Baby Shower Invitations

Once again, I AM NOT pregnant, but I still enjoy looking at baby items as well as browsing baby shower themes. It's like I told my husband the other day, "Sweetie, I don't want a baby for a while, I just want to accessorize one now." With that in mind, I want to talk to you today about invitations.

Invitations set the mood for your event. This doesn't mean that you should spend thousands of dollars out of your budget in order to have an amazing invitation, but it does mean that you should put some thought into what you're sending to people. Think of it as marketing your event. The better you market your party/event, the more likely it is that a guest will attend.

Hand-made invitations are totally acceptable, just make sure that they look put together and clean...unless you're going for the ragged party look.

The following invitations are some that I found on etsy. I love how fun and put together these look.

*image courtesy of Pix Fix

*image courtesy of PineappleFarm

*image courtesy of CadencePaige

Now, try to tell me that you're not going to go to those parties just to see the decor and layout that the invitation hints about! What I love about these etsy products is that the designer will specialize the invitation to suit your needs and then for $10 - $20 they will give you the file and you can print off as many as you want!

In my searching, I found a paper graphics designer who I just fell in love with. Check out her stuff on etsy, she is called "andersruff".

Enjoy searching for the perfect invitation and remember, you don't have to pay thousands or even hundreds, just make sure that you put some effort into the 'marketing of your event'.

Better Than Disneyland, Sex, and Whatever Else Cake

Recently I was assigned to bring treats to a Business Writing class that I am taking at Brigham Young University. I was torn about what to make. You see, my husband and I hardly ever have sweets in our house, so when I have the chance to make something, I like to go 'all out'. At first I thought about making several different types of cake: pumpkin, banana, zucchini, and wheat; and bringing hot chocolate in a large thermos. However, after much deliberation, I finally settled on making a "Better than Whatever" cake (also known as a Better than Sex or Better than Disneyland Cake).

Luckily, the class loved it! I was just thrilled. Due to the response that I received, I have decided to share the recipe with you, along with my secret procedures.

Better Than Sex Cake

1 box of regular chocolate cake mix (and all that that entails: oil, water, eggs)

6 oz caramel

14 oz sweetened condensed milk

8 oz whipped cream

4 Skor bars, crushed

Bake the cake according to the instructions on the box. Once it is done cooking, let it cool for about 20 minutes. Then take a wooden spoon and punch holes all over the cake (a great way to de-stress!). Next you will pour the caramel and sweetened condensed milk all over the cake, spread it with a spatula. It will fill up the holes that you just punched.

Next comes my big secret! Let it sit. This is the true trick, the longer you let the cake chill in the refrigerator, the better it is. I generally like to let the cake chill for at least 8 hours (it's best overnight). This allows the cake to absorb the caramel and milk; which also allows the cake to keep its form better when you cut it.

As soon as you're ready to serve it, spread the entire tub of whipped cream over the top of the cake and top it with the crushed Skor bars. Cut, serve, and enjoy! Your guests will love it!

Halloween Doorbell Ditch

This weekend I had the interesting opportunity to purchase something for a complete stranger. A professor of mine had challenged me to purchase an item for a stranger and document that experience.

On Saturday night, my husband and I were driving around, contemplating where and who I would purchase my stranger's item. Our original plan was to go to a drive through and purchase milkshakes for the people in the car behind us. However, we couldn't decide on a fast food restaurant that we both wanted to go to.

In comes Kneaders. As we were driving past Kneaders Bakery on Bulldog Boulevard, I had the thought that we should purchase a delicious treat at the bakery and doorbell ditch it for someone. We stopped and got a loaf of their famous Chunky Cinnamon bread, along with two packets of Orange Hot Chocolate. The wonderful staff wrapped the three items together for us in a beautifully assembled package (see below).

In search of the victim of our good deeds, we took the bread loaf and drove to a nearby neighborhood where I quickly located the ideal house. Their lights were on so that they would see the bread on their doorstep and they were awake.

My husband proceeded to park the car (lights off with my door open) around the corner, while I creeped up to their front door.

I set the wrapped loaf on their doorstep, knocked, and ran! As I got back into the car, I couldn't help but squeal with delight; I hadn't done this in years.

I had forgotten how fun it was to doorbell ditch someone - I love leaving treasures for people to find.

Once in the car, my husband decided that we should drive past the house to make sure that they got it. While I was worried about blowing our cover, he assured me that they would not suspect a car with its lights on, going a regular speed, passing by. This was enough. As we approached the house, looking out of my peripheral vision so as not to draw attention, I peaked at the house.

The homeowner had turned on all the lights in and out of his house and was out in the lawn scanning the fence for the gracious perpetrator...me! We couldn't help but howl with laughter at the sight of him. We felt so sneaky and pleased to have given him and his family an unexpected Halloween goody!

After performing this service, we looked at each other and agreed that we needed to do this again. It was so fulfilling to give something to someone who wasn't expecting it.

I challenge you to try this. Maybe you don't do a doorbell ditch, but the next time you're at a restaurant, grocery store, etc. purchase something for someone who isn't expecting it. It may change both of your lives.

Cake Pops

Raise your hand if you like cake.

Raise your hand if you like lollipops.

If you raised your hand for both of these then I have the perfect thing for you, they are called CAKE POPS. They're sort of like cake lollipops, meaning that instead of a hard candy on the stick, there is cake dipped in chocolate.

I love these little treats because they are easy to make, delicious, and can be decorated in so many different ways. Below are some examples.

There are so many different variations! Bakerella has tons of different ideas if you need a muse. You can visit her website here. I could browse her website for hours, so beware! If you like anything crafty or foody, prepare to become obsessed with her fabulous ideas.

Here is a recipe for basic cake balls (Note* You can get much more creative with your flavors):

Ingredients

• 1 18 1/4 ounce box cake mix
• 13 x 9 x 2-inch cake pan
• Large mixing bowl
• 1 16 ounce container prepared frosting
• Large metal spoon
• Wax paper
• 2 baking sheets
• Plastic wrap
• Black edible-ink pen
• 
  

Directions

1. Bake cake as directed on the box, using a 13 x 9 x 2-inch cake pan. Let cool completely.

2. Once cake is cooled, get organized and set aside at least an hour to crumble, roll and dip 4 dozen cake balls.

3. Crumble cooled cake into a large mixing bowl: Cut a baked 13 x 9-inch cake into four equal sections. Removea section from the pan, break it in half and rub the two pieces together over a large bowl, making sure to crumbleany large pieces that fall off. You can also use a fork to break apart any larger pieces. Repeat with each section until entire cake is crumbled into a fine texture. (If large pieces are mixed in, the cake balls may turn outlumpy and bumpy.) You should not see any large pieces of cake.

4. Add 3/4 of the container of frosting. Mix it into the crumbled cake, using the back of a large metal spoon, until thoroughly combined. (You will not need the remaining frosting; if you use the entire container, the cake balls will be too moist.)

5. The mixture should be moist enough to roll into 11/2-inch balls and still hold a round shape. After rolling the cake balls by hand, place them on a wax papercovered baking sheet.

6. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for several hours in therefrigerator, or place in the freezer for about 15 minutes. You want the balls to be firm but not frozen.

7. If you're making a project that calls for uncoated cake balls, stop here and proceed to decorate the cake balls, following the project instructions.

Tip

• The cake balls will be easier to roll if you wash and dry your hands periodically during the rolling process. Dry your hands completely each time, and make sure you don't get water in the candy coating, as this can make it unusable.

Recipe from Family Circle.