TGIF

Ah Friday, how I missed you. Is it just me or did this week seem really long; not slow, but long. Maybe it's because I'm up late, up early, and really busy in between...

This morning, I finished up a bunny cake for the sweetest Lil' O that I know. A chocolate cake with strawberry bits and a vanilla butter cream frosting, which I put on with my hands to make the rabbit appear fluffy. I used white chocolate for the ears and nose, a marshmallow for the tail, coconut dyed green for grass, and 2 lollipop sticks cut to size for the whiskers. This cake is 99% edible and not to shabby for my first rabbit.


This week, I managed to get out all my Sweet Sampler orders ~ THANK YOU to everyone who participated and made it a smashing success. I hope you all are enjoying! My favorites are the White Russian and the Birthday Cake ii {that chocolate frosting is wicked, isn't it?}

L to R: Strawberries n' Cream, Champagne Toast, White Russian, Birthday Cake ii

I also announced that on August 28th, the Donut Collection Sweet Sampler will be on sale for 20% off, so be sure to place your orders now! $20 per equally assorted 1 dozen cupcakes: Boston Cream Pie, Apple Spice, Jelly Donut, and Glazed. I look forward to it!

Tomorrow, I've teamed up with Krista Campbell Photography for a mock bridal shoot to get her bridal portfolio going. I'm so excited to spend time with some amazing ladies. Six brides, five hours, two locations, and one fountain. With my mother's permission {she bought the dress!}, you can bet I'll be jumping in that fountain in my divorced wedding attire! I can't wait!

Thankfully, Sunday is a day to go bowling with the kids and eat some overpriced bowling alley food.

At the end of next week, it'll be another baking frenzy at my house as I reconstruct the cupcake tree and prepare dozens of cupcakes in several different flavors and a small cake for a baby shower. This just so happens to be my first official job that ends in smiles AND dollars. My dream of doing something I love so much is starting to become a reality and it's a train I don't want to stop! The orderer was not only excited for her cupcakes, but excited for me too, which was so great. You know what else is great? You! I love how you all have been a part of this journey from day one. I can't say it enough, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

Cheers to another weekend, another week, and another cup o'cake!

Obsession

I'm obsessed with recreating centerpieces. Just a few of my favorites...

Case of the Moondays

A serious case of the Moondays has hit. It's hot, it's humid, there's a leak in my ceiling, I didn't sleep well last night, and having worked my tush off all weekend, I'm in no mood to be working today too. Thank goodness I'm surrounded by sweet smiles at my day job, which has a PJ's permitted dress code and I can drink coffee until the cows come home.

Over the weekend, I made a two-tiered wedding cake; white russian on the bottom, champagne toast on the top {Note to Mrs. T ~ Do not eat that top tier if you're pregnant this time next year! Just sayin'}, 160 cupcakes in three different flavors, and a custom display tree. 17 baking hours later...

BAM! Wedding Reception Success!

Must say I'm a little impressed with myself; it turned out even better than I had pictured in my head, which to me says, I should up the ante. The tres leche coconut cupcakes with dulce de leche buttercream takes home the first place prize for the evening. I really should have quadrupled those! Like all things new, I learned, I filed away for later, and then I screamed, in my best Ringo voice, "I've got blisters on my fingers!"

Many a thank you to my two lovely assistants ~ you kept me sane, you kept me moving, and you did the dishes! I'm incredibly thankful for my VIP who did most of those hundreds dishes, played Tetris with my refrigerator, spray painted, brought home lunch, and said he was proud of me; sometimes that's all you need to hear to fall asleep happy.

Upcoming this week: A Dr. Seuss cake, a bunny cake, 3 sweet sampler boxes, and a mock bridal photo shoot. Cheers to a busy, creative week!

TGIF

I get TWO Fridays this week. Today is my Friday at work and tomorrow is Friday for the rest of the world. That rocks.

Over the past couple of days, I've been working on Sweet Sampler collections for the next four months, wedding planning, florist portfolios, expanding the cupcakery, taking orders, adding vendors to the list, and keeping up with three kids, my day job, organizing my house, and a multitude of schedules. Thankfully, I bought my very first label maker this past Tuesday and have been going insane with it ever since. We're to the point where my kids run and hide when they see me coming because in just 4 short hours, I had to replace the paper cartridge. People were labeled, things were labeled, appliances were labeled, even Vegas was labeled "CAT", but she didn't appreciate nearly as much as I did. My CDO {which is like OCD, but in alphabetical order, the way it should be} is thoroughly satisfied.

