CAKE. | events + design: September 2009

wake up and smell the bacon cookies

9.30.2009

Bacon is back. Which, unless you've been living under a rock, you already knew. I've seen it incorporated into some pretty extravagant desserts lately... from bacon hot fudge sundaes to maple bacon donuts. But for those of you traditionalists who think bacon is best served up with breakfast, I bring you an intriguing twist on a classic: the bacon breakfast cookie. A blend of bacon, orange juice and grape nuts cereal, mixed up to create a sweet, salty, crunchy cookie. Not exactly a well balanced meal, but honestly it doesn't sound half bad. What do you think? Would you dare serve these for breakfast at your house?

{image & recipe via serious eats}

Bacon, Cereal and Orange Juice Breakfast Cookies

Ingredients
3/4 cup butter, room temperature
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
2 tablespoons thawed frozen orange juice concentrate
1 tablespoon grated orange peel
1 1/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
6 strips bacon or veggie bacon, cooked very crisp, drained and crumbled (I used veggie bacon and it worked just fine)
1/2 cup Grape-Nuts

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. In a medium bowl, beat together butter, sugar, egg, orange juice concentrate and peel, until light and fluffy. Add flour and baking powder, beating until well blended.
3. Stir in bacon and cereal, stirring only until incorporated.
4. Using an ice cream scoop (I used a big one), drop 3 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets.
5. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until edges are golden. Remove cookies from sheets while still warm and cool on racks.

polaroid love

9.29.2009

What is it that they say about wanting what you can't have? Ever since Polaroid decided to discontinue their line, I've been thoroughly regretting that I didn't stock up on film for my camera before the prices skyrocketed. Polaroid pictures evoke a sense of memory that my digital camera just can't seem to replicate. If you know where I'm coming from, you might want to pick up a copy of Polaroid Notes... a book of 20 note cards available through Chronicle Books. The images are strikingly beautiful and they'd make a lovely gift in lieu of the real thing.

For the DiY types out there, I also recommend you check out the link to Poladroid, a free software download that turns your regular digital photos into Polaroid images. It has some cute nostalgic features too... like the fact that you get to watch the picture 'develop' onscreen.

{image via Chronicle Books}

paper monday: minted

9.28.2009

Happy Monday everyone. You’re a perceptive bunch, so perhaps you’ve already noticed that I like to start out my week with something pretty on paper? Today, for no good reason I’m making it official. Mondays shall henceforth be known on Birthday Girl as ‘paper monday’. And to kick it off, I thought I’d highlight a few fresh birthday invitations from my new friends at Minted...

{images via Minted}

real parties: fun on the farm

9.24.2009

I had been waiting in anticipation to see this party from Polka Dots & Pirates, but things being what they are, I’m just getting around to sharing it with you. Jess went all out for her son’s 2nd birthday with a barnyard theme appropriately held at her parent's farm. Lunch and games were the order of the day, topped off with an afternoon hayride! In what I think is a stroke of genius, the kids had their own lunches packed in gable boxes and saved them to take home tractor favors and party hats at the end of the day. The colorful decorations are a perfect fit... and of course, no barnyard party would be complete without cow & pig lollipops!

{more details & images at polkadots & pirates}

it’s peanut butter jelly time

9.23.2009

Who needs a sandwich when you can have a pb&j cupcake? Serve them with a pitcher of cold milk and you’ve got a kid-friendly hit on your hands.

{image and recipe via martha stewart}

Peanut Butter & Jelly Cupcakes
Makes 18

Ingredients
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
6 ounces (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 1/3 cups sugar
2/3 cup natural, creamy peanut butter
3 large eggs
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Peanut Butter Frosting*
Strawberry jam, for topping

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners. Whisk dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, salt, baking soda) in a large bowl. In another bowl, cream butter and sugar with a mixer until light and fluffy. Add Peanut Butter. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating after each addition. Reduce speed to low. Mix in sour cream and vanilla. Add dry ingredients to butter mixture in 3 additions. Scrape sides of bowl. Divide batter among baking cups, filling each 2/3 full.
Bake cupcakes until testers inserted into centers come out clean, about 20 minutes. Let cool in tins on wire racks. Once cupcakes are cool, frost tops with peanut butter frosting. Place a dollop of jam in center of frosting.

Peanut Butter Frosting*
Makes about 3 cups

Ingredients
6 ounces cream cheese
1/3 cup confectioners' sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup creamy peanut butter (not natural)
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup heavy cream

Directions
Beat cream cheese and confectioners' sugar with a mixer on medium speed. Add salt, then peanut butter, then vanilla. Whisk cream until soft peaks form, and then fold into peanut butter mixture. Use immediately, or cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days. (Bring to room temperature, and beat on low speed until smooth before using.)

design represented: crow & canary

9.21.2009

Discovering Crow & Canary was like hitting the motherlode of paper goods. Carina represents a diverse and talented group of card designers, and I was thrilled to see so many I was previously (unfortunately) unaware of. Below is just a sampling for your viewing pleasure, but there are links to all the designers in her gallery. Looking forward to further investigation...

Featured below: white rabbit, gnome, bear, cupcake

{images via crow & canary}

FREE DiY day: printable train ticket invitations

9.20.2009

This clever little train cake inspired me to design an invitation for a train themed birthday party. In California there are a number of railroad museums, historic trains and even a place called Train Town in Sonoma, all of which would make a perfect setting for a train party. Take a tour, eat some cake... and give everyone a conductor’s hat to take home as a favor.

{image via coco & me}

This PDF includes (2) tea length invites with a blue and yellow background option, designed to fit in a standard business envelope. Just print on 8.5x11 card stock, trim around the grey border of the tickets and fill in the blanks with the party details. Enjoy!

happy anniversary dear husband!

