My Etsy Shop is Open!

UPDATE 8/22/10:   My bad - I didn't include a link to the store.....check it out here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/CupcakeWishesStore

Wooooooooo-hooooooo!!!!!

Okay - so this is totally just making my week.  After figuring out had to add photos to my shop for listings and what not, I finally have got some products in the store.  Right now, I only have party packs, but each collection has items that can be purchased individually. 

Here's the store as it looks online - and I'm sorry that it looks so small - Blogger is straight up buggin'!

Now, as I was saying, the party packs show some of the collections I have available.  Anyone can purchase individual items like, invitations, thank you cards, party favors, banners, etc.  I just wanted to let you all know that it's open, but there is more to come!!!  I do intend to have a Grand Opening of sorts and there will be a special offer for my blog followers and Facebook fans!!!!!  Yeeeeaaaaahhh!!!!

Okay-okay.....I'm just really excited and I can't wait to add more, I have so many designs that I've made.....so check back soon and often!

BLOGSTRAVAGANZA WINNERS!!!!

I'm so excited!  I'm so excited!

Here are the winners for last week's Birthday Blogstravaganza!

Congrats to all the winners....please email me to receive your prize!

Right now I am  in allergy hell, and I am planning a Star Wars party and getting The Mini Diva ready for kindergarten....so if I'm a bit off the radar - forgive me.  I will try and post as much as I can b/c  I made a trip recently to a local Amish market and found some exciting stuff that I can't wait to share!!!!  Have a great weekend!

Tip Tuesday: Less is More

When I first set out to plan my 35th birthday party, I really wanted to go with a Midsummer Night's Dream theme....and if you read this post you will know that did not happen.  I was really bummed about it because I loved the theme and thing it's a great idea.  It might not be something I can plan right now, but a great possible theme for a future event.  In any case what I learned by switching up themes and scaling down when you're short on time and money is that less is more. 

What I was able to produce with a few pieces of paper, ribbon, twine, mason jars, sand candles, paper table cloths, fake silverware, and some honeycomb balloons actually turned out better than I'd hoped.

When planning a party that you really have a tight budget on my tip is to use low cost items.  I went and got a lot of items on clearance and between $1-$3.  My biggest expense were bulk packs of plastic plates and cups.  I am an advocate of the Dollar Store and Discount Stores, you can always find something fabulous without cringing at check out.

Don't be afraid to use items you already have on hand.  My husband jokes that I keep the mason jars that we have from our spaghetti sauce.  However - those empty jars made great candle holders, filled with a bit of sand and a tealight candle, dressed up with ribbon - and voila!

I also purchased honeycomb balls at the party store and wanted to add a touch of elegance and charm by enhancing it with ribbon.

 

These are just a few simple ideas on how to do a lot with less.....just be creative and have fun with it!

Picture Sources
Room filled with Balloons
Simple Table Setting With Balloons

Cupcake Monday & My 35th Birthday Party Recap

Okay so I know I said I was going to do a Midsummer Night’s Dream themed Party – but that did not happen.  I searched my favorite spots for decor and everything I came across reminded me of a fairy party for a five year-old.  So, given the amount of time I had to work with – I just decided to go with something simple. 

Luckily I came across some fun scrapbook paper and coordinating ribbon on clearance at AC Moore and used the colors from the papers to accent my party.  I chose to use my initials (KNS) and work with a monogram theme to really keep everything simple. 

Here’s what I was able to turn out:

I love the color palette with the soft melons as they are a perfect representation of summer.  The dots and stripes patterns always seem to pair nicely together.  Mini poms, honeycomb balls, ribbon and natural jute twine were used as decorative accents. 

On the menu were three types of pasta, grilled chicken, garden salad and for dessert, Sweet  Potato Cupcakes with Marshmallow Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting; hot dogs and hamburgers were served for the kids.

For beverages, I concocted a blend of Hawaiian Punch and V8 Juice Splashers.  My husband whipped up his special Margaritas for me and my guests and he kept those babies coming all night long.  We also had a selection of beer, wine and coolers, as well. 

