricotta filling inside the cooled crepes and fold.

TOPPING: Combine 2 cups fresh raspberries, ¼ cup SPLENDA® Sugar Blend, 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice and 2 tablespoons water over medium-low heat in a small pan. Cook for five minutes. After crepes are stuffed with filling and drizzled with the sauce, garnish with your favorite seasonal fruits and mint leaves. Finish off by sprinkling SPLENDA® Sugar Blend for a sweet topping!

P.S.- Special thanks to SPLENDA® for sponsoring and sweetening up this DIY.

Just your luck, we have you covered for St. Paddy’s Day with everyone’s favorite sugar and spice combo. Whether you need a sweet way to start your day for breakfast, or looking for a quick and delicious dessert to serve, this recipe can be whipped up in a matter of minutes and is a perfect addition to any St. Patrick’s Day fete!
To create: Allow frozen puff pastry to thaw and roll onto the countertop. Lay a piece of parchment paper down. You may need to put down flour first if its sticking to the surface. Cut dough into squares that fit your waffle iron. Let your treat to-be cook on medium heat for five minutes. Once browned and puffed, mix 2 cups of   SPLENDA® Sugar Blend with 2 tablespoons of cinnamon. Lucky for us, SPLENDA® Sweetener Products can be used almost anywhere sugar is used, including your favorite cooking and baking recipes! Toss the puff pastry in this mixture as soon as it is removed from the waffle iron. Cut the puff pastry into sticks after dusted and cooled. Dip (or drizzle) cinnamon sticks in your favorite melted chocolate or other sweet options. We opted for a green hue for St. Paddy’s Day, naturally. P.S. - Special thanks to SPLENDA®  for sponsoring and sweetening up this post.