Aftermath of Black Friday

Hello Readers!

      If anyone really knows me, they know that I am the ultimate shopaholic. I love shopping! (I am literally addicted) So it's only natural that I would love the biggest holiday of the year --- a holiday that is for shopaholics like me --- Black Friday. The day, or should I say early morning, where there are crazy sales, and people go ballistic over discounted electronics and other goods. 

      I have been shopping during every Black Friday since I can remember. If I wasn't waking up on Thanksgiving night and driving to the malls by 12 a.m. by myself, it was usually with my mother (the woman I blame for my shopaholic genes). This year, I got some fabulous deals on champagne colored boots, clothes and cupcake stands! It definitely was a great day for bargains!

      But, my Thanksgiving break from school wasn't just an exciting time for me to sit back, relax, eat and get fat; but it was also a time for me to really prove myself in cake decorating. My housemate Stephanie had invited me to join her and her large Portuguese family at her home for her 22nd birthday.

      Now usually I wouldn't hesitate to go, but I was a little iffy at first because she also asked me to make her a cake. I can confess I've never actually made a cake for people other than my family members but I was definitely ready and up for the challenge.

      During my planning process I wasn't sure how I was going to decorate the cake. I didn't want it to be a plain old cake with flowers and the simple 'Happy Birthday' piped on it, so I decided to think a little more in depth on what Stephanie likes, and something just popped in my head, like one of those light bulbs in cartoons!

      Steph is a strong and genuine person. And after shopping around during Black Friday, I came across her favorite make-up store, Sephora, and it hit me... make a cake that would look like the Sephora shopping bag with make-up spewing out of it on cupcakes. I thought it was such a great idea, and to top it off I would rename the store "Stephora" after her. Now the only thing I had to do was actually make it.

      Now I am a huge procrastinator (which is the worst if you're trying to be a baker). I woke up early Sunday morning--- early as in 4 a.m. baked the cake, and decorated it. And I think it turned our just the way I wanted it to! Let me know what you think!

side view of the cake

little 'Stephora' makeup pieces

top view of the cake

the birthday girl (weird coincidence that she matched it)

 {Another day, another cupcake & another satisfied stomach}

Irresistibly yours,

Venithda

Day of Thanks

      Well it's my favorite holiday of the year (aside from my birthday)... thanksgiving!! I can't tell you how much food I ate today from juicy turkey to all the trimmings; stuffing, mashed potatoes, corn everything you can think of. And to top it off, cheesecake and pumpkin pie with lots and lots of whipped cream for dessert. I guess you can say that I will be on an extreme diet after today.

     Oh! And how could I almost forget to mention that I made cupcakes, of course! Gooey confetti cupcakes with creamy vanilla and chocolate frosting. Last year, I decorated my thanksgiving day cupcakes like a typical 'turkey dinner'. There was turkey, mashed potatoes, pie, and even carrots and corn -- all made from candies and frosting.
     But this year I took a different approach in decorating them. I focused more on 'giving thanks' than anything. So I dressed my cupcakes in little Native American headbands with feathers, pilgrim hats, and even a little roasted turkey. Everyone in my family loved them and I even got my little cousins to help me decorate some, they came up with a cornucopia filled with vegetables, and I must say I think the baking gene runs in the family!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Give Thanks.

My cousins, Nulin & Serina, making their version of a cornucopia!

The finished product.

     So I hope everyone out there reading this had a fantastic thanksgiving filled with lots of food and love, and I hope you were as fortunate as I was to spend it with friends and family.

{Give thanks, love life & be merry}

                                                                 

Irresistibly Yours,

Venithda                             

Pioneer Pride

Hello readers!

      Today is such a bittersweet day, not only for me but for my boyfriend. We're both seniors at Sacred Heart University, and today marks the day as the last home football game for my boyfriends career. I know I shouldn't be as sad because I wasn't the one out there playing, but I am :( Ever since I was young, I was raised a Dallas Cowboys fan. My father taught me so much about the game, and turned me into a huge football fanatic. One of my huge requirements when looking for a college my senior year of high school, was that the school I would be attending would have to have a football team so that I could go to the games and cheer my school on.

      Anyway, since freshman year at SHU I have been a huge fan of the football team here and dating one of the players just added to my love for the game and the team. Fall is one of my favorite seasons because not only does it mark the start of school but the start of football season. I have been to countless games and been my boyfriend's number one fan, and each year when the season rolls around my electric bill sky rockets because I am baking "good luck goodies" each week before my boyfriend's game. Now there's about 11 to 12 games a season, that's 11 to 12 straight weeks of baking! But I love every second of it!

      So when the last home game of our senior year happened earlier today, it was a such a sad yet happy moment for both of us. Blake (my boyfriend) would step on his home field and play for the last time, and I would put on my "Sacred Heart Football" shirt I made and yell and scream for the pioneers one last time. Sadly, this would also be the last time I baked "good luck goodies" before a game.

      Baking up Blake's favorite, I made a double layered chocolate cake with chocolate frosting in the middle. And decorated it with a SHU Football helmet and football, both made from rice crispy treats, frosted with vanilla frosting, and covered in fondant. I was so proud of my creation, and Blake loved it! It was still such a sad moment, but at least the cake sweetened it up!!

      And here it is.. my senior day creation.

Congrats Blake!

Top of the cake - football helmet & ball.

Last home game!

{Pioneer pride forever}

Irresistibly yours,

Venithda