Thursday, October 28, 2010

Ding Dong...Surprise!

With all of my infinite spare time (she says with a smile and sarcastic tone), I thought it would be nice to surprise some of my favorite neighbors with a few Fall goodies, a painted monogrammed pumpkin, and home-made spiced cupcakes with cream cheese frosting.

After seeing pictures of monogrammed pumpkins in magazines, I just knew this would be so simple. I mean how hard could it be? It's just some stencils and paint, right? Well, four hours and several conniption fits later, I was tying my last made-from-scratch bow around the ninth, and my final, monogrammed pumpkin! The genius that I am, I was about an hour into my Mission Martha Stewart before it hit me---stencils on round, uneven objects work about as well as a napkin in the rain! And just so we're clear, that means, NOT AT ALL!

Luckily, the stencil fiasco wasn't anything that a paintbrush couldn't fix; and since my expectations were about as low as a last round limbo stick, my monogrammed pumpkins all turned out better than anticipated!

But, I'll let you be the final judge! (And don't go all Judge Judy on me, please be kind!)









Mommy's little helper in her new Radio Flyer! Daddy brought this little surprise home for Sweet Bean! There's a chance she might be spoiled!



As for my spiced cupcakes and cream cheese frosting---Well, I couldn't help but laugh after hanging up the phone with my neighbor whom called to thank me profusely for the cupcakes that in her words,  "were gobbled up" by her apparently picky foodie, her four year old daughter. In fact, she thought they were so delish that she requested the recipe.

Teehehe...

Um, that would be Betty Crocker's Spice Cake Mix and Pillsbury Cream Cheese Frosting! See what a difference a professional icing bag and decorator tip makes? Everyone thought I'd put a lot more work into those cupcakes than I actually had. But we'll just let that be our little secret, now won't we? (Wink! Wink!)







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20 comments:

Candace said...

I'll be your neighbor any day! The pumpkins look great and the cupcakes look delicious!

KatiePerk said...

Those are adorable! You did such a good job!

Lexie Loo, Lily, Liam & Dylan Too said...

I love your pumpkins!

Laura@The Oily Cupboard said...

OK WHO WOULDN'T LOVE YOU AS A NEIGHBOR?? ummmm i feel a song coming on..

won't you be my neighbor!♫♪

Jenn said...

Cute pumpkins, cute helper & yummy cupcakes! :D

I Do Declare said...

Won't you be MY neighbor???

Sweet Southern Prep said...

Oh my goodness - you are SOOOO talented! I'm in love with these pumpkins! And those cupcakes look delicious!

Beanz Thingz said...

you were too hard on yourself, the pumpkins look great! wish I was your neighbor! LOL

My Jillian is a wee bit spoiled too :-)

Stephanie M. Page said...

you are way too cute, will you be my neighbor?? =)

Lindsay said...

Oh my gosh they turned out fabulous! Did you mostly freehand them then?

Sara said...

I wanna be your neighbor!! Great job on the pumpkins and cupcakes!!

Kristin said...

The pumpkins and cupcakes both look great!

Liz said...

You are SUCH a Southern Belle! I mean that in the nicest possible way, but if your mom reads this comment she's probably not going to like it. Hi Shannon's mom!!

Wade & Melissa said...

I wish you were my neighbor! I don't have the patience to paint even one pumpkin! Those cupcakes looks divine!

Annie said...

I want to be your neighbor!!!

Jennifer said...

What a nice thing to do for your neighbors! I think I might have to move next door...people in NY aren't that nice..LOL! The pumpkins came out great. I always get annoyed when I think something is going to be simple and it ends up being a 4 hour project. Since the pumpkins took so long, who has time to bake?

Karen At Home Blog said...

You are just way too cute! Can I be your neighbor????

I am dying over those pumpkins. So beautiful!

Mama K said...

You would be a wonderful neighbor to have! :) The pumpkins are adorable and the cupcakes look delicious! :) Good job!

Carrie said...

That is so something I would do! See it in a magazine, fall in love with the idea and decide not only that I need to make one for myself, but at least 300 to share with the neighbors!! Ha, I love it. The pumpkins and the yummy cupcakes.

Kelly said...

Gosh, I would love to have a neighbor like you! The pumpkins are so fun. We have pumpkins lined up on the counter that are begging to be monogrammed, ha! Let's see if I can get around to that tomorrow...I have so many pumpkins that I could certainly monogram one for our next door neighbors...hmmm....thanks for the idea!