Date Night Cupcakes ~ Happy New Year





    These cupcakes have a particular significance for me
    and it seems only appropriate that I saved them for the 
    last post of 2012 on Sweetology.




    I made these cupcakes the beginning of last year, before I started blogging. These were the first "major" set of "fancy" cupcakes I tackled with my new found skills and confidence 
    from My Cake School.  I was so stinkin proud of these! 

    At the time, I wasn't blogging and I hadn't upgraded to my 
    fancy Nikon...all I had was a LOT of pride and my little
    point and shoot camera with some bad lighting. 

    As I look back over 2011, I get kind of emotional. Last year at this time I was just discovering myself again and coming out of a tough spot dealing with my brain tumor and its impact in my life. 
    I have definitely found the sweetness in life again. 

    I hadn't planned to post anything for New Years 
    but last night after I put Sophia to bed, I sat down and
    started to go through some old photos and happened 
    upon these cupcakes.

    So, I share with you my "Date Night Cupcakes"
    for New Years and I also share with you this....
    Those of us who blog, do so for a reason. We want to be noticed.
    We want to feel like we make an impact on our world. 
    We want to carve out meaning, to find our bliss.
    In Joseph Campbell's more eloquent words:

    “If you do follow your bliss you put yourself on a kind 
    of track that has been there all the while, waiting for you, 
    and the life that you ought to be living is the one you are living. 

    Follow your bliss and don’t be afraid, and doors will 
    open where you didn’t know they were going to be.”
     
    “People say that what we’re all seeking is a meaning for life. 
    I don’t think that’s what we’re really seeking. I think 
    that what we’re seeking is an experience of being alive, 
    so that our life experiences on the purely physical 
    plane will have resonances without own innermost 
    being and reality, so that we actually feel the 
    rapture of being alive.”

    HAPPY NEW YEAR!


    And the journey continues......... 

    Sharing with Tidy Mom

DIY CUPCAKE PRINTABLES FOR NEW YEARS - PAPER SCISSORS CAKE!



    Shhhhhhhhh, want to know
    one of my BEST KEPT SECRETS?

    You all are going to just
    LOVE me for showing you this
    FANTASTIC site on ETSY.

    It is called PAPER SCISSORS CAKE
    and their products are whimsical and amazing!

    Pressed for time but want a FABULOUS
    New Years Eve Cupcake Design??

    ME TOO!!
    Photo from Paper Scissors Cake Etsy
    NO PROBLEMO!

    We just got back from Nebraska on Tuesday 
    night and I am back to work for the rest of the week
    which means....I will not be getting to most of my
    fun ideas for New Years Eve inspired sweets. 

    BOOO HOOO

    However, all is NOT lost...oh NO.....I will be saved
    by the awesome printables from PAPER SCISSORS CAKE!
    YOU CAN BE SAVED TOO!! CLICK HERE!!!!!

    Oh yaaaaa...you can thank me in cookies.
    I like peanut butter!

    Looking forward to getting back a little baking and 
    blogging soon, but I must say, I have LOVED the
    extra time playing Barbies and watching
    some SPONGEBOB with my favorite sweetie pie!


Thanks and Giving Campaign Winner


      
    Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!!!


    I am still taking a bit of a blogging break
    until after the New Year but I did
    promise to announce the winner
    of my St Jude Thanks and Giving 
    Campaign Giveaway!!




    True Random Number Generator Min: 1  Max: 39  13 Powered by RANDOM.ORG


    Lucky Number 13!!!!!!!!
     
     
    "WEBEE" 
     
     

     
    Email me (trshamp@gmail.com) within the next 48 hours!!
     
    THANKS!!!! 
     
    See you all back again here for Tea Party Tuesday
    on January 3rd 2012 

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!

    MERRY CHRISTMAS





    THE BEST PART OF
    BLOGGING IS YOU!

    THANKS TO ALL THE PEOPLE
    WHO HAVE SHOWN SUPPORT OVER
    THE LAST YEAR, BLESSINGS TO ALL!

Some AWESOME Goodies For YOU While I am Gone...........

     


    Sophia helped me put this post together.

    We went through my Pinterest Christmas Board
    and she picked out what she liked.

    These are all things I would love to make but
    I am happily too busy loving on my child for the holiday.

