January 26th, 2009
Cupcakes & Cream
This weekend was entirely a whirlwind – between cupcake baking, cleaning the house within an inch of its life, making crepe flower pins to help with re-stocking my etsy store, puppy management, and browsing the job sites for my dream job (as yet to be determined)….
Well, the weekend kind of evaporated out from under me, in as dreamy a way as that’s possible.
{chocolate cupcakes with vanilla icing}
{my new flower pins}
I’m very excited to be working on my etsy shop again, while it’s currently not stocked I’m going to be getting it back online this week. The above pins are one of the things I’ve been working on – as well as barettes and some elaborate fascinator barrette pieces with knit sections and beading – they’re very dramatic!
I’ve been re-thinking the way I set up my shop previously (ie – all large, labour intensive items that I couldn’t re-stock) and I’ve figured out what wasn’t working and what was. I recently read Craft Inc., which I would really recommend for anyone looking to getting into the craft business. I’ve re-framed and prioritized – and as much as I love them, I think my knits have to go. They’ll be back in other pieces in smaller ways, but unless I buy a knitting machine I just can’t keep cowls stocked.
{New bookmarks for my store, to be posted this week}
In travel news, next month my family is going to Phoenix, and while Mister and I haven’t decided where we’re going to go this year, we had A Talk and have decided that we’re going to wait to decide – but we can’t burn vacation time so early in the year. So the great debate right now is if I should go to Chicago for the Twenty Something Bloggers meet up:
a) By myself (if I can) and then have us go on a honeymoon later that year, or next year. I would need to find a Chicago hotel roomie for this to work.
b) With Mister. I would attend part of the meet up but have the other part as a holiday where we meet up with his sister and trek around Chicago with her over that weekend. We would have a pseudo-honeymoon trip together, but I wouldn’t be at the whole meet up.
c) At all. The summer will be beautiful here, I could still save that $400 or $500 and put it into my crafting, or take as many days off as that is wages for to take a break and video blog the whole thing. I’m going to be hitting Minnesota, Chicago, California & Florida in the next couple years I’m sure – I can see you kids at next year’s meet up, or when I’m traveling!
I’m leaning all three ways on this one, but I would love to know what you guys – who read my blog, and who I have the strongest relationships with – are doing – if only for selfish reasons! Are you planning to go?
Thanks for the help – hope you had a great weekend! What did you get up to?
That cupcake looks so delish! And your flower pins are so adorable! They look like lil cupcakes to me!
Um, YUM! Those cupcakes look fantastic! Is that buttercream frosting?
If you end up coming to Chicago, let me know! I have lots of great restaurant suggestions. :)
Um, yes you will come here because I want all my favorite Canadians here at once. Ben, you and Brandy!
(sorry for lack of reading/commenting this week!)
I’m no longer planning on going to the 20SB meet-up. I have a work commitment that I’m in charge of during those days and that weekend so it’s not possible for me to go. I think you do enough for the blog community as it is and should take the time off to be with Mister in a honeymoon kind of way.
With regards to your etsy shop, do tell me when your bookmarks and flower pins are on sale! My mom’s birthday is coming up and I know she’d LOVE both those items.
Those cupcakes look delicious. I am going to bake this weekend. You have just inspired me. Thanks :)
Those cupcakes look delicious!
I think the real question is- if you dont go to the meetup, will you regret it?
If so, you should go.
You are too freakin’ cute!! :)
They make knitting machines? I’m clueless.
In all seriousness, I’d buy those flower pins before I would a scarf or the like. They’re lovely (although I’m sure your knitting is as well).
Like you, I’m torn in at least three different directions about going… much as I’d love to see Chicago again and meet some of my favorite bloggers, it’s a hefty price tag and while I’m still doing contract work it’s hard to justify.
I should really make up my mind soon, though… those plane tickets ain’t getting any cheaper!!
