The ONE that started it all!

A little over three years ago, I got married, and that's where my creativity started to flow. I planned and designed my own wedding from top to bottom. Knowing what I know now, I'm sure I could do it ten times better. But, I still love it, and it was exactly us: simple. My colors were white and pink with chocolate brown accents. I was flip flopping on the brown for the longest. But in the end, because it was fall, I decided to bring it in. I think if I were to do it today, I'd bring in gray instead of brown. I have a thing for gray at the moment. Anywho, I made my own table runners for the head table and cake table, I made my own Swarovski cake topper, and I picked and designed the flowers I wanted for the bouquets and the centerpieces. I found and put together my favors, and I personalized my wedding candle. I did my wedding on a really tight budget. I had just graduated from college and I was going back to get my Master's. Jess had just started a new job, and money was a little tight. I was happy the way everything came together, and the best money spent was on a day-of wedding coordinator. She was the best! And here's a tip, find one that's just starting out! I saved thousands by doing this. I did the same with my photographer. I saved thousands here too. But I also did my homework and research on both. I'm happy to say that both are really big professionals in their industry now. So, looking back, this is THE party that started it all.

{DIY} Cake Pops!

These things are addicting! And easy to make! I made them the other week as favors for Isabella's Baptism, and they went like hot cakes! A person would have one, and tell another person to try it, and everyone was asking how I made them. By the end of the night, we only had a handful left, until my niece took them all. They were seriously sooo good. I got phone calls days after asking about them, and would I make them for people. I used Bakerella's recipe, but with a few teeny-tiny changes. Here's a small tutorial on what I did, and used.

I used Devil's Food Cake boxed mix, a can of Cream Cheese frosting (It's not the same frosting in the pic...oops!), and Nestle White Baking Chocolate. Makes about 50 pops.

I baked the cake according to the box directions and let it cool completely. I then broke it into pieces and placed into a food processor where I blended the cake 'til I had small crumbs. I then dumped the crumbs into a big bowl. I had to repeat this step three times 'til I crumbled the whole cake.

With the crumbled cake in a big bowl, I then poured a little more than half the jar of cream cheese frosting in, and started to mix with my hands. I mixed 'til I could form a giant cake ball.

I got out my cookie sheet and an actual tablespoon, from my stack of measuring spoons, and started scooping out tablespoon-sized balls, rolling them in my hands, and placing them on a cookie sheet.

 

After my balls were made, I covered them in saran wrap and I let them chill, in the fridge, over night.

The next day I heated the white chocolate baking bar in my Little Dipper crock pot. I heated the bar according to the directions on the bar's wrapper.

I began by sticking the sticks into the balls. I would dip about 1/2 an inch of the stick into the white chocolate and then into the ball. And line them back up on the sheet. I let them set up a little before the next step.

To cover the balls, I would hold the end of the stick, to the side, and drizzle the white chocolate over the entire ball, and tap the excess off. Sorry no pic. Too consumed in making pops!

I would then pour the sprinkles on, stick them in foam, and place them in the fridge to set up. By the time I was done, I was able to pull the first batch out and start bagging the pops.

There you have 'em! Delish cake pops! I HIGHLY recommend the Devil's Food cake with Cream Cheese frosting. I found this to be the best flavor combination. I will definitely be making more of these suckers. Yum!