karijayne's Profile

My great aunt used to make individual chess pies every year for Thanksgiving. Her recipe was very similar to the walnut recipe you've posted but also included raisins and was topped with meringue.

When she moved into a smaller house, my grandma gave me a set of four small cocktail glasses that look very much like the ones in your pictures. They're great for guests who don't want a full-sized martini; I call them "minitinis." I also love knowing that my grandparents used them.

The gingerbread cutters would make a great gift for someone else, but you don't need a special cutter to make them for yourself at home. Just use a regular gingerbread man cookie cutter and the fluted edge of a tart pan to create the "bites" wherever you want. I do it all the time.

Same goes for the cookies designed to hook onto the rim of a mug or glass. Just take a sharp knife and cut your own notch into your favorite cutouts. :)

The original post did sound overly judge-y, and I really don't care how much money someone does or doesn't spend on a party of any sort. But I have to say that I completely agree with the author's clarification, that "handmade, homemade unique and individual parties have all started to look the same and because of the internet, it seems that even though parties are all different, they're starting to feel the same." This is absolutely true, at least on many popular party blogs (including the one that featured the photo used for this post). I actually had this very same conversation with a friend last week.

These party displays, while beautiful and color-coordinated, cease to be as creative as they could be when so many of them use the exact same ideas. I mean, down to the table layout. Inevitably, there's an elevated focal point in the center, such as a cupcake display, flanked by two squat boxes holding cake stands with more food. There is almost always a candy buffet offered out of awkwardly fragile, yet beautiful, glass containers. And, of course, the labeled water bottles. The color schemes may change, but most major elements remain the same. Don't even get me started on party "logos."

I love meticulously designed parties and have thrown them myself, but c'mon. If I see another elaborate centerpiece flanked by two squat boxes I'm gonna scream! :)

I'm an editor, and that's been bothering me since Monday! :D