Some Sweet Mentions

Cowboy Up!

2012-01-13T06:18:00.000-08:00

YEEE-HAW, Y'all,

It's Stock Show and Rodeo time here in Fort Worth, Texas!!

Like many of you, I have fond memories of gearing up for a trip to this January-February tradition that dates back to 1896. When I was a kid this event was still called The Fort Worth Fat Stock Show and Rodeo.

I grew up on the far southwest side of Fort Worth. So far south that we were part of the tiny public school district of Crowley. There was one elementary school and one high school. Prayer and a 'thought for the day' was part of the morning announcement, Jackie Carden was our principal, not the name of a school (yet), and come January you were handed an admission ticket with an image of a giant PIG and the words Fat Stock Show stamped across it. This was your day pass to visit the fair grounds at Will Rogers Coliseum, usually for the first Monday the event was open.

Learning to "Cowboy Up" is part of being a Little Britches

Somewhere along the way it seems the pig image and the word 'fat' was dropped from the title leaving us with today's Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo. It's been LOTS of years since I took time to visit the grounds and rodeo, but that does not lessen the fond memories of it all.

The good, and not so good, hightlights of those memories include: wearing bluejeans, a cowboy hat and cowboy boots, holding my nose and 'watching where I step' while walking through the barns (sheep being my favorite), cotton candy being whirled around a paper cone and handed directly to me by sticky bare-hands, Whiplash the cowboy monkey, rain, cold temps, the heavy haze and smell of cigarette and cigar smoke that hung in the air during the rodeo, my dad's love of taking my brother and I to gather a peek into the cowboy way of life, and eventually growing into high school, marching in the band and being part of opening day parade.

There is something comforting knowing that men, women and children continue the Cowboy way of life. Attention to detail matters, and for some reason, I think care and consideration for the many skills and responsibilities that goes into showing an animal, roping and riding is pretty darn cool!

The value of such skills matter, and such matters are worthy of support. Oh, I didn't have such an appreciation back then. I was a bit of a goofy kid that spent an excessive amount of time LOL, but time passes and we grow up. Fortunately, the memories from a lot of decades-ago now whirl together with gratitude.

Here's hoping you will consider making your own memories this year!

PS: Be sure to click on the cotton candy and Whiplash, the cowboy monkey links above.

The child in your life, or in you, might get a kick out of these! =)

Welcome 2012!

2012-01-07T06:27:00.000-08:00

As much as I want to shout-out, "I can't believe it's 2012", I'll refrain. =) The Cupcake Cottage completed it's 6th Holiday season of baking on Christmas Eve, and we enjoyed a wonderful, relaxing time away from baking.

Maybe one day I'll catch you up on our family of 5 + 1 fabulous border collie, and 1 amazing daughter in-law!

For now, I'll catch you up on a couple of things regarding our business and the new year.

~ This weekend is the Boar's Head & Yule Log Festival at UCC on University Drive in Fort Worth. This event is such a wonderful way to kick off a new year and is free to the public. All are welcome and you can learn more about it here: Boar's Head & Yule Log Festival.

~ We continue to stay busy meeting the cupcake needs of you, our amazing and appreciated customer! Thanks for such support, and thanks for telling others about our shop. Word of mouth is, by far, the greatest form of advertisement.

~ Many of you continue to ask, and encourage us to go on Cupcake Wars. If you didn't read about our initial invitation to be a part of this Food Network madness, you can read about it here: Cupcake Wars 2010. Once the show learned that it was being picked up for a second season, we got a second call asking us to consider trying out for a spot, but by then we had watched enough episodes to know that we would much rather enjoy the experience from the comfort of our living room couch. Cupcake Wars is crazy fun to watch, but that's it! We appreciate your cheers and encouragement, though. =)

~ Cupcake Competition is all around!! Yes, there are more and more cupcake places opening in the greater Fort Worth area, and we are thrilled for that! Almost always, it is a customer that tells us about a new cupcake bakery. Sure, there have been initial feelings of uncertainty considering the state of the economy, and the ever growing cost of living, but somehow we continue to remain busy in business. We are extremely grateful for that, and we will continue to strive to do our best, each and every day we are baking. Competition is a good thing for two reasons: 1) it keeps us mindful and motivated to keep our standards high and 2) it offers consumers additional places to get their sweet-on. Free Market societies rock!!

So that's it for now. Here's wishing you and yours a safe and wonderful New Year!

December will be...

2011-12-01T06:56:00.000-08:00

Kate Bush

It's December again! This month brings so much to mind but one of the first things that sneaks into my head is Kate Bush! If you are not familiar with this English singer-songwriter and all around interesting entertainer, than here is a little introduction.

Many of you may know that Juaquin and I began our marriage in, of all places, England. Our first three years together were an adventure that I hope to never forget! With his meager wages as an airman basic in the US Air Force and a trickling of income from me substitute teaching that first year, we learned to embrace the British television experience and loved it! We were wild about East Enders, Top of the Pops, One Man and His Dog, Antiques Roadshow and a host of BBC sitcoms and shows. There were three channels way on back in 1984, and they still 'signed off' before midnight with an instrumental of "God Save The Queen" sneaking a message to you, that "it's late and you need to get to bed now." Loved it!

So, SO much more I could go on about that experience, but I'll force myself back to December and Kate Bush. I first heard December Will Be Magic Again on the Edge of Christmas CD. A wonderful mix of great stuff...go get it...or download it...or whatever it is you kids are doing these days to gather music. =)

It's a fun song and the range of her voice is amazing. More amazing, and slightly curious, is her interpretation of the song in her video. I use to be able to find it on YouTube, but it's been banned, so I went another route. Check it out and embrace December...again!

See Kate Bush perform (as only she can) December Will Be...

Poppy Wreaths

2011-11-11T06:21:00.000-08:00

Today is Veteran's Day and with that comes an immediate memory of all the poppy wreaths that will be placed at headstones and memorial structures throughout the UK.

When Juaquin and I married in 1984 he had enlisted in the U.S. Air Force 6 months prior. We looked forward to starting our lives together and hoped to be stationed somewhere in Texas. That was not to be the case. We began our marriage in England, UK.

Memories abound from the years we lived there, but on this day, November 11th, the thought of red paper poppies gathered together to make wreaths is symbolic of this day of remembrance and not easily forgotten.

Just like we see the Salvation Army bell ringers settle outside stores as we inch into the holiday season, men and women in English villages will start offering individual paper poppies to people passing by in exchange for bit of change as early as October. There is quite an interesting history behind the remembrance poppy that is traced back to World War I.

Remembering may not always a pleasant experience, but (I believe) it is something worth doing.

Harvest Moon!

2011-11-03T06:31:00.000-07:00

I can't seem to stop thinking about 'harvest moons'. There is certainly a proper definition for harvest moon, but I just seem to immediately conjure up an image of a big fat, orange, yellow or white moon hanging in the sky during the early evening or morning. Leave it to my thoughtful husband to find just the right song to accompany my mood or thought. He's done this ever since we met in 1983 and with harvest moons on my mind Juaquin brought Neil Young's Harvest Moon to my attention!

I have seen my share of fabulous full moons on my way in to bake here at the shop, but it's those 'harvest moons' that make me wish I had an equipped camera ready to capture it. Maybe one day.

I think things like full moons, shooting stars, and even loud, flashy thunderstorms have a calming and peaceful effect on me because they are timeless and amazing experiences that are bigger than me. Such things are little reminders that there is something greater and bigger than me and I love believing, dare I say, knowing that. Oh there's a lot of 'in-between-the-lines-of-faith' details I'm not posting here, but you're always welcome to ask.

The wonder and acceptance of something greater and bigger than yourself is another timeless event you either get or don't get. It's something you may eventually get or perhaps never embrace. Regardless, here's wishing you sprinkles of harvest moons!

Dora the Explorer!

2011-06-13T14:14:00.000-07:00

Here at The Cupcake Cottage we never, ever compromise our 'baking from scatch' practice. That means that each and every cupcake is baked fresh that morning. We also mix our buttercream fresh each day. This practice is, most likely, what keeps so many satisfied customers coming back for more!

When customers 'pre' order cupcakes for a special event, like this Dora the Explorer birthday party, we are happy to top your cupcakes with colors that compliment your decorating ideas.

In this case, we mixed purple, pink, blue, green & yellow that was then piped onto the cupcakes, making them a festive treat that blended nicely with the Dora decor!

Thank you, Preeti, for sharing these festive photos with us! =)

The Pioneer Woman

2011-04-28T12:23:00.000-07:00

image from http://thepioneerwoman.com/

I am so impressed with the bloggers of our day. Not just those that blog but those that follow and keep up with their favorite blog sites. I really should seek a site titled "confessions of a bad blogger" since my ability to keep up is a D+ at best, and I need to know that there are others like me out there. I have lots of sites that I have bookmarked with great plans to visit them as soon as I finish other tasks at hand. Unfortunately, those tasks get in the way of returning to those sites, but I keep them bookmarked just in case.

There is one blog, The Pioneer Woman, that I try to peek at least once every couple of weeks. A friend, Cheryl, told me about this 'mom in Oklahoma' a couple of years ago. I am sure many of you are familiar with this blog and the amazing lady behind it. Ree Drummond is our modern day pioneer woman. I won't go into details about who she is, or what all she does, but I will tell you that she really knows how to entertain this reader!

A few weeks ago I stumbled onto a TPW post from October 2006. That date stood out to me because that was 1 month after opening the door to our shop, The Cupcake Cottage. This short post is sweet, sad, honest, and FUNNY! I now click the audio portion almost daily just to have my heart tugged by this fabulous mom/woman/daughter/wife/modern day Pioneer Woman! Here's the post for you to read: They Absolutely Hate Goodbyes Be sure to click on the audio clip. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

(and) What about you? Do you follow The Pioneer Woman, or other amazing and inspiring blog sites? Let us know!!

