Great Compliment

I have shared some cupcake pictures of Dana and Tim's travel themed wedding on my last post this week.  Today, I would like to share this great complimentary email I received from Dana's mom, Debbi, who I also mentioned on my last post. 

Below is her compliment about our service and our hand crafted decorative cupcakes:

I thought the cupcakes turned out fantastic!! They were soooooo adorable- everybody was commenting on them. All that attention to detail - just so cute!  They really pulled together the travel theme. And they were delicious too - that's the best part. (My favorite flavor was the chocolate peanut butter, and I still can't decide which was my favorite fondant topper - all so cute!.) Thank you so much...
 
Thank you again so much.  I'll definitely be recommending you to my cupcake loving friends.
Debbi

I have been very busy and stressful for my full-time job lately.  Debbi's compliment has certainly put a big smile on my stressful face.  I am happy to see my clients and all their guests enjoyed the cupcakes and amazed by the decoration on top of them.  Debbi even send me a link of the professional pictures of their wedding.  If you are interested to see more pictures of the wedding and our cupcakes, head over to here Jason Burns Photography.  The pictures are wonderful; they captured all the important and sweet moments of the wedding.  The wedding was absolutely beautiful and unique and it totally represented Dana and Tim.

Travel Themed Wedding Cupcake Tower

Congratulations to my lovely client, Tim and Dana, who just got wedded last Saturday!  They had their vintage travel themed wedding at Green River Golf Club in City of Corona last Saturday. the venue was great and at a convenient location (not too far away from the guests, who travel from Orange County, Los Angeles County and Riverside County). 

They were such an easy to get along couple, and gave me a lot of freedom to do my designs for them and showed them my creative ideas.  I could not ask for a better client!  Also, thanks for Debbi, Dana's mom for being such a great coordinator between me and the couple.  Since the couple was studying in Egypt and also travelling in Europe before heading back to the U.S., it's not easy to communicate with each other due to the time difference and the availability of internet access.  Debbi was such a big helper for me to help the couple to create the wedding cupcakes for the wedding. 

Here are some cupcake pictures from their wedding:

Luggage tag with Tim and Dana's name on it.  Yellow flower to match their invitation and flowers at the wedding.

This couple travelled many places together.  A little airplane was the perfect guest to be part of their witness at the wedding.

21 dozens cupcakes (favors from the top - Lemon cupcakes with vanilla buttercream, chocolate cupcakes with chocolate frosting, chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter frosting, French vanilla cupcakes with strawberry butterncream). 
Cutting Cake on top (vanilla cake with rasberry filling with vanilla buttercream)

Love cruise

Doesn't matter how far they go, their love always goes with them.

I start accepting orders for September and October.  Please contact me to scehdule your events.

laters, baby<3

Call Me Mrs. Blue Ribbon

It seems like the blog has been abandoned for a while.  Sorry to all my followers for not updating my blog more often lately.  I I have been really sick these couple weeks; and I finally feel a little bits better today and would like to share some good news with everyone.  If you have been following my blog or our facebook page, you might recall I submitted my first ever OC Fair fondant decorative cupcakes for a contest last month.  And guess what, I W-O-N!  I got the first place and my first blue ribbon.  I wanted to share the good news with everyone earlier; however, I would love to wait until I get my blue ribbon first. 

Here some pictures I took at the fair and would like to share with all of you, and I don't mind to be called Mrs. Blue Ribbon=).  When I picked up the blue ribbon, they also gave me the comments and the score from the judges.  12/12 full marks with all the positive comments!  I was in cloud 9 and I felt so happy that someone appreciate my artworks. 

P.S. The OC Fair will be ended this weekend, so if you want to check out my "awaard winning" decorative cupcakes along with other amazing exhitbits, you still have few more days left.

My award winning cupcakes

I got the comment notes from the judges when I went to pick up my blue ribbon. 
I got 12/12 full marks on my cration!  Very proud of myself.

