Push Cakes by Meringue Bake Shop

I have been waiting, waiting, waiting for someone to come out with these...and now I have found some worthy of sharing! I actually read about this new sweet indulgence about a year ago. I couldn't find any more information on them and the bakery I read about never promoted them. A friend of mine had a link to this local bakery on her Facebook page that I noticed the other day. I loved their logo and of course can not help checking out local sweet spots so, off to Meringue Bake Shop I went! They are based in Anaheim, California and the first thing to catch my eye... Push Cakes! There they were...these little tubes filled with yummy layers of cake and frosting! I made sure to ask if they could be shipped before sharing them with you and yep, they sure can be! These would be so cute to add to a dessert station! I predict they will be the up and coming thing (you heard it here, first!)

Can we talk about flavors? Oh for the love of cake! 

• Orange Crush* - Orange crush cake/Creamsicle buttercream
• Queen of Hearts* - Red Velvet cake/Cream Cheese buttercream
• Happy Birthday* - Vanilla confetti cake/Vanilla Confetti buttercream
• Birthday Cake - Vanilla cake/Chocolate buttercream/Sprinkles
• Sweet and Salty - Vanilla cake/Salted Caramel buttercream/Caramel
• AFCB - Yellow cake/Caramel/Peanuts/Chocolate buttercream
• Black & White* - Chocolate cake/Vanilla buttercream/Chocolate Flakes/Gold Glitter
• Tea Time* - Vanilla cake/Lemon buttercream/Sparkling sugar/Fresh berries in season (raspberries, blackberries, or strawberries)
• Groovy* - Vanilla rainbow cake/Frosting of your choice (not available in mini size)
• Fauxstess* - Chocolate cake/Creme/Chocolate buttercream
• Girls/Boys - Vanilla cake/Strawberry or Blue Raspberry buttercream/Sprinkles/Glitter 
• Spring Break - Vanilla cake/Graham cracker crust/Keylime buttercream
• Pink Lady* - Lemonade cake/Raspberry buttercream
• Campfire - Graham cracker cake/Chocolate buttercream/Toasted Marshmallows 
• Pina Colada - Pineapple cake/Coconut cream buttercream
• A Kid Again - Yellow cake/Cookie Dough/Peanut Butter buttercream 
• Southern Belle - Coconut cake/Coconut cream buttercream

I am going to hunt down Meringue Bake Shop in person and get my hands on some of these and I promise to report back! I just love that they are different and I know they are going to be all the rage! If you want to read more about them you can join PushCakes on Facebook and of course contact them regarding shipping! 

A different proposal

I love getting daily deals in my inbox and one site I use all the time is Groupon! Each day it's a new deal! I love when they offer photo deals and Edible Arrangement deals. You can't buy in bulk on this site - you usually get the option of buying 1 deal for yourself and 1 as a gift. It's great for trying new restaurants, too! Well, when Greg decided to pop the question to Dana, he thought of a creative way to do it. You see, Dana is a big Groupon fan like me. She checks her email every day to see what the Deal of the Day is. On January 5, 2011 the deal of the day was her proposal! 

Check out the entire post here....this is one of those engagements you can file under 
"most creative"! Great job, Greg! Congratulations to both....I bet the wedding is going to be fun and unique as well!

Free Fonts for Weddings

While browsing some favorite blogs today I somehow found myself stumbling upon fonts. Cool fonts. FREE FONTS. I love freebies! Installing them is pretty easy - although if you haven't ever installed fonts or you haven't done it in awhile, at the end of this post I will tell you want to do. But, for now check out these fonts you can download and use for DIY save the dates, invites and thank you's!

The script font on this invitation from East Six (oh my god AMAZING invitations) is called Porcelain and you can download it FREE here!

Want the stamp pad look without the stamp pad? There's a font for that! 

And you can get it here for free!

One of the first blogs I started reading was http://kevinandamanda.com. I still read Amanda's blog and get email updates from her. She has no idea but, she totally inspired me to blog. Now, she blogs (a lot) about cupcakes. How can you not get a daily dose of cupcakes? She travels all over, she has an amazing camera (and photo tutorials) and 2 adorable Boston Terriers. In her spare time (serious?) she has another site that offers handwriting and scrapbooking fonts. They are some of my favorites and you have a lot to choose from. You can download one or all of them for free here!

Now we need to talk about how you install these lovely fonts onto your computer! If you use a MAC you are on your own...because I use Windows and that is what I will cover!

