cake-pops are a go!

I can finally say with confidence that I will be making cake-pops for the wedding reception!  A couple of weeks ago I perfected my technique, and I have decided to run with it.  I plan on having yummy, homemade, little cake-pops as a sweet treat to say “thank you” for sharing in our special day.  

If you get to know me, you will find out very quickly that I love to bake (probably because I will be bringing over little baggies of cookies when I visit or forcing you to try a “at least a bite” of something when you walk in my front door).  And because I love to bake, I thought it would be fun to bake a little something for the wedding reception…it had to be small, easy, individually portioned, and aesthetically pleasing of course! Cake-pops fit every piece of criteria!

(an old sketch in my wedding thought book

from when I came up with the idea)

So I had an idea--awesome!…but it was actually figuring out the best and easiest recipe to make them that proved to be a little challenging (but fun) for me. 

For anyone asking themselves, “what in the world is a cake-pop?!”, don’t worry; I would have asked the same thing several months ago… until I saw them at Starbucks (where I work) when we rolled out with some new tasty “petite” pastries.  They are basically all the goodness of cake (along with the frosting—the most important part) rolled into a ball and placed on a stick (like a lolli-pop), then dipped in a hardening chocolate shell.  The end result is whimsical, dainty, and decadent all at once.  Get fancy, and add some sprinkles or cinnamon-sugar on top, and you could even call it gourmet!

And the best part: they are beyond easy (and inexpensive too)!

The basic ingredients are as simple as it gets:

A box of cake mix

Whatever eggs, oil, and water the mix calls for

¾ can of frosting (whatever you think will be tasty with your cake)

Dipping chocolate (I’ve had my best luck with the candy making chocolate from Hobby Lobby…it melts perfectly and looks really smooth)

Popsicle or lolli-pop sticks

Styrofoam blocks

Every recipe I have looked at for these is very similar but they vary in small ways.  I am going to describe the way that I have found works best for me.

1. Make a 9x13 sheet cake just like the box of cake mix tells you to.
2. Let the cake cool completely (or as close to completely as your patience will allow…2 hours is the most I have ever been able to handle)
3. Here’s where it gets fun: grab handfuls of the cake (with clean hands of course!), and break it up over a very large bowl until you have broken up the entire cake and the cake crumbs are very fine.  I often leave out some of that very top edge of the cake because its often a little more crispy than I would like to include (...plus it’s a good excuse to try the cake and make sure it tastes good)
4. Then with a knife or spoon, scoop ¾ of your choice of frosting into the cake crumbles. Stir it up until it is all even.
5. Then, using a cookie scoop or your hands (my preferred method), roll the cake mixture into balls and place on a cookie sheet or pan with parchment or wax paper.  
6. Stick those bad boys in the fridge or freezer until they firm (several hours in the fridge—perfect if you’ve got stuff to do or 20ish minutes in the freezer—if you happen to be impatient like me)
7. When firm, get the chocolate (white, milk, dark, colored…whatever taste/look you’re going for) and melt it.
8. grab a cake-ball, put it on a stick, dip it in the melted chocolate, and wedge into the Styrofoam to dry, and TA-DA!!!!... you now have a cake-pop ready for consumption in minutes.  While the chocolate is still hardening, sprinkle with chopped nuts, sprinkles, or cinnamon-sugar for a special touch.  

When I make these, I usually can get about 50 cake-pops from one recipe (sometimes more, sometimes less…it just depends on how big I roll them).

(one of my early experimental batches)

While I have now pretty much figured out the best way (for me) to make cake-pops, I am still experimenting with flavors.  So far my favorites have been “cookies ‘n cream” (inspired by a cake my sister made earlier this year), “coffee-cake”, and “Reese’s” inspired flavored cake-pops.

I am still toying with the idea of a couple other flavors.  For instance: “strawberries ‘n cream” (strawberry cake, maybe with strawberries mixed in the batter, cream cheese frosting, and vanilla-flavored dipping chocolate).  Or even “chocolate covered strawberries” (same as above but dipped in milk or dark chocolate).  My wheels also began to turn when I saw a mint-chocolate dipping chocolate at Hobby Lobby the other day… maybe a “mint chocolate chip” inspired cake pop?...

Hmm….

…back to baking! I’ll keep you posted ;)

no, no i have not forgotten about the wedding

For the betterment of this blog, I feel that it is necessary that I quit school for the rest of the semester.

…ok…not really, but school IS definitely the reason that I haven’t been blogging lately.  Look back a couple of posts, and you’ll see that school was about to get into full swing, and I expressed some fears that school and wedding planning would be competing for my time.  Luckily I am balancing the two fairly well, but my poor blog has been left to gather dust.  Today I plan on wiping just a little dust off! 

…now, don’t  worry…just because I haven’t been blogging doesn’t mean that the wedding planning has also been at a stand still—I realized recently that A LOT has been accomplished actually!

