Operation Cupcake: Take 2

Better...



These are pumpkin cupcakes with cream cheese frosting - and miraculously even my husband, who insists that chocolate is the only good dessert, raved about them.

And I am happy because they look much better than last week's attempt and I have someone to split the calories with.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Operation Cupcake: Fail

I promised my dear friend I'd help bake and decorate the cupcake menagerie for her daughter's birthday.

So I tried decorating some cupcakes in the simple style of thick piped icing, like these pretty cakes...



But my cupcakes turned out so ugly!


(not to mention flat due to the silicone pan I used)


I think I've figured out a couple of things I'm doing wrong, and I'm going to get some more supplies. Luckily I was able to pawn off a few cupcakes on my family but I've eaten three before noon today. Oh, the sacrifices we make for our friends!

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busy busy life

The little one is keeping me so busy! He's getting more independent (now I truly understand the meaning of bittersweet) but I hate to just plop him down so I can spend more time than I need to on the computer. Besides, I enjoy spending all the time I can trying to figure out sillier and sillier ways to make him laugh.

I am helping a friend plan her daughter's first birthday party. Since I have another 6 months to go with the little man until that milestone - and I am super girly - this is a blast for me.

1. Etsy answin23 2. Bakerella 3. Etsy TuChae
4. Bakerella 5. Real Simple 6. No Fuss Fabulous
7. Etsy Whimzy Creations 8. Martha Stewart 9. La Fuji Mama

Isn't the idea of a high chair sign saying "I am 1" so cute? And I love the mini-sandwich in a cupcake wrapper. We'll just have to make sure the guests aren't expecting frosting and sweetness when they bite into a savory sandwich.

holidays

The weather's finally turned crisp here - for a couple of days, at least - and I am having silly little thoughts of the holidays.


dress via The Bottom of the Ironing Basket
My son's first Christmas allows me a little license with formality, no?

Or perhaps something a little more restrained, but still festive...

Candela Sequined Cuff & Hem dress, Saks Fifth Avenue, via ShopStyle

But this, so casual and warm, would look nice with my new over-the-knee boots, and wouldn't make my jeans-wearing family give me a sideways glance...

Cowl neck pocket tunic by emilyryan, Etsy

Finding a focus

Since I'm all over the place with ideas for the kitchen, I've decided to follow Living with Lindsay's Making Your Dream Room a Reality Series. The first goal is to identify what inspires you in the photos you are drawn to.


I love the monochromatic white look in this kitchen, the drawer pulls, and the glass-front cabinets. This kitchen reminds me of ours, which has a breakfast nook, kitchen, and family room area in one big room.


I love much of the same in this kitchen - monochromatic white, glass cabinets, and I also adore the feminine table and chairs.


The pops of blue appeal to me in this kitchen, as well as the plank ceiling.


I love the worn finish on this table, which is quite similar to the shape of ours. I also enjoy the mismatched chairs and white grommet-top panels. I'd bought some like these for the kitchen but ended up using them in my baby's room.



I've been searching for the perfect china cabinet/armoire for the kitchen on Craigslist for what seems like forever. The simple lines and white finish are so appealing.


But the detail and bright color of this one are also drawing me back to it (from Design Gal & Her Handyman.)

This photo's open shelving would be great on the wall next to the fireplace - and the chairs are similar to mine. I love the distressed look (from Jennifer at The Old Painted Cottage.)


And again...the similar chairs, but in blue. I also love, love the wall color.

Does that all seem contradictory? I love monochromatic white but I also love pops of color. There's not much color in my house - not even in my baby son's room - but I think I'm ready for a little.

Kitchen...

I've been thinking more and more about the burlap chairs. At first, I thought they were a terrific idea - cheap, durable, neutral - but then I realized my cat would love and adore scratching them up. I was even planning to upholster teal underneath prior to stapling on the burlap for a little color. However...not sure cat scratching post-seat cushions are the way to go for me.

Then I found this photograph


And I fell in love with the aqua chairs. The caned backing is so similar to mine, and I just love the pops of color. My uber-traditional husband, however? He has a hard time with WHITE furniture - can you imagine the heart attack he'd have at turquoise chairs?

So I'm on a new track. I would like a large-print turquoise houndstooth on white chairs (so yes, I'm back to upholstery), or perhaps even yellow...if I could paint the not-yet-purchased-waiting-for-the-perfect-one china cabinet turquoise. The walls in the kitchen are a neutral grey/blue, at the moment, so I think this would work.

The Michael Miller yellow houndstooth


I am smitten with this Duralee print - the repeat is perfect scale - but at nearly $150 a yard it is in the stratosphere concerning my budget.



I suppose it's a good thing I have no time to refinish the table at the moment, since I can't make up my mind.

kitchen table & chairs

We were lucky enough to have a dining table with leaves and chairs given to us by my mother's friend. It desperately needs a paint job, but with a new baby and my indecision about upholstery, it's been put on hold for a while. I'm definitely painting the set white, and I originally wanted aqua geometric print like one of these Waverly prints:




However, with the prospect of a toddler in the near future (and my incredible clumsiness), I'm not sure a pretty print is wise. I was browsing Joann.com and happened upon burlap, which is cheap and the perfect shade of brown to hide my coffee stains and baby food. Then I remembered that Layla at The Lettered Cottage has used burlap in several places in her home (my favorite - the dining room curtains in this post) and felt like a genius.

After consulting with my dear friend Mr. Google, I found that Melaine at My Sweet Savannah upholstered a chair in burlap. Our chairs are a lot like Jennifer's at The Old Painted Cottage, which you can see here (and see her amazing cottage reno in this post).

Here are our chairs (with a couple of prints from Calico Corners and please excuse the terrible photo):


And my main inspiration photo - the table closely resembles my table and I do love those mismatched chairs:


Just one thing...I haven't told the husband my plans. No doubt - he will think I am completely nuts and that it will be ugly...but I'm sure he'll change his tune once I'm done!

p.s. I would have posted more pictures instead of all the links but I'm not sure what the blog etiquette is quite yet.