Frosted Memories

Crafty Christmas Wrap-up Part 2

2011-12-27T00:00:00.000-05:00

As the sun set on the first day of Crafty Christmas, the kids were bright-eyed and bushy tailed for the next morning. They were eager to get started, but I had to remind them that we have to eat breakfast. I made some homemade cinnamon-sugar doughnuts and bacon to fill their stomachs in preparation for the crafting ahead. And they ate all 30 of those doughnuts...I think I had one. Oh well...on with the crafting.

We began with the traditional decorating of the Gingerbread man cookies. These are the crafts that really bring out the real artistic side of everyone. What was funny is that as we were making them, the kids realized how good the icing was,,,and they started to eat it. then, before I could get a picture of their finished products...they were already eating them. Most of them ate the legs first...I like to eat the head first...either way, they tasted so good with the icing. I did manage to take a picture of the ones I created. I also flipped the gingerbread cookie upside down to decorate it like a reindeer. How cute is that! I always think outside the box when crafting.

They ate them before i could take a picture!

Eating the icing

We did make peppermint bark using melted chocolate and peppermint white chocolate. We took Snowflake cookie cutters and used them as molds. We started with the chocolate, then layered the peppermint white chocolate on top. After being in the freezer, we put them in a gift bag to give away. Nice part about this craft is you give the cookie cutter with the candy. Two gifts in one! You know...I didn't get a picture of this craft.

Last but not least....we settled down to a quiet craft of making a Christmas card. It included a foam reindeer to assemble and add your own greeting/decorations. I observed how the theme for the day was making crafts for Daddy...which I think is so cute since I was a Daddy's girl. Girls love their daddy!

Terri painted her card

When Crafty Christmas came to an end, we were left with an abundance of Holiday ornaments and keepsakes. In doing Crafty Christmas, I hope to instill a sense of togetherness and family time into my children as well as others around us. I also hope to release that inner artist that lives inside of all of us.

Moral: Holiday time is about family and making memories that will lasts. I think I accomplished that this year!

See you next year for another Crafty Christmas...

Good times...Great memories...priceless!

Cupcake in a glass...

2011-12-26T12:46:00.001-05:00

I focus mainly on the kids when it comes to Christmas with presents and creating memories for them. But this Christmas was very different for me. I don't expect to receive anything...what I did receive was priceless to me. Not only did my neighbor give us a heartfelt card thanking us for all that we do for them and their daughter. I strive to provide all the neighborhood kids with a safe environment for them to come, dwell and have fun while their parents or parents are at work or just out. That card made me feel that I had done my job.

My absolutely favorite present was the one from another neighbor. I always find it interesting how you interact with your neighbors and have all kinds of conversations. What is really interesting is how they listen to you and get you a present that truly symbolizes you. My gift was not for the entire family. It was clearly just for me. A gift for just me to enjoy all by myself. When I opened it...I screamed like I had won the lottery!! It was the perfect gift for a Cupcake Lover....and I love it!!!

A dessert wine from Cupcake Vineyards!

Just having the word "Cupcake" on a wine bottle mesmerizes to me. Cupcake Vineyards is a winery based out of California. The wines are fruity and light...which I love!

Read all about Cupcake Vineyards here.

And while you check that site out...I will think about what kind of cupcake I will make to compliment my Cupcake Vineyards wine...any suggestions???

Oh...and did I mention that I have the greatest neighbor ever!! And he is all mine!!! Not sharing this one!

Moral: Be kind to your neighbors...

and they will give you wine!

(Cupcake Wine!)

Crafty Christmas Wrap-up 2011 Part 1

2011-12-26T12:14:00.000-05:00

Today...with my Christmas Hangover, I sit in my bed thinking about how now I have to take all the decorations down, put all the ornaments away as well as the Christmas tree. But, I won't do that until the New Year. For now, let's get the update on our Crafty Christmas at the Powell house.

Crafty Christmas was a much anticipated event in my house and word got out to the neighborhood kids about our big day of crafting. So, I had 3 extra little girls at our traditional Crafty Christmas which to me...the more, the merrier! It all started n Dec. 21st...all the extra girls slept over our house. The next morning, as the kids woke up and we enjoyed breakfast...we organized our day by discussing what crafts we would do first. Everyone wanted to paint ornaments...so the crafting began. It is amazing how you can take one craft/activity and 6 girls can do it all different ways. The creativity was abundant in our house today. The ornament activities not only included painting but also we did one where you would etch your design. The kids loved this one! the ornaments for us are the best since this is the memory we create for that year. Upon completing the ornament, we putt our name on the back and the year...Making Memories! (Check out our past ornaments here) Then it was on to the foam ornament...which was fun and easy!!

So, my favorite craft was the reindeer peppermint. I saw this at the grocery store as I was trying to buy some peppermints for the tree. I thought this was the cutest thing ever. Love this little guy!

But, sadly, as the reindeer were born...they were devoured! We made homemade hot chocolate and used the peppermint reindeer to sit it to make it Peppermint hot chocolate. The kids thought it was cool how the peppermint melted as they stirred their chocolate concoction of sheer goodness!

Oh! That's good!

