It's been a busy week my friends...
so let's head into the weekend with some FUN!!

Design the Perfect Cupcake Contest hosted by Reynolds®

I hope you'll join me in the chance to offer Reynolds® 

some creative design ideas for their line of Stay-Brite® Baking Cups.

There's NO baking involved to enter the contest...

you are simply creating a computer-generated Perfect Cupcake...

using the tools right on the Reynolds® Facebook fan page.

These foil-lined baking cups are awesome because...

well...just like the name says...

the colors/designs STAY-BRITE® even after baking.

If you haven't yet baked with these fabulous baking cups...

I'll be sharing my results with you soon.

The good news?

You can win a $500 baking kit...

which will include a High-End Standing Mixer in the color of your choice.

AND...

there will be FOUR finalists who'll each receive baking kits valued at $100.

The not-so-good news?

The contest ends at 11:59 p.m. TONiGHT!!

Squeeze in a few minutes to submit an entry today before the contest is over.

Let me know if you entered - I'd love to see your design. 

Have a great weekend everyone.

KEEPiNG iT REAL

I'm working on my design right. now.

find | cupcake candle holders

UPDATED: We have a winner!

Congratulations ScrappinMissy!!!

I thought I'd send you off on your weekend with a little something I found back in February...

 glass flower candle holders

I was in love with these the moment I saw them and just knew I had to share them with you!!

I gave a matching set away as my swap gift for the Martha Stewart DiD's meeting I attended here in Florida...

but I failed to photograph them before I gave them away.

So...I finally had some extra time last week to stop into my favorite cupcakery to purchase more.

And I squeezed in a minute to take some photos to share here.

Now would be the time for me to share the link with all of you interested in purchasing some of your own.

However, after scouring the web looking for places that carry these...

and even after numerous attempts at contacting the manufacturer directly...

I have ZERO information to share.

Can you believe that?

Although my favorite cupcakery carries them...

they are swamped with cupcake orders!
It's not something they are really interested in having to ship - or take orders for.

So here's the deal...

Instead of feeling like I'm pulling an "April Fool's Day joke" by sharing something so completely adorable

and yet not being able to offer any information on where to get it...

how about we solve this dilemma with a giveaway?

The very first person to come back here and leave a comment...

sharing a direct link with us all about where to find and order more of these...

will win my favorite of the bunch...

I'll ship this adorable orange and aqua daisy glass candle holder to the winner!!

RULES:
• you must be the very FiRST person to respond
• the link you share must be a direct link to purchase and must work properly. *wink* 
• U.S. residents only

INFO. to help you in your search:
• distributed by Ganz (that's all I've got)

That's it.
Ready...set...go!

And if by chance no one else has any luck...
I'll go to Plan B because I'm determined to get these into your hands!!

Enjoy your weekend everyone!!

Happy April Fool's Day!!

Please don't forget to help me out with your daily votes for the 

Top 25 Party Plannin' Moms contest hosted by Circle of Moms.

I sincerely appreciate the love and support already shown by so many of you.

I'm currently in 7th place and hope to stay up in the top 10.

Voting ends April 11th..

I have a feeling an influx of votes will be cast last minute...

so taking advantage of being able to vote daily really helps with the numbers I think.

A sincere thanks everyone!

And WOW!

Did you hear about the turnout for the "For Japan with Love" disaster relief campaign?

The original goal was to raise $5,000.

The donations exceeded $60,000! 

You guys are amazing - and so are the thousands of other people who contributed.

KEEPiNG iT REAL

I've temporarily closed my shoppe until April 18th to focus primarily on "the launch of the Pastry Pedestal!" (coming mid to late April).

This decision comes as a result of the reevaluating I mentioned I'd be doing. (see this post)
Thanks for the overwhelming amount of supportive comments following that post.
I know there are so many of us struggling with the same thing.
I took your words to heart. *wink*

pinch me | Circle of Moms Top 25 Party Plannin' Moms

I received an exciting email yesterday...

Someone nominated me as one of the contestants for the Top 25 Party Plannin' Moms hosted by Circle of Moms.
I'm beside myself.

