My newest obsession

My husband always tells me that it's a good thing I never got into drugs because I have a very addictive personality. I often get hooked on a particular thing and I must have it. Whatever it is at that moment actually consumes me until I get it if it's a purchase or until I am literally sickened by the thought of it if it's edible. My current edible obsession is Jelly Belly jelly beans. Now I will admit that I had a preexisting condition, meaning that around Easter I go a little crazy on the Jelly Bellys, but then it goes away until the next year. Well, 2 weeks ago my BSGF (bestest sister girlfriend=BFF) surprised me with a bag out of the blue and unleashed the monster. I have been eating them ever since. My husband left me some under my pillow, and the other night he made a late night run to the CVS for me. It's really bad! I think I'll have to go cold turkey because I don't see this one wearing off.
As far as the purchase obsession... the above is haunting me in my dreams. Isn't she a beaut? This little lady has soooo many tricks up her sleeve, I can't even name them. Now, I am a strictly Kitchen Aid girl and I do love my Pink Penny, but this here Cuisinart  is gonna make me change my religion. I am so in love! I could almost whip out cupcakes in my sleep. Think I could get it for Valentine's Day?

So in my last post I shared a picture of what I am calling Cupcake Truffles. They are essentially the same thing as a cake pop, but for grown ups. They are decadent and sophisticated and I love them! So far I've done them in red velvet with white chocolate, chocolate mint, blondie with chocolate and toffee chips, and my personal fav... coconut rum cake with white chocolate. OMG!!!! That one is ridiculously tasty, if I do say so myself. There are more flavors to come.
I packed these cute little boxes for my coworkers at the day job and the were a hit. I wanted to do something different for them; I always bring them cupcakes. Not that you can get sick of cupcakes, but I just wanted to do something a little different. Lets just say nobody missed the cupcakes. So cupcake truffles will be the first new menu item of 2012!

That's just the beginning of the changes to come for BCC in 2012. New menu items, and a new look are just the start. Can you say Cupcake Makeover?!?!?!?

Cute little app for your Ipad or Ipod

Source: Google

The Many Faces of Babycakes Couture...

I don’t know if anyone else has noticed, but I haven’t been blogging much lately. I have been busy, but that’s not why. When I first started this blog it was kind of a tool for me to get out all of the cupcake fantasies I was having while I figured out what I wanted to do with them. Now that I’ve gotten some ground under my feet in that sense, I use it as a platform to share my work and to be inspired by other’s in the blogosphere. When I do something new or fancy or that I’ve never posted before I’m excited to blog and I have lots to say. When I’m just crankin’ out the fabulous everyday cupcakes that you’ve seen before, I’m not as inclined to share. But then how do I feed my writing spirit?
So, today I decided that my blog will no longer just exhibit my cupcakey talents. I am a complexly creative person. I have multiple creative personalities if you will. So with that said you will begin to see posts from my crafty side, more from my fashiony side and maybe even my foodie side. And dun dun dun… if I’m feeling especially confident I may even share some of my creative writing. I love all of these things, but I am most protective of my writing. Sharing it makes me nervous, but maybe one day I’ll feel moved to do so. So now that I realized that the topic of cupcakes was restricting my writing you should hear much more from me. I’m so excited; it makes me want a blog makeover! Hmmm…

Happy New Year!!!!!

So, I totally missed the one year anniversary of starting this blog. Between the holidays and the holiday orders I barely know what today's date is. That's a good thing! I had this whole thing planned out for what I would say and how I would thank my followers on that date, but I missed it.
So here we are on New Year's Day, the perfect time to thank you all for making 2010 such an awesome year. From the cupcakes to the comments I have had so much more success in this first year than I could have ever imagined. So thank you! I wish I could send you all a cupcake right now!

In 2011 my eye is on the prize. The focus is on the storefront. Babycakes Couture Sweets Boutique 2012!!!

At this time of year people make resolutions to be or do better, or to do something they have been putting off for a while. Most often times they don't follow through. This year I'm not making resolutions. I'm making plans. Plans are roadmaps or blueprints for a desired outcome. Make a plan, with simple steps and easy to find landmarks, that should help with keeping you on track through out the year.
This year I plan to come up with new a cupcake flavor every month, and tackle new techniques that I've been wanting to try. I plan to learn and know the business side of things like I know my cupcakes. It's going to be a good year!
What are your New Year's Plans?