Don't worry, we did break for lunch. And then it was on to the next activity...the cupcake puzzle! This is a 550 piece puzzle and a first for all the kids. We started with the border, of course, and it took about an hour or so. Then, we attempted to put this puzzle together. Daisha, our neighbor and my daughter's best friend, said "We can finish this and play hide and seek!" I am thinking to myself...there is no way we are going to finish this puzzle tonight...but she was very hopeful, so I went with it! The kids were focused on this puzzle for 3 hours! They were determined to get it done...but all we got done was the border and a few cupcakes.

Someone is getting sleeping...

Finishing this would be a Xmas miracle!

At the end of the day, we realized that our Crafty Christmas had turned into a 2-day event. We did not finish all of our crafts, so, I had to call every one's parents and ask to keep their little one for one more night. Trust me, there was no resistance from any parent at all! Now, it was official...Crafty Christmas was extended and would be concluded until the next day. Everyone settled down on the couch with their blankets and I even had some bodies on the floor that were just too pooped to even move. But as they went to sleep, they closed their eyes and dreamed about what was to come tomorrow of their Crafty Christmas adventure with the Powell Family.

Good night!

Don't worry...more Crafty Christmas news on the next post!

...more crafts, more creations, and more memories!

To Be Continued....

Christmas Hangover

2011-12-26T00:00:00.000-05:00

The Powell family had a great Christmas if I must say so myself. But I will also say that I definitely have a Christmas Hangover. Yes...I have coined another phrase...Christmas Hangover.

Okay, let me define this word:

Christmas Hangover (kris -muh's hang-oh-ver): the feeling of ultimate fatigue manifested by the effects of Christmas. This syndrome is caused by extreme happiness, laughter, good food, good times with family and friends, and the sound of happy children. It is not caused by excessive consumption of alcohol.

In anticipation of the holiday, our minds meticulously plan out the entire festive celebration. We orchestrate the Christmas dinner, wrapping the presents, entertaining our family and friends and even down to unwrapping all the presents. It is like our minds do not sleep for the month of December. We are zombies in our own bodies not knowing when the madness will end...and then...Christmas comes and presents are unwrapped, family arrives, dinner is eaten and the day is over. With wrapping paper in the trash, kids playing with their new toys, and a sink full of dishes and a kitchen full of leftovers....we sit on the couch... glad it is all over...with a Christmas Hangover!

Moral: See you next year...when the holidays make us drunk with Joy all over again!

Even my cat Kyle got a little "Drunk"!

How was your Christmas?

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T14:24:00.000-05:00

Season's Greetings!

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

...from my home to yours!

Cookies, cookies, and more cookies...

2011-12-21T16:12:00.000-05:00

I am not a cookie hater...but I am not a cookie lover. I am an In-Between Cookie-Liker. (New word of the day: In-Between-Cookie-Liker...I like that!) Don't get me wrong, I do make a mean chocolate chip cookie and I think any flavor combination you think of can be put into a cookie. It is just like a cupcake...ideas are endless. So, today I set out to make Chocolate Chip cookies for my kids as well as the kids in the neighborhood. I always make cookies for the first day of school...a tradition in my house...so today, for the last day of school before winter break...I made cookies.
Everyone has there go to recipe for their chocolate chip cookies as do I. But as long as anyone can remember, I have yet to share my recipe. I have perfected my recipe and am very proud of this recipe. But, unfortunately, I will not share it today. What I will share is tips on making cookies and common mistakes novice bakers make when baking cookies. So, you may not get my recipe, but you will have the tips and know-how to create your own chocolate chip cookies.

Cookie Tips/Tricks:
1. Please make sure the butter is a to room temperature. Butter does not cream very well with your sugar if it is straight out of the refrigerator. If the butter is too soft, you get one flat cookie.

2. Measure your flour out properly and no "eye-balling". Too much flour causes cookies to be hard and unable to spread when baking. Too little flour causes cookies to be flat.

3. Allow your cookie sheet to cool or have multiple cookie sheets available to use between batches. Cookies come out flat because the dough is place on a hot cookie sheet. The butter in the cookies melts and cause flat cookies.

4. Remember, if you use self-rising flour, you must omit the baking soda and salt. I prefer not to use self-rising flour so I can control the salt content.

5. I always allow my cookies to rest on the baking sheet after coming out the oven for 1 minute, then I transfer them to a wire rack to cool and get slightly crispy.

6. My last secret to a good chocolate chip cookies is to use a combination of semi-sweet and milk chocolate chips. To me, this helps balance out the sweetness of the cookie and make it just right.

So, my advice for making a good cookie, such as chocolate chip cookies, is to start with a recipe and make it your own. Add ingredients, omit ingredients, substitute an ingredient...and when you are all done...you will have you very own secret recipe like mine!

Moral: Remember, you shouldn't tell secrets, but secrets should never be told!

My Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe will forever stay with me and in the bellies of all who eat them...

