Fourth of July is a day where everybody can come together and celebrate our country together.  Especially in such an awful year financially for the country and personally for so many people, it is good to remember the roots and celebrate the strength of our nation, and look forward to change in the future.

I was inspired by our president’s speech calling for more people to choose public service as an occupation and serve the country.  I was also inspired by the creativity of July 4th cupcakes.

From the Chicagoist:

If you fancy yourself the equal of Susan’s, More or Sensational Bites, throw your hat in the ring and join the Iron Cupcake Challenge. Competitors bring their best cupcakes in for judgment and the winner takes home cupcake glory and prestige. This month’s theme is Tropical cupcakes, so bring your best coconut/banana/passionfruit/rum icing and your favorite pastry bag! Does your cupcake reign supreme?

The competition is being held at Veranda Greek American Taverna (5700 W. Irving Park Rd.) on Monday at 6 PM. If you want to get a sense of the competition, here are some pictures from the last Iron Cupcake Challenge; the theme was citrus. Whet your appetite for our upcoming review of More Cupcakes and join in!

The Iron Cupcake Chicago Challenge will be at 6 p.m. on Monday, July 6, at Veranda Greek American Taverna, 5700 W Irving Park Rd. Email [email protected] for more information or to register.

Looks like so much fun.  I can’t wait to see the photos of the winning cupcakes this year.  Here is the link to Flickr photos of the last Iron Cupcake event.  Some real beauties there.

It looks like the cupcake concept has gone to Malaysia.  We found this report of a massive 20,000 cupcake Malaysian flag being created.  According to the original news story, 150 members started working in shifts on thursday morning until staurday noon to complete this monumental task.

Unfortunately, no pictures of the final 23 feet by 15 foot cupcake flag was provided.  We do know that the malaysian flag looks like this.

This would be a stretch, but do we have any Malaysian readers who might have witnessed the event?

Enjoy a free night of music, comedy, and cupcakes Friday, May 15th at Cupcakes Nouveau 244 MIracle Mile.  Sign up to perform your special talent or sit back and enjoy the show!

Registration starts at 7pm; show starts at 8pm.

Contact Daleena at [email protected] to sign up.

What a way to open a new cupcake store with a bang!

Crumbs Bake Shop is due to open this week at 4th and Washington in Hoboken, New Jersey. To celebrate their new store opening, Crumbs will give away 1,000 complimentary cupcakes (1 per person) beginning at 8:00 a.m. this Saturday, May 2 at the Hoboken shop.

The Crumbs Bake Shop online store also allows custom 6-pack of cupcakes to be created and shipped to anywhere in the country.  With so many interesting flavors to choose from, it would be a hit at any special occasion.

In a flurry of chocolate cream and crumby debris, the yoga teacher crammed her last cupcake – No. 17 – winning the contest, and defeating her closest competitor by just one of the sweet treats.

Ivy Bakery held its first cupcake-eating contest outside of the shop on 87th St. in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. The five competitors were given five minutes to inhale as many chocolate cupcakes as possible. The winner took home $75 and dubious bragging rights.

More about this event at the NY Daily News.

Please visit Sugadeaux Cupcakes and Sugar Momma’s Bakeshop for more information.

Wedding Rings and Diamond Cupcakes!

As a treat for Mervis Diamond Importers next Wedding Ring trunk show, May 2-3, they’ll have some very tasty cupcakes to enjoy courtesy of Classic Bakery.

They have also created the World’s First Ever Fantasy Diamond Cupcake! Do a search on Google and you’ll see no others exists.

The cupcake is topped with 8 ideal cut round brilliant diamonds around its circumference, and a 2 carat Asscher cut diamond in the center. The price tag on the diamond is $30,000. Perhaps not realistic for most weddings, but there’s got to be someone out there who wants cupcakes with real diamonds at their wedding!

Lastly, they’ll have gorgeous wedding photography on display by Labor of Love Photography.

