Beautiful Cupcakes from Cupcake Delights

Look what's coming!!!
Just in time for Fall and the upcoming holiday season!!

The long awaited...
high-anticipated Pastry Pedestal Platforms!

Stay tuned for the official announcement and Pre-Sale Launch TOMORROW!!!
All of the details are coming so hold onto your seats!!

KEEPiNG iT REAL
Tomorrow can't come soon enough!
Have we been waiting long enough for these or what!?

COMING UP | Celebration Brownies

It's time to CELEBRATE!

I've reached another milestone in my Whole30 Challenge.

Today marks 60 Days of strength, commitment, perseverance and determination.
I've successfully navigated my way through a maze of hurdles, temptations and moments of weakness with regards to food.

The Whole30 people would probably disapprove of me celebrating with FOOD. *frown*
But...
The Whole30 is only a 30 day challenge...
I've pushed myself even harder and doubled the challenge to 60 days so far.
My goal is to go a full 90 days without grains, sugar, dairy and legumes...
which means I am two-thirds of the way there.

So...
I deserve a little somethin'-somethin'!
I whipped up tiny batch of these and they turned out absolutely tasty...

Whole30 Approved - No-Bake Raw Vegan Brownies

(see this previous post for the link to the recipe)

This Whole30 approved tasty treat is just what I needed to celebrate.

I totally deserved this!
I will be sharing my entire step-by-step process for making these tomorrow.

So...my Whole30 results?
I promised to share them if they were noteworthy so here they are:

DAY 60 UPDATE (Days 31-60)
go here for the results from Days 1-30
- more energy
- sleeping more soundly
- definite change in the way my clothes are fitting
- feeling lighter
- bloating is almost non-existent

and again...as I said before...
although this isn't the most important one...
it's certainly the most measurable...my weight.

During the last 30 days, I lost another 9 lbs.
Add that to the 11 lbs. I lost during the first 30 days...
and my total weight loss is exactly 20 lbs.
(I can't believe I even just said that).

Again - I have only changed my eating.
I have not yet incorporated any exercise - still working with a local chiropractor on alleviating some back pain I've had for the last 8+ months).

Feeling pretty awesome today!
Celebrate with me!

KEEPiNG it REAL
I only made 9-10 bite sized brownies.
I ate 3 or 4 yesterday...
I've already eaten 3 today...
and I've only got 3 left. *wink*

COMiNG UP | The Pastry Pedestal • Sparkle + Shine

Looking forward to sharing this easy technique for adding some glitz and glam to your next celebration...

The Pastry Pedestal • Sparkle + Shine Style

In the meantime...
a couple of quick reminders:

PROMiSE ME 2013
Our adventure begins on Friday, February1st!
Got your name on the list?
Want to pin to our "Promise ME 2013" Pinterest Board?
Leave a comment or email  me at: pnpflowers AT live DOT com

52 WEEKS OF GRATiTUDE KIT GiVEAWAY
Only one day left to enter.
THREE Winners will be chosen.
Go here for the full details about the kit itself  --------> 52 Weeks of Gratitude Kit by Live-Inspired
Go here to enter the giveaway --------> Enter to WiN!!

HERB UPDATE
Remember the Thank You Note I shared with you?
I updated the post with a photo and the outcome.
Check it out >>>> HERE!!

KEEPiNG iT REAL
So much to share...
not enough hours in the day to do it.

Pulling my hair out folks.
Too many irons in the fire...
along with a healthy serving of serious mom-guilt going on over here.
Time for some re-evaluating and prioritizing...AGAIN!! *wink*

COLOR | Valentine's Day Inspiration

First, let me say how absolutely wonderful it is to have a steady, consistent internet connection again!!
I. am. SO. grateful.
After nearly a week of hit or miss service...
I'm back up and running!!

Let's celebrate with a blog post, shall we?!

I've been putting together some ideas for Valentine's Day...
and thought it would be fun to share with you my typical process for determining a color palette.

Valentine's Day 2013 - Color Inspiration

MY PROCESS ALMOST ALWAYS STARTS WITH A MIX OF FABRIC AND PAPER

This is my starting point.

The final outcome can vary considerably.

But this gives me a good foundation to get me going...

and also serves as something fun to continue referring back to along the way.

I'd love to know what you are doing for Valentine's Day!!

Any special plans?

Be sure to stay tuned for some cute Valentine's Day ideas

and watch the blog this week for a giveaway you won't want to miss!!

