Cupcakes for Any Occasion, Reviewed

 

Cupcakes for Any Occasion by Rachel Lindsay, a.k.a. “Caked by Rach” to her over three million social media followers, is a delightful and inspiring guide that transforms cupcake baking and decorating into an accessible, joyful experience, and this is something I do not say lightly. As someone who typically dreads baking — I do it, but I don’t like it — I found myself genuinely excited to try the recipes and designs in this book. Without hesitation, I can say this is the best cupcake book I’ve encountered, perfect for novices and seasoned bakers alike.

The book features 20 delectable cupcake and frosting recipes, paired with over 50 creative decorating projects tailored for holidays, birthdays, weddings, baby showers, and more. From whimsical Halloween ghosts and festive Christmas trees to charming butterflies and even playful spaghetti and meatballs designs, Lindsay’s creations are as imaginative as they are approachable. (Her skull cupcakes really spoke to me.)

Each project is accompanied by detailed, step-by-step photography and straightforward instructions, making complex-looking designs achievable for bakers of all skill levels. If you’ve ever wondered how to properly use a pastry bag, your questions are answered here — that alone, in my opinion, is worth the price of the book.What sets this book apart is its focus on simplicity and affordability. Lindsay uses basic tools and techniques that anyone can master. The recipes for cupcake bases and buttercream frostings are versatile, allowing endless mix-and-match possibilities to suit any occasion. Her clear guidance on essential baking and decorating methods ensures that even those with no prior experience—like myself—can produce stunning, professional-looking results.For added value, pairing the book with Lindsay’s online videos (Instagram and YouTube) enhances the learning experience, offering visual demonstrations that complement the written instructions.Cupcakes for Any Occasion is a foolproof guide that delivers. Whether you’re a reluctant baker or a cupcake enthusiast, this book will leave you eager to whip up your next batch of show-stopping cupcakes. Highly recommended for bakers of all ages and skill levels!

You can order your copy here.

 Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher who provided me with an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review. 

 As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Tulip Time at the Table

 

When I bought the Lazy Susan that I introduced you to last week, I honestly had no idea that I would have so much fun with it. I have yet to use it at dinner as a way to serve seasonings, condiments, or various Indian or Chinese dishes, but I have been having a delightful time decorating it.

I love to set a beautiful table, and I equally love those three tier stands, but sometimes dealing with either of those seems a bit daunting. This little gem, on the other hand, requires only a handful of items in order to look inviting.

 I don’t know about the rest of you, but sometimes I will buy one or two plates or cups because I happen to like them, but then wonder about their use. With this Lazy Susan, I can display such items, and enjoy them every day.

The day after Mother’s Day I got a heck of a deal on tulips. Aldi was selling 10 stems of tulips for $2.49. Naturally, I had to buy two. I put them into one of my favorite pitchers, and that was the start of a new arrangement on the Lazy Susan.

I complemented the color of the tulips with organic baby heirloom tomatoes from Melissa’s produce. I also decided to add faux garlic and a bunch of faux scallions to signify spring. Soon enough, I will be bringing in fresh ones of my own.

The plaid napkins are favorites of mine, as well as the little wooden scoop, part of a trio that I picked up last year at Target.

My hope is to change up the arrangement twice a month if not every week, to reflect the changing seasons, and display some of my favorite things.

 
 

The Holiday Hutch

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My mother was a great lover of Christmas. Every Christmas morning for my entire life, she treated the family to a most excellent Christmas brunch. Christmas has never been the same since she passed away. As a consequence, these past years it has taken me longer than usual to get into the holiday decorating mood. I still haven’t fully embraced it, but, giving myself a break this year and allowing myself to decorate half as much as I usually do, has made the task less daunting. I decided to limit myself to fewer rooms than normal, focusing on the kitchen and dining areas where I tend to spend the most time. My goal was to use things that I had not used in the past.

The plates, mounted on stands, were a new purchase last year.
 

 The green lantern has a red mate that I am currently using to decorate my two-tier tray. Both of these belonged to my mother.