Christmas Breakfast

2011-12-20T09:47:00.000-05:00

I have talked about crafty ideas, making ornaments as well as sock cupcakes. I have even talked about kitchen gadgets and their "other uses". With all this Christmas shopping and planning, I think we forgot to eat??? Let's talk about Christmas morning and breakfast. Breakfast is my family's favorite meal. We don't go a day without breakfast in this house. I wake up early, do my Yoga routine, then hit the kitchen to make breakfast. But on Christmas, I am not staying in the kitchen all day long. I want to enjoy the fun/excitement of Christmas morning and the kids opening up their presents too. Here are some suggestions for quick breakfast on Christmas morning:

1. Baked French Toast Casserole: (courtesy of Paula Deen)

This recipe is something you can make the night before and put in the oven Christmas morning while everyone is unwrapping their presents. This time-saver will allow for you to enjoy the morning with your family. I add some vanilla to this recipe to give it some added flavor. You can even add cardamon which take this casserole to a whole new level.

2. Doughnuts:

This recipe is courtesy of me. My kids absolutely love these little treats. I buy the small buttermilk biscuits that have 10 biscuits in it. I cut the middle out of it each one before submerging them in hot peanut oil. You have to watch them closely since they cook fast...only takes about 15-20 seconds or less for each side...so don't walk away. You can use a fork to flip them and when finished, place on a wire rack to drain/cool. My family likes cinnamon sugar doughnuts, so after the doughnuts have cooled some, I shake them in a bag of cinnamon/sugar/cardamon. I also make different dipping sauces to accompany the doughnut. If you want to get fancy, you can dip the tops in chocolate or vanilla icing and top with sprinkles or even peanuts. The ideas are endless!

3. Casseroles:

Breakfast casseroles such as the baked french toast casserole is probably the easiest thing to prepare for your holiday brunch. If you want something with some more protein in it, try this Country Breakfast Casserole courtesy of Food.com. You can make the sausage the night before and prepare this dish quickly so you don't miss out on all the holiday fun.

You can serve these yummy breakfast ideas with some fruit and don't forget to set your coffee maker so your coffee will hot and ready to enjoy!

Moral: Who says the kids have to have all the fun on Christmas morning!

Sock Cupcakes

2011-12-19T14:50:00.000-05:00

Happy Holidays!

Today, Santa's Little Helper, me, was determined to wrap the kids Christmas presents before they got out of school this week for Winter break. So, I started with the small stuff...socks! My girls love socks so I bought a bunch of them. But...how was I going to wrap them? How else does a fellow baker wrap her Xmas presents let alone a Cupcake Lover...just like Cupcakes of course! I got out some cupcake boxes I had and commenced to make me some Sock Cupcakes...they baked to perfection!

Check out how to make these here.

Moral: When someone gives you socks....make Cupcakes!

The Tiniest Cupcake Ever!

2011-12-16T14:40:00.000-05:00

I make mini cupcakes and they are great to take to parties. They are like hors d'oeurves...small finger food you just pop in your mouth. But today I saw not just a mini cupcake...this is a MICRO cupcake. I read a blog post by Cupcakes Take The Cake and was amazed by these little creations. It is smaller than a mini cupcake and how clever to make them using thimbles. You can check out pictures of more micro cupcakes and even watch how to make them here.

The website reads "These are my Micro Cupcakes AKA Thimble Cupcakes! I really love making these, even though they take lots of time and consideration for detail and there is *little* room for error. :] (I've made them a few times, for a birthday, for family, for a graduation and my husband is taking a "dozen" into work today. Hahah!"

Can you imagine what you could create with these sweet little things!

Simply Genius!

Let's Talk

2011-12-16T12:57:00.001-05:00

I wanted to take this moment and express my sincere appreciation for all who read my blog. I have enjoyed writing Frosted Memories, creating a somewhat timeline of my life as well as sharing great tips, ideas, and information. Now, I want to encourage my readers to participate and comment on my blog. I want to hear want you would like to read about, what interests you, and some of your thoughts/ideas. I want to hear what you think about my blog. Don't hesitate to post a comment on my blog. I want this to be a blog of conversation, a community of ideas, and an avenue for creative minds.

I have exciting plans for the New Year! I will be launching a a contest each month which you, as my readers, will have the opportunity to win great prizes. I will also be hosting some guests on my blog and highlighting their businesses.

Moral: Let's Talk! (participation required)

Remember to sign up and become a follower...and tell a friend!

Knitting for Dummies

2011-12-13T13:00:00.011-05:00

Crocheted Peach Dress

My Aunt Florence crocheted my first daughter, Tyra, a beautiful peach dress when she was born. Only problem was that at the time she was born, it was May in Alabama and about 100 degrees in the shade! So, I neatly preserved the dress as a keepsake for Tyra in which I still have to this day. I was always intrigued by people who could knit or crochet. I remember that my Grandmother was an avid knitter. I also remember the dreaded toilet paper cover with the doll coming out the top that was in elderly houses everywhere! Or what about the one that looked like a poodle. Just Dreadful! Bathroom nightmares. But I will admit...I did play with them when I was in there...HE HE HE!

Okay...there are some toilet paper covers I think would be worth crocheting or knitting that are rather cute like this one courtesy of Cherry on Top:

Not bad...

After having my first child, I began to become more interested in knitting. I really wanted to learn to knit so i could make baby hats, booties, and even blankets. So, I bought my first book, Knitting for Dummies, and a few knitting needles. I read that book forward and backwards in order to learn how to knit. I practiced and practiced and sure, I messed up, but I kept knitting. And eventually, I knitted my very first baby hat. Very rewarding...all that reading and practicing paid off. From there, I took on more intricate patterns, challenging myself to harder patterns. And again, there were times I messed up and had to start all over again. I have become an avid knitter over time, learning how to take out a row if I messed up besides trashing the whole project. I even taught Tyra how to knit at one point. Trust me...kids have no patience for knitting. Don't try this at home!

