THE CUPCAKE HUG

I made this Red Velvet Cupcake Hug for a friend a few years ago, when he lost his dog.
(Yep, the word is edible-handwritten by me onto parchment paper out of red candy melts).

♥

I have a dream for this Cupcake Hug. For it to change the world.

And last week, The Cupcake Hug started to mean even more to me than it ever has.  I'd like to think that it has the power to help fight cancer. I'll explain.

♥

I was actually going to write about the Cupcake Hug last week when I really needed one myself, but I couldn't come to terms with what to say.  Two weeks ago, my sweet Uncle Burt was diagnosed with terminal cancer.  He was my mom's brother, my dad's best friend, a husband to my aunt, a father, a grandfather.  He was here and gone in a matter of 4 days. His memorial was last Thursday. Not even a week ago.  I traveled to see him 2 days before he passed. We shared hugs, and one of the first and last things he told me in my visit was, "I Love You."  

I have never had the chance to say good-bye to someone when I knew that I'd never see them again here on this earth.  I remember whispering to my mom in the next room, "How do I do this?"  She told me to do whatever was on my heart. So after our "I Love Yous" I chose not to say good-bye.

I said, "See you later."
And I drove back to Wisconsin in a haze.

Even through my misty eyes on the drive back home after this farewell, I realized that my last memories with my Uncle Burt were rare beautiful gems.  Memories that everyone wishes they could have with the one they love before they have passed away.

♥

The grieving process initiates thoughts.  One thought I had never put together until now-was that almost everyone on my mom's side of the family has fought cancer.  My mom fought cancer and won.  Her sister fought cancer and won too.  Sadly a few years ago my mom lost her sweet younger sister Rachel to cancer (she is missed everyday).  My mom sat with her own mom until she took her last breath after a battle with cancer.  My middle name "Marie" is named after my mom's favorite aunt who passed in her thirties from cancer. In my moments of grief, I can see more than ever now that I am not immune to cancer either and that I need to do some possible genetic testing, and be aware of my health more than ever.  The thing is..no one is immune to cancer.  I just have to believe that the more positive we all are, and the more we fight against this evil with good..the more likely we are to conquer the villain that is cancer.

..and that is where my dream of The Cupcake Hug comes along. Bigger and brighter and bolder and with more passion than EVER.   I've always dreamed of creating my own non-profit organization called "The Cupcake Hug" and using the organization to go out and do amazing non-profit things to change the world through the idea of cupcakes. Hopefully this organization will happen someday.

But until I reach that success, I'd soon like to start a line of cupcakes at The Cupcake Mansion or maybe even my other retailers called CUPCAKE HUGS.  A portion of their proceeds will help someone or an organization that helps others with cancer...and I am sure more things that touch my heart in the future.  But to start..cancer is on my heart.

The Cupcake Hug is inspired by..
♥All of those with broken hearts or ailments that only a hug will heal.
♥The woman who visited me at my cupcake shop crying, telling me that she just lost her mother so she just needed an Amanda Cupcake cupcake.
♥My mom who has fought cancer, and is now also fighting Parkinson's Disease. She could be your mom too. My Uncle Burt could be your Uncle too, your best friend, your husband, your grandfather. My mom's sister Rachel could be your younger sister too. 

♥The warm happy feeling you get when a friend gives you a cupcake and everything feels ok for a moment.
♥The superhero side of you who wants to make a difference.


Look for the Amanda Cupcake, Cupcake Hug to launch soon ♥ (wthin the next month, as soon as I find the right first organization to benefit).  I just thought World Cancer Day (happening in about 5 minutes) would be a good time to announce my plan to make a change close to my heart with all that extra glittery love on my cupcake creations.  The true reason I started making cupcakes in the first place.

This blog dedicated to my Uncle Burt. I named my new Hobart mixer after my Uncle Burt so he'll live on forever through all of my baking. The mixer was given to me as a surprise gift (with an awesome love note) the last day I saw my Uncle alive. ♥

Lemon Love Notes ♥

I was writing my business plan tonight.

I was on the first page where I had to state my mission.  One of the my missions in my journey to start a bakery is to share joy and love with the world through my cupcakes.  Another vision of mine is to bring community together to just forget about everything on the outside world, and perhaps for even a moment there would be "peace" in the realm of cupcakes.

Think of the time when you were young, and looked forward to that grand cake entering the room, your friends centered around you.  The cake glowing with candles.  Sprinkles, sparkles, crumbs, wishes for the future.

Then I knew that I had to share something I had planned for over a year here on my blog..

and when I was the cupcake sponsor for the Fox Valley Technical College's scholarship benefit, I made this "vision" a reality.

To share an edible message inside of cupcakes. A love note, really.  In this case, a "Lemon" Love Note.

I cut up little pieces of fondant into small rectangles, used my edible marker, and wrote inspiring messages for the future on each piece.  This is for you! Daydreamers, starving artists, future business owners.  This is for you!  The ones who build starting from the bottom and climb your way to the top. The believers, the idealists, the optimists. 

Extra credit:  Mini raspberry pies inside of the Lemon Love Note cupcakes.

