Wednesday, May 28, 2014

The Heist: Police Birthday Party


This adorable police inspired birthday party is a huge hit in my family! We are a family of law enforcement and my son loves seeing his dad in a police car! This party would be absolutely perfect for my son Evan's 4th birthday. Check out all the details.

Favorite Details:
  • Police & Bad Guy Cake Pops
  • Police T-Shirt
  • Donuts
  • Backdrop

Stephanie of Spaceships & Laser Beams planned this party for her son, Sam. Here is what she had to say:

When it comes to our boys’ birthday parties, we moms want our guys to be thrilled, their guests to be wowed…and it’s always nice if the other parents think your decorations are awesome, too! There’s an extra pressure on moms like me who work in the party industry, but I am determined to remain true to the idea that stylish boy birthday parties can happen while remaining within a tight budget. Today I’m sharing Sam’s Cops and Robbers themed 4th birthday party. Of course I’ve used our Cops & Robbers printable collection. I’ve incorporated fun cake and cupcakes, cool favors and an invitation to you to come see our dessert table {you are going to be amazed by the cake pops}.



Aren’t the mini-money bags great? They are cake pops from Samantha at Evie and Mallow and when I saw them it was a spur of the moment decision to add them to the cake. She actually did all the cake pops for the party. Samantha always does an excellent job; her artistry is amazing!  Styrofoam blocks hold the cake pops erect and are camouflaged by color-coordinated jelly beans in clear glass containers.


For the dessert table, I opted to set everything up on my antique wood buffet. I really like the way the wood tones complement the colors in the Cops and Robbers Collection.  I think a table backdrop is a great way to pull all of the theme elements together and establish the color scheme. For the backdrop, I enlarged the decorative paper and thank you card (cropped) from our printable collection using vistaprint.com. I just adhered it to the wall using green painter’s tape — so removal is super easy and I don’t have to worry about my walls. The poster now hangs in Sam’s playroom.


I like to pull guests into the party atmosphere as soon as they arrive, so this crime scene body marker points the way, with a grin. No blood in sight!


The take-home favor was a police kit that included an ID badge, flashlight, magnifying glass, memo pad (personalized with a 2” decal), aviator sunglasses, moustache and a mini lock and key set. Boys also received a police car while girls received evidence, aka costume jewelry.


I didn’t have a ton of activities because the kids are still very young but I did want to start to introduce some games. One of the activities the kids played was a variation of the classic horseshoe game, “toss the handcuffs”. The board was easy to make with wooden dowels and a partial sheet of plywood.  The center red post was the bull’s eye and worth the most points. The kids had fun with it.


Before going home, each guest was awarded with an official looking “Certificate of Completion” for “strength in body, wisdom in mind and courage in character”. Then they received a policeman’s visor hat and were invited to adopt a police dog companion by choosing whatever canine they bonded with.  Medallions reminded “Don’t forget your loot!”



Atop the cake, which was red velvet, were polymer figures of the policeman and the robber — they were captured perfectly right down to the 5 o’clock shadow!  The top tier of the cake references the boys in blue and the bottom layer, of course, the robbers. They’re almost exact replicas of the food labels from the collection.




Visit Spaceships & Laser Beams to find out where you can get all these cool police party ideas and supplies!

Follow Cupcake With Character's board Cupcake Wrappers on Pinterest.

Sunday, May 25, 2014

The Original Rice Krispie Treat Recipe


Are you wondering why my rice krispie treats look a little "off" in color....? Funny story...

I was at Target with my kids today and we saw the colorful star marshmallows. I thought, how cool would it be to use those in rice krispie treats! Totally didn't think the whole plan through. We got home and I started to make the treats. I melted the butter and added the bag of "patriotic" star marshmallows. And as I am sitting there, I am realizing all the colors are melting and turning into a lovely, gray.

Ha ha. So moral of the story....Mommy brain. I am just not as smart as I used to be, lol. Why waste a yummy recipe. I introduce my yummy but a little funky, rice krispie treats!


Kellogg's Original Treat Recipe

3 tablespoons butter
1 packaged jet-puffed marshmallows or 4 cups mini marshmallows
6 cups Kellogg's Rice Krispies cereal

Melt butter in large sauce pan. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Low heat and careful not to burn. Pour melted mixture over a large bowl with 6 cups rice cereal. Mix until all cereal is coated. Place mixture in a 9x13" baking dish, lined with greased parchment paper. TIP: Give the mixture a minute to cool. This will make it so the rice krispies do not stick to your spoon while spreading in the pan. They will become less sticky and more flexible. Press into baking dish. Allow to cool. Use fun cookie cutters and cut out your favorite shapes.

These are great treats and easy to make.