    Plus we are heading to Nebraska and time with my parents
    and family is priceless and the blog is on the back burner 
    for awhile. I will still announce the winner on 12/26/2011 
    to my special St Jude Tea Party Tuesday Giveaway. 

    Ok so let's start the viewing FUN..
     


     


    How about these fun PITA TREES
    that you can find HERE 




     


    If you have never seen the amazing
    talent over at Little Food Junction - it is a
    fun little site - find this TREE HERE 
     




    Sophia just thought these were the best ever, 
    actually all things at Hungry Happenings are fantastic. 
    To find the how to click HERE 

     
     

    I would love to make this tortilla spiral tree
    for a holiday tea party - see the simple how to HERE 




    Elf donuts!!!  Ummm ok, I just might
    have to make time to do these...Sophia agrees!
    So cute, simple and all you need are some cheerios!
    For the easy tutorial on this tiny treat click HERE 




    Sweet Simple Stuff is the best blog ever.
    She is like my twin from anotha' motha'
    Look at these...I just might make these in January
    What the heck right!!! Cute is always in season!
    Find the sweet simple steps HERE



    How about a fun CRAFT?

    Hand print SANTA!!!
    Photo Credit and how to: HERE

    This is super cool...it is a virtual 
    Gingerbread House 
    that you can decorate...and NO MESS!


    To decorate this house click HERE.  


    Hope you enjoyed this fun collection!

    I try to party at these great blogs you can find HERE!!!

Frosty the Donut Hole Snowman




    This is almost the last holiday post I have.

    I leave to go to Nebraska and I am so excited 
    to get my fat pants on and chow down and relax.


    But before I go, let me introduce you quick to
    Frosty the Donut Hole Snowman


    I must apologize for the pictures 
    I have for this little cutie snack. 
    iphone 4s...not so bad......


    I made these for that holiday school
    fundraiser you all have heard me mention
    oh, like 1000 times.......
    In all the craziness of preparing and setting up, I 
    forgot to snap a better shot of these sweeties.



    I had to share them because they really are super cute and
    easy to assemble. I was inspired by the idea

    I made it easy for a craft DUNCE like me by just cutting out the black hat from construction paper and taping it onto the bag. 

    I did draw the eyes and smile face with a Sharpie 
    onto the bag but cut out an orange 
    carrot nose from construction paper
    and glued it on for his face.  

    Then I used some ribbon for his scarf. 
    Frankly, I think this is one of the cutest darn things, EVER!

    When time allows, I LOVE to link up to the
    GREAT BLOG PARTIES found HERE


Nutmeg Stick Cookies ~ A Guest Post for This Heart of Mine!!



     NUTMEG STICKS



    Hi there baking and tea time buddies..
    today I am guest posting at
    This Heart of Mine





    I am so excited to be contributing
    to Amy's "25 days of COOKIES".

    Come on over, say HELLO to Amy and 
    find an amazing new recipe for delightful, 
    easy and TASTY cookie!! WIN WIN!!


    ~ MERRY CHRISTMAS ~

Mini Cupcakes in their Christmas Best



    I just wanted to quick share these
    Mini Chocolate Cupcakes I 
    made for Sophia's piano recital. 





    And gloat as a proud parent......

     
    My sweetie pie, Sophia, getting ready to leave for her recital!

    Sophia played her songs so beautiful.
     

    The recital was hosted at the local nursing home in our town - how neat!


     She has such grace, poise and confidence!!

    Sophia's teacher, Sharla is awesome. 
    She makes playing fun and Sophia is
    always excited to go to practice and play
    her piano lessons at home. Sharla did a great
    job putting this together for the nursing home
    residents, they really enjoyed listening to the kids play! 

    We are so proud of you SOPHIA ROSE!!!!


    For fun the video...it starts out on it's side but gets flipped in a few seconds!

North Pole Snickerdoodles with a visit from Mr. Sugar Cone Santa



    North Pole Snickerdoodles



    Sooooo......I made some snickerdoodles
    the other day and they kinda looked funny.

    I used the recipe I found on all recipes
    that you can find by clicking HERE.

    They ended up sorta FLAT, but tasted super good.
    Truth be told, I am a box baker. 
    Not a scratch baker, per se. 

