Beach Cupcakes

.....Beach Cupcakes....How summery for the last few weeks of school...Vanilla Cupcakes with buttercream frosting, sugar "sand", a tropical umbrella, and finally a peppermint puff "beach ball". Thanks goes out to my best customer Vanessa....they have been delivered!

Spring Beauties....

Ok...I don't have a green thumb, but even I have a pretty bloom every once in a while!lol This rose is a newbie, a gift from my mother, of which I have received about 6 of this year, Knockout Roses. They are very beautiful and I am hoping I won't kill them. The other is my FAVORITE flower~the Tulip....of which a few years ago I planted about a MILLION of them, and this year only a few peeked their little heads out :(. The yard mowing chickie is my oldest, Reagan. She loves to mow the yard and Big Daddy lets her. BTW~ she mows AT THE YARD....she doesn't get the whole mow in line/get ALL the grass concept~LOL~ I just LOVED that pic and wanted to throw it in. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend...and I hope we do not get the storms they are predicting for us! xoxoxo, Kelly

Coupon Binder Idea

There has been a lot of interest in how I organize my coupons so I thought I would share it with all my blog followers. Like most everyone else I tried using the accordian file, which only frustrated me trying to locate my coupons, and fumbling through them over, and over, and over in the store, until I found the one I was needing at the moment. I really wanted them where I could see all the coupons I had for whatever product(s) I was purchasing. So, I took my black 3 ring zip binder/organizer left over from my days working at the Chamber, added some dividers, trading card sleeves & photo sleeves, and revamped it into one HANDY DANDY coupon orgainizing apparatus. Since I do the majority of my shopping at Kroger (cause they double coupons everyday) I set my organizer up to reflect the products on the store aisles, but you can set yours up to however it benefits, or makes the most sense, to you. Yes, this takes a little time on the front end, but saves time and needless frustration at the grocery store. I leave the front photo sleeve empty to hold the coupons I pull throughout the store in order to save time at the register....the folks behind you will appreciate that greatly!lol Five couponing tips I would like to pass along: 1. If you have a "buy $$$, take $$$ off your purchase" use these FIRST, because if you use the other coupons first you may not have enough of a bill to use these types of coupons at the end of the purchase. 2. Always use your "buy one get one free" coupons at the END of the transaction. This way you can use 2 regular coupons for your BOGO products and still get one free-it is like doubling up a coupon on the first product and getting the second free. #3 You can use store coupons ex. RiteAid or Walgreens, and also a manufactures coupon together~doubling the bang for your buck. 4. Sign up at RiteAid.com~ you cannot believe the savings you will be entitled to. For instance, yesterday I earned $5 off a $20 purchase watching commercials, and received $36 in free coupons all while I applied my makeup for the day! Also, you earn rewards that are translated into a LIVE REBATE CHECK delivered to your home at your request! 5. The following site is a wealth of information http://www.southernsavers.com/ . Hope this helps...if you have any questions....HOLLA! xoxoxox, Kelly

Thrifty Hot Mamas Coupon Club

The Thrifty Hot Mamas Coupon Club will meet this Tuesday at 5:30 downtown McMinnville across from the Fire Hall at ETC. Be sure to bring your unwanted coupons and scissors. We will be sharing lots of great tips, fun, and coupons! There is even a monthly contest for savings so don't forget your receipts....you could be the lucky winner! Hope to see you there!

xoxoxo, Kelly

Happy Birthday Reagan Roberts!!!! the BIG 1-0

Reagan Callie Roberts is the BIG 1-0 today! 10 years ago today I was blessed with a perfect, healthy, baby girl. She had such a head full of black hair~ I always tell her "there are monkey's born with less hair than you"...LOL I do LOVE my GIRLIES~and they are growing up way too fast. Praise be to God for my wonderful babies~well, my big girls now. Happy Birthday Reagan Callie!!!

I thought I would have all day to work on her cake but found out at 8:00 am this morning it had to be there by 11....NICE. Did I mention the only thing I had started on this was the cakes were baked? Yeah. Reagan LOVES Pokemon and this is the one she said was the "cutest"....she has no idea she is getting a cake, much less a "Happiny" Pokemon one. This "Happiny" Pokemon cake was decorated in a record 1.5 hours! It looks it too!LOL Anyway, it turned out better than I expected when I started on it at 9:00.

Baseball Trophy Cake

Jacob Garms is 8!!! Happy Birthday Jacob! Jacob had his party at the ball field after his game today. His mom text me to inform me he didn't want to cut his baseball trophy cake because it would "mess it up"!LOL They ended up saving the ball for later. The cake was double chocolate with chocolate buttercream, white cake (ball) w/buttercream, and the cupcakes were double chocolate w/chocolate buttercream and candy clay ball toppers.

Ant Cake....well, DEAD Ant Cake!lol

Yeah. I had an email from a girl who's husband is starting a new job and she wanted a cake for a little party in his honor. Can you guess the new job? Exterminator. The cake: an ant. So, me being me, had to put a little spin on the ant and made it well, exterminated!lol This was atleast 2.5' long...it was a HUGE cake....and when they cut it guess what color cake they will find? Red...oh, yeah...it's just THAT GROSS!LOL Strawberry White Chocolate Cake, Chocolate Buttercream, and the center piece was white cake w/Chocolate Buttercream. I hear the guests loved it and there were a lot of black mouths!LOL

My FABULOUS new boots!!!

I am TOTALLY IN LOVE with my new boots!!! Ladies...grab 'em and growl~cause these hot little items will NOT last long!!! Limited supply and only at ETC....

Look what I found...

This is the original sketch for my niece's wedding cake and the finished product. I found it amid the mass of art supplies!lol

Wedding or Celebration Cake Design Sketches

One of a Kind~Original Wedding/Celebration Cake Design Sketches....These can be baked in any flavor, handpainted or hand sculpted, and decorated in any color to make your event a memorable one!

Faux Fondant Sample Cake

Here is a 6" sample cake I made for a "tasting" held last night. The couple wanted the look of fondant without the taste of fondant, so I attempted to do a faux fondant buttercream and it turned out pretty smooth for it being the first time. The piping was a rush job done with the same buttercream (really too thick for piping) only tinted, and was ONLY for COLOR EXACTING purposes and not to show a finished product example~so take it easy on me!LOL The cake was a 4 layer white cake with buttercream frosting~and it passed the taste test! yeah!!!! I also took a sampling of MY FONDANT, and the future bride and groom liked it so much they decided to go with a hand painted fondant wedding cake. What a compliment!!!

"THRIFTY HOT MAMAS" Couponing at ETC

I am SO EXCITED!!!! This coming Tuesday, April 6, at 5:30 p.m. mark your calendar and plan to attend the first "Thrifty Hot Mamas" Coupon Club at ETC on Main Street. Not only will we share some great money saving tips and loads of coupons, but there will be some great surprises as well! Get in on the money saving action, and loads of fun! The class is free...well, actually if you count the free coupons you will receive...they are paying you to come!LOL Be sure to bring your unwanted coupons to share with the group. I hope to see you there!!!

Disclaimer: Saving money becomes addictive...join at your own risk!LOL

http://etconmain.blogspot.com/

"Hiding the Eggs" Easter Cupcakes

Chocolate Strawberry cupcakes with strawberry frosting, coconut "grass", candy clay eggs and bunny feet with candy clay bunny tails rolled in sprinkles. The "bunny butt" cupcakes were a HUGE hit with the kiddos at school.