Worst Blogger Ever!

Officially the world’s WORST blogger ever… I can’t believe that it has been since February that I have actually written for this thing. I had such high hopes and plans and now and in debt to all of the birthdays that I missed! I apologize- those of you who were expecting birthday surprises between February and now will be getting them (hopefully before the end of the summer- if I can ever stop traveling and stay home long enough to do more than pet the cat and eat dinner). A LOT has happened between February and now…here is a quick recap of the past 6 months or so if you are interested (if not, sorry J ).

• I  have been photography more weddings with Heather at Turkey Hill Photography. She is outstanding- check her out!
• I bought a donut pan- verdict is still out. They are a lot cuter but they are also a lot sweeter because of the sugar to donut ratio you get with all of that extra surface area. Side by side taste test coming up!

• I took a few cake decorating classes! Totally awesome. I am in love and they were definitely my saving grace for the last quarter of the school year. It was so nice to take a night and do something artsy-fartsy. I learned so much too. My mom taught me a lot as a kid so I have been cake decorating for a long time but there are so many things I did not know and so many tricks and tools that I had no idea existed! Things that have saved me immeasurable amounts of time. I am forever grateful to my Wilton instructor, Kathy, who was also an 8^th grade US history teacher in Springfield for most of her life! I feel like we might be soul sisters.

• I made this Bruno Mars themed birthday cake!

• I made this car themed birthday cake!

• I made this PINK birthday cake (no gluten, dairy, or soy)!I love frilly pink cakes, I don’t know why- but I just DO.

• I got fancy new stickers, and boxes, and started packing things up nicely! I started a cookie of the month club!

• I learned to make these flowers!

• I made these cherry pies (no gluten, dairy, or soy)

• I started to make smash cakes for one year olds to destroy on camera!

• I made this basket weave cake during my cake class and gave it to a friend for her wedding anniversary. I was totally proud of myself….

• …so I made another one for Mother’s Day (no gluten or dairy)

• I made these carrot cake cupcakes with salted caramel cream cheese frosting for my co-teacher’s birthday.

• I made this Star Wars themed birthday cake for a friend’s son’s birthday party! (no soy)

• I made these Frozen cupcakes for Harper’s classroom because Frozen is incredible! Harper helped.

• My nieces turned 4! Here is Harper’s Hawaiian girl birthday cake which goes very well with her unusual love for the John and Kate Plus 8 Hawaiian special.

• I quit my job! I decided to leave the small Charter where I have been teaching for the past two years in search of a position closer to friends and family. Goodbye 60 minute commute and extended day! Hello breakfast, dinner, and Phil who so graciously helped me through my first 2 years teaching. He survived and passed with flying colors!

• I made this graduation cake! (Cell phone picture…booo)

• We went to China! For those of you who don’t know, I have a pretty decent boyfriend named Phil who is really nice to me even when I am grouchy and also is a lot smarter than anyone would ever guess (hehehe)….He was accepted to a fancy pants computer science conference called ICML in Beijing. When he told me he was going to China I said “No kidding, so am I!” (Get it? Because I decided I was going with him?) SO we went to China and ate dumplings and went to street markets and I was talked into buying a lot of things that I didn’t need nor want by Chinese people who don’t speak any English. I will do a post with just pictures from China so that everyone can see. I didn’t take a million picture because I wanted to just look and be there but I took some! Bottom lines…dumplings are incredible, Phil is tall and scary.

• I booked 5 weddings for cakes and 3 for flowers so that’s cool!
• I made this pile of cookies for a doctor’s office.

• I went to Maine with all of the rugrats!
• I made this World Cup themed birthday cake for a friend’s son!

• I made these blueberry muffins and this zucchini bread because it’s summer and if I have to eat another zucchini I might throw up and so will Sam!

As I was working on this I was on a plane home from California where I was visiting Phil. I did not bake but to summarize California: lots of avocado, really nice weather, and people that are are so nice the New Englander in me is not sure how I feel about it. 