A Domestic Goddess in Every Way

I cook, I bake, I scrapbook, I make jewelry, I mean I do all things crafty. Oh, and I sew. Maybe I don't actively sew, but I can sew. Same difference. Actually I haven't sewn anything in about 7 years, but it's just like riding a bike...right?

I have a wedding to attend on New Years Eve. My husband is in The wedding an he's wearing a tux, so you know what that means! I have to wear a gown! I am excited too because the wedding is at the The Merion Tribute House, where we got married 2 years ago. Yay!!

I haven't really tapped in to my fashion designer alter ego in a while. But I've run in to a dilemma that has motivated me to pick up my needle and thread. Whenever I have somewhere special to go, I meditate on what I want to wear. What, you don't meditate? What look am I going for? What's my inspiration? Once I have a grasp on the look I hit up Google for some reality to my fantasy. I search red carpet looks, and magazine covers. Lucky and Instyle magazines are the best for this type of research. But as usual Google never lets me down. I searched for a long sleeved  evening gown and after I weeded through all of the horrible MOB gowns I found this amazing BCBG jersey dress.

It looks so simple and glam at the same time, and it's jersey, so it's probably super comfy. Now here's the catch. This dress is online on "final cut", basically meaning clearance. Anything on sale at BCBG is not returnable. What do you mean I can't return it? So, if I order this dress and it is a terrible fit I can't send it back? I'm not taking that chance. But it's perfect, and I want it soooo bad.
Then The light bulb went off. I was a fashion student darn it! I used to sew and design all the time. I'll make that dress myself, humph. Who needs BCBG anyway. Not me! I'm a Domestic Goddess, I can do this.

Now as I said before, it's been a while. I mean, I designed the dresses for my girls for my wedding, but I didn't make them. I'm really nervous, so I better get started soon, just in case I need to run out and buy a dress. I'll keep you posted. Wish me luck!

My Day with Bobby Flay...

I had the most amazing day yesterday. Besides the weather being absolutely beautiful, I knew that one of my birthday wishes would come true. I met Bobby Flay yesterday!!!!!!!

If you can recall my birthday post, I made three wishes. I wished for a cupcake truck, to meet Paula Deen and to meet Bobby Flay. Well how about that, it only took four months for me to get that wish! I woke up two weeks ago to an email from Williams and Sonoma, I so love that store, inviting me to a meet and greet with my Bobby to promote his new Throwdown cook book. I immediately called and registered for my spot.

When I got there the line was pretty long, but the Williams and Sonoma staff were great, they made if fun and they fed us. All I have to say is Butternut Squash Soup with caramelized onions and cornbread croutons, YUM!!!!! Now, I have to make one suggestion to W&S for next time. If you’re gonna serve soup with caramelized onions, please hand out mints afterward. I was not trying to meet my Bobby with questionable breath. Ewww! Luckily the woman in front of me had gum. They gave out little books and recipe cards. It was great. And before I knew it, it was time to go in. I instantly got extremely nervous, I started sweating and had to pee so bad, I thought I might have to get out of line. It would be horrible to meet Bobby with wet pants. I had to pull myself together, and after a few moments of internal insanity, I was fine.

Once I got inside the store there was still a little bit of a wait before my group got to interact with him so I had time to take in the sites and make a little wish list.

This is a Cornucopia Cake Pan

I'll take one of these please for my Thanksgiving spread!

Beautiful!!

This is a like a little muffin pan but it shapes like nuts and acorns. It is so cool and if you can see in the bottom right corner they displayed them in and Apothecary Jar. Love it!!!

This is the kiddie birthday display. There are cupcake liners and toppers and plates. A pirate ship for the boys and a princess castle for the girls. The castle was amazing. I think I'll be ordering it. You never know when you'll need a good castle.