All that inspiration topped with a cloud of light, fluffy, lemon zested frosting!

When I displayed the cupcakes at the event, I made a sign to tell people to expect a special "note" on the inside of their cupcake.  Adding the note was a bonus perk for the people who ate the cupcakes! Instead of stuffing your face, you had to take your time...enjoy the flavor...and....discover....your lovely edible note.

Thank you to my lovely assistants Cassie & Lonnie who are the joys in my kitchen with me. They helped me write out all these messages while we laughed, danced, and sang to bad music while decorating these cupcakes.

Now that I have started, I can't seem to stop passing love notes.

I made some "girls night out" Lemon Love Notes.

Instead of hiding the message inside, I found the best possible valentine heart messages for a girls night out and displayed them as the love notes on top of the cupcakes!

Go Girl!

It's True.

 

On a deeper "note".....

I even added some inspirational tags to some mail order cookies for someone who really deserved a surprise uplift of joy in the mail.

"We can do no great things....only small things with great love."~Mother Teresa

Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.

One of my favorite quotes by Oprah Winfrey.

And I used this quote as my title because I have been moved to happy tears the past few weeks by the support I've been shown by friends, strangers who have become friends, and colleagues.

People may think that all of the exciting events that have happened to me in the past few weeks have happened overnight.  But really I have been working so hard for several years trying to find my "niche" in the world by creating cupcakes for people.  I had no other intentions than to make people smile, squeal, dance, or just plain make someone's day brighter.

I remember last year someone told me while I was going through a trial in my life..."Just keep making cupcakes and giving out that love.  Maybe some of that cupcake love will be returned to you."
And honestly, whenever I deliver cupcakes that love is given right back to me.
I want it to stay that way forever! Love is the quality in my cupcakes. And it always will be.

So this blog, my sweet darlings - is a tribute to all of you. And you know who you are.

This blog is a mix of things that have been given, done for me, or said to me in the past 2-3 weeks of my cupcake existence.

By posting this I am showing you that I am blown away and so very grateful.  This makes all of my countless half sleepless cupcake chaos frosting filled nights when I leave the kitchen with frosting in my hair really worth it!

I hope it never ends. This wondrous busy cupcake chaos is my true love and I wouldn't ask for another career ever again. They say be careful what you wish for.  Well I wish for this cupcake dream to grow so big so that I can share my style of cupcake love with most of the world. ♥

And seriously..Ellen Degeneres..if you are watching...I really want you to eat one of my cupcakes! (I make a mean vegan cupcake! Preferably a cupcake kaleidoscope because that is how I envision it) That's next on my list. ♥

"You are going to be Waupaca's first cupcake gazillionaire."

"We just got done watching you on the news,

both segments about four times because Jimmy

wanted to watch you over and over again!

You did such an amazing job!

You looked beautiful as ever and we are very proud of you."

Thank you all for your love. ♥
Now you see why I am overwhelmed with joy!

Covered in Chocolate and a Miracle Or Two..

My friend Caroline Cakewise (so jealous of her name btw!) at Sparkles & Crumbs blog inspired this little passage. She is my friend over in England who posts delicious blogs that fill my spirit with joy.
Click here to read her blog passage that thus inspired my blog below. :) You might just get addicted and need your fix on a regular basis:
Sparkles & Crumbs

I have always enjoyed taking photos of multiple, brightly colored things. Especially yummy things.
I was in the Party City store not that long ago, and to my delight there was an entire row of HAPPY CHEERFUL COLORFUL and BRIGHT candy! 

One of the employees asked me what I was doing as I snapped away on my "sweet" random photo shoot.
♥  Hopefully my story inspired her to look at candy as so much more than just.....sugar.

This was me that day.



Cake Pops I created inspired by the Lemonheads.
"When Life Gives you Lemons, make Cake Pops."



My bright red cherry chocolate cake pop inspired by the joy of candy.



How many licks does it take to get to the center?

Obviously not very many. :)
♥ my sweet friend Jeremy.

Golden Amanda Cupcake Cake Pops.

Who can take a sunrise,

Sprinkle it with dew?

Cover it in chocolate and a miracle or two

The candyman, the candyman can,

The candyman can 'cause he mixes it with love

and makes the world taste good



Who can take a rainbow,

Wrap it in a sigh?

Soak it in the sun and make the strawberry lemon pie

The candyman? The candyman can

The candyman can 'cause he mixes it with love

and makes the world taste good



The Candyman makes

everything he bakes

Satisfying and delicious.

Talk about your childhood wishes.

You can even eat the dishes!



Who can take tomorrow,

Dip it in a dream?

Separate the sorrow and collect up all the cream,

The candyman? The Candyman can, the candyman can

The candyman can 'cause he mixes it with love

and makes the world taste good

And the world tastes good

'cause the candyman thinks it should

 
 
My philosophy in one cutesy little song.
I think if I had a cupcake mobile it would play this.
Except I would have to be the female version of the candyman.
And I would definitely be prettier than the candyman.
Wearing a dress that looks like a cupcake.
Bright happy lipstick on my lips.
Delicious deliveries to be made.
To make the world smile.