Two Cup Tuesday No.20

Whoa!

I just got back from the Food Blog Forum in Orlando, Florida. The conference included three days at Walt Disney World and my family was able to join me. It has been an amazing and exhausting five days. I've got to get to all my photos, edit them and then write up a recap of the event. Watch for it this week on Dieter's Downfall. 

If you can't wait... I've posted a bunch of photos on Instagram... Check them out.

Oh... and one more thing... I WON a KitchenAid Mixer!! Now... what color to pick...

So, as I come off of my convention, vacation, and winning high, I'm handing the night back over to you for the party!

This weeks features are...

Bowling Party Cake Pops

It's a Bowling Party!

This past week, my daughter's classmate celebrated his 7th Birthday at the Bowling alley! He loves my cake pops, so I thought this would be the best birthday gift that I could give!

Bowling pins and a ball are super easy to make.

Start with an over sized Tablespoon of cake pop batter and shape.

I posted the lower left photo on Facebook and had people guess what I was making... Oh my the guesses. 

There were many correct guess, but some were so off base, it was funny. I guess I'm not as good at shaping bowling pins as I thought I would be. 

Anyway.....

Once you have a vaguely bowling pin shape, pop them into the fridge and melt your white candy melts.

BTW - I'm still in love with Almond bark... For this batch, I mixed a bag of Wilton's with 4 blocks of Almond Bark. It came out smooth and perfect for dipping after two 1 minute sessions in the microwave.

I went back and forth with pop up or pop down. I'm glad I choose pop down. They stood up nicely and looked great at the party. No worrying about a stand or styrofoam. 

To make the bowling ball, I melted a bit of some leftover navy that I had and used my tie-dye technique to make the swirled effect. 

When everything was dry, I simply used my Americolor Food Writers to add the red lines around the neck of the pins and the three finger holes on the bowling ball.

I think they came out great and so did the Birthday Boy!

Mom told me she had to hide them to prevent him eating ALL of them in one sitting! Oh the joys of Motherhood :)

I link up at THESE GREAT parties!

#DigIn with The Home Depot and Ginger Thyme Dessert

I am so thrilled to have this opportunity to work with The Home Depot and receive product to enhance our organic garden. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

How do you define an Organic Garden? I've researched online and asked neighbors and friends and everyone seems to have slightly different thoughts on what Organic Gardening is.

To me, the photo above speaks volumes about my yard and garden. If my garden is healthy and safe to grow new plants and healthy animals, then I think I'm doing a pretty good job. 

We have baby robins in a nest. There are plants that have self sewed for another season. And there are some naughty bunnies that dug a burrow under my tarragon. 

I also am very proud of my earthworms! They are necessary for good soil and their castings are great for organic composting. (I thought about adding a photo of some, but didn't think most people would want to see that on a food blog.)

I see a very healthy garden that is able to nurture and provide life. 

Two Cup Tuesday No.19

I'm running around like a chicken without its head! Do you feel like that, too?

I had a great Mother's Day with the family and In-Laws. The moms got to shop while the boys stayed home and made dinner. I was looking for a new outfit for the Food Blog Forum Conference!

I am totally excited about attending. We are headed down to Walt Disney World on Thursday. The conference will will Friday night, all day Saturday and Sunday morning. I am very excited to get to meet Kim from KC Bakes, +Joan Hayes of Chocolate, Chocolate and More, +Tanya Schroeder  from Lemons for Lulu, +Julie Deily  from the Little Kitchen, +Roxana Yawgel from A Little Bit of Everything, +Liz Latham from Hoosier Homemade, +Katrina Bahl  from In Katrina's Kitchen, +Aimee Shugarman from Shugary Sweet, and +White On Rice Couple -Todd Porter & Diane Cu and many, many, many more blogger friends! 

Yep, kinda excited!!

Will you be there? Let me know! I've been stalking peoples blogs to get to know them... 

This week on Dieter's Downfall, I'm making a Gluten Free chocolate cake, meringue, and frosting. 

Welcome back to another party! 

This weeks features are:

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day! Better make it Sweet!

Brownie Batter Waffles with Strawberry Syrup from Heather's French Press +Heather Kinnaird 

Banana Bread Pancakes from Mommy's Sweet Confessions

Chocolate Mousse Chocolate Pancakes from With a Blast +Linda Nortje 

Cake Batter Funfetti Pancakes from Chocolate, Chocolate, and More +Joan Hayes 

You know I love chocolate dipped treats! I'm loving these!

Chocolate Dipped Cookie Dough Bites from I Heart Eating

Quinoa Peanut Butter Balls from Sweet Twist of Blogging +Sweet Twist of Blogging 

Hostess Cupcake Cake Balls from Crumbs and Chaos +Becca Thiele

Chocolate Pretzel Peanut Butter Cookies from The Brunette Baker - these cookies were also the last link-up! I loved them along with these Chocolate Dipped Treats.

The post with the Most Views 

These adorable Princess Cupcake Toppers! I don't know how Sugar Swings does it!

Grab a button Gals! 

<a href="http://www.pintsizedbaker.com" title="Pint Sized Baker"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vz4l7hynRKQ/UO76hLIOOXI/AAAAAAAACV8/mK-b2RXfMhM/s1600/PSB_IveBeenFeatured.jpg" alt="Pint Sized Baker" style="border:none;" /></a>

You bloggers are the best! I'm looking forward to seeing all the wonderful link-ups this week!

You gals ROCK!!

Please scroll down to the bottom of the page and follow me on GFC,

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I'm also A Pinning Fool! I've pined TONS of great recipes and tutorials from Two-Cup Tuesday! Check out my Two-Cup Tuesday Pin-board!

I'd love to get to know you, so please leave a comment introducing yourself! 

Thanks so much for linking up!

As a courtesy to all party guests, please only link posts that have not been shared here previously. We want to see NEW and EXCITING content.

Mother's Day Chocolate Shortbread Roses

Happy Mother's Day! 

The last time I shared these cookies with you it was for my Grandmother's passing.

Everyone's kind words were so greatly appreciated.

Today, I wanted to brighten up the cookies in celebration of Mother's everywhere!

Oreo Ice Cream Rainbow "Shure-Bert" Pops

How many times do you walk into the grocery store and come out with only what you needed?

You have your list and your coupons and the weekly flyer! You're armed with knowledge and determination to save money and only buy what is necessary for the week!!

You've got this! You have a plan! Your recipes for the week are planned and you know exactly what you're gonna get!

Be proud of that shopping list!

Until, you see that "new" product that seems to be at the end of every isle. It's around every turn. It's in the center of the isles. It's at the check-out counters. It seems to be EVERYWHERE!

It seems to be in your shopping cart.

Well darn! There goes the budget!

Mini Cherry Pies

Disclosure time...

I am in my mid-thirties.

I was a bit young for the 80's hair, but man, did I enjoy the 90's hair! 

And when I say hair, I mean HAIR BANDS! 

As in Guns N Roses, Poison, Bon Jovi, Skid Row, and yes... Warrant.

I'll admit now, that the entire time I was making my first cherry pie, I was singing "She's my Cherry Pie, Cool drink of water such a sweet surprise!"

So, that's my dirty secret for today...

You now know about my shameful taste in music.