When you choose to download any of these fonts they will come in a .zip file and will most likely be placed in your Download folder. You just need to double click on the file to unzip it. Inside each file will be an example of the font and another file that should end in a .ttf extension, which stands for True Type Font. This is the file you will need to install. If you want before you begin to download fonts you could make a new folder and put all .zip files there (easy to find them later!). So, here are the instructions to install:

Click Control Panel, then Fonts (this opens a new window. if you do not see the "File" option at the top left side of the box hit the ALT key and it will pop up)

Click FILE, INSTALL NEW FONT (this opens a new box and you have to know where you put the unzipped file with the .ttf extension)

Click on the file with the .ttf extension (or it will say True Type Font over to the left side)

Click install

Start enjoying your new FREE fonts!!

Anthropologie goes bridal

Well, yesterday was the big premiere of Anthropologies new bridal line BHLDN. Did you take a peek? What are your thoughts? I think it definitely fits a certain type of bride; vintage, retro, wealthy (haha!). I did really like some of the social occasion wear dresses and the prices were not that off from normal bridesmaid dresses! I think most of the styles had a fresh vibe to them and, of course, they would be perfect for any social occasion. 

TWIRLED SWEETHEART DRESS - $240 

This dress is featured in the color Dried Lavendar and it is also available in grapefruit, grass and butterfly print (as of this writing they do not show the dress with these different colors or the swatches). The sizes available are 0 - 14. They have left out anyone who wears a size larger than a 14 in the entire line so, I guess, make sure all your maids are on the smaller side (insert a raised eyebrow here). 


There are some dresses I just don't quite understand like this one - is it weird to anyone else that the lace just kind of...ends? 

I am not sure that I am a big fan...yet. The prices points on everything are pretty steep (in my opinion). I was expecting it in the bridal gowns but, purses for $550 and hair pieces (oh they call them adornments) for $825? I just find those things a little hard to swallow...what about you?

Love is in the air!

Can you feel it? Tomorrow is the big day and I hope you are all better prepared then I am! It feels like I have been celebrating Valentine's Day for about 4 days now! It started with 24 handmade valentine's for my daughter's preschool class and then 50 heart cupcakes and every time I get a message on my phone it seems like it has something to do with Valentine's Day. I have seen lot's of items on sale already too! I posted once before about watching for the sales after Valentine's Day! Red, White and Pink are big wedding colors....as well as hearts, cupids and anything to do with the word "Love"! I found some awesome sale items already on Martha Stewart's website:

Martha Stewart Crafts Wood Stamp Set Valentines Day Hearts, Martha Stewart Crafts Large Double Punch Filigree Heart, Martha Stewart Crafts Valentines Day Mini Paper Treat Bags, Martha Stewart Crafts Heart And Love Cupcake Stencil and my FAVORITE item the image in the center Martha Stewart Crafts Valentines Day Mini Cello And Tray Bags. The treat bags (in the center) are $5.99 on Amazon.com and it includes 6 scalloped-edge paper trays, 6 printed cellophane bags, 6 gift tags, and ribbon! 

Hurry Hurry Hurry!

The "pop up" giveaway is on....TODAY ONLY! 

Here is a picture of the bracelet you can win!

Go here for instructions and how to enter...

 

It's all about the Blue Box....

On my goodness! Here is a fun giveaway that just "popped" up....and guess what? It's called a Pop Up Giveaway! How cute! So, check this out...it's such a tease! How about some Love, Kisses (Norman Love Style) and something in a little Blue Box for Valentine’s Day??? 
Ummm...yeah FOR SURE!!! 

What’s in the little blue box??  Check here tomorrow!! Enter the giveaway on Thursday, February 10th (that's tomorrow, folks!). What do you have to do to enter....easy....

You’ll need to Subscribe to WED (for NearlyWeds) which is a new online magazine for brides. They just launched their carbon-neutral and socially connected magazine! It's kinda fun...the magazine has direct links into their little "Wed Town" society where brides can chat it up about their big day or about what they are reading in the magazine! 

Or...if you are a wedding vendor Subscribe to WedBiz Journal (for wedding vendors) and either LIKE them on Facebook or retweet this giveaway info tomorrow — so get ready!! I will be trying my luck for the little blue box (hey, I love them too).

Freebie! DIY Bunting Banner

Good morning!! I thought we could start the day out on a freebie post! While shopping last night on Bake It Pretty, I found this amazing little freebie! Make your own bunting! The pdf files give you the entire alphabet so print out which letters you need (otherwise put 39 pages of paper in your printer!)....the possibilities are endless! 


Red and Blue Bunting
Pink and Green Bunting

Thank you, Bake It Pretty! These are awesome!