For example, Kyle and I had our engagement photos done by Ashley Rodgers Photography.  We could not have been more pleased! This woman is seriously incredible.  To see some of her work, check out her blog!  I CANNOT WAIT for her to do my bridal portraits in a couple of weeks and then to capture the actual big day in a little over two months…

ALSO... we received the proof for our invitations TODAY from the printers, and we will have the real deal within the next week or so!!!  Those little guys turned out to quite an undertaking when Kyle and I decided to design them ourselves.  I did a little sketch, and Kyle did all of the wording and finishing touches.  We wanted something that was very “us”—something that went along with the sweet and simple feel that we are going for.  I did a few sketches, and Kyle and I worked together to decide exactly what we wanted….so then I did a few more sketches…and then a couple more…until we had come up with something that we both are very proud of.  And the printers rock (seriously).  We used GreenerPrinter.com …they are an eco-friendly online print company and use only 100% recycled paper.  We just had to pick our paper and upload our image.  They even emailed us a couple of times to make sure that our uploaded images were exactly what the printers needed and what Kyle and I wanted before even beginning the print process.

And like I said…we got the proofs today!! They were delivered to my mom’s house, and Kelby (my little sister and Maid of Honor) was sweet enough to bring them to me at work so I could see them immediately.  Let me just say, I nearly peed my pants I was so excited.  The prints were perfect.  I am well beyond pleased!  Holding those invitations was a bit surreal…it is all really happening…. (81 days to be exact :)

The invitation wording was definitely an interesting dilemma.  We have two different types of invitations because we are having a small, intimate wedding ceremony with close friends and family and then a much larger reception immediately following.  This “little wedding-big reception” thing is growing more common, but that doesn’t exactly help with the wording on an invitation!  We are blessed to be inviting so many wonderful people who have impacted our lives individually and as a couple, and we don’t want anyone to feel that being invited to the wedding reception only makes them any less important to us.  We want them to join us for the CELEBRATION (“food, drink, and merriment” as the invitation states)!!

I love more and more everyday the idea of getting married on New Year’s Eve.  I think the symbolism of the day is beautiful…ending the year together so that we can welcome the new one hand-in-hand as a brand new family.  It’s perfect.  Kyle also jokes (but is totally serious) that the date will be impossible for him to forget. :)

Speaking of Kyle…..We went to Dallas a couple of weekends ago for the wedding of one of Kyle’s cousins, and while we were there, we were able to go shopping for his wedding attire. Oh. My. Goodness.  He is gonna look FINE.  We found the whole sha-bang (sans shoes).  The attire includes khaki-brown slacks, a classic white oxford shirt, a perfect butter-yellow tie (that Kyle picked), and a brown tweed vest.  He looked great…and most importantly, I think he looked like himself—genuine and comfortable.

lookin' sharp.

love this picture of Kyle with his new purchases.

As for my attire… it is getting closer and closer to finished!! I am having a summer dress custom-altered just for me.  The mother of one of my closest friends/bridesmaid is an incredible seamstress, and she agreed to help me with this project.  It makes me wiggle in my chair to think about my dress.  It will be very “me”… you may take that as you will.

But while I cannot reveal my dress, I think it is only fair to reveal my (KILLER) shoes… when my mom and I saw them, we looked at each other and both said “do you think…?”.  I tired them on, and the answer was “yes”.  Enjoy.  

I think that is as good an update as I can handle for just one post, but plenty more has happened that I will certainly post soon…

just so you know...

....Four months from today I will actually be Mrs. Bassett!!!!!!!!!!

:)

Just thought I'd share that....

Mr. Postman, they are all yours…

HUGE sigh of happiness/relief.  The Save the Dates are in the mail drop-box.  They are out of my hands and are now at the will of the United States Postal Service.  This may be the biggest checkmark on my to-do list yet!

(a very exciting moment, indeed)

On Sunday, my mom and I put ourselves to the task of addressing by hand all of the envelopes.  We were going to just print peel-off labels, but we could save ourselves about $30 by writing them ourselves.  And honestly, I think a handwritten envelope looks so much nicer and more personal (unless you have bad handwriting…luckily my mom and I can pass for decent with a ball-point pen). 

(diligently working...)

(serioulsy the cutest forever stamps...ever.

well worth going to more than one post office for these!)

It took us about three hours of scattered conversation and concentration to get the envelopes filled, addressed, and licked.  I say scattered conversation, because my mom and I didn’t inherit the supposedly feminine attribute of multi-tasking—at least not when it comes to talking.  We both talk with our hands, and so when our hands become occupied, telling a story can be very difficult. 

One of my favorite parts about addressing envelopes with my mom was hearing some of her best euphemisms when she would make a mistake.  These euphemisms include "crud crakers!", “shnikies!”, and my personal favorite, "son of a biscuit!".  It would be all quiet as we both diligently worked, and out of nowhere, “son of a BISCUIT!” and then the sound of an envelope being torn in half (or many pieces on a couple of occasions) would be heard from the other side of the table. 

We used my mom’s address for the return so we had to write it over and over and over, and after about 150 envelopes, Mom literally forgot the address.  She kept trying to recollect the house number out loud…she did have most of the numbers correct (I’ll give her that), but the order was all wrong…

I am just so thrilled to say that this task is done!! One step closer....

...now to work on the design for the fo-real invitations...

adios summertime

SNAP! And the summer is gone just like that! This was my last college summer, and its over in a blink.

