{THROWBACK THURSDAY} Ruffle Me Up!

This Throwback Thursday, I'm featuring the most popular "wish" I encounter lately.... Ruffles! Not only are these sweet designs on-trend, there are so many variations in style that they can take you all the way from shabby chic to haute couture cake art. Even though they're time consuming, I love love love the results....so keep ruffling, brides, birthday girls, and everyone else!

Almond Raspberry Ruffle Cake from earlier this Spring

Photo Credit: Hillary Smith Photography

Double Chocolate Cake wrapped in seafoam shabby chic ruffles!

Last Thanksgiving: Butter Pecan Dulce De Leche Cake with Loose Vanilla Buttercream Ruffles

Almond Raspberry  Mini Ruffles

{THE WEEKENDER} Fabulous Florals

Hey Sweet Things, just thought I'd brighten up my Monday by sharing some shots of this weekend's flowery goodies! There's something timeless and elegant about buttercream flowers... they're almost too pretty to eat! Luckily I think everyone managed to power through and enjoy the yumminess...til next time! xo

{THROWBACK THURSDAY}: Time Flies When You're Making Cake

There's a lot of downsides to being the first-born. For example, your parents generally have no idea what they're doing the first go round and just wing it. They find their parenting style by trying them all out on you and hoping for the best...seriously, ask any parent. If you are child number one, you are the product of trial and error- and look how well you turned out! On the flip side, my favourite part of being the first-born is watching all my siblings grow up. I'm the oldest of five, with big gaps in between us, so I've been old enough to really experience all the fun and headaches as my brothers and sister have grown up. This week, "the middle ones" had their birthdays. These two are the closest in age out of all of us and their birthdays fall just three days apart. Naturally they've spent their whole lives fighting like cat and dog, but like all of us, I know they would do anything for each other (as long as it doesn't involve sharing!) This year I let them both pick whatever they wanted for their birthday cakes, and I actually think their choices reflect their personalities perfectly. On the one hand, we have a completely outrageous, massive, triple decker chocolate caramel crunch cake. On the other, a petite and chic lemon raspberry fondant number. They couldn't have gone in more opposite directions, which pretty much sums up the pair of them!

Triple Decker Chocolate Caramel Crunch Cake: Chocolate cake, salty-sweet caramel buttercream,
sponge toffee pieces, and caramel drizzle....can you say O.M.G.

I think it's been statistically proven that there is no creature on earth more irritating than a 13/14 year old boy...
but look how cute he used to be! He was pretty much as excited about this cake as he was about that light saber.

 

VSCO Cam is my new favourite app, can you tell?

On the other end of the scale, we have this on-trend, ombre chevron mini cake with glitter hearts!

This little girl and I have been unbelievably attached since she was born, even when I was away at school.
 Two girls in a sea of boys need to stick together!

 

{THE WEEKENDER}: Let's-a Get Mario Married!

I'm a sucker for a cute wedding, and when Janelle and Eric asked me to create some Mario Bros-themed goodies for their special day, I think I was actually more excited than them! I think weddings should be all about fun...and this table is all about fun! Bright colours, cartoonistic design, and an adorable theme made it as sweet to create as it was to eat. The pictures aren't great- the wind made my already questionable photography skills a bit of a challenge, but here they are...congratulations Janelle & Eric!

 

Lemon Candy Melts made these pops taste just like Starburst Candy!

Delicious Callebaut Milk Chocolate Mustaches

Green Funfetti Minis & Red Lemon Raspberry Cakes filled the tier.

Just in case there wasn't enough fun on this table..the cutting cake was Funfetti!

Chocolate covered Red Velvet Cream Cheese Cake Pops!

The adorable banner was made by Holly of Cute As A Button Baby Boutique just for the occasion!

 

{CUPCAKE CUTIE CONTEST!}

It's giveaway time! To enter to win this fab gift pack of baking goodies AND a Little Bow Voucher worth $35, all you have to do is show us your Cupcake Cutie! Head over to the Facebook Page and follow these simple instructions:

Anyone can be a cupcake cutie- just upload a photo to the Cupcake Cutie album, and caption the photo 
"My name is __(name)__ and I'm sweet for __(fave treat)__!" 

***IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO UPLOAD YOUR PHOTO, PLEASE EMAIL IT TO littlebowsweets@gmail.com WITH YOUR CAPTION***

Then, share the link every day to get likes for your cutie!

At midnight on August 14th, the picture with the most likes will win the gift pack! Prize can be delivered anywhere in the Fraser Valley, arrangements can be made for further distances, so don't miss out!

Easy as pie! (or cupcakes)

Oven mitts, measuring spoons & cups, a spatula, cute cupcake liners AND a gift card...
All wrapped up with a bow on top!

Throwback Thursday!


Oldies but goodies!


 

Clockwise from top right:
(1) Toasted Butter Pecan Cake with Dulce De Leche and Whipped Vanilla Buttercream
(2) Marble Cupcakes with personalized Father's Day fondant toppers
(3) Little Bow Signature Coloured Coconut Cupcakes
(4) Sundae Funday Cupcakes: Funfetti cake with whipped vanilla buttercream, fudge drizzle & maraschino cherry!
(5) Vanilla Bean Peace Rose Cupcake with Pink Tint
(6) Coffee Caramel Cupcakes: Brown sugar coffee cake topped with Caramel swiss meringue buttercream

Wish List Wednesday: Beautiful Blogs

In the words of Skee-Lo, "I wish I was a little bit taller, I wish I was a baller........... I wish I had the time and dedication to blog properly". Seriously. I'm terrible. But that's okay, because I can live vicariously through some of my favourite blogs that are entertaining, beautiful, and *ahem* well-maintained. In no particular order, here are some of my faves!

THE VANILLA BEAN BLOG

is a stunning collection of beautifully photographed recipes. If you have a thing for sharp-focus pastries and gorgeous-looking food, check this out. I just spent a solid fifteen minutes pouring through Sarah Keiffer's instagram feed and I'm not even a little bit sorry.

Image: Pear Tarts with Honey-Bourbon Crème Fraiche

THE MILITANT BAKER

by Jes Baker is a whole bunch of my favourite things in one convenient blog-package. She articulately and relatably discusses body positivity, no-nonsense female empowerment, features awesome bakers on her page, and has a stand mixer tattoo. I started following this one after being linked to a Womanifesto forever ago, and have been hooked ever since.

Image: www.themilitantbaker.com

SWEETAPOLITA

is an old favourite. In fact it's one of the things that made me want to get into this little world of bake-blogging a few years ago...this woman is crazy talented, and her presentation is incredible. I could spend all day on this site, easily.

Image: Sweetapolita's Lemon Blueberry Macaron Delight Cake

SOMEWHERE SPLENDID

is all my guilty pleasures on one page. Recipes, home décor, party styling....just go have a gander- head to the category listing on the right hand side to find what tickles your fancy!

Image: Partying Pretty by Somewhere Splendid

A SUBTLE REVELRY

has crisp, bright photography and a huge array of DIY tutorials, recipes, and useful articles. It's a recent discovery for me and I am loving it! She has even developed an e-course on the Business of Blogging (for people like me who have lots to post and seem to be incapable of doing so consistently.)

Image: DIY Painted Paper Floral Wreath by A Subtle Revelry

That's it for now, look out for wedding cupcakes coming up this weekend! xx