Cupcake Necklaces

We have a shop in Incline Village called The Potlatch and it has an eclectic mix of clothing, dishes, jewelry, candles, picture frames, rugs, and all kinds of other goodness.  I went in there yesterday and found these Sweet Life necklaces ($8.99). The necklaces come attached to paper cupcakes with a recipe inside! 

 BTW....Sweet Life also makes bracelets. 

Yoga Cupcakes

My niece Payton is here visiting this week and we took a yoga class today....stretching and getting into poses and positions that the human body was not meant to be in.  A good time was had by all.  Maybe rubbing a cupcake on my sore legs will help.

from the Flickr  photostream of doreenseng 

Cupcake Scarf (free pattern)

I know it's the middle of summer, but if you get started now, you will have a cute cupcake scarf by the time the first snowflakes fall.  The pattern for this scarf is available free from Craftbits.com.

Craftbits.com

Martha Stewart Cupcake Punch

You can use this cupcake punch for many things, but I bought it to make cupcake confetti to scatter on a table at a birthday party.  I got mine at Michael's but it is also available at craft stores, Borders and Amazon.  If you are into scrapbooking, there is also a cupcake corner punch.

Martha Stewart cupcake punch

$12.99

Cupcake Ear Buds

These cupcake earbuds will make music on your iPod (or whatever device you use) sound even better!

available from Amazon

$16.95

Cupcake Costume

This is my halloween costume this year...except I must change the hat and the shoes!  It is available from many sources, but Amazon has the best price.

available from Amazon

$33.90

Last Space Shuttle Launch

Today is a little sad for me because I just watched the last space shuttle launch. I started thinking about all the launches I have seen.  On July 20, 1969 I watched the first moon landing while looking out the window at the moon and thinking "there are men walking around up there right now."  I was at a nursing conference in Nashville, TN when the first shuttle landed.  The person giving the lecture stopped and asked the audio-visual guy to switch to the broadcast of the first shuttle landing....amazing to watch the shuttle Columbia on a huge screen.  My heart was beating out of my chest as the shuttle touched down and the astronauts got out. 

Over the years, I have been fortunate to watch most of the shuttle launches and landings.  I was driving at the time of the shuttle Challenger disaster but was listening to the launch on the radio and remembering the knot in my stomach as the announcer's voice said "something is wrong."

I got to see the shuttle flying piggyback on a 747 as it returned to Florida after a landing at Edwards Air Force Base.  That was impressive. 

I was presenting my dissertation data at a conference in Orlando and was flying home very early in the morning.  I knew there would be a shuttle launch that morning so I got up at 3 am to be at the airport and past security before the launch.  I remember running to the large windows just in time to see the shuttle clear the trees.  It was a clear day so I watched until the booster rockets were released and fell to earth. 

So...as I sat watching the shuttle Atlantis leave Kennedy Space Center for the last time ever, I was a little sad.  I don't know what NASA has in store for the future, but I feel privileged to have seen so much in my lifetime. 

A cupcake toast to the space shuttles!

Enterprise (test flights only), Columbia, Discovery, Challenger, Atlantis, Endeavor

clevercupcakes

Recipe of the Week: Red, White & Blue Cupcakes

Millions of Americans will pack picnic baskets tomorrow to celebrate the Fourth of July Independence Day and many of those baskets will contain cupcakes.  This week's recipe is a variation of the one I used for tie-dyed cupcakes....just with red, white and blue colors.

Red, White & Blue Cupcakes

Make a French Vanilla cupcake mix according to package directions.  Divide the batter into three bowls.  Color one bowl red, one bowl blue and leave the other bowl plain.  Prepare your cupcake pan with liners.  Add one tablespoon of batter to each liner...experiment with batter placement!  Bake as directed on the mix and cool completely.

Frost the cupcakes with your favorite vanilla buttercream or use premade Fluffy White frosting.  For toppers, I made red and blue gum paste stars, but you can also use patriotic sprinkles or July 4th cupcake picks!

from the photostream of TidyMom

via Flickr

Carpe Cupcakes! (the second anniversary)

Two years ago I started this blog to explore the cupcake universe.  It has been a lot of fun and I learn something new every day.  As the third year begins....thanks to all who are regular readers and to those who discover the cupcake universe on the way to somewhere else.  Thank you!

the first wedding cupcake I made

(and still my favorite)

Scallion Cheddar Cheese Savory Cupcakes

I rarely feature savory cupcakes, but this picture from Eatomanic made me want to do it.  I think it was something about the two green scallions sticking out on top. 

Eatomaniac

(blog)

Macarons (Macaroons) are not the new Cupcake!

