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

Sprinkles Sprinkles Sprinkles

I think everyone will agree, whether you like eating them or not, there’s just something about sprinkles. When you see them, you get a little bit happy. Kids love them, adults love them, and my new puppy also apparently loves hoovering them up off the floor when I knock half the jar over(surprise surprise). So, I don’t even bat an eyelid when my fully grown adult friends request rainbow sprinkle birthday cakes- in fact, it’s become a bit of a tradition. For this cake, I decided to go with a rustic-chic buttercream cake, because fondant just seems to take the whimsy out of a funfetti layer cake. These simple little cakes are becoming my signature birthday cakes- everyone loves them, and I love making them! They can be topped with banners (as long as you forgo the candles, ahem), flowers, gumpaste creations, or in this case, a super creative way of incorporating sprinkles into the decorations. I spied this tutorial from Kojo Designs on Pinterest months ago, but had completely forgotten about the idea until yesterday. The only adjustment I made was to insert toothpicks into the base of the numbers so that I could raise them off the cake surface. What better way to top a rainbow sprinkle birthday cake, than with a rainbow sprinkle number (or two)!

 

Sometimes even I get sick of pink...and I just love this colour!

These toppers are my new favourite thing, they are foolproof! Seriously,
I snapped one in half and was able to 'glue' it bag together seamlessly :)

Love, Laughter & Sprinkles.

 

 

 

Wish List Wednesday: Daydreaming

Ah, Wednesday. Otherwise known as Hump Day, the day you need to get through before the week is almost over, and also the day I’m supposed to post a wish list but almost never do because my life is ridiculous. Well, this week I am being a productive panda and I am allll over it. In the last few days I’ve had a few little baking projects on the go, like this miniature almond ruffle cake with raspberry and vanilla filling, and a Hunger Games themed potluck contribution.



These Effie Trinket inspired cupcakes are vanilla and "nightlock" berry,
otherwise known as blueberry, to incorporate a few elements of the story.



This  week's Wish List is inspired by the progress I’m currently making with Little Bow Sweets. As I’ve been looking to upgrade my kitchen space and take the next step, I thought a few dream kitchens would do the trick this week! I also found this fantastic guide to planning your dream baking kitchen here. My favourite part is Alex Hitz stating that, "the key to everything in life is a Kitchenaid stand mixer." I really, really couldn't agree more.



This one is all over Pinterest for a reason.
It's almost toocute to cook in!




A little less pink, a little more practical, a double oven and a huge granite topped
island to decorate on is probably all I need to be happy. And maybe a special
nook for a stacked cooling rack..





Since I like to have pink stuff, I feel like an entirely pink kitchen might be
overkill....so an obnoxious amount of another colour instead?




Just in case you forgot, "the key to everything in life is a kitchenaid stand mixer."



The Weekender: Playing Catch-Up!

Tasty lemon cupcakes, perfect for Spring!

Hey Sweet Things! It's been a couple of weeks since I've been able to post properly. Things have been a little chaotic over here, but everything is on its way back to normal, which means lots of cakes and other treats on the way! I was all set to start a new cake design idea on Wednesday afternoon, but ended up spending the whole night in the ER because a certain little mini-me fractured her wrist playing dodgeball at school! Needless to say, that took priority over my floral spring cake, so I'll be getting to that today. Thank goodness for long weekends!

This weekend I'll be launching the first Little Bow Giveaway, so keep your eyes peeled this afternoon! Anyway, here's some snaps of what I've been up to lately!

These sweetheart engagement cupcakes were a great excuse to play with
my new wedding themed cutters!

Kiddie ketchup-cup cupcakes for a church picnic!

Half red velvet with cream cheese frosting, half vanilla raspberry
with purple buttercream!

Mother's Day Weekend was a busy one over here...about 200 cupcakes
were made and decorated for luck mamas all over town!

Wishlist Wednesday: 10 Things I Hate About Guy Fieri

This week, Wishlist Wednesday is a bit of a rant. It's not technically what I'm going for with these posts but it has been one of those weeks, and it's only Wednesday, so just bear with me. I headed to Canadian Tire after work today to pick up some items for an event this weekend. I decided to wind down by browsing through the kitchen and bakeware section (yes, I'm that sad, deal with it) and drooling over the new colours of Kitchenaid mixer. Somewhere in between deciding which Tassimo coffee maker I would buy if I weren't poor and pondering exactly how many Kitchenaid mixers one person needs, I turned a corner and was met face first with this:

Possibly the most irritating man on television, and definitely the most irritating person associated with the Food Network, Guy Fieri, has come out with his own set of overpriced cookware which he will likely make a small fortune from. Instantly, the only thing I wish for this Wishlist Wednesday, is for Guy Fieri to stop existing....and here's why:

1) No self respecting adult male should be allowed to bleach his tips, his hair, or part of/all of his beard and still be taken seriously.

2) He wears stupid sunglasses.

3) His show literally revolves around finding the greasiest fattiest foods in America and eating them like a pig while making disgusting noises of appreciation.

4) He owns, and wears, button down collared shirts with flames on them.

5) He has been known to describe himself as a "culinary gangsta". As punishment for this I think he should be dropped off in Harlem with a bunch of cilantro and one of his monogrammed frying pans to use for survival.

6) He regularly says things like "this sauce is MONEY". Enough said.

7) He openly stated that gay people "weird him out" and is somehow still on television. Clearly his values are still decades behind along with his style.

8) His wife is actually decent looking, which leads me to believe that he feeds her sedatives hidden inside fried chicken so that she doesn't notice how annoying he is.

9) He is really, really, really annoying.

10) He designed this frying pan and is making money off of it.

Seriously.