Corbin's 1st Birthday

One of my absolute favorite things about this baking gig is watching ideas come to life. Most cakes usually start out with a little pinspiration, then I weave the ideas from one or two cakes together and make alterations for theme and color. I do sketches and make timelines, and hope for the best.

But most of that planning and prepping stays in my mind until just hours before a cake is delivered. It's not until the final touches are added that I truly get to see ideas come to fruition, and it is always so satisfying.

I was so pleased to get to make this cake for an adorable little man on his first birthday, and it was one of those ideas that I couldn't wait to see come alive. Rustic textured frosting and playful navy polka-dots with edible gold-coated white chocolate toppers - all the elements came together just exactly as I imagined they would.

I hope the birthday boy enjoys eating it as much as I enjoyed making it. Happy Birthday, Corbin!

Dahlia Wedding Cake

There's just something so lovely about a last minute wedding cake. The way details fall into place like magic. The way ideas come together in a whirlwind sort of way. They always seem to be my favorite.

That was certainly the case with this darling dahlia wedding cake and the 100 cupcakes that went along with it. After the mysterious disappearance of her baker, Ashley came to me a mere three weeks before her wedding, and everything immediately fell into place.

 Our ideas and style clicked, our schedules synced and it came together as if we had been planning together for months. Of course, it didn't hurt that she was a wonderfully gracious, easygoing bride to work with.

And the result was my favorite wedding cake to date (though to be fair, I say that about most of my cakes). Congratulations to the happy couple! I hope your day was beautiful.

Lavender Wedding Cake

Some days I feel especially lucky to be making cakes for a living, but never so much as when I have the honor of baking a cake for a wedding.

This rustic lavender cake is especially near and dear to my heart, because it was made for my old neighbor and childhood friend Joe and his beautiful bride Jesy. With a mere week of planning, the collaborative vision for this cake came together.

A sweet, simple yellow cake with European vanilla buttercream, burlap ribbon and fresh lavender accents felt right at home at the small outdoor venue at Passaretti's in beautiful South Lake Tahoe. And the bride and groom couldn't have picked a more gorgeous day for their intimate outdoor ceremony.

Even though I couldn't stay for the ceremony, baking this cake allowed me to feel like an integral part of their day. It was such a blessing. Congratulations, Joe and Jesy!

You Are My Sunshine Party

Last weekend was my daughter's first birthday, and we went with a fun and bright "You Are My Sunshine" theme. Of course it ended up snowing mid-May just for the occasion, but even so it was a beautiful party with all our favorite people.

Making cakes for my babies' birthdays just fills my heart with joy. I went with a white vanilla cake with European vanilla frosting and petite yellow fondant flowers to match our yellow and white color scheme. They were delicate, whimsical and the perfect amount of sweet.

And judging from the birthday girl's reaction, it was a smashing success.

xoxo

Baby Fever

Brown Sugar Pound Cakes with Brown Sugar Cream Cheese Frosting

Lemon Curd Filled Vanilla Cupcakes with European Vanilla Buttercream

Is it just me, or is everybody having babies right now? I have two friends on the verge of labor, a couple friends who just gave birth to their sweet littles, and more babies are due to pop out throughout this spring.

I had the honor of doing cupcakes for a couple baby showers this month, and I was so pleased with how they turned out.

The first batch went to a dear friend I've known since elementary school and his lovely girlfriend. I made them some brown sugar pound cakes with brown sugar cream cheese frosting, butterscotch starfish and seashells, and chocolate pearls for their nautical themed shower for baby Estelle (how cute is that name!). This party was so full of love, and I am so glad I got to be there to celebrate with them. They are totally going to rock this parenthood thing, I just know it.

Then this weekend I got to make some seriously fun, cookie topped cupcakes to celebrate the upcoming arrival of a sweet baby boy. Vanilla cupcakes filled with lemon curd and topped with European vanilla buttercream and "little man" onesie cookies were one of my favorite creations to date.

All this cuteness has given me some serious baby fever. Especially since my little cupcake is almost a whole year old already. I guess I ought to start dreaming up some special treats for her big day. Sigh.

Lovely Flours 200 "Likes" Giveaway

I had an awesome time making a bunch of sweet treats for Lemaire Photography's Valentine's Day set. And, of course, once they shared this amazing little montage of my baked goods looking so good on their Facebook page we hit 200 likes in a matter of minutes. So it's finally giveaway time!

I'm giving away a $50 gift certificate for Lovely Flours Bake Shop. Don't live in Reno? No problem, you can still use the gift certificate for non-cake items I can ship (like those lovely Valentine sugar cookies pictured above). The giveaway starts right now and ends Sunday night at midnight. I will announce the lucky winner on Monday. Good luck, everyone and thanks for all the support and love! a Rafflecopter giveaway

Love Is In The Air

I love Valentine's Day. Always have, always will.

Okay, except for that one year when I had just got dumped and my cheer coach got everyone else on the team Valentine lollypop bouquets and forgot about me. Or the Valentine's day I got pinkeye and a Whitman's sampler (which my boyfriend dropped off outside, because, ew, I had pinkeye, ain't nobody want to see that nastiness). Or the one when I went to see The Aviator - gah, worst Valentine's day movie ever. Wait, why do I like Valentine's day again?

Oh yeah, there's cake. And crafts. And my Valentine's Day celebrations have vastly improved since high school. I've got this amazing, thoughtful husband and fun little kiddos to do crafts with and a big ol' kitchen to bake treats in.

I'm extra excited to be offering a $15 Valentine's Day special this year, with half-dozen variety boxes of red velvet, chocolate and cinnamon sugar cupcakes - all decorated in lovey dovey style and wrapped in the sweetest red polka dot cupcake carriers. I'm putting a cap on my orders so I don't get overwhelmed - and there are only two boxes left, so if you want some you better get on it!

I'm absolutely smitten with these red velvet "love letter" cupcakes, I think I'll have to make some extra for me and my loves this year.

xoxo