Announcement!

This will probably be the last time that I'll make a post here. Maybe...
I'm working on a website for my cupcake business and I have decided to do my blogging from there. I know that I don't have a lot of posts on here, but I only blog when I have something to say. Usually, I don't. Or, maybe I do.. I just don't want to share it with everyone. =)


Anyway, spring is right around the corner! And I absolutely cannot wait until the flowers bloom and the weather stays warm! I don't want hot! I want warm. 70s all year around is what I would like.. Except for Christmas week. Then it can be cold and snowy. {I apologize for all the rambling...}

Anywhooooooo... I went out to lunch with my Aunt Jeannie. It's been a very long time since it has been just the two of us. So It was a pleasant afternoon together. Mocha Latte and a panini hit the spot today. When we got back to her house the first thing I did was get back to work doing cupcake research. A lot of fun cupcake experiments are coming up and I can't wait! Spring is in the air and people are craving light and fluffy sweets!

One thing I like to do is experiment. I love to create new flavors. It gives me a sweet satisfaction when my creations are well loved. ( I still want a reason to make the Nerds cupcakes again, Leann!)

So, please keep an eye out on my website being published. Keep up with it on my Facebook. I'll be sure to let you all know from there.

Love you all and Happy Baking!!!!

~Kristina

That's what Christmas is about, Charlie Brown.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

I know this is probably weird but I've never been one of the people that get up with the sun on Christmas morning. And it's not because I'm not excited.. I am always excited for Christmas. It's just that I also like sleep... and I enjoy sleeping as long as possible. If it's still dark outside, I don't want to be up.


Anyway, I hope you all have a super, fabulous, amazing, splendid, and Merry Christmas. I'm looking forward to everything this day has to offer.

Remember, while gift giving and receiving is a blast (don't kid yourself and say it's not), it's not the true meaning of Christmas.

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not: for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.'" 

When The Night Falls On You and You Don't Know What To Do...

Sometimes I make the subject of my blog entry the line of a song I happen to be singing at the moment. I'll Stand By You  by The Pretenders (Covered by the Glee Cast --- major guilty pleasure when it comes to Glee!)

Anyway, it's Christmas Eve now and things are getting busy! I have last minute things to buy, everything to wrap and family to visit before Mom and I get our usual Christmas Eve night on.

I hope everyone has a super, fantastic, splendid Christmas!

Make sure to hug your kids and everyone else you love. You never know when you won't have them anymore. Don't take anyone or anything for granted because tomorrow may be one day too late.

I love you all! Thank you for reading!

~Merry Christmas~

Christmas Time. A Time To Share Cupcakes.

We were inspired by classic Christmas songs. I think they turned out very well. All of them but the first two kinds of cupcakes are inspired by the songs. =]

As promised...

Behold:

Gingerbread Cupcakes! How cute are the little cookies on top? (Those are mini cupcakes, btw.) 

These were for a friend's birthday. They're chocolate chocolate chip cupcakes with a vanilla butter cream frosting. Those are chocolate chip cookie stars I cut out for a topper. =]

Rudolph! Red velvet cake with chocolate cream cheese frosting. Isn't he adorable?!

Blue Christmas (blue velvet cupcakes, butter cream frosting and fondant ornaments) and Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree ( Green Velvet, butter cream frosting, fondant Christmas trees, piped musical notes =] )

I seriously love these. They were so cute!

White Christmas! ( White everything, obviously....)

Frosty cupcakes. (White almond cake)

Santa Claus is Comin' To Town! (Candy cane cupcake, red and white swirled butter cream frosting, royal icing Santa hats!) (These were probably my favorite because I love Candy canes!)

Silver Bells (Silver Cupcake, silver butter cream, silver fondant bell)

Silent Night. (Dark chocolate cupcake, dark blue butter cream frosting, fondant star) ( Another favorite. I think it turned out pretty!)

It's Christmas Eve Eve!

As I sit here and listen to Christmas music while watching puppy contemplate what she can chew on next, I thought why not update my blog. I've been neglecting it again. And I apologize.

