A New Year's Blessing

Happy 2012!

I am looking forward to an exciting year.  Like most of us, I added getting healthy to my list of resolutions but I also resolve to NOT neglect my blog no matter how busy I get.  I was truly blessed with more business than I could have imagined in 2011...the power of prayer!

With that said, I wanted to share a snippet of a new year's blessing that was sent to me that I fell in love with:

May the coming year be one of increased riches of grace - hearing His voice more clearly, knowing His heart more deeply, resting in His love more fully, trusting His care more completely, walking His pathway more peacefully, knowing His presence more intimately, blessed by His goodness more abundantly.

Thank you to all that stood by me and supported me in 2011.  I couldn't have done it without you!

{Real Parties} Lady Bug First Birthday Party

I recently, well, not that recently, had the pleasure of making the cake for a clients lady bug first birthday party.

I absolutely adore the lady bug theme!  I think all the colors in this party are so fun.  This would be an ideal theme for those girls that love girly, but may not want something that's so over the top frou-frou.

Her mom Lisa did an incredible job with all the details of the party.  She ordered most of the party items through etsy, including the lady bug tu-tu and personalized onesie. 

Meet Arabella...

The little lady bug

I had so much fun making this cake... I decided that I want one for my birthday!

Arabella's smash cake

I was very happy with the way everything turned out but if I had to make it again, I would curl the wire for the lady bugs to give them that 'flying' look.

before I put on the 'flying' lady bugs 

cake pop bouquet of daisies with lady bugs on each daisy

Mom, Dad and the birthday girl, Arabella

A big thank you to Lisa for allowing me to participate in this very special day!

I'm Back...

Hello All!  First let me start by apologizing for neglecting my blog... Oh how I've missed it so!

I have been so wrapped up in party planning that I haven't been able to sit down and write or post pictures.  My mother was actually the one that said, "go sit down now while you have a few minutes and update your blog".

I know I've said it before, but I really do have to stress again, how incredibly supportive my parents are!

Thanks Mom and Dad for always being the first ones to step in to help with whatever we need but mostly with John Carl (my 20 month old).  We are truly blessed to have you!

My parents and my youngest son Jack

One of my all time favorite pictures:
My father reading to Jack

{Recipe} Chesapeake Bay Snack Mix

I've received a few emails asking for the Chesapeake Bay snack mix recipe that was featured in the Crab Boil Party, so I want to share it with all of you. It was also served in a large galvanized bucket with a scoop for snacking at the party.  It might also be fun to place a smaller bucket on each table for snacking.

There are a variety of items that you could substitute or add within this recipe to adjust to your liking. I have made it with sesame sticks in place of pretzels and I've added goldfish crackers after the baking process.  My friend Ellen said that there's a cracker called crabbers that would be yummy in it.  We both looked for them but were unsuccessful in finding them so we left it as is.

Chesapeake Bay Snack Mix

Yield: 12 cups

Ingredients:
6 cups crisp corn, rice cereal, such as Crispix or Chex
3 cups thin pretzel sticks
3 cups oyster crackers
2 cups roasted unsalted peanuts
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons Old Bay Seasoning
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons hot-pepper sauce, such as Tabasco

Directions:
Preheat oven to 250 degrees. In a roasting pan, combine cereal, pretzels, crackers, and peanuts. In a small bowl, mix together melted butter, Worcestershire sauce, Old Bay, lemon juice, and hot-pepper sauce. Pour butter mixture over cereal mixture and stir until ingredients are completely coated. Bake 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Transfer mixture to two rimmed baking sheets to cool completely.

Enjoy!

Pool Party Cake

I love to share in celebrations and in making cakes, I feel I get to share in so many celebrations!

My friend and neighbor Kareena recently asked me to make a cake for her son Krish's pool party. She was kind enough to send me some pictures of her family and the cake that I made and I want to share them with you.

the party was at a local water park with a volcano theme so the cake was made to incorporate the pool and the volcano

Happy 4th Birthday Krish!

{Real Parties} Crab Boil

When I think of summer, one of the things that comes to mind is a crab boil.  Plus, I think it's a great no nonsense way to entertain. 

My friend and neighbor Ellen just celebrated her big 4-0 and asked me to help in planning her party and to make the cake.  When she said she wanted to have a crab boil I was thrilled and I knew exactly what I wanted to make and luckily Ellen was really open to the design so I opted to make the cake look like a bushel of crabs.

I ended up making the favors, favor tags, signage and the centerpieces.  Ellen came up with a great suggestion of putting out instructions on 'how to crack into a crab' for those who have never cracked into crabs before.  I think it was a brilliant idea and I love the way they turned out.

  'bushel of crabs' cake with crab sugar cookies

'how to crack into a crab' signs and sunflower centerpieces

Ellen found these wooden crab cutouts that we used to label the food with

Yummy!!

old bay snack mix favors for the adult guests

crab bean bags favors for the kids

everybody having a blast

a few of the Chase Ladies

Happy 40th Birthday Ellen!

Cake Gallery

June has been a busy month for me and cake making.  Here are the cakes I've made in the past few months, not to mention the loads of cupcakes and cake pops...I'm loving every minute of it!!  

Surf's Up Cake

Volcano/Pool Cake

Ninja Cake

Root Beer Float Cake

Princess Graduation Cake

Gerbera Daisy Wedding Cake

'bushel of crabs' cake with crab cookies

Stay tuned for more cakes I have scheduled for July!