Super Simple DIY Cake Pops: Part II

So here are the final cake pops! If you missed the prep section, here is Part I.

How did I make these beautiful babies? Here are the steps I used, and I hope they are helpful for you too.

*Confession: it took two attempts to get these results, so I have added in some tips, based on how the first set of pops came out.*

 

1. Crumble the cake into small pieces. I used angel food cake from Harris Teeter, but you can bake your own cake or use any cake you like. My advice would be to get a heavier cake; the angel food cake was delicious, but it was very light, making the cake balls almost too light for the heavy chocolate coating.

 

2. Mix your frosting in with the crumbled cake and stir until the mix is even. I used the whipped frosting the first time and it was delicious, but together with the angel food cake, it was way too light. In the second attempt, I used buttercream icing, and that worked perfectly!

 

 

3. Cover the mix with plastic wrap and stick it in the fridge for a few hours. T, T.J. and I went out shopping for a bit :-)

 

4. Cover a plate with aluminum foil; roll the cake/frosting mix in your hands to make cute little balls (a little smaller than a golf ball) and place them on the foil. When you have rolled all the mix, stick the plate into the fridge for about 20 minutes.

 

 

5. While the balls are in the fridge, uncover the chocolate and put it on a microwave plate. Microwave for 30 second intervals, stirring in between, until you get a smooth texture.

 

6. Take the balls out the fridge. Dip the end of a cake pop stick into the melted chocolate, and then insert the stick into the ball. When all the balls are done, stick it in the fridge (have you noticed a pattern?).

 

 

7. Now for the dipping! After about 15 minutes in the fridge, take the pops out and dip them into the melted chocolate. After dipping, let the excess chocolate drip back into the pot. Put the stick into the styrofoam so it stands up. Repeat for all the pops.

 

 

 

8. I think you know the next step: stick them in the fridge!

 

That's it! The chocolate will harden in about 15 minutes and the treats will be ready to serve. Yum!

I took these cake pops as a treat for my class reunion. They were a hit!

 

We're Moving In Together!!!

I am so excited, and I can't keep it a secret anymore: T and I are moving in together! I'm sure you're all saying, "Wait, Steph, don't you have a post from February titled Living Together Before Marriage?" Why, yes.... Yes I do. It's true, T, T.J. and I do live together, but I moved into T's apartment after months of "spending the night" because I was over here more often than I was home. But my official address is still somewhere else; that's where all my mail goes, and that's where a lot of my stuff still sits. But now, T and I are going to sign a lease TOGETHER! This is the first thing we have officially done under both our names (well, except making a baby) so I am excited. And I will admit, doing things like this when we are not married is a little more challenging. There are laws and privileges that married couples have access to that we do not. But if I simply wanted to get married in order to make my life easier, I would have gotten married when we watched the double line appear on the test. I am still adamant about marriage being on our own schedule, not because we want to "make life easier". Sorry, I don't know when that soapbox appeared *back to your corner, soapbox!* Anyway, get ready for a bunch of nesting posts in the near future! First stop, Ikea tomorrow with Mom and baby boy to window shop for furniture. And many pics to come.

Super Simple DIY Cake Pops: Part I



Tia Mowry's cake pop display at her baby shower
{Photo from EntertainmentRundown.com}



I started watching reruns of the show Tia & Tamera on the Style network while I was pregnant, and I could relate to everything Tia Mowry was going through as it happened. In one of the episodes, she and her sister head to a bakery to sample desserts for Tia's baby shower. And what do they show over and over and over? Cake pops! To a swollen, tired, pregnant Steph, that episode was like porn. I watched it three times that day (oh, the joys of On Demand). And when T came home from work, what do you think I begged him to find me?

So, off he went to secure his preggo girlfriend some cake pops, and when he came home with five different flavors, I couldn't do anything but hug him and cry. I fell in love instantly after that, and ever since then, I have been waiting for a reason to either buy some more, or make them myself.

Yesterday, I decided I couldn't wait any longer; I went to my best friend Google to find some DIY recipes. And after reading through instructions and watching YouTube tutorials, I figured I would try my hand at a basic cake pop. I'll tell you right now, I didn't make it to decorating; those tutorials could last ALL DAY and could get really difficult. This will just be a basic chocolate covered vanilla cake on a stick.

My main goal was to streamline the instructions as best I could. With a baby who now enjoys reaching, grabbing, and putting things in his mouth, I had to work fast and keep the steps SUPER simple (hence, the title).

What I used:

• Cake! Like I said, this is the easy, easy version, so of course I bought a cake. My local grocery store has an amazing bakery, so I just picked up one of their delicious pound cakes.
• Frosting. I chose Betty Crocker Whipped Vanilla frosting for $1.89 at Target. I am just a big fan of whipped cream frosting, but I am sure any frosting (chocolate, buttercream, cream cheese) will work perfectly as well.


• Chocolate. I found Baker's Dipping Chocolate at Target for $1.94. It comes in a microwave safe container, so you don't have to put the wafers in a separate bowl. Five points for eliminating a dish to wash!
• Sticks. I found Bella cake pop sticks at Target as well. They were the most expensive item at $3.99(except the cake of course), but because they are so long, I was able to cut them in half and get 60 sticks instead of 30.
• Sandwich bags. Instead of buying treat bags, I just used regular sandwich bags from the dollar store ($1 for 100 bags) and cut the zipper off the top.
• Ribbon. I already have TONS of ribbon around the house, but you can get some from the dollar store ($1 for a spool).

