Utterly Engaged } The 1st Online Wedding & Bridal Magazine. Inspiring Brides with Style.

They say the way to a man’s heart is through the stomach. And boy is that true. This year I’ve made the resolution to be a domestic diva! Lol! I’m tired of making the same old ramen (although I do spice it up with my own stuff, not the packet), fried rice, polska kielbasa (the mr’s favorite!), and boring chicken. I was ready to spice things up and get my super adorable apron on (still looking for one) and get bakin’ and cookin’! My hubby knew that so he got me all kinds of baking apparatus, including a whoopie pie pan, cake decorating kit, mini donut maker (yes, one of those), and electric mixer. So since January 1, 2012, I’ve been making sweet treats almost every other day, and it’s been quite a successful month so far. And the Mr. couldn’t be happier to get his hands on those treats (and the baker, oh behave!).

For this month, I can’t wait to try one of these sweet Valentine ideas! Someone’s getting lucky tonight!

I actually made the regular shaped version of this for Chinese New Year, but I love this V’day twist!

Red Velvet Whoopie Pie via Annie’s Eats

When I saw this, I had to laugh. It’s genius! And what guy doesn’t like bacon and pancake?

Cupid Arrow Bacon & Pancake via On Being Blythe

Who doesn’t like getting things in the mail! Especially these adorable s’more hearts!

You’ve Got S’more Mail via Miriam Corona Events

If you don’t want to invest in heart-shaped pans, you can always try this trick of putting a marble or 1/2 inch aluminum foil in your cupcake pan. Voila! Heart cupcakes!

Cupcakes for Cupid via Family Fun

So what will you be baking this Valentine’s Day?

xoxo, Henny V.

This weekend my husband’s going on a field trip with his classmates. Yes, he’s a grown man. And no, he’s not going on a yellow school bus (but our family van, no less). So I’m inspired to round up all things school for this weekend. Have a lovely one!

Clockwise from top left: Try this messy librarian bun. Wear this teacher-like chiffon blouse in rust. Eat this apple pancake. Put on this secretly slimming pencil skirt (especially after that pancake). Update my books with this cool spine.

xoxo, Henny V.

Happy Friday! Can you believe we’re almost at the end of January?! Time seriously flies around here. With the end of January, you know Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. So we found this super cute, and super simple Valentine’s you can do for your loved ones. Twig & Thistle created these naturally sweet fruit stickers that you can print at home to stick them on their favorite fruits. Sneak them in their lunch bags or have them as part of your breakfast in bed! The great thing about it is that it won’t add calories like chocolates would! If you don’t want to bother dealing with your temperamental inkjet printer, you can always buy them already printed on food safe stickers for only 2 bucks more (it’s okay, we don’t judge). Enjoy!

It’s DIY Friday! We wanted to repost one of favorite DIY feature in our January issue. Chocolate “countdown” cookies! Created especially for Utterly Engaged from food stylist Diana of Casa de Perrin and stylist, Alicia Buszczak. They’re super easy to do and super cute too.

INGREDIENTS

Butter - 6 tablespoons
Unsweetened chocolate - 1 1/2 inch squares
Milk - 6 tablespoons
Baking soda - 1/3 teaspoon
Sugar - 3/4 cup
Egg (beaten) - 1
Flour - 1 1/8 cups
Baking powder - 1 teaspoon
Vanilla extract - 1 teaspoon
Salt - 1/4 teaspoon

RECIPE

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees.
Melt chocolate over hot water.
Cream butter and sugar.
Add chocolate and egg and mix thoroughly.  Set aside.
Sift flour, measure, and whisk in baking soda, baking powder and salt.
Combine alternately with milk to the first mixture.
Add vanilla extract and mix thoroughly.
Roll dough out on slightly floured surface until it is 1/4” thick.
Use enough plastic wrap to cover the rolled out dough, and gently press typography blocks to make imprints.
Remove plastic wrap and use a large enough cookie-cutter to separate each cookie.
Using a spatula, place individual cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Bake for 10-12 minutes.
Once cookies are cooled they may be iced and decorated to perfection!

Wrap them up to fit your wedding style and give them as favors to your guests. Love it!

Remember how we promised to show you more images from our magazine? Want to see more?

Well head over to Facebook and “like” our Facebook page to see more amazing images from this editorial shoot. Happy Friday to you!

Credits: Concept, Design, Props & Rentals from Casa de Perrin
Custom Linens & Styling Alicia Buszczak / Photography  Studio Castillero

Neon is hot right now and we see more of it incorporated in weddings, like this invitation by Bella Figura and this wedding shoot by Vané Broussard of Brooklyn Bride. But what about incorporating neon in your floral? Is that even possible? The answer is YES! London author, interior stylist and designer, Sania Pell showed us how! You can use this for a multiple of things! Picture it as part of a cool escort card for your guests, or  a hot boutonniere! Sexy!