PRINT RECIPE


Visit Cupcake With Character's profile on Pinterest.

Friday, May 23, 2014

Twice Baked Potato


These twice baked potatoes hit the spot! Super yummy. Easy to make and family friendly. 

4  russet potatoes or 4-5 larger red potatoes

1/2-3/4 cup light sour cream

3 tablespoons butter, salted

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1/2 -3/4 cup monterey jack cheese, grated 

1/4 cup low-fat milk

Bake potatoes for 45 minutes on 350 degrees (until potatoes are soft). Let potatoes cool. Scoop out potato from the peel. Place in a medium bowl. Mash potato with fork. Add butter, sour cream, salt, pepper, milk and cheese. (you can add powdered ranch dressing to spice it up a bit!). Mix throughly. Place filling back in the potato peels. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until heated through.


Follow Cupcake With Character's board Week Night Dinner Recipes on Pinterest.

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Custom Father's Day Mugs


Get your dad a custom mug for Father's Day! Thousands of designs to choose from. Sport teams, colleges, occupations, hobbies and more! Add photos or various designs. Completely customize. 20 oz stainless steel, BPA free water bottles available too. 


11 oz
Ceramic
Dishwasher/Microwave Safe

Follow Cupcake With Character's board Father's Day on Pinterest.

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Everything Apple: Delicious Apple Recipes


Check out these scrumptious apple recipes!

A. Caramelized Apple Chips by Spicy Southern Kitchen
B. Caramel Apple Cheesecake by Raining Hot Coupons
C. Apple Fritters by Greek Food & Greek Life
D. Caramel Apple Turnovers by Comfort of Cooking
E. Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls by Gimme Some Oven
F. Caramel Apple Cupcakes by The Recipe Critic


Follow Cupcake With Character's board Caramel Apples on Pinterest.

Sunday, May 18, 2014

Banana Bread with Cinnamon Crumble


Not sure what to do with the over ripe bananas? Make some yummy banana bread! A great morning or afternoon snack. Recipe adapted from Inspired Taste.

True story....I forgot to put the nuts in the batter, so I had to improvise and make a crumble topping!

1 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice
3 medium, mashed bananas
1/2 cup salted butter, melted
3/4 cups brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup walnuts
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a medium bowl, mash bananas. Add brown sugar and eggs. Mix until combined. Add vanilla. Mix. Add flour, baking soda, salt and spice. Mix throughly.

Pour batter into a greased 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 x 2 1/2" loaf pan.

In a food processor, chop nuts, sugar until they form a crumble. Add to melted butter. Sprinkle over batter in loaf pan.

Bake for 35-50 minutes. Serve warm with butter. Enjoy!

PRINT RECIPE


Follow Cupcake With Character's board Recipes on Pinterest.

Friday, May 16, 2014

Spring Fling Giveaway: Pretty My Party

spring-fling-giveaway-2014


What an awesome giveaway!! Which two prizes would you choose? Check out all the fabulous sponsors who have made this giveaway possible:

Pretty My Party has teamed up with some awesome businesses and blogs The full list of sponsors can be seen on the Rafflcopter widget below. Cupcake With CharacterPlay Party Pin, Freebie Finding Mom, Danya Carey Photography, One Inspired Party, Cupcake Diaries, Catch My Party, Cloudy With A Chance of Wine, Bird's Party, Mom Spark, Yesterday on Tuesday, Dime Party Divas, Prints For Events, Design Dazzle, Punk n Pie Couture, An Alli Event, B. Lovely Events
SPRING FLING GIVEAWAY
May 16, 2014 at 12 a.m. EST to May 24, 2014 at 11:59 p.m. EST Open Worldwide Prize: 1 winner will choose 2 prizes: Canon Digital Camera, iPad Air, Wooden Swing Set or $300 PayPal cash. Eligibility and Rules: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE DOES NOT IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. This giveaway is open to individuals 18 and older. The winner will be chosen randomly through the Rafflecopter form. It is the sole responsibility of the winner to adhere to all laws, which includes payments to any governing tax body. Winner Selection: The winner of the giveaway will be selected in a random drawing through Rafflecopter from among all eligible entries received throughout the promotion period. The random drawing will be conducted within 48 hours of the closing of the giveaway by Pretty My Party or its designated representatives, whose decisions are final. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. Winner will be notified by email at hello@prettymyparty.com. Potential winner must accept the prizes by email as directed by Pretty My Party within 48 hours of notification. Any winner notification not responded to or returned as deliverable may result in prize forfeiture. The potential prize winner may be required to sign and return an affidavit of eligibility and release of liability, and a Publicity Release (collectively “the Prize Claim Documents”). Rafflecopter Disclaimer: This promotion is powered by Rafflecopter. Metric Feat, LLC (“Rafflecopter”) does not sponsor, administer or endorse this promotion. By entering this giveaway, participants agree to Rafflecopter’s Privacy Policy. Social Media Disclaimer: Entrants should understand that they are providing their information to the sponsors of the giveaway and not to Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram or Google+. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with any of these social media sites. Disclaimer: This giveaway is blog sponsored and is in no way associated with any of the brands and/or products listed above. If there are any questions, please email hello@prettymyparty.com.
PLEASE USE THE RAFFLECOPTER FORM BELOW TO ENTER
The more entries you complete on the Rafflecopter form, the higher your chances are of winning. If you don’t have time to fill out all of the entries you may come back and complete any entries that you may have missed. Good luck! a Rafflecopter giveaway