Personally, I’m too old for the 20sb meet-up and I prefer to devote my time to the BlogHer conference instead. However, barring that, time with my husband will always trump blogging. And that’s likely why I’ve been absent from so many Chicago meet-ups. Plus, you haven’t had a chance to honeymoon together and well, you deserve it. There will always be blogging meet-ups. (Look at me – telling you NOT to come to Chicago, unless it’s with Mister!)
Oh, also, I think you should save the money. I’m a poor college student and definitely not going.
Mmm those cupcakes look delicious
what adorable little pins! and cupcakes… mmmmmnomnomnom.
i WANT to go to the meetup like crazy. i just dont think i can make it that weekend. bummer.
I want to go, whether or not I’ll actually get there is another story.
the cupcakes look so good.
ps. If I wasnt this far, Id gladly go..sounds like it’s gonna be a blast :)
What recipe did you use for the vanilla icing?
I am hoping to go to Chicago this summer. I really want to go but I’m not sure what’s going on in June.
I heart your cupcakes and your craftiness! I think you should definitely have a honeymoon with Mister over the meet-up. As susan pointed out, there may be others in the future.
The cupcakes look beyond amazing. The detail on the frosting is perfect. I love the flower pins too! Are those on your Etsy shop?
I am still on the fence for going to Chicago for financial reasons as well- and while if I go I would love to meet you there, everyone is right about only having one honeymoon. And if all goes well, there will be other meetups.
I’m in love with your flower pins! You have such beautiful things you create – I’m truly in awe.
Glad you had a good weekend. DE
I’m not sure what I would do – but I do know that I would love to go to a blogger conference like BlogHer. However, that doesn’t look like it is in the cards or budget for me anytime soon. I suppose I would pick option B too – that way you get the best of both worlds.
can you please send me a cupcake, those look delicious? sweet thanks :)
and i vote on chicago with the mister and making a whole trip out of it. i would love to go to chicago. love.
Kyla, I am in such a magnificent mood today. I didn’t think it could get any better but it just did. Your flower pins and bookmarks are LOVELY! They are so darned cute I just want to eat them (however, inedible they may be)! It would be so amazing to attend the 20SB convention in Chicago. I would go with you, but I think you understand my situation more than anyone. I would recommend doing either A or C. Mister only has a select amount of days off this year, as do you. But you ARE looking for a job change, so that could be good for you. A would be great if you find someone. You could get to know someone really well, and you’ll meet so many people along the way. C would be good because you could save up for your long-awaited honeymoon, and you and Mister could both go somewhere where you actually BOTH want to go. Nah’ mean?
I really want to go to Chicago, but I just don’t really see it happening with the funds. Who know, maybe airfare will drop down to like .45 cents or something crazy like that.
1. I want to eat those cupcakes. RIGHT NOW!
2. Your pins are so pretty! They kind of look like the cupcakes! (…that I want to eat right now.)
3. I’m debating the 20SB conference as well. Since i’m going to London in March and NY in July (for my cousin’s wedding), I don’t know if I can afford another trip. I do want to meet everyone, though. If you do ever make it to Florida, let me know! We can go to Disney! And eat cupcakes!
i’m not hitting the 20sb meetup, but i am doing blogher in chicago, also this summer….
Totally not going to the 20sb meetup, but if it were me, I’d take the trip with my husband and have a real honeymoon. 20sb will always be there, but this is a real carpe diem moment for you and Mister.
I was originally planning to go, but I have really gotten into my photography lately, so any spare money I come up with is going to go toward better lenses and workshops. I love the idea of meeting everyone I read, and I dream of a cross continent road trip to do just that, but Eric and I have a little too much on our plates to swing Chicago right now.
Those cupcakes are to die for! I love the different icing patterns!
So far, the plan is yes, I will be going to the meet up. Even though it will be a great time I think you should take your time before you decide what to do. If you don’t make it out this year we can always see you next year :-) Go have some fun with the Mister some place amazing.
Living on the West Coast, I can’t afford to go.
I’m not sure what I would do, if I was in your position. I would probably choose option B because it seems like a fair compromise.
I wish I could offer up some advice about the Meet Up but I think at the end of the day, the only person who can make that decision is you.