Similarly, the stack of Santa luncheon plates, a long time family favorite, belonged to her as well. They sit on top of black square dinner plates by Rachael Ray, which sit on top of Portugal majolica leaf chargers.

 

The two sets of salt and pepper shakers are vintage, and from her collection. My aunt (her younger sister), tells me that she gave her the Mr. and Mrs. Snowman salt and pepper shakers many years ago for Christmas. Mother has always been a fan of Christmas, and buying her lovely holiday tableware for gifts was always welcome.

 

The teapot and cups and saucers are Waechtersbach in their “Christmas tree” pattern. Two other cups are on my two-tier tray. I love the set. It is so cheery, and always gets a lot of admiring comments from family and friends. That warmer really works. Is there anything better than a cup of hot tea and a freshly baked cookie on a cold afternoon?

My tree is finally up, a small one (my mother’s, are you detecting a theme here?), The gifts are wrapped, and the cards are mailed. Now it’s time to bake cookies and work on two Christmas dinners that I will be serving this year to very few people.

I hope you have some lovely and heartwarming plans in place as well. It’s going to be a weird one, but let’s be thankful they we're all here to celebrate.

 

Decorating with lamps can be illuminating.

I tend not to be the kind of person who dwells on things, and I’m talking about loss. I tend to be the kind of person to buck up and carry-on, because life is just too short not to. But, during the month of December, I find I am really missing my mom. Mother loved Christmas. She shopped for people all year long, carefully considering their personalities, wants, needs, and senses of style when buying gifts. She was also the person to whom I would turn whenever I had a decorating dilemma. She would shoot from the hip, and tell me if my idea was a good one, or stank on ice.

So, my friends, I turn to you with a query… Is this too much? My builder, Joe, installed an electrical outlet beneath this (mother’s) table today. I was considering a light over the picture, and then remembered this pair of lamps that used to belong to my parents. I love the lamps with their tall bases and leather shades. I would like to use them somewhere, and am wondering if this is the place. It is a dark corner that needs illumination, but am I overdoing things here? What are your thoughts? Here are a couple of views from various angles to give you the lay of the land.

A final note, the table also belonged to my parents, and the silk floral arrangement stays. It was made for my mother by the daughter of a long-time family friend who was killed in an automobile accident the following week. Lots of feeling and sentimentality here, as in most of my house.

 Shine a light on my darkness. (Sorry, cheap shot, but I couldn’t resist.) ;-)

 

Simple Changes Yield Big Results

I don’t know about you, but I do know that I am not the only person refreshing, redoing, renewing, and remodeling my home. I have seen more changes in my and my friends' homes during the lock-down than I have in the past decade! I think there is something about staying in, and looking at the same thing every day, that calls for a change. (I won’t mention whether or not that feeling has extended to significant others.)

I made a few changes to my entry hall, kitchen, and stairs leading to the great room that I will share later. Today, I’m going to share the simple changes with big impact that I made in my bedroom. My bedroom has become my sanctum sanctorum. There are days when I hardly leave my king-size bed; I just pile it up with books, craft projects, snacks, and the remote, and spend the day enjoying myself.

After a month, I started getting sick of looking at everything, so I gave it a good clean, and swapped out the draperies and bedding for something new. The second photo from the top is the before picture; I like it, I just grew tired of it.

Here is the after picture. I was looking for texture and pattern, as well as a worldlier look to complement the framed picture over the bed. I think I’ve accomplished that. It may surprise you to learn that, at the base of the bed, is an Anthropologie macramé table runner; running down the center is an African mud cloth throw. If you’re looking for a quick and interesting change, textiles make an impactful difference. Don’t be limited by their designated use, think outside the box. Drape them over chairs, sofas, or even your bed, as I have done here.

The basket at the end of the bed once held produce and other edible goodies (as well as a luscious bottle of wine) from Melissa’s Produce. I love the look and sturdiness of it, and have used it again and again. I keep ringing that bell, but nobody, thus far, has waited on me. ;-)

Sleep tight!