I've also realized that it's hard to type and sing songs at the same time. I keep typing everything Chris Tomlin is singing to me.

I know I said that I'd keep up with my blog. Try to post something a couple of times a week. But I really have nothing interesting to talk about and I don't want to just ramble on about nothing in particular. I wanted to give you a nice, short update, though. Since I last posted there has been a lot going on. Holiday, sickness, birthdays, puppy rescuing, baking, shopping.

Christmas ( my favorite time of year ) is approaching! In fact, it's Christmas Eve Eve! I am so excited that it's  finally here.

I know a lot of people have family traditions, and we're not any different. On Christmas Eve, it's usually just my mom and I. We order a pizza and watch Christmas movies. And there's usually some last minute gift wrapping to do! I have a feeling that part of the tradition will remain again this year. We're running out of time to get everything done. Does everyone else do the same thing? As the holiday gets closer, you get more hurried and stressed about everything?

On Christmas morning Mom and I open our gifts to each other and then we let our animal's open their gifts. (They usually like the wrapping better than the presents.) We finish up cooking/baking and watch the Christmas Day Parade before going to my grandparent's just up the road. The whole family is there and we're usually there ALL day.

We're supposedly supposed to get rain, ice, and accumulating snow on Christmas night into Wednesday. Looks like it will be hibernation time at my house. We live in the country so it's next to impossible to go anywhere (even out of our driveway) until the sun melts it.



Anyway, since this is a baking blog I'll mention a little about my cupcakes.

I got to make a few of some really nifty, seasonal cupcakes this month. I'll have some pictures up in the next blog. I hope you like the pictures!



~Merry Christmas~

10 Things I Hate About You

From the title of this blog entry you might think I'm going to review a '90s teen movie... or that I REALLY dislike someone. But the answer is "no" to both. What the title is referring to is pet peeves. I have a lot.
I seriously thought about making a different blog to talk about things that aren't baking related. But let us be honest.. I have enough trouble keeping up with this one. Two would be impossible!

So without further ado... They will be revealed in no particular order...


Honey Boo Boo's of Southern Illionis - This is pretty late but waaaaay back at our town's homecoming parade, my 4 year old niece and I were right smack dab in between two families that made me think "I don't want to live on this planet anymore." I literally had clowns to the left of me and jokers to the right. I had a feelin' that somethin' wasn't right... To my right were a bunch of teenagers with children and one dirty old man. From what I could tell... each teenager had a child and that old man was the teenagers' father. Maybe. Not entirely sure. Anyway.. they were rude to their own children and they also had the mouth of a sailor. I was seriously appalled. And my niece just looked at me with wide eyes while she was shaking her head. My wonderful 4 year old niece, thankfully, knew that was not any way to act. THEEEEENNNN to my left was the family of the year. I think there were a set of parents who seemed to be in their late 30s maybe. They seemed okay. Then I believe they had a gaggle of teenagers. One boy was sporting the hobo chic look and was running around all over the place. He had to be at least 16 or 17. Then there was a  very pregnant girl and her boyfriend. They already had an adorable little girl (younger than 4), well, until she opened her mouth. She talked just like her mommy and daddy. Cussing up a storm. Again, I was appalled. THEN that's when I noticed something dangling from the mom's fingers. Yep. She was smoking. She then went on to smoke several more while we were sitting there. *points back up to where I said she was very pregnant* I'm not going to go into more details of what I saw that day. The world doesn't need to know that.

Law Enforcers Who Break The Law -  I know everyone has seen a cop speed by without having their lights or sirens blaring... What drives me crazy is when they speed up behind you and then zip on by you. Followed by slowing down to a maddening speed when they're in front of you again. And they're going so slow that they don't have to brake when they turn.... and they don't use a turn signal. I'm beginning to wonder if they do that on purpose just to see if you slam into them. Whose fault would that be? Certainly not the nice policeman. I know it's not that big of a deal... but it really irritates me.

