Hump Day Happy Hour: Sangria & Prosciutto

Half the week is over and we couldn’t be more excited! To celebrate we’re suggesting easy recipes to make an apricot champagne sangria to drink with prosciutto stuffed mushrooms! (Ah.. so yummy!) Since prosciutto is an Italian based cut of meat, we figured, “Why not enjoy it with some homemade sangria?” We found a great prosciutto-stuffed mushroom appetizer from Food Network and a very easy apricot champagne sangria recipe for you to make in your own kitchen. Have a great hump day happy hour!

Prosciutto-Stuffed Mushroom

Ingredients
3 (8-ounce) packages fresh baby bella mushrooms, wiped clean
2 tablespoons butter
1 (5-ounce) package prosciutto, chopped
1/4 cup minced fresh chives
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/2 tablespoon lemon zest
1/4 teaspoon dried tarragon
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Remove the stems from the mushrooms. Finely chop enough mushroom stems to equal 1/3 cup. Discard the remaining mushroom stems.

In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the prosciutto, chives, and chopped mushroom stems. Cook, stirring frequently, until the prosciutto is crisp and the stems are tender, about 6 minutes. Reduce the heat to low. Add the cream cheese, mustard, lemon zest, tarragon, and pepper, stirring until the mixture is combined. Remove from the heat.

Spoon the cream cheese mixture evenly into the mushroom caps; place on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake 20 minutes. Serve immediately.

Cook’s Note: Mushrooms can be stuffed 2 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate.

Apricot Champagne Sangria

Ingredients to make it:
One bottle of your favourite kind of well-chilled Champagne
Two apricots, with the pits removed and all sliced up into pieces
One ounce of apricot brandy
One quarter of a cup of white sugar

Apricot Sangria
Putting it all together:
Pour the chilled champagne into a pitcher, and then add in the diced up apricots, apricot brandy, and the quarter cup of white sugar. Mix well and serve it immediately so the champagne doesn’t lose its fizz factor. It can be served over lots of crushed ice to make it even colder!

Thanks to Food Network and Mulled Wine Recipe for the ideas and instructions!

DIY Idea: Handmade Chandelier

Thanks to Pinterest, we were able to find this super cute paper chandelier that’s do-it-yourself friendly! Pinterest led us to Heartland Paper’s site where we learned how to create this butterfly chandelier. We think this would be a great piece to add above a candy buffet table or guest sign-in table at your wedding or social event to up the “wow factor!” An important belief we have about events and weddings–if you’re going to do it, do it big! Just adding this diy paper chandelier will give your event a whimsical touch that will stand out in your guests’ minds. To find out how to create your own, we’ll supply the materials below and where to find instructions.

From Heartland Paper’s site:

Butterfly punch, die-cut or Silhouette Digital Craft Cutter for cutting images (We used the Silhouette to cut a 2 ½” butterfly.)- this is also a QuicKutz die that can be used in your Revolution or Cuttlebug.
Paper in desired colors- you will need enough paper to cut 136 images (we used white cardstock and clear vellum for our butterflies)
14” metal ring- you can use a metal wreath base or even a large embroidery hoop
15-20 yards of coordinating ribbon for tying around base
Fishing Line
Sturdy wire for cross hairs of chandelier
Glue Dots
Scissors
Tulle for hanging the chandelier from ceiling

For the instructions, please visit Handmade Chandelier at Heartland Papers site.

Fashion Friday: Monique Lhuillier Fall 2012 Bridal

The talented Monique Lhuillier has done it again with her Fall 2012 bridal collection! The great juxtaposition of tulle against the chantilly lace and orchidea satin is executed perfectly. With the fall collection already released, the designs work for both spring and fall brides because most of her designs embody a light, effervescent essence that works for the vibe of spring weddings. One of the favorites is the high-low skirt of the organza and chantilly lace dresses! Monique Lhuillier designs are sold at boutiques like M Bride where they will be hosting a trunk show this Friday and Saturday, February 24-25, 2012.

Photos from marthastewartweddings.com

Workout Wednesday: More Sprints, Less Gym

Have you been keeping up with your wedding workout plans or New Year’s resolutions to be fit? Whether you have a wedding to look good at or just want to be healthy, a high intensity interval training workout might be a great addition to your exercise routine. You’ll get faster results, burn more fat, and spend less time in the gym! Basically a win-win situation.

You can incorporate high intensity interval training into your workout by doing ten 1-minute sprints, followed by a minute of rest, three times a week to start seeing results. By sprinting for one minute, then resting for one minute, and repeating this ten times, you’re increasing your heart rate and burning more than you would if you were to run at a steady pace. This workout works for any cardio activity: biking, jogging, treadmill, etc.

Don’t forget to stretch before and after a workout! When you stretch, you increase circulation and blood flow bringing more oxygen to the brain, thus leading to a cheerier outlook. Need more incentives to stretch? How about better posture and less aches after a workout? The key to feeling your best on your wedding day is to make sure you’re at your healthiest.

*Picture borrowed from UtahBrideandGroom.com

The LWD: Little White Dress Meets High Fashion

Inspired by last week’s “Little Black Dress” inspiration for a Valentine’s Day date, we creating a new feature for the blog called “The LWD: Little White Dress” where we’ll showcase gorgeous bridal wear with daring accessories! This week’s LWD is an Alfred Angelo creation that pairs taffeta and pleated organza with metallic embroidery, and intricate rhinestone beading. We were drawn to this style for its drop waist and delicate skirt–perfect for a bride who wants to make a dramatic statement at her wedding.

What’s a gorgeous dress without eyecatching accessories? Two words: VERA. WANG. This Vera Wang Crystal Bib necklace is the perfect statement piece to sit atop your collar bone. The metal accents go perfectly with the metallic rhinestone detailing along the bodice of the dress. Heels are by Miu Miu and are an amazing pop of glam when you need to hike your wedding dress up. Make sure your photographer captures this one of a kind shoe!We told you this was going to be a high fashion inspiration board–those heels are not for the faint of heart. To balance the fierce accessories, we opted for a white ranunculus bouquet for its softness and elegance.

{Dress, Necklace, Heels, Bouquet}