Birthdays are great for so many reasons including cupcakes and gifts.  For my next couple posts I will be sharing a few cupcake related items I received for my most recent birthday.  To start things off I received a card by Tree-Free Greetings, an eco-friendly company.  The “Have Cupcake Will Travel” card was made with 50% recycled paper, mixed ec0-paper envelopes and soy based inks were used when printing the paper.    If you are interested in purchasing the cards, Peaceful Valley Greetings offers the card for $2.95.

I still vividly remember getting my ears pierced as a little girl.  It was an event that I had looked forward to for a long time.  I couldn’t wait to wear my first pair of “real” earrings.  Do you have a little girl who is about to get her ears pierced or who loves to play dress-up?  This earring and jewelry holder would be a great gift idea for her.

Ever since I found this recipe, I can’t stop thinking about whipping up a batch of Cuckoo Coconut Cupcakes. I think I see a few of these and some piña coladas in my future — my immediate future. Stay out of the hot sun and have a great weekend!

Last week we brought you a great giveaway from ATC sponsor The Smart Baker and this week they are giving something to every one of our sweet fans!  Not only are they having a special summer sale in their shop, but they are giving an extra 15% off your total purchase.  Just type “ATC15″ at checkout between now and August 5th.  Thanks Smart Baker! 
 

Love fudge?  Been eating hot fudge sundaes?  How about cooling down while heating up some “Lava Fudge Cupcakes” in your kitchen?

Lava Fudge Cupcake

Georgetown Cupcake’s Sophie has a 2-minute video, courtesy of The Learning Channel, claiming to “reveal the secrets behind their famous Lava Fudge cupcake.”

While she doesn’t provide the recipe, Sophie does provide several excellent tips, from using apple corers to hollow out cupcakes before pouring in the fudge, to easy-pour tops for filling and decorating.

So I dug around the Internet at bit…and found the Georgetown Cupcakes recipe for their chocolate cupcake with vanilla cream cheese frostings with variations!  Add your own fudge and, “By George!  I think we’ve got it!”

Are you using Google Chrome, Google’s official web browser? If so, have you noticed the little cupcake in the upper lefthand corner? Even Google is jumping on the cupcake bandwagon!

I was reading over my last couple of posts and see that I have been writing about things that I enjoy during the summer (and their cupcake equivalent ) and I thought to myself, “Why not make it a summer series?” –  and that is exactly what I am going to do!

Another favorite thing of mine in the Summer is an ice cold beer! Perfect way to end a great summer day. But wait, beer cupcakes you say? Yes, yes and yes! Oh and did I mention these cupcakes have bacon in them? Beer and Bacon!

Golden Beer Cupcakes from 1 Fine Cookie