Lessons From Cupcakes

Hey there bloggies!

It's been a little while.  I have been super busy this past week.  My little brother aka Zacky Poo got married yesterday to the oh so beautiful Georgia.  Now known as Aunt G...ok maybe we'll call her Aunt Georgia.  We'll see what happens.  We'll probably have to come up with something that sounds along the lines of Zacky Poo and the only think of one name and I probably won't go with that one.  Anyways...for this lovely wedding I made 120 cupcakes for the guests to enjoy.  I learned a lot in my cupcake venture and decided I would share.

1. 120 cupcakes is in fact a lot of cupcakes to bake...in theory it doesn't sound like that many.  If using box mix for the actually cupcake base that's like 4-5 boxes.  However, when you get to baking 120 cupcakes you realize that is a heck of a lot of cupcakes.

2. You may think you will have some down time while those cuppy cakes are baking...you my friend are wrong.

3. Just because one batch of cupcakes is made with all of the exact same ingredients as your next batch, you should in no way assume that they will turn out exactly the same. 

4. Black icing, while pretty, is a very very difficult thing to accomplish.  It may have required 3 oz of black food coloring to make it happen.

5. The above mentioned icing, may or may not have colored a wedding guest's teeth a blackish color.  May or may not, I am not admitting to anything. 

6. 120 cupcakes is a lot to transport if you aren't the Cake Boss....

7. Wedding guests don't eat all of those cupcakes and when you are a family member baking them, somehow they become your responsibility to take home.  What to do with all of those cupcakes.

8.  You really can't make less than the number of attendees expected because once  you do that everyone will want two cupcakes.

9. It's ok to feel like you might cry in the process of baking them and icing them...it's a lot of work and a lot of sugar to consume if you are tasting what you are making.  It eventually wears off and that crash is pretty rough.

10. Finally it's fun to bake and decorate. I'd do it again...I would plan a little better though, but I would do it again. 

A wedding post will come soon!

Have a great week!

DIY Christmas Tradition

Hello there,

Since the weather is starting cool down and things are beginning to look a lot like fall, I have been thinking about Christmas.  I know, I am jumping way ahead.  It just happened.  I think it's from years of stores putting out things way too early.  I am pretty sure Hobby Lobby is already marking their Christmas decor and setting up for St. Patrick's Day. 

Anyways, last year while making nifty ornaments during craft time with Mary, I had an idea.  Maybe we, as a family, could make new ornaments for our tree every year. Yes lots of work, but what a fun tradition. Then we could donate the ornaments the next year.  I figured I could set a couple back from the bunches each year for Arabelle and Lincoln.  Then by the time they move out on their own they will have a good set of ornaments to decorate their first trees with.  What do you think?? 

Since I am seriously addicted to Pinterest right now, I have been looking at loads of crafty fun projects.  This is by no means limited to Christmas, but here are some super fun items I have found.

Like this sweet wreath, I mean how cute and you could so do this for just about any season:

Two Junk Chix

How about this cute tree idea I found on Pinterest:

And how precious is this?

 

 

 

Craft Rookie

I know not many ornament ideas, but I am still in the planning stages here folks.  Well I have to get up early for a track meet.  Yep, I am running in a track meet.  Have I mentioned I am 28 and not some amazing professional or Olympic athlete. I mean sometimes when I am dreaming I am...sometimes.  Nope my work participates in this Corporate Challenge thing every year.  Pretty fun actually.  So I am off to rest up so I am good and speedy in the morning. 

Wish me luck bloggies!

A Care Bear Girl

And finally with much delay here is Arabelle's 4th birthday.  It's only 6 months after the fact, but oh well.  Arabelle had quite the fascination with Care Bears for a while and of course that was what the birthday theme HAD to be.  It's really interesting to do a theme that isn't popular currently.  I searched for Care Bear goodies and couldn't find much.  So we had to just make some stuff up. We did lots of bright colors and tried to find bear stuff.  I made the invitations which had rainbows and cotton balls on them.  I think we all had a good time!  :-)  Enjoy!

 

 

Mimi made this awesome rainbow jello and we made the chocolate bears in all different colors.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I don't know what is up with that smile!

 

Have a lovely day bloggies!!  I am home recovering from turning 28 yesterday.  Actually I am super happy to have a day off from work and relax and clean and check things off my list.  I know....sounds crazy exciting.  What can I say I am wild like that!!

Birthdays!!

So....I love planning birthday parties.  I find myself going crazy when I look at ideas and wanting to be way over the top.  It's probably good that our budget just won't allow some of the more expensive ideas.  If you ever want me to go over the top for your party I am sure I could manage it!

I am in the midst of planning Lincoln Man's second birthday bash.  We are having a circus theme party. And boy have I found some fun ideas.  I can't wait to have this party and show you the cool stuff I have found.  And I have these awesome cupcake ideas.  I can't show you because it would ruin the surprise.  :-) Hopefully I have a chance to pull it all off.

 

And since we are talking birthdays I never did post Arabelle's birthday pictures from February nor did I post pictures of Lincoln's first birthday.  I guess that's what happens when you are a crazy busy momma.  You don't always have the time to edit and post a bunch of pictures.  Anyways, that's a goal for the next few days.  So hopefully you will get those.  

All right bloggies have a fabulous night!

Amber