Donner Summit

I have a new found love for Donner Summit pictured above and here. Ian proposed while hiking over the weekend and even brought mini bottles of champagne to toast to the occasion. Needless to say it was a wonderful surprise and one of the happiest moments of my life! Now I need to figure out how to juggle work, culinary school, and wedding planning...let me know if you have any suggestions!

Celebrate

I love balloons and this image via UrbanCityLife as seen on Oh Joy perfectly reflects how I feel right now...so happy!!!

Cookies

We are back from a whirlwind weekend (more details to follow in the near future) and I successfully completed my first Pastry Class last night. The topic was churning butter for cookies and besides the incredibly hot SF weather coupled with 6 industrial ovens, it was fabulous! I made the Molasses Ginger Snaps with Orange Infused Sugar picture above, yummy! Let me know if you want to recipe.

Desolation Wilderness Hike

Ian and I were originally supposed to be flying to NYC to visit my brother this morning, before taking the train to DC and spending the weekend in Alexandria for a Wedding. Unfortunately due to my Culinary School schedule we had to cancel our plans last minute. I was so bummed about it that Ian and I decided to take the time off anyway and we are headed to Tahoe for the rest of the week. I can't wait to enjoy the much needed break from reality and spend some quality time with Ian and Sierra before jumping head first into my Culinary School adventure on Monday!

Flower Cupcakes

I made these Flower Cupcakes for my coworkers surprise bridal shower! I started with the yellow bowl and covered a styrofoam ball with green granulated sugar to fit inside, then I attached the unfrosted cupcakes to the styrofoam with toothpicks in order to get the placement I was looking for. I made every flower cupcake a little different and dyed the buttercream three varieties of yellow and orange in order to match her wedding colors. I will definitely be recreating this flower arrangement idea in the future as the colors and flower varieties are endless.

Cupcake Costume

How amazing is this cupcake costume (thanks for forwarding the link Kathryn)! I'm already in the process of making my costume for Halloween or I would totally be purchasing.

Sweet Eats Cupcake Costume $40 at Party City

Candy Cakes

These cakes combine 2 of my favortie things, candy and cake. What a creative way to add some color and interest to a boring white wedding cake.

Rock Candy Cake via Philadelphia Wedding

Jelly Bean Cake via Martha Stewart

Dot Candy Cake via Philadelphia Wedding

Rock Candy Cake via Style Me Pretty