Hurdle Jumped.

I did it.  I said goodbye. 

I posted notice on my website.  I put Etsy in permanent vacation mode.  I've officially closed up shop.  And while I'm still feeling a bit antsy about all of this, I know that given a couple of days, I'll feel calmer and calmer and begin to enjoy my newly reclaimed freedom.

Already, I can feel my face more relaxed and less pinched.  And, I'm not feeling as frantic as I go through the steps of each day.  I've had two friends interrupt me to say that I look happier and healthy.  My mental to-do list has dwindled from a thousand entries to somewhere near twenty-five.

Ahhh.  I just can't begin to put a price on that.  Sometimes, I forget how much my well-being is worth.  I hope you'll jump in and remind me from time to time.  I certainly need a nudge every now and then when it comes to considering myself a priority. 

This feels good.  Great, even.

Saying A Sad Farewell on Sarandipity Sweets blog

Weekend Scrapbook 3

Another weekend has rudely flown on by.  When will they ever learn to stick around a little longer, to move a little more slowly?

I spent some time on Saturday in the garden center at Lowe's.  Just being among the flowers and plants brings me peace.  It helps get me back to centered, in a way.  And it doesn't hurt that the Dahlias and Daisies were blooming so bright and cheery for me.

And of course, while I was there, I became enamored with a plant that just absolutely needed to go home with us.  This time it was a half-price Hibiscus, and the only one left with red blooms.

I've since named her, "Jane."

Jane has lots more buds, just ready to open up and say hello.

For scale:  Rory meet Jane.  She will block the path you've stubbornly been using, despite our having put up hazards and blocks.  She will force you to walk around so that the grass in that patch will finally have a chance to grow.  Make nice with Jane, you hear?

Jane might possibly have been my reward for accomplishing this: On Friday, I finished up an order of 216 cake pops for a local wedding and then delivered and set up on Saturday.  The groom made the stand, and I filled it up with 5 different designs and flavors of cake pops.  Hurrah for being finished! 

(For the curious, there are more photos over on the Sarandipity blog.)

Wordless Wednesday: Eggs-cellent!

More photos over at the Sarandipity blog!

Today is Brought to You by the Letter M

M.  As in Monday, MS, and money! 

You mayyyy remember a whopping month ago, I mentioned my new blog, Sarandipity, and helping my childhood friend, Jenny, fundraise for her Multiple Sclerosis walk.  I decided to make my donation this year with the help of Sarandipity Sweets, to see how much we could raise by making it a joint effort.  It was simple - for every cake pop sold in March, I'd donate fifty cents.  Want to know how we did? :D

I'm proud to announce that, with all your amazing support, Sarandipity Sweets donated $313 to MS research through Jenny's team.  Hurrah!  I'm seriously so amazed and thankful for everyone who teamed up to help make a huge donation. 

How's that for a happy Monday, eh? 

March-ing for MS

Jenny & Sara, 1985

Big News, Chapter One:

During the entire month of March, Sarandipity Sweets will donate 50 cents for every cake pop sold to a Multiple Sclerosis research fundraiser.  I'm so excited about this!!! 

I've got a ton more details about the fundraiser and about the girl leading it - Jenny - on the Sarandipity blog:

March MS Fundraiser details
on Sarandipity Sweets' blog

Please go check it out!


Note:  I pinky-swear that not all of my posts here at "sweet somethings" will just be re-directs to the new Sarandipity blog.  I promise.  But this one is just too bigga news to keep isolated over there on Sarandipity.  Gotta spread the word!!

Spanking New Blog

I just wanted to drop you a quick note to chat about my new blog.  Yes.  Another blog I'll be writing for.  We're up to 3 now, folks.  This new blog is a companion to my Sarandipity website (that's coincidentally undergoing a major facelift with a sprinkling of Botox here and there).  I'll be using the Sarandipity blog to post photos that don't make it into my shop and to make announcements.  Oh, and to host giveaways, weeeee! 

Both the blog and the website are still getting updated and squished around and second coats of paint, but please swing by and let me know what you think!

Ze New Bloggity Blog: 
SarandipitySweets.blogspot.com

Birthday Photo Recap



Valentine's flowers and birthday cake, courtesy of Mr. Bo-tacular.





Note to Bo: When you swirl the frosting like that, it makes it super duper easy
for me to steal swipes of it when you're not looking :)



Happy Birthday, Dear Saraaaaaaa.  I totally turned 5 years old this year, guys!

Oh.  Hello.  No, you can't have any of my cake.



Post birthday dinner, posing in front of the Anthropologie store.
That store is my version of heaven.





That Anthro display dress is made out of paper!  It's seriously gorgeous.



 

Keyboard Cake Pops!

My newest shape is a simple square, but it lends itself to a gojillion customizations!

Y?  Because I like you! ;)

Word-full Wednesday: A Review That Makes My Heart Burst

(click-zoom to enlarge the print)

The Sarandipity Sweets listing on Yelp

Wordless Wednesday: Dino the Dinosaur

Wordless Wednesday: Fruity

Cupcake Poll

[ image credit ]

I'm taking a poll!

Why?  Because I'm about to delve into the world of cupcake-baking, and I'd like to know where I should start!  I've already found a killer Strawberry Cupcake recipe, but I need at least a handful of other flavors to add to my go-to list. 

Tell me what your favorite cupcake flavor is!

Wordless Wednesday: A Heckuva Lot

A Sweet Start to Your Week

Mellisa over at Getting All My Ducks in a Row rocks.  There's just no getting around it - she rocks it hard.  See, not only is she one of my fellow Blah to Ta-Daa authors, she's also my best Sarandipity Sweets customer.  And she likes to make me squeal by posting photos and videos of her kids eating cake pops.  Seriously, how much do we love her for posting this?

p.s.  Lil Fish Studios featured me in her blog yesterday, and I loved the other items so much that I wanted to share the link with you:  Sunday Window Shopping

Just Maybe I Was

Bo and I were up until 1am last night finishing up Sarandipity orders for this morning.  Yes, the both of us.  While I was getting pink and red dipping chocolate everywhere, he was putting together shipping boxes, and cutting bubble wrap, and generally keeping me sane.

So, this morning, my email pops up with a phone picture from him.  Yes, we love this man.

The Sarandipity Giveaway

Alrighty!  As promised, I'm doing a Sarandipity Sweets giveaway - right here and now!  The details are few, because I'm pretty sure we'd all rather see pretty photos than read lots of tiny little fine print. 

Drumroll, please:

2 lucky people will each receive a box of Sarandipity Sweets* Cupcake Chocolates.  A box exactly like this one:

(Because the first winners of my last drawing never responded, we're doing an opt-in version this time.)

To be eligible, you need to be a Facebook Fan of Sarandipity, and then leave me a comment here on this blog.  And in your comment, please make sure that your email or blog or name is linked so that I can contact you!!

NOTE:  If you're getting a red error message with your comment, just hit the Post Comment button again.  The second time will go through.  Sorry for that screwup!!!

The drawing will be held on Friday, January 15 at 8am PST.

And...that's it!  Good luck! 

Oh, one more thing - these little puppies freeze awesomely, so if you win, you can pop them into the freezer to save and gift to someone for Valentine's Day.

* No idea what Sarandipity is?  It's my little side business, baking and shipping custom treats all over the country.  You can visit my shop for more info!


UPDATE:  We have winners!!!

So that means a big congratulations to #37 - slk  and to #18 - Yani! I'll email both of you this morning to get shipping information from you.

Thanks for playing along, everyone!  I'll definitely be doing more giveaways in the near future!