Read more about Ree Drummond here: Forbes Woman Q&A

Wedding Shower!

2011-04-05T15:19:00.000-07:00

Recently, we baked cupcakes for a wedding shower with a request of white cupcakes, various designs, with certain sprinkles and sugary pearls on some. The hostess set our cupcakes in silver-foiled liners and Voila: A sweet display for a soon-to-be-bride!

Wedding Cupcakes!

2011-04-05T11:48:00.000-07:00

Here's a wonderful little series of pictures sent to us following a wedding that took place in 2010.

When special colors are requested in our buttercream, and if we can 'hit' that color without compromising the yummy taste of our frosting, then we are happy to do so. Such was the case with the lovely couple that requested this sage green and our natural buttercream white.

We really enjoyed seeing this lovely display!

Celebrate With Cupcakes!

2011-04-05T06:44:00.000-07:00

The Cupcake Cottage has lots of visitors each and every day! This little sweetie, Olivia, ventured in with 'camera-ready' mom who took this adorable shot. Thanks for sharing Widad! =)

Win Cupcakes!

2011-03-11T07:25:00.000-08:00

Sweeten your Spring Break with FREE Cupcake Cottage cupcakes!

For those of you staying in or around Fort Worth next week here's a chance to break up the week with cupcakes! You can share them with family, friends and, in case your working, co-workers!! To enter your name to win either 1 dozen Standard size cupcakes OR 2 dozen babycakes read the details below:

This drawing is for Wednesday 16 March 2011 ONLY, and the lucky winner must be able to pick up their sweet prize (or designate someone to pick up for you) between 10:00 a.m. & 4:00 p.m. on that day.

Simply post a comment under our "Win Cupcake for Spring Break 2011" Facebook post stating the size cupcakes you hope to win (standard or babycake) along with your favorite Cupcake Cottage flavor. (example: babycakes / confetti)

Contest ends this Sunday, 13 March 2011, at midnight and we will message the winner on Monday and post the winning name on Tuesday!

Good Luck!! =)

Coupon Palooza!!

2011-02-17T06:16:00.000-08:00

Last month a customer asked if we ever plan on participating in Groupon. Here's the answer to that question.

About a year ago I started getting calls from sells reps wanting to tell us about a new avenue to 'get more customers to our store'. The first company to contact us was Groupon. Since then we have had many other such Groupon-like businesses contact us hoping we will join this new internet coupon craze.

The 'groupon' concept with daily deals is very impressive and offers great savings for customers looking to spend their money as carefully as possible. We are all about personal financial planning and think these are great ways to save more!

So why hasn't The Cupcake Cottage jumped on board this popular savings practice?

When one of these coupon salespeople ask , "tens of thousands of people will view your daily deal....don't you want that kind of exposure"?, we simply answer "gosh, no"!! As it is, we often sell out of hundreds of cupcakes each day we are open. We are pretty sure that we sell out because of the care and effort that goes into making each and every cupcake from scratch, each and every day! At least that's what repeat customers tell us.

As it is, we strive to price our cupcakes as low as possible while still making the profit needed to pay all the expenses of running a successful business. For this reason we do not participate in this popular coupon trend. Should that ever change, we'll let you know! =)

Celebrate!

2011-01-18T14:40:00.001-08:00

Celebrating is always in fashion, don't ya think? It's always a treat when our cupcakes are a part of a special event. When mom, Amber, came in to order cupcakes for her Maysn's 2nd birthday she requested the frosting be a variety of colors. We were happy to offer just that!

Looks like this birthday boy knows how to take care of cupcakes! :)

Welcome 2011!

2011-01-06T02:55:00.001-08:00

A couple of years ago I blogged about a the Boar's Head and Yule Log Festival that will take place again this weekend. This year will mark the 35th anniversary for the event. Perhaps time will allow you and your family and friends to attend. You can read my original post about the event here: http://somesweetmentions.blogspot.com/2008/12/wonderful-way-to-begin-2009.html

Happy New Year to each of you!

The Business of Cupcakes

2010-11-04T15:33:00.000-07:00

If I blog-posted every time I thought of something to say I would never leave my keyboard. Instead I have neglected this little entity of social networking for more weeks than I intended.

It's not from lack of subject. There is always some thought spinning in my head. If not a thought, then a song, or a line from some favorite sitcom or loved movie. Wow...I better stop with such confessions or y'all think I'm crazy!

With a post long overdue, I decided to take a moment and share a few thoughts on a subject that is not only dear to me, but a subject I get asked about a lot: small business.

From the moment we opened our doors in September 2006, Juaquin and I have been asked about 'our business'. Why did we start a business? Was it always our dream to open a cupcake shop? How did we come up with this? WHY did we go into business for ourselves? You both have college and graduate degrees, why cupcakes? (okay, I'm the only one that asks myself this Q now and then. =)

I won't attempt to answer all of these questions as that would make for a very long post, but I will answer the most FAQ this past 18 months: "How is your business doing in this economy?"

To answer this question let me take you back to when we first opened The Cupcake Cottage doors.

I cannot begin to explain why I've always wanted a business. As I've told many of you, my dream business would have been a children's bookstore. However, we needed a business that would generate the income we want, and more importantly, need to live. No matter how fabulous my vision for a children's bookstore might be, there was simply no way we could compete with the likes of Borders, Barnes and Noble and (the big-daddy of 'em all) Amazon. So, we went cupcakes!

We opened our cupcake shop at a time when there were only a handful of cupcake shops in the world. Today there are hundreds of these sweet shops scattered throughout this big blue and green globe and that's exciting! =)

Now, back to the 'this economy' question. From the time we 'visioned' our shop to now, we have made sure to run our business with great care and caution. We always bake each and every cupcake from scratch and we mix our buttercream frosting fresh daily. That practice will never change!

We go out of our way NOT to advertise, though the thought is exciting. I would love nothing more than to see our cupcakes and our wonderful baking/frosting team in a glossy magazine. Such exposure is exciting, but because we do not bake in massive quantities, such advertisements could serve as more of a tease to potential customers. It's challenging enough having customers visit only to find that we've "Sold Out", so spending money to advertise does not make sense for us. We have been blessed with sprinkles of complementary 'write-ups' and we are grateful for each of them.

We do NOT get over-our-head in debt. Could we run to a bank, or gather up investors and GROW BIG, build a staff of umpteen bakers and frosters and sell thousands of cupcakes a day, as opposed to the hundreds we sell a day? Sure we could! Is that something we want to do? No it is not. We completely understand that this route is very common for businesses to grow, but we are looking to operate a successful business that 1) keeps a roof over our head 2) keeps food on our table 3) allows us to create time for our family 4) continue supporting various needs thru our personal donations 5) allows us to squirrel away a bit for our future and (God willing) retirement.

The Cupcake Cottage is baking more cupcakes now then it has since the first day we opened. We are earning enough revenue (aka: money) to meet payroll for 5 employees and keep a cushion of savings for the unexpected expenses. (and) BOY have those unexpected expenses come! read on....

So, how are we doing in this economy? We're doing what we need to be doing in spite of the past 2 (economically discouraging) years.

Since 2009 we have seen an increase in Payroll Taxes, Health Department fees which have risen 25 % in 2009 and another 25% in 2010. State required business insurance has also increased 25 % in 2009 and another 25% in 2010. Cost of all fresh ingredients continues to increase....butter, for example has increased 40+% in the past 6 months. Our adorable pink boxes have inched upwards 10-20% in less than a year. I'll spare you even more detailed 'DRAGS', but when you track the reasons for these increases (and we do!), you will find that regulations at every level (local, state and national) are behind these added costs.

If it weren't for the careful managing of our own money in and money out, we would be looking at closing our sweet cottage door. The good news is we DO take care to run our tiny little shop within a budget that offers steady and careful growth. It's not always an easy thing, but by running our business with such care we sleep well at night and we meet our short term goals while marching onward to our long term goals.

Thanks to the each and every new and returning customer that recognizes, and appreciates our carefully baked and frosted cupcakes we experience a basic economic 101 principal: Supply and Demand.

Good times or bad, cupcakes remain a timeless treat! Good times or bad, people still celebrate birthdays, graduations, babies, weddings, anniversaries, engagements, team victories and more. Good times or bad, people still need a pick-me-up for those days when there is loss, defeat, and discouraging news.

Good times or bad, our cupcakes are keeping life sweet for YOU and for us and we are incredibly grateful for it all!

Our Creative Customers

2010-09-19T16:17:00.001-07:00

It is always exciting to hear from customers that have shared our cupcakes with family and friends. Our cupcakes are part of all sorts of celebrations and gatherings, and that makes us smile! We thought these might make you smile, too!

visit us at: The Cupcake Cottage

Our 'baby' cakes are frequent participants at baby

showers and sip-n-sees!

Moms can get pretty creative when it comes to graduation celebrations!Flags with messages and pictures add a personal touch to the cupcake.

Above is Crissa, and she visits our shop now and then with her grandmother.When Crissa declared "Let's play Cupcake Cottage" with her play-doh set, I'm guessing she surprised her family with some pretty impressive skills. The piping on her 'cupcakes' look amazing!

Thanks Kathy and Nancy for emailing such sweetness. =)

Vintage Wedding ~ another sweet share

2010-06-10T14:07:00.000-07:00

I continue to be amazed at the creative direction that so many couples take when planning their wedding. Melissa, an events planner and owner of Emerald Events and Weddings set a Vintage mood for her guests when she and Erich married in October.

Melissa was sweet enough to send some of the above pictures along with this lovely email messgae:

"Hi Sandra, I know it's been 5 months but I'm finally getting around to getting you some photos from our eco-chic vintage wedding! Our guest absolutely loved all of the different kinds of cupcakes and even though we over-ordered, there was not a single one left!! We were highlighted on a couple websites and we made sure to let everyone know where we got our yummy goodies =o) Thanks again for helping to make our day so special!! M. Love, Laughter & Happily Ever After . . . . . Melissa (aka the new Mrs.)