So, I was browsing my new favorite website Etsy and found some really cute knitted accessories. It makes me wish I had babies again...okay...not really. Check out these cute hats and adorable pictures by Melody'sMakings. You can order these patterns for your knitting pleasure.

Hey...My Aunt Florence even put a personalized tag in the back of her dress...How fly is that!

For all you DUMMIES out there who want to learn how to knit...go get that book, Knitting for Dummies, and you could be on your way to knitting or crocheting hats, scarves, and even mittens!

Okay...stick with the scarf!

The Hunt for Something Frosted

2011-12-13T05:00:00.003-05:00

My daughters and I went out on Saturday for dinner and to do what girls do best...SHOP! We decided to go to Michaels' to start shopping for Our Crafty Christmas. So, we went down each aisle looking at all things creative. From the cake/cupcake decorating aisle to the wooden project aisle, we really enjoyed ourselves. But I soon realized that we were not there to just look...we were on a hurt for CUPCAKES! Each sections of the store became a mini game to find a cupcake or something with a cupcake on it. It was like playing "Where's Waldo", but we were playing "Where's the Cupcake'?

Here's what we found:

This is a wooden Cupcake Set we found in the wooden project section. You assemble your cupcakes in the muffin pan that is included. Once your cupcakes are "baked" (Ha Ha Ha!), you use the icing provided to decorate/design your cupcakes. And of course, put the candle on top. When finished, you just wipe off the tops and start again!

This cupcake was found in the painting aisle which is on Our Crafty Christmas list. And it doubles as a magnet for the refrigerator! I just love it!

Love how it says 4+

The puzzle aisle is always a joy to see. I think it is interesting to see all the differrent pictures for the puzzles as well as how many pieces are in the box. There are 100 piece puzzles, 500 piece puzzles and even 1000 piece puzzles. Don't think I could sit and do even a 1000 piece puzzle. But I can do these puzzles. We got the puzzle on the left to do for Crafty Christmas.

And we even went down the stamping and scrapebooking aisles and spotted these cupcakes...

I think my favorite "Cupcake Siting" in the book section. I love to add new cupcake books to my library. And I am definitely putting these on My Wish List!

At the end of our cupcake adventure, we felt like we had conquered Michaels' by finding cupcakes amoung the sea of crafty items. And to think, we spent 2 hours in that place and came out with a cupcake puzzle, cupcake plaster magnet, and a felted Christmas tree craft in preparation for our Crafty Christmas.

Operation Crafty Christmas: 75% Accomplished

All these items can be found at your local Michaels' store

Real Simple Cupcake Carrier

2011-12-12T14:18:00.000-05:00

With the holidays right around the corner, we will no doubt be baking lots of cookies, candy, fudge, cakes, bread and of course cupcakes. Here is a great way to get those cupcakes to your party if you don't have a cupcake/muffin carrier. This idea is a great way to use boxes from past celebrations. This idea is courtesy of Real Simple. Read how to create this carrier here.

Unique Uses for Everyday Kitchen Tools

2011-12-12T11:41:00.000-05:00

In the kitchen, we have many gadgets and handy tools to help us create our sweet masterpieces. From the food processor to the ever-so-helpful garlic press, these utensils make cooking and baking a bit more easy. But have you ever thought about other uses for some of these tools...this can also make things a cinch in and out of the kitchen or decorating fun! Well, I have some ideas for them.

1. Ice-cream scoop:

Scoop cookie dough or meatballs: Everyone is familiar with using an ice-cream scoop for cookies, but it is also great for making meatballs. It will make your meatballs the same uniform size just like your cookies.

Spoon batter/Frost cupcakes: We see this on Cupcake Wars when they fill the baking pans with batter, they use an ice-cream scooper. And don't think you can't use it to frost your cupcakes in a snap. I personally think this is a lot of frosting by it sure looks cute!

Butter ball: I always use my small scooper, or melon baller to put a ball of butter on the waffles in the morning. It looks just like Waffle house and makes spreading the butter easier for the kids.

Planting Seeds: I bet you have never thought about using an ice-cream scoop in the garden. Buy one for your garden and use it to scoop out equal-sized holes for planting. Genius! It can also double as a way to add soil to your pots without the mess.

2. Cupcake liners:

Light Embellishments: I love using this idea for decorating for a party or even for the holidays. Take set of mini lights and poke each pointy bulb through a cupcake liner. You can also use them to decorate the indoors or outdoors. How useful when you have cupcake liners left over!

Drip Catcher: This is great for the summer when popsicles are all the rave for young kids, but they melt all over the place. Just slide the stick through a foil cupcake liner to catch all those messy drips.

Votive Holders: Place a tea light in a foil cupcake liner to catch all the drips. No more waxy mess!

Arts and Crafts: Not only can you use cupcake liners for creative projects, but you can also use them to hold your supplies. Just line a muffin pan with cupcake liners and distribute items in each one. This is what I used for my Turkey Cupcake craft for Thanksgiving. Easy access and makes crafting a breeze!