Sources of items shown here:

Paper Flag Punch - TomKat Studio Shop

Ribbon - JoAnn Fabric and Craft Stores

Polka Dot Tissue Paper - Hallmark

Fabric - JoAnn Fabric and Craft Stores

Pink Fiskar Scissors - Office Depot

Paper - JoAnn Fabric and Craft Stores

- White Embossed Swirl - The Paper Company

- Embossed Gold Dot

- Yellow/Gold Card Stock - Iced Cocoa (Canvas Texture :: Coredinations Foundations)

- Dark Pink - Lotus Flower (Canvas Texture :: Coredinations Foundations)

- Light Pink - Pastel Pink (Smooth Texture :: Coredinations Foundations)

Necco Conversation Hearts  - CVS

KEEPiNG iT REAL

Embarrassing moment: (even though no one was around)

I was SO frustrated by my internet being down last week...

after the 100th phone call to my internet provider...

being on hold for 40 minutes every phone call...

being disconnected numerous times...

and ultimately getting nowhere day after day...

I actually threw/slammed my iPhone down on my desk

and broke a key right off of my keyboard! 

Not. good.

(Don't tell J)

And yes...

I do get mad.

But it's not really who I am most of the time...*blushing*

I'm thrilled to be back up and running.

I'm sure my keyboard and phone are too! *wink*

coming up | TomKat Studio Shoppe

If you haven't stopped by the new TomKat Studio ONLINE shoppe yet...
here's a tee-tiny peek at just SOME of the things you'll find available for your next event/party:

I'll be sharing more photos of the SUPER FUN items contained in this 

package I received a couple of weeks ago.

Thanks Kim!!
xoxo



A photo from my meet-up with Kim at Downtown Disney back in November.
(It was SO great seeing her,  as well as Kori from Paper & Pigtails and Paula from Frog Prince Paperie)

KEEPiNG iT REAL

Wait until you see all of the goodies in this box...

These are the kind of things that make my heart skip a beat...*wink*

coming up | Bedazzling Inspiration...

Are you kidding me?
Only one blog post this week?

Things have been sooooo busy.

However...
I just can't stand to let you go into the weekend...
without SOME sort of new eye candy.
So I've decided to share with you...(drumroll)
an image from a blog post I just finished moments ago for Hostess with the Mostess.
(literally 5 minutes ago) - and it was due yesterday at 4p.m.  yikes!
See...
I'm THAT busy!!

So here you go...

Gorgeous glittered bonbons...

perfect for Valentine's Day!

Enjoy your weekend...

I'll be working to catch up on that list of things I needed to catch up on LAST week! *wink*

I truly love you guys.

So many fun things coming up to share with you!!

One of the fun things is going to be a FAB giveaway for The Pastry Pedestal™!!

Finally...

right?

*wink*

coming up | Rustic Bridal Shower...

With Valentine's Day fast approaching...
and LOVE filling the air...
how about a little "wedding shower" inspiration?

Watch for all of the details on Monday...

For now...here's a peek at the beautiful cupcakes used on the dessert table...

displayed on The Pastry Pedestal™!!!  LOVE them!!

{photo via Ally Sowers}

Have a FAB Friday everyone...
and enjoy your weekend!!!

KEEPiNG iT REAL

My day is jam-packed today...

And my weekend will be too.

Busy...

Busy...

Busy around here.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Did you know I'm on Day 5 of the Whole Living Action Plan?

It's been QUiTE a challenge.

I am so proud of myself for sticking to it.

Looking forward to Week 2/Phase 2 starting on Monday!

coming up | color inspiration

Since I took the day off yesterday to spend with my girls...
I'm working overtime to catch up on all my orders...

In the meantime, I thought I'd share with you some beautiful COLOR inspiration

I photographed this quilt as inspiration for a customized baptismal program I just designed...
The details are amazing!! One of the most beautiful quilts I've ever seen!!

I'll share the whole scoop on it later...

but it turned out A. dorable!!!

Have a great Tuesday!!

KEEPiNG iT REAL

We had the most wonderful Family Night last night...

A "pizza picnic" followed by a game of football...

finished up with roasting marshmallows and making s'mores.

I, of course, am sticking to my vegan "promise ME" goal...

which means I couldn't partake of the s'mores.

But...

it was still fun roasting them and just having good...quality...family time!!

coming up | DiY Fall and Winter Wreath

With the month of December just days away...
I wanted to share a preview of the DiY wreath I'll be sharing with you this week...
A wreath that easily transitions from Fall to Winter...
and possibly every season in between...

A rustic wreath with a shabby-vintage vibe...


I'll be back with more details and the how-to...
just wanted to give you a little teaser...

Have a GREAT Tuesday everyone...

KEEPiNG iT REAL

I'll be posting ALL about the Mini Angel Food cakes from yesterday...

Trust me when I say...

You won't want to miss it...