    So...I was looking at these flat doodles and said 
    to myself, "Self, you need to FANCY these
    FLAT doodles up, they look pathetic." 

    oh that poor poor pathetic snickerdoodle


    So self took the challenge and used some left
    over royal icing (because I am cool like the cookie
    ladies now and have that stuff just laying around) and 
    piped on some cloud puffs with my #18 tip and 
    slapped on a nice mini candy cane stick with a mini
    M&M on top. Then, I cut out that north pole label from a
    FREE DOWNLOAD found Here at One Charming Party.



    Then I sat back and said, "YOU DA BOMB!"



    Then, with all my NEW confidence and being inspired by 
    this felt cone Santa I saw on Pinterest...
      
    felt craft santa how to found by clicking here


    I turned this 
    pathetic little sugar cone......



    into this.....






    I just dipped the cone into melted red chocolate candy
    coating from Wilton and when dry added the fondant details.


    HO HO HO!!!


    For those interested, I generally use
    Sweet Sugarbelle's Royal Icing 
    (the reduced size one)
    Recipe Found HERE.

    Linking up to TIDY MOM  and some GREAT 
    PARTIES found HERE
     

Tea Party Tuesday ~ Vintage Pastel Snowflake and Snowmen Cookies for Tea!

More Christmas Cupcakes Toppers



    Fun Christmas Cupcake Toppers!!


    Inspiration for these designs came from 
    etsy shop owners here  and here.

    I SOOOO hope I get that photo box and 
    Lowel Ego Light from Santa, my pictures seem
    to be getting darker and darker the busier I get!!

    HO HO HO!


A Special Thank You




     A special note to my sister, Paula

    Dear Paula,

    Paula, I just had to let you know in an extra special way, how grateful I was for all those cupcake picks you made and sent me for the holiday fundraiser at St Andrew. You knew how busy I was and how much I wanted to make the table special to raise money for this wonderful school. I will never forget waking up to all those pictures you sent me from your phone and how completely speechless I was at what you and Jocelyn did for me. 
    Between studying and taking my boards, working and and all the other things life has to offer me these days, I was a TAD overdrawn. But also, like you, I can never turn down a chance to help others. Thank you for stepping in and helping me....I really, really needed it. 

    You know this is my favorite saying and you have heard this before; but it bears repeating. The truest meaning in life is to plant a tree under whose shade you do not expect to sit. 

    Thank YOU for planting a tree for me when I needed the shade.

    I love you from the bottom of my heart.



    Trisha


    Now you see them, now you don't...cuz they all sold OUT!

Melted Snowman Graham Treat - Easy!I'




    Easy Melted Snowman Graham Treat



    I am cute.



    Credit and instructions for these
    cutie graham treats comes from
    Cute food for kids

    The only thing, I did different was to put him
    into my microwave to do the melty part.

    If you have never seen the melted snowman
    themed creation for cupcakes and cookies 
    you must be living under a rock.

    The original, original idea goes to one cool
    chic and the source of a lot of my fun
    edible inspirations, Meaghan at the  
    The Decorated Cookie Blog


    Go tell her what a GENIUS she is! 
    Cuz, she really is. And nice.



    Linking up to the GREAT parties found HERE


Cupcake Toppers for Christmas



    ....and the stockings were hung







Easiest Reindeer Cookie EVER! (NO BAKE)



    The Easiest Reindeer Cookie Ever.





    Graham Cracker
    Cinnamon Candy Disc
    Canned Chocolate Frosting
    Mini Marshie cut in Half
    Edible Food Writer to draw eyeballs onto marshie
    Pretzels
    P. S. If you don't have any edible writers, just use some frosting or food coloring
    and paint on your own eyeballs with a food safe paintbrush
    or even a toothpick would work just fine! Use what you have!!

    I sold "kits" with all the goodies to make these
    at my daughter's school holiday fundraiser and they
    were a huge hit as well, so easy, fun and tasty!  


    Baking and treat making does not have to be
    about the most FANCY PANCY treats all the time.


    Sometimes it boils down to the memories you are baking.

    You can find me linking to some of these fun parties found HERE!
    Tidy Mom 

Happy Tea Party Tuesday ~ Gingerbread Waffles with Earl Grey Syrup

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