Christmas Craft: Or you can always make these adorable angel ornaments using cupcake liners, clothespins, and gold pipe cleaners. They are not only fun to make, but really cute!

Spoon holder: I always use leftover cupcake liners to hold my stirring spoon while cooking. And after I'm done...I just throw it away!

Remember...don't throw those leftover cupcake liners away and you'll never look at your ice-cream scooper the same now!

Santa's Hat

2011-12-11T17:27:00.000-05:00

I was heading out to the store one day last week not wanting to fix my hair up all perfect and remembered what my mother would do in this situation. This is the season where you can throw on a Santa hat and it's okay. And that is what I did. Amazing how this hat can brighten any one's day. This hat alone received cheerful and welcoming smiles from all I encountered. Friendly conversations with strangers were made while perusing the aisles at Target. All it took was a red and white hat atop my head to get those responses. Even driving to the store I felt like a celebrity at a red light with little kids in adjacent cars waving at me. I would look to my right and see the driver of the car peering over at me and receive a smile. Wow! All this feel-good gestures from wearing Santa's hat. This hat alone creates a merry moment, a festive feeling and a seasonal sensation in everyone. It brightens up any occasion and definitely a long line at the store!

Santa's hat has a special place in my family. We all put them on to decorate the Christmas tree and the house for the holidays. We replace our chef hat in the kitchen for our bright red and white Santa hat to bake our sweet treats. It is a symbol of the holiday and of the season that is Christmas. My favorite memory of Santa's hat comes by way of my daughter Tyra. I believe she may have been 4 years old and Christmas always made her excited. We would tell her how on Christmas Eve, her father and I would wait up patiently for Santa to arrive. When he did, we would help him with all the presents and write everyone names on each gift for him. She believed us and would hurry upstairs with her younger sister, Selena to go to bed. So, my husband and I would wait for them to fall asleep and put all the presents under the tree. Of course, we would do it with our Santa hats atop our heads. This particular Christmas Eve, I left my hat next to the fireplace. The next morning, Tyra woke us up with an abundance of excitement. "Santa left his head, Santa left his hat, Santa left his hat!" is all she keep yelling. Then I realized that in her hand she was holding my Santa hat. She was convinced that Santa left his hat in our house. She felt like the luckiest little girl in the world. Every year there after, when we would take out our decorations as well as the Santa hats and Tyra would point to one particular hat and say "That's Santa's hat!".

Moral: There is magic and memories in Santa's hat...just put in on your head!

Crafty Christmas Ideas

2011-12-08T10:42:00.001-05:00

I have been thinking about what I will do for this year's Crafty Christmas at the Powell House. I have seen some really fun crafts in my holiday crafts research. I thought I would help you this year if you are planning to make your Christmas time crafty. Crafts don't have to be time consuming or even need too many supplies. Some of the ideas utilize stuff you have either in your pantry, your office or your kitchen. I hope you find a craft to do and make it a tradition in your house.

DIY Sweater Wreath:
I saw this idea on The Today Show and thought this was a really good idea especially if you have any old sweaters in your closet. You can also go to Goodwill and try to find wool sweaters to use for this project. You can also cut the sweater in long strips and tie it around a small foam wreath.

Button Wreath Ornament: This ornament is compliments of Martha Stewart. You can buy a bunch of buttons and the color schemes are endless. This is a great craft for young kids with some assistance. I definitely think this one is on my Craft list.

Now for the Crafts that come from your kitchen...

Cookie Puzzle: Many of us will make cookies this Christmas. So what better to do with the cookies than to make a cookie puzzle! This creative idea is a great gift for that puzzle lover in your life. This craft can also double as a game and a snack!

Gingerbread Reindeer Cookies: Now this cookie is great for using that gingerbread cookie cutter! I absolutely like this idea. Each person can get 2 cookies and enjoy decorating them two different ways. Genius!

Another craft goes on the list for me!

And for Peppermint Lovers everywhere...

Peppermint Ornament:

I don't know about peppermints in your house, but they don't last at all in my house. But, this craft idea gives you something to do with those round peppermint candies. The ideas are never end with this craft, so go crazy with the decorations!

I love all these ideas! I may need 2 days of Crafty Christmas this year!

More great ideas to come, so look for Crafty Christmas Ideas Part 2!

Crafty Christmas

2011-12-07T17:12:00.000-05:00

I always have Crafty Christmas for my children. It is a day we set aside and do crafts the entire day. And I do mean the entire day. We usually do 3-5 crafts depending on the difficulty of the craft and end with the traditional gingerbread house. Of course in between we enjoy snacks and festive drinks like hot chocolate with marshmallows as well as some lunch. I have found that my kids are pretty crafty. You will be surprised that one child will shine in one craft and struggle on the next...discovering what they do best is what they learn. Some are better at fine details as others are good at color schemes and then you have one child who just makes a mess! Crafty Christmas is a time for family, fun, and festive memories. Isn't that what the holiday is all about?

I wanted to take this time to share past Crafty Christmas projects my kids and I have done. I was looking at the ornaments on the tree as I took pictures for my blog and began to reminisce about our Crafty Christmas days. The ornaments speak for themselves as some are dated back to 2003. I always have my children write their names and the year on the ornament so we can remember how old they were when they made it. It is really cute to see their how they write their names especially when they are 5 and 6 years old. I even make the ornaments and do the crafts to help release that Crafty Queen inside of me.

