Monkey Business

I know this may shock some of you...but I REALLY did think that becoming a stay-at-home-mommy would give me a little more time in the day for my baking adventures. I don't work on orders when the kids are up and at-it, but I thought that I'd manage to crank out a lot out during naptime...at least.

Feel free to laugh in my general direction...I deserve it.

I've just been SO incredibly busy lately, the good kind of busy....busy playing with the kids, chasing them around, making meals and snacks and going on adventures. I've also had an INSANE baking roster that seems to fill up every spare minute of time....when the kids are napping or in bed for the night. For this I am obviously BEYOND GRATEFUL!

It seriously bums me out (and STRESSES me out) that I haven't been posting regularly. I hope you all will stick with me and stay tuned. At this point, it's going to be scattered at best. It seems as soon as I finish an order I'm packing it up and sending it out the door....no time to photograph, document and post about it! People ask me constantly where I find time to do everything...well...I don't. If we compared the list of things I DON'Tget done next to the list of things I DO...well, let's just say I wouldn't be winning any awards here people!

So that's my disclaimer...and I don't want to have to start every future post with a guilt-ridden apology about why I haven't been posting...so consider this my lame blanket statement - LOL!

The REAL reason for this post...today I'm sharing my most recent Cake Pop creation! They'll be heading out of state for a baby shower this weekend and I was determined to get pictures...so BEHOLD...my take on SOCK MONKEY CAKE POPS!

Now I've got to get back to business!
Happy Baking everyone!
~Audrey

 

It's OFFICIAL...I'm a POP STAR!

Last week I got the MOST AMAZING surprise a Cake Popper could ask for...a FEATURE on Bakerella's uber-inspiring baking blog! I'm OFFICIALLY A POP STAR!



For those of you who don't know...because maybe you've been living under a rock or sitting on a stump somewhere in the wilderness...Bakerella is basically the QUEEN of Cake Pops! Finding her website was a life-changing experience for me...whoa right...I know that might sound a little extreme...but it's the TRUTH!

I was instantly smitten with her site...the way she connected to her readers...and of course the CAKE POPS! I had never even heard of a Cake Pop before Bakerella...imagine that!

The thing is, more than anything, reading her blog gave ME the motivation to try my hand at Cake Pops. I immediately became addicted to creating the little balls of joy on a stick....and the rest...well you know ;)

Making the leap and deciding to start selling my goodies...creating Sweet Cheeks Tasty Treats as a way to provide people with the deliciousness I had to offer....and creating this blog as a way to connect with clients and fellow creators...it was ALL an extension of that first seed of inspiration I found in Bakerella's blog!

This is me with Miss Bakerella herself at her Chicago book signing last Fall...do I look excited? ;)

I believe in the power of prayer and positive thinking...I've been sending only my best thoughts in her direction the past few months. She's been dealing with some major health issues and even through all of that, she still manages to reach out and inspire those of us who truly adore her and wish that we could in some way return just a bit of the happiness she so generously bestowed upon us!

Here are some of my FAVORITE Cake Pop Creations....I hope they bring a smile to your face! My hope is that in some small way, the baking and creating I'm doing will maybe inspire some of you! Happiness grows the more you share it right?!?! Enjoy...and THANK YOU ALL for following me and inspiring me EVERY DAY!

Fish Cake Pops on Cupcakes!

Ice Cream Cone Cake Balls!

Cookie Monster!

Elmo!

Frankenstein Marshmallow Pops!

Snowman!

Rose Cake Pops!

Hello Kitty

Super Hero Pops!

Apple Cake Pops on Pencils!

Little Fishy Cake Pops!

Elmo & Cookie Monster Pops on Cupcakes!

Little Chick Cake Pops!

Strawberry Lemonade Cake Pops!

Pinwheel Cake Pops!

~Audrey

Cake Pops and Cupcakes: UNITE!

Things are getting back to normal around our house (YAY!) so I've had more time to try out some things in the kitchen that have been on my list!

I had a couple of different orders for Character Cake Pops, specifically Elmo and Cookie Monster. You guys know that these are some of my favorites to make. They all end-up with their own personalities and I always feel like they're smiling up at me when they're finished!

Well, I've also been cranking out cupcakes all week. Some were for my CCMC Members, some were destined for Birthday Parties, and others were 6-Pack Samplers (or as I like to say...after-dinner snacks).

So, today I had a few extra Cake Pops and a few extra Cupcakes and thought it was the perfect opportunity for these two, amazing-dessert-super-forces to UNITE!

 
I was inspired by photos I saw awhile back at The TomKat Studio. They featured some adorable Cake Pop topped Cuppies...I can't find the exact post...but you'll have fun looking through all of her amazing posts trying to find it ;)

Here are some of the Cuppies that made their way out of my kitchen this week...YES...Easter is coming! I've been bitten by the Bunny-bug so stay-tuned for more Easter-inspired treats ;)

Happy Baking!
Audrey

Cake Pop Parade!

The past week has been busy-busy around here! I had lots of super fun Valentine's Day orders to work on thanks to all of my amazingly supportive customers. Every holiday has gotten a little crazier (which is good!) It's forcing me to become hyper-organized with my baking time so I can accommodate as many orders as possible.

