‘Cupcakes and Cartwheels’ is the creative genius of Kimberly Hodges. Hodges, an Asheville, North Carolina native, “infuses happiness into interpretation of everyday objects,” according to Madison Avenue Gifts, where you can find an extensive catalog of her work.

Hodges says of her work,

People tell me that my art makes them happy, and I love to hear that. I feel blessed to be able to develop my talents everyday and to agree my designs with more and more people.
This collection here represents the light, fun, inspiration spirit that I love to surround myself everyday. These colors make me happy. And the designs are fanciful celebrating the freedom that I enjoy as an artist painting to my hearts delight.

What beautiful sentiment! What beautiful art!

Featured here are:

• Cupcakes & Cartwheels Cupcake Candle ( Set of 2 )
  Price:$15.00
• Cupcakes & Cartwheels Cupcake Tealight Candles
  Price:$14.00

Cupcake lovers have to get themselves to Target these days. As we previously reported Target has awesome cupcake items for your home in stores currently.

I was super happy to find this ultra-cute mini comforter set online at Target.com.

Priced at $69.99 for twin and $89.99 for full this set would be perfect for any little girl’s room or for that spare room in your home.

Made U Look, Women’s Cupcake Tee (Light Lilac)

$34.00 at 80’s Purple.

Check out this awesome magnet by Jill of All Trades. $5.00 at her Etsy store.

I suppose you can call this a “shameless plug” but that’s okay! I started a blog design business called Cuppycake Designs. I of course, have cute little cupcakes in my header. Come visit me!

Blank inside.

Set of 10 invitations.

Following on from Jess’ post about the cupcake keycap I was cruising around HotTopic.com this morning (I love that store, it is the reason I would love to live in the States!), and I found this cute t-shirt from Jeffree Star…

It can be found HERE and is $20!

What better way to save your change, than by having a cupcake bank? Perfect for holding all your change! Made of porcelain.

$18.00 at Kitson

Canvas tote with all-over cupcake print featuring an inside zip pocket and two canvas handles with large buttons.

$20.00 at Journeys

While at Walmart tonight, I ran across these slippers for $3.36. I of course, had to buy them. They are so comfortable.

Wilton has a site called Cupcake Fun and it’s very informative! They not only have recipes and cupcake ideas but they also have techniques such as easy ways to ice cupcakes perfectly smooth or full and fluffy.

Cupcake featured above: Sour Cherry Swirl Cupcakes

Today was my mother’s birthday. At the moment funds around our household are a bit limited, and anyway, I wanted to do something for her that went further beyond something I could just buy. All along I had planned on making cupcakes, because that is how I like to celebrate special days. In a spark of inspiration I remembered these beautiful affirmation stones blogger Dancing Mermaid left for her friend (on her birthday) and I knew what I would do. I would create positive affirmation cupcakes for my dear, dear mother. Sustenance for her body and spirit.

And here they are.

Tips and tools:

• To attain the smooth surface of icing I used a regular store bought can of, vanilla, icing. However, I first melted half of the can in the microwave and then added, spoon by spoon, the remaining unmelted icing from the other half of the can until I reached a consistency that was proper for ‘dipping’ the cupcakes. By dipping I mean just that! I dipped each tiny cake into the bowl of melted icing and then placed it back on the tray to cool and ‘set up.’
• After the vanilla canvas set up I then wrote the positive affirmations on the cakes with Cake Mate Writing Icing in Classic Colors.
• While writing on the cupcakes my only tip is GO SLOW. If you go slow and brace your hand you’ll do fine!
  

Yummmmy!

Sweet root beer goodness.

I’ll take a root beer any day over a Dr. Pepper. Dr. Pepper is made from prunes people. Blach.

Back to Yummmmmy.

I found these beauties on flickr user bitter-sweets. And lo and behold not only does Hannah Kaminsky take beautiful pictures, she is also a blog author and a book author!

Her blog is called BitterSweet, of course.

Her new book is called My Sweet Vegan. Publisher: Fleming Ink; 1st edition (December 3, 2007).

Prepare your taste buds for indulgence as My Sweet Vegan has arrived! Covering virtually every craving, this wonderful full color cookbook is the ultimate sweet tooth solution. You will be amazed and delighted by the diverse range of recipes, including Pumpkin Pecan Pie to deliver holiday cheer, Butterscotch Blondies to brighten lunchboxes, and the author’s award winning Mocha Devastation Cake for the sophisticated palate.

She’s hoping that the sale of her book will help support her college education she has just begun. Well Hannah, we at ATC wish you all the best of luck!

From Martha Stewart.com: These cupcakes make memorable party treats. Chilling the bowl beforehand helps the cream whip up with the most volume.

