So Crafty

Last weekend, Megan and I (with lots of help from my mom and Finley) got crafty for a baby shower she threw for Addie last night. I got lots of inspiration online and I think it turned out really cute!


We decided to do this backdrop that My Sweet & Saucy had featured on her twitter feed. Let's just say, it isn't perfect and requires a lot more math than you would think, but overall I thought it made a really cute backdrop for the buffet table. (You live and learn, right?)



Remember this clever cupcake stand I featured in January from Imperfectly Beautiful? Well, it was as easy to put together as promised. (I guess that is easy for me to say...my mom actually did all the hard work.)

Megan brought over three boxes she had on hand.

My mom covered them with wrapping paper.

Stuck on some coordinating ribbon.

Busted out some monograms on the cricut, and voila....

Lastly, we made a banner. (Love the cricut...best $50 I ever spent. Did I ever tell you guys that story of how I got this amazing deal?)

And here it is "live."

Also, I have to give props to Megan....she did these flower arrangements all by herself! She filled the containers with black beans, then used water tubes for the daisies. I think she got the Zebra at Hobby Lobby.

Congratulations Ben and Addie! Can't wait to meet Baby Owen!

Cupcakes...everywhere

Have I mentioned that I have an affinity for mall food? Mainly Auntie Anne's pretzels. However, I was at the mall today and I stopped in my tracks when I saw these cupcakes at Cinnabon. I cannot attest to their taste, but the presentation was as pretty as these pictures. I only didn't try them for the shear fact that I had cake at lunch, which was only about 2 hours prior. But I will try to get back this weekend just to give you a full review. (The things I do for this blog.)

Chocolate Passion


Moist, decadent chocolate cake topped with rich, chocolate buttercream frosting.

Cinnacake Classic

A tribute to Cinnabon's world-famous Classic Roll – moist, vanilla cake infused with Cinnabon's Makara® Cinnamon, topped with our signature cream cheese frosting and garnished with a caramel, Makara Cinnamon swirl.

Vanilla Bliss

Moist, divinely vanilla cake topped with luscious, vanilla buttercream frosting.

24-Carrot cake

Moist, perfectly-spiced carrot cake with a hint of pineapple and coconut, topped with Cinnabon's signature cream cheese frosting and orange sugar sprinkles.

Um, it takes a lot to get me to Woodland Hills Mall, but this might be worth the trip!

Final Push for Tulsa's Most Beautiful Baby!

Tomorrow is the last day to vote in the Baby Love contest for my sweet niece Finley. Look at what her mother did to her a few weeks ago...put that baby's hair in pigtails! Have you ever seen anything cuter? Please vote for Finley here. In case you can't tell, she is this beautiful baby:

I took this picture of her in November. Look how much she has grown! She is already 5 months old (today)! XOXO Love you guys!

Adorn Your Cupcakes

Not sure if you guys have noticed, but I like cupcakes. It is nice to have a dessert that is precut for you with no chance of overeating. Unless you have two.


I also love that cupcakes have so many different little ways to make them special. And hide the fact that I cannot make them look even remotely close to one made by a professional.


So today I decided to bring you some adornments. I came across this cupcake wrapper from Bella Cupcakes Couture through the blog Cupcakes Take the Cake. They are all very special and just wrap around your ugly, burnt, now see through cupcake liner
I am in love with these icing toppers from Ticings that were featured today on The Party Dress. Not only do they sell cupcake toppers, but they have a whole line of cake toppers.

Also featured on The Party Dress were these adorable Cupcake Stands. I mean they are cake stands, but miniature! Hello! I am in love!

I think I have featured this Etsy Store Two Sugar Babies before, but I had to repeat. Um, have you ever seen anything more adorable? You just ice your cupcake and throw one of these puppies (or birdies in this case) on and, voila, you are the most impressive cupcake ever.

(Jane, this is for you!)

Okay, now off to relax. This is my first night home in at least 12 days. It is so hard being popular. ; )

A smorgasbord (did I spell that right?)

