February Happenings

It has been an extremely relaxing but busy February so far.  How can something be relaxing but busy? Let’s just say I’ve had a lot going on, but also a lot of down time due to the crazy weather we have been having, along with events and fun things that have been really great! But also very exhausting! So there you have it, relaxing but busy.

I’ve been cooking a lot more lately and baking a little less. I am sort of gearing up for March which is filled with bridal and baby showers!  I just ordered lace fondant molds to add a delicate touch to the upcoming displays I have planned which is getting me quite excited!

Highlights of the month:

I made some Valentine’s Day Dino’s which came out a bit sloppy due to their size (way too big! I totally misjudged the size of the cookie cutters  I used, but they were yummy none-the-less).

It snowed. A lot.

Still moving into the apartment and making it feel like home. Our next project is shelves! Louis is building them from scratch, just like he did the bookcase!

I’ve been cooking a ton! Lots of warm veggie stir fries with wholesome ingredients! Delicious.

There was a knifing incident. I guess it was going to happen eventually, right?  I was rushing as I chopped ginger root. Bye bye thumb!

Valentine’s Day consisted of a red wine chicken and veggies, candles and lots of merlot! Louis surprised me with flowers and Julia Child’s “The Art of Mastering French Cooking” which I have been wanting! I can’t wait to dive in!

I made awesome chocolate crinkle cookies topped with edible cookie dough heaveness.

Louis bought a gorgeous Swarovski pendant and prep cart for my birthday, perfect for cake pop workspace!

My brother flew all the way from Florida for an overnight to surprise me for my birthday which was so exciting! Him and Marissa brought me a TV for my upstairs living room and it was so great to see them!

It was a blizzard but we all went out for Chinese food then back to my apartment for a party to ring in the big 2-5 and it was so much fun. I am so blessed with amazing people in my life!

So, the proof is in the pudding—crazy month so far! But so much fun and love in there, I really can’t complain J

Oh except it snowed, again. And again. It’s everywhere. It’s still snowing. Still in the forecast. Snow. Ugh.

Looking forward to spring!

-Elena

Under the [Sweet] Sea

I am going to cut right to the chase and say I just finished my absolute favorite cake pop display OF ALL TIME. 

Ok, now that that's over with... I have not posted in a while because of life. Life is busy! I moved, so that took an insane amount of energy and time. I am still recovering from the exhaustion but, moved in and it is starting to feel like home!

A few weeks ago my friend asked me to make this display and in my head I'm like "Elena how are you going to pull this off, you're moving. You're going to be in boxes, how are you going to make 40 cake pops (which turned into 60) in time!" Then I was told the theme--- The Little Mermaid.  After that there was no question.. this was happening!

Anyone who knows me at all knows my obsession with The Little Mermaid. Currently, if you walked into my parents' house and into my room you'd find a giant shelf filled with Ariel things. But that's not all.. she is basically everywhere in my life--coffee mugs at work, produce shopping bags, my keychain, my cell phone case, my socks, window sticker on my car... she is even on the bedspread currently on my bed in the apartment until I find one I like! She is everywhere.. Ariel is a part of me! I grew up with the movie and watched it so much I think I killed the tape.  It's the part of me that will never grow up.

So, needless to say I was quite passionate about this project.  I wanted the characters to come alive so I played a lot with fondant, even tinting it myself which I haven't done too much of.  The fondant "sea life" tray I picked up was perfect, even the conch that Ursula steals Ariel's voice with worked out perfectly! I am not a great sculptor so I knew I couldn't make the characters from scratch, so I printed them in colored paper and then built the lower half of their bodies onto cake pops!

So happy with this one! I really hope everyone enjoys them as much as I loved making them!

Next up: Valentine's Day Dinos.. yes.. Dinos :)

-Elena

Congratulations! You're Half Way to 50! Have a Cupcake..

There is a trend among my friends and peers right now.. and it's, dare I say it... turning twenty five. 25. Two-Five. A quarter of a century.  Half way to 50. What?? Yup. It's happening.

I have to say, this "milestone" number doesn't have me too worked up.. I actually feel like I am in my prime! I feel healthier, happier, stronger, smarter and more confident now than I did when I was 18, or 21.  Things are happening! Life is getting exciting! There is no slowing down, and the only way to go is up! So, a word for all my twenty something friends and readers out there-- don't fear the joining of these two numbers... the best is yet to come!

I made some cupcakes for a high school peer who was celebrating her sister-in-law's 25th birthday this weekend.. They came out all sorts of glizty and glam with some flowers and fondant accents.  Let me tell you, butter cream comes out AMAZING in the winter, when the house is hot! This butter cream was out of this world.. I'm tempted to go in my fridge and get one of the leftovers I have in there just thinking about that damn butter cream. YUM. It's all I can say.  These cupcakes were fun, I played with different tips like closed star, open star, rose tip, and an open coupler.  I am not a cupcake master yet, but I think these turned out cute!

So here are the pretty cupcakes.

Also, my friend&coworker Becky celebrated her 25th on Saturday!  We drank wine and took shots of whiskey and shared bites of cake pops. It was raining and humid out and it didn't matter that the cherry chocolate cake pops were melting, it was chocolate, and cherries. Maraschino cherries.. fresh, with juice and all..baked in cake and mixed with that awesome amazing butter cream I just went on and on about above..  Not sure what it was this weekend, but my baking was just on and I was loving it!

Happy Birthday Becky!!

And there are still more 25th to celebrate soon!  My best friend Maureen is at the end of the month, then mine shortly after that.  I think I'll have to bake for myself? How does that work!?

I hope everyone had a great weekend, mine was amazing and relaxing--and I got to visit my cousin aka sister Anastasia today which was lovely!  Time to finish up these boring Golden Globes before hitting the hay, another week is upon us, people! Make it a good one :)

-Elena