We like to think our babycakes added a teeny bit of sweetness to this wonderful day!

Our Connecticut Connection

2010-05-27T11:02:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Papa!

You want MY cupcake!?

Hey, I thought you were going to give me that!

I can get my mouth around this, NO PROBLEM

These don't last long...

I told you they don't last long.

Your #1 Connecticut Fan!!!

With so many amazing customers that come thru our door it was only natural that we have gotten to know a little (sometimes even a LOT =) about many of you. This little entry ~ Our Connecticut Connection ~ features a wonderful young mom, Joy, her two sweet children and her dad who is affectionately called Papa!

Joy's parents live in Connecticut and became fans of The Cupcake Cottage last summer while visiting Fort Worth. Joy was sweet enough to share the above photos with me and agreed to let me share them with you (whoever you may be). The captions under the pictures were included in the email and capture Papa and the kids perfectly.

A Sweet Proposal

2010-05-11T12:45:00.000-07:00

It's a real privelage to learn that The Cupcake Cottage cupcakes have been part of some pretty special celebrations. It's especially exciting when we receive notes and even pictures sharing those special moments with us. I thought it would be fun to share some of those with you!

This first 'share' ~A Sweet Proposal =) ~ comes from a recently engaged young lady, Emmelie. She wrote:
"I’m a longtime fan of the cupcake cottage. I have often come in to buy birthday treats for friends, Christmas cupcakes, or “just because.” My long time boyfriend knew this, and when it came time to pop the question this past weekend, he did it with a box of your delicious cupcakes! (See attached pictures).
I just wanted y’all to see the photo and let you know that your delicious cupcakes made such a special moment even sweeter."

Belated Valentine

2010-04-06T17:43:00.000-07:00

One of the orders that had to be postponed during the Valentine's weekend was simply rescheduled. This customer was perfectly happy delivering these belated Valentine cupcakes a few days after February 14th. When you place a preorder we are happy to customize frosting colors and design. Some of these designs are subject to additional cost, and we are happy to take your order if we have room on our schedule.

Sweet and thoughtful gifts are always welcome!

Guess Who Called!

2010-03-29T09:00:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I received a phone call from a production company in L.A. They work with the Food Network and were calling us about a new reality show Cupcake Wars. The gal on the other end of the phone explained that the pilot for Cupcake Wars aired in December and repeated in January. She asked if I had heard about it and I sheepishly replied "no". You see, way back in 2006 when we first opened our little shop I was amazed at how many people asked me about various cooking and baking shows on TV. I had no idea who Bobby Flay was, and had never seen Ace of Cakes or any food challenges. Our family was so busy we never bothered to pay extra for cable TV so we were quite out of the loop with the yummy food scene. I have since seen at least one episode of each of these popular and quite impressive shows, but do not follow any of them on a regular basis. I digress...

Back to the phone call... This sweet young lady went on to tell me that Cupcake Wars was in the process of filming it's first season and that they had heard about The Cupcake Cottage and "hoped we would consider being a part of the show". My immediate internal reaction was: "HECK YEAH! How cool would that be!!! I'm up to a good challenge and new experience...bring it on baby!!" My actual reply to her was: "I'm very flattered, now tell me what all is involved."

She went on to explain what went on in the pilot challenge. Basically, 4 teams were given a challenge to use sweet and spicy ingredients in their cupcakes. Eventually, a winner was chosen and would bake 1,000 of their winning cupcake for a Hollywood event. When I asked her "what would I have to do at this point", she explained that I needed to send (ASAP) a photo of myself, my assisitant, my store, and my cupcakes. This was on a Thursday and we were facing a very busy Friday and Saturday of baking. Making sure we do the very best we can with our baking is our top priority and this was all that popped into my head at that point. I thanked her for calling and told her I would email her with my decision before the end of the day.

It didn't take long for me to face another reality. Did I really want to subject myself to the stress of such an experience? What if I completely bombed on the challenge? What about those cameras?! You know that saying "the camera really likes you"...yeah, I've NEVER been told that! =) Most importantly, I have absolutely no desire to be recognized on a national level. We have a very successful business and prefer to grow it carefully. If recognition comes, it comes, but to actually seek such attention would most likely keep me from sleeping at night. For me, peaceful slumber, and managed stress is far more important than 15 minutes of fame and the enormous demand that could possibly come from it.

So, I emailed my regret and told the Food Network recruiter to feel free to contact me should there be another season. She kindly wrote back that she completely understood and would keep The Cupcake Cottage in mind for future projects. That was cool. =)
I must admit that I did a little searching about Cupcake Wars since and was amazed at how many audition recordings are on YouTube. Clearly, there is a process for being considered and I'm guessing that had I made it thru 'round 1' I would have been asked to send in such a tape. Here's a clip of the actual Cupcake War Pilot and Here are a few auditions...some I really liked and some I found to be 'interesting'. Check them out!

Click: Highlights from Cupcake Wars Pilot episode

and here are some Cupcake War audition tapes: Dippidee ~ Crystal Roberts ~ Girl Veteran ~ TootSweet ~ New York Cupcakes

Want to see even more auditions just search Cupcake Wars on YouTube.

Snowstorm 2010 Epilogue

2010-03-28T13:11:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe the last post I made here was regarding our snowstorm 2010 Valentine's weekend situation. I thought I would begin the update with some fun pics from that exciting weather event! These were taken Friday morning, February 12.

In need of a basic phone, that did not require electricity, we made our way to Walmart and were welcomed with this gorgeous parking lot scene at 4:30AM. I loved how the black, wintry sky shows up here!

Once Juaquin and I called customers to let them know we were unable to bake due to the electricity outage we made our way home...taking a scenic route!

Made it home only to learn that we were still without electricty there too!

Valentine's Weekend 2010 will not be one we forget anytime soon.

Effects of a Snowy Wonder!

2010-02-13T09:56:00.000-08:00

The fabulous snowfall on Thursday has effected our operation for this Valentine weekend. Here's a quick recap and update for those of you with preorders and those that are just interested in how this is all playing out.

Thurday 11 February: Lots of gorgeous snow fell here in Fort Worth and our shop plugged along as normal. Our electricity at our home near TCU went out around noon that day. We were welcomed to spend the night with the in-laws...I have the best in-laws ever. =)

Friday 12 February: At 4:00 AM I arrived at the shop after driving thru lots of fresh snow. I was hopeful that we had power since a little lamp was dimly shining in our front window. Unfortunately, the power was struggling and there was not enough electrical "umph" to keep phones, appliances, ovens, heat, etc.... on. We were without electricity as were 175,000 people in the DFW area. I called our amazing baking assitants letting them know they needn't come in. The temperature in the shop (around 45*) was dropping quickly and Juaquin had joined me there by that time.

5:30 AM: we ventured to WalMart to get an old-school, $5.00 phone to plug directly to our phone line. We knew we would need to call customers that had preorders to let them know that we would not be able to bake for them that day, and offered to include them with our Saturday orders (should we have power to bake).
The 20+ customers I spoke with were wonderful and very understanding. We hated to let them down, but sometimes things are simply out of our control....like a record breaking snow storm!

9:30ish AM: Juaquin and I drove around our amazingly, wonderful city looking at how beautiful and almost magical the snowfall looked. The streets were quiet, the city was quiet. What is it about fresh snow that makes the world seem reverently calm, still and hushed. We took a few pictures and marveled at the covered tree branches. Simply goregous!! =)

10:30 AM: We ventured to the Alpaca show going on at Will Rogers....chatted with a few Alpaca ranchers. This was something we wanted to go to but knew we wouldn't be able to with the busiest baking holiday our shop experiences in the year. Perhaps it was meant for us to be there after all! =)

11:00ish AM: Went to Taylor Rentals to get a tablecloth for the Reading Rocks event and then went to Ridglea Country Club to decorate a table for Saturday's luncheon that raises money for the I Have a Dream Foundation. This is my second year to participate in this wonderful happening. Click here for Reading Rock details!

We continued to check off and on at the shop to see if Electricity was back on. It wasn't... =(

8:00 PM: Made our way to our home and happy to have electricity back on. I fell into bed ASAP, hoping that power would be back on at the shop for Saturday.

Saturday 13 February 4:00AM: Juaquin drove to the shop to see if electricity was on. He called to tell me it was not. I called my baking assistants to let them know NOT to come in. Reset my alarm for a little more sleep.

6:00 AM: Rolled out of bed, got ready and headed for the shop. Still no power, so gathered my thoughts, and all the preorder information of customers for Friday and Saturday. Waited a bit and began calling customers around 8:30 as not to wake them to early!

9:30 - 11:00: Spoke with customers, left messages, answered the phone.... Shop temp - 41 degrees...brrrrr....

"OH How I'd Rather Be Baking!", became my inner mantra... =(

I needed to contact about 40 customers that had preorders for this weekend. With the exception of 1 customer, every single person I spoke with expressed amazing understanding for the situation. I realize that each of them had special plans for the cupcakes today, yesterday and perhaps tomorrow and I hate letting them down. Many of them reminded me that with a record-level-Snowfall "this was a once in a lifetime event for North Texas". Busy wanting to set things right with our fabulous cupcake fans I wasn't thinking about that cool fact, and I appreciated that reminder!

In the event we get power restored before tomorrow, Sunday 14 February, we will be baking! Yes, for this one and only Sunday, IF we have electricity tomorrow, we will get on with baking the orders we have missed and then some.
For updated information visit our Facebook Fan Page and Twitter

Sometimes....no, wait... A lot of times in life there are happenings that are simply out of our control and the only thing we can do is control how we react to such events.
We deeply apologize that we have not been able to bake our sweet treats these past 2 days and we appreciate your patience.

Cupcake Flags

2010-01-26T12:53:00.000-08:00

Some Flag ideas for Valentine's Day

I used the lavendar paper while playing, but any colored paper would look great

Craft supplies + imagination = fun flags!