Apparently this is all based on votes...
so I'd be THRiLLED if you would vote for me.
You can vote once a day...
EVERY day...
through April 11th.
(I added a little button in my sidebar to make it easy for daily voting!)

And I don't mind if you tell your friends to vote for me too...
In fact...
I encourage you to tell your friends...*wink*

KEEPiNG iT REAL
Me?
Little ole me nominated and listed among so many other talented sites/blogs.
Wow!
I'm so flattered.

inspiring + productive = exhausting

Well good morning everyone!

I missed you yesterday - I was lost in a lot of design work...

and recovering from an exhausting, productive, inspiring weekend.

inspiring.

Yes, this weekend was quite inspiring in a few different ways.

The inspiration began on Friday afternoon when I received THIS in the mail:

What IS this?

It's a package I received from Compendium...my favorite company for inspirational products.

Not only are their products inspiring...their packaging is too...

I ADORE inspirational quotes and I have an addiction to clever packaging.

So this combination had me "spellbound"

"Daydreaming is theorized to be the result of the brain figuring out

important issues at times when the external environment ceases to provide interesting stimuli." LOVE that!

Inspirational quotes all over the packaging....

"Follow your bliss" - Joseph Campbell

"The heart can do anything" - Moliere

"Keep true to the dreams of your youth" - JoHann Friedrich Von Schuler

Now...as for what was IN the package?

I'll be revealing that on Friday - just know it involves something inspiring FOR YOU!!!

inspiring + productive

The inspiration continued into Saturday afternoon/evening as I was granted some rare "FREE" time.

This free time allowed for a tremendous amount of "productive time".

I ran around collecting things and crossing items off of my list for Ella's upcoming 2nd birthday party.

I was also able to find some things for two of the baby showers I'm also helping to design/organize.

I'll give you some peeks into all of these things later.

inspiring + productive = exhausting

Then...on Sunday...

I was up at 4:30 ready to participate in the Susan G. Komen "Race for the Cure".

No people...I did NOT run...

My participation was in the "5k walk".

Since I went by myself...(yes, I'm crazy like that)...

I ended up meeting a lady named Visa and we power-walked the course in record time!

Participating in a charity walk was one of my "Before Birthday Goals" and it felt SO good to cross this off my list.

Surrounded by a sea of people adorned in pink...

rallying for a tremendous cause...

listening to breast cancer survivor stories...

it was all inspiring.

Needless to say - I was exhausted by Sunday afternoon.

I was still exhausted yesterday and went to bed at 8:00.

But now, I'm fully energized and ready to take on the day!

I'd like to leave you with a little more inspiration:

one of my favorite quotes from the Compendium packaging...

AND...

if you haven't already taken a minute to read the interview I did with the inspiring Janet Hill Studio...check it out!

She's an artist who finally decided to pursue her passion and she. is. brilliant!

"Hot Chocolate" - Janet Hill Studio

Go now to read the interview and enter to win a GORGEOUS art print from Janet Hill Studio.

All you have to do is leave a comment and ANY print in her shoppe is yours - compliments of Janet.

All entries must be received by Thursday, October 21st!

Have a beautifully inspiring Tuesday everyone!

KEEPING IT REAL

My kitchen counter is FILLED with everything I picked up over the weekend...

all of it waiting to be beautifully photographed to share with you.

• Ella's party supplies

• the package of goodies from Compendium

• the free loot from the Susan G. Komen race

Maybe I should take a picture of the disaster? *wink*

the results are in...

The results are in...

The winner has been announced for the cupcake skewer contest over at Pizzazzerie...

and phooey!

it wasn't me. *sniffle*

(go here for the results and to see some of the other "fabulous entries")!!

But...

that means I can now share all of my entries with you. Yea!!!

Before I do...

let me explain my approach:

"Create something using innovative presentation & practicality".

Meaning...

I wanted anyone to be able to duplicate these, as well as make them easily consumable at a REAL party.

I focused on "out-of-the-box" presentation.

I didn't go for "fancy" artwork, etc.

I was thinking about my readers and how to inspire each of you to try your hand at making these.

There.