Baker's Rack Redo

I'm not sure how many people would agree with me, but I find cleaning therapeutic. 

When Mr. O-P passed way, I had a tremendous need to clean and put things in order. 

I think being able to physically align things helped to offset internal chaos. 

One of the things I felt a need to change was the baker's rack in the kitchen. 

It had become a source of visual chaos, having accumulated many sentimental things to the point of being overwhelming. 

I wanted something fresh, new, and serene, so took everything off, cleaned it up, and started all over again.

I love the new look, and it is so much more practical having things on it that I actually use rather than just stare at. It still holds both old and new favorite things, but also seems far less random and more orderly.

This post is linked to:

Silver Pennies Sunday
Merry Monday

Art of Homemaking

Amaze Me Monday

Busy Mondays

Inspiration Monday

Metamorphosis Monday 

Make It Pretty Monday

Inspire Me Tuesday

Tuesdays At Our Home

Two Cup Tuesday
Tutorials and Tips Tuesday

Homemaking Party Tuesday

Wow Us Wednesday
Work It Wednesday

Wine’d Down Wednesday

Wake up Wednesday

The DIY Collective
Thursday Favorite Things

Foodie Friday & Everything Else

What Does your Christmas Tree Say about You?

It's time to put up the Christmas tree again and, is it just me, or did those months roll around really quickly? It seems like only yesterday that I was planting seeds and waiting with great anticipation to see them sprout. 

As I was getting out the ornaments and other holiday tree embellishments, I was struck by how much the decorated tree has become such a representation of my life and interests. This made me wonder just what trees say about the people who decorate them.

Family is very important to me.

 I am a lover of travel.

I'm a reader of mysteries and avid fan of Sherlock Holmes.

I'm a bit of an Anglophile.
A fan of mail art and decorative stamps, I also like Charles Dickens and “A Christmas Carol.”

I love music, used to be a brass player, and majored in music for a while.

I love the pomp and circumstance surrounding the English hunt.

A new addition last year, I had to pay homage to “Downton Abbey.”

The next time you are decorating your tree, stand back and take a good look. What does your tree say about you? Let me know in a comment below.

  

This post is linked to:

Great Idea Thursday

Create It Thursday

Think and Make Thursday
Home and Garden Thursday

Thursday Favorite Things

Simple and Sweet Fridays

Foodie Friday & Everything Else

Fridays Flash Blog

Friday Frenzy

Displaying Flatware

 In my last table setting post, I showed off my new Pottery Barn Antique Silver Flatware, a Christmas gift from my dad, mentioning that I liked it so much that I didn’t want to put it away.  I love that it looks as though it has been passed from generation to generation, and that each piece is inscribed with its name.  After I wrote that post I thought, why am I putting it away?  Why hide something in a drawer or closet and only bring it out occasionally?  

So, I now have it on display where I can see, enjoy, and use it daily.   It has come in handier than I originally thought it would.  I am always grabbing a spoon, it seems, to stir coffee or use in consuming the Greek yogurt that I keep as a staple in the lower level fridge. 

It also provides me with the opportunity to use this cute little flatware and napkin basket, normally employed to tote necessities outside when dining al fresco.

As I look at this little dining room vignette, I realize that each piece here is special.  The basket I bought years ago when my parents had a house at the Lake of the Ozarks.  The wine steward was purchased during a trip to Buck's County, Pennsylvania.  The wall poster I bought at the Yale University bookstore during one of our research trips to New Haven.

While one of my goals this year is to minimize and thus organize, I am finding that there is so much that I can purge, and in the doing, am uncovering some true treasures that make me happy to view.  It pleases me as well, to pass once loved things on for others to cherish for a while, and then continue the cycle.

This post is linked to:

Marvelous Mondays

Inspire Me Tuesday

Tuesdays At Our Home
The Scoop

Tabletop Tuesday

Wow Us Wednesdays

Be Inspired Friday