I would have loved to do more, but I'd previously committed to baking two cakes for another party on the same day.  If you want to know why in the world I’d do cakes for another party on my big day is because my party was a last minute decision....and that I am also very insane ;)

Here are the two cakes I made for a 36th birthday celebration:
 




The first cake is a Triple Vanilla cake with Vanilla Buttercream and the other cake was for the Birthday Fella – he doesn’t like frosting so a plain chocolate cake with fresh strawberries was requested.  I made my Mocha Chocolate cake and baked it in a Bundt pan and topped it with strawberries.

I hear tell that both cakes were a hit!

I had such a blast celebrating my birthday in the company of my dearest friends and family.  I danced and sang and clapped and laughed and sipped – a lot – and woke up at 11 am the next morning feeling all of 25 plus 10 :)  - I even did a Beyonce jig that I’m praying doesn’t wind up on You Tube…..
 
After all that partying I guess when I (finally) woke up the next morning it was just like a Midsummer Night’s Dream!

Birthday Blogstravaganza – Day 5: Party It Up with Polka Dots

{Today is Day 5 of my Birthday Blog-stravagaza!!!!
 We have finally come to the end of my Birthday Blogstravaganza!!!!  It's been so fun having all my favorite blog-gals do a guest post for me this week.  I am truly honored and so appreciative of all the love you've given me.  HOLLA!

Each day this week a guest blogger has posted about one of my favorite things. There have been great giveaways as well, please go to the end of the post for more details on today's giveaway.  Please note that all winners from this week's giveaways will be announced on Friday, Aug. 13th.
 Today's guest post is by Michelle Burt with Maddycakes Muse.  Michelle is a fantastic event planner with awesome design skills.  She can also show you how to create a fab party with a small budget.  Today she's taken on the challenge of posting about Polka Dots - my favorite go to pattern for parties. You can find more of her work over on her blog.}

(Source: Maddycakes Muse)

Happy Birthday Keisha! I was happy to be asked to guest blog to help celebrate your birthday! What a great idea to showcase your favorite things. The favorite thing I was given was polka dots which just so happens to be one of my favorite things as well. Polka dots are so versatile and will never go out of style.
For the birthday girl Keisha loves sweets, I'll start with polka dots cakes and cupcakes.

Polka Dot Cakes and Cupcakes

The first cake in the upper left corner was on the January cover of Gourmet magazine.  This cake and the cupcakes in the bottom left corner both come from cupcakesbyles.blogspot.com. She has such awesome stuff!!  The cake in the bottom right corner is from Country Living Magazine, For all you wonderful bakers there is a tutorial of how to do this beautiful cake. 

Polka Dots Cookies

(Source Polka Dot Zebra Flickr)


Well, you must have something to wear to the party~why not polka dots??

(Source- Dolce & Gabbana, Christian Dior, Michael Kors )

Polka Dot shoes

Polka Dot Handbag-If you have an extra $1395 laying around you can go to Neiman Marcus and get this adorable Valentino Polka Dot Clutch.

However, I wouldn't suggest wearing the polka dot dress, shoes and handbags together. Too much of a good thing is sometimes Too Much!!

I hope you have a Happy Birthday and thanks for including me in on all the fun!  Many blessings my friend!

TODAY'S GIVEAWAY!!!!

Polka Dot Tableware from Plates and Napkins*!

Set of Dinner Plates for 8

Set of Salad Plates for 8

Diunner & Beverage Napkins

8 Coordinating Cups

Just leave a comment below to enter!

*This giveaway is not sponsored by plates and napkins

Birthday Blogstravaganza - Day 4: Thursday Inspiration: Color Me Red Party

{Today is Day 4 of my Birthday Blog-stravagaza!!!!

Each day this week a guest blogger will post about one of my favorite things. Be sure to check back daily to find out what they are. Also, there will be a daily giveaway having to do with one of my favorite things. Please go to the end of the post for more details.
Today's guest post is by Kim from Frost Me! Kim is another Party Diva!  On her blog Kim displays photos and ideas to provide inspiration for having a fantastic bash or soiree!  You can find the latest trends in party decor, what meals to serve guests for a summertime gathering - you can even request a Frosting Kit where Kim will design a custom inspiration board based on the theme of your party!  Kim rocks!}

Hi! I'm Kim from Frost Me!, a party inspiration blog, and I am so excited that Keisha asked me to be a guest blogger for her bday week! Happy bday, Keisha! 

