Midweek Musings

I'm trying to post regularly, so I can get myself back into the blogging habit. Granted, everyday life does not always seem post-worthy, and it is rarely accompanied by photos. But there are a few things I should very much like to share with my readers.

First off, I received an exciting parcel on Monday afternoon, and inside was such a treasure. I had custom ordered a pair of earrings from a fellow Etsy seller, a Canadian to boot, and they had just arrived. Had I been thinking, I might have taken pictures of the cute packaging, but I was so eager, I simply dove right in.

Inside were my earrings, the sweet wire wrapped pair I had been checking the mailbox for everyday since I bought them.

Simply amazing aren't they? Giddy as I was to try these on, to my surprise and further excitement, Joella had included a second pair of earrings completely free as a thank you gift!!! They are gorgeous gold and turquoise dangles, and I will post a picture soon. She has been so sweet, and her work inspires me. I want you all to check out her shop right now and click favourites, I promise you won't be disappointed by her wonderful handmade designs. http://www.etsy.com/shop/jkfoster I already know I'll be shopping with her again soon.


Also, tonight was our last Young Womens activity before summer break, so we had a little party for the girls at church. My friend ordered gourmet cupcakes from The Cake Box, and I made yummy fruit-kabobs with Marshmallows included. I also helped the girls create their own monogrammed door hangers. Mine is shown there at the top. I simply printed out large letters for each girls name, cut out the letter from coloured cardstock, and then glued that onto a 6 by 6 inch cardboard square which I had modge podged patterned paper onto. Add some pretty ribbon with little brads, and voila, a cute, easy paper craft!

Hope everyone's weeks are going well. Leave me a comment and let me know. Don't forget to check out Joella's shop!

some like it sweet part 2

After my last post of little sweet things, I realized there was some crucial cuteness I had bypassed. So I decided to do part two, and showcase those yummy little wonders. I'm not gonna lie, I have a penchant for cupcakes and cherries.







Here we have my recipe book. It's got plastic holders for all my recipe cards, as well as long pages for longer recipes. Its really quite cute. It's only about a sixth of the way full, but I'm increasing my collection over time. Only the very best gets a place in here.






Here's a sweet cherry magnet I got in my stocking this year. Now take a deep breath before you scroll down...

The most adorable *mini* spatulas, complete with cuppycakes!!! Winners how I love you for supplying my mother with these to put in my stocking.

Lastly, is a project I completed last month. I can't take credit for the canvas bag, I've had it for some time, but I did design the cute cupcake that I ironed on, and then stitched into place. I love the blob of pink fabric frosting, and the heart cherry on top. Oh, as for the sprinkles...thos are sweet vintage buttons I picked up for a dime. All I have to say is...life is better with sweets. Even if you can only look at them...not eat them...

some like it...sweet.

Forget hot, I'm all about the sweetness. Apparently my Mum is onto that, as I found my stocking stuffed with the most delectable little gifts. I simply had to share them with you. I promise they'll satisfy your sweet tooth without a hint of pain.

I do love me some cupcakes. But a suncatcher? Yes please! Mum picked these make-your-own kits up at Michael's for me. I got to bake them in the oven and everything.

She got me cute cherries too, because these little red wonders have vintage appeal.

And two cute cuppycake journals? How sweet are those? Again, she picked these up at Michael's in the 1.50 bin.

Piece de resistance... A wee little lollipop lipbalm! It smells like yummy peppermint. That's it for sweet things in my stocking, but I've one more thing I'd like to share. A few years ago, maybe six or seven, one of my best friends got me this ornament for Christmas. It was instantly my favourite...

Can you guess why? I'm a sucker for sweets, 'nuff said.

festive cupcakes

Holidays make blogging so easy, there are a hundred things you can do! So for the party tonight, I chose to make some halloween inspired cupcakes. Here's how I did it.

First, gather all of your ingredients. That's : a cake mix (if you're like me and have a whole store of them in your cupboards), chocolate frosting, vanilla frosting, eggs, water (I prefer water, but the package states milk could also be used), applesauce (this is to replace the oil. Cuts down on the fat and helps to moisten them!), sprinkles, cake papers.




So despite the instructions on the package which say throw it all together and mix, if there is one thing I learned in cooking school it was to first combine ALL of your liquids, whip them up real good. Then add the dry. Again, whip it....Whip it good....


Fill each little cake paper, nearly to the top so they puff up. Then into the oven at 350'F degrees they go.




It should take around 17-20 minutes for the tops to start to get golden. If you poke a toothpick in and it comes out clean, then they're done. Place on cooling rack.


Wait about fifteen minutes before frosting, so it doesn't all melt and disappear. Now comes the fun part. Plop chocolate frosting onto the cupcake, then smear it out to the sides, smoothing it as you go and removing excess. Yum.


Now place vanilla frosting in a piping bag with a small round tip (or use a ziploc bag with the tip of one corner cut off). Use this to pipe a swirly pattern. Pretty, but not quite done.


Now, the really fun part. Using a toothpick, start in the centre and draw the pick out to the side. See how it pulls each ring out? Do about 6 or 8 of these and voila, spiderweb design!!


And here they are. For variety I did half of the cuocakes with spiderwebs, the other half got black and orange sprinkles. Well I can't wait to dig into them at the party tonight. Hope this can inspire you to make your own festive cupcakes. Thanks for reading!