the wit and "wisdom" of whirleygirl

 

So you all know i love myself a good cupcake...so why not a cupcake magic wand?!?!  Deem yourself Queen (or Princess if you so wish) of the Cupcakes!! I love this wand - it's a lively piece  - bright and cheery and loaded with sparkle!! It's available here in my Etsy Shop. Wouldn't it make a fun birthday gift? I think so..

So on the topic of cupcakes...

 - For those of us in the Chicago area, I went to A Taste of Heaven Bakery in Andersonville over the weekend - had a delicious "Almond Joy" cupcake - very tasty...gave me inspiration to make a nice moist chocolate cake and mix flaked coconut in a nice neutral butter cream frosting...sprinkle some slivered almonds on top..mmmm - will report on the outcome of that creation!

 - I've been sooo hankering for pumpkin flavored pastries! Found this recipe from good ol' Martha for pumpkin cupcakes with a cream cheese frosting that i think i'll try - may try mixing in a few chocolate chips.. Also, discovered this recipe for Pumpkin Cookies that look good as well... any favorite pumpkin recipes that you have to share?

 - Here is a fun link to to some fun Halloween cupcake and munchie ideas. I love that picture of a the brain cupcake!

Have a day filled with sweetness!

Happy 4th of July!

Just wanted to wish everybody a safe, healthy, and happy 4th of July! One more painted sketch to go today and the three day weekend will be here for me - yay! Mr. Amanda is all ready to grill up his not-so-famous asian drumsticks( this is not his exact recipe but close to it) and I'm making my Portillo's knock off chocolate cake (in cupcake form of course!! To shake things up a bit i am going to do a coconut frosting - yummy!) Add some friends to those yummies and i think it's called party!

Do be safe, have some fun, light some sparklers,  and also take time to relax and rejuvenate. Celebrate your independence...be yourself!!

Playing catch up...

The secret is keeping busy, and loving what you do.
Lionel Hampton

I hope this is true! :)  Things have been super busy lately but busy with all sorts of fun things - even the work stuff! Finishing up projects of all shapes and sizes, traveling to weddings and bridal showers galore, and....getting ready for our trip to Italy!! All good things but good things that keep a person busy, busy, busy! As the weekend is upon us, a good time to play a little catch up with all the random thoughts and questions that are swimming in my mind...

* The trip to Italy...we'll be leaving next week for Rome and Florence. Any suggestions of great things and places not to miss? Anything i should make sure to bring with me ?

* I am going to make these oreo truffles this evening to bring to a birthday party tomorrow. Yum-yum!!

* Yesterday, For the first time in my life, my back "went out on me." (that sounds so odd...) Literally, I was fine one second, bent over to pick something up, and *bam* i couldn't stand up straight. The pain was excruciating..i was stuck in various places in the house all day long - it really was comical at times. (A big thanks to those of you that helped me get "unstuck." :) ) I'm moving around a bit better today ..Anyone have any suggestions on how to prevent this from happening again?

* Totally addicted to the game Singstar for PS3. Seriously, nothing better than singing with friends in our living room at the top of our lungs. I don't care what anyone says, we ALL have an inner rock star that is just waiting to come out!

* Just an FYI, there will be no giveaway in June - too much life happening but will do the next one in July. I've got new stuff in the works that i can't wait to debut in July!!

Have a great weekend - make sure you stay busy will all the things you love!

You're a superstar!

I painted this little ditty in the dress-up area of a playroom - including rhinestones on the wall and glitter paint for that extra touch of bling! The parents have turned their entire finished basement into the most creative and inviting play area - there is an art area, little playhouse, and reading area as well -and now this "Hollywood wall" is the final piece for the little superstars!

Hope everyone had a great weekend. We traveled to Wisconsin for the first of five weddings we have been invited to this summer. This one was in Lake Geneva - it was a great location and we had a blast. Congratulations Leeana and Rob!!

On the way home we stopped at Taliesin which is located in Spring Green, WI - if you enjoy touring Frank Lloyd Wright spots, this is the place for you.

On the way home, we of course, had to stop for cheese curds! What's a trip to Wisconsin without getting some cheese??!!??  Yum,yum,yum...

Random Monday thoughts.......