On my recent visit to Paris I have to admit that I was smitten with the French macaron (macaroon)...but at 1 Euro each I didn't eat as I would have liked.  That said, this article from NPR has my cupcake wrappers in a bunch.  Macarons are NOT the new cupcake!

Critics believe that cupcakes are a trendy dessert, but they have been a part of my life for a very long time (more than a half century for those doing the math) so I wouldn't exactly describe them as a passing fad.  Read the article for yourself and see what you think. 

Move Over, Cupcake: Make Way For The Macaroon

by Neda Ulaby

 

photo by Kyle Samperton from the NPR article

BunkyCooks

Cupcake Gift Bag

I found this Happy Birthday cupcake gift bag at World Market.  I put a little something in it today for my friend Solange...happy birthday!

Summer Cupcakes

Today is the first full day of summer...celebrate with some summer cupcakes!

Bakerella

(click on Bakerella's link to learn how to make these

hamburger cupcakes with sugar cookie "fries")

corn on the cob cupcakes

MarthaStewart.com

ice cream cupcakes

MarthaStewart.com

Balloon Cupcakes

These balloon cupcakes would look great for any event....the possibilities are endless.  You can make them casual or elegant depending on the frosting and ribbon. 

Disney FamilyFun

Day 5: An American Cupcake in Paris

Our first full day in Paris and the bottom fell out while we were walking from the Basilica of the Sacre Couer on Montmarte (a hill 130 meters above the city). We were wet and cold....and very happy that we had not worn the new boots we bought earlier in the day.

Are there any cupcakes in Paris? The only cupcake I have come across so far is Buttercream, but I have discovered macaroons. I am thinking about changing the name of this blog to Carpe Macaroons! I paid 4.50 Euros for three of these amazing cookies today and they were worth every bite.

I feel a little bit like Charlie looking for the Golden Ticket in Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. I hope to find the golden cupcake soon.

Buttercream visits Notre Dame Cathedral

Buttercream looks across the city of Paris

Buttercream at the Basilica of the Sacre Coeur

Montmarte

The steps to the

Basilia of the Sacre Couer at Montmarte

(looking down was easier than walking up)

 

London Day 2: Harrod's Cupcakes & Jack the Ripper

Yesterday's passport drama is behind me so on to the cupcakes!  We went to Harrod's this morning and I have to say it was quite overwhelming plus it really is no fun shopping when there is little chance you can actually purchase anything. Well, you can purchase things but you must be prepared to pay...and pay...and pay. 

The Food Hall at Harrod's is worth the trip, even if you don't venture anywhere else in the store. Any type of food you can think of is there (and some I had never thought of).  Amazing!  I bought vegetable samosas with mango chutney and then picked out four mini cupcakes for $3 each. Since it is highly frowned upon to eat your purchases inside the store, we took our munchies outside and sat with the pigeons.  (message for Kristi...absolutely NO picnicking at Harrod's!)

We ended our evening with a Jack the Ripper tour that started at Tower Hill and ended near the Liverpool tube station.  We were starving after all that murder & mayhem so we found a pub and had fish & chips.  We drank shandies (a combination of beer & lemonade) and even though I do not drink beer, I must say that I could have drunk a pitcher of those!

Cupcake box from Harrod's

red velvet, coconut, lemon & chocolate minis

eating outside with the pigeons

cupcake carnage

Henry VIII & A Cupcake

I am leaving for London in two days and I can't wait to get to the Tower of London.  I am a Henry VIII freak so when I found this on Yay!Tumblr I could not believe it.  My two favorite things:  Henry VIII and a cupcake.

I will be blogging from London & Paris over the next 10 days (if the InterWeb gods are willing and the creek don't rise).

Yay!Everyday

Dreamscicle Cupcakes

Worked a 12 hour shift in the ER yesterday and everyone seemed to be having a sinking spell mid-afternoon....so we sent someone down the street to the local grocery store to see what was available.  Orange Dreamscicle cupcakes!  And they really tasted like orange dreamscicles.  I am no great photographer, but I did sprinkle some coffee beans on the stark white plate for a garnish. 

Cappuccino Cupcakes

I came across this beautiful photo today and it made me crave a cappuccino.  I wanted to drink this cupcake and then look in the mirror to see my white icing moustache....that is the essence of art. 

  Tlemetry

(Flickr photostream)

Memorial Day

Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it commemorates men and women who died while in military service to the United States.  First enacted to honor Union and Confederate soldiers following the Civil War, it was extended after World War I to honor Americans who have died in all wars.

A national moment of remembrance takes place at 3 pm local time.  Please honor those who have given their lives for our freedom and thank those who are currently serving. 

GinaMig

via Google Search