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Thursday, December 31, 2009

2010 JavaCupcake Goals

I'm not a huge fan of resolutions. I feel like when I make them, I always fail at them. So this year, I'm setting some goals for myself and this blog that I feel could be obtainable. In no particular order of importance, here's the list!

1. TAKE BETTER PICTURES
I have plans to get a really nice camera this year and I'd like to learn how to photograph my cupcakes better. I've seen some really awesome shots of cupcakes that are as beautiful as they are artistic... and I'm jealous. So, this goal is to learn to take better pictures of my cupcakes!

(Photo: Trophy Cupcakes)







 2. FOCUS MY BLOG ON MORE THAN JUST MY CUPCAKES
I have learned this year that it's not realistic for me to think I can bake a new cupcake every week or even every month. Sometimes, I just don't have a reason to make them or I'm just not feeling baking, so I'd like to give myself permission to write about more than just my recipes. I've been doing that a little more lately, but I'd like to incorporate other peoples recipes, guest bloggers, posts about cupcake merchandise, etc etc. I known there are a lot of other blogs out there that do this, so I'll keep my main focus on my cupcakes as much as possible.

(Photo: JavaCupcake)





3. PERFECT MY FROSTING SKILLS
I make a pretty damn good buttercream.  I mean really, it's amazing.  But, I haven't perfected the art of using the pastry bag and those little tips that make cute shapes.  I want to explore the art of frosting and come up with a signature frost for my cupcakes.  My goal is to practice, practice, practice until I can come up with a dozen perfectly frosted with a tip cupcakes. 

 (Photo: Two Parts Sugar)






4. MASTER THE BASIC CUPCAKE FLAVORS
I've made almost 20 cupcake flavors this past year that I've never made before.  None of them I've completly perfected.  I've found two recipes which I consider to be EXCELLENT in their flavor, but I have yet to make them the ultimate cupcake.  My goal for 2010 is to perfect my Super Moist Chocolate cupcake and my Vanilla cupcake and to have the perfect "Go-To Recipe" that I know will always be a hit!

(Photo: JavaCupcake)






5.SLOW DOWN
Cupcake baking is not a race! Sometimes I just get so excited to be baking that I hurry up and the end result isn't the perfection that I want it to be.  I need to do a better job at slowing down, breathing, taking my time and enjoying every step of the cupcake baking process. 

(Photo: JavaCupcake)


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Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Wordless Wednesday

New Years 2010 Cupcakes!


New Year's Eve Cupcake Collar - 2010
Originally uploaded by Chica and Jo



Happy New Year 2010
Originally uploaded by cathy_somos



Happy New Year 2010 cupcake
Originally uploaded by cathy_somos



TrophyNYECharlieB
Originally uploaded by Trophy Cupcakes and Party



TrophyPinkNYE
Originally uploaded by Trophy Cupcakes and Party



TrophyCupcakesNewYearsCupcakes02
Originally uploaded by Trophy Cupcakes and Party



WM-6-13
Originally uploaded by Life Abundant



Happy New Year
Originally uploaded by Anita Jamal



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Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Cookies-N-Creme Cupcakes


Today is my niece Ashley's 8th birthday party and she has requested for me to make her cupcakes!! She picked out these yummy looking Oreo Cupcakes from a book I got for Christmas for me to make! So, of course, I had to put my own spin on them!! Here's what I came up with! Enjoy!


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Did you know JavaCupcake is on Facebook?

That's right!! JavaCupcake has a fan page on Facebook!!  If you haven't already "Become a Fan" click here to go to the page and become a fan! I welcome all my fans to share their cupcake stories by posting pictures and recipes, failures and successes!  Leave a comment if you find some great cupcake items while you're out shopping (I just did a blog post about this too!!) or upload pictures of your latest creations!  Post feedback to my blog posts, recipes and let me know more of what you'd like to see from JavaCupcake!

My hope is that Facebook will allow me a more direct interaction with my readers and lovers of cupcakes and blogging!! So... with that said... I'm really looking forward to hearing from you!! Let's get this cupcake conversation going!





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Monday, December 28, 2009

Ceramic Cupcake Goodness

I was at TJ Maxx and Target tonight and ran into some of the cutest cupcake stuff!! One serving/display dish for cupcakes, a cupcake plate and these adorable ceramic cupcake dishes with lids!! So cute, I had to take pictures of all of them to share with you! Enjoy their deliciousness!