Holey Moley! Here is an amazing giveaway I just came across! Enter today and good luck! 

Treasury Giveaway of the Week 

Promo date: February 7, 2011 - February 11, 2011

Etsy Wedding Divas LOVE Collection worth $1,200

HERE'S HOW TO JOIN:

1. Become a fan.
2. "Like" their site.
3. Must leave comment on their website - you will be asked to enter your name, your email address, wedding date. Please read the Official Rules. Just remember, entries are limited to 1 per person per giveaway.

Winner will be announced after the promo period on this website. 

Hurry! This giveaway ends on February 11th!

Handmade Wooden Picture Frames by Organic Bloom

I came across these amazing frames today from a company called Organic Bloom. I got caught reading about their "success" story....and then moving onto their blogs about wedding cakes and all the other fun things they do! I am amazed when I find people who seem to have ALL THIS ENERGY! But, back to these incredible, hand made frames....I love them. Here's the catch....(isn't there always one?) they only sell - exclusively wholesale - to portrait photographers!! This is totally worth checking into with your photographer though...don't you think?!

(Click to enlarge!)

Chesley Summar Photography - Lebanon, TN

Kristin Geerts Photography - Bettendorf, IA 

Surprise Photography - Poughkeepsie, NY

BHLDN by Anthropologie - Launch date: Feb 14th

Be You. Be Loved.

That is the new tag line for BHLDN

I love it.

On the heels of JCrew debuting its bridal line, Anthropologie is now throwing their bridal veil into the ring! On February 14th, Anthropologie is debuting its new bridal line: BHLDN. Right now you can get just a little peek into what they will be offering on their website (hints of rich fabrics, lace, feathers). I know people do not like background music while surfing but, I found the background music to be soothing while watching the slideshow of teaser images! The song is called  "What are we waiting for" by the icelandic group Amiina. 

Don't expect your pocketbook not to get dinged....retail prices for the brand range from $1,000 to $4,000 for gowns and $200 to $600 for event dresses. Yowsa. Later in the year, BHLDN plans to offer decorations to round out their bridal collection and I am really looking forward to seeing what they have to offer! The plan is to carry everything from cake toppers and lanterns, to DIY-type items that are already made, as well as more aspirational items like candelabras and mouth-blown glassware! I can only imagine the beauty of these items! Just one more thing to look forward to on February 14th....

Grab those video cameras and be a Diva!

Enter the Dessy Diva Contest and have the chance to WIN:

• A Sandals Destination Wedding Dress of your choice -destination wedding or not, these dresses are gorgeous!! Free wedding dress not enough you say? I agree, we can't leave your favorite girls hanging.... 
• Up to 8 Dessy Group Bridesmaid Dresses! You can choose from our amazing collections including Alfred Sung, Cynthia Rowley, After Six, Lela Rose and the Dessy Collection

Interested in decking out your wedding party and yourself with these free Dessy dream gowns? Here's how:

We want you to tell us via video why you deserve the important title of 'Dessy Diva'. Be creative, grab your bridesmaids or get your soon to be hubby involved. Be funny, be serious, be you. We want to hear from you. Tell us your story: tell us how you met, or how you got engaged, tell us why your bridesmaids are simply the hottest, or tell us why you'll do anything for that perfect turquoise dress...any story that you want to tell to convince the Dessy powers that be and the general public that you deserve this coveted title.

How to enter:

• Visit the Dessy Group Facebook Page

• 'Like' Dessy on Facebook

• Make your video (use your phone, iPhone, camcorder etc.) Your video cannot exceed 5 minutes

• Submit your video under the 'CONTESTS' tab on the Dessy Group Facebook Page

Video submissions must be received by February 14th, midnight EST. The top 3 videos will then be chosen by Dessy Design Staff. These finalists will be announced on February 21st. Then, the general public gets to vote on the final three choosing the winner. The public vote from the Dessy Group Facebook Page will run from February 21st  to February 25th. The winner will be announced on Monday, February 28th, 2011.

For a taste of the winnings that total over $2500 have a look below. You can find the full selection of Sandals Destination Wedding Dresses on Dessy.com.


And for your ladies? Here is a glance at just a few of the gorgeous styles available from your favorite Dessy Group designers. Visit Dessy.com to choose your favorite. Upon winning this Diva-licious contest you will receive up to 8 bridesmaid dresses of your choice. Woo-Hoo!


So, get your creative juices flowing, make your one of a kind video and gather all of your family and friends to 'Like' Dessy and vote for your video on Facebook.