A Sweet Tasty Step

"Recently, cupcakes have developed even greater panache. Like home-baked meatloaf and real mashed potatoes, they are terribly chic. . . . They are often coated in fudge or caramel and might have a candied violet or white chocolate shavings on top." ~Anne Bryn

MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM...yummy goodness! I am a cupcake junkie.  If I could have a cupcake everyday (without becoming the size of a blimp) I surely would.  There are so many combinations how could one ever get enough?

http://frostingshots.com/2009/chocolate-and-bacon-cupcakes-with-peanut-butter-frosting-recipe/

Three of my greatest weaknesses in one food source.  I can feel this one coating my thighs already, but how good I imagine it to taste.

http://www.peppermintcreative.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=7252

What a creative little cupcake!  These are sure to bring a smile to any movie inspired party.  How clever is the marshmallow topping?

 

http://www.jamieoliver.com/bloggers/viewtopic.php?id=36357

OMG...I need this in my life now!!!! Tiramisu cupcake...enough said!

http://foodphotoblog.com/?mpa=56

With fall just around the corner, I see these pumpkin cupcakes with maple cream cheese frosting, on many shopping lists.  This will be the pumpkin in my fall decor line-up.

“Friends are like cupcakes in my pantry of memories." - Anonymous

A Quotable Step

Happy Friday!! I am heading out the door to go spend much of the morning and day aboard a yacht watching the boat races.  (A little  note for you Chicago brides or newly engaged the Chicago yacht club makes a beautiful backdrop for photos) I didn't want to leave you empty handed, so we have some beautiful quotes to remind you of the beauty of love.  Often times we get so caught up in the planning that you can forget what's important; the love that you and your fiancé share is what is behind this joyous occasion!

"A good marriage is like a casserole, only those responsible for it really know what goes in it."  ~Anonymous

"For any woman to succeed in American life she must first do two things: Prepare herself for a profession, and marry a man who wants her to succeed as much as she does." ~Cathleen Douglas

"Life has taught us that love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking outward together in the same direction." ~Antoine De Saint-Exupery

"if i has to choose between loving you, and breathing. I would use my last breath to say I LOVE YOU." ~dani b

"As we grow older together, As we continue to change with age, There is one thing that will never change. . . I will always keep falling in love with you. " ~Karen Clodfelder

Enjoy the beauty of the life you are creating together, take time to enjoy the little things, and just remember at the end of the day how lucky you are to have each other!

Schooling Step

Its that time of year again.... Is your child new in town or would you like to meet the newbies in the class and help them feel included??  Why not host a back to school party?

http://merrybevents.blogspot.com/2009/08/back-to-school-party-ideas.html

You can schedule the party like school classes: Home Room (guest arrivals), Art (Arts and Crafts), Phys Ed (games), Recess (open play), and Lunch Time.

For Home Room have every child bring a new book with them (include on invitation, specify on age weather chapter book or age appropriate).  Then at the end of the party have the kids swap books, so each child goes home with a new book.  Other favors to hand out: stickers, pencils, erasers, fun folders.

During Arts and Crafts you can have kids construct personalized pencil boxes.  A practical take home favor they will be sure to use in the coming year.  They can also put their other favors inside the  box to take home.  Make sure to supply lots of fun stickers, puff pens, permanent markers and stick-on jewels and shapes.

http://www.sbrookedesigns.com/favors.html

Games such as kickball, "Teacher Says" (a party themed Simon Says), or Twister would be fun for the Phys. Ed portion of the party. 

While preparing your food selections, you can give the kids recess.  A fun idea for your lunch time feast is to pack up the food in individual personalized brown bags.  Pack in each bag,  PB&J sandwiches, string cheese, grapes, and a juice box.  At the end of lunch time you can serve up some tasty back-to-school cupcakes.

http://www.foodbuzz.com/photos/1372534-photo-from-post-back-to-school-cupcakes

This party is geared towards getting the kids comfortable with each other and about making new friendships, while also making it easier to say good-bye to summer and hello to another fun school year!

Keep Stepping

All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.
Walt Disney

All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds, wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act on their dreams with open eyes, to make them possible.
T. E. Lawrence

No one should negotiate their dreams. Dreams must be free to fly high. No government, no legislature, has a right to limit your dreams. You should never agree to surrender your dreams.
Jesse Jackson

A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him.
David Brinkley

Develop success from failures. Discouragement and failure are two of the surest stepping stones to success.
Dale Carnegie

A few quotes I thought everyone may enjoy.  There is always a light at the end of the tunnel, no matter how long or dark the tunnel is.   I can see light and plan to bask in it's warmth!

Blue Step

While being my favorite color (and definitely my grandmothers; blue everywhere, head to toe and ceiling to floor) blue is more my mood these past couple of days.  I am embracing my blues, and in a  step right out of "Valentine's Day'" (the movie), throwing them a party.

