Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Valentine's Day Specials!


I'm taking a limited number of PRE-ORDERS for Valentine's Day SWEETS now! 
My baking roster always books FAST around holidays, so be sure to get your order in ASAP...you don't want to leave your sweetie hangin'!


All {Valentine's Day} orders will be available for PICK-UP on the 13th or 14th.
Just let me know which day you'd prefer when you place your order!

1 dz arranged pops, please note container may vary from photo based on availability!

Sweetheart Arrangements
 $20 ~ 1dz arranged pops
-an assortment of Standard Cake Pops and dipped Marshmallow Heart Pops arranged in a fun container*, wrapped in cellophane and tied with ribbon.

$10 ~ Half-dz arranged pops
-an assortment of Standard Cake Pops and dipped Marshmallow Heart Pops arranged in a fun container*, wrapped in cellophane and tied with ribbon.

Cupcake Samplers
 $24 per dz (6 of each flavor)
$12 per 6pk (3 of each flavor)

Strawberry Cupcakes
~Delicious Strawberry Cupcakes topped with fresh Strawberry Buttercream Frosting. The batter and frosting are FULL of fresh strawberries! One of my MOST popular flavors...simple & super sweet!

Chocolate Eruption Cupcakes
~Dark Chocolate Cupcakes topped with rich Chocolate Buttercream Frosting, finished with Chocolate Chips. Too much chocolate? There's no such thing! :)

To order:
Email: sweetcheeks at southslope dot net
Call: 319.241.8647
***Remember to note which date you'd like to PICK-UP your order***
*The Pop arrangements come in a variety of containers and may vary from the photo shown!

Thanks everyone!
~Audrey

Sunday, January 20, 2013

Love is {GOLDEN}



For those of you who don't know, I live in Iowa. I love my home state and wouldn't move away for anything...but...I gotta say...things can get a little dreary in the winter months. All the COLD, snow, being shut-in, the lack of "green" when I look out my front window...not very cheery. I needed something to perk me up :)

Luckily one of my fellow party gals had something up her fabulous sleeve! The UBER creative Genevieve of Superchickland threw down a super FUN  Valentine's Day Kandy Kone Styling Challenge....and I knew I wanted IN!



Each of the 8 participants had to come up with a dessert table theme and color scheme...and then Genevieve created 6 of her AHhhhhmazing CUSTOM Kandy Kones and sent them our way.

In Genevieve's own words:
The Challenge Deets!
1 ~ Challengers were asked to INCLUDE 6 custom Kandy Kones in a VDay themed display!

2 ~ They were asked to FILL their kones creatively!
  3~ And MOST IMPORTANTLY, they were asked to STYLE their kones in a unique, imaginative, trend setting way!


The judges!
Bird from Bird’s Parties, Courtney from Pizzazerie, Genevieve from Superchickland

 It was SO fun to see all the different concepts come to life! I never cease to be amazed by all the incredible party styling talent out there and this challenge was no exception. I feel honored to party with these SUPER CHICKS ;)


My theme: Love is {GOLDEN}


I wanted to work with a palette of pale pink and gold! I knew I'd be incorporating lots of vintage goodness...but honestly...I let this display flow pretty naturally.



I asked my talented friend Barb Conner, of Cross Creek Antiques in Fairfax {Simply Iowa}, if I could set-up in the front greenhouse of her shop. Barb has the MOST amazing antique shop EVER...I've spent a LOT of time there (I grew up directly across the street!) I venture down often when I'm in party planning mode...for inspiration...and to find the perfect party props :)


It was a chilly afternoon to be setting an outdoor display...about 13 degrees I think...but the sun was shining so that was a definite bonus! Barb did laps with me through her shop...pulling pieces to work into the dessert table...it was SO fun just watching things come together!


I've been working with some new Cake Pop decorating techniques, and this gave me the perfect reason to play with them some more! I made some with a golden "marbled" effect that really stood out.

These are my Pink Sparkle Pops! They were seriously shimmering in the sunlight...I couldn't even capture all that beauty in the photograph...these pops DAZZLE!


I almost always add some semi-homemade treats to my dessert displays. It's a nice way to add some variety to the table, without the stress of creating everything from-scratch. For this particular table, I added gold-tone food coloring spray to decorate some store-bought meringues and heart-shaped marshmallows. Easy Peazy!








I also added some small ivy topiaries throughout the scene for a little pop of color...and life!


Vintage lace...nothing sweeter.














No Valentine's Day table would be complete without Conversation Hearts! I love reading these things...some of them seriously crack me UP (clearly...it doesn't take much!)


