Category Archives: Favorite Foodies

Rainbow Treats for St. Patrick’s Day!

Made by me!

Some food for thought today… I received an email this week telling me that one of my photos was posted on another site without any link back or credit. Basically, the person took an entire 60 seconds max to cut, paste, post it on her site, and then took full credit for my creation. I emailed the person nicely letting her know it was my original photo and that it’s only blogging etiquette to link back, or at least say where it came from. And no, I did not call her a thief (at least in the email). I never did hear back from her and the photo is still up. Interesting, isn’t it?

This is a highly sensitive issue for food bloggers, and I completely understand it. Putting up a post on your blog is the culmination of several hours of baking, photographing, and writing. I currently have been blessed cursed with way more wacky issues at this point in my life, so as far as this incident… I’m annoyed. I think it’s pretty tacky. Am I angry? Do I have blogger’s rage (similar to road rage)? No, not at all.

I do love to post and share other people’s recipe, photos, and ideas on my blog. (Some bloggers even disagree with this.) When I see an amazing idea, I get excited to share it. I always give credit, link back to the source, and explain why it’s so fabulous. I also search the person’s blog and try to find his or her name so I give credit to the person, not just the blog (not always as simple as you think). If I see another recipe or idea on a blog and am inspired to try it or tweak it a little, I do my best to credit the person for his or her original idea. By giving credit and link backs, it informs and encourages readers about other creative blogs… Spread the love, if you know what I mean.

There was one time that I was accused of stealing someone’s idea (not photo) without giving her credit. I had posted mini cupcakes or cheesecakes and had put a few chocolate eggs on top. Okay, google “Easter Cupcakes” and you will find a plethora of photos with chocolate eggs sitting on cupcakes. That is what we call a very unoriginal idea. So yes, there is a bit of a gray area, but let’s not be ridiculous folks.

As much as I enjoy Pinterest, one huge downside to it is that people are pinning photos that don’t link back to the person who took the photo. When I click to see the source, it often takes me to google images, another search engine, or some other site. That’s really a bummer.

Made by me!

Here is how I look at it, if I share your idea or photo and give you credit, I increase the chance that you will gain more readers, get more hits, rise in your popularity, etc. If someone did not want me sharing their ideas or photos, I would totally respect that.

But without further ado, here are a few of my favorite St. Patrick’s ideas from some very creative bloggers.

 

 

 

I saw this treat idea on Tip Junkie, created by the girls at eighteen25 . I’m kind of addicted to Lucky Charms. On occasion, I will even eat Lucky Charms with a glass of wine, and call it dinner (wish I was kidding, it’s very true). What an easy and festive treat this is to make for friends. You can print out the “Lucky” topper at Tip Junkie.

 

Rainbow Cake Pops found on Etsy… I have an entire shelf dedicated to sprinkles in my kitchen. I admit it, I hoard sprinkles and cupcake liners. I had to come clean when my girlfriend Deb was helping me organize my kitchen cabinets and pantry (is that an awesome friend, or what!). Deb banned me from buying sprinkles or cupcake liners (no matter how cute they are), until I use a whole bunch of what I have.  Rainbow cake pops may just do the trick!

Rainbow waffles, is this not the best…Kelli shares how to make these on her blog Random Thoughts of a Supermom. Now this is what I call an original idea!! Oh how I LOVE those puffy, whipped cream clouds.

 

And if you’re more of a pancake lover, these Rainbow Pancakes made by I am Baker are perfect for St. Patrick’s Day morning. Kids would love to help in making these.

 

This Leprechaun Trap Cake is pretty fabulous, isn’t it. But you can’t possibly know how fabulous it is until you click over to see what’s inside. Megan whose blog is called Not Martha is the creative cake genius behind this.

 

I’ve seen bakers make cake in little jars, but this one takes it a step further with sprinkles and a darling little rainbow tag on top. Sprinkles make EVERYTHING better. The  Rainbow Cake in a Jar was made by Lisa at Sugar Celebrations.

Enjoy St. Patrick’s Day this weekend! Hope the leprechaun leaves you a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!

