Calendars

Hey there friends!  After a long break, I'm back refreshed and inspired and I hope you feel the same.  I'm starting off with calendars.  I heart calendars, because calendars are a symbol of time and for me - organization.  I can plot out events and schedules from play dates to the weeks' menu. Although I use a digital calendar, I still use a paper calendar too.  I like to write things down I guess and I like searching for a fun calendar.  Here's some great ones I found.  Get some international inspiration with Houses of the World .  Infographics are everywhere right now and calendars have not escaped the trend.  If you need a little bit of comic relief this Noosed Kitty calendar will keep you smiling.  I'm really into this artful calendar.  Is the Unravel Knitted Calendar from Anthropologie cool or what?  A bit pricey yes, but I would love to see how the year "unravels".  As we ring in the New Year, I wish you all the very best. 

 

Gingerbread Pancakes

My family would be happy to eat pancakes morning, noon or night.  To keep things interesting, I make different pancake flavors during different seasons.  This recipe for gingerbread pancakes infuses the tastes of the holidays into one delightful breakfast treat.  I hope you enjoy them as much as my family does.

 

 

I will be taking some time off from blogging so that I can enjoy the holidays with my family and friends. I wish all of you a peaceful and joyous holiday.  I'll see you in January! xx

 

 

Gold + Copper Holiday Table

Like many of us, I have been busy trying to get all of the details for the holidays taken care of, which has left me little time to blog.  I just wanted to write this post to share with you this gold and copper holiday table I'm planning for a Christmas day brunch I'm hosting.  I'm in love with metallic colors right now, which is perfect for holidays.  I filled cylinders with faux snow and put some fresh greenery inside them for centerpieces along with some gold and copper colored votive candle holders.  The gilded burlap runner and ornaments are from Target.  You got to love Target.  The ornaments also act as place cards for everyone.  I wrapped each place setting in gold glittery ribbon so that each one is like an individual present.  Simple, but it's always the little touches that make a difference. 

Snow

Initially I wanted to post a beautiful image without words, because this weekend has been full of sadness, but then I felt the need to write.  I've been finding beauty in snow lately.  I miss it right now.  Last winter there was very little snow, which is unusual around here.  I miss being inside and watching the snow fall silently to the ground.  I miss shoveling snow and then coming in to drink a warm cup of hot chocolate that's topped off with mountain of whipped cream.  I miss seeing rows of snow covered trees and the life that the snow can bring can bring to the barren landscape. 

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Celebrating This Weekend - My Husband

I'm starting a sort of new series here on Cupcakes & Confetti titled "Celebrating This Weekend".  I've written weekend posts in the past, but now I'm giving it a little bit of a party twist.  My husband's birthday was yesterday and we really end up celebrating it the entire weekend.  This week I've made Star Wars cookies and cupcakes for him and my Mother-in-law will be making him a long time family recipe of angel food cake with pink frosting.  It has to have pink frosting or it just doesn't taste the same.  His birthday isn't complete without this particular cake.  Do you have to have a dessert or food or a tradition that you must have for your birthday every year?  Have a lovely weekend friends! xx

 

 

 

 

Modern Christmas

My taste is all over the map.  I would describe it as traditional, modern, vintage.  The items below reflect my love of modern design.  Clean, simple and fresh.  The collection of modern shaped Christmas trees in the classic cloche from Dwell Studios reflects two mixes of styles that I like.  I was drawn to the simplicity of the shadow figures painted on the white background by Modern Inspired Design.  I love these metallic colors on these ornaments from Totem Color Blocks.  Aren't these nesting dolls  from Mokkasin just the cutest?  One of these little fellas reminds me of my husband.  Where ever your taste lies, I hope you have a wonderful holiday.  

Emerald

I'm sure you've heard by now that emerald is the Pantone color of the year.  I have to say I absolutely adore shades of green.  It's a color that's both familiar and full of life.  It can remind you of Christmas or of spring. There is green sprinkled through my house and I used the color in my wedding many years ago.  So, you know what I think of the color green.  What do you think?

