Fabulous Finds Friday: Flirty Fun Pinwheel Wreath

Oh...hey...it's my birthday! Ya know...the big 3-0!

So before I skip-to-ma-loo to go get ready and then celebrate with a cocktail party that my Hubs has been planning since January, here's a super cute way to dress up your door to make your guests feel cherry and bright!

How fun is that!?

Happy Friday!!!

Talk-To-Me Tuesday: LemonBerry Cupcakes

I'm blogging late Monday night with this recipe for you, so you have a nice sweet treat to wake up to on Tuesday morning!

Here's my Lemonberry Cupcake!



Cupcake

• 1 1/3 cups flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 6 tablespoons butter, softened
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 tablespoon ground lemon zest
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1/2 cup yogurt
• 1/4 teaspoon lemon extract

Preheat oven to 350F, and line muffin tins with desired paper liners.

Mix ingredients and spoon into liners so they are 3/4 full

Bake for approx 20 mins (check after 15 mins)

Cool completely

Filling

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine 1 pint of blueberries with 1/2cup sugar (adding sugar to taste), mashing the blueberries slightly to allow for the sugar to melt. Simmer, then cool.

Using a teaspoon, scoop out some of the cupcake. you can discard this...or eat immediately ;)

Once the filling is cool, use the teaspoon measure to fill each cupcake with the blueberry sauce

Frosting

1 cup butter
3 cups confectioners sugar (icing sugar, powdered sugar)
dash of vanilla, to taste

Frost using a piping bag and large star tip.

Garnish with lemon zest and a blueberry

Enjoy!!

(yield 12 cupcakes, but they won't last long...I promise!)

MOMpreneur Monday: Twirlie Whirlies

Good Monday morning to you all!

I am so excited about our first MOMpreneur Monday feature, and the responses have been rolling in from really amazing women who've started their businesses from home!

First up, we have Shannon Torossi of Twirlie Whirlies

What do I do?

My name is Shannon and I am a stay-at-home mom who operates an on-line paper party accessory shop. "Twirlie Whirlies" came about by accident two years ago when I began decorating my little guy's "big boy" room and trying to come up with some fun and clever decor items. Pinwheels became my obsession and I felt I needed to open an on-line shop just to deal with the growing mountain of paper in my home. It has now evolved into an "after hours/all night long" full-time business. In addition to 4 original styles of paper pinwheels, I also offer up my exclusive "Blockhead" party hats and candy cones, buntings, cupcake wraps and the like. I have supplied to the tiniest parties and the biggest weddings and charity events.







Why do I love it?

I love Twirlie Whirlies because it allows that much needed "me" time. Even though everything I make is for other people, the time spent doing it is mine - late at night, after my men have gone to sleep and the house is completely quiet. That is my bliss.

What advice do I have for other MOMpreneurs?

Currently I am a one-woman show, though my darling husband will do postal runs, operate the printer, or anything else I ask him to do (which usually isn't much more since I am a total control freak). My 2011 resolution is to ask for more help where I need it. Friends and family are always offering me their help - as my business grows, this will be the year I will take them up on their offers. So, my biggest advice would be to ask for help when you need it. It is not easy to be a wife/mommy/cook/housekeeper/chauffeur/teacher/friend/ diva/and MOMpreneur all at the same time!

You can find Shannon on Twitter, Twirlie Whirlies, her blog, Art Fire and her Etsy shops (1 and 2)!