 



Print This Post Print This Post

Favorite Foodie Friday

It’s been quite a week around here. Tuesday night we spent a few hours in the ER… the doggie ER. Around 11:30PM, the Naughty One was given an official diagnosis, a pulled ligament in her knee. (Seriously, wiener dogs have knees???) The pup still isn’t able to walk, but seems to enjoy the doggie Vicodin. The injury hasn’t stopped her from getting around either. She jumps around the house like a three-footed bunny.  And please, don’t take pity on her. When the boy and I brought her home around midnight, feeling oh-so-sorry for her and dreading getting up for work and school in the morning, she still had it in her to elusively hop into my bathroom and pull all the toilet paper off the roll.

As a result of all of this, I spent less time in the kitchen this week and more time trying to keep the three-footed bunny confined. The silver lining is that I was able to catch up on a few of my favorite blogs.

 

 

Look what I found…

Paula, my blogging friend, otherwise known as The Vanilla Bean Baker blew me away with her first attempt at French macarons. Can you believe they turned out this perfect on her first try? Paula included links to tutorials and tips for making macarons.

Paula, I wish you weren’t so far away. I’d love to have you over for a glass of wine and have you teach me how to make these!  Wouldn’t that be fun???

Another favorite blog of mine is Christi’s Love From the Oven.  Christi turns some of my favorite treats into the most adorable creations. This week she shared her Cake Pop Secrets using the Baby Cakes Cake Pop Maker. I can’t wait to make more of these based on Christi’s suggestions!

You’re my pot of gold treat was created by Beth at It is What it is . What a perfect treat to make for St. Patrick’s Day. Beth provides the downloadable printable on her post. Since I have a bit of an M&M addiction, this gives me a great excuse to go buy the giant bag.

How to Make the Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie  from the Food Network Blog also grabbed my attention. I immediately thought of my two girlfriends, Deb & Holly whose recent chocolate chip cookies challenges still remain a mystery. This post has some great tips on how to tweak chocolate chip cookie recipes to create your favorite texture.

I also have to share my new favorite blog that I stumbled upon through Pinterest… I heartorganizing. Jen is the creative and inspirational blogger behind it. And please tell me I’m not the only one who doesn’t love to organize? Don’t get me wrong, I love to BE organized, I just get totally overwhelmed with the process. Jen shares organization ideas for every room in the house and for life in general. Her idea of creating a snack station has made making lunches each morning a cinch in our house.

Wishing you all a fabulous weekend!!



Print This Post Print This Post

Adorable Thanksgiving Printables

If you read my post from yesterday, I have to tell you there are not enough rum soaked cherries in the world to ease a mom’s anxiety of the first playoff game. The game was intense. During the last inning, our team was up by one with the bases loaded, and our coach (the boy’s dad) brings in the boy to be the closing pitcher… no pressure. Last night the boy was the hero and struck the next two batters out to win the game. It really was a great moment for him. He was exhausted and so was I! I’m not sure whether to be thankful or not that this team is still in the playoffs and now scheduled for an entire weekend of baseball games. (Did I mention I’m out of rum soaked cherries? We’re taking the Bailey’s and hot chocolate for tonight’s game!)

Here is something to be thankful for… these free Thanksgiving printables from some of my favorite blogging designers. Enjoy!!

Don’t tell me you’ve already made your Thanskgiving grocery list, please lie to me. Your honesty will only make me feel bad about the current lack of organization in my life. When you finally do get around to making your list, this is a great way to map it all out. Love this Menu Planner  made by Wendy at Weswen Design.

 

Amy always shares great printables with her readers. I love how simple these are to put together. You can print the  Candy Bar Wrapper at her blog Living Locurto.

I love these festive patterns and colors Rebecca at Somewhat Simple used when she created these flags. It’s as simple as printing, cutting, gluing to a toothpick, and sticking in your Thanksgiving treats.

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE sunflowers and thought this  Sunflower printable pack was a great Thanksgiving motif created by the amazingly talented Kim of TheTomCatStudio

If you want simple and elegant these Place Cards by Kim of Today’s Creative Blog would look great at each place setting.

How clever are these? I’m not a left-over kind of girl, Thanksgiving is my only exception. These Leftovers Tags  are perfect to have ready to go when sending guests home with food. These were made by Tricia at Worldlabel.com

This complete set is a freebie too created by Ashley of Cupcake Express posted at Catch my Party .