We're working on making a designated baking space for me in our home right now...out of the way, separate, and just for my sweet treats....once that is finished I will JUMP FOR JOY! I love that this venture has proven so successful, but it has seriously overtaken my house!!!

On the list this week: cupcakes, Cake Pops of all varieties, including the SUPER popular Rose Cake Pops, Cake Balls and my personal favorite Valentine's Day treat....Chocolate Dipped Strawberries! They are my weakness...well one of my weaknesses...but let's not go down that path ;)

Enjoy!

My GIFT to one of you!!!

I had plans to post this giveaway earlier....but...well....Christmas kind of took over! The Holiday orders I filled kept me up late all last week, but it was so super exciting to know that my treats were going to be gracing so many tables!

This little side venture of mine has been SO truly rewarding. I love having a reason to be in the kitchen creating on a regular basis. I am BEYOND thrilled by all of the friendships I have made. I feel truly blessed to have found an outlet and a way to connect with like-minded people!!!

Many of you probably don't know this, but I just made my first ever Cake Pop in July of this year! It was, as they say, history from there ;) I fell head-over-heels and have been at it ever since. I've had so much fun finding inspiration from my fellow Cake Poppers....which of course includes the Queen of Cake Pops herself....Bakerella!

I got to meet Bakerella at her Chicago book signing earlier this year. You can read all about it here. I had preordered a copy of Bakerella's Cake Pops book ages ago, and I also ended up winning a copy as part of my Pizzazzerie prize pack (you remember....when back when I won the Cupcake Skewer Contest right?!?!) Well....when we went to the book signing you had to present a receipt showing you had purchased the book from Williams Sonoma to be able to have it signed....so I bought another one. This might sound like overkill....but at that time I hadn't received my copy from Pizzazzerie yet and I didn't want  to miss my chance to have a signed copy!!!

Really...it's good news....because it leaves me with an extra copy....you know....one I'm willing to actually part with ;) Maybe you'd like a copy for yourself....or maybe you know an aspiring Cake Popper...

Photo by Bakerella!

All you have to do is become a Follower of my blog and leave a comment on this blog post...tell me what Cake Pop is your favorite or what one you most want to try! I'll be selecting a winner at random on January 1st!!! UPDATE: WINNER IS HANNA! HAPPY CAKE POPPING!!!
You can have your name entered in the drawing twice if you also become a fan on my Facebook page and leave a comment there!!! If you are already following me just leave a comment and you're golden!

Here are some of the Cake Pops I've created over the past year!

Spread the joy!
~Audrey

Merry NOT Scary Costume Party for the Little Monsters!

Well, after almost two months of planning, obsessing, crafting and creating….oh and a whirlwind 48 hours of baking and treat making….our Merry NOT Scary Costume Party went off with only a few minor hitches last weekend!

We had 27 Little Monsters in attendance!!! It was so much fun to see them all running, walking and crawling around in their costumes!

So first, the FOOD! I have been in Halloween treat-making mode for awhile now and last week all of my creativity exploded for a fun, festive display the grown-ups and kids could appreciate!

I made some Ogre Toes, lots of Cake Pops, Popcorn Balls...and had tons of yummy candy and treats!

Like the fun tags and matching line of Halloween printables? Check out http://www.paperglitter.com/!

Photobooth!

My friend Kara of KV Photography, accompanied by her lovely assistant Amanda, came to the party to take pictures of the festivities and to get fun photos of all the kiddos in their costumes. They did such an amazing job wrangling all of our little goblins and getting smiles out of them….can you even imagine!??!

Kara also took the amazing images of the goodies and party set-up featured in this post....I normally use my own pictures for my blog posts, but Kara took these pictures for me so I could enjoy the party and not have to run around with a camera attached all afternoon! It was awesome and I love seeing my party through the eyes of a true artist!

Here are a few of my personal faves:

Next, the FUN! For most of the party the kids were busy running around in their costumes and working off their sugar highs....but we did have a few activities lined up for them.

Pumpkin Patch Hunt!

Each little boy and ghoul was given a festive bucket and they were all sent off tromping through a field full of small Jack-O-Lantern containers filled with goodies and toys. At the end of the hunt they each cashed in all of their emptied containers in exchange for a grand prize and some more toys (this was what I came up with to get the containers back so we can use them at next year’s party…tricky-tricky….I know!) I made sure to h!ave some extra treats on hand in case anyone didn’t find any pumpkins in the patch.

Hayrack Rides!

This was the one planned activity that was a casualty of the weather....I can't complain too much though, the rain held off for so long....we were incredibly lucky! My Grandpa Mickey was all set to give the kiddos rides through the neighborhood, but halfway through the first ride it started sprinkling and the party had to move indoors! There's always next year (did I just say that!?!?! Yes...I'm already thinking about next year's party, shameful I know!)

I have looked forward to hosting a children’s costume party since before I even had kids of my own….so this was kind of a big deal for me! I think we created some memories all of our little guests will look back on for a long time....that was my hope anyways!

Happy Haunting!

~Audrey