One of Keisha's favorite things is the color Red.... so I figured I'm a party girl, so let's plan a Red themed party!!!

You can plan a party around a color! When dealing with a bold color - like red - keep a neutral background, like white, to let the color shine! If desired, you can add another contrasting color, like turquoise, to play along! As seen in this pic, use clusters of red in different textures and objects all in the same family of red to really give a dramatic statement! Clustering always has more impact than putting one here and there throughout the space! Pic Source

For a low cost, beautiful option, think food! These cranberry centerpieces would be perfect for this theme! Also, think apples, radishes, beets, rhubarb, strawberries and cherries as decorations! Pic Source

Look for objects that are of different materials, textures and shades to support your color theme! Can't find the right items? Spray paint baby! Flea markets and second hand shops can be so successful if you look past condition and color and think, what can I paint/fix? Pic Source

Don't forget patterns!!! Look for textiles with a great bold pattern to draw in your color palette! It can be a tablecloth, napkin, photo backdrop, favor bags, etc.  Can't find the perfect pattern? Stencil or stamp! Pic Source

You have to serve great drinks! You can either do drinks in your party colors, or tie it in through rim sugar, fruit on skewers, drink umbrellas or straws/straw flags! So many choices! Pic Soure and recipes - drink 1, drink 2 

You can't have a Red themed party without red velvet cake! Desserts are always a place to run WILD with your theme! Set up a whole dessert table with red cupcakes, red candies, cherry pie, etc.  Also tie in desserts with colored papers, ribbon, sprinkles, serving dishes, etc.  So if your favorite dessert isn't the right color, don't fret! Pic Source

 

DON’T FORGET TO LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW TO ENTER TODAY’S GIVEAWAY

Want your own Red Themed Party?  The decor is on me! 
You will receive:
12 Circle Embellishments
1 Custom Banner OR Door Sign
8 Custom Invitations
8 place cards
5 Food Signs
8 favor boxes
8 treat bag toppers

Choose your print!

Leave a comment below to enter

Winners from this week’s giveaways will be announced on 8/13/10!!!

Birthday Blog-stravaganza: Cute Shoes

{Today is Day 3 of my Birthday Blog-stravagaza!!!!

Each day this week a guest blogger will post about one of my favorite things. Be sure to check back daily to find out what they are. Also, there will be a daily giveaway having to do with one of my favorite things. Please go to the end of the post for more details.  Winners from this week's giveaways will be selected at random and announced on 8/13/10.

Today's guest post is by Monique from Enchanted Expectations! On her blog you will see all the great parties she has planned & designed and find a good deal of inspiration as well.  Monique was the very first blog friend I made and I am glad I did.  She has offered up a lot of support and advice to me and has been an absolute sweetheart! Please take a look at her blog.}

Keisha gave me the pleasure of celebrating her birthday by blogging about one of her favorite things. Well I was lucky that she gave me "cute shoes" because this is one of my favorite things. So I went for the fall trend of 2010. I'm loving the over-the-knee boots.

Nothing says beauty like Valentino-Check out their fabulous boot below.



Now Keisha challenged me to relate this to a party. Well can't you see this boot at any party! But I thought, what if there could be a cake to match these shoes. I found a fabulous cake at the old meeting house. Check it out below.



Now go find some fabulous over the knee boots and party on!
Happy Birthday Keisha and may you continue to inspire us of with your fabulous parties and fantastic ideas.

Leave a  Comment to Enter Today's Giveaway!

{Today's giveaway is the book, 'Celebrate with a Cake' by Lindy Smith.  Please leave a comment below to enter and tell us about the best cake you ever had}

Birthday Blog-stravaganza - Day Two: Perfectly Peridot

{Today is Day 2 of my Birthday Blog-stravagaza!!!!

 Each day this week a guest blogger will post about one of my favorite things. Be sure to check back daily to find out what they are.   Also, there will be a daily giveaway having to do with one of my favorite things. Please go to the end of the post for more details.