What to expect at the fair this year?

I mentioned that OC Fair (July 13-August 12) is around the corner on my previous post.  I am looking forward to eat my favorite fair food and also try some new "heart-attack" deep fried items at the fair next month.  This year, Chicken Charlie's, southern California's famous king of the deep fryer, will have a brand new deep fried item to offer at the fair this year - deep-fried cereal! Two cereal options could be chosen from Trix or Cinnamon Toast Crunch, both are fried in batter and sprinkled with more sugary cereal for extra crunchy texture.  It might be a good idea if they could serve us milk too=)

Home Sweet Home

The Orange County Fair is coming very soon (Mid July), we are so excited to go there to enjoy some fair food and see some farm animals again this year.  Besides the food and animals, I love to see the exhibits of table setting and food too.  This year, I decided joining one of the many contests they offer - the fondant decoration cupcakes contest.  I registered about a month ago and started putting ideas together immediately.  Since their theme this year is Home Sweet Home, I "kind of" go along with the theme.  Being a home owner is one of the biggest American dream people are having for many years - New Home Sweet Home is my theme for my creation! 

I made the toppers first and then spent about half day to finish some faux cupcakes.  For decorating cake/cupcakes contests, it's required to submit faux cupcakes/cake rather than real ones because the exhitbits will be showing at the fair for about a month, I guess that make sense to keep the cupcakes/cake look as good as on the first day.  I will share with you of how to make my faux cupcakes next time (stay tuned!).

In the process of making my creation, it reminded me of all the painful and sweet moments of getting our first house.  I still consider getting our first hourse is the most stressful moment I have in my life so far.  We need to put tons of documents together to get loans and submit to the bank.  We used tons of boxes to pack our belongings.  We sweated from head to toes to get our house painted.  We spent days and nights to read all the documents we received from our realtor and made our decision carefully. But after all that, everything was done and settled, and we finally got to enjoy our new home and new lives together. 

So here are my new creation, and I will let you guys know how it goes.  Hopefully, you will see my creation at the fair and don't forget to snap a pictures of my creation and share with me and everyone=)

New Home Sweet Home

Sold Sign

I tried to get as detail as I could.  I even put some "dirt" (cookies) on back.

Singed DEED and Got the key

Fixing up the house

Unpacking

Changing address

Finally got to enjoy our new nest!

Our cupcakes were featured on OC Register!!!

Few weeks ago, I was browsing around the Internet for fun.  And I saw the cupcakes we crafted specially for a local cupcake review and blogger, The Cupcake Activist, were on the OC Register Life Section. 

It surely made my night!

I burn calories so I can eat them.

I love blogging all the sweet things I made, saw, tasted, and read.  I also like following bloggers, who share the same interest; I am going to dedicate two posts to introduce two blogs that I have religiously been following for a while.

(Pictures from the blog of the Cupcake Activist and Orange County Register)

The first blog I have been following for a while, is a blog called the Cupcake Activist.  Why Cupcake Activist?  Elise Wallace, a girl with a HUGE sweet tooth, a hard-core runner and triathlete and a busy new mommy, writes about her love of cupcakes on her blog, the Cupcake Activist.  You might think cupcakes and running don't go together, right?  Yes, it is in theory; however, it is not in the Cupcake Activist's book.  According to Elise, "She burns calories so she can eat them." (this belief makes her two loves, two very different things living harmony.)  When I first came across this blog, I immediately fell in love with it.  The blog is full of reference and information for those who love cupcakes.  Elise goes to different cupcakes places and writes reviews about what she felt about the places she visited.  It's a good source to plan my trip, so I know which cupcakes places are worth to stop by, and which are not.  She also shares recipe she used or interesting recipes she found online.  Beside sharing her passion of cupcakes, she also talks about her passion of running and competing, and her struggle against sweet especially before each race.  I am NOT a hard core runner or triathlete; however, I am a hard core work out addict, who work out 5-6 days a week.  As a work out addict, I TOTALLY understand and could related to how she feels.