How sweet it is.  Kelly Ripa, talk show host, and veteran of the school bake sale scene, used her new Electrolux range to bake a signature batch of cupcakes to kick off a digital campaign to help fight ovarian cancer.  For every virtual cupcake sent at electroluxappliances.com this February, Electrolux will donate a $1 to The Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. 

Along with sending a virtual cupcake this Valentine’s Day, Electrolux is selling “Wear Your Heart on Your Sleeve” T-shirts, designed by Ripa, on its Web site (www.electroluxappliances.com)  For each T-shirt sold, 100 percent of the proceeds will go to the OCRF to support research to find a cure.

And to top it off, Electrolux is auctioning off a one-of-a-kind red kitchen suite on eBay.  The bidding on the “Red Hot Red” kitchen – which includes a built-in range, dishwasher, refrigerator and microwave – starts Wednesday, February 11th at 3 p.m. EST and lasts until 3 p.m.  EST on Wednesday, February 18th.  All proceeds of the charity auction benefit the OCRF as part of Electrolux’s commitment to help this worthy cause.

As quoted from the Retro Bakery Blog

What are we going to do??? PARTY, of course! We’re declaring it “FREE CUPCAKE DAY,” and from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. all people who come in will be able to get ONE free cupcake of their choice!! There may even be balloons….We’re all about a big budget, remember?

So, save the date! It’ll be a buttercream BASH!

I better start plannin‘…Laytah.

Looks quiet and unassuming now don’t you think? Being the day before this buttercream bash I would be armed with a camp overnight bag and a fork. An opportunity to celebrate with these wonderful cupcakery owners, a free cupcake and the promise of a buttercream bash is far too tempting for me. Retro Bakery is located in the Centennial Hills area of Las Vegas at: 7785 N. Durango Dr. #130, LV, NV 89131.

It is their anniversary so why not bring to them some of your own buttercream sensations to help celebrate their year and partay! Here are some offerings I know the Retro to offer up

Mint Chocolate Chip
Peanut Butter Cup
Sprinkled Donut
Apple Cider
Chocolate Fountain
Cinnamon Toast
Chocolate Covered Banana
Hawaii Sky
Hawaii Night Sky
Vanilla Loves Vanilla
Pink Lemonade
Cookies and Cream
Creamsicle
Chocolate Loves Vanilla
Chocolate Loves Chocolate

If you attend this extravaganza of cupcakery and get some photos, please send! Happy Anniversay Retro and Cheers to another Bakecessful year, you deserve it!!

Cupcake Calender:: Dots Cupcakes Pasadena CA

Dots Cupcakes One Colorado store is now open as of February 7th, 2009. The Grand Opening Celebration starts on the 7th, and continues on the 8th. Doors open at 10 a.m.

11:00 a.m. Complimentary Dots Calendars and mini cupcakes (while supplies last)
3:00 p.m. Dots super cute t-shirts (first 50 guests) and mini cupcakes
Raffle Drawing: Free cupcakes for one year! (1 Cupcake a week, restrictions apply)

Store Hours: Monday-Thursday 10:00a.m.-7:00p.m. Friday-Saturday 10:00a.m.-10:00p.m. Sunday: 10:00a.m.-6:00p.m. • Phone: 626.744.7719

Please visit Dots Cupcakes for more information.

Cupcakes Nouveau Grand Opening Soiree

Cupcakes Nouveau celebrates the opening of their first retail shop at 244 Miracle Mile in Coral Gables with a Grand Opening Soiree on Friday, January 30^th at 7:00pm.

Join Cupcakes Nouveau in commemorating this auspicious occasion and enjoy complementary cupcakes and beverages in beautiful downtown Coral Gables. 

All are welcome to share in an evening of celebration with owners Cristina Valdes and Shayrin Badillo on this memorable evening.

