Gumball Cupcakes

Gumball Cupcakes - yes, that is the title of this post.   These cupcakes are dispensed from an cupcake pod machine (AKA gumball machine).  Pretty unique wouldn't you say?

Baked by Melissa, a cupcakery out of New York is the mastermind behind Gumball Cupcakes.  The Cupcake Pod Machine stands 6 ft. 6 in. tall and comes with 1000 mini cupcakes.  The costs really doesn't seem that bad, especially when it acts as a design element to your event space.  Their flavors are unique too - Chocolate Chip Pancake  and Tie-Dye to Peanut Butter and Jelly and the beloved Red Velvet.  

For standard menu flavors, the cost is $4200 and for custom flavors it's $4500.  Next time I'm working on an event in NYC - this is definitely going to be on my list of suggestions.

A Dinner: A Giftbar & Cupcakes

On to part 2 of the event we did a couple of Saturday's ago.  We were giving the attendees a gift, but instead of having giftbags lined up, we set it up a little differently.  We turned it into decor and allowed the guests to pick and choose the items that they would like to take home with them.

So many times, you get a giftbag and 1/2 of the items in there you wouldn't use.  We wanted the guests to love their gifts and left the choice to them.

First, we created a great eco-friendly canvas bag with a saying that had special meaning to the evening - "The Future Is Exciting."  It was important that the bag be reusable and memorable.  Now when they are heading out to the farmers market or running errands, they can take this bag with them and be inspired by the future.

Guest were then able to choose between mini-apocathary matchstick holders made by a local artist or various flavors of handmade soap.  They could choose both or just a single item if they wished.

On their way out, we offered guests "cupcakes to-go" in these darling 4-pack egg cartons.  Just another way for them to remember the evening.

Missed part 1?  You can see it here.  Part 3 is coming on this Friday and it's the table reveal.  Oh - it was so pretty.

July Round-up

Whew - July has been an awfully busy month and it's not stopping.  I ran a 1/2 marathon at the beginning of the month - still wondering how I did that.  Shear determination I think. :)  We've had several events that were huge successes and squeezed in a great vacation in DC with the family.

August is going to be pretty non-stop too so time to buckle my seatbelt.

{all images taken with Instagram}

Cupcakes? Nope...TARTS

These mini tarts from früute are beyond gorgeous!

Could this be an alternative to cupcakes? Just maybe if someone wants to mix it up a little bit.

{ all images via früute }

Yummy Yummy Treats Treats!

I had the honor of doing a little baking on Friday for one of my best girlfriends daughters Bat Mitzvah.

I have to say - I was super excited to be able to create some yummies and have them be pink and girlie!!

So what did I make...

Chocolate Chip Covered Oreos

Mini Doughnut Cupcakes

Brownie Pops

You all know how much I loved making the Brownie-O's over the holidays...if you want the recipe - click here.  Well, I saw on Becky Bakes that she made some with Chocolate Chip Cookies.  YUM! (OK - I didn't try them because I'm still on my cleanse - but the T-man had one and said - GREAT combination mom). I didn't use her recipe for the cookies - I used mine. 

I test drove the mini doughnut cupcakes last week just to make sure they were going to turn out OK.  And when I made them on Friday - they came out just as good.  The only difference...PINK frosting.  I first saw this idea on the Farm Chicks blog.

Last but not least, I saw some really cute Brownie Pops on the Farm Chicks website too.  Mine didn't turn out like hers.  The Chocolate wasn't cooperating so I had to improvise.  I still think it worked.  T-man taste tested the pop with the chocolate all over and the chocolate just on the top and good thing he opted for just the chocolate on the top. :)

Now onto the fun packaging.  So all of these treats were being served at the lunch following the service. Everything had to be disposable so I was trying to figure out how to transport and serve everything.  So yup - you guessed it.  I decided to individually wrap everything.  Pink Bows and some Martha Stewart Decorative Tape along with some labels I made so everyone would know what they were eating.

This was so much fun.  It was a labor of love and I'm so happy that everyone enjoyed the treats.

xoxo,
Caryl