 

In searching for ideas,  I was  reminded of one of my favorite books, Le Petit Prince, by Antoine De Saint-exupery.  In the 1st chapter, the narrator of the story shows his drawings to the adults around him, who scoff at the imaginative pictures.  The young boy hurt, gives up drawing, deciding to grow up and become a pilot, leading him on a journey of friendship, the beauty of love, and of farewells.  A line from the story has always stuck with me, "On ne voit bien quavec le coeur.  Lessential est invisible pour les yeux"; "One sees clearly only with the heart.  The essential is invisible to the eyes".  In my business life and in my personal life this statement could be no more true.  Seeing with the heart is how I have always done things.  While others may think this foolish or stupid, I believe my heart has lead me down certain paths for a reason.

I know that in following my heart I will always wind up in the right direction.  I believe in my imaginative drawings, perhaps the number crunching adults of "Le Petit Prince" do not understand, but there are others who see the vision and the beauty in me.

This make- believe party is a source of letting go and journeying down new paths, in hoping that other paths may intertwine again, and in believing in ones self.

Pictures From: (left to right, top to bottom) www.esty.com, www.pearlandbutter.com, www.save-on-crafts.com, www.pbase.com, www.countrykitchensa.com, www.thefripperyvintageboutique.blogspot.com, www.etsy.com

A Tasty Thursday Step

While scouring one of my favorite sites, Etsy.com, today I found these lovely treats.  I could not keep them to myself, they must be shared….

http://esty.com/shop/andiespecialtysweets

Edible Chocolate Filled Acorns from etsy seller andiesspecialtysweets.  These would be the perfect addition to any fall wedding or party. 

Much to my mother’s horror I include this next one.  She does not know where she went wrong raising a daughter who likes macaroons, but I know I am not the only one out there.    These little delights come in a variety of flavors, from California based SparklesKitchen.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/sparkleskitchen?ref=seller_info

The available flavors are: 72% dark chocolate, black sesame, macha azuki (green tea w/red bean cream filling), lemon cream cheese, raspberry cream cheese, bitter caramel,   sumiyaki coffee, rose, and lavender. MMMMMMM, I see an order being placed soon!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/chrisgalli?ref=seller_info

Etsy seller Chrisgalli brings us this tasty treat of Italian venetian rainbow cookies.  Each favor contains 4 rainbow cookies.  These can also be made gluten free.

While continuing my search for the perfect edible fall favor, I found these cute little treats.  I love that this is a family recipe for this etsy seller, Richluck.  These would be sooo cute paired on a dessert table with the above acorns.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/RichLuck?ref=seller_info

Another wonderful treat I came across were these lemon  lime brownie truffle POPs, no silverware needed here.

                                                  http://www.etsy.com/shop/My3lilCupcakes?ref=seller_info

Keep in mind when ordering these chocolate covered wonders from, My3lilcupcakes, the climate you are shipping to.  You may want to spend the little extra and get the insulated shipment, nothing worse then melted chocolate.

I now want to go bake up some sweets in my little kitchen and have that fresh baked goods smell wafting through my apartment all day!

A Step to Keep Moving

 

" Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm"
~ Winston Churchill

" Opportunity dances with those who are already on the dance floor."
~ H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

" Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail."
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

" Don't be discouraged. It's often the last key in the bunch that opens the lock."
~ Unknown

A few good ones I wanted to pass along.  In business and in life we often face ups and downs, how we get through them is a testament to the person we are.  When opening a new business or going out on your own, people will tell you can’t make it.  I know there are definitely days that I feel like a bird with broken wings, wondering what I have taken on.  Then I get a glimpse at the beauty that is my dream and I fill with the belief that I can do this.  You will have good days, you will have bad days, just keep remembering your dream.  Dreams are what this world are built on.  When I am feeling lost I look to those that inspire me, I look to the friends with kind words, and I look at the beauty of love (which is the reason I do this).  It won’t always be raining, enjoy the sunshine when it comes around!

A Sad Step

A horrible tragedy occurred back home, in my hometown of  Manchester, CT today.  A disgruntled employee opened fire at Hartford Distributor’s, killing 8 before taking his own life.  This sad event really makes us ask sooo many questions.   How does this happen, why does something like this occur?  There will never be a solid answer for any of this, but what we can do is appreciate what we have and those around us.  Call a loved one and tell them what they mean to you, you never know what tomorrow may bring.  We all need to let go of hate and fill our hearts with love, there is NO reason for these senseless acts.  Many have now been affected by this one man’s hatred and anger.  My thoughts and prayers are with all of those affected today in this unfortunate incident, and the many others that may not have made the front page today. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jomZXJkySVA&feature=related

Tell someone what they mean to you, let go of hurt, and remember the beauty in love and friendship!