I am of the philosophy that kids should be kept busy during Thanksgiving dinner, so that parents can enjoy their wine and turkey dinner. These Placemats are perfect for the Kiddie Table (created by Kirsten at Embellish)

It’s Written on the Wall has posted this Thanksgiving Subway Art plus eleven more to choose from. You can print them on your home computer or have Costco print them in an hour.

Beth from It is What it is created these favor tags in four different color schemes. She posted several ideas on how to use them that you must check out. My favorite is the tag attached to the wine bottle…perfect to bring to the Thanksgiving hostess.

Wishing everyone a great pre-Thanksgiving weekend!



Print This Post Print This Post

Turkey Treats for those non-pie lovers

Happy Friday everyone! I can’t believe how fast this month is flying by. Thanksgiving will be here before we know it, so it’s time to start thinking about turkey treats. My parents are heading out on their first road since becoming homeless, and they will be gone for Thanksgiving. I know what you’re thinking, how dare they leave me on a major holiday (okay, that’s what I was thinking). I might have been a little bitter, but my sister and her family are driving here from Texas to celebrate Thanksgiving with us. The boy and I are SO excited to have them with us. Usually, they stay at my mom’s and we have to share them, but now that my parents are drifters, we get them all to ourselves. My sister and I are excited to make Thanksgiving dinner together. We’re of course making the traditional Thanksgiving pie, but we also need something festive and sweet for the non-pie lovers. I went in search of some adorable turkey treats created by other food bloggers and here’s what I found. Now comes the tricky part…  figuring out the cutest.

 

Two Oreos, a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, and a Whopper disguised as a turkey? This is my kind of dessert posted at ourbestbites.com .

Martha Stewart has a turkey cupcake how-to posted on her site.

 

I love these M&M turkey favors posted at the Party Animal blog. Wouldn’t they look cute at each place setting at the kiddie table?

 

How simple and yummy does this turkey rice krispie treat look that Ali from Gimme Some Oven created.

This turkey cake pop posted by Maria on Martha Stewart’s Dreamers into Doers page is the cutest one I’ve seen for Thanksgiving.

Turn a chocolate cupcake on its side, get some Nutter Butters and a few other goodies and you can make these turkey cupcakes (created by Jeanne Benedict)

I love this turkey cupcake cake for a big group posted at Atomic Cupcakes.

Why did I just buy the giant turkey cookie cutter when this cookie made using a circle and heart cookie cutter looks so much cuter. Bee in our Bonnet posted a step-by-step photo tutorial on how to make these.

Happy Weekend Everyone!!



Print This Post Print This Post

Favorite Foodie Friday… More Amazing Halloween Treats

Happy Friday everyone! And this is one HAPPY day! I have been looking forward to this day for SO long! You don’t know what day it is, do you… it’s PAY DAY!! I cannot tell you how many times I have heard teacher bashers tell me when I’m overwhelmed with my job, “Oh, but you get the summers off.” Yes, I have the luxury of enjoying summer vacation, but along with that I get the joy of going for several months without a paycheck. Don’t feel sorry for me, I still enjoyed my Kendall Jackson all summer long (even though I’m currently rethinking the relationship).

Not only is it pay day, but it’s also Favorite Foodie Friday. I’ve got more amazing Halloween treats to share with you from more of my favorite bloggers!

 

You know who loves push up pops as much as I do… Christi from Love From the Oven. I LOVE these Halloween Peep pops she created. She also recently created cinnamon roll push-up pops. That could be my favorite push-up pop idea of all time! If you haven’t bought your push-up pop containers yet, you can order them from CupKatesEventDesigns.

 

Kathia of Pink Little Cake (who I happen to adore), created these chocolate pudding bowls with white chocolate skeletons. What a fun idea. She also provides a step-by-step photo tutorial to walk you through the process.

 

 I love these little mummy cookie pops. Meaghan of The Decorated Cookie created these. She also happens to be the blogger behind Edible Crafts. I check Edible Crafts daily. Meaghan always has something new to share.

 

These candy corn marshmallow pops just prove that you don’t have to spend a ton of time to make super cute Halloween treats. These treats were created by Cat of 3 Kids and Us.

These spider cake pops have been added to my Halloween party treat menu. This idea comes from 365 Days of Cake Pops. If you need some cake pop inspiration, this is the place to go.