Enough window shopping.
As I got closer to Mr. Flay I noticed that there were people assisting him with greeting and signing books. It was like an assembly line. They were herding people like cattle. Book, camera, sign, stop, smile, flash, good bye. Oh no, that was not going to work for me. I needed a moment. I need the 3 minute conversation that I’d rehearsed in my head on the way to the mall. Finally it was my turn and I handed off my book to the girl on the right and my camera to the girl on the left. And I did not wait to be invited I walked right up to my Bobby and said "Hello!" He said hello back, very relaxed like he wasn't as excited to see me as I was to see him. I said "I brought you a present." I was looking for a better reaction than I initially received. He looked up and said "You did?" I said "Yes, red velvet cupcakes." Well his face lit up and he let out a grunt of excitement and turned to the crowd and said "Take note people, take note. This is how you do it" I told him that I made them for him and that my card was in the box. He said they looked beautiful and that he could smell them through the box. I also told him that I wished to meet him for my birthday.  He said he was flattered and glad that it came true! Awesomeness! Then he gave me a hug. And he smelled good. I’m crushing on him a little bit; I better stop before the hubby gets jealous. But really, he was super sweet and funny.  That jealous hubby said he wasn’t going to eat my cupcakes and that he would think I was a stalker and trying to poison him or something. Jealous I tell you. Anyway, he seemed genuinely happy about them. We started posing for the picture and he said wait... he turned around and put the box on the table and said "We have to style this picture correctly" and pulled out a cupcake and held it up for the picture. I almost melted into a pile of cream cheese icing. It was a great Day!



Kids... Gotta love 'em

I love that Chik-fil-A gives books in their kids meals. Well, they just took it to another level. My son received, "If you Give a cat a Cupcake." Of course we already have that book, so I thought Zaire would be mad. Instead my sweet little 5 year old son says to me "It's ok mom, you can have this one since you like cupcakes so much." How sweet is that? I love that little boy!

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If at first you don't succed...

You try, and try again. right? Isn't that what they say. I made my first attempt at a sugar free red velvet cupcake. Hmm, it was well, not good or bad. It baked up much differently than my regular ones do and it baked away from the cupcake liner which was annoying, and it was heavy, like literally heavy when you picked it up. It didn't really taste like much of anything to me. The hubby said it wasn't bad and he is very picky so I guess it was ok. I definitely missed the sugar, it was just kind of flat. My grandmother is not diabetic, but she has been instructed to watch her sugar intake so I did it for her mostly, but people always ask me if I do any sugar free options so I figured I better get on it asap. The first try was not a complete flop, but I know i can do better.
Now the sugar free cream cheese icing... that's another story. It was just bad! Bad I tell you. I think I have my work cut out for me there, but I'm up for the challenge.

Happy Birthday to Me!!!

It’s my birthday today!  Birthdays are so much fun.  No matter how old I get I still feel like a little princess on my birthday.  People just treat you nicely when it’s your birthday. It’s like how they treat you when you’re preggers- and then as soon as you have the baby it’s back to normal. Either way, I love birthdays so much.

 I have three things that I would like to wish for today.  I know they say if you tell someone then they won’t come true, but I don’t believe that.  

Now, these are not the Miss America wishes; of course I would love for there to be world peace or to end world hunger, but, this wish is not about that (although I do wish they would get this oil situation under control).  Anyway, my first wish is for the famous, most awesome and super fabulous Ms. Oprah Winfrey to taste one of my cupcakes, and love it; because God knows if she hated it I would be devastated.  My second wish is actually two wishes in one.  I want oh so badly to meet Ms. Paula Deen and Mr. Bobby Flay. They are my absolute favorite Food Network personalities.  I would give Paula Deen the biggest hug ever.  She just seems so huggable!  And that Bobby Flay, he’s so cute; I want a Cupcake Throw-down with him.  I would kick his butt!  He’s huggable too; I love them both.

Ok, now my third wish is something that I am very serious about and I am going to bake my little heart out to make it come true.  I WANT A CUPCAKE TRUCK!!!!!!!!  I want a truck so bad.  It would be the cutest little couture cupcake mobile you’ve ever seen. Pink and brown just like the site; until then, I will continue on the path that has treated me soooo well thus far.  But, one day soon you will see a sweet little pink cupcake truck rolling around the streets of Philly and I will be behind the wheel.  Can’t wait! Honk your horn and wave when you see me!

Hi Guys!!!!!

I miss my blog family!
I have been swamped. We are moving to a new house and that is no small task. It’s bad enough moving my stuff, but the kids have a load of crap of their own that needs to be dealt with. I think a trash can is the perfect place for it, though I am sure they would disagree. The big move is this weekend, so after we are settled, it will be back to business as usual here.