I hope you have enjoyed the catch up, hopefully this won't happen again! :-)

Cupcakes!!!

My mom taught me everything I know about marketing, networking, and business...and what this all boils down to it a nice smile, a friendly hello, and baked goods. You can't go wrong with cupcakes, brownies, or food in general when you meet someone new or if someone is having a bad day...

For Valentine's day she had me put together some boxes of cupcakes and - 200 cupcakes later - here they are in all of their cupcake-y glory!! 

I'm all about the basics here and making them the best I can so there aren't any fancy flavors or tricks- just cupcakes...

-Chocolate on chocolate with chocolate candies

- Vanilla with strawberry cream cheese filling and frosting

- Carrot with cream cheese

-Red velvet with fluffy white butter cream

I love naked cake.

Tada!

How a Month Goes By!

Yesterday I realized that a month had gone by since my last post! I realized a few other things as well....1) Winter Sucks! - I have been sick may more than I prefer to be and I am actually getting sick of snow days..I know - everyone is- Let's just be glad that spring is coming soon! Keep wearing your bright colors folks! Here is an update on what's been going on over hear in the last month!

I was sick...on a weekend...useless! 

THEN...we celebrated my nephews christening! This is baby number 4- Jacob Allen...you should all know some things about Jacob Allen (aka Jake the Snake):

                           1. He is as cuddly as a teddy bear

                           2. He so sweet that he just smiles and laughs at you when you talk to him it's SO cute

                           3. He's huge! 

So my assignment for the christening was to make a fruit tree...not really my forte but I was in for the challenge...my naturally inquisitive and daring boyfriend wanted to do one too...his was made of meat, cheese, and whisky....he called it a "man tree"....I don't know 

After the christening I figured out how to make these guys.....

These are Cherry Walnut Muffins that my mom used to make for Christmas. After 3 failed tries I made a gluten-free version and was totally stoked! They were gone quickly!

NEXT!

I had the awesome opportunity to make a birthday cake for my sister's friend who has a little boy allergic to soy...I used beet powder for the first time to dye the Power Ranger red! 

THEN
My good friends Chrissy and Geoff celebrated their first wedding anniversary! Chrissy's mom asked me to bring over to treats for them to celebrate with. She also asked me to bring them some gluten/dairy free chicken pot pies- they JUST had a baby at Christmas time...Cadence is a peanut...the exact opposite of Jacob. She looks just like her dad and is sweet as pie!

Congratulations Chrissy and Geoff!!!

Since Chrissy and Geoff both are gluten and dairy free everything I sent to them was too...

 Chocolate Cupcakes with Fluffy White Frosting

Gluten/Dairy Free Chicken Pot Pies...I've been making these in mass quantities lately for my niece and mom who both have allergies.

Phil thought it would be hilarious if we made the crust on one of them look like Yoda...

 We ate this little peanut one for dinner...

Cinnamon Sugar Donuts....these things are actually gram's recipe. She made them and gave some to Phil.. They smelled so good that I just needed some for myself so I tweaked it and made a batch of gluten/dairy free ones...they were a hit! Even Gram liked them!!

And Finally...

Valentine's Day is and has always been one of my favorite days. Honestly, what could be bad about a day dedicated to eating chocolate, making paper hearts, and telling people how much they rock! This day has extra special meaning for my now because it is the day Phil and I had our first date. We didn't mean to plan it for Valentine's Day...we actually had planned on the 7th but when he showed up I got a phone call and had to leave! haha...I stood him up! Anyways, we rescheduled for the 14th. I brought him Hershey's Hugs because it was Valentine's Day- but I ate them before he had the chance...classy right? 

He's been talking a lot about cookie cakes lately so I took the hint and made him one...

The pink frosting is dyed with beet powder...that was only a little too! It looks incredible with a lot in it!

Whew! That was a long one! More to come in the next few days! Happy Winter!