I first came across custom Cupcake Flags a couple of years ago on the internet and thought they were just adorable. These wee flags have since become a very popular way to personalize a message that can be placed right on top of a cupcake!

The photos above are some I made as examples for those of you out that might want to get a little creative with your next gathering that include cupcakes! It's fun, relatively simple and extremely cute. =)

Here are a couple of links that you might want to explore for further ideas and instruction:

Martha Stewart DIY Flags

Hostess With the Mostess

and you can always just google ~ cupcake flags ~ for additional ideas.

Please note: we do not make or sell these in our shop

New Year brings a few New Flavors

2010-01-12T11:07:00.000-08:00

The Cupcake Cottage has some new flavors to add in this new year!

Chai (pronounced Ch + a long i ~ as in tie) : The word chai actually means 'tea' in many parts of the world. Chai tea is a blend of black tea along with spices, and we add a bit of allspice and cardamom.

German Chocolate : Okay y'all, I'm stepping outside the German Chocolate tradition a wee bit here. Let's face it, the signature on German Chocolate is that amazing frosting that includes pecans and flaked coconut. We we will NOT be mixing that frosting. Rather, we will include the pecans and coconut in the traditional German chocolate cake batter and top this cupcake with our delicious buttercream, sprinkled with pecans and coconut!

Vanilla Chocolate Chip : A vanilla cake with semi-sweet chocolate chips sprinkled in the cake. This vanilla cake is different from our regular vanilla in that we use whole eggs and whole milk. Our regular vanilla cake calls for egg whites only, and buttermilk.

Keep an eye on our Flavors page for more new flavors as we introduce them...

Good Morning Cupcake Cottage!

2009-12-17T10:31:00.001-08:00

Good Morning little shops!

When I arrive at the shop to bake it is always dark. This time of the year it's a real treat to drive in and see all the wonderful Christmas lights and decorations in shop windows.

I love our twinkle lights, and I especially love the pink Christmas tree in Weddings on the Boulevard window. Waking up is a little easier with such festive December greetings! =)

Hey Cupcake, Thanks!

2009-12-10T08:12:00.000-08:00

Fort Worth Weekly Holiday Guide 2009 & Fort Worth Child December 2009

We are always incredibly surprised and grateful when unexpected 'shout-outs' come our way. Last week, while waiting for a burger at a neighboring hamburger spot, I saw the Fort Worth Weekly Holiday Guide 2009 and took a peek. Page 10 featured Holiday Hosting and there we were...pink topped Cupcake Cottage cupcakes and all! Very cool.

Last month, before the Thanksgiving rush, I received an email from Fort Worth Child letting me know that we had been selected as Best place for Cupcakes! We were asked to keep mum until the December issue was released. That is never an easy promise to keep, but we did.

We certainly appreciate such Sweet Mentions and we know that it's all due to YOU! We appreciate our amazing customers for embracing our sweet treats and letting others know about us. =)

December Magic!

2009-12-01T13:20:00.000-08:00

December is here again! This month can mean so many things to different people. Considering the economic valley that our country is experiencing, it is likely to be month sprinkled with worry and stress for many. Let's face it, even when we are experiencing economic peaks December can still be a bit overwhelming.

Whatever your tradition...whatever your joy...whatever your stress... December is a great time to simply step back and remember the precious gift of life!

When I taught second grade I began each morning with clear objectives for myself and my students. I verbally expressed those objectives as well as post them on the chalkboard so we could reference our goals during the day. I always ended that daily opening with "Let's make it a great day!" Does that mean all went well each and every day? Absolutely not! However, I am a firm believer that there is one thing we can truly control in this life and that is how we react to everything around us.

If your world is falling apart, I recommend prayer and tears. If your world is going splendidly I recommend the same.

No matter the matter "Let's make it a great December!" =)

Hey Cupcake!

2009-11-05T10:21:00.001-08:00

We appreciate it when customers share their Cupcake Cottage experience with us!

One such email message sent to us reads:

"I just love your sweet, delectable cottage! I have attached a pic of my bday experience there. You put a smile on my face!"

Thanks,
Heather

(such sweet messages put a smile on our face too!)

A Cupcake Cottage Birthday!

2009-11-01T15:16:00.000-08:00

It's hard to believe that we have been open for 3 years! September 26th marked that 3rd birthday.

This endeavor has been everything we could have hoped for and more. It is proof that hard work, dedication and attention to detail can pay off. The pay off? Earning our way in this increasingly costly world by paying our bills both at home and at our shop, keeping a roof over our heads, food on the table and a chance to squirrel away for our future. Hard work keeps the mind active, and is an amazing, natural remedy for a great night of sleep!

The greater pay off? Meeting YOU! Each and every day we have been blessed to meet some absolutely wonderful people and appreciate your support and encouragement. The Cupcake Cottage will continue to bake our sweet little cupcake treats from scratch for dear Fort Worth!

Halloween + Cupcakes = YUM!

2009-10-15T10:16:00.000-07:00

Just after dark, but just before dawn

buttercream ghosts come creeping along...

Yummy Mummies on our delightful double chocolate!

The Cupcake Cottage is gearing up for Halloween!

This marks our 4th year to get a little creative with

our cuppies. If your planning a spook-tacular

Halloween gathering then you may want to include

some festive cupcakes!

Call The Cupcake Cottage for details: 817-732-5670

Transformer Cupcakes!

2009-10-02T13:36:00.001-07:00

We've been incredibly busy!!
(and it's not even holiday busy-ness yet)

Here are some cupcakes we baked and frosted to go along with a Transformer themed birthday party. The birthday boy celebrated his birthday last year with Batman themed cupcakes from our shop and mom was back for more this year!

See the black topped cuppies? That's black sugar that will make your mouth an instant black mess when you bite into it. I would never recommend it for a 'grown up' gathering, but they are bound to bring about a "WOW" - "WHOA" and "COOL" factor among little lads!

Zebra Bug!

2009-09-24T07:50:00.000-07:00

Cupcakes + Zebra Bugs = Smiles!

The Cupcake Cottage customer may find his or her way to our shop when out walking or biking, but most likely they make their way to pick up cupcakes in a vehicle. This summer when a customer came to pick up her order of babycakes we suggested that she park up front so we could help load the pink boxes in her car.

When she pulled up I couldn't help but grab my camera and ask if I could get some pics of her zebra-bug. Is this not the coolest paint job? It was a gift from her husband. =) I told her that I was surprised I had not seen her 'zippin' around Fort Worth, but she explained that she lived about 45 minutes south of the city. Yes, cupcake fans come from all over for our cuppies and we're glad for that!

Next time your heading south on I-35 keep your eyes peeled for this festive little car. It's bound to make you smile!

Faux Cupcakes!

2009-09-11T11:51:00.000-07:00

They look good enough to eat, don't they?

Well they're not!

These are fake cakes and I was so impressed with how they look I

thought some of our cupcake connoisseurs might like to try their hand at making them.

Click here for faux cupcake recipe.

I learned about it from Bella Couture, a wonderful little on-line shop that offers all sorts of cupcake companion accessories.

We Break From Baking

2009-09-02T17:20:00.000-07:00

"Every now and then go away, have a little relaxation, for when you come back to your work your judgment will be surer. Go some distance away because then the work appears smaller and more of it can be taken in at a glance and a lack of harmony and proportion is more readily seen."

~ Leonardo da Vinci

Sometimes the greatest thing you can earn is time! One of the goals in having our little business is to work to live and not the other way around. We don't have a mad stash of cash that allows us to randomly close our doors. Rather, we plan so that we can afford to take time for family matters, household chores and rest!

This Labor Day we will be spending time with our daughter in Colorado. It's Parents Weekend at the Air Force Academy and that's where she attends school. Our youngest son will join us, as will Shadow the Wonder Dog (our busy 10 year old border collie)! Maybe next year our oldest son will be able to join too. He started a job shortly after graduating UT in Austin and is learning all about earning that extra time. =)

The Cupcake Cottage will be closed:

Thursday 3 September thru Wednesday 9 September

and will reopen Thursday 10 September at 10:00 a.m.

We look forward to serving you on the many days we are open!

"Charming" Cupcakes!

2009-08-11T10:58:00.000-07:00

When customers are planning for a special event and have a specific cupcake vision in mind, we are happy to consider any and all ideas. We may not always be able to create what a customer wants, but 99.9 % of the time we are able to meet the need.

Such was the case last week. We were asked to have our cupcakes used instead of a layered cake for a sweet tradition. I was somewhat familiar with the tradition of charms being placed between layers of wedding cake, but I needed to do a little research for specifics and here's what I learned:
The "cake pull" practice dates back to the Victorian era and has remained popular in the South. Basically, a satin ribbon is tied to each sterling silver charm which is placed, never baked, in between layers of a cake. In our case, we simply placed the charms on the cupcake and carefully piped buttercream over it. The result was absolute bliss!

In case your interested, the charms were from JMcKinley: http://www.jmckinley.com/

Unexpected Gifts!

2009-07-29T05:46:00.000-07:00

Don't you just love getting something you had no idea was coming your way?

My first teaching job was at Lakenheath Elementary School in England where I taught second grade. This was a school for children of U.S. military families serving overseas. Many students living on the base were able to walk to school which made our community look like a snapshot of what I imagine growing American neighborhoods may have looked in the 50's & 60's. It was great, and I was often the recipient of 'gifts' collected by my students on their way in.

It was a pretty predictable experience of pinecones, seeds and sprigs of mistletoe in the fall and winter months. What I didn't expect in June were bunches of gorgeous, fragrant roses that were clearly snatched from prized vines. Thorny stems didn't stand a chance against the tugs of determined 8 year olds. After a quick reminder that "growing things should be left untouched" I turned and privately smiled as I placed battered stems in cool water. Unexpected gifts are such a treat!

