Behind-the-scenes for the 2013 Balls & Galas feature for the September issue of Washington Life Magazine

Behind the scenes video from the 2013 Balls & Galas feature for the September issue of Washington Life Magazine, photographed by Tony Powell

Coffee Coconut Milk Ice Cream

I’ve got KitchenAid ice cream maker attachment and gotta make it work! So here is the ice cream that I made, the original recipe is from  here (they have beautiful photos there)

Coffee Coconut Milk Ice Cream 
Serves 3 (I always divide by 2)

• 15 oz coconut milk (regular or vanilla)
• 3/8 cup regular sugar
• 3/8 cup strong brewed coffee
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Combine coconut milk, coffee and sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat and whisk until well combined – about 5 minutes.Remove from heat and whisk in vanilla. Transfer to a bowl to let cool completely in the fridge – at least 6 hours, overnight being preferable.Transfer to ice cream maker and prepare according to manufacturer instructions (I let mine churn for about 20 minutes, at which point it was done). Pour into tupperware container, smooth out top, and press plastic wrap directly to the ice cream. Cover with tupperware lid. Let harden for several hours in freezer. Let stand for 15 minutes at room temperature before serving. Top with hot fudge, sprinkles, etc!

I topped it with some hemp seeds, that’s what you see on the photo

Recycling beer bottles into pretty vases

Here is the project anyone can do! I’m sure you have some beer drinking action going on from time to time, so why not to get creative with bottles? I used

• Silver paint – by Martha Stewart from Home Depot (Metallic paint, about $6);
• Michaels – pink paint – acrylic, $1; flowers – $1.19 for 3; brushes – $4.99 for set
• empty bottles
• basket from TJ Maxx for $4.50

I had two layers of paint on each bottle. These are from Corona and they have dark colored writing. I think if I used the primer, it would be covered better. Pink color needs 3 layers, let it dry in between each layer completely. For silver paint 2 layers are enough.

On the photo below you see the silver box – it’s a plastic box from some toy painted with the same silver paint, one layer only for now

Have fun!

 

 

Kathryn’s wedding throwback

 

 

Beautiful photos from one of our brides Kathryn, whose wedding took place in October 2011 in Alexandria, VA. Can’t believe it’s been almost 2 years since then!