Get started -
how I fell in love with the blog of the Cupcake Activist

run, swim, bike and be happy!

I tried to get as details as possible on the watch

Who doesn't love a pair of hot pink running shoes? 
Mine are hot pink with black=)

Go get the gold!!!

Earlier last month, I contacted Elise, the Cupcake Activist and offered a dozen of free decorated cupcakes for her to try.  We met few weeks ago in a heavy rainy day at the Starbucks in the charming Old Towne Orange (we both reside in the lovely City of Orange).  I was so nervous to meet her at the coffee shop (it reminded me of a blind date, except for I know how she looks like; but she didn't.).  We got to chat a little bits and get to know each other; I love this girl even more than before!  She was a very sweet girl and I could totally tell she is very passionate towards cupcakes (meeting a total stranger, who also loves cupcakes in a heavy rainny day) and running (hey, she just finished running a 5k before meeting me up and started racing again after just 3 month of birth giving.)

To the one and only Cupcake Activist...

Totally ready

Sweat and get some aqua

I specially crafted her some running and triathlon themed cupcake toppers.  The cake is apple cinnamon cupcakes with caramel butter cream.  I am glad she and her friends loved the cupcakes I made for her with my heart (Check out here to see what she felt about the decoration and the cupcakes.).  That was a very plesant blind date=)

Good job, well done!



Dessert Place Review - Mochilato (Irvine, Ca)

After having an amazing Chinese dinner with my husband at Sam-Woo , we headed to Mochilato down the street in City of Irvine.  I had been longing to try this dessert place for a long while.  The place is located inside a stripe mall.  As soon as we walked in, we noticed that the place is pretty new, clean and bright.  It's surely a good place to hang out with big group of friends (they do have few very BIG tables) or just grab a coffee/tea and some desserts with your date after dinner. 

So what is Mochilato?!  Here is the answer from me (not an offical answer, but I guess my answer is 99% correct.)  Mochi + Gelato = Mochilato, get it?!

According to Wikipedia, mochi is a Japanese rice cake made of glutinous rice (not to be confused with gluten) pounded into paste and molded into shape. In Japan it is traditionally made in a ceremony called mochitsuki. While also eaten year-round, mochi is a traditional food for the Japanese New Year and is commonly sold and eaten during that time. Similar snacks are prominent in Hawaii, South Korea, Taiwan (where it is called 麻糬, Hokkien môa-chî or Mandarin máshu), Cambodia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Indonesia.  However, when we talk about mochi in the States, we are often talking about the mochi ice cream.  Mochi ice cream and mochi is different (they both made with rice dough; however, one is filled with ice-cream, one without.)

Mochi ice-cream originally created by Lotte, as Yukimi Daifuku in 1981, the company first made the product by using a rice starch instead of sticky rice and a type of ice milk instead of real ice-cream. Mochi ice cream is now an internationally recognized food. Current marketing names include Mikawaya's "Mochi Ice Cream" in the United States (also used by other companies), which began production of what is now known as mochi ice cream in the United States in 1993

I am pretty sure a lot of us had gelato before.  Here is a brief summary about this sweet little treat. 
Gelato (Italian pronunciation: [dʒeˈlaːto]; plural: gelati) is the italian word for ice cream and sorbet. Italians use the word gelato to mean a sweet treat that is served frozen. Gelato is made with milk, cream, various sugars, and flavoring such as fresh fruit and nut purees.

Mochilato serve about 10 different favors of mochis and gelatos daily.  On the top of it, they also serve Beard Papa's cream puffs (the servers inject the filling of your choce to your cream puffs right after you place your order), traditional Japanese and Korean desserts, French macaroons, Taiwanese/Japanese style shaved ice and they also have a simple dining menu.  