A few weeks ago I received a package that I did not expect and did not order. I immediately knew that it was from Johnny Cupcakes because it was sealed with an over sized sticker bearing his logo: cross bones under a cupcake. I tore into the box quickly, carefully unfolded the designer Johnny Cupcake tissue paper and found the following:

~ 1/2 Dozen stud Johnny Cupcake logo earrings

~ 3 plastic zipped pouches with 1 Johnny Cupcake business card, 1 circa 1991 Teenage Ninja Turtle trading, 1 lapel button and 1 wrapped candy mint
~ (and) 1 sweet note from Johnny

I wrote about Johnny Cupcakes and his amazing entrepreneurial ways on this blog a while back.

As you can see by his note in the photo, he clearly knows how to channel his energy and creative spirit...and promote his business! Be sure to check out his blog, it rocks!

Be sure to check out his 'baked goods' (aka: custom Johnny Cupcakes Tees and other sweet items)
The unexpected can be so much fun!

"Thanks Johnny Cupcakes, wherever you are!" =)

Cake Personality

2009-07-17T14:55:00.000-07:00

Like fine wine, a cake that is baked from scratch will be very different from flavor to flavor. Some cake recipes will bring elements together that result in a moist, springy texture, while other recipes will merge ingredients resulting in a denser, slightly heavy cake. Surprisingly, some taste buds out there are quick to declare that a cake is only good if it is moist. That may be the call of many, but it is not the declaration of all.

I suspect that with 40 plus years of improved box mixes that include added chemicals designed to lengthen shelf life and keep food items from going rock-hard, much of our society has experienced ultra moist cakes so often that the experience of varied texture may seem foreign. A cake less than 'uber' moist may be unexpected and immediately rejected. Sound familiar?

So how does one ‘break on through to the other side’ and give all forms of cake density a chance?
The next time you are about to take a bite of an unfamiliar, but made from scratch, cake consider the ingredients that make up the cake. Remember, we're talking FROM SCRATCH here...no box or pre-packaged mixes. Box mixes will be moist because the market has the majority of our population pegged and is sticking with a formula that sells.

Consider our Red Velvet cupcake. This is, by far, one of our hottest selling and most requested flavors. There are many recipes for Red Velvet. The recipe I grew up with was my mother's and can be dated back at least 50 years. As much as I love baking a full size cake with her recipe, it is not the recipe I use for my Red Velvet cupcakes in our shop. I use a recipe that I found in Southern Living Magazine many years back. Red Velvet is traditionally a dense cake that contains cocoa and is topped with a cream cheese frosting. Unless requested in a preorder, we top our Red Velvet with our buttercream frosting. I won't go into its history here, but when made from scratch, this cake is a solid slice of yummmm!

If you have only experienced red velvet as a moist cake, then it is likely to have been a box mix cake or made from a batter that has been tweaked to satisfy a moist-cake-only palette. I would encourage you to step back about 80 years, before added chemicals were used to 'keep cake moist' and try a variety of different cakes. You can visit our shop, bake something up yourself, or talk Grams into baking a few cakes this holiday season.

Whether you prefer white cake to chocolate or cream cheese frosting to buttercream, I would encourage you to keep an open mind as you open your mouth for a bite of cake! =)

We ♥ America!

2009-07-04T01:00:00.000-07:00

Have a safe, restful and reflective 4th of July weekend!

Papas - Blueberries and Peaches!

2009-06-26T08:35:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week Elias's mom gave us this picture

with this sweet message:

"We love your cupcakes! Thanks for making them." ~Papa & Elias

That was our 'icing on the cake'! =)

It is always a treat when customers put The Cupcake Cottage on their list of 'places to take visitors' here in Fort Worth. Such was the case with 'Papa' when his darling grandson, Elias, brought him in for cupcakes. It seems this little guy speaks very highly of The Cupcake Cottage in his phone calls to Papa, who lives in Connecticut. I think Elias was thrilled to show the grands one of his favorite places! We are always thrilled to meet friends and family. =)

With summer comes many out-of-town visitors, and the season for Parker County Peaches and Fresh Blueberries! We introduced these flavors last summer and they are back for a couple of months. Keep an eye out for them on the Flavors page on our website. They are both refreshing and yummy!

Fabulous Evening!

2009-06-16T19:18:00.000-07:00

Our daughter, Jana (left) with her friend Grace hosted our table

We were striving to bake 500 babycakes for the Best of 2009 Party, but I pushed it a bit and baked 630 for last Friday nights celebration. Hats off to Neda and Courtney for coming in to frost. (and) Thanks to Jana and Grace for hosting The Cupcake Cottage table of cuppies.

Fort Worth Magazine transformed Casa Manana into quite the impressive celebration, and we were certainly happy to be a part of the scene!

Fort Worth Magazine's Best of 2009 Party!

2009-06-06T07:43:00.000-07:00

We'll be closed for two weeks, but there is still one way you may be able to get your Cupcake Cottage fix. We will be baking 500+ babycakes for Fort Worth Magazine's Best of 2009! A fabulous summer party that devotes all proceeds to the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Fort Worth.

Click here for details: Best of 2009 Party!

Messages and Deliveries

2009-05-28T14:36:00.000-07:00

Scroll down to read the story behind each picture

visit: thecupcakecottage.com

Photo 1

Photo 2
Photo 3
Photo 4
Photo 5
Photo 6
Photo 7

We may not be a cake decorating company, but now and again, if we are able and time allows, we will take your idea and make it a reality!

Photo 1: A customer took last year's Fort Worth Magazine Best of 2008 and created a wedding anniverary destination date. She and her husband visited a Best of lunch spot, Best of walking spot and Best of Cupcake spot! The cupcake message was her sweet idea.

Photo 2: The initials S and N were for a couple's engagement party.

Photo 3: An Enchanted Florist fan wanted to wish them well in their new location on Camp Bowie Blvd.

Photo 4 & 5: A young man called from LA, California wanting to send something special to his mom as she became a United States of America citizen. We delivered this festive box of a dozen babycakes to Arlington. What a thoughtful son!

Photo 6: A call from the Bay Area, California asking us to do something special for a friend's birthday. Another delivery of cuppies!!

Photo 7: Our own son wanted to make that Prom invitation a little extra special and 'sweet'. She said yes! =)

We have made deliveries of cupcakes for customers that call from as far away as Canada, NYC, Pennsylvania, Washington, and California. Delivery rates begin at $20.00 and increase according to the Fort Worth - Dallas destination.

Special frosting costs begin at: $5.00 per standard & $ 2.00 per babycake.

We ♥ Our Customers!

2009-05-21T15:05:00.000-07:00

Some of The Cupcake Cottage Customers

Gracie's invitation to a Christmas 'Wrap' party!

Brandy and Brandon are busy with an

amazing photography business, Bellapop!

Jeff snapped this sweet pic of the lovely Jen while at the shop.
Checkout some of what keeps these two busy...you'll be impressed!
Monstrosity Foto Co., High School Caesar, Jen's Myspace

Christmas Greetings!

One of the best parts of owning and operating this little shop of cupcakes is meeting the amazing customers that walk through our door. Whether they appear on a Forbes 500 list, or work two or three jobs in order to provide for their family, there’s one thing all our customers have in common: they crave and appreciate quality!
Our customers recognize the effort that goes into our baked-from-scratch cupcakes, no matter who they are or where they are from.

We have gotten to know so many people over our counter, and they have gotten to know us.
We get updates at Christmas time from some, invitations to gatherings, and even announcements of recent births. We learn of less joyful moments such as the loss of a loved one, or an unexpected diagnosis of a difficult illness. We have customers that keep us informed of marathons they are running, vacations they are taking and businesses they are starting.

We even have a customer that started a Facebook Group, called For the Love of The Cupcake Cottage, after discovering our little shop a few months ago. That was very flattering! If you are on Facebook be sure to look it up. I took a peek at it once while my daughter was logged on to her Facebook and was impressed that there were about 25 members!
I'm afraid time doesn't allow for networking via Facebook, Twitter or Text Message, maybe someday.
For now, we will continue to meet and greet our customers the old fashion way: over the counter!

Straight From the Case

2009-05-05T15:05:00.000-07:00

We sell lots and lots of cupcakes every day! Sometimes customers pop in for a quick cupcake fix before, during or after lunch. Often times they will call or come by in need of more than

a few cuppies and are happy to leave with a pink box of delightful treats!

Above is a box of 2 dozen cupcakes we put together from our case for a customer calling from Weatherford. By the time she arrived her box was ready and waiting!

We encourage you to call ahead so we can let you know what's available. We are happy to hold cupcakes for ya!

Mom's Favorite Flavor!

2009-04-21T13:33:00.000-07:00

Hey cupcake mommies, what's your favorite flavor? What about the mom in your life, does she have a favorite flavor from The Cupcake Cottage? Mother's Day, Sunday 10 May, is fast approaching and we want to hear from you. The top favorite flavors will be considered and added to the Saturday 9 May menu.

Post those favorite flavors here or email us at thecupcakecottage@sbcglobal.net

Wall Words

2009-03-25T12:24:00.001-07:00

When we were in the 'spinning ideas' phase of our business there were many things I was certain would go from idea to reality. Quotes painted on some of our walls was a must-have! I kept a list of favorite quotes but worried that it would take forever to paint them with the precision I wanted.

About two months before we were to open I came across a mention of Wall Words in Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion magazine. I checked out the Wall Words website, played around with fonts and colors and got in touch with the local consultant, Krista Sleeper. Krista was extremely helpful with the tweaking of my quotes.

I have so many customers ask me "did you paint those yourself" that I thought this would be a great way to share some details. Wall words are transfers that you easily rub onto a variety of surfaces.

For general information, visit Wall Words: http://www.wallwords.com/

For further questions, ideas and assistance, contact: Krista Sleeper at 817-788-0849

Staycation

2009-03-17T15:03:00.001-07:00

"Ladybug, Ladybug, STAY right at home...."

Staycation - I keep hearing this term and love it! With so much to do and see in our area, planning a staycation in the Fort Worth, Dallas area is a great option.