Am i the only one in the world that feels the need for alliteration??? i fought with myself not to title this post "Monday Musings" just because it sounds so darn cute! Anywho...my random thoughts on this particular Monday include...

* Made cookies this past weekend and they seem to still be such a mystery to me. Imagine a sugar cookie that has a cake texture - a little odd, right? Yet tasty...bewildering...Here's the recipe. I frosted them using this recipe. I might suggest adding almond extract vs. vanilla so the frosting has  a bit more kick...and, need i say, top these babies with some sprinkles for the cute factor.

*Fell in love with these shoes but resisted. Probably a good thing...but they are fabbbuulouusss!

* Had an overly lengthly debate with my husband about how to prepare an ear of corn for dinner. Actually found one of the most bizarre websites that explained everything we needed to know, with pictures! Amaze yourself here. Yes, the little things in life amuse me!

* Am obsessed with "The Big Idea with Donny Deutsh". Our DVR is full because of this show.  You know, if you have a dream you CAN acheive it. You know why? Beacause ANYTHIING IS POSSIBLE!!!

* Finishing up this book. I find that i procrastinate reading books about procrastination. hmmm......

Fascinating,huh? :)

ALL this and still finding time to work on new designs for my website , the new shop, and filling orders. Now, that's the power of a good cup of coffee! 

Have a great week! Check back for a fun contest I'll be announcing later this week! (ooohhh - i'm such a tease!)

I think spring may actually be here...

I really hope i didn't just jinx us and the great weather we've had the last few days by typing that!! It HAS been super nice out and i don't know about you, but that type of weather makes me want to get out and do things. I love that the day stays lighter longer - i feel like i get so much more accomplished than in the dreary winter months.

It was a good weekend - hope yours was too! A friend and i had our first knitting class. It was fun but a bit overwhelming. I hate that feeling when you first learn something new and you are just filled with such a feeling of incompetence, ya know what i mean? I seemed to be the ONLY person in the class that had never knitted before - and i literally was all thumbs. I didn't dare let on that i had been a crafts major in college! :) Anyhow, with a little practice on my own (and checking out this helpful tutorial on- line) i am proud to say that i have completed a good 8 inches of what I'm sure will be a fantastic  summer scarf! I have to say, once i got the hang of it, I found knitting to be very meditative and seriously addictive. I'll post my future masterpiece once i complete it.

After the knitting drama,  my friend took me to this great restaurant in glen Ellyn, honey cafe and had the best carrot cake cupcake ever - It was a moist cake with a great cream cheese frosting that was infused with maple - delicious! Good choice, Em!

I also went see our friend, Lisa d, while she was recording her second CD at a local coffee shop. You should definitely check her out - She has a great folk sound and I'm so proud of her that she it completing her SECOND CD!! Rock on!!

Have a great week - think spring!

Poisson D'Avril!

Hope everyone had a swell April Fools Day! My sister reminded me today about Poisson d'Avril - In France, on April 1st, it's all about da fish. (You can read the history here.) Friends give each other chocolate fish and the sort and (my favorite part) they sneak around and stick paper fish on each others backs. I went to grade school at a language academy and took french. (My french name was Annette.) Anywho, we would color and cut out fish to stick on the other kid's backs - i always felt bad for the kid that had gobs o'fish on their backs and had no idea. Heck, who am i kidding -  that kid was me!!

All April Fools Days haven't been so bad... eight years ago today , my husband proposed to me! (and i REALLY thought he was joking but that is a whole other story!)

In a related bit...It is cupcake week on Martha and she had the absolute best t.v. dinner cupcakes!! I've always been obsessed with the way a t.v. dinner looks - with each item exactly in it's place...the so perfect red circle in the middle of the cheery cobbler square...sigh...so perfect. So, obviously, combining the look of a t.v. dinner with cupcakes is beyond divine!! check them out for yourself here - i know you'll agree!! ( I'm really into parentheses today..anywho, the woman who created these cupcakes is named Karen Tack and she has a must get cookbook out called "Hello, Cupcake" )

With the start of this new month, may good things come your way! My new fish frame (above) is a new design I have for animal picture frames that i am working on..he's giving you a big wet kiss........