These little cupcake gems were from a little coffee cafe in Stevenson, WA when I was there a couple weeks ago for a retreat! So cute!
 


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Saturday, December 26, 2009

Cupcake Christmas Gifts

I got some great cupcake things for Christmas this year!!  I can't wait to try out the recipes in the book and to use the cupcake carrier to take them to a party and the stand to display them!! :) Thanks to @cupcakes for the fun lotions!!

Cupcake Queen Apron












Cupcake Vanilla Strawberry Lotion & Lip Gloss Set


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Sunday, December 20, 2009

David Letterman drives $25,000 motorized cupcake

This video is so hilarious... I just had to share it!!



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Guest Blogger Christy from Cupcakes N Cones makes Organic Peppermint Bark Brownie Cupcakes

JavaCupcake Note: This is a guest blog post from Christy at Cupcakes N Cones.  To see what other wonderful organic creations she's made, be sure to visit her site and keep updated with her twitter feed!

Peppermint Bark Cupcake Brownies...or Brownie Cupcakes

I was inspired by my friend on Twitter (@JavaCupcake) to create a holiday cupcake, recipe and all. So I decided on a peppermint bark brownie cupcake, I think they look really really really good.


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Thursday, December 17, 2009

2009 Cupcake Year in Review

WOW!! What a great year this has been!!! Jan. 10, 2009 was my very first blog post here on JavaCupcake and I wrote about a Mini Cupcake Crawl my family and I went on in the Seattle/Tacoma area.  What a great inspiration that was for me to seek out other cupcake lovers, try baking my own cupcakes, and then blog about my experiences!

In February I redesigned my blog to the current layout and I LOVE IT!! It's been really great to have such a simple, cute, layout that made it easy for my readers to see what my blog was all about.  The content on the side navigation bar has changed some over the year, but the content remains the same.

Over the past year, I've posted 17 different cupcake recipes!  I can't believe it!!   I hope to get in at least one more before the year is over and then next year... shoot for 20 new recipes!!!   Below, I've listed all my creations with a link to each post!  It feels like such an accomplishment to see them all in once place! 

This year has also brought me some recognition for my blog, which was totally unexpected and very humbling.  I was nominated for a Love! this site award and my story as an Army Wife and Cupcake Blogger was featured on the front page of the Fort Lewis Ranger.  I've also had my cupcakes featured on a few other blogs and have had many people use my recipes! Jessie at CakeSpy also featured my review of Retro Bakery on her site and I've had honor of being featured on several other sites!

Thank you for everyone who has shown me love and support on this cupcake journey of mine!  It is you, my readers and friends, who have continuously encouraged me to blog and write, even when the people in my own life just didn't understand.  So... again, thank you!!

I look forward to 2010 and I can't wait to see what cupcake adventures come my way!




     


    Super moist chocoalte cupcake with a vanilla buttercream (this is is my FAVORITE chocolate recipe!!)







    St. Patricks Day cupcakes - Green velvet with Bailey's Irishcream buttercream



    Spring Cupcakes - Vanilla cupcakes with vanilla buttercream




    Birthday Cupcakes for Dad! - Vanilla cupcake with chocolate buttercream



    Lemon & Raspberries - Lemon cupcake with raspberry center with a raspberry buttercream



    Mini cuppies - Lemon mini cupcakes with vanilla buttercream


    Rainbow Cupcakes - Tricolor cupcake with vanilla buttercream



    Peanut Butter Cups (ok ok ok, I know, they aren't cupcakes!! But hey, they're shaped like mini cupcakes!!)



    Strawberries!! - White butter cupcakes w/ strawberry filling topped w/ strawberry buttercream & fresh strawberry








    Browned Butter Blueberry Muffins (again... not a cupcake, but looks like one! hehe)






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    Monday, December 14, 2009

    Fort Lewis Ranger - Adventures in Cupcakes

    I was recently interviewed by the local newspaper The Fort Lewis Ranger to discuss my role as an Army Wife and the success of this blog! The reporter, Melissa Renahan, met me for lunch and we talked all about JavaCupcake, it's roots, it's success and how it has helped me through this deployment! I think Melissa wrote a great article!! I never, ever thought that my blog would be so successful that a paper would write about it!!


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    Wednesday, December 9, 2009

    Wordless Wednesday

    Ideas for decorating Christmas Cupcakes!


    Photo: Bakerella



    Photo found on Google Images






    Found with Google Images



    Found with Google Images


    Found with Google Images


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