We are baking this spring break week, so come on by for a cupcake. If you can't visit our shop when we open at 10:00 a.m. we encourage you to call so we can let you know what flavors are available. We're happy to hold cupcakes for ya! The Cupcake Cottage: 817-732-5670

Radio Stations

2009-03-08T15:13:00.000-07:00

I like the mornings! I have always been an early bird and, though baking for a living means waking earlier than ever before, I enjoy it.

I don't know if early morning would be quite as fun without WBAP. Growing up, I am certain that this was one of the stations my dad would have set on his car dial. It was probably a station I dreaded and thought 'old fashion'. I would have preferred he tune into Red Beard, or any station that offered what we now call 'classic rock', to information that makes me think.

These days the sound of Hal Jay, Amy Chodroff and Steve Lamb are welcomed. I just feel a little connected to the many other listeners that are making their way to work, or making their way home from work, while I gear up for lots of baking.

I especially love the visiting 'characters' that pop on the air for a less than 2 minute opinion on some current topic. There's, uhhhh the American Airline pilot, uhhhh Captain Steve Lightning, a feisty cowboy called Tug McCord, crusty-ole Andy Rooney, Mystic Chuck, Dr. Phil and a few more. I must be getting old because the silly reports these guys offer are actually funny to me!

If I make my way into bake before 5:00 a.m. I catch the Midnight Trucking Radio Network with Eric Harley and Gary McNamara. This is a nationally syndicated program and listeners from all over the U.S. call in to discuss current subjects. Great stuff!

On Saturday mornings I usually catch BBC world Services, People's Pharmacy and Weekend Edition on KERA . (and) Yes, I do like music. We tend to flip on JACK-FM when we want a break from talk radio.

Whatever station I'm tuned into the hum of the radio (and a rather loud refrigerator) are welcome guests while baking!

Lots-a-Dots

2009-02-22T14:41:00.000-08:00

Here at The Cupcake Cottage we are happy to consider your needs for a special event. Though we do not consider ourselves a catering company, we are often able to decorate our cuppies in a way that compliments your decorating plans.
We have seen some really lovely napkins, invitations and announcements with all sorts of colors and themes that we were able to match. The green and white dots above are a perfect example of such an order.

Now and again we have someone request colors, or ideas that we simply cannot accommodate for one reason: we are not a cake decorating business. Our top priority is in the quality of taste found in our freshly baked-from-scratch cupcakes. We want you to be completely happy with what you offer your guests! So, when greater demand for specific decorating is in order we simply encourage you to seek a company that can create your decorating request. My first suggestion: Creme de la Creme Cake Company in East Fort Worth!

Valentine's Day

2009-01-29T07:16:00.001-08:00

Apparently this year is going to scurry right past us. Valentine's Day orders are already being placed and I'm still tucking Christmas decorations back in boxes! AND Can you believe that it's been nearly 10 years since that Y2K hoopla? Weren't we all suppose to spontaneously combust or something as we approached the new millennium? Just goes to show that hype is often overrated and sometimes lacking in complete truth. One thing's certain: time keeps movin' along.

So here we are inching into February and just a bit more than two weeks away from Valentine's Day. This year this festive celebration falls on a Saturday.

Now, for those of you regular Cupcake Cottage customers you know that Saturday mornings can be a bit busy here at the Cottage. Some Saturday mornings we may not see a customer for 30 or 40 minutes. While many Saturdays we are greeted with a line of patient customers waiting for our doors to unlock at 10:00 a.m.

If your sweetie has declared our cupcakes to be his or her favorite, then we would encourage you to place an order early. We'll be pushing our baking numbers up for Valentine's Day as we strive to accommodate as many of you as possible. Since we refuse to compromise our process of baking from scratch we will still have our limits. Quality over Quantity applies here!

Valentine's Day '08 we baked just under 1,000 cupcakes. About 450 of those cuppies were for preorders while the other 500-plus were for walk in customers. We sold out within 2 hours that day! This year, be "the early bird that gets the worm"(or cupcake) and order early before the date books up.

(and) Yes, we will have lots of Valentine decorated cupcakes in our cases for walk-ins! We open at 10:00 a.m. Click here to sneek-a-peek of our flavors of that day!

Displaying Your Cupcakes

2009-01-19T13:32:00.000-08:00

One of many choices from Taylor's Rental

When it comes to the business side of baking I tend to 'tip-toe' into unchartered waters. Such is the case regarding the display and presentation of a large number of cupcakes. Since we are not a catering company we do not keep cake tiers, trays, plates or food stands on hand for customers to rent for their event.

So what do we tell those needing to display 900 babycakes? We make suggestions!
If you are placing an order for a large amount of cupcakes and are in need of display options here's what we suggest:

~ If your event is taking place at a special venue be sure to ask the facility if they have display items you can consider and use. Some places do!

~ Consider an event planner for your special gathering. The right one can make sure your sweet treats are presented perfectly!

~ Check the internet. Often times, customers want to purchase unique display items that they can keep for future use. Start with a general web search of cake stands, cake tiers, etc...

~ Consider renting display items. Many of our customers have found what they need at Taylors Rental here in Fort Worth. They are located just north of the Camp Bowie & University Drive intersection. Their website has some wonderful ideas and suggestions!

Happy New Year!

2009-01-07T10:51:00.000-08:00

the above photo taken from the this site

Here's to wishing you the very best in 2009!

We will be back to baking on Tuesday, 13 January. Until then, if you have specific questions regarding orders for next week feel free to email me.

thecupcakecottage@sbcglobal.net

Wonderful Way to Begin 2009!

2008-12-29T13:19:00.000-08:00

Whatever your holiday celebration, you may want to consider attending a performance of the Boar's Head and Yule Log Festival. It's rich in color, sound and spirit and can be enjoyed by all! I recommend getting there early for a free seat. Below you'll find details as posted on the UCC website:

"Seasonal treats at UCC don’t end when the New Year begins!
Saturday, January 3, and Sunday, January 4, the well-loved Epiphany delight, the Boar’s Head and Yule Log Festival will be re-enacted in our Sanctuary. Performances will be held at 3 and 5 p.m. each day.

This will be the 33rd year for the pageant to be presented by UCC as a gift to the community. Be sure to invite family and friends to this celebrated festival – it lasts only one hour and appeals to all ages since music and movements constantly occur!

Already old in tradition when presented at Queens College, Oxford, in 1340, The Boar’s Head and Yule Log Festival is perhaps the oldest continuing festival of the Christmas season. It was a holiday tradition in many manor houses in England and it came to this country in Colonial days.

All performances of the BHYL Festival are open to the public, most seats are free of charge. Those holding seats for family and friends, must release them 30 minutes prior to the start of a performance. Because of this, persons are urged to come early to get seats. Limited reserved seating is available for $12 per seat by calling the church at 817.926.6631, ext. 157"

December Cupcakes

2008-12-14T13:52:00.000-08:00

December always seems to be the perfect month to reflect, prepare and consider. I won't go into detail about what all that means to me. Let's just say I have philosophical tendencies and this month always stirs 'em a little more than any other time of the year.

No matter your circumstance this December, we wish you Hope in all you do! Our constant hugging to Hope is the very thing that keeps us moving along with our little shop of cupcakes. We are deeply grateful for each and everyone of you that have been supportive and have found a cake stand, or covered container in your home for our tiny cakes.

We were pleasantly surprised to learn of our mention as "Best Cupcakes" (along with 2 other places) in this months Fort Worth, Texas Magazine. Thanks to each of you that voted for us! Such mentions keep us motivated and encouraged. We will be baking right up through December 24th!

Merry Christmas & Make it a wonderful December!

Space Shuttle Stops By

2008-12-11T06:14:00.000-08:00

This morning, while baking, I kept hearing all about the space shuttle and how it was settled in for a pit stop here in Fort Worth last night. Most folks from Fort Worth, that are over the age of 40, most likely still refer to the Naval Air Station Joint Reserves as Carswell. I guess I've crossed over to that 'I'm getting old' side of life because of my increasing practice of starting my sentence with "remember when"?

Well: Remember when you would be outside playing or swimming and a giant shadow came creeping all around you and you look up to see a ginormous B-52 dragging it's heaviness gracefully across the sky? Or, remember when the windows would shake on your house as F-16s whizzed past in the western sky of Cowtown? Carswell, and (what once was) General Dynamics brought those experiences to North Texas, and I for one loved it!

As I continued to listen to the details about the Space Shuttle Endeavours stop here, I had quickly remembered another Space Shuttle pit stop story. Back in the early 90's we were stationed at Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene where my sidekick, Juaquin, was a navigator on C-130s. This assignment took dad/hubby away from us for weeks at a time.
Many of us wives-of-flyers were often single-moms during that assignment. While our airmen were away, we often gathered at the squadron for a little fellowship.

Well, one particular afternoon while driving past hanger after hanger (those are those big-giant buildings that serve as garages for aircrafts, for those that may be getting an image of a closet accessory =), our oldest son, Josh, pipes-up and says "Mom, it's the space shuttle"! Now Josh was about 5 at the time, and he was well aware of what the space shuttle would look like, but knowing we were in the middle of nowhere I immediately concluded that there was no way the Space Shuttle would be in Abilene. I did what all good moms instinctively do and reassured my dear 1st-born that he was just imaging things. I replied with, "It was probably a B-1, or a KC-135" (hey, toss a few numbers behind a letter or two and you might just get something right).
There was just one thing wrong with my response. Josh was an incredibly patient and bright boy and I could see in my rear view mirror that he was not happy with my lack of trust. So, I did what I didn't want to do...I stopped the van and turned it around so he could have a second look (and so I could prove that there was no Space Shuttle on the runway just hundreds of feet from us). "Okay....start looking, Josh....it's getting dark, so look really hard", I reluctantly stated. As we past our third or fourth hanger, I'll be darn...there, sitting just to the right of me, was this monster of an aircraft. It was, indeed the Space Shuttle, piggybacking on what looked like a dwarfed aircraft. I looked at Josh and began to apologize from the bottom-of-my-heart. I vowed to Josh, right then and there "I will always believe whatever you tell me!" Of course, that was before those High School years!

