And the weekend goes on and on...

After my busy, busy weekend, Monday, I STILL had another cake to do. This one was for my sisters birthday. She loves Reese's peanut butter cups, so I kind of ran with the idea.

It's not fancy-smancy, but it smelled AMAZING. The cake was chocolatey chocolate cake, with peanut butter/ chocolate incing. In the filling, I crumbled Reese's peanut butter cups for an extra kick. The flowers were just plain old vanilla butter cream (colored to match the wrapping paper I used for her gift), with chocolate chips for the centers. Happy Birthday to my lovely sister Becca

Last minute is my middle name

I have a dear dear friend who came to me about 10days ago and said, 'Carolyn, are you going to make my birthday cake?', and I said, 'Sure Craig, what would you like?'.. long story short, he couldn't decide. I never really had a chance to catch up with him later, and put it in the back of my mind until last night at work. His daughter was leaving (she works with me) and she was just walking out the door. So I said, 'Mandy, did you have plans for your dads cake?', and she explained that she thought about asking me, but hadn't seen me all week, and figured it was too late to order one. Well, no way was I letting my great friend go without a cake from me on his birthday. I told her not to sweat it, and I would come through. And... I DID! I was worried when I got home and thought about all the stuff I needed to prep for this cake, but it all turned out in the end.

Craig loves Oreos, and I decided to try something new. I did a basic devils food chocolate cake, with a oreo cream filling (made with marshmellow fluff, YUM), covered with vanilla butter cream. Obviously, while I was decorating, I channeled my Baskin Robins, Sam's Club, and Smith's skills hahahahaha. But hey, it was my first successful time piping letters (probably my biggest weakness) so in the end, I was proud.

There is a first time for everything

I have made a lot of cakes in the last year. Some for birthdays, some for celebrations, some just because. But I had never done a wedding cake, until this last weekend. I was feeling a bit under the weather, so it was hard to get motivated. Somewhere, deep down, I found it, and pulled it off.

It was for my friends sister, and basically my instructions were, well, no instructions. They said I could do whatever I thought would look good, but no roses, and no chocolate. I searched and search online to find some inspiration. Her colors were red, and a teal-ish baby blue. I found a few cute cakes, but most were solid blue, with red accents.. I wanted this cake to be a traditional white cake.

The flavors were difficult too. I didn't want all the layers to be the same, and it was really hard to think of 3 different combinations that weren't just 'white cake, vanilla frosting'. The flavors I choose was:

top tier- golden yellow cake, with a chocolate fudge frosting (I know she said no chocolate, that's why I choose it to be the top smallest tier where she wouldn't cut into it, but other people like chocolate, right?)

middle tier- lemon zest cake, vanilla butter cream, and a raspberry filling

bottom tier- classic wedding white cake, white chocolate butter cream, and I chopped up some fresh strawberries to go in the middle as a filling (almost like strawberry short cake)

I went a little gourmet, and really went out of my comfort zone trying new flavor combinations, but I hope it paid off (I'm still waiting for feedback from my friend who I gave the difficult job of tasting each one).

For being my first official wedding cake, I'm really happy with it. Had I had 2 more hours, I think it make have turned out a tiny bit different, but I have decided I really love this color combination. Congrats Libby.

I'm a little behind in updating..

I have been so busy doing all kinds of crazy things, but when I look back, I honestly can't tell you what I have been doing. I hate when I put updating off, and then I have a ton to do. And since it is a quiet afternoon, (and my husband and child are both taking a rest) I will use this time for myself :)

Most of you know that my husband and I had season tickets to the Jazz. One of the greatest experiences of our lives. We had a great time, and also made some really great friends. Our friend Robyn asked me (she calls me 'her' decorator) to whip up some cupcakes for the last regular season game, to give out to all our friends as a thank you. The ushers, security, the cute man who sweeps, the guy who always welcomes us with 'tonight will be an easy game!', even Thurl Bailey.

This is what I came up with. A cookie, and a cupcake.. the perfect combination. The hardest part was me and Trav had just started our hCG diet, and couldn't have a single one! It was rough.

The flavors were vanilla and chocolate cupcakes, with cream cheese frosting, topped with a sugar cookie

And a special shout out to my favorite player Wesley Mathews #23! (Don't worry Ronnie B, you will always be in my heart lol)

Get Er Dooonne

My good friend Robyn (who ordered the Jazz cake) also placed an order for her husbands birthday. He loves trackers/John Deere/Johnny Poppers etc. My plan was to do a 3-D cake, but it did not work out like I wanted. But I think it still turned out great the way it did.

It was Trav's idea to use brown sugar as dirt, and to add the wheat stalks. My cute little husband... he must watch too much Food Network haha.

The flavor was carrot cake, and cream cheese frosting. I have never made homemade carrot cake before, and shredding carrots was quite an experience. Next time I'm using a food processor. The cream cheese frosting was also homemade, and THE BEST I have ever tasted. Definetly a recipe I'll be keeping. I really love the 'rope' border at the bottom.

Happy Birthday Randy!

WAY TO GO, CJ!

Trav and I were lucky enough to win season tickets to the Jazz, and we have made such amazing friends. This year was so special for our new friend Chris. It was her birthday on Saturday, March 27, and as a surprise at the Jazz game on the 29th, one of her best friends, Robyn, had the Jazz Bear come blow confetti all over our section, spray us with silly string, and deliver a gift. Her favorite player is CJ Miles, and she got an autographed picture of him, Jazz license plate covers, and all kinds of crazy fun stuff. But as a surprise, I got to bring her a Jazz inspired cake to share with all our friends!

This cake was a challenge! Edible images are quite easy actually, and Walmart is the best! Print your picture, bring it to the bakery, and they will make it edible. The best part is, they have copy rights for everything! So even if its a picture of Dora the Explorer, they will copy it for you.

Now, usually, I'm usually very well planned out. I had the whole cake planned, I had the frosting ready, and the edible image was in my fridge. I had the whole cake prepped and ready to go, and I was getting the edible image ready to put on the frosting. I don't know what happened, but as I was peeling the picture off, HIS FACE JUST PEELED OFF! It wasn't like his jersey, or his arm, something that I could cut off and start again, it was his FACE. And with 2 hours until the game, I sent my mom and my sister to the nearest store that would print it for us. The first store said they would, but when they got there, they said they wouldn't do it because we didn't have CJ's 'ok'. Really? I mean, I understand the whole legal thing, but its not like I was creating an ad, and using video of him without him knowing.. its a cake, that would be eaten, gone forever. So we went across the street where the guy said, 'I'll copy anything for a price' HE WAS OUR MAN! Needless to say, I got it done just in time.

The game was so fun, and Chris was so surprised! The flavor was Chocolatey chocolate cake, cream filling, and chocolate fudge frosting.

Do you have your copy yet?

From the Best Selling Authors of 'Hello! Cupcake', please welcome (drum roll, please), 'What's New, Cupcake?'!!
 

Today is the offical release date, and you know me, and my obsession with owning things... I already have my copy. And trust me, it's totally worth the investment. 'Hello! Cupcake' gave great tips on using every day kitchen items, but some how, I feel like this new book gives more! It has 2 full pages with pictures and descriptions of tools to use, and candies to use, (and where to find the hard to find ones too). Everytime I look through the book, I see something I didn't notice before, so it's like getting a brand new book every time I flip through the pages. Expect to see great things from me, thanks to this book and their adorable new ideas!