Since I really have no clue what to blog about today and am feeling rather lazy, I thought I would bring you my faves from around the web. Lucky you. Really, lucky you. :)

First up, I fell in LOVE with this edible arrangement on Hostess with the Mostess today. This is just one of two "bouquets" shown. And there is a tutorial video.

I know I mentioned this in my tweet yesterday, but I am in LOVE with this cookie and milk birthday party from my new favorite blog, A. Party Style. Her blog is amazing and she is beyond talented. I think we could be long lost bffs. (She is originally from Oklahoma, too.)

She also MADE this cake, you guys. Have you ever seen anything cuter?

I found these chocolate chip cookie dough cheesecake bars on Cookies and Cups' blog. Full directions are available, but what I am wondering is how they managed to get every amazing sweet in one dessert.

Lastly, All things Lovely had a really easy recipe for Chocolate Caramello Cookies. I love Caramellos and I love cookies. I.Must.Make.


Note: Apparently, blogging while hungry is the equivalent of going to the grocery store on an empty stomach. Just realized my "smorgasbord" theme was quite literal. Ha! Sometimes I crack myself up.

More soon...

I have completely over scheduled myself recently. But I have an adorable niece in town and it is totally worth it. I have just loved spending time with her. Until she cries...then I like for someone else to spend time with her. : ) She is a very, very good baby and loves to sleep. She really takes after her uncle.

I think I may just be World's Greatest Aunt again. I will keep you guys posted.

Shallow

I hate to admit this, but today I made a purchase based solely on packaging. I was at Target and these Mrs. Meyer's cleaning supplies just shouted at me, "come see me." I obliged.
The packaging is just so fresh and clean. (Pun totally intended.)

I am now the proud owner of basil hand soap (smells great, by the way). Just what I always needed.

Sweet 16

Confession: I still watch MTV. Like more than a normal 30-year old should. Like I still watch the Real World.

About two years ago, I was totally into that tv show Super Sweet 16. That was until they created some formula that each kid had to follow. Then it just really went downhill. (Not that it was that uphill before.) But I hate watching the same thing every single episode, just sub out the parents and stick in another teenager who has no concept of reality. (And really, who invites people to a party by having a pre-party where you hand out invitations? Ugh.)

However, there were some pluses to the show. They did have an amazing party, which usually means an amazing cake.

I thought of that tv show when I saw this adorable cake from Pink Cake Box. (Did you follow that segue? I was wondering where I was going, too.)

Dress Up Your Gift Wrap

Believe it or not, I am a HORRIBLE gift wrapper. I need all the embellishing I can get to cover up my mistakes. (And, truth be told, I usually use a gift bag. Hard to mess those up.)

Anyway, I was really excited to see the really cute gift embellishments that they have at Bath and Body Works. The next three rosettes/flowers are all loofahs/sponges and only $4. I would rather get that than a Hallmark card...just sayin'.

Truthfully, I don't think these have a bath purpose, but I did think they are really cute and would make a great addition to a package. Also, I can't argue with a $1.50. (I am telling you, my gift wrapping needs a ton of help. I will pay whatever it takes....within reason.)

Advanced

Saturday, Tommy and I babysat Finley all day and I must say, she is one bright baby.

She reads the paper.
She drinks coffee* with the grown-ups. (She has very sophisticated taste.)

She is already typing! (I think she was trying to encourage people to vote for her in Tulsa's Most Beautiful Baby Contest.)

She even wanted to try to expand her vocabulary.

She loves her Aunt KK. (Also, there may be an auntie name change for me...Max is now referring to me as Aunt Cake, which I will take as a compliment!)

We even have a baby flower arranger on our hands!

Aunt KK is sooo funny!

All this work was too much. We had to play a little wii.

Finley LOVES Pudge.

She even stuck her tongue out at him.

Pudge loves Finley, too. I think they will be best buds.

Finley also rode on Sue Sue's horsey.

She is even standing by herself at 4.5 months!*

Finley called her mama and told her how much fun she was having.

I think Finley will come back.

*No babies were harmed in the making of this photo shoot. Nor was coffee really ingested nor was baby standing on her own.