I am famous for throwing holiday themed parties.  Halloween is by far the biggest event of the year for me, however, Valentine’s day is never forgotten.  Last year I got together a few good friends for a valentine card making party and this year – it’s going to be even better.   So before I come to my senses about this I am going to post it for everyone to see.  There is no backing out now – and I am looking very forward to how busy this is going to keep me for the next couple weeks.  Please leave a comment and your e-mail if you would like to attend!

Seasons Greetings from my dog Hooch.  Who was delighted to put on this santa hat for the camera.  Can’t you tell?

PS:  Take a look at my kitchen… it’s not finished yet but what an improvement over THIS.

Well, there certainly is laundry to be done around here but I will spare you that photograph.  I will, however, share with you these happy little gingerbread men that I made for our cookie exchange last week.  I found the recipe in Romantic Cakes by Peggy Porschen.  It worked wonderfully and tasted amazing!  All my little gingerbread men found homes in someone else’s freezer and they’ve never looked happier about it!  Do pick up Peggy’s book, it’s fantastic!

In other news poor Hooch has had his “snip snip” this week.  After jumping over my fence and spending a night out on the town (getting into trouble, I’m sure) he earned himself his delightful little surgery that I couldn’t have been more happy to schedule.  Mr. Cupcake couldn’t even argue with me about it this time! Ha!

So needless to say – Hooch has been a poor pathetic mess all week long.  Knocking things over with his cone and refusing to eat or drink unless spoon fed.  What a baby.  Although, maybe I should cut him some slack – I’m sure he had grown very attached to his “jingle janglies”.  (Tough luck, buddy!)

And to top it all off – our house is Christmas central this year!  I am hugely excited (and hugely stressed).  Part in parcel because nothing says Christmas spirit like re-painting your kitchen!  I had leaned toward doing a blue kitchen but was immeadiately vito’d by Mr. Cupcake who wanted something more masculine.  Oh Foo!

Well – I should always stop worrying when Mr. Cupcake and color come together.  He always seems to pick great colors that I’ve never even considered.  Check out our “Earthenware” back splash and “Shortbread” cupboards.  Yes… It’s a big work in progress.  Especially when there is a one year old involved.  (Notice the lack of fresh paint on the bottom cupboards!)  Mr. Cupcake is determined that we could just leave the bottom cupboards to be done until later… but I do believe it is my turn to vito.  This job is getting done.  Today.  Nuff Said. 

I am so excited to boast about Baby Cupcake’s Christmas photos.  A) Because it’s my duty as a mother and B) because they were done to perfection (as usual) by my ever talented brother-in-law Kevin.  (Especially since we didn’t really have an appointment… We just kinda showed up for dinner and said, “Take pictures…. NOW!”) Thanks a bunch Kev!  Click here to visit his site.

I remember them being one of my favourite things about the holiday season.  Everyday my sister and I would run downstairs, open a little paper door and get a chocolate (before breakfast)!!  This year our family has a fabric Christmas tree with numbered ornaments because (as we all know) the chocolate advent calendars are just NOT what they used to be. 

So here are some advent calendar ideas to get everyone into this wonderful tradition I love so much!

This cute idea for anyone who knits is from CasaSugar

This is such a great way to use mixed media.  Look closely – it’s a cookie sheet!  There’s scrapbook paper, chipboard letters, ribbon, magnets.  This looks like a really fun project or gift idea!  From Making Memories.

I’m not as much a fan of this one as I was last week.  You can find this one at Target or at Home Outfitters in Canada.  It looks okay in the picture, but it’s actually quite small in real life.  I’ve seen it for $15 state side but here in Canada this one is a pricey $40.

Now this – THIS – is the Advent Calendar to reign over all other Advent Calendars.  Does it look familiar??  This is an exact replica of the one Chevy Chase had in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.  I would give an eye tooth for this one.  (Well not really).

From Christmas Advent House.   They cost $595 US each, plus $89 US shipping. The house also has to be ordered a year in advance.  Dimensions 31.25″ W x 21.5″H x 11″D. 22 pounds.  22 POUNDS!  Hokey Smokes!

I am happy to have found this but… that is some price tag.  Maybe if I win the lottery.  Think – family heirloom – family heirloom… nope still too expensive.

Another Halloween past.  Another Successful party!  Everyone had a great time last night at the Haunted Housewarming (even recovering Baby Cupcake who trick-or-treated for the first time!)  Once again – there was way too much food.  To think that I even had a worry!  Check out these photos!

After seeing so many sculpted figures out there I thought that I should start giving it a try.  I had so much fun making this little figure – and he’s not done yet.  I’m not sure how far I will be able to get on him because baby cupcake has come down with yet another ear infection.  The timing is impeccable!  And so with my sweet girl needing her mommy – I ordered a sweet tray from the grocery store instead of baking.  Ah well.  Maybe next year.  Get Well Soon Baby!

It is Monday.  Housewarming is Friday.  OMG… really…. that is not a lot of time.  I’m starting to feel the crunch that every hostess feels about this time.  The co-ordination crunch.  Do I have this, when should I make that, supplies check, costume check… what am I missing – etc.

As soon as I am done this post I am off to do baking for the party.  I thought that maybe this would be a good time to share with you some of the treats I am thinking of making for the big PAR-TAY.

Of course, I have to give credit to my fellow bloggers who shared all their great Halloween ideas recently and totally inspired my menu!

First is:

Vampire Cupcakes by Baking Bites 

Vanilla Cupcakes with Cherry Filling for the blood!

 Second:

Bakerella’s  Pumpkin Pecan Chocolate Chunk Cookies With Maple Brown Butter Frosting (what a mouthful!)

These look to die for! Can’t wait to try them!

Third:

Cake truffles and Candied apples like the ones featured here by Williams Sonoma

And what about that Halloween tree??  Well I couldn’t really find any hardcore inspiration on the web for one… Halloween tree’s just aren’t that popular… yet.  I’ll push the movement   But I did find an all right one over at Better Homes and Gardens

Ho-ly-cow.  I. Am. Pooped.  Today is of course Wednesday the 22nd and eons past Thanksgiving.  However, our household held a belated Thanksgiving this past weekend with 2 Grandma’s, 2 Grandpa’s, 1 cupcake lady disguised as someone who could cook turkey (really I just got lucky this time that it didn’t burn), 1 exhausted Mr. Cupcake, a very cranky teething Baby Cupcake and 5 unruly mongrels dogs.  Yes FIVE.  That’s enough dog to leave me picking dog hair from my teeth for the week!

So I have been attempting to get my house back to a simple state of “orderly” but have thwarted by the Teething Monster Baby Cupcake who decided that last night’s bedtime should be moved to 3:45AM.  7 o’ clock came all to quick this morning and a cashier at the grocery store mentioned that I was looking a little “rough” today.

But no fear!  Sleep and order will be restored.  It just may take quite a bit of mysome time.  In the mean time I am happy to report that my Lil’ Cuppie Artwork came in the mail!  I had just about forgotten that I had ordered this little beauty… It was like Christmas when I looked in my mailbox!  Thank You Cakespy!

If you are not familiar with the work of Cakespy then do Click Here.

I have so much to get blogging about.  I can’t wait to show you all the fun things I have been working on!  Tata for now!

Slowly I will turn this house into a haunted wonderland.  I have already begun by bringing out my spooks that I made last year with black poster paper.  So far, I like what I see.  However, I have yet to see the real oomph that I am looking for.  In my mind there is still a Halloween Tree to go up in the right hand corner and the dining room will be candy central come Halloween night.