Connie's Movin' On Up!

Well, she's movin' on up...movin' on up, to the East side, erm, I mean Edmonton! Hee, hee! I've been part of a weekly playgroup for about 6 years now, and I have to say that it's my favourite day of the week because I get to spend some time with some really wonderful and inspiring women. I've formed many a bond with these girls, and we've shed many a tear and had a million laughs as well together. Well, one of our founding members, Connie is moving to Edmonton next month, and she will be sorely missed. She's been a great friend and fellow mom, and we'll miss her humour, her warmth and her willingness to open up her home to 10-odd hopped-up-on-chocolate-chip-cookies children who will surely make a hurricane-like mess out of her attic and subsequent main floor! We had a gathering a couple of weeks ago to say farewell to our friend at Arlene's house, and had munchies and photos on a purple velvet couch on Arlene's dirt road out front of her house(sounds weird, but looks awesome!). I made her a farewell Stilletto shoe and shoebox cake-so cool!! I've been dying to try this, but it took the right occasion. We wish you the best, Connie, and hope that someday you'll pop into playgroup when you're in town. (photo courtesy of Click Photography!)

Sugary Sweet Confections

Last night I spent a wonderful evening with my mom's group friends at the Sugar Factory making a beautiful Sugar Spring bracelet- you've gotta check out this amazing place! Gay Isber, the owner and hostess with the mostest, was so welcoming, and opened her shop and home to us to host our annual Mom's Group Christmas. She led us on a journey of artistic creations, and we all had such a blast creating our own bracelets to take home. She has the most unbelievable beads to choose from, and led us step by step in the creation of our bracelet. Her shop is a work of art, with gorgeous beaded confections everywhere to purchase, as well as chandeliers and artwork hand painted by her. I can't wait to take my girls there during the Christmas holidays to make a bracelet and have some girly time together! Thanks Gay, for a wonderful evening of food, wine and art. Here is a picture of the bracelet I made, as well as the wonderful little mini Snowflake Cakes I made for the party. They originally started out in my head as a petit four, which traditionally is a one-bite pastry, but ended up a "grand four", as they were about 3 inches in diameter and about 3 inches high! They were delicious little personal cakes filled with apricot preserves and milk chocolate ganache....yummy! I piped the snowflake design on the top, and embellished with a silver dragee in the centre. A sugary sweet confection to enjoy with our Sugary Sweet experience!

My own personal Cheerleader

I have to say that my biggest supporter in this new endeavour has been my wonderful friend, Christine. Not only has she gone out of her way on several occasions to photograph my cakes (did I mention she's an amazing photographer with her own business? Check out www.clickphotography.ca) but she's published my cake photos on her own blog. How awesome is that?? I feel like she's been my own personal cheerleader for about a year now, encouraging me right from the get-go when I had the hair-brained idea that I wanted to design cakes. She's always had an encouraging word for me, and has allowed me to use her as a guinea pig for several of her special occasions-brave girl! I wanted to acknowledge Christine, because I don't think I could have accomplished what I have without her amazing support. You're inspiring to me, Chris. I thank-you for all you've done.