Lasterday

www.CluelessChick.com

From the mouths of babes...love it!  You can't beat the adorable words a little one will make up to suit their own needs or fill a void.  If only we all could tap that innate ability to blaze our own paths and redefine the world around us.

Trailblazing Tips for The Clueless Chick:

• Discover what you are passionate about and do it.  Whether full time or in your spare time, make the time to feed your passion.
• Be your own woman.  Do not live up to other's expectations, define your own expectations.
• Be the best at everything you do, no mater what it is.
• Follow your gut and make your own rules.

Your destiny is your own - own it!  Now get to it!

Top 5 Cake Decorating Tips

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One of our favorite Chicks, Lisa, recently posed a great question on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/TheCluelessChick:
Do you have any recommendations on how to decorate a cake and make it look like a professional made it?
Here are our top 5 cake/cupcake decorating tips:

1. Have the right tools on hand

Invest in the right tools for the job, it will make life soooo much easier.  You can pick up a decorating spatula at your favorite kitchen store or your local Target.  If you plan to frost both cakes and cupcakes, buy both a large and small spatula (you should be able to find both for $20). http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=124981

2. Let the cake cool completely and the frosting come to room temperature before frosting

Allow your cake to cool completely before frosting to avoid a crumby mess.  If possible, allow the cake to cool in an airtight container overnight.  Also, make sure that your frosting is at room temperature so that it is smooth enough to spread easily.

3. Add powdered sugar to store bought frosting

Adding up to ¼ cup of powdered sugar to store bought frosting will allow you to create a smoother and firmer look.  This will also make your frosting easier to spread.

4. Cover a crumb-laden cake with a thin layer of “under frosting”

If your cake did not pull away from the sides of your pan while baking, or you have cut it into an adorable shape, you may find yourself dealing with crumby edges.  Simply start by gently applying a layer of what I like to call “under frosting”.  Just like you would prep a wall with primer before you paint, apply a thin layer of frosting over your cake to pick up all of the crumbs.  Then simply place your cake in the refrigerator long enough for the crumby frosting to harden.  Once the under frosting has hardened, apply your top layer of frosting and voila, you have perfect crumb-free frosting!

5. Use a warm knife to correct any imperfections

Just like you dip your ice cream scoop in hot water before you dive into a carton of frozen ice cream, If you are trying to correct any imperfections after your frosting has hardened simply dip your decorating spatula in hot water to warm it up a bit.  This will warm the frosting just enough to re-spread it.

Happy Cake Decorating!

Toddler Friendly Valentines!

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It can be tough to find an easy and inexpensive way to create unique Valentines for Toddlers (especially when you have to make 31....).  When I saw this Heart Shaped Chalk I grabbed as many as I could!  I spend a good bit of time each year agonizing over Valentines for my little one's classmates because I can't bring myself to give them candy and no one is getting pre-printed Disney character Valentine from The Clueless Chick :-)  I also have to settle on something cute, fun and at least a little practical that won't take hours upon hours to create.

I stumbled across this fantastic Heart Shaped Chalk last year the day after Valentine's Day.  One of my all time favorite Penny Pinching Tips for The Clueless Chick is to buy all of your holiday decorations and non-perishable items the day after the holiday when everything is 50% off (it is even better if you can scope out a low-traffic store that still has inventory a week later for 80-90% off!).

Since these Valentines are from both of my sons the tag (a 3"x2" sticker) reads:

We hope your 

Valentine’s Day is 

“chalk” full of

Hugs and Kisses!

Behind each piece of Heart Shaped Chalk is a piece of red card stock which is blank on the front and on the back reads:

Heart Shaped Chalk

I’m washable!

Instructions:

1.   Open package

2.   Remove chalk

3.   Find chalkboard

4.   Learn to spell

5.   Write a love note

You can use just about any size cello bag that your chalk fits in, I prefer a short bag that I can fold over and seal with the sticker.  I also considered printing the Valentine greeting and instructions on opposite sides of a gift tag so that I could use just about any bags that were handy.  The best part about small gifts like these is that your imagination (and budget) are your only limitations.  So have fun with it!  And if you don't have a creative bone in your body, or you find yourself remembering the day before Valentine's Day that you haven't made anything, head to Walgreens and pick up a box of Mickey & Minnie Valentines ;-)

Happy Valentine's Day!!