Busy as I am, I had to take a few moments to share with you some great news.
The pink flag has been planted and victory is so sweet!
Thanks to my teams fundraising efforts and the giving hearts of friends, family and strangers alike, Babycakes Couture for the Cure raised $1031.00 in the 2010 Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Fundraising campaign. We surpassed or goal of $1000 and the race is still on. The site will be up until June 1, 2010 tallying all of the donations. So if you’re saying “aww man, I meant to do that,” you still can! Or if you know someone who wants to donate, spread the word! Here’s the link once again, just in case you lost it!

Babycakes Couture for the Cure Team Page

The day of the actual race (or shall I say walk because there was no racing going on in our group) our team stepped out in true Babycakes Couture fashion sporting our custom team tees; with of course a cupcake on them, topped with Breast Cancer Ribbon Sprinkles. Thanks to a little company called Custom Tees right outside of Philly. They cranked them out for us at the last minute. They did an excellent job. Thanks Custom Tees!

It was a great day!

Now back to my boxes!

Julie and Julia...

I know I'm late and everyone who cared to see it has probably already done so and blogged about it, but I feel the need to share. Yesterday, I actually sat down and watched a movie. Weeks ago my husband so lovingly placed Julie and Julia in our Netflix queue just because he thought it was something I'd like. I thought that was extremely sweet. Any way I never took the time to watch it, until yesterday. I loved it! Amy Adams was too cute! Meryl Streep did an amazing job, as usual, playing Julia Child. I remember being a little girl and wondering why my mom was laughing so hard at Saturday Night Live when they would do the Julia Child impressions.One day I actually saw her show and it was hysterical. I had to be about 10 or 11 years old. She was amazing to me and she reminded me of my grandmother. She was a statuesque woman and she said whatever was on her mind. She cooked with such ease, as if it were this natural talent that you either have or you don't. Just like my Mommom!

She is the reason I love cooking shows. We didn't have cable so I knew nothing of Food Network growing up. I lived for Sunday afternoons with "Yan Can Cook" and "Ciao Italia" and all those other shows on PBS. Except that vegetarian lady. I hated that one, she always made some gross looking stuff with peanuts.
I guess that was the beginning of my love affair with food TV.

Back to Julie and Julia, it was just an all around good movie and a great way to spend a kid-less Sunday afternoon.

Bon Appetit

FYI...

So, you remember the cute little cupcake boxes from the previous post,"Talk about Busy..."?
Well thoses little cuties became favors for a girlfriends' getaway weekend in Las Vegas. So fun!
They were red velvet of course, and they looked super cute in the little boxes. Too bad my camera wouldn't cooperate. I must start posting from my phone.
The girls also took strawberry cookies pops along for the Vegas fun. I did get a couple of pictures of them before my camera took the night off.
 These are sooo tasty; even better after a few days. I remembered having a couple left over Sunday night while I was watching Army Wives and they were deeeelicious. Perfect Sunday night snack!

The Oprah Effect...

You may have seen it, CNN did a special on the effect Oprah Winfrey has on small businesses. It was fascinating. The Oprah Effect is the most amazing thing that could happen to a small busniess. It happens when somehow Ms. Winfrey gets a hold of your product and loves it, cause if she hated it I guess it would be the opposite effect. Anyway, all she has to do is speak highly of your business or product and all of a sudden your phone is ringing off the hook. Your products are flying off the shelves and you have so many orders of whatever it is you sell that you can't even keep up. But, somehow you make it through and and when you come out on the other side you have this million dollar business. That's what happened toWe Take the Cake. The owner Lori Karmel's boutique bakery was on the verge of bankruptcy when Oprah featured one of her cakes on the "Oprah's Favorite Things" show. After the show aired her phones were ringing off the hook. Her cakes are now sold in all of the Whole Foods markets in Florida and at http://www.neimanmarcus.com/ to name a few. The bakery also now ships nationwide.

Ok, can somebody get Oprah one of my Red Velvet cupcakes, a lemon tart, something. I need the Oprah Effect to come my way.

~Until next time,
                     BCC

Babycakes Couture for the Cure...

Mother's Day is fast approaching and as every year since my mother's diagnosis, we kick off the festivities of the day with the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. This July my mom will celebrate eight years of being cancer free! She is awesome, and we are lucky to have her.

So to give back and  help out in the largest way possible, this year I have started a team.  Team Babycakes Couture for the Cure has a fundraising goal of $1000. In addition, 50% of the profits made from BCC business from now until Mother's Day will go towards breast cancer research. As more members join the team, we will get closer and closer to surpassing our goal.