Mochi

Gelato

French macaroons

Traditional Japanese and Korean desserts

Drink menu

We ordered two different favors of mochis (mango and strawberry) and 2 cream puffs.  What make their mochis different than others?  They use gelato for the filling instead of ice cream.  It makes the texture softer and less dense and sweet than the normal mochis.  The mango mochi tasted pretty refreshing.  However, the strawberry one tasted a little bits too artifical.  The cream puffs were good as usual (if you have tried Beard Papa's, you know what I mean).  The mochi and cream puff are about $2.50USD per each. 

Beard Papa's cream puffs filled with cream custard

Logo of  Beard Papa's

Bottom: mango mochi, top: strawberry mochi

Inside of Mochilato - new, clean and pretty casual.

Gelato  inside of the mango mochi

Here are address and a summary of my review:

Address and Phone Number of Mochilato: 

14310 Culver Dr., Suite E, Irvine, CA, 92604

(949) 559-1116

Hours:  10 a.m. to midnight daily.
Reservation:  Not necessary, walk in will be better.

Price Range (out of 5):  $$

Service (out of 5):   **** (the cashier lady was pretty patient to us and gave us recommendations of what favors we should get.)

Atmosphere:  Kid friendly

Attire:  Casual (some UC, Irvine students even wore their louge wears and flip flops.) 

Payment:  Cash, debit cards and major credit cards are all accepted

Good for big group:  Yes (they even provide some board games.)

Good for date night:  Yes (the night we went was pretty quiet, music was also quite relaxing.)

You make my day!

Receiving positive feedbacks from my customers are one of my goals.  Seeing my customers and their beloved ones smiles are my REAL goal though!  I love to make the day for my customers

I am so happy to receive positive feedbacks from my previous customers on my Etsy Shop.  And one of them even left me a very nice comment; it surely brighten up my day...and maybe night!

Today, my previous customer made my day, and now I have a big smile on my face just like my customers and their beloved ones=)

From one of my previous customers on my Etsy Shop:

Carmen was a lifesaver.. I live in Northern California and I am traveling back to So Cal for my sisters 50 Bday. I was looking for a Beatle cake or cupcakes . All I could find were places in UK and pictures on the web. Through my search, I found C4cupcake. Carmen emailed be back to let me know she was on vacation during the time I would be looking for a cupcake order. She offered a Plan B to me and suggested cupcake toppers with an extra george and Beatles name and she could do this prior to her vacation and mail out to me.... I just rec'd package today and I just love the work she did... I cannot wait for my sister to see this. I know who I will call for my next party in LA.

I Love Sewing Cupcake Toppers

Hi, how's your weekend?  I had a great but busy weekend this week.  Went to visit my family and my new nephew, attended my good friend's wedding and went to Mr. G's grandpa's birthday party.  But don't worry, no matter how busy I am, I have never forgot about my C for Cupcake Cupcakery's blog to remain connected with everyone.

I made these cute sewing cupcake toppers couple weeks ago.  They are a great way to dress up your cupcakes, cookies or other baked goodies.  Just want to remind everyone that I just opened our C for Cupcake Cupcakery Etsy shop online (click here to check out our online store) to sell cupcake toppers, cupcake wrappers, gift tags and much more...I know I know, now my online store is still pretty empty.  But I promise more items will be posted soon.  

The idea and concept about my Etsy shop is serving more people! My online cupcake business is limited to serve those who live in Orange County, Los Angeles County and part of Inland Empires.  I also know that a lot of people like to bake by using their own recipes, but they may not have time to make the "accessories" to dress up their baked goodies; therefore, our C for Cupcake Cupcakery Etsy Shop could serve those customers, who live outside of the LA and OC area, and also serve those who love to bake, but do not have time to make the "accessories" to dress up their baked goodies.  Hopefully, I could share more sweetness through my Etsy shop with everyone. 

I will post more projects on my Etsy shop soon, stay tuned!