1.The Decoist 2.We Love Citrus 3.Uncommon Goods
4.Mod Cloth 5. Sweet Paper Shop 6.Green Wedding Shoes

6 Months and Counting

 

Cupcakes & Confetti is 6 months old today!  I can't believe I made it this far.  This time last year, I had no idea that I would have a blog.  Since the launch of Cupcakes & Confetti in June, a lot has changed here already.  I (Naree) do most of the blogging, tweeting, posts and pins.  Dara's life has become very busy and she just hasn't been able to devote the time that she would like to.  Maybe she'll pop in again, but until then it's just me.  But, I would like to thank my sister for getting me started.  Dara is the one who pushed me into the idea of starting this whole adventure.  I was intimidated and she, without fear, told me to just go for it and I couldn't be happier. 

Cupcakes & Confetti has become a creative platform for me, a grown up place for me.  If you read the "about" page, you would know that I background is in art.  I'm not an artist, but I appreciate and admire those who can create and inspire others with their work.  I not only like beautiful things, but I also like things that evoke emotion and thought.  I surrounded myself with art in my twenties and then my life evolved into being a devoted mother and my focus became my children.  This blog has brought time to think about myself and the things that I enjoy.  It has been a way for me to collect and share things that I love.  I thank anyone who has stopped by the blog for a glance, or who has followed on Pinterest or Twitter or who has "liked" our FB page.  By the way I could use some more likes, so hop on over there and hit the like button.  Anyway, back to the subject.  I thank you because you have been a part of reenergizing my creative spirit. 

I'd also like to thank Kate at 17th Avenue Designs for bringing our vision of the blog to life.  The design and colors are exactly what we wanted, it's like she read our minds.  If you need a blog makeover or are looking to start of a blog of your own, I highly suggest that you check out 17th Avenue Designs.  Kate is super relaxed and patient and absolutely wonderful to work with. 

I hope you've enjoyed Cupcakes & Confetti so far and I hope to bring more things that inspire great celebrations and that inspire life in the months (years?!) to come.  Thank you friends, I hope you continue to follow along with me on this journey.  XX 

Holiday Card Ideas

I love receiving holiday cards, but it seems as though it's becoming a lost art.  That seems pretty sad to me.  I found four fun holiday cards that may make you reconsider sending your family and friends a little bit of cheer.  Rifle Paper Co. never disappoints and this map of the North Pole is no exception.  I'm loving this modern deer set upon a wood background by Bonjour Pony.  Be sure to check out all of Jenny's designs on her site, they're fabulous.  Now, how can an ugly holiday sweater, not make you smile?  This simple and sweet stated card speaks to me and the stripped envelope is an adorable touch.  Send a card, send some love!   

{Sweet of the Week} Winter Cardinal Cookie

I came across this cardinal cookie on Sweetopia and immediately thought about my husband's grandmother.  She loved cardinals and collected them, sadly she is no longer with us and only by oldest daughter was able to meet her.  Every time we see a cardinal fly by, I always tell my daughters that their great-grandmother is with them.  Maybe I'll attempt to make this cookie for my husband, he would love that.  To find out how to make your own gingerbread cardinal cookie hop over to Sweetopia for the step by step directions. 

Hello December!

Well hello there December!  This is what I'm looking forward to this December: snow, birthdays, Christmas, smiles and magic.  We had very, very little snow last winter here in Michigan.  It was really weird, it didn't seem like winter at all.  To tell you the truth, I would much rather have warm weather than cold, but the snow and the cold make me appreciate the warm weather when it does come.  Snow is good when I don't need to leave the comfort of my home and I can just stay in and turn on the fireplace. 

Our family has two birthdays in December, my husband and my sister-in-law.  That allows for two birthday celebrations two weekends in a row.  Double cake and double fun!  Of course, I can't mention December without saying a little something about Christmas.  Christmas to me means so much more since I've had my children.  Children + Christmas = magic.  There is nothing better than to see the smiles on my girls' faces on Christmas morning in the glow of the lights on the tree.  What do you love about December?