Financial Halfwit -  Picture it.. Southern Illinois. 2012. (Channeling my inner Sophia Patrillo). I'm standing in line with a cart full of things I need for baking when a wild 20 something female cuts in front of me. Since it's not the playground in grade school... I just let her carry on. She didn't have much. Just stuff no one needs. She continues to complain about how poor she is (Remember, she's buying things she wants not needs..) and how she lives on her link card and welfare and such. The poor guy that's behind the cash register shoots me a pleading look. I wrinkle my nose and shrug at him subtly. Apparently we've both had it with this chick. Finally she scoots on out the door and it's my turn. He apologized over and over again and I tell him it's not his fault over and over again. When I pay and walk out the door... guess what is parked right beside me!? A GORGEOUS 2012 Dodge Charger. As I'm wiping up the drool that running down my chin (not really.. maybe..) I see who is standing beside it. You guessed it. It was the lovely lady in front of me in line. In my head, I lost it! I was wanting to share what was running through my mind so badly but I also wanted to go home in one piece. This person who aired out her life story for anyone to hear... This person who lived on other people's money... Was in a brand new car that was at least $30,000. I couldn't form whole thoughts.


I have many more pet peeves but I've been rambling on long enough for one time.

Anyway... onto cupcakes and the holidays!
We have some seriously clever ideas coming up for the Christmas season as well as some monthly specials. I know the monthly specials will include Gingerbread Cupcakes and probably a pumpkin pie cupcake.

What we have planned are Christmas Classics cupcakes! This week (After Thanksgiving) I will be working on "Blue Christmas" cupcakes. You know you're thinking of Elvis singing it now and you're welcome. I'm also hoping to work on "White Christmas" while listening to Bing Crosby. The holiday season officially starts tomorrow! I'm so excited!! Christmas music from Bing Crosby to NSYNC will be playing while I'm in the kitchen!

Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving! You never know what the future holds so give your family hugs and tell them you love them!

It's So Sassy!

I'm taking a poll. Do you get more nervous making things for strangers or making things for those near and dear to you?

I get a little apprehensive making things for people I know. With people you don't know, you might not ever see them again so there's a good chance that you'll never know if they loved or hated your product. 

But with people you DO know... Well, that's a whole other story. I'm constantly wondering if this is good enough. Or "Ahhhhh! I hope the cupcake liners aren't sticking to the cake!" What's just a tad bit worse than people you know... are people that know the people you know. Those people could talk to your mom, cousin, brother, sister, uncle.. And you might not ever know the reason behind the "Oh, she tried to do her best but her cupcakes are hard as bricks." look. 

I worry all the time about things like that because I just don't have the confidence that it takes  to think what  I do is good. To myself I think that what I do is fabulous... It's what I think others think of me. People tell me I have talent, and I really do believe them. It's just that little low self confidence monster shows up every once in a while.

Despite that, I really am happy doing what I'm doing. I love making treats for a little girl's first birthday, a holiday party, and anything in between. And thank you all for letting me! =)

On to the actual reason I decided to post a blog entry today...

My mom works at a place that has a TON of people. And in that place are units. I am the official birthday cupcake girl for everyone in her unit. If you are in it then you will get cupcakes. I try to come up with something based on what the birthday girl, or boy, wants. Over the weekend someone had a birthday so they got cupcakes today. 

I have to say.. the cupcakes I made for her were the most fun cupcakes I've ever made. Secret ingredient: Nerds. (The candy.. not a guy wearing thick rimmed glasses and a pocket protector.)

Isn't this fun?!

When I'm making a new kind of cupcake I always have to try a bit of it and snap a few pictures. My intention is to blog my pictures but that doesn't happen as often as I like. My pictures rarely turn out like I want them. They're good.. just not great!

Anyway, these taste just like Nerds in cake form. So delicious!

It's so sassy!

I love the rainbow frosting on top!

A magical cupcake!

I hope the birthday girl enjoyed her cupcakes today! I know I sure had a blast making them!

By the way, the icing and the dark layer at the top of the cupcake is flavored with Kool-Aid! =)

Have a wonderful day, everyone!