So, now for the past creations from the Powell's Crafty Christmas Days:

This ornament was made from a clothespin, festive pipe straws, and YES!...Cupcake liners!!!

These two yarn ornaments are from when I was knitting/crocheting and had tons of yarn left over and needed something to do with it. So, we made angels and snowmen ornaments. The angel is my favorite.

And then you have all the painted ornaments that you can get in kits at Michaels Craft Store. Lots of fun to sit and paint like an real artist!

Remember to have them put their names on the back and the year!

How cute is it when you see their name and year on the ornament. These ornaments are 5 and 8 years old! WOW!

And you have to love the ornaments made from ingredients in your kitchen that to this day after 8 years, still smell like cinnamon!

Still smells like cinnamon!

I enjoy spending this time with my kids making these crafts/ornaments that one day I hope they may do with their children. I have great crafts for this year. Now that they are older, we can really get Crafty!!!

Moral: Make Memories for the Holidays that will last a Lifetime!

Happy Crafting!

Salty Sweet Craving

2011-12-06T17:01:00.000-05:00

I was listening to the rain outside as I enjoyed my coffee this morning. I got to thinking about none other than cupcakes. I always like good old vanilla with vanilla frosting or even a chocolate cupcake with vanilla frosting as well. But my taste buds wanted something different. They wanted to be taken to a higher, more sophisticated level of taste. I wanted to taste something that I would never think of tasting. My mind went back to when I was a little girl and would go to the church functions with my parents. I remember the little old ladies in church would bring homemade cakes such as coconut, chocolate and even caramel. Yes, that's it! Caramel! I decided to make salted caramel cupcakes today and make my taste buds happy. I ended up making Salted Caramel Cupcakes to give that salty/sweet appeal like eating chocolate covered pretzels. You get that subtle hint of salt but the sweetness from the caramel balances all the flavors out perfectly. So, with that said, I share the recipe I came up with today. Enjoy!

Salted Caramel Cupcakes: (makes 12 cupcakes)

1 1/2 cups All Purpose Flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1 stick unsalted butter

1 cup + 2 tbsp brown sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup buttermilk

2 tbsp caramel sauce (recipe to follow)

Combine flour, baking powder, salt in separate bowl. Cream butter and brown sugar until smooth. Add vanilla then add eggs one at a time until well incorporated. Add dry ingredients in 3 batches alternating with buttermilk and caramel sauce, ending with dry ingredients. Line 12 cup muffin pan with cupcake liners and fill each cup with batter. Bake about 13-15 minutes at 350 F. Remove and allow to cool completely on wire cooling rack.

Caramel Sauce: Check out recipe and great pictures to make sauce here.

Caramel Buttercream Frosting:

16 tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup caramel sauce plus extra for drizzling

4 cups confectioners sugar, sifted

Combine all ingredients in a bowl of a stand mixer or use a handheld electric mixer until light and fluffy. Frost each cupcake and drizzle with extra caramel sauce.

The way I see it, challenge yourself and explore new taste like Salted Caramel Cupcakes...your taste buds will thank you!

I know mine did!

Salted Caramel Cupcakes

Delicious!

Santa Wants Cupcakes!

2011-12-06T10:18:00.000-05:00

I love the tradition of making cookies for Santa. We bake chocolate chip cookies or gingerbread men or woman (or boys/girls) to decorate, or even those reliable sugar cookies to frost and create masterpieces for Santa to eat. My advise to all, make cookies that you will eat so when the kids go to bed and your up half the night wrapping presents or putting them under the tree, you'll have something to snack on. Smart move, huh? I think this year in my house the tradition is going to change.

I think instead of cookies, we will leave cupcakes for Santa. We will bake mini cupcakes which will help Santa with his weight issue. This is a perfect portion and easy to grab, pop in his mouth, and Go! I also think these cupcakes will be a good foundation to our traditional Crafty Christmas. Red Velvet cupcakes are very popular at Christmas. The bright red color represents the color we most associate with the holidays. The hint of chocolate you get with the smooth tangy cream cheese frosting is just divine. I officially think this is my new favorite cupcake flavor. And I think Santa will love the Red and White themed cupcakes, instead of those cold, hard, ugly cookies that he tends to leave behind anyway, right?

Moral: Make Cupcakes for Santa, not Cookies!

My Favorite Things

2011-12-03T22:10:00.000-05:00

Me and My Favorite Santa Hat

Christmas is getting closer. And the way I see it...Since Oprah has her list of Favorite Things...then I too will have My List of Favorite Things. I thought about all the things I want, the things I have, and the things I think everyone should have...and this is what I came up with:

1. KitchenAid Mixer in Pink

Yes, in pink because I think it is just pretty in pink...the red one is not bad looking either. Every good baker or potential baker should have one of these mixers. It will take your baking to new levels and make it so much easier.

Or you can do what Sophie from Georgetown Cupcakes did for her sister's wedding shower gift, and adorn your pink mixer with thousands of pink Swarovski crystals! How cute is that! Talk about Bling in the Kitchen!

