the glittered nest

First piece of furniture for the new house!

 

Isn't' this settee beautiful!  I splurged for the new house.  i bought it at Franklin Marketplace in downtown Franklin.  They have some incredible slip-covered furniture and pieces with character.  This will go in my new foyer!  Happy Saturday everyone.  Now off to shop some more..he he he

cupcake day

Today a couple of my girlfriends and I checked out the new cupcake shop on Mainstreet in Dowtown Franklin.  The shop is called the Curious gourmet cupcake cafe.  I had the vanilla bean cupcake and it was very light and yummy.  It had white chocolate shavings around the icing that gave it just enough sweetness!  I definitely recommend this cute little shop!

Here are my cute girlfriends enjoying their yummy cupcakes...

 Kara loved her devils food cupcake. Kim loved her vanilla bean cupcake

 Here I am cracking up at my friends while on the phone!

 

your little bunnies will love this snack!

I saw this cute idea on familyfun.com.  I changed it a little and put ranch in my pots (instead of hummus) and used rosemary instead of parsley(just what I had growing and on hand).  The girls were so excited to get such a different snack than the usual.  You can find these little bitty pots at your local craft store.  Paint them to have an aged look.  I like to use these as unusual votive cups.  Put a little sand, sea shells and a votive and place around your patio or on a table inside for a different look.  You can also plant little herbs in them and cluster them together on a table.

buttercream bliss!

 

Don't these look yummy?  Cinnamon Chocolate Buttercream and Vanilla Buttercream chocolate cupcakes.  Madi and I made these today for a friend who just had a little girl...Camden Elizabeth Coffey.  Madi and I tried out working with fondant today and it was soooo easy.  Madi had a great time using the cookie cutter and kneading the icing with food coloring.

She had such a great idea layering a little flower on top of a larger flower!  She was so proud of herself!

We put the yummy cucakes in this cute little box.  We added ribbon and wrapping paper to add color.  You can get cute little boxes at Michaels.  I like to keep some on hand just to have for spur of the moment gift giving! 

Abby was making friendship pins for our friends while Madi and I were baking.  I love that they both have seperate interests and talents.  I get to enjoy both art and baking with both of my girls. 

Goodie box for Angie and Eric (parents of Camden).  Salad, rolls,cupcake treats,tea set for Camden, magazines for mommy and coloring books for big brother and a little bear for whoever wants to snuggle. The chicken casserole traveled seperately. 

I had to throw in one more picture of Madi's double layer flower cupcakes.  Aren't they cute!

Yummy Icecream Cupcakes

Looks just like icecream cones doesn't it....Nope these are actually cupcakes! 

I made these today for my daughter Madi's class.  The kids really thought they were icecream cones.

These were so easy to make because you don't have to make the icing look perfect!  Just glob it on and add sprinkles. 

How To Make them:

First bake your cupcakes.  Place mnm's in the cone to anchor the cone and give the kids a little hidden treat.  Remove the cupcake liner when they are done and place in the top of the cone.  Make sure to buy the jumbo size cones so the cupcake will fit in the top. 

Ice the cupcake(you can use store bought icing or make my marshmallow buttercream)see below

Add sprinkles and top with a cherry sour candy.

Marshmallow buttercream:

1stick of butter

1 stick of crisco shortening

16 oz confectioner's sugar(sifted)

3 tbl milk

1 tsp. vanilla

1 cup marshmallow whip

Cream together the butter and crisco.  Add the sifted sugar little by little.  Add milk as needed to soften the mixture.

Add vanilla and blend marshmallow whip. 

 One very satisfied little girl!(mine ha ha)

 Whohoo!  Sugar Rush!

Best Cake Ever!

This is one of the best cake recipes I've ever tried.  You must make it!  It was very quick and simple.  I gave this as part of a dinner I took to a friend who just had a baby.

Crust: 1 box yellow cake mix, 1 large egg, 1/2 cup(1 stick) unsalted butter, melted

Filling: 1package (8 ounces) cream cheese, at room temperature, 2 large eggs, 1 tsp. vanilla, 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted, 1 box (16 ounces) confectioner's sugar, plus a little more dusting.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

1. Heat oven to 350. Lightly spray a 13/9/2 inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.

2. Crust: In a large bowl, combine cake mix, egg and melted butter.  Mix well until dry ingredients are moistened.  Pat lightly into prepared baking pan, covering bottom and sides of pan.

3.  Filling: In another large bowl, beat cream chesse until smooth.  Add eggs and vanilla extract and beat until well combined.  Beat in melted butter until evenly blended.  On low speed, gradually beat in the box of confectioner's sugar.  Beat until smooth.

4. Spread cream cheese mixture over crust in pan.  Bake for 40 minutes until sides are set and center is still a little jiggly.  Remove from oven and cool completely.  Dust with confectioner's sugar and cut into squares.                                                                                                                                                         

Source: Family Circle

You will love this recipe! (I licked the whole bowl and spoon after cake was made!)                                Yeah it's that good!

Beautiful morning!

My hibiscus flower is greeting the morning by spreading it's petals.  It is a calm and cool morning here in Franklin and I am stopping to take in all of the beauty the morning brings here.  My son is playing with the water hose(watering himself more than the flowers) and I am just looking around at all of the colors in the backyard.  It's so easy to get caught up in all of the stresses of the day...getting the kids to school, grocery shopping,cleaning the house,saving money, getting the kids to all after school activities.  So, every now and then it dawns on me that life is so beautiful and you can let is pass you by if you don't take time to stop and listen to the birds and smell the flowers. 

Take a minute and look around you.  The world is beautiful. Take it in. 

I love watching the butterflies around this flower.  It smells so pretty too.

I believe this is called "Pink Delight" butterfly bush.

Henpeck Market Coffee

Henpeck Market is the neatest little homegrown market in Franklin, Tn.  You can buy take out foods, organic produce and great little gifts.  I love their tomato basil soup and fruit tea. 

They just put in a coffee bar.  The little brown bag is their breakfast blend coffee.  Isn't it cute how they package it...what a great gift to go along with their homemade buttermilk biscuits!  You must go there if you are in the area.  The family that owns the store lives above it!  Have a wonderful day...I must go drink some coffee now!

Sweet Little cupcake!

This cupcake looks yummy doesn't it...the little flower reminds me of a little girl's birthday or a shower!  Easy to do too. 

Photo source: Marthastewart.com

Happy Friday..something beautiful to look at

Is this not the most beautiful table ever!  This is from Martha Stewart Weddings!  I love the little cakes.  I must play with fondant some day...They make the most beautiful cakes.  This is not a very expensive table setting...fresh flowers in buckets wrapped with cloth or ribbon.  I had to share this.

Picture source: Martha Stewart Weddings