 

 This is what gifted and talented looks like in the cookie designer world. Callye of The Sweet Adventures of SugarBelle created these 3D witch hat cookies using a circle cutter and a candy corn cutter. She sees things in cookie cutters that most people would never discover on their own. Her creativity blows me away! You have to go see her creations for yourself!

Wishing everyone a great weekend!!



Print This Post Print This Post

Favorite Foodie Friday ~ Super Simple & Spooky Halloween Treats

 I’m starting to have Halloween treat anxiety. Lord knows, I have bigger issues in my life to stress about, yet this is my current worry. I’ve already kind of over-booked myself for the month of October (a running theme in my life). I’m making two hundred cookie favors for a wedding mid October and have taken a few other orders for other celebrations. The boy and I are still throwing our annual pumpkin carving party, and I’m feeling like I won’t be able to fit in as many Halloween sweets as I would like.

 

I’m lovin’ these simple treat ideas… these are definitely doable!

 

 

Nutter Butter Ghosts from When the Dinner Bell Rings

 

Witches Hats from Betty Crocker

 

Tombstone Brownies from Passion for Parties

 

 

Monster Cupcakes at Edible Crafts

 

 

Cool Whip ghost cupcakes at Sugar Swings

 

Chocolate Covered strawberry ghosts at Taste of Home 

 

Pumpkin Rice Krispies at The Nest

 

Candy corn parfait at BakedBree.com 

 

MoonPie Owls from Southern Living

 

Pretzel Webs at Mom’s Endeavors

 

doughnut hole eyeballs at Delish.com 

 

Happy weekend everyone!

 

 

 



Print This Post Print This Post

Favorite Foodie Friday… M&M Craving Alert!

 I came home from work on Thursday and had to break the news to the Naughty One that summer is almost over, and Grandma isn’t going to come over eight hours a day to babysit her anymore. She didn’t take the news very well. By the way, this is really how she sleeps every night (in my bed, course), just like a person. I’ve never seen a dog do this, but I’ve also never known a dog who truly believes she’s a person until this one moved in. How will I ever break the news to Prince Charming that there’s a dog in  my bed??

 

 

 

While the Naughty One and her boy enjoyed a little R&R this week, I endured a lot of training… great training, but enough to cause a little brain overload. As focused as I’ve tried to be, there are moments where my mind wanders off. Aside from my normal daydreams of wine and boys, I could not stop craving M&Ms (and for the record, I was wanting the m&m’s way more than the wine or the boys). Luckily, I knew I had some in my secret candy stash at home.

 

 

Here’s what my M&M daydreams look like…

 

Prince Charming showing up with this wedding cake is my fantasy!

 

Actually Prince Charming showing up with THIS is the ULTIMATE fantasy!

 

These rainbow cakes make me happy!

 

 

so does this modern rainbow cake

 

 

Kit Kats Plus M&Ms. I love the person who thought of this!

 

Love this idea too!

 

I'll take one of these too.

 

How long did this take?

 

 

I think I have to make this for our annual pumpkin carving party

 

 Sorry… I’ve probably got you all craving M&Ms now too. Stop by and I promise to share my secret stash with you!

Have a great weekend everyone!!

 



Print This Post Print This Post

Favorite Foodie Friday… Back to School Treats

Happy Friday everyone! I’m going to attempt to reinstate my “Favorite Foodie Friday” posts. Between Twitter and Facebook and visits to my favorite blog links each week, I’m constantly bookmarking recipes and ideas to try. The boy starts school in two weeks and I’m planning to set aside time to make some back to school treats. I highly recommend sending your child’s teacher sweet treats at the beginning of the year. Bribery will get you everywhere. Oh, and put some extra treats in your child’s lunch to share with others and watch his popularity soar.

 

Check out these creative ideas…

 

 

Marzipan Apple Cookies from the Sweet Adventures of Sugarbelle

 

Chalkboard cupcakes at Family Fun

 

Apple Rice Krispies from Nothing But Country

 

Apple Cake pops from Bakerella

 

 

Chocolate-covered pretzel crayons from Gourmet mom

 

Rolo & Kisses Candy pencil treats from Everyday Celebrating

 

Teacher treat jar printables at Eighteen25

 

 

 Wishing everyone a weekend full of sunshine!!

Blog Widget by LinkWithin


Print This Post Print This Post