2. Hand Mixer by Cuisinart

There are times when you just don't want to pull out that heavy KitchenAid Mixer for a small batch of cookies or frosting. This is where this gadget comes in handy. And of course, you need to coordinate the color with your stand mixer!

3. Cake Tester

Okay, okay...you may be asking why you would need to buy a cake tester? It does have a function in the kitchen for testing to see if your cake or cupcakes are done. But let's be real...toothpicks or a knife work just as good.

Nothing like a good toothpick!

4. Martha Stewart's Cupcakes book

I absolutely love this book. I think this is a great start for beginners. It is a great foundation for making cupcakes. Some of the recipes are not good to me, but I think this book offers great ideas. My good friend Keisha gave me this cupcake book and I love her forever!

5. A Red Ferrari

Okay...so this is something I want. Nice to have friends who have one!

6. Scrabble Pendants with cute sayings:

This cute necklace is from FrillyChili at Etsy. I think this is divine...and mine is one it's way.

7. A Good Cat

I know not everyone likes cats, but I love them. And when you have a cat like mine, you will definitely have a place in your heart for a cat like Kyle. Kyle is cutest, most loving, dependable cat I own. I do have 2 other cats, Sammie and Sugar, but Kyle is an exceptional cat. He knows when I am sad, he comforts me. He knows when I am sleepy, he cuddles with me. Everywhere I go, Kyle is there. He is sitting right here with his paw on my laptop. He is my shadow, and one of my favorite things.

Kyle Fat Daddy Powell

8. Wilton's #1M Decorating Tip

This tip is a staple for my cupcake decorating, I like the swirl it creates on the cupcake. And it just looks so pretty!

Courtesy of Cupcakes With Class

Wilton also has a Cupcake decorating kit that is great to get you started and also includes the #1M tip.

9. My Family

Tyra, Terri, and Selena

I adore my children. They definitely keep me going every day. From Tyra saying "Not another cupcake Momma G", to Selena saying, "Mmmm, I just love your frosting Mommy" to Terri saying, "Did you make me chocolate cupcakes?"...I absolutely love them. Don't know what I 'd do without them...well, I do know what I would do....but for now, I'll keep them!

10. Cupcake Cruise 2012

So, this is something I want and hope to do in 2012. Can you imagine cruising with cupcakes to Bermuda? This cruise is a cupcake lovers dream come true. In their own words this is " 7 Delicious Days to Bermuda". Count me in!

"And These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things..."

How A Cupcake Made Me Laugh

2011-12-01T20:59:00.000-05:00

A Little Cupcake Story
by me

My day started off a little rough...it was dark and wet outside. The rain was coming down hard creating a slight ping sound on the ground and the cars on the street. I told myself it sound like little balls of ice and if it was cold enough...it would be snowing. I pulled myself out of bed and got the kids off to school. I sat down on the couch with my hot cup of Vanilla creme flavored coffee. Finally, I found something to not only warm me up but may just cheer me up. I think that feeling lasted for about 10 minutes. But, it was good while it lasted. TV was the same...The Today Show, those Are you the Father shows, and my DVR'd shows. That's right, my DVR'd shows from the night before. I could sit here and watch my shows in peace with no interruptions. This could be the happy factor I was looking for today. I picked up my remote, and pressed the DVR button....NOTHING! Not one show, nothing to watch. This day just got worse.

I finished my coffee, hopped on my laptop to check my email and of course, see what is happening on Facebook. That world of Social Networking is amazing. So much to read about what everyone is doing today. From "I am off to work" to "Help, I need more coffee!" to those cute pictures of your friends baby posted every 5 minutes documenting the child's every footstep and breathe. Someone please help me.

So, I got tired quick of reading people's play-by-play of their daily life and I proceeded to my blog. I read many blogs about many different things...mostly cupcakes, I must admit. Not really sure how I came across this, but it sure made my day. What could be better than a giggle at the expense of a cupcake, a cupcake making me giggle, and a cupcake being hilarious? Just writing about it creates this butterfly-like feeling in my stomach. It is like the laugh that makes you cry. I loved it so much...I bought it.

Did it make you laugh?

This cute little Scrabble tile is from Frillychili at Etsy. Each tile is handmade from old Scrabble tiles...how neat is that. And all pendants come with a 18" ball chain. Check out her store and other tiles she creates at her online store. I think these are the perfect gift for anyone. I even ordered 3 more.

See...cupcakes can make you giggle!

(I am giggling right now waiting for necklace to get her...Ha Ha HA!)

Where to find Cupcakes?

2011-11-30T17:06:00.000-05:00

When I decided to start a blog, I didn't just want to talk about cupcakes...okay, yes I did just want to talk about cupcakes..HA HA HA! But I also wanted to keep my readers informed about all things cupcakes and all things baked. My search for cute cupcake decorations was rather interesting. I found everything from how to paint a cupcake on your nail to cupcake eyelashes!

Yes, cupcake false eyelashes!

In keeping the theme for Christmas, I came across these cute ornaments from Gatorgrrl Boutique at their Etsy store. I like that not only does she make these ornaments, but she also makes dog harnesses. These ornaments are handmade from unused glass ornaments. How creative! And the colors are endless!

This is my favorite one...

Pink and Pretty!