Fudge Brownies With Caramel Sauce


These fudge brownies are delicious! Rich in dark cocoa,chewy and soft. Easy and fast to make. Recipe adapted from Mel's Kitchen Cafe.

10 tablespoons butter, salted
1 1/4 cups cane sugar
3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
1/2 cup white whole wheat flour or all-purpose

Melt butter and combine with sugar. Mix. Add cocoa powder. Mix. Add vanilla and slightly beaten eggs. Mix. Add flour. Mix throughly.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Pour batter into an 8x8 greased pan. Bake for 30 minutes.

PRINT RECIPE

Check out how to make the homemade caramel sauce!

More yummy recipes on Pinterest!



Follow Cupcake With Character's board Recipes on Pinterest.

Thursday, May 15, 2014

9 Awesome Do-It-Yourself Projects


Check out these 9 super creative & easy DIY projects!

A. DIY Carnation Garland by The Proper Pinwheel
B. DIY Champagne Confetti Flutes by Pizzazzerie
C. DIY Tissue Paper Flowers by Fiskars
D. DIY Party Cups With Glitter Tape by Oh Goodie Designs & Events
E. DIY Faux Milk Glass Centerpieces by Ruffled
F. DIY Rustic Mason Jars by Rusted Treasure
G. DIY Blooming Monogram by Urbanic Paper
H. DIY Gold Dipped Plant Pots by The Style House: Pottery Barn Teen
I. DIY Bubble Gum Necklaces by Sweetly Chic Events & Design


Follow Cupcake With Character's board Do-it-yourself on Pinterest.

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Creamy Spinach-Artichoke Dip


Who doesn't love creamy spinach & artichoke dip!? This dip is absolutely delicious. A must try. Quick and super easy to make. Perfect for a family gathering or guests at a party. To be perfectly honest, I am a busy mother of three. I just made a meal out of it! Ha ha. (recipe adapted from Natasha's Kitchen)

8 oz Cream Cheese
2 cups sour cream
1 stick, salted butter
2 cups parmesan/romano cheese blend, grated
1 can artichoke hearts, chopped ( substitute with marinated artichoke hearts )
4 oz can green chilies, chopped
10 oz frozen, thawed, & drained spinach
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2-1 tablespoon tabasco 

Melt butter, cream cheese, sour cream and cheese on low in saucepan. Add in artichoke hearts and green chilies. Add in spinach and garlic. Add in desired amount of hot sauce. Serve warm. Goes great with crackers or sliced french or sourdough bread! 

PRINT RECIPE

Find more great recipes on my pinterest board!


Follow Cupcake With Character's board Recipes on Pinterest.

Monday, May 12, 2014

Pretty In Pastels: Spring Party Inspiration


Soft pastel colors, the smell of fresh cut grass, sounds of singing birds and white fluffy bunnies remind me of Spring. The filigree, lace and damask patterns mixed in with a sea foam green ruffled cloth add a more traditional feel to this styled dessert table. Each contributor captured the essence of Spring.

Roxane of Fancy Cakes (fondant cupcake toppers), delivers a high quality, specialty product. The amount of detail that goes into her designs makes them one of a kind. The lace and and hand painted floral accents speak for the time and energy she puts into each and every order. 

The talented Brandi of Painted and Sprinkled created bird's nest cake pops. What says Spring more then a bird's nest filled with pastel speckled eggs! They look so real! Absolutely beautiful. Her attention to detail in creating these beauties was spot on. The chocolate swirls mimic branches and the speckled eggs add an element of our favorite Easter candy! 

Katherine of Creating Awesomenessity, designed Easter inspired cookies with a vintage inspiration. The golden polka dot borders and bunnies almost look like a framed picture, to pretty to eat. Bold and beautiful. 

I absolutely love chocolate covered Oreos. It is amazing what Christina of 4 Kids Cakes was able to do on these little cookie surfaces! I sent her the cupcake wrapper paper designs for inspiration. She was able to replicate the designs on each cookie! If you look closely, each chocolate covered Oreo pairs with a design on the wrappers. 4 Kids Cakes also specializes in fondant work. 