How did they turn out? Stay tuned for Super Simple DIY Cake Pops: Part II to read the steps I did and see the results.

{Photos in this post are personal, unless otherwise noted.}

Long Hair, Don't Care

I know, not the most original title, but I was excited about this kindle book that I just downloaded, and I wanted to share it with you: Hair Care Rehab: The Ultimate Hair Repair and Conditioning Manual. This book couldn't have come at a better time for me. On Wednesday, I chemically straightened my hair for the first time in 4 years. It has been a fun time being natural, but with the baby and our busy schedule, I just couldn't keep up with the crazy regimen my natural hair needs to stay presentable.





The pic on the left was my natural hair, styled in a twistout. I loved that style, but it only lasted for one or two days before turning into a tangled, frizzy afro. The worst part was detangling after it frizzed up; even when I kept it moisturized, the tight curls would still find a way to knot by day two. The pic on the right is from yesterday, and so far I am LOVING my new hair. I know I will be back to detangling when the new growth starts to get thick, but that little detangle is nothing compared to trying to rake my comb through my ENTIRE length.

Okay, back to the book! Now that I have chemically processed my hair, I need to treat my hair to some SERIOUS love and care. I just want to make sure my hair does not get dry or weak from the processing. Plus, I have to have long, healthy hair for the wedding! One of my major goals is to use my own hair for the wedding (no tracks, no weaves, no extensions). I want to style my hair in the polular and traditional bridal updos that are plastered through all the wedding magazines. Yep, I'm the hopeless romantic! So when I stumbled upon this guide to Hair Care Rehab, I hit download immediately. Some of the book's tips I remember from my previous relaxed days, like moisturinzing and sealing with oil. But the book reminded me that I HAVE to remember to take care of my ends, since they are the oldest, and they are always rubbing on clothing when my hair is down. So I guess that means I have to go back to my protective styling. I will probably start next week with that because I am still enjoying wearing my new hair down to show off the length. *Insert me singing "I whip my hair back and forth..."*

As I read more and try some of the conditioning techniques, I will share some of the tips I have learned. And I will keep you updated on my growth. Do you have any tips and tricks to keep your hair long, strong, and beautiful before the strain of wedding day styling?

{All photos in this post are personal}

Friday is "Bride"day: Shhh... don't tell...

Welcome to the Friday is "Bride"day series in which I will introduce the latest DIY tip, wedding day idea, or major wedding decision I am facing in my quest for the perfect big day!

I am going to tell you a big secret. Well... more like make a confession. But it's a secret confesssion, so please don't tell. I'm trusting you...

I admit it....I have a wedding obsession. A big one.
Wait.... why are you rolling your eyes??? What do you mean, "Everyone already knows that?!?!"

Yeah, I guess you're right. I suppose the biggest giveaway is that I am writing a wedding planning blog and I haven't even gotten a ring yet.

Which brings me to secret confession Number Two: I have been stalking the ring posts on wedding forums. And I recently became obsessed with moissanite.

One of my favorite engagement rings from Moissanite & Co. {Photo courtesy of MoissaniteCo.com}

What is moissanite, you ask? Well, according to the Moissanite & Co website, "moissanite's unique gemstone composition and crystalline structure give it significantly greater luster, brilliance and more than two times the fire of a diamond." And it is ethically produced! I kind of want a ring that I can be proud of, not one that got to my hand by the conflict and pain of others. (Don't worry, I have no intention of spouting quotes from the movie Blood Diamond.) Mostly, I can't see forcing T to pay the exorbitant prices for a ring I may be hesitant or scared to wear in public because of the implications of its origin.

So, back to moissanite. And my latest obsessions. After I found Moissanite & Co during my google lurking, I have been pricing every different setting and stone combo I can find. And of course, because my mother and I are certain we used to be old rich women in a previous life, I stumbled upon the Tiffany inspired solitaire settings. *Insert dreamy eyed, princess themed, heavy sigh here*

The top image is straight from the Tiffany & Co. website. And if you clicked the link (I know you did!) and saw the price, I hope you didn't fall on the floor like I did.  Yes, $11,000 for the one carat solitaire. Ummm....I don't think you heard me: I said ELEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS!!! Maybe I had a VERY different idea about the cost of engagement rings. Or maybe I understand why I have never been tempted to look at Tiffany jewelry. Finding linens in "Tiffany blue" is about as far as I go. Now, the bottom image is courtesy of the Moissanite & Co. website. I love, love, LOVE this one because it looks both solid and beautifully delicate at the same time. When I read the part of the description that mentioned this was a "Tiffany inspired setting," I wanted to compare. And in my eyes, there is NO comparison: the moissanite wins, hands down. Plus, Moissanite & Co has an upgrade called Amora that enhances the brightness and color of the stone. Okay, okay, I know what you're thinking: get to the bottom line, Steph. A one carat round moissanite stone in the Tiffany inspired setting with the Amora upgrade comes to a whopping $920. Yep, that's less than 10% of the Tiffany ring.

See? Even in my materialistic moments like today, I can have my spoiled princess wishes while still being frugal. *Insert another dreamy sigh* Don't worry, I will be sure to share all the juicy, amazing details and photos when and if the day comes that this ring (or ANY) appears on my obsessed, greedy hand. Until then, I am going to go do something constructive and a little less superficial/materialistic.