(Pictured above…Pretty in Pink Cupcake Bear Plush by Paper Girl Productions, Sweetest Little Cupcake Name Bracelet by Sweetie Kai, Girls Child-Size Apron Set by The Diaper Bag Wrangler, Cupcake Cutie Soother Pacifier clip by Krafty Creations, Monogrammed Pink and Brown Dot Birthday Cupcake Onesie Tutu Set by avannabelbaby, and Yummy cupcake clippie by scrap-n-scribe)

I just wanted to share this post from the Muddy’s Bake Shop Blog…

In 2007, large toy manufacturers who outsource their production to China etc, sold toys with high lead content, unsafe parts, and made from dangerous chemicals. In response, Congress passed the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) , which among other things, mandates third-party testing and certification for all toys. This testing will be easy for large corporations who churn out thousands of each toy a year.

However, the way the current act is written, it puts most small toy-making businesses out of business. All the Etsy sellers, crafts fair artisans, etc in America would also have to pay the $300-$4,000 fee for third-party testing for EACH toy that they make. This makes the crafts-fair toymaker extinct while Mattel and Bratz prosper.

Please visit the Handmade Toy Alliance for more information, including a sample letter and a list of state representatives and their contact information:
www.handmadetoyalliance.org

You can also sign the Handmade Toy Alliance petition here:
petition

The Cupcake Extravaganza is going on at Mammalicious Finds! Please contact them if you are interested in sponsoring a giveaway in their contest.

Rectangular Cake Taker

Squeeze-It™ Decorator

Simple Indulgence™ Seasoning Blends

I am hosting an online Tupperware Party from now until December 19th. Be sure to visit Tupperware to check out all of their items. Then send your orders to my Tupperware Consultant and friend Bevorly Smith. She will be happy to assist you with your purchase and answer any questions you may have. Be sure to ask her about the specials going on when you get ready to place you order!

Tupperware is one of the most trusted names in housewares. They offer the highest quality products, with the finest design features to meet your special needs. Whether it’s getting a good, hot meal on the table at the end of a busy day, toting a nutritious lunch to work, or taking time to learn a new baking secret with your children — Tupperware makes it all possible.
They are backed with our warranty/guarantee and will be shipped promptly to any address in the U.S.

*NOTICE* Please DO NOT order directly from the website. In order for the Web-host to recieve credit, Please email ALL orders to Bevorly Smith. Your total will be promptly emailed to you along with your Tupperware Consultant’s contact information. Payments accepted are check/moneyorders and all major credit cards. Thank You!

REMINDER…
 
The Megan Hearts Baking Release Party
is tonight night (Friday), December 5th from 5:30-8:30 pm @ the Frosted Cupcakery
 
4817 2nd Street, Long Beach, CA 90803
 
~STOP by any time during the night!~
 
    *Mini Megan Heart Cupcakes….courtesy of the Frosted Cupcakery
    *Hot Beverage….courtesy of It’s A Grind
    *”Pictures with Megan”…courtesy of Nathan Huesmann
    *”Megan Hearts Baking” Books to Buy
    * LIVE MUSIC….courtesy of Boris Smile
 
 
Thanks,
The Megan Hearts Family

For more information on Megan Hearts please visit their website.

The Fate Sisters have finished their book, “Megan Hearts Baking” and would LOVE for you to come celebrate with them at the Megan Hearts Book Release party!
 
Friday, December 5th
@ the Frosted Cupcakery
on 2nd St. in Long Beach
5:30 pm-8:30 pm
*Stop in any time during the eveniing*
 
Come Enjoy……
Special Mini Megan Hearts Cupcakes
“It’s A Grind” hot beverages
a live band playing throughout the night
the “real” Megan sharing the vision behind the book series
raffle and door prizes
book signing
and much much more!
 
Read the attached flyers (see top of post) for more information about the Megan Hearts Book Release Party!
**Also, if you are a young girl between the age of 4-8, bring the attached flyer to the book release, and receive an invitation to the upcoming Megan Hearts Baking Day!**
 
Books available online @ http://www.meganhearts.com/ or Amazon.com!
 
Thanks for all your support and encouragement… we LOVE being a part of this community!
 
