Icing on the Cake

is when I get to spend a Saturday morning with a friend and calling it another day at work.

I wanted to share with you a couple pictures of what I was up to this weekend. A mini food styling photo shoot, if you will:)

My friend and now fellow entrepreneur Katya and I have joined forces to whip up some new stuff for Little Shindig's. Katya has worked with me at different levels but has finally taken the plunge to start her own catering business {Modern Munch}. I could not be prouder of her. I can say that because I am older, and well, quite frankly, she likes to remind me of it ALL THE TIME.

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Those are edible wands. Don't you just love the sparkle?! These will be offered on a new Fairy party theme coming in June. By the way, the sparkles are so NOT photo shopped. I am not that talented at the old photo shop thingy maggee. Lucky for me Katya is. Talented at the baking thingy maggee , not photo shop...she is terrible at that.

This one was a riot! I don't think the picture does it justice, but in a a nut shell, its a set of cupcakes with Alice falling down the rabbit hole. Now that I think of it, that is probably the furthest thing from a nut shell but you get what I mean.

Letter to Cupcakes

Hi Cupcakes,
It's me Natalie. It's been a long time, but I still think about you. Do you remember when we first met? I was 4 and you were vanilla with sprinkles. I thought you were amazing, so sweet and absolutely incredible.
The years have passed and I am all grown up now. I now realize that you have never been good for me! Our paths are bound to cross again. You are popular and I throw a lot of parties. But know this-I will resist you. I own skinny jeans and will fight for them.

cupcakes on the go

This one is for Jan, who recently asked about how you would transport the microphone cupcakes. There are some great products out there you can buy. I am more of a DIY girl so I would suggest taking a look at what Real Simple came up with.

Made from a SHIRT BOX! My bloggy friend Michelle from Everyday Entertaining has more on it here.

image via Everyday Celebrating.

So you want to be a - cupcake?

I was putting together some ideas for a rock star party and came across this

source and the how to here.

but then I found these adorable cupcakes and was torn between ideas.

source

and totally lost focus because I came across these sweet rides

I know, right?!

Seen anything fun for a little rock star party, please share.

sweet rides via JacksonVilleMag

Wacky idea?

Just hear me out. I know that much of attention has been given to the cupcake. From amazing recipes to brilliant designs, it is an all around cupcake revolution and I am a big, BIG fan. However as many of you already know and as my family can attest to: I am a lousy baker! So what is this shindigs girl to do?

Go with presentation! I gather a few things like large cans, cake circles, ribbon, crape paper and my trusty old scanner. Add one Fantastic theme and Voila!

Now the hard part. Decide where to order the cupcakes?!

Any suggestions on a bakery anyone?

P.S Happy Wacky Wednesday!

Little Miss Cupcake

Welcome to Tablescape Thursday! Hope you don't mind but I asked my new friend Little Miss Cupcake to join us today. ( she is here helping me with this other thing this week)

As it turns out Little Miss Cupcake is a bit of a cook so I said, THAT'S PERFECT...I can set a pretty mean table.

A whisk, a couple mixing bowls, some cookie cutters, a rolling pin, tulle, other random stuff I had in the kitchen and Voila! your cupcake tablescape is served.

Little pink aprons? okay..lets improvise.

Extra sprinkles? ABSOLUTELY!

a few notes:

Cupcakes for kids-Recipes
Spatulata- Kids video Recipes
Aprons and chef hats
Baking supplies

Can't wait to see what everyone else has whipped up.

it's like Iron Tablescape America....

Who will reign supreme?

a horse, of course!

Okay, these have to be one of the most darling cupcakes I have seen in a while. I am so inspired! What do you think?

I'm in love with the idea...more to come next week.

image: the cupcake company

Ahoy Matey-part2 The Captains Menu

When it comes to food for a children's party it is best to just stick with practical menu items. Nothing too outrageous and something that you know most kids will enjoy. However, you must be creative with the presentation. Take this opportunity to rename items with fun or silly names. You can incorporate a menu board, menu cards or food label cards to let all your guests see what is in store on the Captains Menu.

Hot Dog Ships (attach a wooden skewer through a small piece of paper to make a sail and then pierce it through a hot dog; served with gold fish)

Captain Crunch chicken; served with Peg legs (carrot sticks)

Ocean with sunken treasures (blue Jell-O with diced peaches)
Pineapple Limeade and Sharks Blood

Now for the piece de resistance...the cake! I like this one from Studio Cakes. I mean, what else could you ask for?!

if you have something else in mind? Then Please check these out and if you are more of a cupcake fan, well here you go. I personally love this one from clares cupcakes Wow who new Pirate parties could be so cute!

See you tomorrow for what is my favorite part of the planning process...The decorrrrr.
Sorry, BAD PIRATE impression

Real Life Confections- Case 1122

Louise Dueholm is from Denmark and also happens to be the creator of the Cake Journal. She is a wife, a mother and oh yeah she is an AMAZING baker (self taught).
These are her confections:

more on this brilliant baker:

What do you do when you are not baking Louise? If I am not baking I am spending time answering emails and checking out other cake blogs. I do a lot of online research to see if there are any new cool cake pans, cupcake cases etc. I also love to read cake books. But because I am a stay at home mom I'm in charge of the daily household and with two kids it can sometime be hard to have time for everything at one go.
When did you first become interested in baking? I have always found baking interesting. But it started for real when I decided to make a cake for our wedding back in 2002.
What do you enjoy most about baking? Decoration!! I find it rather peaceful to sit and make sugar roses, flowers and figurines.

Have you ever taken a class? Yes and I can highly recommend it. You learn so much from it. What is the first think you ever baked? Hmm I think it was a chocolate chip cake...?
What has been your biggest masterpiece? My biggest masterpiece has to be a large wedding cake with fresh strawberries for some of our best friends wedding. The only bad thing was that I was extremely tired at the wedding reception because I hardly slept all night.
Do you have any other creative interests/hobbies? I like to paint, draw, and make fun creative activities with my kids.
Any words of wisdom for anyone wanting to get into baking? Just jump into it and keep practice and most of all have fun.

Thank you so much for participating Louise!

You can find Louise and her amazing work at Cake Journal. It is a great place to talk cake or find inspiration for your next shindig. Make sure you visit!

images: cake journal

P is for ....

Elmo may say P is for Party but maybe P should be for Punk.
How fun is this theme? Sure...a little alternative but how fabulous are those punk rock cupcakes and come on...how often do you see a rubber ducky with studs.
So how about a 1st b-day or even a baby shower for the hippest of parents. Don't forget the Social D.
If you don't know who that is... stick to Elmo.
credits: Guitars, paper wear, and tatto bandages (Plum Party) Fun P is Punk T (The Cradle Rocks) Punk Rock Cupcakes (Cosmos Cupcakes by smcgees) Rubber Ducks (Totally Funky)