The Shuttle is suppose to take off from NAS, Fort Worth this morning around 11:00a.m. If time allows, take a peek to the western skies of our wonderful city to see for yourself!

Sweet Gifts

2008-12-04T10:46:00.000-08:00

I'm guessing that many of you reading this little blog are keen for cupcakes! We love all our customers, but we are tickled-pink when a particular customer walks in our door. We can spot true cupcake lovers immediately by the twinkle in their eye as a smile slowly appears on their face. Of course, this effect happens to most when they enter our door shortly after we've opened since that's when the case is full of cupcakes!

If you are looking for a 'non-consumable' cupcake gift, you should check out our cupcake ornaments & 6' garlands, cupcake stands and adorable cupcake themed charms!

The cupcake in your life may enjoy a calorie-free treat!

Feel free to call or email us for prices and details:

817-732-5670 / thecupcakecottage@sbcglobal.net

I ♥ Abilene

2008-11-19T14:37:00.000-08:00

Growing up in Fort Worth meant traveling to places that, as a kid, I thought were SO far away. One of those places was Abilene, Texas. I don't know why, but I was always taken back at how there were no street gutters in that town. I guess that's what they're called. Those drain openings where water dives into when we have downpours, or where I see raccoons, cat and opossum dart in when coming to work while most of y'all are still sleeping. Why that's a memory of mine is beyond me, but I digress.

I also use to think "wow, how can anyone survive in such a tiny town"? That is until we lived there from 1991-1995. As a young family stationed at Dyess AFB with 3 children under the age of 5 I quickly discovered what a fabulous place Abilene, Texas could be!

A large town (or is it a small city) exactly 2.5 hours west of Fort Worth, Abilene is home to approximately 100,000. The humidity is low, and you are almost always on 'skirt alert' from ever present breezes. Yes, there's shopping, movie theatres, BBQ spots, ballet studios, museums, a zoo and Big Country Soccer.

If you are single in need of a serious night-life, then this may not be the place for you. For young families looking for a slower pace, this is a community worth considering. Regardless, there's always a great view of the stars on a clear night and amazing Texas sunsets.

I would recommend a day trip to Abilene to check out a few favorite spots:

Grace Museum

The National Center for Children's Illustrated Literature (often referred to as The 'nickel'):

this lovely spot houses some amazing works of art by beloved children's illustrators

Harlow's Smokehouse at 2002 N Clack: one of many Yummy Abilene BBQ spots, but you visit this one for the dirt floors and the Chuck Yeagar room

The Taste is in the Cake

2008-11-11T10:40:00.000-08:00

It's not unusual for customers to come back to our shop and tell us that they loved our flavored frosting. Actually, we do not flavor our buttercream with any additional extracts other than the vanilla that is a must with tradtional buttercream. When you bite into one of our cupcakes the flavor you taste is in the cake!

A good example of this is with our strawberry cupcake (as seen above). When we mix our strawberry cake we take fresh strawberries (never,ever-EVER frozen), and puree them before they go into the batter. Lemon is another great example of this process. The lemon you taste is from freshly zested lemons, freshly squeezed juice from the same, slightly naked-from-zesting, lemons and a hint of pure lemon oil.

The time, energy and focus that goes into this slow bake process is what sets a 'baked from scratch' product apart from a more common mass produced good.

We simply refuse to cut corners when it comes to taste!

The Wedding

2008-11-05T13:17:00.001-08:00

Brandy, of BellaPop is so good about getting photos from those special events posted promptly!

Here are some of Courtney's wedding.

We agree with Brandy and Courtney regarding Wedding Cakes: Creme de la Creme should definitely be a consideration when looking for a traditional cake for any event!

Courtney & Brandon

2008-10-31T11:54:00.000-07:00

Juaquin and I are excited to wish one of our amazing assistants, Courtney, the very best on her wedding day tomorrow! =)

Checkout a few of Courtney and Brandon's engagement pics by Bella Pop!

The Wonderful World of William Joyce

2008-10-29T13:44:00.000-07:00

The weather is actually looking and feeling like October, hurray! I love this time of year and always think of some great Halloweens we experienced when our kiddos were ages “trick or treat”.

As we approach the 31st another favorite comes to mind. His name is William Joyce and he is my all time favorite author / illustrator of children’s books. I’m guessing this incredibly talented man and his family are busy getting ready for Halloween as he does every year at his home in Shreveport, Louisiana. The measures Joyce goes to in decorating each year are amazing. Lucky guests!

Back in ’97, while we were stationed at Kadena Air Force Base on Okinawa, Japan, I was introduced to the Internet for the first time ever by a fellow first-grade-mom, Marilyn, who showed me how the whole thing worked. Do you remember that discovery?

Well, when you are on an island that is less than 70 miles long and no greater than 20 miles wide, you learn all you can to keep yourself from going island mad!
As I ventured into emailing and surfing the web, Marilyn and I decided to create a website. She created one about her family and I decided to create one about William Joyce. Since there was absolutely nothing on the web about him, I figured this would be a good subject. We worked day and night to complete our sites as if we had some urgent deadline to meet.

Everything I created on The Wonderful World of William Joyce was done from scans. All the images on my site were from me scanning and resizing pages from my own books or articles I may have collected over the years. It was a true labor of love and a simple attempt to stay sane while living so far from home! I completed my site, Marilyn completed hers, and we were on to snorkeling, tide-pooling with the kids, coaching soccer, learning how to roll sushi, etc…

I would peek in on my site now and again just to see if anyone had visited it. After a few years I was surprised to start getting emails from William Joyce fans that found the site thru a search engine. At first, I was able to keep up and reply to posts from all over the country, but after a few years, I simply got busy with other things, and LOST my login details. I eventually emailed someone about eight years ago and requested my password. I was able to catch up on the many guestbook posts, and update my age to 38.

Now, at 46, at least 2 PCs later and elbow deep into running our shop, I have not had luck getting my login information, again. Too many mergers of Yahoo, geocities and such will, most likely, keep me forever 38 years old on my site! If you come across any ‘dead-links’ you’ll know why.

I hope you will take time to, not only read about William Joyce, but also venture into a bookstore or library and enjoy his titles and creative spirit!

Cupcake Toppers

2008-10-18T15:28:00.000-07:00

There are two things that have stayed with me regarding cooking dos and donts that I learned in a gourmet cooking class in college.

They are:
~ Always tear (never cut) lettuce into bite size pieces so guest can eat their salad with ease.

and

~ Anything that is offered on a plate should be edible. (this could explain the excessive use of parsley sprigs in the 80s :)

I still consider and stick with these two rules, but there is one exception I make when it comes to cupcakes. I think it is perfectly acceptable to dress a cupcake up with a pick or topper! I know they're not edible, but since they are a fun and inexpensive way to dress up a party, I say 'go for it'!

As a kid, I clearly remember collecting those funky chenille and plastic toppers when they showed up on cupcakes in the bakery during the holidays. They were simple and the whole miniature aspect of them makes them an immediate hit.

Today there are many toppers to choose from at party supply stores and online shops. You can even create your own! We have had many customers show us some very festive toppers that will go on the cupcakes they are picking up from our shop. While we do the baking, customers are all too happy to focus on that perfect table display. Here are a few places to look for toppers: Party Warehouse, Party City, or make your own with Martha Stewart instructions!

Toppers are certainly worth considering!

Historic Handley

2008-10-09T07:06:00.000-07:00

If you are from Fort Worth, or visit often, chances are you have a few favorite spots that you frequent. For me one of those areas is Historic Handley! I discovered some wonderful shops in this little community just off East Lancaster about six years ago while driving around Fort Worth.

There’s a tiny antique shop called Eastside Antiques, located in the old Handley Post Office. I have found some great plate stands, old photos and glass pieces in this little nook. If you’re lucky enough to sneak a peak, you’ll be impressed by the shop cat, Baby. This wee kitty tip-toes among the many breakable treasures on the lookout for the next best napping spot. I am extremely allergic to some cats, but have never so much as sneezed while watching as Baby leaves everything undisturbed.

A few other favorite spots are Paper Planet, Crème de la Crème, and Sunny’s which is located in the gorgeous old Weller House. I’m guessing a story goes with the Weller name, but I always forget to ask. If anyone out there knows, please share! For those that love gift shops, Sunny’s is well worth visiting.

Crème de la Crème is owned by Jamie Holder who has been turning out wedding cakes for over a dozen years here in the DFW area. She opened this sweet spot a few years ago, and shares a ‘walk-thru’ wall with Paper Planet, an adorable paper/stationary shop!

Handley will be hosting their 10th Historic Handley Street Fest & Car Show this Saturday, 11 October. If time allows, this would be a great time to check it out!

Cupcakes Take the Cake

2008-10-02T14:07:00.000-07:00

When this little venture into baking cupcakes for a living came to mind almost four years ago, the first thing I wanted to know was: did a bakery even exist that baked just cupcakes? Since my search-engine of choice is Google, I went straight there and typed in ‘cupcake shops’ to see what, if anything, would pop up.

The first result to appear was a site called All Cupcakes All the Time. I clicked it and found myself at a blog titled Cupcakes Take The Cake, and I was immediately hooked!
This blog was created by three gals in New York City and is dedicated to any and all cupcake topics.

Now remember, I was in search of anyone that sold just cupcakes, and when I stumbled upon Cupcakes Take The Cake there were a mere handful of cupcake shops listed. I was actually happy to discover that the idea of a cupcakery wasn't completely crazy.

Most of the shops listed were in NYC, like: Magnolia Bakery, Buttercup Bake Shop, Sugar Sweet Sunshine, there was one in Toronto, and Sibby’s in the Bay area. There may have been others, but those are the ones that I remember. I became a frequent visitor to this festive site!

