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



The Weekender: Monsters Inc. Sweet Table!

I don't know about you guys, but Disney Pixar movies are pretty much my favourite. So, when I wanted to create a fun and simple treat table, one of these movies was the obvious source of inspiration. Since Monsters University just came out a little while ago, Monsters Inc seemed like the perfect theme. I would've liked to created a twisted streamer backdrop for the table, but since the wall behind it is freshly painted, I decided to refrain from sticking things to it for a while... For a kiddie birthday, I would also add a drink dispenser of blue kool-aid and some yellow 'scream canister' cups, as well as a few other treats! This table features some yummy candies, marshmallows, lime green Mike Wazowski cupcakes, fluffy orange and yellow George Sanderson Cupcakes (I realized after staring at this photo for 10 minutes that he's missing his horn!), and the piece de resistance, a "hairy" vanilla buttercream Sulley cake!

Wish List Wednesday: Ain't Nobody Got Time for Negativity

I think inevitably, the more you grow in business and as a person, the more criticism you're bound to face. I feel incredibly lucky to have so many fantastic people supporting me, especially those closest to me who have to put up with me changing my mind and redesigning my concepts on a pretty much constant basis. However, as I've had some really unnecessary negativity directed my way lately, this Wednesday my wish is to clear a few things up. And since I love lists so much, here they are in list form:

1) I'm pretty sure very few people read this page, and I am totally fine with that. This is a fantastic place to post photos to pin to Pinterest, and additionally writing is one of the ways I stay creative, audience or not.

2) Anonymous negative comments and emails are usually from really stand-up human beings.....said no one ever.

3) I will always believe that you should live and let live, and that is how I will conduct my business and my life. Nobody likes everybody, but we all have the capacity for civility and respect.

4) Ain't nobody got time for negativity. Let's talk about sprinkles or cupcakes instead, I got time for that.

5) Let's all look at this picture that makes everyone's life better.

In other news, I made a batch of baked donuts last night, and other than coming out hulk-sized because of the temperature and humidity, they were delicious.

Vanilla Sprinkle!

Cinnamon Sugar Donut Holes!

Smash, Eat, Repeat.

A little while ago a very talented photographer I know contacted me about a Smash Cake. Knowing how beautiful her photographs are I was more than happy to do something up for her- I love a chance to make something new and exciting! I was asked to created a giant cupcake that was pink ombre, dark on the bottom and light on the top, and overall very girly, but simple. After having a minor aneurysm trying to figure out how to create that ombre look on the cupcake shell without an airbrush system, I decided to attempt an idea I had floating around in my head and just hope for the best! Thankfully that little brainwave actually turned out pretty great, and I'm once again in awe of Teresa's stunning photography.

You can check out the full session and Theresa Le's fabulous portfolio here: http://www.tsacreations.ca/blog/2013/06/26/addi-cake-smash-chilliwack-photographer/

And don't forget to check her out on Facebook!

By making messy layers of coloured chocolate as a shell
for the cupcake I was able to get that colour gradient from
bottom to top! Fondant butterflies, pink number one, a little
edible glitter andsome buttercream roses later and I'd say it
 was a 'smashing' success! (har har)

She can't even believe she's allowed to do this right now...so sweet!

omnomnomnomnomnom