Today's guest post is by one of my dearest gals, Naleli Askew, Jewelry Diva Extraordinaire!  Her blog, Essential Jewels offers up all kinds of bling-a-liciousness!  She has the 411 on how to  choose the right jewlery to wear with the latest fashions to providing personlized one-on-one consultations for those ready to jump the broom!  Please take a look at her blog when you have a chance.}

I was honored to be asked to guest blog on CWBD as part of Keisha’s Birthday blog-extravaganza. So my challenge (if I choose to accept it) is to take what I write about JEWELRY and what CWBD is about PARTIES and I hope mission accomplished.  Augusts’ birthstone is the peridot, a beautiful olive green stone mined in countries like Australia, Mexico, Burma and South Africa. Legend has it that peridot was the favorite gem of Cleopatra, hmmmm that sounds like the “inner queen diva” of CWBD! (*wink wink)
It is thought to bring the wearer good luck, peace and success and have healing power and dispel negative energy.

Here are some fabulous designers that I came across that really know how to feature a beautiful peridot. What great accessories when painting the town red for your birthday.

Designer Suzy Landa uses gold and diamonds to accent this lush peridot.

Mallary Marks showcases these faceted peridots in 22k gold and diamonds.

 Mauri Pioppo handcrafted this beautiful pair of serpent earrings - very Sex and the City!

I love this Mallary Mark teardrop necklace, since layering is the hautest trend grab a couple of these and go to town.

So now that you’re fully bejeweled, it’s time to celebrate and how better to do that than with cocktails & cupcakes!!!! A cool Mojito beverage (or what I tell my kids is a “grown up drink”) and Mojito cupcakes....

Talk about heaven in one wrapper!

Happy Birthday Keisha, I wish you a day full of all your bling-a-lious dreams coming true!!

Don't forget to leave your comment below for a chance to win a Peridot cupcake pendant

Five lucky winners will each receive a Peridot Cupcake

Charm Pendant by Etsy seller Dewy and Pat. 

These are the most adorable little charms and they are super affordable. 

Please leave a comment below to enter.

My Birthday Blog-stravanganza – Cupcake Monday

{Today kicks off my Birthday Blog-stravagaza!!!!  Yeaaahh!!!! 

Each day this week a different guest blogger will be featured in a post.  The subject of the posts will be on one of my favorite things.  Be sure to check back daily to find out what they are. 

Also, there will be a daily giveaway having to do with one of my favorite things.  Today's giveaway is a Cupcake Kit (this one is Gluten-Free!)...to enter please leave a comment below about your favorite cupcake flavor.

Today's guest post is from Vanessa Valencia who is the magically wonderful artist whose blog,  A Fanciful Twist, is one that I heart.  I’ve mentioned her and her blog before and just love it….it makes me happy. 

Vanessa’s challenge was to take on one of my favorite things, Cupcakes, and write a post about it relating to parties and occasions.  These cupcakes look terribly delicious....

Thanks Miss Vanessa!}

What is it about cupcakes that make us twirl with glee?

They add a little tickle, and magical sweet breeze...

They are so very easy to make, and funner than fun to decorate...

Plink plink, sprinkling confections of greatest pleasantries.

Lovely little cakes of joy, to add a dash of, sparklie frosting twinkle love, to special days and every days ~ a sort of staple of life ;)

Don't you think?

They work to unlock anyone's fanciful whimsy, and set it free, one sprinkle at a time...

Oh ya.........

Any shape, and any color, any reason please...

No restrictions for occasions, to plunk your face in these...

No time to think of reasons... 

It's time, splurge, yummy yumm!

A very merry any little day to you, indeed! (don't forget to lick the plate clean)

And, if it's your birthday, have 3.

Don't worry, they're on me ;)

Nibble ~ frosting on your nose and chin... 

Mmmmm...

Cupcakes, make the world go round...

If you don't believe me, ask the bees ;)

♥,

Vanessa Valencia of, AFancifulTwist.Com

ps:  Merrrrrrrriest of birthdays lovely Keisha!!!! Yippeee!

{Don't forget to post your comment below to win a cupcake kit! - Keisha}