One of my Christmas gifts this year, was a box filled to the brim with cupcake stuff. Liners, mini tins, sprinkles, and a Coconut Cupcake & Cream Cheese Frosting Mix by barefoot contessa.

Let me say outright, I am a snob when it comes to box mixes. I’m not sure when it happened exactly. But, I am definitely box mix prejudiced. I stuck the box mix in the pantry, expecting it to grow a heavy case of dust bunnies.

Fast forward a few weeks. I have been slacking here at ATC. Before Jess finds a reason to kick me to the curb, I needed to step it up. Okay, Ill review this damn box mix.

I have made Ina Garten’s Coconut Cupcakes from scratch. They are heavenly. I mean seriously delightful. Its one of my fav recipes. Did I have high hopes for this mix? No, no I did not. Its a mix, come on. I buckled down and baked them up last night. It was easy as pie. The box comes with 3 packets. One with dry batter mix, one with shredded coconut and one with frosting mix. For the batter, you need butter and water. For the frosting you need butter and cream cheese. The box says it makes 10 cupcakes. I got 12, which is nice. Who makes 10 cupcakes?? Those 2 empty liners would be lonely!

Verdict: The cake was eh. It indeed tasted like box mix. It IS a box mix cupcake. They weren’t bad. Just not that down homey taste you get from scratch. The frosting was divine. With that said, you added your own butter and cream cheese. I think the packet labeled “frosting” was just sugar. You cant screw that up.

Would I buy this mix at $10.95/box? No. I would not. But it would be okay in a pinch. Cream cheese frosting makes everything better. When it comes down to it, I didn’t think it was really any easier than making my own cupcakes. And I can make them for less than the mix.

This blog has been nominated for Best Food Blog on Blogger’s Choice Awards.. If you agree, visit the blogger’s choice banner on the right side of this site and vote!! We love you all.

Who knew that you could even buy a Swarovski pacifier clip? If you’re looking for a gift for that baby who just has everything then take a look at this adorable, yet expensive pacifier clip.

While this little treasure retails at a pricey $40.00 you should check out Baby Bee’s Boutique for some truly beautiful and fun baby items. I could spend the better part of an afternoon perusing some of their fun things.

The ultimate travel accessory, our cupcake train case stores your essential toiletries and makeup in true StyleBakery style. Covered in signature brown, pink and blue dots, this cotton canvas case features a sturdy handle, zip-around zipper and enough room to fit several large lotion bottles, makeup, brushes and more.

The pink interior features a clear plastic lining, making messy spills a snap to clean up. A tiny cupcake emblem on the lower corner adds a finishing touch to this cute case.

Size: 9 1/2 x 6 1/2 x 5

Price: $15 at Style Bakery

This adorable cupcake is a sweet lover’s dream. Just don’t try to eat it!
Made with durable hard plastic- keyring has 1″ diameter.

$8.00 at Cute Plush

For those who appreciate a little nerdiness, you will love this shirt!! I couldn’t help but reminisce about Super Mario Brothers. $17.99 at Think Geek.

“There’s a 70% chance the object you’re standing on is a cake.”

1upcake: the ultimate combination of cute and utility. It not only offers extra life, but also frosting-y goodness. Plus, the cupcake, just like the 1up Mushroom, is the ultimate reward, better than cookies because it’s moist and better than cake because it’s portable. And you don’t have to worry about the ratio of people to cake with 1upcakes.

INGREDIENTS: Cotton, Mushroom, Water, Sugar, Enriched Wheat Flour, Whole Eggs, Soybean Oil, Nonfat Milk Powder, Salt, Baking Powder, Corn Starch, FD&C Yellow #6. This product is manufactured in a facility that also processes tree nuts. (Not really.)

1upcake printed on a 100% cotton, navy babydoll.

Is a cupcake with no frosting still a cupcake?

My grandmother, who was a home economics teacher her entire career, says yes. She told me “A muffin should crack on top, a cupcake should not. It’s as simple as that.” In her mind, any little cakes that have not cracked on top, are cupcakes, frosting or not.

What do you think? Delurk and tell us your take on cupcakes sans frosting. Id love to hear your opinions!

If, like me, you’re powered by that wonderful force that is cupcakes, you should head over to Cafepress.com and check out Telepathic Frog Designs. They have loads of items with the ‘Powered by…’ logo on them ranging from simple magnets to baby bodysuits and maternity t-shirts!

100% Cotton (American Apparel)

Design brought to you by Loyal Army Clothing. Front side all over screen print on an ultra comfy tee. Cupcakin’!

$20.00 at thegiantpeach.com