Awesome Overload: 50 Moments from the Sweetest Week Ever

Life is pretty sweet, no doubt about it.

But a couple of weeks ago, when I had the distinct pleasure and honor of attending CupcakeCamp in Newport, OR -- as well as several other sweet occurrences in the days following -- it was a little bit sweeter than usual.

Share the memories with me (that was a command, not a request):

1. To warm up my belly for a long day of eating cupcakes, I was sure to stop and get a delicious biscuit first, from The Coffee House, a place with a lackluster name but amazing sweets. How far would you travel for a delicious biscuit? Consider a road trip to Newport.
2. Arriving at the show, I felt so welcome.
3. OMG! My artwork was on the poster!
4. Double OMG: I think this is the first time I've ever seen my likeness on a poster. Cake celebrity!
5. Triple OMG: Look who else is on the poster!Photo credit: Bakerella
6. This is a big one: I finally got to meet Bakerella.
7. Bakerella! 
8. Finally! After all of our sweet back and forth.
9. And I got to meet her friend "Cupcake Julie", too, who is an absolute delight and inspiration!
10. I got to hang out with my friend (and CakeSpy sponsor) Carrie of Bella Cupcake Couture fame. This time, she was one of the judges at CupcakeCamp.
11. I also got to meet Dianna Lopez, who is a professional cake decorator and taught a decorating class in which they used my artwork as inspiration. Cool!
12. This time, I got to teach a class, showing children (and kids at heart) how to watercolor cupcakes. Of course, there was some confusion about this--I taught them how to do watercolors OF cupcakes, not watercolor ON cupcakes.
13. I may or may not have felt slight pangs of jealousy when I saw the kids' creations, like this one
14. And this one
15. and this one
16. and this one
17. and this one
18. and this one
19. and this one
20. and this one
21. ...and this one too.
22. And the adults had some nice showings too--here's Julie's (above).
23. ...and Bakerella's (above).
24. You'd think that after judging cupcakes at Seattle's CupcakeCamp, I'd be tired of tasting cupcakes 30 at a time. But you're wrong.
25. There were so many delightful displays of cupcakes, but one of the standouts was definitely by Rocket Queen, whose cupcakes I have enjoyed in the past.
26. Judging was hard, but someone had to do it, and so I tasted peanut butter filled and frosted cupcakes...
27. ...and huckleberry cupcakes...
28. and decorated cupcakes...
29. and cupcakes for Halloween...
30. and rainbow cupcakes...
31. rows and rows of cupcakes...
32. and cupcakes decorated to look like ice cream sundaes (!)
33. and cupcakes made by kids (maybe some of the same kids who took my class?)
34. and vegan cupcakes...
35. ...and even cupcakes with fish!
    
36. ...and wouldn't you believe, I was even asked to AUTOGRAPH something. I felt like a bona fide big deal, people.
37. After all this awesome, I kind of wanted to take a nap, but I didn't. I powered on over to Portland, where my totally sweet friend Nicole was having a bachelorette weekend. I arrived just in time for cheesecake from Laurelhurst Market (good timing!).
38. And back at the hotel room, there were cupcakes from Cupcake Royale.
39. In the morning, we went to Mother's, where I love the biscuits and cookies...
40. ...before breakfast, we got a cinnamon roll.
41. ...and after breakfast, we got some chocolate cake (secret ingredient: BEETS! Pictured at top of post)
42. ...and then after that, while browsing about, I discovered the best bike in the world: Biscuit Bike!
43. Then, I saw some of my artwork at Presents of Mind!
44. Back home in Seattle, Bakerella and Julie came to visit my store!
45. ...and while they were there, I was surprised by a visit from Cake Gumshoe Phuong (here all the way from Boston!)
46. ...and a visit too from the amazing food writer Rebekah Denn and her adorable new baby daughter, who I have taken to calling "Miss Marshmallow".
47. All of them (Bakerella, Julie, Phuong, and Rebekah) got to meet Porkchop.
48. I was also an expert on Questionland that week. Cool!
49. And later on that week, a visit and little Halloween shindig with the totally awesome Alicia Kachmar.Photo Credit: Bakerella
50. And finally, a question and answer session and book signing at Williams-Sonoma with Bakerella before we sent her on the rest of her totally sweet tour.

Comments

[The Prairie Hen]

Dear Cakespy,
You are doing so great! Your week sounded amazing! What we all wouldn't give to meet Bakerella!

I love the pix of the children's watercolors. My girl would have so loved that sort of thing. We just might have to have a 'Cuppie' day here at our little homeschool. I'll be sure to send you the results.

Love,
Raimie

[kickpleat]

Wow!!! What an amazing time and all that sweet glory! Now where can I find a biscuit bike??

[Barb Hillman]

This is so totally awesome!!! I must admit I had a bit of a sugar high just reading of your day!
Good job on the teaching...I always knew you had that in you too!!! You make me soo proud!!
Was it Charlie and the Chocolate Factory that got you going???? XO The Trunchbull was my inspiration!?!?!?

[Paper and Food]

I so LOVE your cupcake illustrations. They are adorable. My favorite is the 3 cupcakes standing around holding their cocktails. Thanks for the cupcake inspirations!

[Julie J]

I would just like to know how all you sugar sweetie bloggers stay so slim! It's not fair! I think I gained 5 pounds just reading this post. I've been baking like a fiend lately . . . inspired in part by your lovely site . . . and seriously, my whole family has gained weight. How do you balance the tasting and baking and judging and enjoying all the sweets?? I'd really love to know how you do it. Really. :D

[Silly Bandz]

According to a parenting article at Examiner.com some schools use the <a href=http://www.ssktoys.com/>Silly Bandz</a> as fundraisers, while other schools have banned them as being a distraction.

[Cheap Football Jerseys]

Good post! Thanks for your information! Cheap Football Jerseys, Wholesale NFL Jerseys,MLB NHL Hockey Jerseys From China

[Jackie Baisa]

Oh my word. This is too much! YOU ARE A CELEBRITY now! This looks like sooooo much fun. I absolutely love the kids' artwork, especially Abigail's angry cupcakes! HAH! Love 'em.

[Diane {createdbydiane.blogspot.com}]

Loved you 50 sweet moments :)
I had my own sweet moment meeting Bakerella this week.
Would love to meet you too :) someday!
Great post!

[megpies]

So cool! That looks so much fun!! I loved all the kid's illustrations-so adorable!

[Melody]

What a fun week! I love all those cute cupcake pictures and especially meeting Bakerella. Very cool.

[Cheap Football Jerseys]

http://www.cakespy.com

[tbwb]

So that cinnamon bun and chocolate cake look divine -- where can we get those recipes?!?! Yummmy..... What a treat!

[baby products]

My little son always loves to bake brownies and cakes with me.