Ready?

First up...

my favorite entry...

• Oreo Cupcake Skewer •

LOVED using an oreo cookie as the platform & then topping it off with a mini oreo.

(The cupcake decor was inspired by Judy from my favorite cupcakery...Cupcake Delights)

a couple of skewers to gear us up for the upcoming season...

• a Halloween themed mini ice cream cone cupcake skewer •

These are SUPER easy to make...see this post.

I created a custom wrap for the cone & skewer - (easily adapted for ANY occasion)

• another Halloween one •

I printed "Boo!" onto tissue paper, wrapped the cupcake & tied with a bow.

(Again, super easy...anyone can do this and this can easily be adapted for ANY party theme)

And lastly...

• a little ladybug themed cupcake skewer •

Altering a regular sized cupcake liner adds a little pizzazz...

the possibilities are endless.

And really...

the whole cupcake skewer concept provides limitless creative thinking.

I'm so glad I participated in the contest.

A big huge thanks to Pizzazzerie for hosting it...

as well as a big hug to Bakerella for being guest judge.

My creative wheels have been turning because of it!

I can't wait to see more of the other entries as Courtney posts them...

Let's make it a great week everyone!

Hope you all enjoyed your weekend!

KEEPING IT REAL

I'm SO disappointed I didn't win.

(you might find me in the closet with a box of tissues).

No. I'm just kidding.

(not about the closet & tissues...only about the "SO" disappointed)

I'm actually devastated.

No. I'm just kidding about that too...

it was only a cupcake contest for crying outloud! right?? *a tear-laden wink*

{mini desserts} ice cream cone cupcake skewers

today is THE day.

the final day to submit your creative cupcake skewers to Courtney over at Pizzazzerie!

for THIS contest...

remember?

so.

because i'm just DYIN' to share with you my submissions...

BUT...

i'm keeping them a secret for now...

here's one that i created but did not submit for the contest but is still completely adorable!! (and super easy)

mini ice cream cone cupcake skewer

what you'll need:

mini ice cream cones

cake recipe (a boxed version works too)

cream cheese frosting

red gumball

assorted sprinkles

"spice drop"

place mini cones upright in mini muffin baking pan.

fill mini cones barely 1/2 way with cake batter.

bake your cupcakes right in your ice cream cones for approx. 12 minutes.

remove from pan & let cool completely.

pipe on cream cheese frosting.

add assorted sprinkles & one red gum ball.

cut a sliver from the end of a "spice drop".

slide it onto your skewer as a base to keep the cone in place.

puncture a small hole into bottom of ice cream cone cupcake and rest on spice drop.

ta dah!!!

i hope this mini treat put a smile on your face!

i know i'll have a HUGE smile on mine if i happen to win this contest.

the prizes are FABULOUS!

my most treasured prize?

THIS NEW BOOK...

SIGNED by my favorite creative cake-pop queen herself...Bakerella!

(did i mention she is also a JUDGE for the contest?...oh. my. goodness!)

and there are SOOOO many other wonderful prizes too!

keeping my fingers crossed.

KEEPING IT REAL

i may have to squeeze in a few more entries before the 5p.m. deadline tonight -

that would be in between a hair appointment, school project for clara this afternoon, doctor appointment & real life. uh....yeah.

wish me luck!

creative hostess contest

yep.

it's another contest.

but this time i'm not hosting it. *wink*

kim posted this on her site and i couldn't help but enter.

just for fun.

you never know...

right?

you should enter too...

or if you have friends that would be interested...

pass along the information.

creative hostess is sponsoring it.

go here to enter...

holy mackeral...

as i'm getting ready to copy the link from creative hostess,

i see a slide show on the homepage with my party! what!?

i had no idea she posted it. (evidently on the 11th).

i'm so excited.

thank you creative hostess!

thank you for all of the sweet things you said about my little ella's party!

that just made my day...

ok.

that does it.

today is the day i'm going to go and make someone else's day...

i'm going to cross off the "pay for someone's order in the drive thru"...

you know...

one of my "before birthday" goals...

make YOUR day great...

have a wonderful thursday...

hugs!