Cupcakes Are My Favorite!

Whenever I throw a party, get invited to a potluck, celebrate a birthday my mind instantly goes to cupcakes!!! What flavor of cupcake? What type of frosting? Store-bought? Bakery-made? From a box? From scratch? So many questions that lead to the final glorious cupcake that will be served.

Recently, I've turned to the box mix, without shame. Betty Crocker's my fave. Duncan Hines and Pillsbury not so much (too fake sugary, in my opinion).

However, I do adore purchasing beautiful, perfect, wonderful cupcakes from Portland's Saint Cupcake. I highly recommend them for daily treats or big events. They very professional, punctual and they've just got it together business-wise. Plus, the cupcakes are extra-grande with lots of frosting. Yum!

I have gathered a collection of wonderful items to celebrate the glory of the cupcake:

Soaps

Pincushions



Paintings


Ornaments


Hats


Plush and Softies

2009- Year of the Octopus!

So the octopus is the new owl (popular animal icon of 2008), which subsequently replaced the bird (popular animal icon of 2007). Word.

During the past few (snowed-in) days I have collected a vast amount of evidence that points to the advent of the octopus! So be prepared to find this 8-tentacled creature out and about in 2009.

Here are my Octopus Finds:

What a delightful Gocco print from Sepia Lepus' shop. Notice the octopus is having a tea party with a mini-submarine, thus proving that under-water inter-species friendship is possible!








Check out these swanky Octopi ties from Detroit-based Toy Breaker. Now you or your man-friend can look stylish while ringing in the New
Year of the Octopus!







Look, look, look! It's an Octo-Owl! See, here's proof that the two power animals are battling it out for animal icon of 2009. Whoever thought of this must be on a wave of genius. Be the first on your block to have an Octo-Owl babydoll top from Dead Worry's shop.






Need a housewarming gift? How about this guy from Artisan Wood Crafting? He's cute and squiggly and made of wood. Who doesn't need an octopus to protect their home?








Spread the octopus love with this cute red tote bag from Margaret Kelly's shop. No one will mess with you if you're carrying this baby around.







Look at this sweet plush softie. His name is Hans and he comes from Dolls for Friends' shop. He looks like he's been through a lot of hard times, so if he becomes yours, take care of him, okay?

Softies, Blankies and Things We Love to Love

I just bought my oldest stepson Dirty Wow Wow. It contains professionally photographed childhood stuffed animals and blankies and other things people loved and still love. Ezra still carries around his Titi blankie. Unconsciously he rubs the satiny blankie edges between his fingers. It's pretty freaking cute.

Admitedly I still have my childhood blankie PomPoms. The thing I love the most about my blankie is that he features fabric with skateboarding frogs on it! I like to think that the skateboarding frogs were a premonition of my marriage to my skateboarding husband. Not to be forgotten is my Tigger stuffed animal I got when I was 7. It was a gift from my Auntie Annie on our trip to Disneyland. I've always felt a little concerned that Tigs might feel a bit insecure as he arrived 7 years after PomPoms, but I believe they've gotten used to each other by now.

Many of my friends still have their childhood blankies and stuffed animals. Most don't readily admit it, but eventually it comes out. I'm loud and proud about mine. I sleep better when PomPoms is tucked under my chin and Tigs is nestled against my chest.
In the spirit of embracing the love of childhood objects of comfort I have found a melange of sweet things to gift to the next generation.



Here's Owl Mama from Needlings, a Canadian maker of hand-sewn plushies and other cute things. She makes me go, "Aaaaaaaaahhhhhh...." and smile.












Wow! At first I thought this softie from Danielleorama's shop was a pug-like creature, but I came to find out it is called Garvy Beaverling. Huh, what's that? Still, super cuterific.



Look at little Bugbear from Portland's Perfect Children! I'm guessing it's a bug/bear combo. What a happy mixed breed!







Sweet, it's Darcy! Isn't she darling? I really think that she could out-cute everyone else here. I especially love her bow-leggedness. She comes from Morning Glori's shop in Cinncinnati, Ohio.

It's Baby Time

In the last few months I have had so many friends get pregnant or give birth. Interestingly enough they have all had or are expecting little girls (sigh of envy)....

Somewhere I heard or read that in times of war women get pregnant with boys more frequently. If I were more interested I would research this claim, but I'm not. So why so many little girls now? Aren't we still at war or something ?

Anyways, as the stepmother of two lovely boys, my heart goes pitterpatter with sweet heartbeats every time I see a baby girl.

• Here are some of the cutest little girl items I've found on this wintry, it's-too-freaking-cold-to-go-outside day. Enjoy!

Blackbird Fashions makes super cute softies, etc. This one is sassy. My type of softie.




Bella Taylor's kitty cat booties in pink and chocolate brown make my toes curl.




Bonny Frances' shop has crocheted cuteness times 1,000 ! She has lots of baby eye candy to boot.


Lab Partners features whimsical colorful prints that would be perfect as artwork for a modern nursery. Just get some cheap frames from Ikea and call it good!