I’ll definitely be there with bells on! and you would certainly be missed. But… honeymoons are totally important!
I’m excited to see your new improved Etsy shop :)
beautiful things. you are so talented.
i’m really really hoping to go. as my life is, i don’t know what tomorrow looks like yet, but i’m gonna do what i can to get there.
of course, i don’t have 3 options. mine is go, not go. the end.
i’m going!
and i’m kinda sorta in love with your pins, well done.
Those cupcake tops are cute! Makes me want to bake and be creative…neither of which I really am! :)
Really like your pins!
20SB Meetup: It’s gonna be a last-minute decision for me… waiting to see how career stuff pans out.
What does the Mister think? Wouldn’t he rather do the honeymoon?
I am going to be there for as much of the meet up as possible. I also live in Chicago, so I’m definitely cheating. Of course you’re more than welcome to stay on my super sweet air mattress to cut costs. That helps make it feel like you aren’t spending on an entirely separate vacation just for yourself. It’s hard because that’s essentially what you’re doing, but that doesn’t mean you don’t deserve to do it and have some fun in this lovely summer city.
Mmmmmm….yummy cupcakes! I had to stop looking at the picture so I would quit salivating.
Hard decision on the trips. Maybe save the money? Or spend the trip with your hubby?
Kyla, how can you expect us to answer questions when you post such cupcake pictures? They’re very distracting. Really.
Honeymoon or blogger meetup?? Honestly. I would love to meet you and everyone else attending, but it’s tricky with timing and money. You can only have a honeymoon once. 20SB will probably go on having meetups for as long as we all desire!! Go on an incredible honeymoon, girl!!
I won’t be there for the meet-up due to lack of funds, and I tend to be a bit frugal so I know if in your position I would opt to save the money. But if you can spare it, I’m sure the experience will be like none other, so it’s a tough call. I know that I would really love to go if I could…so ultimately I am not much help to you. ;)
Delicious – what’s the occasion for the sweets? So this is the first I’m hearing of this Chicago meet-up, although it sounds awesome. I’ll read up a little more over on 20SB later today about it. Also, making a point to stop by the bookstore and check out that book on the way home! Thanks!
Oh my goodness did you pipe those cupcakes yourself?! They look yummy!
i don’t even know what the rest of this post is about… as soon as i saw cupcakes i was done. damn those look good!!
I can’t wait for your etsy shop to go back online. I want one of those pins! :)
I am too old to go. But I do think that things like that are wonderful opportunities. It’s really nice to be able to put a face to an online personality.
Incidentally, it was cruel of you to wave cupcakes in my face. There is a serious lack of cupcakes in my life.
Glad you’re getting back into the crafting and restocking your Etsy store! I’m kind of in the same boat as you, I’d love to go to the meetup, but sadly I think that I need those vacation days elsewhere. There are way too many trips home over the next couple of years for weddings, and road trips to Saskatchewan for weddings, and a potential road trip through the Okanagan for wine-drinking to deal with all the weddings. ;)
If it wasn’t in June, I would have tried to sign up. My aunt lives up there and my parents didn’t have a problem with sending me to her.
Well, if I were you, I’d wait a little longer to make up my mind. Maybe you find your dreamjob and in that case, going away having just started wouldn’t probably be the best choice.
I can’t be there because I got into the blogging thing too late and already have a lot of travel plans for the summer. It sounds like fun though and I wish I could be there!
Those cupcakes look delicious and I’m really looking forward to browsing your Etsy store!
I cannot attend, sadly. I’m going to be in a best friend’s wedding that weekend – which should totally awesome.
Although, to be honest, I don’t know if I’d go anyway – a HUGE meetup with tons of people is a little much for me. :) Maybe, though!
Good luck deciding.
Those cupcakes, omg – look amazing!
And I can’t wait for summer so I can wear dresses again!
I’ll be there! It should be a fun weekend but I certainly understand the pull for money-saving options.
In all honesty, I think you should save the money, so that you can do something really special with the mister! :)