Special Strawberry Margarita Cupcakes

I made Margarita Cupcakes around this time last year. They were lime green, rimmed with sugar, garnished with a lime, and loved by all.  A very special food taster of mine ate a ton of the frosting while I was experimenting with the flavors.  He still claims to this day that he got a "buzz" from eating too much of the frosting in one sitting.

Within a year I have taken more risks with baking, making frosting, decorating in general.  I do things that I am afraid of, and that I am not sure will turn out.  But to me, that's what baking and being in the kitchen is all about.  I take risks, and in the end the cupcakes reflect the heart that I have put into them.  Because of this, they are Amanda originals. Inside and Out. ☻

And that is what happened yesterday.
I made my new version of margarita cupcakes.
Strawberry Margarita Cupcakes.

Not your typical strawberry margarita cupcake.
But drinking a strawberry margarita is a very enlightening and fun experience.
So a cupcake shouldn't be any different.
(This photo captured by the very talented photographer Dan Woolf).

The non-pareils just add some "bubbly" to make it feel more like a strawberry margarita!

Instead of using salt or sugar for the rim, I used edible gold sparkles. ♥

My friend said that these cupcakes look like they could come out of a Dr. Seuss book.
♥Funny because one of my most favorite books in the whole world is Oh The Places You'll Go.
I always pass this book on to friends as a gift when they are going through a life change.

The flamenco dancers of course.

Imagine if the sand on the beach looked like this.

A pretty little lime must always co-star with a margarita.

Drinking a few margaritas can make everything a little bit blurry, in a happy sort of way. ♥

Jada, one of my cupcake friends ate one today and said, "Today happiness was only a cupcake away."

Tips on making the perfect Strawberry Margarita Cupcake:

1.  For inspiration, imagine anything you'd like to see or feel on a Tropical Vacation. The colors, ruffles of skirts blowing in the warm breeze, the sand between your toes, the bubbles in your drink, miniature umbrellas.  Warning: This might make you really thirsty, hungry, or realize just how much you need a real tropical vacation.

2.  The ingredients that take it from typical strawberry cupcake to Strawberry Margarita:  Strawberry Margarita Mix,  a hint of Tequila, high quality Strawberry Preserves, Lime Zest, Lime Juice, or even..Orange Zest!

3.  Don't be afraid to layer frosting swirls on top of each other.  Or mix swirls of color together. Don't let the frosting make the rules, you make the rules for the frosting. That goes for color too. Think bright! Lime Green, Electric Purple, Hot Pink, Electric Orange. ♥ That's what vacation is all about.

4.  Things to use instead of salt around the rim:  Non pareils of many colors, edible gold glitter, white sugar crystals, swirly frosting borders.

My inspiration for the actual recipe:

The Picky Apple



♥xoxo Amanda Cupcake

I Believe In Pink

Yesterday I went to go visit my friend Andra. We have been friends forever, sure...but that isn't the biggest reason I went to see her.

Andra owns her own salon in Phillips, WI. Her business is called Hair Design by Andra ~ located at the Rejuvenation Station right off of Hwy 13.

Andra is a bubbly, sweet girl.  She has always had this magnetic personality that everyone is attracted to.  Now she's using that amazing personality she has to promote a positive purpose.

Andra shaved her head! In the name of all those who are battling or have battled cancer!
Her inspiration was her friend Debra who is currently battling breast cancer. Debra made a star appearance at the salon and stood right by Andra's side the whole time.

First, I delivered a special hug from my mom who has won the battle with cancer.  My mom still misses my Aunt Rachel (my mom's younger sister)  who passed away from cancer a little over a year ago. 

my radiant Aunt Rachel

While I watched the crowd gather around in the salon, people felt comfortable enough to open up & share their stories about their experiences with cancer.  Andra's friend said that when you are sick, it's really important to share the experience with a friend who cares about you, so that you have the support you need in a difficult time.  It felt really warm inside of the salon today, even though cold, wintery winds blew outside.

We all wore *pink*.
Even Andra's hair was pink before she shaved it off!

My role?  I delivered Andra her dream cupcakes----Pink Strawberry Margarita Flavored!
With a surprise juicy strawberry in the middle of each cuppycake.

All donations went to the Susan G Komen foundation.
To make a more personal connection, Andra gathered donations for her friend as well.

It was a very teary eyed and sweet event for all~and for different reasons.

I had three different reasons to donate my sweetness~my Mom, my Aunt Rachel, and my brave friend Andra.  What would your reason(s) be?