Megan Fate and Kimi Fate Gros

Getting MORE out of Fall

October Specials and Promotions at MORE

About MORE

MORE, located at One East Delaware Place at the intersection of State Street and Delaware in Chicago, is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Sunday. For more information, contact MORE at (312) 951-0001 or send an e-mail to [email protected]. Please visit www.morecupcakes.com.

“Help MORE, Hope MORE
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month, and with one in eight women still being diagnosed with breast cancer, MORE hopes to use sweetness in the fight against cancer. On Saturday, October 4, MORE?s glass wall will feature the special “Hope MORE” cupcake, a treat worthy of this cause, a White Velvet cake base with luscious pink vanilla butter cream, garnished with pink and white curls.

Throughout the month of October, a portion of the sales of the “Hope MORE” cupcake will continue to go directly to numerous breast cancer charities.  Enjoy a ?Pink? White Velvet cupcake and hope MORE for a cure.”

Score MORE, Win MORE, Want MORE
Chicago is witnessing a once-in-a-lifetime event with two hometown baseball teams in the Playoffs and MORE is in on the action. The day of, or the day following a Cubs or Sox win, customers decked out in the winning Chicago team’s garb are invited to visit MORE (One E. Delaware St., Chicago, IL). With a purchase of six cupcakes, the decked-out fan will receive a free

“MORE” cupcake.*
The “MORE” is a delectable and decadent chocolate cupcake, filled with housemade marshmallow, and iced with a silky chocolate ganache, fast becoming a favorite flavor at this newly opened Gold Coast bakery.

While the teams score more and win more, the fans score MORE and win MORE, and will of course, want MORE. This promotion will run for the duration of the playoffs as long as a Chicago team stays in, which leaves the fans only one option: don your favorite team apparel, cheer on your team, watch them score and get thee to MORE!

* A customer wearing both Sox and Cub attire at the time of a six-cupcake purchase does not grant him or her two free cupcakes, just two times the opportunity to gloat.

Vote MORE
Starting now until the November 4 Presidential election, MORE will take a bipartisan view and feature both “Obama” and “McCain” cupcakes. Both cupcakes are a rich, cocoa-embodied red velvet cupcake, topped with the signature MORE cream cheese frosting.  The only difference between them lies in the simple star propped upon the pillows of frosting. Cast your vote.  A red star cupcake represents your vote the McCain-Palin ticket, while a blue star cupcake represents a Obama-Biden vote.

With their Presidential Cupcakes, MORE encourages customers to “Vote Early and Vote MORE” as they will be tracking the sale of each Presidential cupcake and updating the results; a mouth-watering Gallup Poll indeed. MORE employees will also be donning the trademarked “Vote MORE” t-shirts which will be available for politically-minded customers to purchase and sport while snacking on their favored Party’s cupcake. If only the actual vote tasted this good.

In honor of Cancer Awareness Month, Sugarbaby’s Cupcake Boutique is promoting 2 unique ways to show your support for those whose lives have been affected by cancer.  On special days this October, Sugarbaby’s will be offering Pink Ribbon Cupcakes honoring Houston’s Young Survival Coalition (Oct. 16th – 18th), and the 5th Annual “Cupcakes for a Cause” week honoring CancerCare for Kids (Oct. 21st-26th).  A portion of proceeds for each cupcake design will go to the designated organization.

The Cupcakes Club Open House!

This delicious event is to introduce The Cupcakes Club – a book series and interactive website for tweens(ages 7-12). Created and written by a mother/daughter team, this series emphasizes wholesome values, delicious fun, and sweet life lessons for todays 7-12 year old girls. What perfect timing for parents looking for a kid’s summer reading activity!

Please join us at Barcliff and Bair 1112 State St. Thursday, July 24th from 2:30 to 4:30 to celebrate its Santa Barbara premier – we will have Aurora Painted Faces there doing face painting and, of course, cupcakes by Sweet Buttercup!!

We look forward to seeing you there – until then, have a cupcake-a-licious day!!