One year later. Our marriage is still thriving and the cake is still delicious...

real parties: seaside birthday bash

9.17.2009

This week I had the pleasure of discovering Paige of Bash Eco Events and her mad planning skills. Last weekend she threw a seaside birthday bash for 350 kids & adults as a combined 100th birthday (50+40+6+4) for a family. The details are outrageous... a true marriage of fun and sophistication. The table centerpieces held live goldfish, the dessert table was a trove of seaside inspired treats, the beach was home to giant sand castles and inflatable bouncy houses, the pina coladas were flowing freely... what a magical event. Check out her blog for this and much MUCH more delicious party inspiration.

{images via bash eco events}

fall favorite: caramel apples

9.16.2009

The weather is cooling down and the apples are rolling in. Here’s an easy recipe from Paula Deen to get your fall kicked off right.

{image via country living}

Caramel Apples

Makes 6

Ingredients
6 apples
Craft sticks
1 (14 ounce) package individually wrapped caramels, unwrapped
2 tablespoons milk
Nuts or other topping (if desired)

Directions
Remove the stem from each apple and press a craft stick into the top. Butter a baking sheet. Place caramels and milk in a microwave safe bowl and microwave for 2 minutes, stirring once. Allow to cool briefly. Roll each apple quickly in caramel sauce until well coated. Place on prepared sheet to set.

They can also be rolled in chopped nuts or crumbled cookies for an added touch of flavor.

invita paper studio

9.14.2009

Spotted: These chic simple birthday party invitations on Etsy, designed by Invita paper studio. Bonus: they also carry a nice selection of occasion cards and offer custom work.

{images via invita paper studio}

show & tell

9.13.2009

I'm playing catch up this evening. It's literally been weeks since I've had a chance to sit down and read my favorite blogs, so let's just say I'm in my happy place right now. There's more than enough exciting inspiration out there, so I thought I'd mix it up a little and offer you a show and tell...

a rainbow of soda shoppe freebies (pictured above).

a bee-utiful birthday party.

sweet vintage delights.

argyle sock vases.

style me pretty (in pink).

surprise balls.

mocking bird book. yeah? yeah.

southern charm.

tres leches cake. yum.

a deconstructed bouquet.

real parties: stylish in spain

9.10.2009

Shh, don’t tell. Today’s real party isn’t actually a birthday party... it’s a baptism! These pictures came to me all the way from Madrid, Spain. Birthday or not, I couldn’t resist posting Cristina’s party because it features some of my favorite details... flower poms, bunting and a sweet little candy buffet. Everything was handmade for the occasion, right down to to the floral centerpieces with plaid monograms. How could I deprive you of such obvious eye candy?

{images via superkitina}

cupcakes delivered from the heavens

9.09.2009

Saint Cupcake should be... well, sainted for having the best gift idea ever. Homemade cupcakes. Your choice of 3 flavors - 3 icings - 3 sprinkles. Packaged in an adorable pink DiY gift box. Delivered anywhere in the country. Your friends may love you forever.

{first spotted at simple song}

cuddly candles & clever cards

9.08.2009

Since we’re a day behind this week I bring you not one, but two birthday treats... courtesy of LMNOP.

Animal candles that are way too cute to burn, available at Tag...

11 new stylish birthday card designs, available at Egg Press...

{images via lmnop}

party inspiration board: nautical by nature

9.07.2009

Ah Labor Day. The end of summer. It always leaves me wistful… I’m not quite ready to trade in my white skirts and shorts for bulky sweaters. Today I determinedly ran errands in my favorite jcrew polo with the sailboat logo and decided to pay homage to the final days of summer with a nautical themed birthday board. The beauty of this theme is that it can be as formal or casual as you like. Crisp navy blue with red, white and yellow accents are classic nautical colors and work equally well at a clambake by the beach or on the top deck of a yacht club. As usual, the presentation is all in the details... ahoy.

Resources:
Row 1: lobster boil via pottery barn; favor bags via rebecca thus; starfish via the knot; gift table via instyle weddings
Row 2: rowbot via cookie; sailboat favor via beau coup; tablescape via rebecca thuss; flag cake seen at oh hello; invite via boatman geller
Row 3: lighthouse, saliboat & oysters via flights of fancy; lobsters via the knot

real parties: floral & frills

9.03.2009

This beautiful 1st birthday party came to me from Erin and I am in awe of her stunning photos. I feel like they should be gracing the pages of a magazine instead of my blog. What's more, Erin said she just picked up everything at the craft store and threw the party together, but I'm finding that hard to believe. The floral appliques on the sweets... the scalloped cupcake papers...the poms on the party hat... it all blends together seamlessly and made for one very happy little birthday girl (well two, if you include me).

If you’d like to submit a creative birthday party for consideration, feel free to e-mail me at birthdaygirlblog{at}gmail.com.

{images via greg & erin's party}

charleston & kiawah island, sc

9.02.2009

I can’t believe it’s already Wednesday and I’m still trying to play catch up. The thing about a good vacation... it’s way too easy to forget all the chaos that awaits your return. The trip was worth it though. I went to the beach, explored the sights, caught up with friends & family, learned to golf (sort of), ate too much, drank too much, stayed up too late and slept in too long. In other words, it was the perfect vacation.

If you’re looking to have a relaxing couples weekend or a birthday getaway with friends, I highly recommend renting a house on Kiawah Island. It’s less an hour outside Charleston and the setting is truly enchanting. The pictures below are from Kiawah & Charleston, including some shots at the Charleston Straw Market. Craftspeople still come here daily to make & sell their Seagrass baskets, while tourists browse the local curiosities and gifts like spice blends and benne wafers.

{images ©bg 2009}

I should be back to the regular swing of things by tomorrow. I even have a beautiful first birthday to share, so stay tuned...