Rachel, Nichelle and Allison have nurtured Cupcakes Take The Cake and turned it into an amazingly fun experience. They were even featured on Martha Stewart’s Cupcake Week in recent months. The list of cupcake shops on their site has boomed to some 200 plus locations worldwide! You can read our interview from January 2007.

It’s been great fun watching Cupcakes Take The Cake grow into quite the busy-blog! Thanks to three energetic and creative young ladies the rest of us get to experience the growing community of cupcakes with just a click!

Decorating Our Cupcakes

2008-09-25T12:46:00.000-07:00

If your schedule allows you to be at our shop when we open at 10:00 a.m. then you will most likely experience our case full of cupcakes. This early in the day we often hear customers say, "ohhh, they're so pretty" or "awwww, look how cute"! I've baked tens of thousands of these little guys in the two years we've been open and I still have that same reaction! =)

When it comes to decorating our cupcakes we keep it pretty and simple by piping our feshly mixed buttercream icing on each cuppie. Once you master this frosting technique, you can pipe quite a few cupcakes pretty quickly using a variety of frosting tips. The result is instant lovliness!

Though we are not a cake decorating company, we are certainly happy to consider ideas that customers may have for decorating their cupcakes. If we can achieve that idea then we will let the customer know what the additional cost will be for the special decoration. Pricing for custom design begins at $5.00 per standard size cupcake and $1.50 per babycake.

Bella Pop

2008-09-17T13:53:00.000-07:00

One of the greatest blessings that has come from having this little cupcake shop is the privilege of meeting some really fun, sweet, and fascinating people. So many of you stumbled into our little bungalow to check out the cupcakes, and with each return visit you have become an 'over-the-counter-friend'.

One such friend is a bubbly soul named Brandy Frank. Brandy is one of many Parker County visitors that, if our sweet treat is on her gotta-get list, will make a point to call ahead to have us hold cupcakes for her. Though Brandy is one of many of our familiar customers, she has kindly trusted us with her little dream of becoming a professional photographer.

It’s apparent that many of Brandy’s friends and loved ones have supported and nurtured her toward this gorgeous venture. Such paths are impressive and encouraging to fellow entrepreneurs.

I encourage you to check out her website Bella Pop and learn a little more about her business. Also, I strongly recommend that you read past posts from her blog, Daily Pop, to learn more about her photography, family, special photo shoots, and even an upcoming Halloween gathering called Boo Bash! Most likely, you too will find something you love about Brandy and her Bella ways!

Charming Charms!

2008-09-09T14:03:00.000-07:00

Here's a sweet little something for all you cupcake fans!

A couple of years ago while visiting C.C.'s Touch of Nature on West Vickery, I noticed a little shop across the street called Chiffoniers. If you haven't been to either of these wonderful shops, I would highly recommend that you visit both. It was at Chiffoniers that I discovered tiny works of art cleverly created into charms by a local artist.

As we began to get our shop up and running, I found myself thinking how fun it would be to have cupcake themed charms in our bakery as a gift item. Thousands of cupcakes and about 18 months later, I decided to track down and get in touch with Shawnell Williams, the maker of these wee treasures, to see what she thought about the idea.

I quickly learned that this jewelry maker was as sweet and cheerful as her charms! We discussed some ideas, and emailed back and forth as we tweaked it all. The cupcake charms were an instant hit! They're worn as necklaces, put on key chains and even attached to purses and totes. They are the perfect 'no calorie' gift for someone keen on cupcakes!

To see more of Shawnell's gorgeous creations visit: http://www.honeypiejewels.com/

Get Behind Your Ballet

2008-09-06T16:43:00.000-07:00

I must admit that my ballet experience is pretty limited. Our daughter was in ballet in Abilene from age 2 to 6, and danced one more year while we lived in Okinawa. We developed a holiday tradition of going to see the Nutcracker beginning in Sacramento, CA in 1990 and ending in 2001 with the English National Ballet in London. Our sons had no interest in dance, but always supported their sister's performances and especially looked forward to the King Mouse vs. Nutcracker battle! As our children entered their teen years, we found ourselves spending a lot more time at the soccer fields and the world of ballet simply went unnoticed.

By now, most folks in Fort Worth would have heard or read about the financial 'hiccup' that the Texas Ballet Theater is experiencing. Some of these lovely dancers discovered our cupcakery some time ago, and I can usually tell when a dancer enters our shop. With a wonderfully straight back, and a chin that lifts up ever so slightly, they carry themselves with instinctive grace.

When a a few such dancers visited recently, we began talking about the slight crisis facing the company. They explained that the dancers had created a "Get Behind Your Ballet" campaign and asked if we would allow a collection box to sit in our shop. Juaquin and I agreed to this simple request, knowing that some of our customers might be willing to contribute. I also decided that it was time to revisit the Nutcracker, and plan to attend this holiday season! Maybe I'll see some of you there.

Thanks, in advance, to each of you that drop that loose change, or a bill into the GBYB box!

=)

Favorite Flavor

2008-08-27T14:04:00.001-07:00

I am never quite sure what to say when asked “so what’s your best selling flavor”, or “which is the most popular flavor”? For every flavor cupcake we bake, there is at least one person that would declare that is their favorite flavor.

Some people are strictly white cake fans, while others, such as myself, will always gravitate to any and all chocolate.

I put this box of 12 babycake orange chocolate chip together this morning for a customer that called in asking us to hold them. She, like our daughter Jana, is clearly a fan of this yummy flavor!

Some of the most requested flavors are: Red Velvet, Favorite Chocolate, Pink Lemonade, Lemon, Peanut Butter Cup, Fiori di Sicilia, Pumpkin, Cookies and Cream, Strawberry…wait…see?!? I can’t possibly narrow down our top sellers!

Babycake Palooza

2008-08-22T14:02:00.000-07:00

Just in case you have not experienced our cupcakes you should know that we bake in two sizes only. Our 'standard' size cupcake is just that, the size of a standard size cupcake baking pan, and our 'babycakes' are simply a mini-version of our standard size cuppie (think mini-muffin pan)!

Both sizes are yummy and very popular, but I must say that our sweet babycakes are most requested for some of the following events:
baby showers, confirmations, baht-mitzvahs, wedding receptions, rehearsal dinners, bachelorette parties, luncheons and high-tea, sip 'n sees, christenings, open houses, birthday gatherings, baptisms, and anniversaries!

When gatherings include a fair amount of grown boys (aka: men), we tend to have greater requests for the standard size cupcake. Regardless of the cupcake size, both cakes are made from the same 'baked from scratch that day' batter. mmmm.... =)

For details about our cupcakes visit: www.thecupcakecottage.com

Freckled Pink - fabricards

2008-08-16T15:49:00.000-07:00

Last year, when we celebrated our first year of being open, I received a wonderful congratulation card from my brother, Joe, and his wife, Linda. The card had a sweet cupcake with a single candle on it, and 'congratulations!' written below it. It was perfectly sweet!
As I held the card and looked a little closer, I quickly realized that this card was a true labor of love. Not only had the pretty argyle-patterned paper been sewn onto this blank card and envelope, but the cupcake and congratulations had been carefully stitched on as well! What a gorgeous, tiny treasure!

This would be my introduction to the creator of this, and so many wonderful, works of art. I got in touch with Tori, of Freckled Pink, as soon as time allowed. She and I met and discussed the possibility of having cupcake cards available for our customers. Our 'Hey Cupcake' fabricards have been well received!

For those of you looking for more fabulous custom-monogramming gifts from Freckled Pink visit: http://freckledpink.googlepages.com/

Johnny Cupcakes

2008-08-12T16:37:00.000-07:00

If you like reading about people that have made their way in this world through a lot of hard work and a little creativity, then you might enjoy reading about Johnny Cupcakes.

I discovered Johnny Cupcakes back in '06 and just loved his story! I won't even try to describe what he does here, but I encourage you take a moment to read his story for yourself: http://shop.johnnycupcakes.com/story/

Johnny continues to take his 'bakery' to new levels and has recently opened a shop in LA. I only peek in on his site every few months, so when I saw webisodes on his blog explaining what he had planned for the new LA shop, I was very impressed!
You can view his final webisode #3 on his blog: http://www.johnnycupcakes.com/blog/ (scroll to entry date July 25, 2008)

Hope you enjoy his story as much as I do! =)

Cuppy Cake Song

2008-08-08T16:00:00.000-07:00

I was not familiar with this sweet song until a customer told me to look for it on YouTube. I fell it love with it immediately! It's the perfect song for those moments when a tired, crying or extra busy toddler needs 'redirecting'. Here are the lyrics in case you want to give it a go:

You're my Honeybunch, Sugarplum
Pumpy-umpy-umpkin, You're my Sweetie Pie
You're my Cuppycake, Gumdrop
Snoogums-Boogums, You're the Apple of my Eye
And I love you so and I want you to know
That I'll always be right here
And I love to sing sweet songs to you
Because you are so dear

Hey Cupcake!

2008-08-05T15:55:00.000-07:00

Welcome to a simple blog that’s been spinning in my head for the past year. Just when I manage to gather a moment of time to get these entries going, I find myself diverted and on to one thing or another, forcing me to push thoughts aside. It is time to declutter and get these thoughts posted!

After being open for nearly two years we have enjoyed meeting some wonderful people here in our shop. I’m guessing that you may just be one of them! So many of you have entered our little venture wondering what, exactly, were we all about. Once you discovered and embraced our cupcakes you made your way back, and we've been thrilled to see you again…and again! Others have found themselves in cupcake ‘quest-mode’ with hopes of finding us open after discovering us sold-out or closed on previous visits. The perseverance of each of you is deeply appreciated, and incredibly impressive!

For each of you, I simply want to offer snippets of people, places and things that may interest you. These Sweet Mentions are simply that…mentions!

Happy Reading! =)