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Monday, March 28, 2011

{Cupcake Monday} Daffodil Lemon Cake

Look what Mother Nature finally gifted me with!




Beautiful Daffodils on me front lawn!!! They inspired me to make a delicious Four-Layer Lemon Cake.


So I baked and separated....


crumb coated....
and frosted...


Smoothed out....


and decorated.



It may have taken me the better part of the day, but I think it turned out pretty sweet! This cake is  a perfect treat for your next Spring Brunch or dessert for your Easter table.





YUM!




Friday, March 25, 2011

{Friday Freebie} I Heart Ikea and The Sweet Adventures of Sugarbelle

The Mini Diva's party is next weekend and although she might be thwarted with my threats of cancelling it due to her 'divattude', I know that there is no way I've invested all my God-given energy into this fête to let it fall by the wayside. That being said - look at all the cool stuff I've gotten (or still have to get) from Ikea for the party:



I love all the bright bold colors - just like colorful gumballs!

Ain't that chalkboard frame cute? I made one using Peel and Stick Slate Chalkboard Sheets but you may remember it from this Big Game event or this lovable and sweet party  . It's pretty versatile.  Hey, if you like it enough, why not leave a comment about this post, cause this here party mama is giving away three today! Just leave a comment below to win. Winners will be chosen at random and will be announced on April 1st! NO JOKE! (Get it???? April Fool's Day is that day and.........alrighty then.)

On another note, I'm considering making decorated sugar cookies for the party. Now, I have a serious aversion to making cookies period, don't ask me why, I have no clear explanation for it. Doesn't mean I don't like them, in fact, I love cookies. I guess making them is just not my thing - but cupcakes are.
Now, Imagine if you combine the two - what do ya get???? Cupcake Cookies, of course.

Look at these babies I found over at The Adventures of Sweet Sugar Belle. Ya'll, Miss Sweet Sugar Belle, certainly knows a thing or two about making and decorating sugar cookies. I found her blog last week and fell in heart with her eye candy cookies - LOVES IT!!!



Cute right? Check out her blog when you get a chance - Girlfriend's got mad skills, yo! LOL

Thursday, March 24, 2011

{Sweet Treats} Bubble Gum Candied Popcorn

The Mini Diva loves popcorn and she loves bubblegum so it would only make sense to combine the two and come up with a delicious treat to have as a snack at her party. So, I made Bubble Gum Popcorn Balls!

First, I found the recipe here.

Then I ordered some Bubble Gum Flavoring and went home and started on my masterpiece.


I did make a minor adjustment to the recipe (mine is below) but the steps are easy recipe to follow.


Here's the final product:


I thought the popcorn was absolutely delicious......then, I gave a popcorn ball to Miss Thing for her snack and she hated it! She thought they were gross and really only likes popcorn with the brown (caramel) candy on it......WHATEVER!!!! Honestly, I was so darn ticked off that I didn't even package them up for presentation. I guess I should have expected that as she's in a picky phase at the moment. On the plus side, I'll have one less thing to make for the party!

If you think you'd like to make some you can try your hands at it. You don't have to make bubble gum flavored popcorn balls you can substitute the bubble gum flavor for cherry, cinnamon or vanilla!

Here's the recipe with my minor adjustments:

Bubble Gum Candied Popcorn
Using 1-dram (.125oz) bottles

4 quarts popped corn
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
2 Tbsp. butter
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. cream of tartar
1 tsp. baking soda
3/4 tsp 1 dram LorAnn Bubble Gum Gourmet Flavoring
Wilton Rose Icing Color

Directions

Keep freshly-popped corn warm in large baking pan in 200°F oven.

Combine sugar, corn syrup, butter, salt and cream of tartar in medium saucepan. Bring to boil, stirring constantly. Cook to 250°F or about another 5 minutes without stirring.

Remove from heat. After boiling action ceases, add flavoring and color. Add soda and stir in quickly but thoroughly. Pour at once while foamy over warm popcorn; mix gently to coat corn. Shape into balls or spread onto cookie sheet and break into pieces when cool. (Handle hot popcorn with care - this is a job for an adult to do if you're doing this with kids).


Monday, March 21, 2011

{Keepin' It Crafty} Festive Pom Garland





Inspired by this post, I spent the better part of my weekend making a handful of these babies!  I plan on using them for The Mini Diva's Bubble-Riffic birthday party in April.


Determined to get them done I got up early Saturday morning (unheard of) and I headed out to my local Joann's Craft store and got me one a' deez and some yarn.  After hitting up a few other stores, I got home,  grilled some burgers, ate dinner, put Thing 1 and Thing 2 to bed, and me and my Mister ordered two movies On Demand then I got to pomming.  Four hours later, I'd made about forty poms!  The gals over at HonestlyWTF were right, making the poms are quite addicting, by 5 pm on Sunday, I'd made enough to make a pretty long garland.....


 Likey?  Me too.


I think they look like gumballs and will look just peachy with the other party decor.





Thursday, March 17, 2011

{Sweet Treat} You've Been Pinched Door Hanger Treat

I made these door hangers for neighbors and co-workers who didn't wear green and to just celebrate St. Patrick's Day....



Here's what you'll need to make your own;



1. Download and Print the 'You've Been Pinched' door hanger on heavy white card stock and cut out.



2. Using a 1 3/4" or 2" Circle punch, punch a hole where indicated on the sheet (print out shows where to punch your hole).



3.  Cut a slanted slit on the top of the hole.


4. Attach your favorite candies to the back of the hanger.




5. Hang on the doors of neighbors, friends or coworkers!







Enjoy - and have a FUN St. Patrick's Day!



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{Holiday Fun} Pots O' Gold & St. Patty's Pancakes

A naughty leprechaun got in my house sometime this morning.  So, I woke my daughter up (Thing 2 could be less bothered) and told her that a leprechaun sneaked in the house and raided our cabinets, closets and drawers looking for all kinds of gold things and that we had to catch him before he stole everything. 

I had her follow the 'shamrocks' down the hall and into the dining room.




I told her that he tried to escape and didn't make it....that's why he left the pots of gold!






We looked all over the living room for him and that's when we made the discovery!!!!



I have no idea why she thought I made that whole story up but......WHATEVER....


After we collected the pots of gold and cleaned up the naughty leprechaun's mess, we sat down and enjoyed pancakes decorated with sugar shamrocks (hey folks, it's the best I could do).  I was inspired by Martha's Clover Cookies; the kids drank green milk.....


...and Mama had coffee with a swirl o' Baileys!!!!  I sure did....


My kids have given me all the reason in the world to go loopy on any given holiday.

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!


Tuesday, March 15, 2011

{Party Starters} Bubble-Riffic Invitations

The invites are in the mail!!!!



The Mini Diva already passed out invites to her classmates, but the other guests will recieve these adorable invitations, that I designed,  in the next day or so. 

I'm so into envelope address wraps lately, I've even included them in my party kits on Etsy.




Each envelope was sprinkled with a little confetti on the inside and some glitter....not so sure how that's going to go over with the USPS or the parents, but hey - it's fun!

We're so excited about this party, I've got tons of bubble gum, bubbles and other things that blow up and pop!  I'm just hoping I can contain myself before I POP!  (get it????  pop????....I know, I know). 

Check back soon for more sneak peeks!




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