How to make: Kentucky Derby Themed Party Cupcakes

Last Saturday, May 4th was the 139th Kentucky Derby. My husband and I decided to throw a party because we were inspired by our trip to Louisville, Kentucky last October, 2012 for our 6th anniversary road trip.

My husband and I wearing our derby hats, of course.

My mother-in-law's Pecan Pie Bites were a hit!

The Benedictine Cucumber Sandwiches, Paula Dean

We love a good themed party, and it was fun to come up with a menu fit for the occasion. Needing some inspiration, I went to where many ladies my age go, Pinterest. Although I do have to admit, it can be an overwhelming site that can leave you feeling less than crafty yourself. In moderation, it's a great booster for sparking ideas.


I found lots of southern style comfort foods which helped create our spread of: mac n cheese, fried chicken, biscuits, benedictine (cucumber) sandwiches, and pecan pie bites. I did find a couple of pictures of some cupcakes, some covered in large red roses made from icing and others adorned in cheap plastic cowboy hats and horseshoes. The first, a little too fancy for my hands, and the other, a bit too elementary.






My Creation: "Winner's Circle" Chocolate Cupcakes

On my Grandmother's Silver Platter.

Ingredients
Chocolate Cake/Cupcake Mix (not pictured)
White Frosting
Green Sprinkles -grass
Cracklin' Oat Bran Cereal -horseshoes
Red Icing -roses







I'm not going to tell you how to bake cupcakes. Just follow the box, silly. Then let cool before frosting. I let my cupcakes sit overnight under some plastic wrap and decorated a few hours before guests arrived. 

Note: keep cooling cupcakes away from edge of counter so your puppy won't get one. (I had to pull one out of my Chocolate Lab Savannah's mouth)

Made Savy's outfit from a $1 store kid's apron, and iron on numbers

Sprinkle green sprinkles over freshly frosted cupcake before the frosting hardens. This gives it the grass look.

Cupcake Steps

My own /Idea: Carefully cut the edge off of a piece of Cracklin' Oat Bran cereal to make a mini horseshoe.

It takes a few trys to get the hang of it without breaking.

Place the horse shoe in the center of the cupcake and add five red roses using one of the plastic tips that comes with the cupcake icing. Enjoy!

The finished cupcake!

How do you define a space you want to be in?

I define spaces someone wants to be in by calling them smiling spaces. These are rooms or spaces in your home that can lift your spirits and literally make you "smile." They are not perfect, but have a purpose and work for you rather than against you. A smiling space is simple, it reflects the people that use the area and helps them be organized.

I personally tend to be attracted to colorful spaces that are cheerful, bright, and fresh looking. I guess that's why I designed my new Smiling Spaces' expo signage with that in mind. My tag line is: "less piles, more smiles," and as you can see I show a neat stack of folded towels that would definitely make your linen closet "smile." How about you? Does your kitchen or desktop make you smile? Now wouldn't it be nice to have less piles there so that you could find everything when you need it? It's an ongoing maintenance project I know I work on daily. Getting started can be tough, but you just have to start somewhere and stick with it. If your spaces don't make you smile, it may be a sign to try something else, re-organize, and get a new perspective.

Our NEW Signage: 

(NorthTown Mall: Shop Local Business Expo in Blaine, MN 

which was put on by the MetroNorth Chamber of Commerce 

and took place Sat. November 10th, 2012)

2012 Twin Cities Actor Expo

 Are you a disorganized Performing Artist? Live in the Twin Cities area?  
Don't miss the 2012 Twin Cities Actor Expo!

Make sure to stop by the Smiling Spaces booth and get a closer look at our Organized Talent offerings: Organized Talent Tipsheets, Beyond Talent Book, & Performing Artists 10% Discount for organizing services

  

Saturday, March 31, 2012
Hopkins Center for the Arts
1111 Mainstreet, Hopkins, MN 55343
8:45AM (doors open)
Tickets: $35 per person ($40 at the door)

Spend the day with local actors, casting directors, agents, AFTRA and Equity representatives and many other industry professionals.  Learn about the business of acting in the Twin Cities! Morning seminars will be geared toward parents of child actors and novices. Afternoon sessions will be specifically for the working, professional actor. Seminars will address commercials, industrials, stage, voice-overs and much more. After all seminars are over come and join us for a networking happy hour from 5pm-7pm. Cash bar, light appetizers, and entertainment!