Christina of Sweet Design Studio, created beautiful pastel French Meringue cookies along with the detailed filigree bunnies. A very romantic cookie! It amazes me how much time goes into the decoration of each cookie. Simply stunning. 

Kristal of Atutudes created the most beautiful pastel tulle dress. Perfect for an Easter dress! Well, perfect for any Spring photo session or party! I love the satin ribbon and most of all Kristal's signature design of the tutu skirt.

Hair accessories by Special Somethings Boutique and so pretty! My absolute favorite is the pastel floral felt headband. They look like actual flowers! 

Katie of Katie Moffitt Photography captures the most amazing snapshots! Her work is truly art. These styled shoots would not be as beautiful as they are without Katie. 







Cupcake With Character: Party Stylist, Ruffled Table Cloth,  Decorative Cupcake Wrappers, Pearlized Desserts Stands and Wooden Trays

Katie Moffitt Photography: Photographer

Special Somethings Boutique: Hair Accessories

Atutudes: Tutu Party Dress:

The Pretty Party Shoppe: Baking/Candy Cups, Strawberry Baskets

Painted and Sprinkled: Bird's Nest Cake Bites

Sweets & Treats Design Studio: Filigree Bunny Cookies and French Meringue Cookies

Creating Awesomenessity : Gold/Pastel Bunny Sugar Cookies

Fancy CakesEaster Fondant Cupcake Toppers

4 Kids Cakes: Filigree Oreos

Follow Cupcake With Character's board Spring/Easter on Pinterest.

Sunday, May 11, 2014

Party Recipe Ideas



A. Chocolate Covered Party Bananas by Spark Recipes
B. Vanilla Funfetti Cake Roll by Shugary Sweets
C. Mini Corn Dog Muffins by Recipes Quick & Easy
D. Mini Donuts by The Novice Chef
E. Birthday Cake Popcorn by The Endless Meal
F. Oreo Pops by Makooodle
G. Spinach & Artichoke Dip by Natasha's Kitchen
H. Bacon Cheddar & Jalapeno Pinwheels by Yellow Bliss Road
I. Apple Pie Pops by Shop Girl

Here are some of my favorite party food recipes I have collected on Pinterest! 

Follow Cupcake With Character's board Party Recipes on Pinterest.

Monday, May 5, 2014

Freebie: Cinco De Mayo DIY Cupcake Wrappers

Cinco De Mayo Cupcake Wrappers-Cupcake With Character

Download your free Cinco De Mayo cupcake wrappers, from Cupcake With Character! Four fun designs to choose from. Share with family and friends! 

Click on images to download. 


I would really love to see your finished cupcakes. Stop back by and leave a comment! You can also visit our Facebook page & post a picture of your lovely cupcakes!

Friday, May 2, 2014

Homemade Vanilla Caramel Sauce


I recently made this homemade caramel sauce. I adapted the recipe slightly from Sally's Baking Addiction. It is super easy to make, second time was a charm, for me! The first go around I burned the caramel and butter mixture. You have to be extra careful and make sure you are constantly stirring. I decided to hold back on the salt a bit and added in some vanilla extract.

It turned out delish! Caramel sauce is perfect for a topping on just about any dessert. My kids will be using it on their homemade vanilla ice cream. ENJOY!

1 cup sugar
6 tablespoons salted butter, cut into pieces
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
a pinch of kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Place one cup sugar in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring constantly, until sugar melts and turns into a light brown color. DO NOT BURN. Stir constantly. Add butter and continue to stir until butter melts. Slowly add in heavy cream. Continue to stir until it bubbles up on the sides. I turned mine down to low when I added butter. I burnt my first batch to I was a bit more cautious this time around.

Remove from heat. Add a pinch of kosher sea salt and 1/2-1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Stir to combine. Pour into storage container and let cool. Store in air tight container in fridge.

PRINT RECIPE

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Refreshing Margarita Recipes: Cinco De Mayo



Enjoy these refreshing Margarita recipes for your upcoming Cinco De Mayo celebration! Check out our Pinterest boards for more great recipes! 

A. Watermelon Maragritas by Ari's Menu
B. Thai Margaritas by Meaningful Mama
C. Chili Citrus Margarita by Martha Stewart
D. Italian Margarita by Italian Dessert Recipes 
E. British Breakfast Margarita by Make Me a Cocktail 
F. Spicy Strawberry Margaritas by The Effortless Chic 
G. Raspberry Margarita by Carolina Girl Cooks
H. Mango Margarita by Food Fanatic 
I. Black Currant Margarita by Fashion Addicted Foodies