More cupcakes of the rainbow variety

I used Duff white cake mix and seperated the batter into 6 colors of the rainbow.  I used homemade buttercream frosting, and homemade chocolate buttercream frosting!  Each cupcake is decorated a bit differently.

Oh, rainbow cupcakes!

I attempted rainbow frosting using my first set of piping equipment.  Problems: my piping bag is made out of a canvas-like material and was rather stiff and difficult to work with.  I'm investing in the disposable bags asap.  Next problem, I'd have rather used a larger star tip to allow the thickness of the frosting to more resemble what you'd see in a real bakery.  I also want a large open tip so the flow is smooth and I can pile it high and pretty on top of the cake, but I don't know how that would work with rainbow frosting.  Last problem, I basically just plopped 5 colors of frosting in the piping bag and this is what came out of it. Although it is pretty for my first attempt, next time, I want a more structured rainbow and I think I'll try lining the gels up through the top of the bag, then filling it with white frosting.  Here's a picture I found using that technique, and I think it looks nice.

This weekend I'm going to attempt concocting my own cupcake recipies.  I hope it turns out like I want!

Bee+Cakes!

Trying to think of a name for my cake decorating venture.  I'm holding onto Bee+Cakes.  Here's the significance:  my dad always called me Bee.  The + sign includes everyone who's helped me.  Also, B+ is a grade, and while I think my stuff is okay now, I haven't even achieved a B+ rating, it's something to strive for.  A+ is reserved for Cake Boss and Ace of Cakes anyway.   I think Bee+Cakes is cute!

Here's a cake I did this weekend for Grammy.  This is my favorite cake that I've done so far.  I like the color scheme.

Some variations to think about:

Bee+ Cakes

bee+cakes

bee + cakes

And I can have a cute little bee cupcake logo! Wait, is it starting to look like beef cakes?

First Snow

It started snowing last night, Tuesday, October 25th, around 10 PM and continued on throughout today.  Forecast called for at least 6 inches, but it didn't really stick much.  Roads were okay this morning, but it's very cold out, and I hope they aren't icy by tonight and tomorrow morning.  Much more snow to come, I'm sure.  Hello, winter.  Oh, on another note, something cool happened to me today, kinda.  My left rear blinker went out on my automobile, and I got it replaced for free!  Actually, this has happened before.  There's a nice auto store by my work and a couple months ago, they replaced it for free.  Only difference, today I had to brave the cold, wet snow outside for about 15 minutes while it was being replaced.  Nice place, Brakes Plus on Yosemite. 

So now I'm looking forward to going home and making dinner and a new cake.  A two layer cityscape is what I have planned.  We'll see how it turns out!  Here is the idea, the preliminary blueprint...

**Update 10/27/11- Here's the cake.  Turned out okay, but I thought I could do better.  I need a new fondant roller.  I'm using a heavy, old, wooden roller that doesn't work well.  So my fondant was too thick, and my cutting tool was also too thick so I couldn't add the detail I wanted. 

Two-layers of strawberry cake with whipped milk chocolate filling, and my first batch of homemade buttercream frosting.  Didn't have any merengue powder for the frosting.  I'll put that on the list for next time, so my frosting is thick and sturdy enough for piping.

Oh, I also changed cubicles on Monday this week.  It's kinda nice having a new home.  It's like when you rearrange your furniture at home...things are new and fresh for awhile.  Anyhoo, here are my new, organized digs.

Let love in

This is just cute.  I love the simplicity.

Caking with Tina and Alie!

Some of my favorite shots

These were all taken by me on our trip to Kauai, Hawaii in 2010.  After going through a lot of pictures for my mom, I found these and edited them and I'm really proud of how they turned out.  Hawaii is beautiful and I hope we get to go back someday, hopefully with family!