Mermade Moments: December 2013



Friday, December 27, 2013

2014.

I came across this quote years ago. I repost it every single year. It is the perfect reminder.
Feel free to use it :) the quote was not originally mine, but this graphic is.


Thursday, December 26, 2013

Brown Sugar Cinnamon Body Scrub Tutorial

As mentioned in my previous post, I made body scrubs for gifts this Christmas. These scrubs are seriously perfect for any occasion. They are easy to make and inexpensive.

The Low Down:
  • Labels- I made them with an Avery circle template that I found at work. I got the Moon Flower font from here
  • Jars- Hobby Lobby on sale for 50% off! Only $1.99 each.
  • Scrub- All natural, all household ingredients, nothing fancy!
Recipe:

After searching online, I realized all the "recipes" are based on personal preference and all different. Too oily, not oily enough. I decided to do it myself. Here's what I did!
  • 2 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1/2 cup of olive oil (add 1/4 cup at a time)
Add the sugars and the cinnamon together in a large bowl. Mix it together. Then add the vanilla and the honey. Mix that too. Add the olive oil 1/4 cup at a time, until it is the texture you like. I added oil and stirred at the same time.


I found that 1/2 cup of olive oil was just right. It's grainy and not saucy looking at all. Just what I wanted. I spooned it into the jars loosely, closed the lid, and put my little label on top.


I wanted a way to incorporate the ingredient list without compromising the look of the jar at all. I found little kraft paper tags at Hobby Lobby and hand wrote the ingredients. On the front, I added "for when life gets rough". I tied it with red twine and I was done! It can be left out on a bathroom counter without worrying about little hands getting ahold of it. It's totally edible...no poison control number needed.


What holiday do you plan on making these for?


Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Cupcake or Cocoa?


...that is the question.

One of my most popular Christmas cupcake flavors is Peppermint Hot Chocolate. It is a chocolate cupcake, topped with a homemade whip cream and crushed up candy canes.


To recreate this:
  • use your favorite chocolate cupcake recipe (or a box mix if you have to)
  • whip up heavy whipping cream and granulated sugar using the whisk attachment on your mixer (I guess-timate the amount of the whipping cream and I usually use four decent sized pinches of sugar)
  • crush up your candy canes, sprinkle them, and voila!
Take it up a notch:
  • bake a giant marshmallow inside for that extra hot cocoa feel
  • or bake a peppermint Hershey Kiss in the middle. Yum!
Need a cupcake fix? Visit Cakes for Days on facebook or follow me on IG at meranneduh1


Thursday, December 12, 2013

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Cupcakes

Fun Fact : I bake for a part of my living. I have an office job by day and I bake at night.
Fun Fact 2 : My business is called Cakes for Days. Yes, it means what you think.

This week I had the pleasure of receiving a Ninja Turtle cupcake order. My first one ever! I do character orders very rarely. I pride myself in my unique and delicious cupcake flavors, but would like to expand into more fondant work.

ninja-turtle-cupcakes

Looking at them now, they're lookin' kinda rough. Still cute though! My favorite are the little pizzas. So fun.

ninja-turtle-pizza-cupcake

I didn't follow any directions, I just kind of browsed Google images and went for it.

Masks: marshmallow fondant
Eyes & Mouths: buttercream frosting
Pizzas: marshmallow fondant, painted with food coloring

I used to make my fondant. Every. Single. Time. I decided that was too much time and too much work. I'd rather spend a few extra dollars and have PERFECT fondant. Fondant is trickaaaay. If it's too hot, it doesn't work. If you work with it too long, it doesn't work. It also makes a huge mess. Since I currently bake out of my house, I just don't have the space for a little fondant factory. You think there's oompa loompas for that?

fondant-work-station

I just rolled and rolled the little masks and shaped little pizzas. Next time, I would like the masks to be more flat. Other than that, I'm happy with them.

teenage-mutant-ninja-turtle-cupcakes

Find more of my work on by "like" page, Cakes for Days.
For local orders, contact me at miranduh007@yahoo.com.


Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Pumpkin Dip Recipe

I probably should have done this post before Thanksgiving, but truth is... I didn't even try the recipe until that morning!

I saw one variation on one of my favorite blogs, here and also a few on Pinterest. I kind of just went for it!

What you will need :
  • 14.5 ounce can of pumpkin (I used pure)
  • 1 container of Cool Whip
  • 1 box of vanilla pudding mix (just the powder)
  • A couple dashes of pumpkin pie spice
  • A couple dashes of powdered sugar
Mix it all together and enjoy! I served mine with mini graham crackers. You could use Nilla wafers, graham crackers, a spoon (if you're like my family), or I think it would be great on a bagel or even in coffee.

This dip is SO easy and yummy! Light, fluffy, just the right amount of pumpkin. It was a hit with my little sister and my mom. You know it's good if mom asks to keep it when you leave! :)

Make it for Christmas. Make it for yourself. Just make it!

Monday, December 2, 2013

Diamond Candles

This is my very first (unsponsored) product post.
diamond-candle
I received my first Diamond Candle this weekend! I ordered it a couple weeks ago and I could not wait to get it. I ordered the Apple Slice.
Here's the low down.
  • $24.95 gets you a 21 ounce soy candle with a diamond ring inside! The rings range from $10, $100, $1000 or $5000!!
  • There is a gold, circle sticker on the inside of the glass that tells you where your ring is.
  • Technically, you are supposed to burn it until that point and then get your ring out. I, however, took a spoon to it. :) patience has never been a virtue of mine.
this was after I put all the wax back in

So you dig and you dig, I mean burn, until you see that shiny glimmer of gold. This is what emerges.
My ring was in the $10 range, but it was beautiful. (the website has guidelines to tell how much your ring is worth) Ready for it????
diamond-candle-ring

Ain't she a beauty??? Coulda fooled me with that $10 price tag! I got that rock and a yummy smelling candle!

Diamond Candles is the perfect gift for all the lovely ladies in your life!