As many of you have already read, one of my very best friends got married this month in Cancun and to celebrate here in the states, her parents are hosting a Mr. and Mrs. Open House this weekend. I'm so honored to be creating her wedding cake and cupcake display that I can hardly stand the excitement! Here's the math on that one: 150 cupcakes, 15 hours, 5 flavors, 4 tiered stand, 3 different fillings, 2 tiered cake, and 1 Kitchenaid. It's no wonder that the good Lord rested on Sunday. I'm just making cakes; I can't imagine making an entire universe in seven days. Over achiever agree that THAT seems a bit ridiculous.

Don't forget Green Apple Design is hosting a 20% off sale ~ the Sweet Sampler Box #1: "The Fancy". 1 dozen equally assorted cupcakes in Champagne Toast, Strawberries n'Cream, White Russian, and Birthday Cake ii for $20/box. Place your orders by RSVP'ing on Facebook or by sending an email to GreenAppleDesign@live.com. We ship throughout the contiguous United States, S & H charges apply. Look for Sweet Sampler #2: "The Donut Collection" in August!

As for the remaining time I have before Monday morning, you'll find me sleeping. Cheers to a weekend of delightful aromas, sweet cakes, and good friends!

Weekend Brunch

In an effort to save time during the week, I bake muffins on Sunday. A quick, easy weekday breakfast solution so that no one dies before Mommy has had her coffee. These, in particular, have taken quite the popular vote at my house. From my kitchen to yours....

Banana Crumb Muffins


1-1/2 c flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3 bananas, mashed
3/4 c white sugar
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/3 c butter, melted
1/3 c brown sugar, packed
2 tbsp flour
1/8 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tbsp butter

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees and line muffin pan with papers or lightly grease.

2. In a large bowl, mix together 1 1/2 c flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In another bowl, beat together bananas, sugar, egg, and melted butter. Stir the banana mixture into the dry mixture and stir until just combined. Spoon batter into prepared muffin tin.

3. In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, 2 tbsp flour and cinnamon. Cut 1 tbsp of butter in until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal. Sprinkle over top of muffins.

4. Bake in preheated oven for 18 to 20 min, until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean.

This recipe can be found on All Recipes.

Case of the Moondays

Hi ho, hi ho it's off to work we go... Happy Monday to everyone! After a whirlwind weekend like that, I'm uber happy to have a short work week.

If you viewed the cupcake giveaway vlog {posted below}, you see that I was happily baking away in the background. The finished product ~ Hooray for Hollywood!

Not too shabby, eh? While this lovely two-tiered french vanilla cake with cream cheese filling, vanilla butter cream and fondant decor was an incredible tasty blast to make, it was the face of the lovely eleventeen year old that completed it's true beauty. Thank you Amazing Alexis for turning 11!

This cake was definitely a live and learn experience. Notes were made and will be put into good use next time. Improvement, improvement, improvement! Many, many thank you kisses were planted on my super cute sous chef, VIP, who helped roll, color, and cut fondant, kept me on task, made the coffee, high five'd me several times, AND cleaned up the kitchen. I must have done something really good to deserve him.

In other news, I received my business cards in the mail yesterday; not a moment too soon since I already passed out a few at Johnny Rocket's where my Hooray for Hollywood cake made it's debut. eGAD! Although, I'd like to remind y'all that it's not just cupcakes around here ~ it's the whole shebang!

Up this week: 200 cupcakes, a 2 tiered wedding cake, a giant custom cupcake tree, and a wedding reception. I'm so thrilled and completely surprised that I don't weigh 1000 pounds with all the batter I eat! Ahhhh cake. Wishing you a week just as sweet ~ Cheers!

Cupcake Giveaway Winner

First off, let me start by saying that I was in the middle of a cake when this was filmed and I had completely lost track of time. The mess that is me and the mess behind me serve as proof! Also, while my Academy Award acceptance speech is top notch in my vanity mirror, my on camera skills are completely lacking. That being said, I give you my very first vlog... with hopes of improvement over time!

Congratulations Shelly! Shelly was notified last Friday of her winnings and she couldn't decide which cupcakes to choose, so she inspired "The Fancy" Sweet Sampler {on sale now at a special introductory price!}. It includes: Champagne Toast, Strawberries and Cream, White Russian, and Birthday Cake II. Also, thank you to my camerawoman, Elisa for the drum roll!

In other tasty good eGAD news, I've decided to host a cupcake drawing every month from now until holiday season, which in my head officially starts when Santa crosses the finish line in the Macy's Day Parade. Translation: the last cupcake drawing will be held in November. So make sure to pass it on to your friends and increase your chance of {at least shared} cupcake winnings!