 




I also want to thank my friend Kristi of Luella B. Photography and Design for working a little editing magic! I take my own party photos...but I'm by NO means a professional. Example...in the full dessert table shot you could see my silver 4Runner parked outside in part of the background - LOL! Kristi made my car magically disappear...for which I'm BEYOND grateful...it was one of those DUH moments when I got home and was looking through images. Lordy...I really am close to losin' it some days!

I hope you enjoy my submission! It was really fun to put together...and gave me a chance to play around in my kitchen...which I rarely pass up :)

Sources:
Sweet Cheeks Tasty Treats  Display Styling, Desserts and Photography
Super Chick Studios Custom Kandy Kones
Simply Iowa  Vintage props, event location
Green Party Goods Striped paper straws (Cake Pop "sticks")

If you want to see the other submissions, links are included below! LOTS of party inspiration to look through!!!

Submitted by Jasmine from IDEA! event + style



Submitted by Feather from Printable Parties to Go


 Submitted by Melissa from Truly Chic Inspirations


Submitted by Lauren McKinsey
   
Submitted by Talia from Luxe. Event Design, LLC

 

Submitted by Nicole from The Party Animal
 

Submitted by JoAnne from oh goodie designs

Monday, January 14, 2013

Things I Should Already Be Doing

I'd like to invite you all to follow my NEW blog: Things I Should Already Be Doing! I like to connect as many ways as possible and hope that you might pop over and give me a visit :)

I started the new blog as a way to document and track the progress I'm making toward several significant goals I've set for myself this year.
 
It's not special, or pretty...but it will be honest...maybe make you think a little...or laugh...depending on the day.
 

 I have a lot of BIG plans for 2013. Mostly, it all boils down to me really getting it together and doing the things I should ALREADY be doing.

Sounds simple right? Yet every year I make resolutions, set goals and they always (ALWAYS) seem to revolve around the things that other people just DO as part of their day-to-day existence. Cooking, cleaning, taking care of myself and keeping the family happy and content. Most days I can manage one or two of those things...but never ALL of them...especially not on the same day!

So I'm taking a different approach this year. I'm going to really KEEP TRACK of what I'm doing (or more often not-doing), on a daily basis. See what works, what motivates me, what "sticks" and just keep plugging away. This blog is going to be a big part of that process. I'm putting it all out there. It's not going to be pretty (literally and figuratively...I have no design talents so this is going to be bare bones ya'll!)
  


I debated on whether or not I should make it "public" or just keep it personal. Clearly, I like sharing :) I've found SO much inspiration and support online in past ventures, I'm opening myself up in the hopes that you will all come along with me.

You can find me on Facebook HERE.


Thanks to all of you for your continued support!
~Audrey





Wednesday, January 9, 2013

{BRONZE} Metallic Cake Pops!

I've been trying some new techniques in the kitchen and wanted to share because I'm SUPER excited with the results!

I'm calling this line THE PRECIOUS METAL COLLECTION :)
I plan on adding MANY more shades as time allows. For now...meet BRONZE!


This process of experimentation came about because I wanted to create Metallic Cake Pops for my daughter's upcoming birthday party. I happened upon fellow popper, Cakepops by Jennie, and was inspired by her work! I immediately reached out to her for help.



Let me take a moment to say, one of my absolute FAVORITE things about being a Cake Popper is the amazing support and encouragement I get (and give) in the Cake Pop Community. Most of my fellow poppers are OVERLY generous with their help and I myself field technical questions daily.

Jennie though...she's in a class all her own! She was BEYOND helpful...she was amazing. She walked me through her step-by-step trials and I've had fun playing around with the basic method myself.



Those of you interested in the process...here is what I did (with Jennie's guidance!)

-hand painted each dipped Cake Pop with Bronze Luster Dust (mix the Luster with Vodka to be able to paint with it); I did probably 3 coats per pop, be sure to let them dry completely between coats.
-After the Luster coats were dry, I hand painted each pop with a coat of Confectioner's Glaze, this is where the SHINE comes from!
-I added a tiny amount of Disco Dust to the Confectioner's Glaze, on some of the Pops.


The hand painting does lead to some splotchiness and you can (in some cases) see the brush strokes somewhat. This could be cleared-up by adding additional coats of luster...or...if you have an airbrush machine I think that would work wonderfully for the luster AND the confectioner's glaze application. I haven't tried it though...so I can't vouch for that one. Personally, I think the hand painting method gives the pops a more realistic "raw" metal look.

Really...I'm still in the experimental stage with these...so I'm sure that I'll continue to modify this basic process.

If any of you try these....or if have your own technique for creating Metallic Cake Pops PLEASE include a link in the comments below...I'm always learning and would love to see!

Happy Poppin'!
Audrey