Let's switch gears and check out these cute cupcake soaps...yes, I said soap. I can only imagine how cute these would look in your bathroom. I think they look good enough to eat! They are by Lauren Miller of Sunbasilgarden at Etsy and sell for $6.00 each. The scents include Blueberry, Pink Sugar, Orange Dreamsicle, and Fresh Pear. They also sell it as a gift set for $22.00. They look Yummy!

Check out these stores at Etsy...you may find something for that cupcake lover!

Now back to my cupcake hunting!

Cupcake Ornament Quest

2011-11-29T23:17:00.000-05:00

So, after containing my excitement about my newest cupcake ornament that incorporates yoga and cupcakes, I decided to go on a cupcake ornament hunt. I wanted to see what Christmas ornaments or decorations were available for all of us Cupcake Lovers.

Here's what I found:

2011

Hallmark has a series of cupcake ornaments calles Simply Irrestible!. This cupcake is the 2nd in the series. You can get it at any Hallmark store for under $10.00 or at Amazon. You can get the 1st cupcake ornament from last year. I also saw on Amazon where you can get the 1st and 2nd cupcakes in the series, plus a cute Merry Mixer ornament all together for about $40.00. The cupcake ornaments are made out of felt. I happen to like the 1st cupcake in the series. I like the poinsetta on top and the fluffy white frosting. This is a great gift for any cupcake euthusist!

2010

Marry Mixer 2010

Let's not forget about our bakers in our lives. They need ornamants too! Hallmark also has a series called Season's Treatings! It features baked goodies, from a gingerbread house to decorated sugar cookiest to cupcakes in a pan. The 3rd in the series sells for under $10.00 in most Hallmark stores. The 2nd in the series sells for $24.00 on Amazon and the 1st in the series is a pricey $99.00 on Amazon. I guess the 1st one from 2009 is now a collectible. But they are all very cute and would make any baker happy.

Or to get something more personalized for any little cupcake in your life, I found this cute cupcake ornament offered by PersonalizationMall for under $12.00. The nice thing about this ornament is that you can personalize it not only with the name but also the message. And you get to preview your ornament before you order it. Now that is cute!

In my quest for ornaments, I found there are lots of cupcake ornaments everywhere. I couldn't pull myself off my computer from looking at all the cute ornaments. Before I knew it, I had been on my laptop for 3 hours! I realize these make great gifts for any cuupcake lover and even your every-day baker. But, I say forget giving these ornaments away...

Moral: Buy these items and keep them for yourself!

My Cupcake Ornament for Christmas

2011-11-29T09:01:00.000-05:00

Decorating the Christmas tree is always a tradition of my family the weekend after Thanksgiving. It definitely puts us in the mood for the holidays. We look at all of our ornaments for the tree, and the handmade ornaments the kids made when they were younger...and we reminisce about each one of them. I always try to buy one new ornament each year that reminds us of each other. So, last night, after dinner, we stopped by the Hallmark store to look at all the ornaments. The kids had fun looking and listening to the funny music radiating from some of those ornaments. I wandered over to a tree decorated with an array of ornament, big and small, some musical and some glittery. As I pulled back one of the tree branches to look at each ornament, I was face to face with the perfect ornament! I mean, I think this ornament was made for me and only me! It was absolutely perfect. Everything about this ornament said ME and I even think it may even resemble me a bit. It really captured my life over the last year...the peace, the tranquility, the zen, the positive aura and of course the cupcake! I think this ornament is officially my favorite...

Moral of this blog post: Girls DO just want to unwind...and what is more perfect than yoga and a cupcake!

Go out and find an ornament that symbolizes you and reflects on your life this year. You will be surprised what you may find. I know I was very surprised!

Happy Hunting!

My First Christmas

2011-11-26T17:56:00.000-05:00

I am very excited for Christmas this year since it is my first one. Well... it is my first Christmas with Cupcakes With Class, my home-based cupcake business, and my first Christmas with my blog, Frosted Memories. I have so many holiday ideas that I cannot wait to get started, get creating and of course, get to sharing with you. So, I want to share how to make the Turkey Cupcake I made with my family for Thanksgiving. Super fun, super cute, and super easy!

1. First, we will start with the ingredients needed to make these cupcakes:

Cupcakes-any flavor will do
1 mini Reese cup
6 candy corns
1 Oreo cookie
1 Whopper
Vanilla buttercream frosting
Black piping gel
Sprinkles

2. Using the 5 candy corns, firmly hold Oreo Cookie in your hand and careful press each candy corn in the middle of the cookie forming the feathers of the turkey.

3. Next, cut the bottom half of the Reese cup off...and eat it...place a small amount of frosting on the bottom of the Oreo cookie and adhere Reese cup to the cookie.

4. Using a small amount of frosting, adhere the Whopper above the Reese cup to form the turkey's head.

5. Next, cut the tip off the last piece of candy corn and with a small amount of frosting, place on the whopper forming the beak of the turkey.

6. With the Vanilla buttercream, frost the cupcake and decorate with sprinkles.

7. Allow turkey to set for 10 minutes, then place it on top of the decorated cupcake.

Tom Turkey is Born!

You can use Black piping gel to make eyes or place candy eyes to give your turkey an interesting look!

Just have fun with this cupcake...the ideas are endless!

Kids having fun!

...make a holiday tradition to remember...

This idea was courtesy of The Brown Eyed Baker