If all goes according to plan, I am about to begin my final year at Texas Tech University... crazy.  And in a little over four months....I'll actually be Mrs. Bassett.  Time is about to start flying by!  I'm so nervous that I am going to either let my grades slip because I am focusing so much on the wedding...or I'm not going to get everything done in time for the big day because I was trying to keep up with school.

(big inhale then exhale).

I can totally do this. "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own".

I am happy to say that I am genuinely proud of the progress I was able to make over this summer.  Here is a little look at some of the things still in progress...

(still playing with the idea of making cake-pops...whether or not

I decide to go with them, they sure have been a tasty experiment)

(I plan on giving some cheap battery-powered tea lights a fancy face lift)

(stationary doodles.)

(I'm currently obsessed with drawing hands...I don't know if I'll find a place for

this one of Kyle and I holding hands, but I like it.) 

...There's a lot more little details in the works as well and plenty more posts to come.  Luckily I have an awesome family and group of friends who are willing and happy to help me out.  Kyle has even whole-heartedly offered to help with some of the crafts (the craft I have in mind for him involves poetry and a butterfly-shaped paper puncher).

Bring it Fall Semester!

trigger happy

Yesterday Kyle and I tackled our wedding gift registry.  It. Was. Awesome. 

It was so much fun to choose the things that we want to share and use together in the years to come—the things that would make us feel at home together--the things that meshed our unique styles into the new unit called "us".  

Kyle and I tried to go into it fairly prepared.  We had been keeping a list of things that we knew we would need (or need better of) and want, and then Kyle put our list onto a spreadsheet so we could compare the things at different stores (let me just say that I was suuuper impressed by this effort).  

I think that Kyle and I balanced each other out pretty well on this adventure.  I was insanely cautious about using the scanner while Kyle, on the other hand, was a bit more trigger happy.  I caught Kyle as he tried to sneak over to the display with the snow-cone machine and the cotton-candy maker.  He also made me laugh pretty hard when we got to the wooden cutting board section, and he literally started to scan a chopping block that was larger than any counter space we’ve got in our little apartment. :)

...couldn't resist this one...

...attempting to register for the snow-cone machine...

Kyle was a blast to register with!  I was a little nervous because I’ve seen some couples registering together before where the Mr. looks like he would rather be anywhere else in the world but there, but Kyle was the complete opposite.  We really enjoyed picking things that we both liked!  We both seem to lean toward a similar style which made choosing things really fun.  We both love natural elements such as birds and vines, and muted shades of blues, greens, and yellows.  There are several things on our list that we are both really enthusiastic about!  

(Finished at our first store, and excited about the next!)

(...You know you’re maturing when you’re totally stoked about your future shower-curtain rod, food storage containers, and dish-drying mat)

It was a huge sigh of relief to get that job done, and after our day-long adventure, it made me smile ear to ear to walk back into his apartment  (it will be "our" apartment in just 139 days) and picture it with all of the decor, appliances, gadgets, and tools that we are hoping for to transform that space from an apartment into a home. 

meet my new brother!

my new brother....

Cute, right?! This Brother Sewing Machine was my 21st birthday gift from my mom.  She went above and beyond with this thing!  Yes, I'd asked for one, but I'd also asked if I could just have her old one...and she suprised me with this!  I don't know a whole lot about sewing machines, but I do know that this one is awwwesoooome. It has a quick-set bobbin, a special doo-hickey that threads the needle for me, and programmable stitches!

I had been wishing for a sewing machine so that I could get started on several of my craft ideas for the wedding and reception.  I also was hoping to be able to sew some pillow covers and some curtains for mine and Kyle's apartment when we're married. 

And now that I have my super-sweet sewing machine, wedding crafts are in full swing!  I am now a part-time Starbucks barista and a full-time "wedding craftaholic". 

I gave my new sewing machine a warm welcome by sewing up the fabric squares that will go in the middle of the reception tables on the white tablecloths.  I wanted to bring in my wedding colors and add a little more life to the center-pieces with these squares.  So in my head the centerpieces will build up from these squares...I picture tea-lights, an antique book, and a mason jar with a yellow and white wild-flower arrangement or an arrangement made of twigs and tree branches.

(There are 46 of these bad boys)

Another project underway (and probably my favorite one so far) includes the two banners that will hang in the reception hall.  The wedding recepetion will be held at The Watson Building in downtown Lubbock.  Inside there are two sets of stairs that lead up to two balconies on opposite sides of the room.  I am making a banner for each of the two balconies.   On one balcony, the banner will read, "Forever And Ever And Ever", and the banner on the opposite side will read, "To The Mood And Back".  "To the moon and back" is an expression that Kyle's mom, Liz, used to tell her sons how much she loved them when they were young (and still to the this day), and Kyle uses it now to tell me how much he loves me.

Here are the pieces so far....

Since taking these pictures, I have folded over each square about an inch and stitched it, leaving enough room for me to put a small rope through each square.  The rope will stretch from one end of the balcony banister to the other.  I'm going for something kind of whimsical and home-made.

I hope you enjoy!!

Expect a post soon on my (hopefully) tasty wedding favors.