If you are in the Philadelphia area, join our team and come out and walk with us on Mother's Day. If you are not in the area, you can still join and raise funds to help us reach our goal. And if you would like to make a donation please feel free to do so on the team page or on my personal page.
Team page:
http://rfcphl.convio.net/site/TR/Race/General?team_id=39858&pg=team&fr_id=1040&et=ZRw9IDLaHqqPGdNBuQCX6w..&s_tafId=33543

My personal page:
http://rfcphl.convio.net/site/TR/Race/General?px=1879208&pg=personal&fr_id=1040&et=1uBewHi9XGnlfDS-4QeMhA..&s_tafId=33543


Thanks guys for your help.
Remember to do monthly self breast exams. Early detection is the best protection.

And the award goes to...

Oh my goodness, oh my goodness, oh my goodness!
Though the Oscars are not until Sunday, I am walking the red carpet right now.
To accept my Bloggy Award that is. The fabulousy creative Monique over at Enchanted Expectations was inspired by lil' old me and was so inclined to give me a Bloggy. So sweet especially coming form her. She is an amazing, and supremely creative party planner. She maps out everything for her clients and really has an eye for out of the box designs. In one word, she's Awesome! You know that's my favorite word. One of my favorite things on her site is the Rock Star Inspiration Board.

My daughter would love it!

Anyway, if you're in the Maryland area and are looking for an excellent party planner check her out.

Snowed In...

Snowed in again...

What else is there to do but bake cuppycakes :)

I am so excited to share that I've been asked to do some Valentine's Day treats for a small store in the city. This is a really big deal for BCC! I am going to do Red Velvet of course, maybe with some pretty pink cream cheese frosting, and some heart shaped pepperment and sugar cookies. I will definately post some pics of the finished products and packaging. Let me know if you have any other ideas.

Be back soon!

Smooches!

Woe is me...

There should be some type of Universal Mommy Award that is given out upon the completion of household stomach virus epidemic. Especially since Mommy will almost always get sick. It should be given in the form of a spa day once she is strong enough to enjoy it. And I think because I just made it up I should be the first recipient of said award. Don't you agree?

This was the worst possible weekend to be stricken down and have no choice but to lie in bed at the mercy of one's husband. (who took very good care of me I might add). BCC had two cupcake orders for this weekend I knew they both wouldn't get done. I had to sacrifice one order and dissapoint one little birthday boy who wanted basketball cupcakes, to let my body work against the evil forces. I will have to make it up to him somehow. I woke up this morning feeling weak, but 75% better than I did yesterday and for business sake I pulled out six dozen mini cupcakes. Surgical mask and all. That was all I had in me. Back the bed I went. In the end, tomorrow is a new day; hopefully I will be 100% by then, because the day time job doesn't stop either.

Love is in the air...

This Sunday Valentine's Day will be two weeks away! I am super excited!
Valentine's Day is my favorite holiday. I love all the hearts and the pink and the sweets, cupcakes of course!
One of my favorite sites for cupcake paraphernalia is http://www.fancyflours.com/, and as usual they did not disappoint. They have created some of the cutest V Day cupcake looks that i've seen this year. I am so inspired. I can't wait to put together some looks of my own.

I will definitely be putting some of these on my V Day wishlist!
Keep checking back; my next few posts will be devoted to V Day and the part cupcakes play in the sweetest holiday of the year.

I am such a bad blogger...

I have not blogged in weeks, weeks that is unacceptable. I wish I could say that I have been extremely busy and just didn't have time, but that is so not the case. I have just had somewhat of a writer's block. So I thought. It seems as if the only way to get past the block is to write, so here goes.

In the past few weeks I have filled my first two real orders! And I have two more orders to fill this month and one already scheduled for February. So somehow when I wasn't looking Babycakes Couture became a real business. I am up and running and super excited! This year has started off amazingly and I can't wait to see what the Universe has instore for Babycakes Couture for the rest of 2010!

Back at it...

Tonight I logged on to find that I have my first follower. Yayyy! Angela of My Three Babycakes is following me. I wish I could give a door prize : )
Anywho, seeing that was just the motivation I needed to make a new entry, you know since i started way back in September. I haven't just been sitting on my butt you know. I've been busy, and I've been baking as you soon will see. I have loads of pics to share. The collection is almost complete!