The Birthday Surprise!

The day is finally here!  I just love birthdays!  I really do think it is a hell of a thing to make it through another year of this all too short life, happy, healthy and surrounded by loving friends and family.  *Sigh* Birthdays are just so great!  It doesn't even have to be MINE...just keep the birthdays coming! 

So I'd been planning a surprise for my bestest bud for a few months now.  I got the idea while searching online for photos to fancy up my baking blog...and I came across the most adorable cupcakes ever!  I knew Iris was a fan and I knew I had to make these for her...and the secret planning began!


Everything came together quite nicely, save for an almost frustrating search for Willy Wonka's RUNTs candies.  But I gathered everything I needed and was all set early in the week.

Wednesday evening came...time to start baking some devil's food cupcakes!
 Mmm...choooccolate!  Rest little cupcakes, I'll see ya in the morning!

Day Two...time for decorating!  Need oreos, junior mints, Runts (bananas) and lots of frosting! =)

Owl Eyes!  Well...almost!











And then just about 30 minutes later...Poof!  Those bare little cupcakes have been transformed into super cute OWLS.  I can't get over how darn cute these are!!

These were so fun to make!  On the way over to deliver these cuties I was already thinking of other adorable critters I could transform my next batch of cupcakes into!

Putting it all together...

OOof!  I just realized next week is birthday time already!!  For a while I was worried because it appeared that birthday girl would be out of the country on the big day...but unfortunately for her, those plans have changed :-/

I can't wait to put together the cutest little birthday treat for the very best friend a girl could have! 
A tiny hint of what's to come...I need to get Runts in preparation...the Runts are a MUST.  Hope that isn't too big of a hint...I despise spoiled surprises!!

Gruesome Cupcakes and Creepy Cocktails Girl's Night!

Last night The 3 'Muskasweets' got together for a Scary Halloween Movie Party.  As it turned out listening to music and telling real-life scary stories was much more fun!!

 



Iris made up some fantastic Bleeding Heart Martinis...they were so gory...and SO good!

 Thelma brought pizza...YUM!!  And also Snickers...two of the best things on Earth.  :)






I made some Oozing Eyeball Cupcakes

They turned out looking pretty neat but I must admit I was fairly disappointed with the texture of the cupcakes.  The ended up being slightly overcooked cupcakes that tasted more like a sugar cookie. I was really run down the night I prepared them and things did not go smoothly.  If I had had the time I'd have remade them...but they were not AWFUL...just not so great.  :-/  Don't worry guys, I didn't foul up anything that would make them unsafe to consume!!!

It was another great evening with two GREAT friends.  I always enjoy these cozy, chatty, quaint evenings in.  :)

 

A Secret Project!

A very special friend's birthday is coming up in November and today I just got THE best idea for some cupcakes to make for her! 
The photo above has nothing to do with my plans...but it is cute ;)

Stay tuned for hints AND to eventually find out what I'm up to.

Welcome to My New Blog!

Those of you who know me best know that I've been baking up all kinds of fabulous things over the past few years.  What you may not know is that in actuality I started baking when I was 12 years old. 

It was what we did during the wintertime and especially around Christmas.  The memories I have of all the wonderful smells and spending hours in the kitchen with loved ones creating decadent delights have always stayed with me.  I absolutely love baking for friends, family and co-workers. 

The collage you see at the top of this blog is composed of items I've made most recently.  Please stay tuned as I will surely be posting new tasty treats in the near future!